CONWAY
1 LETTRE OTCDI.
Le Prince d'Orange à M. Hyde, Réponse à la lettre 1393.
Je ne sçai pourquoy vous donnés des explications à mes lettres, quandt je ne m'explique pas sur une matière aussi importante et délicate qu'est celle de l'Exclusion, surquoy je ne me suis point expliqué et ne prétend pas aussi de le faire; ainsi je suis fort surpris que vous en avez parlé au Roy, comme une chose que je luy conseillois, et que vous en tirés une conséquence , comme si j'estois d'advis que sa Ma. se soumit aus volontés de son Parlement. L'advis que je vous ay mandé que j'estois, je le suis en-
1 Minute autorjraphe .
1681. Mars.J — 494 —
core; que, si l'on ne trouve quelque expédient pour unir le Roy et son Parlement , que je croi les affaires du Roy , du Royaume et de tous ces ' Alliés en un très-méchant estât. Quel remède il y a pour prévenir de si grands maus je ne le sçai; mais, si je le sçavois, j'aures de la peine à vous l'escrire, puisque vous donnés de tels explications à mes lettres. Dieu nous préserve tous des grands maus que je crains!
LETTRE MC&II
Lord Hyde au Prince d'Orange. Réponse à la Lettre 1401.
St. James, Aprill the 1. 1681.
After I had written to your Highnesse on tuesday last by the Dutch ambassadors secretary, I received your Highnesses letter of the 1 of Aprill, with which I was so surprized that I knew not what to say by that post in answer to it. I hâve had time enough to thinke with myselve since , that, if I did offend your Highnesse in my former letter, it is the more necessary for me to take care in this, and therefore I am not in the mind to justifye any thing I writt then, but rather to aske your pardone for it, as I doe most humbly, and can onely assure you I intended nothing that your Highnesse could possibly take ill of me. I hâve written at ail times so frankly to your Highnesse and thought myselfe so safe in doeing soe, that I never kept copys of my letter to your Highnesse, and therefore I cannot readily call to mind what part it was that hath so offended you; whatever it was, your Highnesse hath returned it very severely upon me, and I submitt to it, with that duty that I owe you and with this one assurance that, whatever your Highnesse may thinke, I am very confident you hâve nowhere in the world a more dutifull and more obedient servant, whom you may use very ill, but shall never see otherwise.
ses.
— 495 — [1681. Avril.
LETTRE ni 5DII1
Lord Sunderland au Prince d'Orange. Dissolution du Parlement.
I intended to hâve given your Highnesse an account from Oxford of the proceedings there; but the little time the Parliament continued, gave no occasion for any news but that of its dissolution , which you were sure to heare a thousand wayes. Every body is now dispersed, and I am in a plase and thinke to be so a greate while, where I can onely wish for your Highnesses prosperity and happynesse, which I shall ever doe , and, if I could contribute any thing towards it, I should esteeme it the greatest and the best fortune I am capable of, being most truly and respectfully , Sir!
your Highnesses most faithfall, most humble and most obedient servant,
SUNDERLAND
Althorpe, April the 4 1681.
LETTRE MCDIV.
Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. Il falloii absolument dissoudre le Parlement.
Edenburgh, April 14.
I was sorry to fmd, by your of the 14, which I receved this morning, that my daughter had sore eis *, but I hope she will be sone well of it, and that it will not hinder lier following you, where you are to meett the Duke of Zell ; I see you had then heard of the disolution of the Parliament and were aprehensive of the effects it might hâve. Whnt it will hâve on your side of the water I do not know, nor will prétend to guesse, but, as to our little world, it was absolutly necessary, and you see has had a very good effect and made ail things very
1 eve9.
1681. Avril.] 496 —
quiat, and even in this country we hâve found the good effects ont, for the phanatiks are very much dejected at it, and it has broken ail their measurs, and now I am confident they will be quiat, and not rebelle againe, as they had certainly done, if the Parliament had been a little longer togather, and what good could you or any body, where you are, hâve expected from such a house of Commons, thatt ail the world sees designed the destruction of the raonarky and, had they sate a little longer, would hâve putt ail England in a flame, but, God be thanked, his Ma. did what became him to do, and I make no doubte will continu résolut, and then his affairs will go well. I would say more on this subject, but hâve been abroad ail day , having dined at a house some ten mills of , of the Lord Hattons , which is a very good house and well seated , and therefore must end, which I do with assurîng you that you shall still find me very kind to you.
LETTRE MCDV.
Lord Hyde au Prince d'Orange. Procès de Fitzharris.
Whitehall, May the 10 1681.
I received last weeke the honour of your Highnesses of your 3 of May, but being myselfe then goeing to "Windsor, and finding your Highnesse intended to entertaine yourselfe some time at Humeling, made me not to make such hast as I ought to hâve done, to hâve presented my most humble thankes for the honour you are pleased to doe me and for the goodnesse you hâve to forgett any thing you tooke ill of me, and because your Highnesse says you will forgett it, I ought not to say more of it, neither will I, but onely that I am confident your Highnesse shall ever find me most dutifull and obedient to you. We hâve no news hère that so much raises the expec-
— 497 — [1681. Mai.
tation of every body as the tryall of Fitzharris, which yett lies in the judges breast, but is certainly of very great conséquence to the King and the government, which way soever it goes. It's believed there may be something declared in it to morrow, because the prisoner is appointed to be brought to the King's bench that day; this Cheife Justice hath proceeded very cautiously, haveing upon every point taken time to deliberate, till he had advised with the rest of the judges and hath allwaies had the majority at least on his side , before he delivered his opinion.
The Spanish Ambassador hath lately spoken to the King very earnestly upon the new accident of Cheney, upon which his Ma. hath spoken so warmly to the French Ambassador that I hope it may hâve some effect to prevent the further progresse of thèse raany inconveniencys that are hapning in Flanders. I wist x with your Highnesse that some way were found to secure the publicke peace, but God knowes how it will be effected.
Sr Gabriell Sylvius hath shewed me your Highnesses letter to him, by which I see it is your Highnesses mind that his returne to the Court from whence he came, may be of use to the publicke good; which I shall very readily concurr in assisting him to performe, as soon as his Ma. shall direct it. I hâve no more to trouble your Highnesse with at présent but the assurances of my remaining ever, with perfect duty and submission , the most obedient of ail your servants.
LETTRE MCDV1
Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. A ff 'aires de chasse.
Edenburgh, May 7.
By the last post I receeved yours of the 3 from Hummeling, by the which I find you hunt almost every day,
1 vvished.
