D. VAN LEYDEN VAN LEEUWSK

— 457 — [1680. Décembre.

LETTRE MCCCLXII.

Le Duc (TYork au Prince et Orange, Il n ajoute pas foi aux bruits sur ses relations cvec le Duc de Monmouih.

Edinburgh, Dec. 8.

I receved two days since yours of the 5 , by the whîch I see that M*" Sidney had informed you of some discoorces had been at London conceming the D. of Monmouth having been some tyme with you; I know that some very good freinds of yours and myne did wonder at his being so much with you, but truly I did not thinke you had any affairs or intrigue togather, but I did wonder how that he could hâve the confidence to intrude himself upon you, as he did, that had behaved himself so to me as he had done, and had joyned himself not only with my declared enemy^, but even with the enemys of monarky itself, which he has made sufficiently apeare by many of his actions, and more particularly by his behavior since he came into England, which I am sure you know as well as I, so that I need not repeat them to you, and you may be sure I did not thinke you could hâve any comerce with him, to my préjudice; for, besids the concerne I know you hâve for me, I know he cannot overreach you, so that you were in the right not to make any great apologi to me upon that subject. This place affords no newse and you may be assured I shall always be as kind to you as you can désire.

LETTRE RCCCIiJaiI.

Le Duc â!York au Prince cT Orange. On vise à changer la Monarchie en République.

Edenburgh , Dec. 11.

I see, by yours of the 10, that you were come back to the Hage and that you hâve a right sence of the bill

1680. D&cmbre.] — 458 —

of limitations, which îs now dependiog in the honse of Lords and, as you do, so I hope it will not passe, thinkîng thatt bîU to be yett more prejuditiall to the monarky and our family then even that of exclution, which was throwne out by the Lords. I see, by a letter of M' Sidney, and a paper he sent, that was given him by the Pentîoner and M. de Morno, being the substance of a discours they had had with him just after they had heard of my bills being rejected by the Lords , that they were not of your mînd , but for his Ma. agreeing in every thing with his Parliament, which, should he do, I am sure it would not be long before they would find the inconvenîancy of it; for, beleve me, tis a republike which is at the bottom of ail thèse afiairs in England , and not religion, and, any one false step more his Ma. make of parting from more of his power, he and the monarky are gone, and you see every day how he is used, but that is not to be wondred at, when he bas been so betrayd by some of them he trusted the most, which he and ail the world cannot chuse but see, tho may be he dos not thinke fitt to take notice of it. I will say no more upon this subject nor on any els now, but to assure you that I shall always be as kind to you as you can désire.

LETTRE HCCCLXIT.

Sir L. Jenkins au Prince dH Orange. Nouvelles.

Whitehall , 14 Decemb. 80.

Being fallen, on Friday last, under the displeasure of the H. of Gommons, I did not, by that nights poste, présume to Write any thing to your Highnesse, nor dare I Write any thing now, least I be thought partiall to myself. His Ma. intends to speak openly to both Houses to morrow, with référence to Tanger and our forreign allyances , to the end he may know what to trust to. I beseech God to putt into their hearts to give his Ma. a

good answer. The Gommons intend to morrow for a great day to consîder of the state of the nation. The D. of Monniouth was feasted yesterday (together with severall lords and gentlemen) by the sea-faring men in the skirts of this Citty. As the Duke of Monmouth returnd home, he had the usuall acclamations from one end of the Citty to the other; such tumultuous proceedings deserve a good check.

His His^hnesse the Prince.

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liETTRE MCCCLXT.

Sir L. Jenkins au Prince d Orange. Nulle apparence de cancHiaiion entre les partis.

Whitehall, 17 Dec. 80.

I did myself the honor to gîve * Highnesse some short accounpt with every ordinary of our proceedings (saveing that I misst the last save one) ever since the beginning of onr présent session of Parliament. It afflicted me still very mach not to be able to give your Highnesse any well grounded hopes that things were tending to an union. It afflicts me so still, for wee hâve no appearance of tending, as we ought to doe, to a generall accommodation. For instance, every day s work produces an offer at some thing or other, that is prejudiciall to the prérogatives of your crown. One thing was advanced yesterday that entrenchd upon an ancient dignity of the Peers of England. It was that, when a Commoner spoke ill of a Peer, he was not admitted by law to justifie his words; this the Gommons would hâve taken away by a law, which they of the house of Lords do take extremely ill. This and such like incidents do inflame, but to morrow is the day to consider the Kings last speech, and therefore I will not prejudge the temper that the Gommons will be in,

' ^oor omis.

but beseech God to sanctifie ail their délibérations. I am, with perfect respect, yoor Highnesses most dutifîill servant

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UBTTRE MCCCliinFI.

«Sir //. Jenkina au Prince dH Orange. Nouvdles.

Whitehall, 21 Dea 1680.

