THE PALATINES IN FRANCE. RUPERT'S RELEASE
Elizabeth had imagined that by sending her younger sons to school in
Paris, she was keeping them out of harm's way; great was her surprise
and annoyance when she found their position to be almost as dangerous
as was that of Rupert. The cause of this new disaster was the
imprudent conduct of the elder brother, Charles Louis. Undaunted by
his recent defeat, the young Elector sought new means for recovering
his country, and he now bethought him of Duke Bernhard of Saxe Weimar.
The alliance of this Duke, a near neighbour of the Palatinate, was very
important, and in January 1639 Lord Leicester had proposed a marriage
between him and the Princess Elizabeth. Further, he had suggested to
King Charles that Maurice should take a command in Bernhard's army, for
which, young though the Prince was, he believed him fitted. "For,"
said he, "besides that he has a body well-made, strong, and able to
endure hardships, he hath a mind that will not let it be idle if he can
have employment. He is very temperate, of a grave and settled
disposition, but would very fain be in action, which, with God's
blessing, and his own endeavours will render him a brave man... Being
once entered there, if Duke Bernhard should die, the army, in all
likelihood would obey Prince Maurice; so keep itself from dissolving,
and bring great advantage to the affairs of your nephew"[1] (_i.e._ to
the Elector, Charles Louis).
But Charles Louis, full of impatience, and putting little faith in the
negotiations of his uncle, set off in October {49} 1639 to join Duke
Bernhard in Alsace. Foolishly enough, he visited Paris, by the way,
"_en prince_," and then attempted to depart thence incognito. Now it
so happened that Cardinal Richelieu had uses of his own for the army of
Duke Bernhard. It therefore suited him to detain the Elector in Paris,
and the Elector's irregular conduct gave him the pretext he required.
Declaring that so serious a breach of etiquette was capable of very
sinister construction, he arrested Charles Louis, and placed his three
brothers under restraint. Lord Leicester complained loudly of this
treatment of the Elector, and though Maurice at once sent a servant to
his brother, the man was only allowed to speak to Charles in French,
and in the presence of his guards. The distracted mother flew to the
Prince of Orange, who explained to her that Richelieu feared her son's
attachment to England, which, however, Richelieu himself denied.
No sooner was the Weimarian army safely committed to the charge of a
French general than Charles Louis was permitted to take up his
residence with the English Ambassador. After this, though still a
prisoner, he spent a very pleasant time in Paris, at an enormous
expense to the King, his uncle. Maurice was allowed to return home in
an English ship, but Edward and Philip were detained as hostages.
Elizabeth spared no pains to recover them, and, as usual, made the
Prince of Orange her excuse, "I send for Ned out of France, to be this
summer in the army," she wrote to Roe; "and, finding Philip too young
to learn any great matters yet, I send for him also, to return next
winter;--_which I assure you he shall not do_."[2]
But it was not until April 1640 that her boys were restored to her, and
the Elector did not recover his full liberty until the following July.
In the autumn of the same year he went to England, to attend the
marriage of his cousin Mary with the little William of Orange, on {50}
which occasion he quarrelled with the bridegroom for precedence. But
his chief object in this visit was to obtain money either from King or
Parliament. Elizabeth urged him to do something for Maurice, but he
evidently regarded his third brother with much indifference. "As for
my brother Maurice," he wrote, "your Majesty will be pleased to do with
him as you think fit. It will be hard to get the money of his pension
paid him."[3] His next letter was a little more encouraging. "The
King says he will seek to get money for Maurice, and then he may go to
what army he pleases. I want it very much myself, and it is very hard
to come by in these times."[4]
The army which Maurice chose was that of the Swedes, under Banier;
perhaps because it was then quartered near to the captive Rupert. Ere
his departure, he wrote to King Charles:
"Sir,--Being ready to tacke a journy towards Generall Banier, I may not
neglect to aquaint you therewithal, et to recomend myselfe et my
actions to Yor Roial favour, whiche I chal strive to deserve in getting
more capacity for your service. Yt is the greatest ambition of Yor
Majestie's
"Most obedient nephew et humble servant,
"MAURICE."[5]
The letter, which is written in a clear, school-boy hand, betrays less
confusion of tongues, the curious use of "et" notwithstanding, than do
most epistles of the Palatines.
