L. JENKINS
LETTRE MCCCL.XXII1.
Sir L. Jenkins au Prince d Orange. Nouvelles.
Whitehall, 31 Decemb. 1680.
Your Highnesse will hâve heer with enclosed the print of yesterday; this day hath produced nothing remarkable among the Commons, who onely sated ; for the Lords do not sitt till munday. I assure your Highnesse I am not able to frame any conjecture worth your notice upon the présent conjuncture hère; the bargain so much talkt of, is not without difficultés and discountenance , but the
[1680. Décembre.
talk of the town is infinité, and, for the most part groundlesse: for I see no reason to believe there is any bargain yet struck up. In the mean time , most things do in a manner appear to strangers to be off the hinges , but I hope it is not so. I shall not présume to answer your letter of the 27. n. st., till I hâve the honor to know his Ma. pleasure , which I am persuaded is the same as when I had the great honor to lay his Ma. thoughts before your Highnesse, by my letter of the Yn current. His Highnesse.
LETTRE MCCCLXXIV.
Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. On vise à une Republique.
Edenburgh, Jan. 4.
On sonday last I receved yours of the 3 , and see you are troubled, as I am sure alJ good men are, and as you aught to be , for the ill prospect of affairs in England , it being; now visible to ail the world that nothino; but the Kings laying downe his crowne at the house of Commons feett will satisfy thein , and that it is a republike the y ayme at. I hope by tliis his Ma. has sent them home; if he has not, I shall look on him and the monarky as in a very desperat condition. By sonday next T shall know what has been done. I hâve not tyme to say more, having been at Councell ail this afftornone, but to assure you I shall never alter my kindnesse to you.
LETTRE MCCCLXXV.
Sir L. Jenkins au Prince d'Orange. Animosité croissante.
Whitehall, 4 Jan. 8°/,.
His Majesties message that goes herewith enclos'd, had Borne debate upon it this day, but the further considera-
1681. Janvier.] — ■ 468 —
tion of it is putt off to friday morning ; the Lords hâve, this day, voted that there is and hath been a horrid popish plott in Ireland to massacre the protestants, and to subvert onr religion and the Governor; this vote was communicated to the Commons, to the end they might concurr; which, without doubt, they will doe, when the same évidence is imparted to them. Thus our heats corne to be more enflamd by the just judgement of God upon us. His Highnesse.
LETTRE MCCCL.XXVI.
Sir L. Jenkins au Prince à' Orange. Prorogation du Parlement.
Whitehall, 11 Jan. ™,
ft\.
His Majestie was pleas'd yesterday morning to prorogue the Parliament for 10 dayes, having first passt the Bill against the importing of Irish cattell , and another, about busying in woollen. There was a necessity to prorogue the Parliament; there was great precipitancie and heats in the house of Commons ; the printed votes of friday and of yesterday are extraordinary in their kinds; but the way of passing them was much more a matter of astonishment and indeed of scandall to ail men that are acquainted with the course and methods of Parliament. There are great arts us'd to excite the Citty to some extraordinary act, as that of drawing up their chaînes; it is also sayd confidently that his R. * H. 2 is already in town , but nothing of this moves hitherto; I hope the weaïthiest and soberest sort of people will keep themselves as long as they can possibly, which I hope in God will be very long.
His Highnesse.
1 Royal. 2 Highness.
,/WN "V"\»"\.*\n
469 — [1681. Janvier.
LETTRE MCCCL.XXTII.
Lord Halifax au Prince d'Orange. Il craint , pour la politique à suivre contre la France, les suites de la désunion entre le Roi et le Parlement.
