L.ETTRË MCCLXVII

La Duchesse â!York au Prince d^ Orange, Compliments.

St. James, the 18 of Marsch.

I do not know which way to begin to give you thanks for the kynd expressions you make me in your letter by Sir Gabriell Silvius; you oblige me so much by it, that tis impossible for me to express it in a letter, which would be of great trouble to me, if Sir Gabriell had not promised me to help me in it , and assure you that I am as sensible as I ought to be of your kyndnesse to me. You can not shew it me mor then in rejoyicing at my coming hither again ; for tis the thing in the world l wisht ' for most; I hope your wishes will do me good and that I shall make no mor journeys; but, whether I do or no, I shall be still, as much as ever, truly yours.

MAKIË.

For my sonne the Prince of Orange.

' faire. ' wished.

LETTRE WCCLXVin.

Le Prince âH Orange au Prince Heiiri Casimir II de Nassau- Dietz. Il désire vivre avec lui en bon accord.

A la Haye, ce 7 de sept. 1678.

Monsieur ! Nonobstant que nous ayons très-peu de correspondance ensemble , j'ay voulu avoir cette déférence pour vous de ne rien toucher à la réforme que Messieurs les Estats-généraus ont trouvé bon que je fisse dans les trouppes à vostre régiment de cavallerie, où il doit avoir deus compagnies de cassées, lesquels seront ceus que vous désirerés. Je vous asseure que je souhaiterois fort que nous puissions vivre ensemble de telle manière que je vous pourois témoigner en tous occasions combien je suis, Monsieur ,

vostre très-affectionné serviteur et cousin,

G. PRINCE d'orange.

LETTRE ]fI€€LXI3C.

Le Duc d^York au Prince d^ Orange. Prorogation du Parlement.

Loiidon Dec. 31 1678.

I receved yesterday yours of the thierd \ by the whicli I see you had made the reforme of some of your troups; his Ma. is obliged to do the same hère, for ail he prorogued the Parliment yesterday, not having mony to maintaine them; this prorogation did surprise most people and you may beleve to what a degree His Ma. was prest to do it. I hope it will hâve a good effect, since I beleve the world will see his Ma. will give them satisfaction in disbanding the army, and in matters of religion, and, if he do but stick firme to the good husbandry he declared in council this morning, I make no doubt of his over-

I* 3 janvier 1679 a. s.

1678. Décembre.] — 368 —

coming ail the dificultjs he lys under, tho ^ they be very great. By the next y ou shall heare more from me, and be assured I shall always be very kind to you.

LETTRE MCCLXX.

M. M. Boreel et van Weede, envoyés en France, au Prince d Orange. Entretien avec M. de Louvois.

Doorlughtighste hooghgeboren Furst ende Heere. De heere Marquis de Louvois van het ongemack, twelk hem door het storten met syn peert voor ruym een maent was overgecomen, soo verre sijnde herstelt dat aenspraecke lede, heeft de heere Boreel inde voorleden weecke aen denselven gegeven een visite ende, naer eenige discoursen over indifférente saecken in die conversatie voorgevallen , heeft dien Heer aen sijn Ed. geseyt te sijn verwondert dat, daer de vrede tusschen dit Rijck ende den Staet al meer als een jaer was gemaeckt gev^^eest, ende de Ambassadeurs van deselve haer al acht ofte negen maenden aen dit hoff hadden onthouden, tôt nogh toe van wegen haer Ho. Mo. niet was gesproocken of de minste voorstel gedaen om met den Coninck te comen in een nader alliantie, ende dat op andere plaetsen ende bij anderen wierden gerechercheert ligues , die men evenwel hier wel was verseeckert geen succès te sullen hebben; — dat aen hem ondertusschen was gecommuniceert seeckere missive bij den heere Keurvorst van Brandenborgh aen de heeren Staten-Generael geschreven , op het subject van de vrede bij hem met den Coninck van Sweden gesloten door de interventie van desen Coninck , mitsgaders de memorie bij forme van antwoort door den heere de Lyra ter vergaederinge van haer Ho. Mo. ingedient, nopende het inruymen ende overgeven van de stadt Maestright, d'een ende d 'andere in seer ernstige ende stercke termen ende expressien , ende de laetste selfs met een be- 1 though.