This afternoon the Gommons wayted on hîs Majestie with their answer to the speech that his Majestie made to both houses. It is my misfortune that I cannot procure a copie this night to be sent your Highnesse. The promise that they make of supplies is clogg'd with severall hard conditions; the hardest is, to passe the BUl for excluding the Duke and the association that is thought necessary to attend it His Majestie was not pleas'd to give any answer for the présent The earl of Salisbury is said to hâve mov'd this day in the House of Lords that the earl of Feversham , M' Hyde , and col. * Legg should be remov'd from his Majestie, by reason of their too great addiction to the Duke. I wish I had any ground of hopes to give your Highnesse of a good issue from the ouvertures between his Majestie and his Gommons; we must expect some Airther steps; as things stand at this tîme, it would be easy and naturall to fall into a perfect good understanding with his Majestie, which God in his mercie grant

LETTRE MCCCIiXni.

Le Duc âlYork au Prince et Orange. H n^a pas U mainéki soupçon quHl ait des intelligences avec le Duc de MonmouA»

Edenbargh, Dec 23.

I receved on sonday yours of the 19, in which you mention some discourses had been made of your knowiog of the D. of Monmouths coming over. I assure you I

* colonel.

— 461 — [1680. D^embre.

never gave the least creadit to ît; knowing yon to well to beleve any such thinge, and therfore it was not necessary for y ou to hâve justîfyd yourself, as you hâve done, and his behavior has been sach as no man of sence could hâve been thought his adviser, thad wished well to his Ma. affairs; for, tho he has done himself harme , yett his flying in his Ma. face, as he has done, shews the weeknesse of our gouvernement, which has very ill effects abroad. This day I receved yours of the 22, and shall be very impacient to know what will become of the great affaire with you; as for the newse you had out of France, I give little creadit to it, and would say more to you but that it is so late that I must make an end, which I shall always do, with assuring you that I shall always be as kind to you as you can désire.

LETTRE MCCCliinFm.

Le Duc cCYork au Prince cT Orange» Le Roi et lui ne doutent pas que la démarche des Étais-Généraua à t appui du BiU â! exclusion n*ait été faite sans son aveu.

Kdenburgh, Dec. 25.

By the last post I receeved yours without a date, and by it see you are in paine that it was reported that the Stats had pressed his Ma. to passe the bill of exclution ; I easily beleve you had no hand in the paper M*^ Sidney sent, as the sence of the Stats; for I hâve read a copy of it, and hâve it still by me, which to me seems tô persuade his Ma. to agrée with his Parliament, in that, as well as every thinge els, in which I thinke I am not mistaken, and bave been informed his Ma. was of that mind to , having ordred M^ Sidney to be reprimanded for having taken and sent such a paper, and looked on it to hâve had its rise from a neare relation of his , and I cannot help beleving that, without encouragment from Liondon and the envoyé himself, such a paper had never

been sent, and I easilj beleve y ou had no hand ^ it, for, besids the unjustice of such a thing, you hâve to mach kindnesse for me, and for the Monarky, and our £imily, to hâve prorooted any thing of that kind, knowing that a bill of exclution or limitation, and more especially the later, must of necessity destroy for ever the Monarky, and now I hope ail the world is convinced , by what past this day sennight in the house of Gommons, that their désigne is to use this King, as the long Parliament did his father, but I hope he will sone put a stop to their violent proceding; if he do not, he cannot be King long. As for newse, some of the scolars of the coledg* hère, did désigne to hâve burnt the pope, with such ceremonys as was latly done at London , and had apointed this day to do it, but the gouvernment hère, not liking such tamultus doing, had some of them put in prison this morning, for entring into a bond to do it , which is very pénal by the laws hère; I meane, making any combination, tho the thing in its self might be never so innocent; however a few of them this morning came up a bystreat carring a pope, which some officers seing went towards them, upon which they ran away and lift their pope, to which they had put fire, and so the matter ended, at least for this day, and, tho this in itsself be realy nothing, I beleeve from London they were sett on to do it, and that.ill people there will make a great noyse out, whidi is ail I hâve to say now, but to assure you that yen shall always find me as kind to you as you can désire.

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JbETTRE BICCCLXIX.

Le Duc et York au Prince cF Orange. Audace du parti le plus avancé dans le Parlement.

Dec 28.

I receved this day y ours of the 27, by which I sec

* in omit. * collège.

[1680. Décembre.

the Prince of Hanover was upon his departnr for London; yoa maj easily beleve I am as sorrj as he can be, not to be there to see him ; in two or three months tyme there may happen many things. You see to what a height of confidence the violent people corne to in the Parliament I hope his Ma., before this can be with you, will hâve done his part, to save himself and the monarky; for, if he letts them sitt till that tyme, I shall looke upon ail to be gone. Things are hère very quiat , and I hâve not tyme to say more but that you shall always be * very kind to you.

LETTRE MCCCIjXX.

Lord Sunderland au Prince d'Orange. Le Roi disposé à soutenir les États- Généraux contre la France.

