d; and even with Ormond's concurrence, it clearly
appears, that a treaty so ruinous to the Protestant religion in Ireland,
could not be executed in opposition to the zealous Protestants in
that kingdom. No one can doubt of this truth, who peruses Ormond's
correspondence in Mr. Carte. The king was sufficiently apprised of this
difficulty. It appears indeed to be the only reason why Ormond objected
to the granting of high terms to the Irish Catholics.

Dr. Birch (in p. 360) has published a letter of the king's to Glamorgan,
where he says, "Howbeit I know you cannot be but confident of my making
good all instructions and promises to you and the nuncio." But it is to
be remarked, that this letter is dated in April 6th, 1646; after there
had been a new negotiation entered into between Glamorgan and the Irish,
and after a provisional treaty had even been concluded between them. See
Dr. Birch, p. 179. The king's assurances, therefore, can plainly relate
only to this recent transaction. The old treaty had long been disavowed
by the king, and supposed by all parties to be annulled.]

[Footnote 17: NOTE Q, p. 347. Salmonet, Ludlow, Hollis, etc., all these,
especially the last, being the declared inveterate enemies of Cromwell,
are the more to be credited, when they advance any fact which may serve
to apologize for his violent and criminal conduct. There prevails a
story, that Cromwell intercepted a letter written to the queen, where
the king said, that he would first raise, and then destroy Cromwell.
But, besides that this conduct seems to contradict the character of the
king, it is, on other accounts, totally unworthy of credit. It is first
told by Roger Coke, a very passionate and foolish historian, who wrote,
too, so late as King William's reign; and even he mentions it only as a
mere rumor or hearsay, without any known foundation. In the memoirs
of Lord Broghill, we meet with another story of an intercepted letter,
which deserves some more attention, and agrees very well with the
narration here given. It is thus related by Mr. Maurice, chaplain to
Roger, earl of Orrery: "Lord Orrery, in the time of his greatness with
Cromwell, just after he had so seasonably relieved him in his great
distress at Clonmell, riding out of Youghall one day with him and
Ireton, they fell into discourse about the king's death. Cromwell
thereupon said more than once, that if the king had followed his own
judgment, and had been attended by none but