dreyginge van repressailles op de efFecten , die de Hollantse coopluyden hebben te verwaghten met de Spaense gallioenen ; — dat syn Ed. niet vast en conde seggen of deselve metter daet soude worden int werck geleyt, dogh wel dat aile de advisen uyt Madrid sulx medebraghten , ende dat die ende diergelijcke ontmoetingen, dewelcke misschien nogh van erger souden worden gevolght, den Staet overquamen , omdat deselve was ende bleefF buyten particulière engagementen met andere Coningen; — dat sijn Ed. oock meynde wel te konnen asseureren dat men soodanige bejegingen niet soude syn onderworpen, wanneer haer Ho. Mo. met dese Croon naeder souden sijn geallieert, ende bij gevolge als een yder kennelijck met wat secourssen deselve van den Coninck souden worden bijgesprongen tegens diegenen , die haer souden willen attacqueren.

Ende op alletselve geantwoort sijnde , dat haer Ho. Mo. de eere van Sijne Majesteits vrientschap in seer hoogh respect ende achtinge sijn hebbende, ende altoos haer veel sullen laeten gelegen sijn om die te conserveren, oock ailes wat in haer is contribueren om met den Coninck ende het Rijck te mogen leven in goede ende vertroude correspondentie, ende wat het verdere aengingh, dat onlanx door ons, van wegen haer Ho. Mo., op derselver expresse resolutie ende ordre, aen den Heere Pompone was verseeckert datter niet alleen niets en was van de gewaende ligue met Engeland ende Spagne, maer dat haer Ho. Mo. punctuelijck souden observeren de tractaten met Sijne Majesteit aengegaen ende derhalven niet hadden gemaeckt nogh souden maecken eenige engagementen, met de vrientschap ende gemaecte alliantie niet souden fovereencomen ;

Heeft de Heere Louvois gerepliceert dat alletselve was ,

Imaer dat noghtans van de sijde van den Staet sigh niet

m openbaerde een ge genegentheyd tôt het opreghten ofte

fvernieuwen van een nader alliantie, ende dat hij tusschen

[Vyer oogen wel conde verseeckeren , dat de Coninck daer-

1679. Septembre.] 370

toe volcomentlijck was genegen , maer dat niet conde worden gepretendeert dat de eerste ouvertures geschieden van Sijne Ma-jesteit; daarbij voegende dat, als men soude sien dat de Staten-Generael haer souden blijven houden als indiff'erenten, men mogelijck hier soude resolveren om wat te doen met anderen, die betuygen daertoe te sijn genegen , ende dat de uytcomste dan soude leeren of dat was de interesse van ons lant.

Ende nu voor eenige dagen de Heere van Dijcvelt den gemelden Heere Louvois mede wesende gaen sien, om af te leggen het officie van congratulatie over sijne beterschap ende over het houwelijck van sijn doghter met den Prince van Roche-Guyon , outsten soon van den Prins van Marsillac, premier maistre de la garder obbe du Roy ^ en Grand- Veneur de la Couronne^ is deselve, naer verwisselinge van eenige beleeftde woorden op het subject van de visite, door discourssen over verscheyden saecken van desen tijt gecomen tôt die, van dewelcke sijn Ed. te vooren met den Heere Boreel hadde gesproocken , ende heeft in substantie gereitereert aile tgene hyerboven is verhaelt, onder anderen ronduyt seggende, dogh met protestatie van het te doen sonder ordre ende als particulier aen particulier, dat de Coninck volcomentlijck genegen was om met den Staet te treden in een nauwe alliantie, maer dat Sijne Majesteit daertoe moste worden aengesoght, ende dat dan sijne sincère intentie ten beste van denselven soude blijcken uyt de conditien, die Sijne Majesteit soude accorderen ; dat wij outrent de commertie niet hadden contrarie interesse met dit Rijck, ende dat haer Ho. Mo. de haren bij een nader verbintenisse souden connen vinden; dat deselve oock, tôt verseeckeringe van de bewuste Barrière ende dat de Spaensse Nederlanden noyt souden comen in handen van Vranckrijck, souden connen bedingen soodanige precautien ende securiteyt, als soude connen worden gevonden ofte uytgedaght ; daerbij doende , bij exempel, dat de Coninck sigh soude engageren die nimmermeer te mogen aentasten, ende ten wat tijde Sijne

