HABIB
For my sonue the Prince of Orange.
' fkire. ' wished.
^ 'V-A.v^, V-^X.rv->
— 367 — [1678. Septembre.
LETTRE MCCLimiL
Le Prince et Orange au Prince Henri Casimir II de Naseat*' Dieiz. Il désire vivre avec lui en bon accord,
A la Haye> ce 7 de sept. 1678.
Monsieur! Nonobstant qae nous avons très-peu de
correspondance ensemble , j'ay voulu avoir cette déférence
pour vous de ne rien toucher à la réforme que Messieurs
les Estats-généraus ont trouvé bon que je fisse dans les
trouppes à vostre régiment de cavallericy où il doit avoir
deus compagnies de cassées, lesquels seront cens que vous
désirerés. Je vous asseure que je souhaiterois fort que
nous puissions vivre ensemble de telle manière que je vous
pourois témoigner en tous occasions combien je suis.
Monsieur ,
vostre très-affectionné serviteur et cousin,
O. PRINCE D'ORANOB.
LETTRE NCCLJnCK.
Le Duc dYork au Prince ^Orange. Prorogation du Partentent
London Dec. 81 1678.
I receved yesterday yours of the thierd ', by the which I see y ou had made the reforme of some of your troups; his Ma. is obliged to do the same hère , for ail he prorogned the Parliment yesterday, not having mony to maintaine them; this prorogation did surprise most people and you may beleve to what a degree His Ma. was prest to do it. I hope it will hâve a good effect, since I beleve the world will see his Ma. will give them satisfaction in disbanding the army, and in matters of religion , and , if he do but stick firme to the good husbandry he declared in council this moming, I make no doubt of his over-
' 8 janvier 1679 a. s.
1678. Décembre.] — ^68 —
coming ail the dîficultys he lys under, tho ' they be veiy great By the next y ou shall heare more firom me, and be assured I shall always be very kind to yoo.
liETTRE MCCLXX.
M. M. Bored et van Weede^ envoyés en France ^ au Prince d Orange. Entretien avec M. de Louvoie,
Doorlaghtighste hooghgeboren Furst ende Heere. De
heere Marqnis de Louvois van het ongemack, twelk
hem door het storten met syn peert voor ruym een
maent was overgecomen, soo verre sijnde herstelt àsX
aenspraecke lede, heeft de heere Boreel înde voorleden
weecke aen dense] ven gegeven een visite ende, naer eenige
discoarsen over indifférente saecken in die conversatie
voorgevallen , heeft dien Heer aen sijn Ed. geseyt te sijn
verwondert dat, daer de vrede tusschen dit Rijck ende
den Staet al meer als een jaer was gemaeckt geweest,
ende de Ambassadeurs van deselve haer al acht ofte negen
maenden aen dit hoff hadden onthouden, tôt nogh toe
van wegen haer Ho. Mo. niet was gesproocken of de
minste voorstel gedaen om met den Coninck te comen in
een nader alliantie, ende dat op andere plaetsen ende bij
anderen wierden gerechercheert ligues , die men evenwel
hier wel was verseeckert geen succès te sullen hebben ; —
dat aen hem ondertusschen was gecommuniceert seeckere
missive bij den heere Keurvorst van Brandenborgh aen
de heeren Staten-Generael geschreven, op het subject
van de vrede bij hem met den Coninck van Sweden
gesloten door de interventie van desen Coninck, mitsga-
ders de memorie bij forme van antwoort door den heere
de Lyra ter vergaederinge van haer Ho. Mo. ingedîent,
nopende het inruymen ende overgeven van de stadt Maes-
tright, d'een ende d'andere in seer ernstige ende stercke
termen ende expression , ende de laetste selfs met een be
* tboagh.
