VAN BEUNINGEN

LETTRE MCIIXXV.

Le Duc d'York au Prince d'Orange. Le Gouvernement

raffermi en Ecosse.

Sep 12.

Two days since I receved y ours of the 7, by which I see you were pleased with the good successe his Ma. affairs had had hère, and before this you will hâve heard that ail the publike acts are past which his Ma. commanded to be brought in, and truly I thinke that what has been done hère will not only secure the governement hère, but hâve good effects in his Ma. other Kingdoms. There now remains but little to be done by the Parliament, so that I hope by the end of this weeke to be able to put an end to this sessions; you will hâve before this hâve heard of Lord Hyds journay hether; he went back for England yesterday, after having given me an account how things were there. I should hâve sayd more to you upon this subject, but it is so late that I hâve not leasur to say more but that you shall always find me as kind to you as you can désire.

— 521 — [1681. Septembre.

LETTRE MCDXXVI.

Lord Hyde au Prince o? Orange. Mémoire présenté par Lord Halifax et l'Ambassadeur des Etats- Généraux a Paris, au Roi de France.

White.hall, sept, the 23 1681.

I hâve been so long without writing to your Highnesse that it is hard for me to hope for your pardon, for omitting that duty to you so long, especially too since your Highnesse was pleased to honour me with one of your letters since your goeing from hence, which I received just as I was goeing for Scotland, and had then time onely to give it to mylord Hallifax and recommend to him the sending away Sir Gabriel Sylvius , which was the subject of your Highnesses commands at that time, and I find, since rny returne, that the manner Sir Gabriel hath been sent in, onely to take leave, is not so as your Highnesse intended it, which I thinke was not understood hère, for, if I mistake not, Sir Gabriell's maine reasons for goeing were onely to take leave , that having come away on the suddaine, as for his owne affaires hère, it was not honeste to breake off so abruptly, without returning to kisse the hands of those Princes. I know not what the King will résolve , but mylord Hallifax hath sent the effect of your Highnesses letter to him last night to Newmarkett, to be communicated to his Ma. and to receive his pleasure upon it. Since I was absent , there was a memoriall agreed upon, as I suppose your Highnesse knows, to be presented to the French King by Mr Savill and the States Ambassador, of which we expect now every day an account , but I must observe to your Highnesse that Mr Saville (who may be believed in such a point) , in his last letter hither, wishes he had not now at this time been directed to give any memoriall, or at least not in this new method, because he says, if there were ever any time since his being at Paris that there was no occasion of complaint,

1681. Septembre.] — 522 —

it was just then, and the truth is, if there be any goocl effect to be hoped from this new method of the King and States joyning together in a memoriall , it ought not to be foiled at first, by being employed upon an occasion where there is not a more then ordinary need of it.

I say nothîng to your Highnesse of my journey into Scotland, because there was nothing in it worth the communicating to you, neither hâve I any thing more to add at this time but that, being returned from that tedious journey, I shall be hère constantly, to receive any commands your Highnesse may hâve for me, and shall endeavour to give you the best account I can of them and of any thing that happens hère that may be worth your knowledge.