nt afterwards ordered to be
published.[*] They chose, no doubt, such of them as they thought would
reflect dishonor on him: yet, upon the whole, the letters are written
with delicacy and tenderness, and give an advantageous idea both of the
king's genius and morals. A mighty fondness, it is true, and attachment,
he expresses to his consort, and often professes that he never would
embrace any measures which she disapproved: but such declarations of
civility and confidence are not always to be taken in a full, literal
sense. And so legitimate an affection, avowed by the laws of God and
man, may perhaps be excusable towards a woman of beauty and spirit, even
though she was a Papist.[**]

* Clarendon, vol. iv. p. 658.

** Hearne has published the following extract from a
manuscript work of Sir Simon D'Ewes, who was no mean man in
the parliamentary party. "On Thursday, the 30th and last day
of this instant June, 1625, I went to Whitehall, purposely
to see the queen, which I did fully all the time she sat at
dinner. I perceived her to be a most absolute delicate lady,
after I had exactly surveyed all the features of her face,
much enlivened by her radiant and sparkling black eyes.
Besides, her deportment among her women was so sweet and
humble, and her speech and looks to her other servants so
mild and gracious, as I could not abstain from divers deep-
fetched sighs, to consider that she wanted the knowledge of
the true religion." See Preface to the Chronicle of
Dunstable, p 64.

The Athenians, having intercepted a letter written by their enemy,
Philip of Macedon, to his wife Olympia, so far from being moved by a
curiosity of prying into the secrets of that relation, immediately sent
the letter to the queen unopened. Philip was not their sovereign; nor
were they inflamed with that violent animosity against him which attends
all civil commotions.

After the battle, the king retreated with that body of horse which
remained entire, first to Hereford, then to Abergavenny; and remained
some time in Wales, from the vain hope of raising a body of infantry
in those harassed and exhausted quarters. Fairfax, having first retaken
Leicester, which was surrendered upon articles, began to deliberate
concerning his future enterprises. A letter was brought him, written by
Goring to the king, and unfortunately intrusted to a spy of Fairfax's.
Goring there informe