The E[ing bas commanded me to let your Highnesse knov7, that, for his owne sake and for y ours, there is nothing he should more unwillingly see then an alliance between France and the States, and therefore he has sent positive orders to M*" Sydney to use ail means possible to prevent it. His Ma. thinkes the prorogation may be so ill understodd abroade, as to fright many into a submission to the power of France , but his reasons being onely to bring his people to such a temper as may make it more likely the next session should be a good one, he hopes it will be rightiy understood in Holland, and in a little time everywhere els, and that those who expect support from him will not be disheartened. He will hâve above forty ships at sea this summer, without any helpe firom his Parlament; when they meet (which he intends, as soon as he can hope for a good session, and he will use ail the meanes he can to create such a temper in his people as is necessary towards it) he doe's not doubt but to be enabled by them to défend himself and his friends from ail

' par erreur pour fiod me.

1680. Décembre] — 464 —

theire ennemjs, and, in case the french King should attacke the States, on the presumtion of a long prorogation, it would be so generall a concerne that ail Princes [mnst], for theire owne sakes, engage in theire qaarrell, which would make ail Europe against him, which wee hâve twice seen him afiraide of. This, Sir, the King has commanded me to write from him , but I can not gîve over, without letting your Highnesse know that no man in the world has greater esteeme and respect for your person then I hâve. I could not but with greate joy receave those markes of your faveur you were pleased to give me in your letter of Decemb. the 26, which I will endeavour to deserve as long as I live, bv ail the services I am capable of, being most truly and with that submission I ought to be, Sir,

your Highnesses most faithfull, most humble, and most obedient servant

SUNDBRLANI).

Whitehall, Decemb. 30.

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LETTRE MCCCLXXI.

Le Duc âYorh au Prince d! Orange, La prorogation du Parlement fortifiera le gouvernement du Roi.

Edenburgh, Dea 31.

I receved yesterday, as I was a going to a feast in the Citty, y ours of the 29, but for that reason had not tyme to answer it by the post of that day. It was not necessary, I assure, for you to hâve sayd so much to me upon the subject of the D. of Monmouth , as you did , knowing you to well to hâve thought you capable of any thing of that kind; I am sorry to see that, where yoo are, any were allarmd at the prorogation of the Parliament; had they meett, you and ail our friends would indeed hâve had reason to hâve been troubled. I faope, and am confident, this long prorogation will do good and

— 465 — [1680. Décembre.

gîve hÎ8 Ma. and the gouvernement tyme to recover a little strengtfay and will settle peoples minds, especially when they see he can lîve on his owne revenu. As for newse, this place affords none, only the weather continus very feîre and warme for thys tyme of yeare, and pray beleve I shall always be as kînd to you as yon can désire.

LETTRE MCCCLXXn.

Sir L, Jenkins au Prince et Orange, Le Roi résolu à main" tenir les prérogatives de la Couronne.

Whitehall, 31 Decemb. 80.

May it please your Higbnesse. Upon the receipt of a letter from your Higbnesse of the 27^** current new style, I did humbly acquaint his Ma. with the satisfaction that your Higbnesse had receiv'd upon his Ma. declaring, as he was pleas'd to doe, when I produced your Hîghnesses letter to bim, against those limitations that would» if consented to, retrench the rights of the Crown for ever.

I acquainted his Majestîe likewise of the appréhensions that your Higbnesse had, least the Crown shon' ' in the présent exigencies be brought, by indirect ways and means, to sufier a diminution, that might at last prove a ruine to the monarchy itself , and that it was your Highnesses command upon me to represent to bis Ma. from time to time, as occasion sbould require, the assurance that his Ma. had been pleas'd, by his commands upon me, to give to your Higbnesse of his care and concern to préserve the birth-right of every branch of the royall family in keeping and maintaineing the prérogatives of the Crowne, free, full and entire, as they now are.

His Ma. was therefore pleas'd to command me to repeat again the same thing to your Higbnesse; and to assure you that there will be as much care taken on his Majesties part as your own heart can wish to that effect V, 30

1680. Décembre.] — 466 —

His Ma. was pleas'd , when I had layd before him thîs whole matter and yoar Highnesses desires and cares about it , to expresse himself as if he had look'd on the act of Association, as a law, according the modell that was given him of it, that would be of a most dangerous conséquence to the authority and dignity of the King, as well as to the peace of the Kingdome.

There is no such act yet drawen up into a Bill, so that no certain accompt of the parts and extent of it can yet be given to your Highnesse , onely the house of Gommons, in their last addresse (or answer) to his Ma., doe represent it as necessary , to fortifie and défend that other act whereby the Duke is to be excluded.

My poor judgement leads me to be (as farr as my vote can goe) against the diminishing of or retrenching from the rights of the Crown, by any act or consent of his Ma. or of his Parliament , and the command I now hâve firom your Highnesse will make me as watchfull as I am capable of being , to mind his Ma. of his assurances to your Highnesse. — I am , with a perfect dévotion , may it please your Highnesse,

your Highnesses' most humble and most obedient servant