I hâve been silent beyond the bounds of good manners, from the expectation that an answer out of France would hâve given so much light as that I might hâve given your Highnesse a fu.ll account of the Kings resolutions hère; but it seemeth they hâve found out a way to gaine a delay of 8 daj^es more, by refusing to admitt a joynt Memoriall, though, besides the authority of an instance of an elder date, the last which was delivred to monsieur de Croissy, in the very same manner, did not meet with the same exceptions to it. The most reasonable conclusion that can bee drawn from such proceeding, is that the answer is not likely to give satisfaction in what the Memoriall required, and that, if there was any disposition in the French Court to comply, they would hâve done it without such a kind of hésitation, and not hâve lost the good grâce of it, by affecting a delay, especially when attended by such discouraging circumstances. Your Highnesse must therefore bee pleased to suspend your conjectures and supresse your jealousies, till the answer cometh, and when it appearett plainly that the intercession of the King and the States hatt no successe, recourse is to bee had to that which seemett to bee the onely remaining remedy, which is the calling a Parliament, though I must give your Highnesse this melancholy advertisement before hand, that, from the best observation l can make, I find much more cause to entertaine fears than to flatter myselfe with the hopes of any good effects from it. But my conclusion is, that, since an agreement is possible, it is to bee attempted, though the conséquences of an unkind séparation at our next meeting are such as will bee more immediately fatall to our Allyes abroad , and
J681. Janvier.]
give an advantage to France above any other thing in the world that can happen to them. Wee hâve men hère that will sacrifice every thing to their anger, besides that it is as much the interest of ill men to hinder an agreement, as it is of good men to promote it. This I say onely to rescue your Highnesse from the trouble of a disappointment, if you should rely too much upon the issue of our next meeting. For my own part, my thoughts are the same as those you were pleased to approove, when I had the honour to entertaine you concerning them , which make mee présume your Highnesse will still hâve the same of mee, which I shall never forfeit, if either my respect for your person or my zèle for your interests can préserve them to mee.
London , Jan. 12 , 81.
LETTRE MCCCLXXVIII.
Sir L. Jenkins au Prince d'Orange. Nouvelles. .
WhitehaJl, 14 Jan. *%
There was a Common-councell calld yesterday in London, as is usuall every year, in order to swear the new officers; at this meeting there was a pétition presented by severall citizens to the Lord-mayor, the Aldermen, and Common-councell; the main scope of it was to hâve the Parliament to re-assemble and sitt on thursday 20th ; to spare the writing of it out in my ill hand , I humbly take leave to send you a news-book, in wich it is printed. This pétition produced an addresse in the name of the Citty, it was presented by mylord Mayor and deputies from among the Aldermen and Common-councell-men , to his Maj. att five a clock this evening. It was much to the same effect with the pétition enclosed. I was not within hearing, tho I was in the room; I am told his Ma. answer was to this purpose; that he doubted not
471 [1681. Janvier.
of the fidelity and good affection of the Citty of London : that he wisht them to beware of those men that would putt them upon such things as they had nothing to doe with. Tis to be feard that this answer will nott please, since it speaks nothing of his Ma. mind touchyng the sitting of the Parliament. I beseech God Allrnighty to blesse and direct his Ma.; the streights he is in are very great.
LETTRE MCCCLlOlIX.
Le Duc (V York au Prince d? Orange. Le Parlement mérite d'être dissous.
Jan. 15.
By the last post I had yours of the 10, and by it see you had still a sharp season ont; the winter lias been much more favorable hère, and I find the frosts are neither so sharp, nor so long as they are with you; you will by this hâve seen you were in the right to thinke no good would corne of this Parliament, by the vots they made in the house of Commons, on the 7 of this month, which, with the rest of their proceding, must certainly produce a prorogation, if not a disolution , which last I am sure they deserve. By the letters which are to come to morrow, we shall know what has been done. For newse, the Lord-provost house, some two mills hence, was burnt the other day by some malitious, villanous people; who they are that did it, is not yet knowne; some of the scholars are suspected to hâve had a hand in it, they having thretned some tyme since to do it, upon his going about to hinder their tumultuous meetting, when they burnt the pope; which is ail I shall say, till I heare more newse, but that I shall ever be as kind to you as you can désire.
1681 Janvier.] — 472 —
LETTRE MCCCL.XXX.
Sir L. Jenkins au Prince d'Orange. Dissolution du Parlement.
