L.ETTRE MDII

Le Duc d'York au Prince c£ Orange. Arrestations.

London, Julij 10 1683.

I hâve receved yours of the 9 , by which I see you had had myne, that had informed you ofthe conspiracy , which apears every day to be more considérable then was thought at first, as to the insurrection; for yesterday the Lord Essex, Lord Brandon, Lord Howard of Eserick, Mr Hamden and others were taken into coustody; M Hamden and the two first Lords are sent to the Tower; they do not confesse, but the other is more ingenious and acknowledges ail , which agrées exactly with what we knew from others of the conspirators. On thursday some of them are to be tryd, and then ail the world will be fully satysfyd of the villany of those people, there being some so very malitious and so ill subjects as to say it is but a made plot of the court. When once the tryals are over their mouths will be stoped 3. There has been three severall men taken in the countrys for Rombald, being one ejed * men , but whether any one of them be hee, one cannot yett sa}r, we shall sone know. I hâve now no more to say but that you shall still fine! me the same to you.

1 M-arc!iu r 2 tu». * itopt. ♦ ng«*il

1683. Juillet.] 580 —

LETTRE MDIII.

Le Duc oV York au Prince et Orange. Il désire qu'il soit bien avec le Roi,

London, Julij 26 1683.

Two days since I receved yours of the 2 of August, by which T see you had done your part towards the taking of such as were fled from hence by reason of the late conspiracy, and ara fully satisfyd with what you did in it, and shall still do my part that there may be a very good understanding bettwene his Ma. and yourself, but you must do your part to , as this bearer M. Bentinck can tell you, to whom I must refer ail I hâve to say upon that subject, and pray consider the présent condition of Germany and what he will say to you from his Majesty. Marriage was consumated last night bettwene my daughter the Princesse Anne and Prince George, and now his Ma. lias named tusday for going to Windsor, where I beleve we shall stay ail the next month, but whether we shall go to Winchester I cannot yett say. I need say no more now, this bearer being informed of ail things, but to assure you that I will still do my part, as truly as you can désire, to lett you see I am as kind as ever to you.

LETTRE HIUIV.

Lord Hyde au Prince d'Orange. Il se rapporte à ce que M. Benlinck lui dira.

St. James-street , July the 29.

I give your Highnesse most humble thanks for the honour you were pleased to doe me, in letting me receive your commands by M1' Bentinke , which I am allwaies very desirous to obey with ail possible duty and dévotion. I hope Mr Bentinke himselfe will doe me that good office to your Highnesse as to represent to you how much I

— 581 — [1683. Juillet.

désire to be in your Highnesses good opinion , and I will referr nryself to him , whether he doth not thinke I will endeavour to deserve it. I am sorry there should be such différence in opinion in relation to the publicke affaires, as to hinder him from returning to your Highnesse with an entire satisfaction, but I hope , in ail other matters which perhaps needed a better understanding, he will hâve had such successe thatt your Highnesse will not hâve cause to repent you sent him hither for a short time, tho you hâve a great deal for him to doe at home. By the acquaintance I hâve had the honour to hâve with him a long time , and by the intimacy and creditt he hath with your Highnesse , I hâve been induced to speake of many things with great freedome to him , both passed and présent, in order, to the best of my understanding, to the service of his Ma., the Duke and your Highnesse, which is an interest so joyned by God that one may venture to say, cursed be he that putts it asunder. If M1' Bentincke shall thinke fitt to trouble your Highnesse with any thing on this subject, you will be judge yourselfe whether it did not corne from a heart full of duty and zealous for your service, which I hâve the greatest passion imaginable to promote, if your Highnesse judges so inconsiderable a man as I am, fitt to be employed in it.

LETTRE |tt»V.

Le Roi oV Angleterre au Prince d'Orange. Il regrette que le Prince ne veut pas la paix générale aux conditions offertes par la France.

Whithall, 30 July.

