“At your return we will accept of some officers upon your recommendation, to the end no obstacle or delay may be in the execution of your desires in order to our service, and our commands in that behalf. “At your return you shall have the command of South Wales, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire of the Welsh side returned to you in as ample manner as before. “In your absence we will not give credit or countenance to anything which may be prejudicial to your father, you, or yours. “C. R.” Next month his Majesty wrote the following letter:[C] “GLAMORGAN, “I herewith send you the rest of my dispatches for Ireland, whither I pray hasten, time being most considerable. I am sensible of the dangers you will undergo, and the great trouble and expenses you must be at, not being able to assist you, who have already spent a million of crowns [£250,000] in my service; neither can I say more than I well remember to have spoke and written to you that already words could not express your merits, nor my gratitude: and that next to my wife and children I was most bound to take care of you, whereof I have, besides others, particularly assured your Cousin Byron, as a person dear unto you. “What I can further think at this point is to send you the Blue Ribbon, and a Warrant for the Title of Duke of Somerset, both which accept, and make use of at your discretion; and if you should defer the publishing of either for a while to avoid envy, and my being importuned by others, yet I promise your antiquity for the one, and your Patent for the other shall bear date with the Warrants. “And rest assured, if God should cross me with your miscarrying, I will treat your son as my own, and that you labour for a dear friend as well as a thankful master, when time shall afford means to acknowledge, how much I am “Your most assured, real, constant “and thankful friend, “CHARLES R. “Oxford, Feb. 12th, 1644.” The Earl being from some cause detained at home, his Majesty wrote in March, as follows:--[D] “HERBERT,