CONWAY
' LETTRE HICDI.
Le Prince d^ Orange à M. Hyde, Réponse à la lettre 1393,
Je ne sçai pourquoy vous donnés des explications à mes jttres, quandt je ne m'explique pas sur une matière aussi iportante 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-
^ Minute auto(jraphe .
1681. Mars.
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 remëde 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 Fescrire, puisque vous donnés de tels explications à mes lettres. Dieu nous préserve tous des grands maus que je crains!
LETTRE MCDII.
Lord Hyde au Prince d^ Orange. Réponse à la Lettre 1401.
St. James, Aprill the 1. 1681.
After I had v^^ritten 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 v^^hat 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 w^as that hath so offended you ; whatever it v^as, 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.
— 495 — [1681. Avril.
LETTRE JfICDIlI.
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 faithfull, most humble and most obedient servant,
SUNDERLAND
Althorpe, April the 4 1681.
t.ETTRE JfICDIT.
Le Duc d^York au Prince d'Orange, Il falloit absolument dissoudre le Parlement.
Edenburgh, April 14.
I was sorry to find, 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 her 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. What 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 bas had a very good effect and made ail things very
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 donc, 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 Gommons, thatt ail the world sees designed the destruction of the monarkv 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 assuring you that you shall still find me very kind to you.
LETTRE WCDT.
Lord Hyde au Prince d! Orange. Proch 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 Huraeling, 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 dutifuU 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 caùtiously, 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 ^ with your Highnesse that some way were found to secure the publicke peace, but God knowes how it will be eiFected.
S*" 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.
liETTRË MCOTI.
éB Duc et York au Prince à? Orange. A faites de chasse.
Edenburgh, May 7.
By the last post I receeved yours of the 3 from Humieling, by the which I find you hunt almost every day,
^ wished.
1681. Mai.] — 498 —
and that it is a place very proper for it; this country afFords no such kind of hunting ; for, where tlie stags 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, w^hich 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 alv^ays find me as kind to you as you can désire.
For my Sonne the Prince of Orange.
LETTRE 9ICDVII.
Le Duc â!York au Prince d^ Orange. Recommandation.
May 14.
By yours 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 ^ days, and now I must needs recomend to you one cap. ' William Douglas, that is now in Holland and out of employment; lie 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 bis colonel and others, I should not recomend him to you, and I hope you hâve found that
[1681. Mai.
those I hâve formerly recommended to you h ave beeii good men, and you will find this cap. Douglas a good officer; therefore I hope, when there is an oportunîty, you will oblige me so much as to lett him hâve a Company in one of the Scots or some Dutch regement. For nevvse there is none liere; 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 you can désire
liETTRË JfICDVIII.
Le Duc dH 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 has accused his Ma. , myself ,
the E. * of Danby, and others, of contriving the murther
of Sir Ed. Bury ^ 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
fors were him self, as I am sure he has done ; tho , when
one remembers how d'' Oats, Bedlow and others of that
tribe hâve perjurd themselvs, as well as he, it should
lot seeme so strange to me. You know the rest of the
lewses from London as sone as I hère , so that I need
lot repeat them to you, nor tell you how many honest
id loyal adresses hâve been made to his Ma. from al-
lost ail the considérable towns in England and most
ïountys. I hâve no more to say but that you shall al-
Iways find me to be as kind to you as you can désire.
l'or my Sonne the Prince of Orange.
1 Earl. ^ Edmondsbury.
1681. Mai.] — 500 —
LETTRE MCDIX.
Lord Hyde au Prince cf Orange. Différend de C Electeur de Brandebourg avec les États -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 T 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 comraunicate 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 Courtray, as he hath allready agreed to doe, as to those matters relating to the Empire, and with this commission in particular M*" Savill is returning forthwith into France, and the King will speake to the
[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 everv day a new wittnesse produced for the further discovery of S"^ Ed. Godfrey's death ; there came a new one on saturday last, but, except he may first bave 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 bave no more to add at présent, but to beg most humbly the continuance of your Highnesse's faveur to me, while I continue in the duty that I owe and will ever pay your Highnesse.
LETTRE ncnx.
Lord Conway au Prince â! Orange. La dissolution du Par^ lement 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 frora your 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 bave 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.
IUpon this occasion the Duke of Yorke, seeing ail things oe so well , hath been very desirous to returne to Court, ut his Ma. will by no meanes harken to it. * weary.
1C81. Mî,i.] — 502 —
His Ma. hath been informed that your Highnesse intended to dispose of that cornmand 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 cornmand, 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