— 369 — [1679. Septembre.
dreyginge van repressailles op de effecten, die de Hollantse cooplujden hebben te verwagbten met de Spaense gallioenen ; — dat sjn Ed. niet vast en conde seggen of deselve metter daet soude worden int werck geleyt, dogh wel dat aile de advisen uyt Madrid snlx medebraghten , ende dat die ende diergelijcke ontmoetingen , dewelcke misschien nogh van erger soaden worden gevolght, den Staet overquamen, omdat deselve was ende bleeff buyten particulière engagementen met andere Coningen; — dat sijn Ed. oock meynde wel te konnen asseureren dat men soodanige bejegingen niet soude syn onderworpen, wanneer haer Ho. Mo. met dese Croon naeder souden sijn geallieert, ende bij gevolge als een yder kennelijck met wat secourssen deselve van den Coninck souden worden bijgesprongen tegens diegenen , die haer souden willen attacqueren.
Ende op alletselve geantwoort sijnde » dat haer Ho. Mo. de eere van Sijne Majesteits vrientschap in seer hoogh respect ende achtinge sijn hebbende, ende altoos haer veel sollen laeten gelegen sijn om die te conserveren, Qock ailes wat in haer is contribueren om met den Coninck ende liet Rijck te mogen leven in goede ende vertroude correspondentie, ende wat het verdere aengingh, dat onlanz door ons, van wegen haer Ho. Mo., op derselver expresse resolutie ende ordre, aen den Heere Pompone was verseeckert datter niet alleen niets en was van de gewaende ligue met Engeland ende Spagne, maer dat haer Ho. Mo. punctuelijck souden observeren de tractaten met Sijne Majesteit aengegaen ende derhalven niet hadden gemaeckt nogh souden maecken eenige engagementen , di met de vrientschap ende gemaecte alliantie niet souden overeencomen ;
Heeft de Heere Louvois gerepliceert dat alletselve was, maer dat noghtans van de sijde van den Staet sigh niet en openbaerde een ge genegentheyd tôt het opreghten ofte vemieuwen van een nader alliantie , ende dat hij tusschen vyer oogen wel conde verseeckeren , dat de Coninck daer- V. 24
1679. Septembre.] — 370 —
toe volcomentlijck was genegen , maer dat niet conde worden gepretendeert dat de eerste onvertares geschieden van Sijne Majesteit; daarbij voegende dat, als men soude sien dat de Staten-Generael haer soaden blijven hoaden ab indifferenten, men mogelijck hier sonde resolveren om wat te doen met anderen, die betaygen daertoe te sijn genegen , ende dat de ujtcomste dan sonde leeren of dat was de interesse van ons lant
Ende nn voor eenige dagen de Heere van Dijcvelt d^ gemelden Heere Lonvois mede wesende gaen sien , om af te leggen het officie van congratnlatie over sijne beterschap ende over het honwelijck van sijn doghter met den Prince van Roche-Gnyon, ontsten soon van den Prins van Marsillac, premier maistre de la garâerobbe du Ro/^ en Grand' Veneur de la Courofine, is deselve, naer verwîsselinge van eenige beleeftde woorden op het subject van de visite, door disconrssen over verscheyden saecken van desen tijt gecomen tôt die , van dewelcke sijn Ed. te vooren met den Heere Boreel hadde gesproocken , ende heefi in substantie gereitereert aile tgene hyerboven is verhaelt, onder anderen ronduyt seggende, dogh met protestatie van het te doen sonder ordre ende als particulier aen particulier, dat de Coninck volcomentlijck genegen was om met den Staet te treden in een nanwe alliantie , maer dat Sijne Majesteit daertoe moste worden aengesoght, ende dat dan sijne sincère intentie ten beste van denselven sonde blijcken uyt de condition, die Sijne Majesteit soude ac» corderen ; dat wij entrent de commertie niet hadden contrarie interesse met dit Rijck, ende dat haer Ho. Mo. de haren bij een nader verbintenisse souden connen vinden; dat deselve oock, tôt verseeckeringe van de bewuste Barrière ende dat de Spaensse Nederlanden noyt souden comen in handen van Yranckrijck, souden connen bedingen soodanige précaution ende securiteyt, als soude connen worden gevonden ofte uytgedaght; daerbij doende, bîj exempel, dat de Coninck sigh soude engageren die nimmermeer te mogen aentasten, ende ten wat tgde Sgne
— 371 — [1679. Septembre.