Maurice remained with the Swedes some months. In January 1641 his
mother informed Roe that he was at Amberg in Bavaria. In the next
month she was able to report of him at greater length. "I have had
letters from Maurice, from Cham in the High Palatinate. He tells me
{51} that Banier has intercepted a letter of the Duke of Bavaria, to
the Commander of Amberg. He writes that he understands that there is
in Banier's army a young Palatine; and he should take good heed no
bailiffs, or other officers, go to see him or hold any correspondence
with him... Maurice is still very well used by Banier, who now makes
more of Princes than heretofore, since he has married the Marquis of
Baden's daughter."[6]
In June 1641 Maurice returned to Holland where he found life going on
much as usual. Hunting and acting continued to be the principal
Palatine amusements. "I did hunt a hare, last week, with my hounds; it
took seven hours, the dogs never being at fault," wrote Elizabeth
triumphantly; "I went out with forty horse at least, and there were but
five at the death... Maurice, Prince Ravenville, the Archduke, and
many another knight, were entreated by their horses to return on foot.
I could not but tell you this adventure, for it is very famous
here."[7] In another letter she tells how her daughters acted the play
of "Medea and Jason", and how Louise, who played a man, looked "so like
poor Rupert as you would then have justly called her by his name."[8]
It is not unlikely that Louise impersonated Jason in her brother's
clothes, and so enhanced the likeness.
The family had, by this time, almost despaired of "poor Rupert's"
release; but it was nearer than they thought. King Charles, after
labouring for three years in vain, had at last succeeded in rousing the
sympathy of France, and, when he despatched Sir Thomas Roe, in 1641, to
plead Rupert's cause at Vienna, it was with a reasonable hope of
success. "I hope, by the solicitation of Sir Thomas Roe, we shall see
our sweet Prince Rupert here. He {52} hath been so long a
prisoner!"[9] wrote one of Elizabeth's ladies.
The Emperor had long had a secret kindness for the gallant boy who had
dared to defy him, and, in the Archduke Rupert had a warm friend and
advocate. But in the old Duke of Bavaria, who held, as before said, so
much of the Palatine property, he had a bitter foe. His release became
the subject of fierce family discussion. The Emperor hesitated, but,
moved by the intercession of France, and by his affection for his
brother, decided at last to show mercy. Thereupon, his sister, the
Duchess of Bavaria, fell on her knees before him, and passionately
entreated him to detain Rupert a prisoner. Again the Emperor wavered,
but the Empress, siding with the Archduke, carried the day in Rupert's
favour. The boy was offered his liberty on the single condition of
never again drawing sword against the Imperial forces. The peremptory
commands of King Charles procured Rupert's submission to this
condition, which he would fain have disputed. But when his promise was
required in writing it was more than he could endure. "If it is to be
a lawyer's business let them look well to the wording!" said he
scornfully. The Emperor took the hint, and declared himself satisfied
with a simple promise, Rupert giving his hand upon it, according to the
custom of the country.[10]
Though France had been the principal factor in Rupert's release, Sir
Thomas Roe had all the credit of it; and to Roe's guidance Elizabeth
exhorted her son to submit himself. Rupert obeyed her meekly. He
seems indeed to have been in an unusually submissive frame of mind,
judging by the letters which he addressed at this time to Roe. The
first of these bears the date, "Linz, 21 Aug. 1641."
{53}
"My Lord!
"A little journe a had towards the Count of Kevenheller was the cause
that thus long you were without an answer. But now I could not let
another occasion pass without giving you very great thanks for your
pains, and the affection you show in my business, and to tell you that
I leve all the conditions to your disposing, since I know your
Lordshippe is my frend, and am assured that you would do nothing
against my honor.
"And so I rest
"Your Lordshippe's most affectioned frend,
"RUPERT."[11]
The next letter, written a month later, is very curiously humble,
coming from the fiery Rupert.
"My Lord!
"According your demand I doe send you this answer with all possible
speed. As for the present your Lordshippe speks of I am in greate
doubt what to give, this being a place where nothing worth presenting
is to be had; besides I doe not knowe what present he would accept.
Therefore I must heere in desire your Lordshippes consel, desiring you
to let Spina take what you shalle thinke fitt, both for the Count, and
for the Emperor's --, who deserves it, having had a greate dele of
paines with my diet, and other thinges. Sir, I must give you a greate
dele of thankes for the reale frendshipp you shewed in remembering me
of my faults, whiche I confesse, and strive, and shalle the more
heereafter, to mend. But I doubt not, according to the manner of some
peple heere, they have added and said more than the thinge itselfe is.
