or
subdued; and the French monarchy, having lost a few of its conquests,
returned with fresh vigor to the acquisition of new dominion.

The queen of England and her son Charles, during these commotions,
passed most of their time at Paris; and notwithstanding their near
connection of blood, received but few civilities, and still less
support, from the French court. Had the queen regent been ever so much
inclined to assist the English prince, the disorders of her own affairs
would, for a long time, have rendered such intentions impracticable. The
banished queen had a moderate pension assigned her; but it was so ill
paid, and her credit ran so low, that, one morning, when the cardinal
De Retz waited on her, she informed him that her daughter, the princess
Henrietta, was obliged to lie abed for want of a fire to warm her. To
such a condition was reduced, in the midst of Paris, a queen of England,
and daughter of Henry IV. of France.

The English parliament, however, having assumed the sovereignty of the
state, resented the countenance, cold as it was, which the French court
gave to the unfortunate monarch. On pretence of injuries of which the
English merchants complained, they issued letters of reprisal upon the
French; and Blake went so far as to attack and seize a whole squadron of
ships which were carrying supplies to Dunkirk, then closely besieged by
the Spaniards. That town, disappointed of these supplies, fell into
the hands of the enemy. The French ministers soon found it necessary
to change their measures. They treated Charles with such affected
indifference, that he thought it more decent to withdraw, and prevent
the indignity of being desired to leave the kingdom. He went first to
Spaw, thence he retired to Cologne; where he lived two years, on a small
pension, about six thousand pounds a year, paid him by the court of
France, and on some contributions sent him by his friends in England.
In the management of his family he discovered a disposition to order and
economy; and his temper, cheerful, careless, and sociable, was more
than a sufficient compensation for that empire of which his enemies had
bereaved him. Sir Edward Hyde, created lord chancellor, and the marquis
of Ormond, were his chief friends and confidants.

If the French ministry had thought it prudent to bend under the English
parliament, they deemed it still more necessary to pay deference to the
protector, when he assumed the reins of government. C