Majesteît met den Conînck van Spagne moghte raecken in oorlogh, dat hij in die qnartieren niet en soude âgeren , veel min sigh met de wapenen of bij tractaet van vrede meester maecken van de geringhste plaetse ofte bicoqae; dat hij oock deselve Nederlanden, nogh bij eschange, nogh bij vrijwillige overgifte, sonde mogen aennemen, ende dat, in een van aile die ofte oock in diergelijcke gevallen, de te maecken alliantie soude sijn verbroocken ende aen haer Ho. Mo. vrij staen om sigh daertegens te verbinden ende in te spannen met andere Potentaten. Sijn Ed. voeghde oock daerbij: de Coninck sonde dan Spagne elders moeten ende connen aengrijpen; en wat soude haer Ho. Mo. daeraen wesen gelegen, of Siîne Majesteit eenige conquestes op deselve dede int Milanees ofte op de grensen van Spagne?
Oock seyde sijn Ed. vragenswijse : genomen, wij quamen nu int corte in rupture, ter occasie van de ordre aen den Marschal de Vivonne gesonden, om aile de Spaensse schepen ende galeyen het pavillon te doen strijcken ; soude het twerck off de interessen van den Staet al wesen oock soo wedefom den oorlogh tegens ons aan te vangen ?
Ende is aen den Heere de Louvois, op tgene van een nader alliantie ende eenige condition heeft opgegeven , genoughsaem op de manière als bij den Heere Boreel was geschiet, geantwoort in générale dogh de beleeftste woorden die occurreerden , aile ende alleen tenderende, om aen sijn Ed. mede te bevestigen dat de intentie van den Staet opreght is, dat deselve sal traghten de vrede religieuselijck nae te comen, ende met Sijne Majesteit te leven in goede intelligentie ende vertroude vrientschap; oock, om die te cultiveren ende langhdujrigh te maecken, ailes aenbrengen wat daertoe sal connen dienen.
Wij hebben, doorlughtighste Furst, gemeynt dese ontmoetingen te sijn van soodanige importantie, dat wij niet moghten naerlaeten van deselve kennisse te geven aen den Staet ende aen Uwe .Hoogheyd ; ende blijven, nae
1679. Septembre.] — 372 —
toewenschînge van aile heyl ende segen over Uwe Hooghheits dierbaere persoon ende huys, Doorlugbtigbste Hooghgeboren Furst ende Heere,
Uwe Hooghbeits gans ootmoedige ende onderdanige dienaers,
JACOB BOREEL, EVEBABD TAN WBEDS.
Par^s, den 1 September 1679.
LETTRE nCCIiXXI.
Sir W. Temple au Prince d! Orange* H veut se retirer au affaires. Gravité des circonstances,
London, December 9 1679.
The concemment your Highnesse pleases to express upon tbe resolation M*^ Sidnej told yoa I had taken as to my owne disposai! , is a great deal more then it coold deserve, and would make* raee consîder myself more then I doe, if I knew myself lesse. I am confident M' Sidney coold not bave told your Highnesse ail that I told him upon that occasion and , if bee had , that yoa would bave beene as much satisfyed with that resolution as hee was himself, when hee left mee, though hee had ne ver before been of that minde, and seems now to bee of another, from tbe déférence hee has to your Highnesses judgement. I shall not reason upon this matter at this distance; but onely say, upon your Highnesses reflexion, that I should take the same counsell I give you upon the like occasion, that the différence is too great between us, and that one thing is fitt for a pilot , and another for one of the crewe in a ship. But upon the whole, since M' Sidney tells mee you désire I will not exécute that resolution, till I either see him againe or hear from your Highnesse and him upon it ,you shall bee obeyed, though I doubt it will bee of little service or satisfaction to your Highnesse, and of a good deal of disquiet to myselfe. Yoa
[1679. Décembre.