Whitehall, 18 Jan. *% May it please jour Highnesse. His Majestie was pleas'd , this day, to déclare in Councell that he would dissolve this présent Parlement, which will be done to morrow by proclamation. He declar'd likewise that he intends to call another Parliament to meet and sitt at Oxford , on the 21 of march next, this style. Your Highnesse will easily believe that his Ma. made not this step without a necessity forceing him to it. The causes are too well known to the world. His Ma. upon this occasion coramands me to tell vour Highnesse that he hath done the best that was possible for him to doe with regard to his Allies abroad , and that he hath a proposition to make to this new Parliament , which he is sure your Highnesse cannott dislike of, and he hopes will be acceptable to ail considerate honest men. This is ail I hâve in command; tis too soon yet to prétend to guesse at the judgement that the generality of men will make upon this great crisis. I beseech God to blesse and préserve his Ma. and his whole royall family. I am, with the deepest respect possible , may it please your Highnesse ,
your Highnesses most humble and most obedient servant His Highnesse. L. jenkins.
LETTRE MCCCL,XXXI.
Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. La dissolution du Parlement aura une bonne influence.
Jan. 25.
I hâve this morning receved y ours of the 22 and , before this , you hâve heard of the disolution of one Par-
473 — [1681. Janvier.
liament and the calling of another; God grant this next may be better; it is actualy impossible they can be worse then the last, which was seen by severall of the vots they made , espesially those that were past bettwne ' their meetting after Christmas and their disolution, some of which were insolent to the last degree and hâve done the King very much harme. I hope, for ail that, it will hâve done him one considérable peece of service, for it has lett him see who are his loyall subject and how he has been most bacely 2 betrayd by some of his ministers and others he most trusted; who, for ail that, hâve yett gott but little thanks and as little regarded , for what they hâve done. Things hère are very quiat, and the scholars brought to reason , but those who burnt the provosts house are not yett founcl out, so as to be punished as they deserve, though it is beleved, and upon just ground , that it was some of the scholars did it. I hâve no more to say but to assure you I shall alwajs be as kind to you as you can désire.
LETTRE UICCCLXXXII.
M. Godolphin au Prince d'Orange. Fâcheuse situation.
Jan. the 28 16%.
Your Highnesse is pleasd to say you hâve hardly the heart to write of any private businesse. I hâve hardly the heart to write a word of any thing but private businesse; your mony' will bee payd in 2 weeks more, ail but the 1000 [L.] which I hâve formerly told you was detaynd for the fées of the Exchecquer, and this last delay wonld not hâve been, if the merchants had lett mee know early , as soon as their weekly pavment had fayld them. Ail that I will say of the publick is that I think our affaires in very ill condition and no body but your Highnesse can mend them.
For his Highnesse the Prince of Orange.
botween. 2 basely.
1681. Janvier.] — 474 —
LETTRE MCCCL,XXJKIII.
L. Jenkins au Prince d'Orange. Le Roi résolu à maintenir les loiœ du pays.
Whitehall 28 Jan. »/,.
May it please your Highnesse. As soon as I had the honour to receive your Highnesses letter of the 28 n. st., I showd it to his Majestie, who was pleasd to tell me he would direct what answer I should do myself the honour to give you in his Ma. name. In the intérim, he commanded me to assure your Highnesse that the steps he hath lately made , hâve been of absolutely necessity , and that what he hath done , was done in hopes of a better advantage to his Allies then any thing that was to be expected from the train that our publique affaires did take. I hâve not since had his Majesties commands. I watch to receive them. The pétition of the Lords will be followd (as they promise to themselves) by another to morrow from the Citty , tho it appears the Citty of itself is not so forward in violent things, as some of the restlesse spirits would hâve it. It is not to be imagin'd what arts are used , through Citty and Country , to putt things into a high fermentation. His Ma. is resolv'd in ail things to keep the known laws of the Land of his side, and he hopes thereby not onely to keep the Nobility (for the most part) of his side , but the ancient Gentry, who were for the most part in armes for the King his father. His Ma. hath a good cause and a gracious God on his side; ail other things are of a very uncomfortable aspect, unlesse it please God to turn the hearts of the people towards the King; his heart towards them is a much as is possible. I am, may it please your Highnesse ,
your Highnesses most humble and most obedient servant
