MARIE

For my sonne the Prince of Orange.

1 faire. 2 wished.

367 [1678. Septembre.

LETTRE UICCLXVIII.

Le Prince <£ Orange au Prince Henri Casimir II de Nassau- Dietz. Il désire vivre avec lui en bon accord.

A la Haye, ce 7 de sept. 1678.

Monsieur ! Nonobstant que 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 cavallerie, où il doit avoir deus compagnies de cassées, lesquels seront ceus 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,

G. PRINCE D'ORANGE

LETTRE MCCLXIX.

Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. Prorogation du Parlement.

London Dec. 31 1678.

I receved yesterday yours pf the thierd ', by the which I see you had made the reforme of some of your troups; his Ma. is obliged to do the same hère, for ail he prorogued 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 morning, I make no doubt of his over-

' 3 janvier 1679 a. I.

1678. Décembre.] 368 —

coming ail the dificultys he lys under, tho ' they be very great. By the next y ou shall heare more from me, and be assured I shall always be very kind to you.

LETTRE MCCLXX.

M. M. Boreel et van Weede, envoyés en France, au Prince d'Orange. Entretien avec M. de Louvois.

Doorlughtighste hooghgeboren Furst ende Heere. De heere Marquis de Louvois van het ongemack , twelk hem door het storten met syn peert voor ruym een maent was overgecomen, soo verre sijnde herstelt dat aenspraecke lede, heeft de heere Boreel inde voorleden weecke aen denselven gegeven een visite ende, naer eenige discoursen 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 gerechôrcheert 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 , mitsgaders de memorie bij forme van antwoort door den heere de Lyra ter vergaederinge van haer Ho. Mo. ingedient , nopende het inruymen ende overgeven van de stadt Maestright, d'een ende d'andere in seer ernstige ende stercke termen ende expressien , ende de laetste selfs met een be-

1 though.

3C)9 — [1679. Septembre.

dreyginge van repressailles op de effecten , die de Hollantse coopluyden hebben te verwaghten met de Spaense gallioenen ; — dat syn Ed. niet vast en conde seggen of deselve metter daet soude worden int werck geleyt, dogh wel dat aile de advisen uyt Madrid sulx medebraghten , ende dat die ende diergelijcke ontmoetingen. dewelcke misschien nogh van erger souden worden gevolght, den Staet overquamen, ômdat 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 Ht). 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 sullen laeten gelegen sijn om die te conserveren , oock ailes wat in haer is contribueren om met den Coninck ende het Rijck te mogen leven in goede ende vertroude correspondentie, ende wat het verdere aengingh, dat onlanx 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 sigli niet en openbaerde een ge genegentheyd tôt het opreghten ofte vernieuwen 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 ouvertures geschieden van Sijne Majesteit; daarbij voegende dat, als men soude sien dat de Staten-Generael haer souden blijven houden als indifferenten , men mogelijck hier soude resolveren ora wat te doen met anderen, die betuygen daertoe te sijn genegen , ende dat de uytcomste dan soude leeren of dat was de interesse van ons lant.

Ende nu voor eenige dagen de Heere van Dijcvelt den gemelden Heere Louvois mede wesende gaen sien, om af te leggen het officie van congratulatie over sijne beterschap ende over het houwelijck van sijn doghter met den Prince van Roche-Guyon , outsten soon van den Prins van Marsillac, premier maistre de la garder obbe du Roy , en Grand- Veneur de la Couronne, is deselve, naer verwisselinge van eenige beleeftde woorden op het subject van de visite, door discourssen over verscheyden saecken van desen tijt gecomen tôt die, van dewelcke sijn Ed. te vooren met den Heere Boreel hadde gesproocken , ende heeft 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 nauwe alliantie, maer dat Sijne Majesteit daertoe moste worden aengesoght, ende dat dan sijne sincère intentie ten beste van denselven soude blijcken uyt de conditien , die Sijne Majesteit soude accorderen ; dat wij ontrent 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 Vranckrijck, souden connen bedingen soodanige precautien ende securiteyt, als soude connen worden gevonden ofte uytgedaght ; daerbij doende , bij exempel, dat de Coninck sigh soude engageren die nimmermeer te mogen aentasten, ende ten wat tijde Sijne

— 371 [1679. Septembre.

Majesteit met den Coninck van Spagne moghte raecken in oorlogh, dat hij in die quartieren niet en soude ageren , veel min sigh met de wapenen of bij tractaet van vrede meester maecken van de geringhste plaetse ofte bicoque; dat hij oock deselve Nederlanden, nogh bij eschange, nogh bij vrijwillige overgifte , soude 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 soude dan Spagne elders moeten ende connen aengrijpen; en wat soude haer Ho. Mo. daeraen wesen gelegen , of Sijne 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 tvverck off de interessen van den Staet al wesen oock soo wederom den oorlogh tegens ons aan te vangen ?

Ende is aen den Heere de Louvois, op tgene van een nader alliantie ende eenige conditien 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 langhduyrigh 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 —

toewenschinge van aile heyl ende segen over Uwe Hooghheits dierbaere persoon ende huys, Doorlughtighste Hooghgeboren Furst ende Heere,

Uwe Hooghheits gans ootmoedige ende onderdanige dienaers,

JACOB BOREEL, EVERARD VAN WEEDE.