have at this time something a greater affaire npon your hands and more difBcuIt to résolve in. I know not whether you expected such an answer apon it as I heare has been gîven both to M' van Lewen and M' Sidney. Having gotten abrood to day, I could not but tell the King that whatever hee said . upon it to the States , the best thing I thought hee could say to your Highnesse was, in confidence between you, to tell you the measures hee had taken, and particularly whether hee resolved to lett a Parliament sitt or no, and when, and leave you there upon to take your owne measures, when you çaw plainely what was to bee expecte from hence. I prest the King to Write to your Highnesse himself upon this subject, but cannot answer whether hee will or no. Godof heaven inspire your Highnesse with such counsels, upon thees great and difBcult occasions, as may ende in such fortunes as are wished you by your most obedient and most humble servant.
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liETTRE MCCUCni.
M. Godolphin au Prince cC Orange. Le Dite (TYork et même le Roi avoienf. conçu de la défiance envers le Prince.
Dec. 14. 1679.
I acquainted your Highnesse formerly that both m' Hyde et mylord Feversham had promised me to write to the Duke, according to what you desired of them; they have done soe and I beleive very seasonably; for that rumour could not but have given a great deale of jealousy to the Duke, since I find it had made some impression even in the King himselfe, and the reports that were spread hère that your Bb'ghnesse had thoughts of commingover at this time, joynd to the Duke of Mon mouths obstinacy of staying, did very much helpe to confirme the King in his appréhensions, but your Highnesse letter, which I shewed him , and mylord Sunderlands care to lett him
1679. Décembre.] — 374 —
see the malice as well as the weaknesse of those ramonrs, hâve fuUy satisfyed his Majesty in that matter. I shew'd jour Highnesse's letter to mylord Sunderland, and, as to what concern'd himselfe in itt, hee takes it very well, as hee ought to doe [yf] yonr Highnesse is pleas'd to tell him your opinion of him with soe much fireedome; as to his inclinations for making any Allyance with France , no body knows better than hee does how destractive it must hee to as, and therefore I am persuaded no body's thoughts are more remote from it, and this [ may sa}' for him that he left nothing nndone that he could imagine might promote our allyance with Holland and , whensoever that appeares to bee practicable , I am confident he will always bee for itt The pétitions that were framing hère for the sitting of the parliament , hâve , I beleive , bothe hastned and lengthned the time of the prorogation ; the Kings intentions are to keep himselfe qaiett , if he can , not to think of the rest of the world , and in the mean time to apply himselfe to doe those things that he thinks most likely to croate such a temper in the people as that the Parliament may meet next winter withoat ill conséquences to him; he continues resolv'd not to see the Duke of Monmouth.
LETTRE MCCLXXIII.
M. Godolphin au Prince d* Orange. Le Roi redoute extri' mement une alliance des États- Généraux avec la France
v/ Jan. the 1. 1680.
I bave the honour of your Highnesse's of the 2^, and am sorry you doe not like the gray horse. I hope yett, when you come to use him, you will like him better, but however I would not hâve sent him , if I had thought you could bave stayed for him till March, bat your Highnesse seem'd to bee in hast and that made mee résolve to send him, rather than make you stay any longer. — Your Highnesse will give mee leave to acquaint you
— 375 — [1680. Jinvier.
