ALBEMARLE

LETTRE HCCCXXIX.

Le Duc d'York au Prince d' Orange. On se prépare à attaquer le Duc devant le Parlement.

Newrnarkett , Sept. 19.

I had so much businesse upon my hands the last postday when I was at London , that I could not write by it; for from severall hands I am informed that those of the Lord Shaftsburys and the D. of Monmouths party do positivly intend to impeche me, so sone as the Parliament sitts, so that you cannot wonder if I had businesse enough upon my hands, whilst I was in towne, and shall hâve enough to do when I returne thether, for which there is j/ett no day sett, but I hope we shall not stay so long as usual ; on wensday or thursday their Maj. and ail of us go to Euston ; there being yett no races for ail this next weeke, this place affords no other newse, so that I hâve no more to say but that you shall never find any altération in my kindnesse to you.

LETTRE MCCCXXX.

[1680. Septembre.

Le Duc à? York à la Princesse d'Orange. Passage du Duc de Monmouth à Oxford.

Euston, Sept. 23.

We came hether last night from Newmarckett and are to returne back thether to morrow, but when to Lonclon I do not know. — It lias been the finest weather I hâve ever seene at this tyme of yeare, ever since we came into the country, there having not been one drop of raine, but calme cleer weather, which has been very good weatber fur the Ladys, but not for the sportmen, it being so very dry. As for newse, you may easily beleve this place affords none, but from Oxford I heare the D. of Monmouth has been there and treated in an extraordinary manner by the Major, but the University took no notice of him , and , as he went through the streets , the rabbel cryed „a Monmouth, no York, no Bishop, no Clergy , no University," and at diner, were ' he was treated by the Major, beside their [neval] popular healths, they dranke another, which was „ confusion to the Vice-Chanceler and Bishop of Oxford;" at ail which his Ma. is very much displeased. I had forgott on 2 particular more , which was that some cryd out for an élective King. I send this letter by Col. Wesley, who gos straight from hence to Harwich and so over by the pacquetboot, so that he carrys my letter, insteed of the post; pray do him good offices with the Prince , if occasion be , and be assured I shall always be very kind to you.

LETTRE MCCCXXXI.

Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. Le Roi disposé à soutenir le Duc contre ses ennemis.

Newmarkett, Octob. 3.

By the last post I receved y ours of the 27 of last

1 where. 2 one.

1680. Octobre.] — 422 —

month from Zell , by which I find you are well pleased with your voyage, and that you had receved some of my letters, in which I gave you an account of what was designd against me; they continu their resolutions and, tho they prétend only against me , their reale désigne is to destroy the monarky l and ail our family, which will sone be seen. His Ma., notwithstanding ail their endeavors, continus very firme to me, and yett, if lie will be résolut and shew favor to his old friends, ail will do well, and beleve me none but the true Church of Enodand-men can or will suport him and our family; ail the Phanatical discenters being for a commonwealth. The returne for London is put off till saturday next, so that there will be but little tyme left to prépare things before the meetting of the Parliament. This place affords but little newse, so that I shall say no more but that you shall always find me the same to you.

LETTRE 3HCCCXXXII.

M. Sidney au Prince d' Orange. Il faut absolument que le Roi "préfère aux intérêts du Duc iï York ceux de la Nation.

Oct. 7 1680.

I thinke it is very fitt your Highnesse should know some particulars of our présent affaires, and ail the letters being opened , especially those what are writt into Holland, I hâve now sent a man of my owne, purposely to deliver this to you, or else to putt itt into such hands, as shall convey it safe to you. The chiefe thing that I am to informe you of, is what concerns the Duke, who hath of late so exasperated the people that they can scarce heare his name with patience; the King hath begun to perceive it thèse three months, and every day more and more perswaded, that it is impossible to agrée with his Parliament and stick to his brother; he hath lately

i monarchy.

— 423 — [1680. Octobre.

asked the opinion of some of bis Councell and severall others, that he thought well affected to him, what was best for him to doe , and every body agreed in the whole matter, which is that he must agrée with his Parliament; that, if he should dissolve it att tins time, it would be certaine destruction to himself and his whole family, but the conclusion of ail was that it could not be done, without hurting with the Duke; the King finds tins advice is given to him by men that are affectionate to him and the Gouvernement, and some that ever been in the Dukes interest, but now find there is no remedy, and that no good can be done, as long as he is hère. The King cornes to towne a saturday and in a few day's will aske the advice of his Councell, what he ought to doe; most of the great officiers hâve already deliverd their opinion in private, and I beleeve (unlesse it be mylord Clarendon and Mr Hide) there l not a man in the Councell that dares advice the King to disolve the Parliament to save the Duke ; the rich sober men of the nation désire to be quiet and préserve the Gouvernement; the popish and commonwealth-party joyne in desiring a confusion , which will certainelv follow a dissolution. The Duke of Monmouth , mylord Shafsbury, mylord Kussell, and severall others, doe undertake to doe great matters for the King, if he will part with the Duke, and I beleeve there may be a good session, if that be, though the people are very angry att this time. The Duke of Monmouth hath been with the King, but his Majesty was not att ail satisfied with him, for he did not make those submissions the King expected from him; this is a great secreet; if the Duke knew it, he would be in worse humour then he is , and he is now in worse then ever I saw him; his servants begin to suspect somthing and are extreamly dejected , the Dutchesse is very melancholly, but whether it proceeds from the appréhensions of making another journey or seing the Duke so publikely owne Mrs Sydley, I can not tell ; she

1 is semble omis.

