also for that ancient acquaintance I have
had with your noble family and the honour I have borne it, the
recalling whereof to memory adds to the trouble of our present
distance, which I hope God will, in due time, reconcile, so as the
mutual freedom of conversation which we sometimes enjoyed may be
restored, which I shall the more value as it may give me advantage
of testifying my esteem of you.... It is a pity the truth should be
clouded by some mis-informations that have overspread these parts.
God will in his time scatter them and undeceive those that wait
upon him for counsel.'

A few days later, in Colonel Seymour's reply to this letter, he admits
he has been culpably generous to his adversary. 'Truly, for my own part,
I had rather err with mercy than justice, for had not my lenity made me
a delinquent to duty, your Lordship had wanted some of Dartmouth now
aboard you.'

At the beginning of the war a fine letter was written by Sir William
Waller to his friend and present adversary, Lord Hopton:

'BATH,

'1643, _July_ 16.

'The experience I have had of your work, and the happiness I have
enjoyed in your friendship, are wounding considerations to me when
I look upon this present distance between us; certainly, my
affections to you are so unchangeable that hostility itself cannot
violate my friendship to your person, but I must be true to the
cause wherein I serve. The old limitation--_usque ad alias_--holds
still, and where my conscience is interested, all other
obligations are swallowed up. I should most gladly wait upon you,
according to your desire, but that I look upon you as engaged in
that party beyond the possibility of a retreat, and, consequently,
incapable of being wrought upon by my persuasions, and I know the
conference can never be so close between us but that it would take
wind and receive construction to my dishonour. That great God who
is the searcher of my heart, knows with what a sad sense I go on
upon this service, and with what a perfect hatred I detest this war
without an enemy, but I look upon it as _opus Dei_, which is enough
to silence all passion in me. The God of Peace, in his good time,
send us the blessing of peace, and, in the mean time, fit us to
receive it. We are both upon the stage, and must act the parts that
are assigned to