by this expresse that the King is exceedingly alarm'd by M' Sidney's last letters , with the feare of your entring into an Allyance wich France; there is nothing that he can not résolve to doe rather than snfier itt, and he has directed mylord Sunderland to tell M*" Sîdney that he shoald assure the States that , in case France shoald really résolve to break with them , upon their declining to enter into the Allyance that has been proposed , he would assist them to the utmbst of his power, and not to delay to call the Parlement upon that occasion, which it is always in his power to doe, within a month or 6 weeks, though withoQt some such great occasion it bee not his intention they should meet, till he has had time to doe severaU things, which he is very rouch perswaded may helpe to bring them to a better temper. The King woald hâve spoken himselfe to M*" van Leewen ' upon this occasion , but the emb'* having the goûte, he sent mylord Sunderland to him, to lett him know his mind in this matter and to désire him to write to the States accordingly by this expresse, which the King thinks it reasonable to send, though it happons to bee within 24 heures of the ordinary post. This being really the King's mind, and I hope like to continue soe, if it does not come too late to your knowledge, I hope it wîll encourage your Highnesse to struggle a little more than ordinary, to divert so great a blow as this would inevitably bee to us ail.
LETTRE MCCLXXIT.
Sir W. Temple au Prince cT Orange. La prùrogaiiofi du Parlement semble difficile à concilier avec les apparences dune attitude plus énergique envers la France.
Jan. %y 1679—80.
The honor and the kindenesse of your Highnesses letter of the 26 past was too great and too sensible not to hâve
^ Diderik ?ao Leeowen vid LeydeD, ambassadeur extraordinaire en Angleterre, * embaasador.
1680. Jtnner.] — 376 —
been sooner acknoledged , but that I was in the country when it arriyed, where I stayed a weeke or ten dajs, and made myselfe beleeve your Highnesse woold not bee content to receave a letter irom so idle a place. I am yery glad yoa were pleased with that change I made in my résolution upon your Highnesses commanda, which indeed nothing else could hâve deferrd , and shall not pursue it before I give y ou a further account of it, either this way or by M' Sidney , if hee comes over and retun», as hee intended when hee was last heere. Hee will htye told you how ill success I mett with upon it in my private concems and how ill in the publique. I wish this last touched mee as little as the other, though both togethor may bee arguments that I had reason in what I reaolvd. For the adviess your Highnesse mentions from France, of our treatys with that crowne, I know nothing of them and beleeve the same of some others at courte , that know a great deale more of what passes there then I doe , but ail our paces of late looke so inconsisting one with another, that I cannot prétende to judge of them , nor could ever /reconcile our endeavors to hinder the french alliance in HoUand, with our proroguing the Parliment, just at the time it was pursaing. Since the prorogation was dedared , I bave never seen the King , nor any of bis ministers, till tuesday last. And your Highnesse will know the minde they are in at présent, by the express sent away last night to M' Sidney; how long that may last, Ood knows; but such a perpetuall fluctuation as I hâve mett with in our councels is what I am not able to deale with. The Bosors steddy steddy will come, when Mad"* Brederodes prophecy is Aillfilled , but till then I doe not expect it M' Hide came to mee yesterday and, after much discourse of our afiaires both at home and abrood, profest to agrée most perfectly with my opinions upon them, and at bis going tooke occasion to say that hee did not knowe how hee may bave been represented to your Highnesse of late , especially since the Dukes coming
— 377 — [IftSO. Janfier.
over, as différent firom what hee had been both to your EUghnesse and the publique affiiirs, when wee were last together in HoUand» but he desired wel upon occasion that I would assure jou hee was still the same in both that hee had been then. I thinke it ware not amiss if your Highnesse, in your next letter to mee, would please to take some notice of this compliment and assurance from him, and command mee to say upon it what you shall thinke fitt
I cannot forget to wish your HIghnesse a happy new yeare, and as many more and with as much honor, health and happyness as you can wish yourself. My poore fitmily make the same wishes and prayers and thinks tbemselves too much honord by your Highnesses remembring them. While I remember any thing, I shali never forgett that dévotion and truth wherewith I hâve been 80 long, and shall be alwaies, your Highnesses most obedient and most humble servant.
*%V>rtArtA/Srt/SA^VWWV*^^^
liETTRB MCCIiXXT.
