JAMES

For my Sonne, the Prince of Orange.

LETTRE IttCCLiV.

Le Roi d'Angleterre au Prince d'Orange. Même sujet.

Whithall friday night.

I receaved your letter by Wroth this evening, by which I perceave you are now at Canterbury. The reason that made me propose your comming hether againe was when I did beleeve you intended to stay at Sheerenesse, till the winde was faire, and in that casse2 my proposition was not unreasonable ; but, now that you are advanced so farr and résolve to embarke at Margatt, I thinke you will do well not to come hether, for it will be a troublesome journy this ill wether and, if the winde should

1 continue. s case.

— Or)o [IG77- Novembre.

change, as you are comming hether, you may chance to loose a good passage, and I hope you beleeve my kindnesse to you is upon a better fondation then to neede any such compliment. Pray , remember me very kindly to your wife and be assured that I am as kinde to you both as you can désire.

LETTRE MCCL.VI.

Lord Danby1 an Prince et Orange. Le Duc d'York trèsanimé contre la France,

London, 23 Nov. 1677.

I received the honour of your Highnesses letter about 3 houres agoe et spoke imediately to the King according to your comands. His M. told mee hee would write to your Highnesses himselfe, and I found him only concernd for your owne conveniency , in what hee had writt concerning your returne to London and should leave itt intirely to what you should think best. — When I had writt thus far, I was sent for to the King, who told mee that mylady Frances Villers was dead and that the Duke had spoke to him for one in her place, who hee could not refuse, which was mylady Henrietta Hyde, but that hee was a litle embarassed whither your Highnesse might not hâve some objection to her upon that score which made you except against her husbands being embassador in Holland; although hee thought there was a great différence betvvixt the unckle and the wife of an unckle, especially since , att your désire , hee was resolved not to imploy him in Holland, and hee could easely refuse him that imployment, without giveing the Duke any reason why hee did so, but hee could not refuse the Dukes request for mylady, without giveing that reason which hee knew your Highnesse would not hâve the Duke to think. Hee there fore comanded mee to acquainte your High-

1 Thomas (hborne, comte de Danby, <jr and- trésorier , de 1G7H à J(î78.

1677. Novembre] 354

nesse with itt, and that hee does not think itt a matter worth the takeing any notice of, since the effect would bee the putting of some sort of disobligation upon the Duke. Wee hâve yett no newes of mylord Feversham , more then his being att Sk Germaines on sonday and the King believes hee wil bee hère on sonday next. In the meane time I know Mr Barillon has had a currier, who arrived hère yesterday att two a dock, and hee said to one that hee feared the answer to mylord Feversham would not bee so good as wee expected. I gave an account of this to the King and Duke this mormng , as also of an intelligence I hâve of theire intention to block Ypres, untill the season would give leave to invest itt closer, and (to my great admiration) the Duke said very briskly that, in case they do not agrée to the propositions sent by mylord Feversham , the King ought to lett the King of France know that, unlesse hee would forbear any further conquests in Flanders, hee could not hinder England from coming into the war, and I said I hoped they would give mee leave to renew that motion , if wee should receive an ill or dilatory answer from France. I am extreame sorry the Kings businesse will not permitt my attendance on your Highnesse att Canterbury, and the more because I was so imfortunate as not to kisse your Highnesses hands att your departure from hence; but I hope I am so happy in your Highnesses beleife l of my zeale to your service that I need make no apologies for ceremony, there being no body alive with greater passion and respect your Highnesses most faithfull and obedient servant.

LETTRE MCCLVII.

Le Duc oV York au Prince aV Orange. Compliments.

Londen, November 23.

I receved this afternone yours by M1 Wroth, by the

1 belief.