Parijs, den 1 September 1679.

LETTRE MCCL.XXI.

Sir W. Temple au Prince $ Orange. Il veut se retirer des affaires. Gravité des circonstances.

London, December 9 1679.

The concernment your Highnesse pleases to express upon the resolution Mr Sidney told you I had taken as to my owne disposall, is a great deal more then it could deserve , and would make raee consider myself more then I doe, if I knew myself lesse. I am confident Mr Sidney could not hâve told your Highnesse ail that I told him upon that occasion and, if hee had, that you would hâve beene as much satisfyed with that resolution as hee was himself, when hee left mee, though hee had never before been of that mincie, and seems now to bee of another, from the déférence hee has to your Highnesses judgement. I shall not reason upon this matter at this distance; but onely say, upon your Highnesses réflexion, 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 Mr 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. You

— 373 — [1679. Décembre.

have at this time something a greater affaire upon your hands and more difficult to résolve in. I know not whether you expected such an answer apon it as I heare has been given both to Mr van Lewen and Mr 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 saw 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. God of heaven inspire your Highnesse with such counsels, upon thees great and difficult occasions, as may ende in such fortunes as are wished you by your most obedient and most humble servant.

LETTRE MCCLXXII.

M. Godolphin au Prince cC Orange. Le Duc oV York et même le Roi avoient conçu de la défiance envers le Prince.

Dec. 14. 1679.

I acquainted your Highnesse formerly that both m1* 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 Highnesse had thoughts of comming over at this time, joynd to the Duke of Monmouths 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 rumours, hâve fully satisfyed his Majesty in that matter. I shew'd your Highnesse's letter to mylord Sunderland, and, as to what concern'd hiinselfe in itt, hee takes it very well, as hee ought to doe [yfj your Highnesse is pleas'd to tell him your opinion of him with soe much freedome; as to his inclinations for making any Allyance with France , no body knows better than hee does how destructive it must bee to us, and therefore I am persuaded no body 's thoughts are more remote from it, and this [ may say for him that he left nothing undone that he could imagine might promote our allyance writh Holland and , whensoever that appeares to bee practicable, I am confident lie 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 quiett , 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 create such a temper in the people as that the Parliament may meet next winter without ill conséquences to him; he continues resolv'd not to see the Duke of Monmouth.

LETTRE MC1XYVI1I.

M. Godolphin au Prince d'Orange. Le Roi redoute extrêmement une alliance des États- Généraux avec la France.

Jan. the 1. 1680.

I hâve the honour of vour Highnesse's of the 2d, and am sorry you doe not like the gray horse. I hope yett, when you corne to use him, you will like him better, but however I would not hâve sent him, if I had thought you could hâve stayed for him till March, but 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 — [[680. Janvier.

by this expresse that the King is exceedingly alarm'd by Mr 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 sufFer itt, and he has directed mylord Sunderland to tell Mr Sidney that he should assure the States that , in case France should really résolve to break with them , upon their declining to enter into the Allyance that has been proposed, he would assist them to the utmost 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 without some such great occasion it bee not his intention they should meet, till he has had time to doe severall things, which he is very much perswaded may helpe to bring them to a better temper. The King would hâve spoken himselfe to Mr van Leewen 1 upon this occasion , but the embr 2 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 happens to bee within 24 houres 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 will 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 MCCLXXIV.

Sir W. Temple au Prince d'Orange. La prorogation du Parlement semble difficile à concilier avec les apparences d'une attitude plus énergique envers la France.

Jan. 2, 1679—80.

The honor and the kindenesse of your Highnesses letter of the 26 past was too great and too sensible not to hâve

1 Dideiik van Leenwcn van Leyden , ambassadeur extraordinaire en Angleterre. 2 embassador.

1680. Janvier.] — 376 —

been sooner acknoledged , but that I was in the country when it arrivée! , where I stayed a weeke or ten days , and made myselfe beleeve your Highnesse would not bee content to receave a letter from so idle a place. I am very glad you were pleased with that change I made in my resolution upon your Highnesses commands, which indeed nothing else could hâve deferrd , and shall not pursue it before I give you a further account of it, either this way or by Mr Sidney , if hee cornes over and returns, as hee intended when hee was last heere. Hee will hâve told you how ill success I mett with upon it in my private concerns and how ill in the publique. I wish this last touched mee as little as the other, though both together may bee arguments that I had reason in what I resolvd. For the adviess vour 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 Holland, with our proroguing the Parliment, just at the time it was pursuing. Since the prorogation was declared , I hâve never seen the King , nor any of his ministers, till tuesday last. And your Highnesse will know the minde they are in at présent, by the express sent away last night to Mr Sidney; how long that may last, God 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 corne, when Madlle Brederodes prophecy is fullfilled. but till then I doe not expect it. Mr Hide came to mee yesterday and, after much discourse of our affaires both at home and abrood, profest to agrée most perfectly with my opinions upon them, and at his going tooke occasion to say that hee did not knowe how hee may hâve been represented to your Highnesse of late , especially since the Dukes coming

— 377 — [1680. Janvier.

over, as différent from what hee had been both to your Highnesse and the publique affairs, when wee were last together in Holland, but he desired wel upon occasion that I would assure you hee was still the saine 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 fbrget 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 family make the same wishes and prayers and thinks themselves too much honord by your Highnesses reraembring them. While I remember any thing, I shall never forgett that dévotion and truth wherewith I hâve been so long, and shall be alwaies, your Highnesses most obedient and most humble servant.