Sir W. TTsmple au Prince cP Orange. Le Roi résolu de soutenir les États- Généraua contre la France; chances cf tin renovneUement de la Triple Alliance.
London Jan. 6.
I dit not thinke to give your Highnesse anothcr trouble so soon after mj^ last, but that I beleeved you would not bee displeasd to know that, upon a long discourse this moming in private with his Majesty , hee seemed so resolute in supporting your Highnesse and the States in the reftisall of the alliance with France, that I was, I confess, surprised to finde it and, not to trouble your Highnesse too long, hee at last commanded mee (because hee said hee was sure they would beleeve mee sooner then another) to goe first to the Dutch Amb' and then write to some of my friends in Holland, to assure them that.
1680. Janvier] — 378 —
in case France should attaque tbem, as they seem to threaten apon this occasion , bis Majesty woald immediady déclare a warr against France in their defence, and at the same tîme call his Parliament, who hee was confident woold not leave him apon such an occasion , bat however hee woald corr ^ that and any other venture rather then not support the States, and that no other considération shoald hinder him from calling his Parlement apon it. Hee desired likewise to see the Datch Amb'' himself, as soon as hee conld , that hee might say the same thing to him with his owne moath, which I will présume is done» for Mons' V. Lewen promised mee that hee would goe to him before noone.
The two grounds upon which his Majesty seems to stand so firme in this resolution, is, first that hee does not beleeve France will open a warr in which they are sure his Majesty will enter, considering how farr that may goe to drawe in the rest of Christendome, as well as to ruine their great designs at [sea] and, secondly, hee beleeves that , if such a thing should happen , it would bee the best way to rally us ail at home, which are both points your Highnesse will beleeve not ill grounded. Besides this hee is a good deal peekt ' at mon'' Barillons late letter into Holland and says both the haughtyness and insincereness of the French dealings are not to bee boren * and will at one time or other bring an old house about their heads. — I hâve desired Mons"" v. Lewen not to mention my name to any but the pens', both because none of the ministers heere know any thing of my parte in this matter, ^nd because I désire to see how ît will last, before T appear in it. I désire your Highnesse will lett mee know your opinion whether , in case Sueden would bee willing to renewe the Triple Alliance, upon account of this peace, as they made it upon account of the last, your Highnesse thinke the States would corne into ît; which I aske because I know the constitutions there, that make
* curry. • piqaed.* • bom.
— 379 — [1680. Janvier.
one towne able to hinder any new treatj, and, if such a thiDg as this bee done, it must bee tout d*un coup y as the last wasy and without taking winde. I hâve some reason to beleeve Sueden would bee glad to doe some such thing, as soon as they are in possession of Bremen and in the view both of Deninarks, Brandenborgh and Lanenborghs falling into it, upon the score of common safety; for, if any such measure with Sueden should drive anj of the others to France, it might bee an ill bargaine. I humbly aske yours EUghnesse pardon and am soe, with constant dévotion and truth, your Highnesses most obedient and most humble servant.
UBTTRE HCCLXXTI.
Lord Sunderland au Prince d^ Orange. Le bon accord du Prince avec le Roi est eûetrêmement désirable.
The King having writ to your Highnesse and, as I beleeve, very fully, it makes it absolutely unnecessary for me to say any thing at ail , but onely to acknowledge the honour of your letter to me of the 15 of January, which I showed his Majesty and to which , what he now writes to your Highnesse, is an answer. I am very confident he will never change from being eztreamely kinde to you and infinitely concemed for the States, thinking his owns safety dépends on theires. I hope you will alwayes be able to défend each other, and that no artifice of your ennemys will ever succède, neither at home nor abroade. As long as your interests are united and your affections, I beleeve no power can doe you hurt, and that I hope will be for ever. I am , with ail respect , Sir ! your Highnesses most faithfull, most humble and most obedient servant
SUNDBKLIND.
16 January 1680.
