L.ETTRE nCDXXXT
Lord Halifax au Prince cT Orange. Le Prince doit se garder de désespérer de P Angleterre.
I had not so long deferred my thanks to your Highnesse for your first letter, but that I was desirous to see the progresse of M"" van Beuninghens negotiation, that I might bee the better able to ofFer my thoughts and conjectures to your Highnesse upon the whole matter. In the mean time I am sorry to find you are under greater discouragements, in relation to what is expected from England, than I hope there is ground for. Your Highnesse hath so much expérience in things of this kind , and are so well acquainted with the necessary délayes that belong to them, that I am sure you will not make any hasty inferences, because a proposition is not immcdiately accepted. There hâve been conférences vvhich are reported to the Councell, and I hope the resolution that is taken upon it, will bee such as may in somc measure give your Highnesse satisfaction. If in every circunistance
— 529 — [1681. Novembre.
the King doth not come up to that which is required of him, I hope the best interprétation will bee put upon it, and, if there shall bee such foundation layed as hère after more may bee built upon it, his Ma. will bee the best incouraged to it, by seeing that the steps hee is now willing to make are well receaved. Your Highnesse is so discerning as to know ail my meaning by this little hint and it is unnecessary for mee to tell you that nothing would contribute more to the losse of every thing abroad, than the seeming to despayre of England, which in that respect can never bee justifyed, whilst there remaineth any reasonable ground of hoping better things of us. I will not say any thing of myselfe in this matter, but leave it to your îlighnesses favourable thoughts to judge of mee and of the part I may hâve in it, which I am sure doth neither disagree with what I hâve said in relation to the publique affayres, nor with the professions I hâve made of being ever your Highnesses most humbly devoted servant.
London, Nov. 4 1681.
l.e:ttre: mcdxxxvi.
Le Duc dHYorh au Prince cC Orange. Progrh des François en Flandre.
Oct. 27.
I see by y ours of the 20 that you are very much allarumd * at what the French may do in Flanders , and ;not without reason, for I do not see how any thing can be done now to hinder them from overruning that country, if they please; what resolutions will be taken at London, now M. van Buning is there, you will know soner then I, that am so out of the way of ail businesse but what concerns this country, that things are done before I know any thinge of them. You see what honnest
^ alarmed.
1681. Novembre.] — 530 —
meii the grand-jury at London were that would not find the bill against Rouse, the partj hère shew as much disingenuite, for they proposed the adding the swearing to the confesion of faith made in King James tyme , in the test, and now, upon that very account, endeavor to dissuade people from taking it; this is ail the newse this place afFords, so that I hâve no more to say but that you shall always find me to be as kind to you as ever. For my sonne the Prince of Orange.
LETTRE nCUXXXYIl.
Le Duc d'York au Prince éH Orange, Même sujet.
Edenburgh , Nov. 5.
By tlie last post I had yours of the 3 , and by it saw you expected to heare that the French would hâve before this hâve endeaverd to hâve possesed themselvs of Alost and the other places they pretended to; but, if what I heare from London be true, they hâve sent word they will not posses them, but will take an equivalen els where, which is suposed will be the towne of Luxembourg; a little tyme will lett us see what they intend. As for affairs hère, ail continus very quiat, and very few now scruple the test, since they see it will be suported and, tho D. Hamilton and L. Argile be great men , their not taking it will not hinder many from doing it, and, of ail the eminent advocats and lawyers , there is but one who has not taken it. I hâve not more to say but that you shall still find me as kind to you as you can désire. For my sonne the Prince of Orange.
