h
sides. There is among these papers a letter from Sir John Grenville, to
the effect that this fellow was to obtain money from the Parliament on a
false pretence of delivering Scilly into their hands. There is another
from Bulstrode Whitelock, in which the matter assumes a different and a
more heinous aspect. According to that paper, Querto had been to London,
and there undertaken, on the receipt of two thousand pounds, to aid in
the betrayal, not merely of Scilly, but of Jersey. He had taken handsell
of his price, and went to France, either to complete the bargain or else
to trade with Mazarin. I leave to your majesty to determine which."

The king moved uneasily in his chair. He shunned the governor's
searching eye, and affected to be watching a ship in the offing, of
which a view was commanded by his casement.

"That vessel appears to interest your majesty," said Carteret, "she
flies St. Andrew's Cross."

"I opine that it is the vessel of the Scots Commissioners," answered
Charles. "An it be so, we will receive them in council. Matters of great
moment may be awaiting their arrival. For the present, Sir George, I bid
you farewell."

It was now December. The "St. Martin's summer" of the Channel Islands
was almost over. The trees were losing their leaves. The last roses
lingered still only in sheltered nooks, rich as the Maufant garden. The
sky was, however, serene, and the sea calm, as the Scottish ship sailed
into the harbour. She had come over from Holland with a favouring wind,
bringing the Chief Commissioner of the Parliament and clergy of
Scotland, together with other gentlemen and officers, and an emissary
from the Duke of Lorraine. The result of their arrival demands another
chapter, for it seriously affected the fortunes of several persons
concerned in the events which our history relates. Our scene changes to
the ancient monastic chapel of the castle, in which the commissioners
were brought before the king in council.

ACT V.

FAREWELL TO JERSEY.

The king's ordinary cabinet council was now reduced to three persons
besides himself, for it must be remembered that down to the days of the
German sovereigns, who could not join from ignorance of the language,
the English kings were always members of the cabinet, as the viceroy is
to this day in British India. Hyde still playing the vain Ind futile
part of ambassador in Madrid, Lord Hopton and the two secretaries,
Nicholas and Long, were the only mi