1G80. Octobre.]

cornes to towne to night, the Queen came last night and hath been ail this day ill of a feavour. The Duke of Monmouth hath more crédit in the countrey then one can immagine and, as long as he is kept out of the Court, it will encrease dayly and , if the King should dissolve the Parliament to save the Duke, it would grow to that height there would be no stopping it; this is apparent to every body and makes them wonder that the Duke will not chuse quietly to retire, rather then put the King upon those counsells that would be destructive to the King, to hirnself and to the Monarchy. What the Councell will advice, when the King calls them together, I can not yet tell, but I immagine they will thinke fitt to hâve the Duke remooved from the Kings présence before the sitting of the Parliament. This is the best account I can give you of our affaires, and I must add one thing more, which your Highnesse ought to know, and that is that there is not one that I hâve talked to of this businesse, that hath not your Highnesse always in their thoughts, and see no other way of preserving your right of keeping this nation from ruine and of securing the liberty of Europe, but the Kings complying with his people in what they shall désire concerning the Duke. This is a matter of the greatest importance to the whole world , and enough for one letter, but I will add a few words in my owne concerne. The night before I came from Newmarket, mylord Sunderland and Mr Godolphin spoke to the King about the command of the English troupes in Holland; he expressed great kindnesse to me, and said he had rather hâve me att the head of them then any man in England , that he would immediately give me his recommendation, but that the Duke of Albermarle pretended to hâve a promise from your Highnesse, and had desired him not to engage till your answer was corne back; they convinced the King how necessary it was for the good of the troupes to hâve a man over them, that they beleeved the States would be brought to consent to me rather then a

— 425 — [1680. Octobre.

stranger, that had so many imployments, and besides they told him that they could not beleeve your Highnesse was under any engagements to him. This discourse continued a good while and att last ended vvith this conclusion, that, if your Highnesse will write to the King to let him know that it will be very difficult to bring the States to consent to any body, but that it is certaine they will never hâve one that can not attend it l; this is enough to say in ones owne businesse , the rest I will leave to your kindnesse , which I shall ever rely upon , and use my uttermost endeavours to deserve it.

LETTRE MCCCXXXIII.

Lord Sunderland au Prince d'Orange. Il recommande M. Sidney pour être chef de la Brigade angloise.

Whitehall, Octobre the 8.

Mr Sydney, I am sure, will write ail the publicke news of this place to jour Highnesse, and therefore it is needlesse for me to doe it; but I must take the liberty to let y ou know that, when mylord Dunbarton first engaged the King and the Duke to presse your Highnesse that he might hâve the command of the Kings subjects in the service of the States, I desired them both that, if that could not be, upon the account of his being a papist, that they would not concerne themselves for any but M1' Sydney. They both promised they would not, since which the D. of Albermarle has been extreamely earnest with the King to recommend him , or at least to be passive in the case. The King told him he thought a man of his quality and fortune, and who had so many employements , could not possibly attend such a command abroade, but he still desires to hâve it, and I doubt not but he will solicite it with greate care ; but , since it is certaine he can not spare time enough for sucli a post in another

1 Par discrétion la phrase demeure inachevée.

countrey, I hope your Highnesse will favour Mr Sydney, who, I am sure, has so rauch zeale for your service that I thinke that will make him fitter then any other man for such an employement, and, if your Highnesse will please to excuse the admitting the D. of Albermarle and recommend Mr Sydney , I beleive every body will be satisfyed by the reason of the King. I beg you will be pleased to pardon this liberty I take, and that you will be assured that I am , with ail respect ,

your Highnesses most faithfull , most humble

SUNDERLAND

LETTRE MCCCXXXIV.

Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. En abandonnant le Duc, le Roi prépareroit sa propre ruine.

London, Oct. 12.

I received this day yours from Epsdorf , and by itt see you are agoing to meet the Elector of Brandenbourgh. I should be glad our meetting hère would end as well as I beleve yours will , but it is not so easy deeling with a Parliament, which will not meett in good humor, and besids what I shall hâve to do when they sitt, those whom I expected to be most my friends are no more so now ; for they would hâve me go away; 't is Lord Sunderland and Mr Godolphin who presse it. I confesse I did not expect they would hâve changed their minds, and never sayd a word to me of it till now ; I do my part to hinder any such resolution, being absolutly persuaded that, should his Ma. quit me, it would be ail our ruins; for it would so discourage the honest men that they would no more hold up their heads, and so encourage our enemys as cannot be imagined. By the next post I shall be able to give an account what is like to be my fate, and in the meane tyme be assured I shall always be very kind to you.