[1677 Novembre.

which I find you were then a going for Canterbury and, since you did not corne back hether , I am glad you chose that place to ly at, in expectation of a fair wind, it being the convenients in many respects. I wish very much for your sake the wind would change , but I see no liklyhood of it; however it is to far for you to corne hether and to give yourself that trouble, in so ill a season as this is, and beside, by doing it, you might lose the oportunity of the fîrst wind , which you see by experiance aught not to be lost at this tyme of yeare. — As I had writen this, I receved yours of yesterday , which I had no soner, by reason of my secretary having been in the towne ail day, and hâve no more to say upon it; only that I am very sorry I am not like to hâve the satisfaction of seing you for ail ; the wind may , I feare , keep you some days where you are. Mylord Ossory, that give you this, will tell you ail the newse we hâve hère, which is not much.

LETTRE MCCLVIII.

Le Duc d'York au Prince <£ Orange. Il espère qu'il aura eu une heureuse traversée.

London , November 30.

I was very glad to find, by yours of wensday morning from Margate , that you were then going on board the yachts, with a faire wind, and, if it hâve been the same at sea as it lias hère, I make no doubt that you landed yesterday; I am sure I wish it, for, beside that it is so very necessary for you to be there, it lias blowen very hard ail this night. I long very much to heare ofyour being landed, and, pray, beleve you shall always find me as kind to you as you can expect. — I had forgott to tell you that Lord Feversham was to be yesterday at Calais, so that we looke for him hère this day or to morrow.

1077. Décembre] 356

LETTRE MCCL.IX.

Le Roi oV Angleterre au Prince d'Orange. Il n'est pas satisfait de la réponse du Roi de France à Lord Feversham.

Whithall, 4 Deceraber 1677.

I was very much in paine, till I heard by the yaughts that you were safely landed ; for, if you had not taken just then the time to land at Terhay l , the foule wether would hâve forced you back for England. Mylord Feversham is returned, but, as I thought, not with such an answer as I could wish , therfore I will dispatch Mr Montague to morrow, with more pressing instances, and to hâve a positive answere , upon which I may take my measures; I hâve directed Mr Hide to speake to you more at large upon this matter, so as I shall say no more upon it, only to désire that I may hâve an answer as soone as you can, which is ail I can say to you now, haveing a great deale of businesse upon my hands; only I will omitt no oportunity of assuring you that I am, and ever will be, kindly yours.

LETTRE MCCLX.

Le Duc dJ York au Prince oV Orange. Départ de M. Montagu pour la France.

London, December 4.

I receved but yesterday yours from Honslardike, but on saturday, by three in the afternone, had an account from one of the cap. 2 of the yachts of your having landed on thursday none at Terhey, which I was very glad to heare, because that very same night it began to blow very hard and has continud doing so ever since. I was also very glad you had so good a passage and that you landed so as you did, for otherwise you would hâve been

1 Ter Heide. 2 captains.

357 — [1677. Décembre.

put to it to have known what to do , by reason of the rivers being full of ice , and I beleve now that Odike * will be convinced that a yacht is better for thèse seas then a man of war; for those that went with you of ours were not corne back yesterday to the Downs. Lord Feversham is now corne back , and as yett the propositions he carried will not be harkned to; to morrow His Maj. sends away Mr Montegu , to presse the King of France againe , and to have a positive and speedy answer. I wish he may agrée, but I feare not; for ail, the parlement is to meet the 15 of next month , but of ail thèse affairs you will recive2 a large account from other hands, so that I shall say no more of thern , nor of any thing els at this tyme, but only to assure you that I am y ours.

LETTRE MCCLXI.

Lord Danby au Prince d' Orange. Le Roi est dans des dispositions très-énergiques à l'égard de \a France.

London, 4 Decemb. 1677.

