L.ETTRE 9ICCCLXIJE

Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. Audace du parti le plus avancé dans le Parlement.

Dec. 28.

I receved this day yours of the 27 , by which I see

1 io omis. 2 collège.

463 — [1680. Décembre.

the Prince of Hanover was upon his departur for London; you may easily beleve I am as sorry 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 HCCCL.XX.

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

The King has commanded me to let your Highnesse know, 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 M1' 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 rightly 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 from 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

1 par erreur pour fiml me.

1680. Décembre.] — 464 —

theire ennemys, 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 [must] , for theire owne sakes, engage in theire quarrell, which would make ail Europe against him, which wee hâve twice seen him affraide of. This, Sir, the King has commanded me to write from him, but I can not give 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 favour you were pleased to give me in your letter of Decemb. the 26, which I will endeavour to deserve as long as I live, by 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

SUNDERLAND

Whitehall, Decemb. 30.

LETTRE MCCCL.XXI.

Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. La prorogation du Parlement fortifiera le gouvernement du Roi.

Edenburgh, Dec. 31.

I receved yesterday, as I was a going to a feast in the Citty, yours 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 you 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 hope, and am confident, this long prorogation will do good and

465 [1680. Décembre.

give his Ma. and the gouvernement tyme to recover a little strength , and will settle peoples minds , especially when they see he can live on his owne revenu. As for newse, this place affords none, only the weath^r continus very faire and warme for thys tyme of yeare, and pray beleve I shall always be as kind to you as you can désire.

LETTRE UICCCLXXII.

Sir L. Jenkins au Prince d'Orange. Le Roi résolu à maintenir les prérogatives de la Couronne.

Whitehall, 31 Uecemb. 80.

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

I acquainted his Majestie likewise of the appréhensions that your Highnesse had, least the Crown shon1 [ in the présent exigencies be brought , by indirect ways and means, to suffer 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 his Ma. from time to time, as occasion should require, the assurance that his Ma. had been pleas'd , by his commands upon me, to give to your Highnesse of his care and concern to préserve the birth-right of every brancli 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 Highnesse; 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 this whole matter and vour 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 m y 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 from 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