I beseech you not to hearken to them, but assure yourselfe that it has
been only from an evill costum, which I hope in short time to mend.
Desiring you to continue {54} this your frendshippe in leting me knowe
my faults, that I mai have to mend them,
"I rest,
"Your Lordshippe's most affecionat frend,
"RUPERT."[12]
The third, and last letter is dated "October" and docketed "of my
release."
"My Lord!
"Sence you have happiely broght this businesse almost to and end, I
mene to followe your Lordshippe's consel in alle. At your coming, alle
shalle be redie for our journay to Viena. The moyns (moyens, _i.e._
money) I have when alle debts are paiet woul not bee moer than a 1,000
ducats. Thefore I beseech your Lordshippe to hasten our journe from
Viena as much as possible. If you think fit, I mene to take my waie to
Inspruck and throgh France, whiche is sertainely the best and saifest
wai of alle. I woul desire a sudain answer of your Lordshippe that I
mai send for bils of exchange to bee delivered at Geneva and Paris.
Thys is alle I have at this time to troble Yor Lordshippe withalle, and
so I rest,
"Your most affectioned to doe you service,
"RUPERT."[13]
It may here be noticed that Rupert, throughout his whole life, was
singularly scrupulous about the payment of his debts.
When all negotiations were completed, the Emperor organised "an
extraordinary hunting" in Lower Austria, at which Rupert was directed
to appear, as if by chance. He had the good luck to kill the boar with
his spear, an exploit very highly accounted in the Empire. The
Emperor, {55} thereupon, extended his hand to the successful hunter;
Rupert kissed it, and, that being the final sign of release, was
thenceforth free. For a week he was detained as a guest at Vienna,
while every effort was made to gain his adherence to the Emperor. He
seems to have been as popular at Vienna as at Linz. "There were," says
the Lansdowne MS., "few persons of quality by whom he was not visited
and treated... The ladyes also vied in their civilities, and laboured
to detain him in Germany by their charms." But Rupert refused to be
beguiled, charmed they never so wisely. As for the Emperor, he
lavished so much kindness on his quondam prisoner, "that the modesty of
the Prince could not endure it without some confusion. Yet his
deportment was composed, and his answers to the civilities of the
Emperor were so full of judgment and gratitude that they esteemed him
no less for his prudence than for his bravery."[14]
At last he was suffered to depart. Fain would the Emperor have sent
him to the Archduke at Brunswick, believing that the influence of the
Angel might yet win him. But Rupert preferred to visit Prague, his own
birthplace, and the scene of his father's brief kingship. With a
kindly caution not to venture into the power of the Duke of Bavaria,
the Emperor bade him farewell. From Prague Rupert went to Saxony,
where he astonished the reigning Elector not a little by his refusal to
drink. A banquet had been arranged in his honour, but the Prince,
"always temperate", excused himself from drinking with the rest.
"'What shall we do with him then,' says the Elector, 'if he cannot
drink?'--and so invited him to the entertainment of a hunting."[15]
After this Rupert travelled night and day, in his eagerness to be the
first to bring news of his release to his family. He just managed to
anticipate Roe's letter, which arrived at the Hague on the same night
with himself. Boswell, then English Ambassador in Holland, wrote {56}
an account of the event to Roe. "Prince Rupert arrived here in perfect
health, but lean and weary, having come that day from Swoll, and from
Hamburg since the Friday noon. Myself, at eight o'clock in the
evening, coming out of the court gate, had the good luck to receive him
first of any, out of his waggon; no other creature in the court
expecting his coming so soon. Whereby himself carried the news of his
being come to the Queen, newly set at supper. You may imagine what joy
there was!"[16] And to Roe wrote the Queen also: "The same night,
being the 20th of this month (December), that Rupert came hither I
received your letter, where you tell me of his going from Vienna. He
is very well satisfied with the Emperor's usage of him. I find him not
altered, only leaner, and grown. All the people, from the highest to
the lowest, made great show of joy at his return. For me, you may
easily guess it, and also how much I esteem myself obliged to you."