I had sooner acknowledged the concerne you tooke in your letter about the charter of London, but that Mr Bentinck came just as I was writing, which made me deferr saying any thing, till I knew what he came about, and now I must thanke you very kindly for the part you take

ltfSS. .Inillitj

both in the matter of the charter and the deliverance I bad from the hands of those bloody villans, who designed my destruction. I acknowledge it to Gods great mercy and I hope he bas preserved me for better thinges. — M1 Bentinck and I hâve discourced at large upon the matter of the generall peace, and am sorry to finde that you are so steddy in your opinion that the generall peace cannot be made upon the conditions that France now offers. I cannot imagine, as matters stand now in Christendome, that the agreement can be made upon easier termes, and I feare by delay the Emprours condition will not grow better, so as I cannot change my opinion that those propositions offered ought to be refuse. I hâve tould x my minde more at large to this bearer Mr Bentinck, so that I will add no more upon this subject, but that in the end I feare you will finde that I am in the right. You may be assur that, whatever happens, I will ever be as kinde to you as if you were my owne son, and 1 will not faile to do ail that lyes in my power for your satisfaction about the businesse of Orange, tho I must tell you that I apprehend it dépends very much upon gênerai agreement. I hâve no more to trouble you with at this time; only to assure you that you may rely upon my kindnesse upon ail occasions, and that I shall never faile of being truly yours.

Eor my dearest nephew the Prince of Orange.

2 LETTRE MDVI.

Le Prince dy Orange au Roi gV Angleterre. Réponse à la lettre 1505.

J'ay receu, avec le respect que je doibs, la lettre que V. M. m'a fait l'honneur de m'escrire par Mr Bentinck , qui m'a aussi informé de toutte les bontés qu'elle luy a

1 told. 2 Minute autographe et inachevée.

— 583 — [1683. Juillet.

témoigné pour moy, dont je luy rend très-humble grâce, et espère de les pouvoir mériter par un attachement inviolable que j'ay et aurés toutte ma vie pour ces intérest, pour lesquels je n'espargnerés, ny ma personne, ny ma fortune, quand il sera question de servir V. M. Cest une grande consolation pour moy des asseurances que Mr de Bentinck m'a donné de sa part que, quoique j'eu le malheur de n'estre pas tout à fait dans ses sentiments au reguardt des prétensions de la France, que cela ne refroidiroit point son amitié, dont elle me fait l'honneur de m'asseurer avec tant de bonté en sa lettre. Sire, je supplie V. M. de croire que je cognois très-bien le danger où est la Chrestienté et que je ne me flatte point de vaines espérances, mais je la supplie aussi de considérer que , si les Paiis-Bas Espagnol sont réduits à n'avoir que le nom d'un Paiis et point l'effect, ce qui ceroit asseurément si Luxembourg en estoi démembré, quel asseurance ou seureté nous polirions avoir sur une telle barrière , s'il ne voudroit mieus de n'en point avoir qu'une qui ne seroit point capable à la moindre résistance, puisqu'en tel cas il faudroit prendre d'autre mesures pour

LETTRE MIIVII.

Le Prince $ Orange au Prince de Nassau- Dietz. Félicitalion à l'occasion de son mariage.

A Dieren, ce 26 d'aoust 1683.

J'ay appris avec un extrême joye, Monsieur, par la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'escrire, la conclusion de vostre mariage avec la seconde fille de Mr le Prince d'Anhalt; personne au monde ne vous peut souhaiter de meilleur coeur que je faits toutte sorte de bénédiction et prospérité, et que vous puissiez estre aussi heureux que vous le pouriés désirer vous-mesme, et, si jamais vous trouvé que je suis capable d'y contribuer ou

1683. Août.]

en quoy que ce puisse estre pour vostre service, vous me trouvères prest à le faire avec beaucoup de plaisir, [ne désirant] rien plus que vostre amitié, et que nous puissions tousjours vivre en bonne intelligence, à quoy je contribuerés de mon costé tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir, et à vous témoigner combien je suis vostre très- humble serviteur et cousin

G. PRINCE 13 ORANGES

J'espère que vous ne trouverez pas movais que je vous escris sans sérémonie, mais entre des parens si proches il n'.en faut point, et je vous prie de faire de mesme, et vous m'obligerez fort.