I have a multitude of acknowlegdments to make to your Highnesse for your severall letters and honours in them, which your Hs has been pleasecl to bestow upon mee since your leaveing this place , and as I have received great satisfaction from them ail , so itt has not been the least that, by your last from Honslaerdyck , I have heard the good newes of both your Highnesses safe arrivai in Holland. Wee had received the news of S1 Grillin being beseiged3, before your letter came, and I hope with no ill effect, for itt did so alarme us hère (I meane the King and Duke themselves, as well as others) that, together with the account wee have received from France by mylord Feversham , itt has made us come up to more brisk councills then I dare bee confident your Hs could expect from us, and of which you would have had an ac-

1 Guillaume de Nassau , Seigneur d'Odijk. 2 receive. 3 besieged.

1677. Décembre.] — 358 —

count by the sending of Sir Wm Temple, but that vvee stay him, in expectation of haveing more to send him with , when wee hâve heard once more from France by Mr Montagu, who is to départ hence on thursday morning, with orders to presse for a speedy resolution of theire mind. The summe oftheanswer to mylord Feversham (who has acquitted himselfe very well there) has been, that the King of France did not expect the King of England would hâve thought such propositions reasonable, and that hee should thinke itt as reasonable to désire of him that hee should cutt ofF his legs and then bid him walke. That, to shew his intentions are not to take ail Flanders, hee would bee willing to consent to a truce, for ail the Spanish and Holland townes betwixt the Meuse and the sea, as was in the yeare 1668, and that truce to bee for a yeare or what fùrther convenient time the King should thinke fitt. What answer His Maj. has returnd to this, Mr Hyde is directed to communicate to your Hs att large , so that I will not trouble you with the répétition of itt; butt you may bee fully assured his Matie will not now go lesse then the seaven townes mentioned to your Hs, and will, as much as your selfe, expect that, if S* Gillain or any other place shall bee taken , since the sending of mylord Feversham into France , they bee restored , over and above the townes already demanded; and your Hs may judge how much our temper is altered, when the principall end of this expresse is to tell you that the King will joyne with Holland to oblige France to accept the proposalls sent by mylord Feversham , in case Holland will joyne with him to oblige Spaine to the same, in case they shall refuse itt; and the King will.rely upon your Highnesses single engagement for this, without saying any thing to the' States of itt. Your Highnesse will easily remember how far the King was from coming up to this, when you made severall essaies to hâve gained itt from him, so that your Hs will give mee leave to say the fault will

— 359 — [1677. Décembre.

10 w lie on jour side of the water, if you hâve not, either -,he peace upon the tearmes proposed, or us as deeply ngaged 1 in the war as yourselves and , if I may offer an advise (though itt may bee too early) I thinke itt vere not amisse to consider on your parts , as wee shall l)ee thinking on ours, in what manner the carriyng on of the war might bee best concerted betwixt England and Holland, in case of a rupture with France, because the project of itt will do no harme, though itt should never bee executed. I beleeve your Hs has as litle 2 expected the short adjournment of the Parliament, which proceeds from the same cause, and that which I beleeve you lesse expect then ail the rest, and which I asure your Hs the truth of, is that the Duke goes as chearefully into thèse councills as the King. In short, I hâve so great confidence in our stedinesse to thèse resolutions that I can feare nothing but a Spanish obstinacy to make us recoile . which I hope your Hs will take care to prevent, and I am comanded by His Matie privately to tell your Hs that hee wishes you could hasten the recall of the Marquis de Burgomaine, by speeding the Marquis de Fuentes hitther, whom wee hâve expected a good while, and who I hope there will bee care taken to instruct so as to transact in a more satisfactory manner with his Matie then this has done, and which will certainely bee more usefull to the interests of Spaine. I am , with ail possible duty and zeale, your Highnesses most truly obedient servant.

LETTRE Ni i I/VBI

Sir William Temple au Prince oV Orange. Le Duc cC York aussi veut résister à la France.

London, December 8 1677.

May it pleas your Highnesse. I should by last post hâve rejoyced with your Highness upon the news of your

1 engagée!. 2 little.