Yet, even after a three years' separation, Elizabeth had no notion of
keeping her son beside her. "What to do with him I know not!" she
lamented. "He cannot in honour, yet go to the war; here he will live
but idly, in England no better. For I know the Queen will use all
possible means to gain him to the prejudice of the Prince Elector, and
of his religion. For though he has stood firm against what has been
practised in his imprisonment, amongst his enemies, yet I fear, by my
own humour, that fair means from those that are esteemed true may have
more power than threatenings or flattery from an enemy."[17] Doubtless
the Queen's anxiety for her son's employment was justified; there was
no money to maintain him; and, moreover, the Hague was no desirable
residence for an idle and active-minded young Prince. There seems to
have been some idea of sending him to Ireland, where the natives had
risen against the English Government. The King approved of the {57}
suggestion: "But," wrote the Elector, "the Parliament will employ none
there but those they may be sure of. I shall speak with some of them
about it, either for Rupert, or for brother Maurice. This last might,
I think, with honour, have a regiment under Leslie, but to be under any
other odd or senseless officer, as some are proposed, I shall not
advise it."[18] Apparently the idea failed to commend itself to the
English Parliament, which perhaps suspected that the younger brothers
would be found less time-serving than was the Elector.
In accordance with his mother's wishes, and doubtless with his own,
Rupert went over to England, early in February 1642, with the avowed
object of thanking his uncle for his release. He found King Charles at
Dover, whither he had accompanied his wife and eldest daughter on their
way to Holland. Affairs in England were approaching a crisis, and the
Queen, under the pretext of taking the Princess Mary to her husband,
was about to raise money and men for the King, on the Continent. The
visit of the warlike Rupert at so critical a juncture roused hostile
comment, and, since war was not yet considered inevitable, the King
desired his nephew to return home with the Queen. Therefore, after a
visit of three days, he embarked with the Queen and Princess on board
the Lyon, and sailed straight for Holland. The arrivals were met, on
their landing, by Elizabeth, two of her daughters, the Prince of Orange
and his son; all of whom proceeded in one coach to the Court of Orange.
Rupert remained at the Hague until August, when war broke out in
England, and gave him the employment desired for him by his mother.
At this point, August 1642, closes what we may consider as the first
period of Rupert's life. Probably these early years were his best and
happiest. Marked though they were by poverty and misfortune, they were
yet full of {58} interests and adventure, unmarred by the struggles,
jealousies, disappointments, and family dissensions which were to come.
Rupert had no lack of friends; he had won the hearts of his very
enemies. Not the least among a brilliant group of brothers and
sisters, he was happy in their companionship and sympathy, the bond of
which was so soon to be severed; happy also in the kindness and
affection of the Prince of Orange and of the King and Queen of England.
He had shown himself gifted with rare abilities, capable of valiant
action, and of loyal and patient endurance;--a generous, high-souled
boy, fired by chivalric fancies, free from all self-seeking, earnest,
faithful, strong-willed, but also, alas, opinionated, and impatient of
contradiction.
[1] Collins Sidney Papers, Vol. II. pp. 584-5, 28 Jan. 1639.
[2] Com. State Papers. Chas. I. Vol. 539. Eliz. to Roe, Jan. 7/17,
1640.
[3] Bromley Letters, p. 122.
[4] Ibid. p. 124.
[5] Dom. State Papers. Maurice to Charles I, Oct. 30, 1640. Chas. I.
Vol. 470. fol. 21.
[6] Dom. State Papers, Chas. I. Vol. 477. Feb. 22, 1641.
[7] Ibid. Chas. I. Vol. 539. Jan. 7-17, 1641.
[8] Ibid. Chas. I. 484. f. 51. Oct. 10, 1641.
[9] Fairfax Correspondence. Ed. Johnson. 1848. Vol. I. p. 322.
[10] Benett MSS. Warburton. I. pp. 102, 458.
[11] Dom. State Papers. Chas. I. Vol. 483. fol. 39.
[12] Dom. State Papers. Sept. 19-29. 1641. Chas. I. 484. f. 36.
[13] Ibid. Oct. 1641. Chas. I. 484 f. 61.
[14] Lansdowne MSS. 817. British Museum.
[15] Warburton. I. p. 459.
[16] Dom. S. Papers. Boswell to Roe. 23 Dec. 1641. Chas. I. 486. f.
53.
[17] Dom. State Papers. Chas. I. 486. f. 51. Elizabeth to Roe, 23
Dec. 1641.
[18] Forster's Statesmen, Vol. VI. p. 74. 10 March, 1642.
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