Mai

and that it is a place very proper for it; this cou try affords no such kind of hunting ; for, where the stag are, there are such hills and bogs as tis impossible to follow any hounds , so that hare hunting and shoting are the only sports one can hâve hère; after June is once over, there will be very good shoting at heath-ponts, of which and partrig there are great store hère. For newse there is none hère and from London there is none to be expected but that of Fitzharris tryal, which you will knew by that tyme this gett to you; for they wrot by the last letters from London that it was to hâve been [as] on wensday last. I hâve now no more to say but that you shall always find me as kind to you as you can désire.

For my Sonne the Prince of Orange.

LETTRE MC0VII

Le Duc oV York au Prince oV Orange. Recommandation.

May 14.

By y ours of the 11 from Himmeling I see you were to go sone back to the Hage, where I beleve this will find you and chuse to answer it rather by this beare L.-Col. Bohan, who gos straight by sea rather then by the post, beleving it will be soner with you, the wind being now very faire for him, as it is generally at this tyme of yeare, and if it continu as it is, the passage is usualy made in three or fower l days, and now I must needs recomend to you one cap. 2 William Douglas, that is now in Holland and out of employment; he is a very good officer and has served long in Lord Dumbartons regement, and, had I not had a very good caracter of him, both from his colonel and others, I should not recomend him to you, and I hope you hâve found that 1 four. 2 captain.

— 4-99 — [1681. Mai.

those I hâve formerly recommended to you hâve been good men, and you will find this cap. Douglas a good officer; therefore I hope, when there is an oportunity, you will oblige me so much as to lett him hâve a Company in one of the Scots or some Dutch regement. For newse there is none hère; ail things continues very quiat, so that I hâve no more to say now but that I shall ever be as kind to you as y ou can désire.

LETTRE MCDVIII.

Le Duc aV York au Prince d'Orange. Dépositions de Fitzharris.

May 24.

By the last post I had yours of the 21, by which I see you were agoing back for Holland, where this I supose is like to find you , and where you will hâve heard how that villan Fitzharris bas accused his Ma. , înyself ,' the E. ' of Danby, and others, of contriving the murther of Sir Ed. Bury 2 Godfry, which how fais it is you will easily beleve. I confesse I am amazed to see a man that has reason to beleve he shall very sone be hanged , so forswere him self, as I am sure he lias done; tho, when one remembers how dr Oats, Bedlow and others of that tribe hâve perjurd themselvs, as well as he , it should not seeme so strange to me. You know the rest of the newses from London as sone as I hère , so that I need not repeat thein to you, nor tell you how many honest and loyal adresses hâve been made to his Ma. from almost ail the considérable towns in England and most countys. I hâve no more to say but that you shall always find me to be as kind to you as you can désire. For my Sonne the Prince of Orange.

1 Earl. ' Edmondsbary.

1681. Mai.] — 500 —

LETTRE MCmX.

Lord Hyde au Prince d'Orange. Différend de C Electeur de Brandebourg avec les Etats- Généraux ; représentations du Roi au Roi de France.

St. James-street, May the 24.

Next to the honour the King hath been pleased to bestow upon me, your Highnesse's being pleas'd to take notice of it is the greatest I can receive, especially it being accompanyd with such assurances of your favour and goodnesse towards me. I can onely say that I will ever endeavour to deserve it, and doe assure myselfe your Highnesse shall never more hâve occasion to find fault with my conduct. This may find your Highnesse returned to the Hague, where no doubt there is great want of your présence, which I hope will prevent further différences, not onely between the Spaniards and the Elector of Brandenburg, but even, for ought I see, between that Elector and the States; this matter seems to me to be one of the likeliest causes of a new warr, if it be not carefully and very diligently looked to. The Dutch Ambassador hère presented very lately a memoriall to the King , upon the occasion of one presented to the States by the Spanish minister, at the end of which his désire to the King was that he would be pleased to communicate to his masters such wise and prudent counsells as his Ma. might judge would be usefull to the présent posture of affaires and to compose the matters in différence between the two Crownes in an amicable way , to which his Ma. hath replyed that in his judgment the best way at the présent may be, that offices be used to the French King, to abstaine from ail voyes de fait upon ail matters depending at the conférences at Courtraj , as he hath allready agreed to doe, as to those matters relating to the Empire, and with this commission in particular Mr Savill is returning forthwith into France , and the King will speake to the

— 501 — [1681. Mai.

same purpose hère verv effectually and warmely to the French Ambassador. And this is ail his Ma. could thinke of for the présent and , if any regard will be had to offices, this ought to hâve a good effect. We hâve hère every day a new wittnesse produced for the further discovery of Sr Ed. Godfrey's death ; there came a new one on saturday last, but, except he may flrst hâve his pardone, he would not discover his name no more then his secret. I am affraid we doe passe for pretty ridiculous in most parts of the world, that such a matter hangs so long undetermined to wurry ' us.

I hâve no more to add at présent, but to beg most humbly the continuance of your Highnesse's favour to me, while I continue in the duty that I owe and will ever pay your Highnesse.

LETTRE JICD.V

Lord Conway au Prince oV Orange. La dissolution du Parlement a affermi le pouvoir du Roi.

Windsor, 31 May 1681.

I hold myselfe obliged to give your Highnesse an account of his Ma. affaires , and should doe it oftner if I had any commands from yonr Highnesse , by which I could reckon upon being serviceable to you.

His Majestys condition is extreamly amended, since the dissolution of the Parliament at Oxford. Every county and city in England hâve either given him thanks or are preparing addresses to acknowledge the satisfaction they hâve by his late déclaration , and this without any désire of it on the Kings part, but a voluntary acknowledgement by the people that they see through the evill désignes of the late factions.

Upon this occasion the Duke of Yorke, seeing ail things goe so well , hath been very desirous to returne to Court, but his Ma. will by no meanes harken to it. 1 weary.

1681. Mai.] — 502 —

His Ma. hath been informée! that your Highnesse intended to dispose of that command which mylord of Ossory had over his Ma. subjects in the service of the States, and commanded me to write to your Highnesse and let you know that his Ma. doth earnestly entreat your Highnesse not to dispose of that command, till his Ma. be first acquainted with it and give his approbation to it.

I should infinitly rejoyce, if I knew how to merit the title which I am most ambitious of to be esteemed

your Highnesse most devoted servant