1677. Décembre.] — 360 —

happy arrivai and upon the resolutions that hâve beene taken heere since you wente, in those affairs wherein your Hs is so deeply concernd, but that mylord treasurers letter to you upon this subject was so long and so particular that nothing could bee added to it , for your H5 information or satisfaction, and therefore I resolved not to trouble you with the same things by that post, and from so much a worse hande. I suppose Mylord amb. Hide will hâve showed your Hs his instructions and MT secretarys letter upon that occasion , which, agreeing so fully with what mylord treasurer writt, must hâve left you in no doubt of those resolutions beeing h'rmely taken heere, and yett I thought your Hs would not bee displeased to know from mee that I am of opinion they are so, and, which is more, that the Duke will goe up to as great a heigth in them as any man, in case France gives him the occasion by their answer to what Mr Mountague goes away with to say, and that His Hs will absolutely conclude from thence what their good intentions either are or hâve beene to the King. Though I hâve this second time excused myself from attending upon your Hs, and thereby devolved His Majestys commands upon Mr Hide once more, yet I hope your H3 will pardon mee, since I hâve onely reserved myself for the next occasion, which I expect will bee of more moment, and within a very little time. For the présent I onely désire your Hs will please to give your answer to what M1* Hide carrys you, in such manner as may bee fully to his Majs satisfaction, and, if you should scruple the doing it to any other hande, that you would at least doe it in a private letter to His Majs owne, with a désire it may goe no further then those hands by which ail your Hs concernes hâve hitherto been transacted, which hâve been no more in thees last affairs then in those of the match. I hope your Highnesse will thinke fitt to write particularly to the Duke , as well as to the King , in acknoledgment and applause of thees late resolutions, and Mylord

— 361 [1677. Décembre.

Treasurer will deserve it too by the great parte he has had in them. I aske your Hs pardon for the length and confidence of this letter and your justice in beleeving mee ever, what I sball ever bee , with a perfect dévotion and truth , Sir, your Higbnesses

most faithfull and most obedient humble servant,

w. TEMPLE.

v--V/Vr\.-v,*W\/Wr\'N^

LETTRE T1CTXYUI

Sir W. Temple au Prince d'Orange. Traité entre V Angleterre et les États- Généraux.

London, 18 Jan. 1678.

May it please your Highnesse. No man could bee more obliged then I was by the honor and kindeness of your Highnesses last letter, wherein you were pleased to complaine of my not going over with the project which Mr Thinne carryed and to expect some good reasons for my excuse. I had but too many, which were very ill health at that time, a necessity of attending some afFairs fallen then upon mee by my fathers death, and besides, to say truth, a dislike of such a projects beeing drawne in to paper, because I knew it would bee impossible for your Highnesse to conclude it in forme and yet keepe it secret, and that, when it came to bee knowne, it would loose your Highnesse and the States the confidence of severall of your Allys and a good deal of crédit perhaps with them ail; so that I thought it was to putt a great straine upon your Highness , without encreasing the strength of those measures which had been taken before between His Majesty and your Highness upon the same occasion. And, for my parte, I hâve alwaies thought there was nothing to bee done for His Majesty but, either to keepe out of the warre , or else to goe into it in con-

1678. Janvier.] — 382 —

junction with the whole confederacy , which I beleeve will be no more then needs, considering how late wee hâve fallen into thees counsels. I ara apt to thinke that the whole warr dépends upon Tournay, so farr as that Condé would bee given in the condition tis i now in , which they say has been made with vast expence one of the very best places of the whole provinces. But they seem resolute heere to abate nothing of the proposall , and the Duke the most of any man in this opinion, and rather inclined now to refuse the peace upon the very tearms proposed then to accept it upon lesse. If your Highnesse hears thees conjectures from no other hande, you will pleas to take no notice of them, though I should bee glad to know your Highnes opinion upon them and what you thinks the Spaniards would [beej ; since you can judge best on that side, where you best know the présent condition of Flanders and what hopes or dispaire there may bee of keeping it, till wee can corne into the game with a good stake. For, if Ypre, Dixmude and Nieuport should bee lost, wee should hâve such an aftergame to play as would very hardly bee recoverd, and the conduct of the Spaniards seems not onely to leave them but Ostende itself in danger. I wish His Majesty and your Highnesse in this conjunction both the wisest counsels and the happyest fortunes you can propose to yourselves , and shall ever bee , with perfect dévotion and truth , Sir ,

your Highnesses most faithfull and most obedient humble servant,