LKTTRK JHCCL.XXV.

Sir W. Temple au Prince d'Orange. Le Roi résolu de soutenir les Etats- Généraux contre la France; chances oVun renouvellement de la Triple Alliance.

London Jan. 6.

I dit not thinke to give your Highnesse another trouble so soon after my last, but that I beleeved you would not bee displeasd to know that, upon a long discourse this morning in private with his Majesty , hee seemed so resolute in supporting your Highnesse and the States in the refusall 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 Ambr and then write to some of my friends in Holland, to assure them that,

1 080. Janvier] — 378 —

in case France should attaque them , as they seem to threaten upon this occasion , his Majesty would iramediatly déclare a warr against France in their defence, and at the same time call his Parliament, who hee was confident would not leave him upon such an occasion , but however hee would curr l that and any other venture rather then not support the States, and that no other considération should hinder him from calling his Parlement upon it. Hee desired likewise to see the Dutch Ambr himself, as soon as hee could , that hee might say the same thing to him with his owne mouth, which I will présume is done, for Monsr v. Lewen promised mee that hee would goe to him before noone.

The two grounds upon which his Majesty seems tostand 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 2 at monr Barillons late letter into Holland and says both the haughtyness and insincereness of the French dealings are not to bee boren s and will at one time or other bring an old house about their heads. — I hâve desired Monsr v. Lewen not to mention my name to any but the pensr, both because none of the ministers heere know any thing of my parte in this matter, and because I désire to see how it will last, before I 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 come into it; which I aske because I know the constitutions there, that make

1 curry. 2 piqued. 3 born.

— 379 — [1680. Janvier.

one towne able to hinder any new treaty, and, if such a thing as this bee done, it must bee tout d'un coup , as the last was, 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 Lunenborghs falling into it, upon the score of coramon safety; for, if any such measure with Sueden should drive any of the others to France, it might bee an ill bargaine. I humbly aske yours Highnesse pardon and am soe, with constant dévotion and truth, your Highnesses most obedient and most humble servant.

LETTRE MCCLXXVI.

Lord Sunderiand au Prince d' Orange. Le bon accord du Prince avec le Roi est extrêmement 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 extreamely kinde to tyou and infinitely concerned 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 î your Highnesses most faithfull , most humble and most obedient servant

SUNDERLAND

16 January 1680.

v/N/x/vrv /n/va rw/v/\/\/\y

1680. Janvier.] — 380

LETTRE MCCL.XXVIÏ.

Sir W. Temple au Prince oV Orange. Le Roi incline à entrer dans une alliance contre la France.

London, January 23, 79.

Since my last I hâve had the honor of two from your Highnesse, of the 16 and 23, which I am sure affected mee extreamly, both in what concernd the posture of publique affairs on that side and your owne personage upon in particular. I know nothing more to bee resolved by the greatest and best Prince upon such an occasion then what you say in your first, and nothing in my opinion of better sensé and righter judgement then what plan your Highnesse proposes in your last. I showd it his Majesty, who has himself given you, I hope, such assurances as may satisfye you of his présent resolutions, and, as to the measures you propose with other princes , hee commanded mee to communicate the letter to mylord Sunderland and Mr Hyde, and consider together what was to bee done upon them. This I hâve done since , and finde them, as well as his Majesty, of an opinion that those with Sueden, Denmarke and the Dukes of Brandenburgh and Lunenburgh ought to bee considerd of as soon as can bee, and to that purpose that the draught of a treaty of commerce should bee made with Sueden, to the ende that a défensive league may at the same time bee concluded with them, either by a minister of the Kings, who is going thither, or else with the Suedis Ambr, who is upon his way hither. For the rest , that copys may bee procured of the severall treatys which the States hâve with Denmarke , Brandenburgh and Lunenburgh , so as it may bee considerd how they may agrée with our constitutions; that which your Highnesse proposes, of having them upon the same foote with those of the States, seeming to bee very reasonable, both as to the effect and the appearances of our union. For that with

— 381 — [1680. Janvier.

Spaine and the Emperor, they seeme to thinke them matters of more considération tlien the others, as drawing into greater and remoter conséquences, and rather to bee reserved till more bee seen of the french designs and which way they are like to turne, upon what has happend in Holland, which has, I confess, surprised mee more then it could doe your Highnesse , which way soever I consider it. God Almighty préserve your health and encrease the honor you hâve gained upon this occasion , and which I am sure you will deserve upon ail others , by so great prudence and justice in the choyce of your ends and so great resolution and steddyness in the pursuit of them. I am, and shall bee soe, with the same perfect dévotion and truth, your Highnesses most obedient and most humble servant.