Majesteit met den Coninck van Spagne moghte raecken in oorlogh, dat hij in die quartieren niet en soude ageren , veel min sigh met de wapenen of bij tractaet van vrede meester maecken van de geringhste plactse ofte bicoque; dat hij oock deselve Nederlanden, nogh bij eschange, nogh bij vrijwillige overgifte , soude mogen aennemen, ende dat, in een van aile die ofte oock in diergelijcke gevallen , de te maecken alliantie soude sijn verbroocken ende aen haer Ho. Mo. vrij staen om sigh daertegens te verbinden ende in te spannen met andere Potentaten. Sijn Ed.' voeghde oock daerbij : de Coninck soude dan Spagne elders moeten ende connen aengrijpen; en wat soude haer Ho. Mo. daeraen wesen gelegen, of Sijne Majesteit eenige conquestes op deselve dede int Milanees ofte op de grensen van Spagne?

Oock seyde sijn Ed. vragenswijse : genomen, wij quamen nu int corte in rupture, ter occasie van de ordre aen den Marschal de Vivonne gesonden, om aile de Spaensse schepen ende galeyen het pavillon te doen strijcken ; soude het twerck ofF de interessen van den Staet al wesen oock soo wederom den oorlogh tegens ons aan te vangen ?

Ende is aen den Heere de Louvois, op tgene A^an een nader alliantie ende eenige condition heeft opgegeven , genoughsaem op de manière als bij den Heere Boreel was geschiet, geantwoort in générale dogh de beleeftste woorden die occurreerden , aile ende alleen tenderende, om aen sijn Ed. mede te bevestigen dat de intentie van den Staet opreght is, dat deselve sal traghten de vrede religieuselijck nae te comen, ende met Sijne Majesteit te Jeveji in goede intelligentie ende vertroude vrientschap; ^oock, om die te cultiveren ende langhduyrigh te maecken, ailes aenbrengen wat daertoe sal connen dienen.

Wij hebben, doorlughtighste Furst, gemeynt dese ontmoetingen te sijn van soodanige importantie, dat wij niet moghten naerlaeten van deselve kennisse te geven aen den Staet ende aen Uwe Hoogheyd; ende blijven, nae

toewenschînge van aile heyl ende segen over Uwe Hoogliheits dierbaere persoon ende hujs, Doorlughtighste Hooghgeboren Furst ende Heere,

Uwe Hooghheits gans ootmoedige ende onderdanige dienaers,

JACOB BOREEL, EVEHARD VAN WEEDE.

Parijs, den 1 Septeraber 1679.

LETTRE nCCLiXXl.

Sir W. Temple au Prince â! Orange. Il veut se retirer des affaires. Gravité des circonstances.

London, Deceraber 9 1679.

The concernment your Highnesse pleases to express upon the resolution M"" Sidney told you I had taken as to my owne disposai! , is a great deal more then it could deserve , and would raake raee consider myself more then I doe, if I knew myself lesse. I am confident M"" Sidney could not hâve told your Highnesse ail that I told him upon that occasion and, if hee had, that you would hâve beene as much satisfyed with that resolution as hee was himself, when hee left mee, though hee had ne ver before been of that minde, and seems now to bee of another, from the déférence hee has to your Highnesses judgement. I shall not reason upon this matter at this distance; but onely say, upon your Highnesses reflexion, that I should take the same counsell I give you upon the like occasion , that the différence is too great between us , and that one thing is fitt for a pilot , and another for one of the crewe in a ship. But upon the whôle , since M' Sidney tells mee you désire I will not exécute that resolution, till I either see him againe or hear from your Highnesse and him upon it , you shall bee obeyed , though I doubt it will b^e of little service or satisfaction to your Highnesse, and of a good deal of disquiet to rayselfe. You

373 [1679. Décembre.

have at this time something a greater affaire upon your hands and more difficult to résolve in. I know not whether you expected such an answer upon it as I heare has been given both to M*" van Lewen and M^' Sidney. Having gotten abrood to day, I could not but tell the King that whatever hee said upon it to the States , the best thing I thought hee could say to your Highnesse was, in confidence between you, to tell you the measures hee had taken, and particularly whether hee resolved to lett a Parliament sitt or no, and when, and leave you there upon to take your owne measures, when you saw plainely what was to bee expecte from hence. I prest the King to Write to your Highnesse himself upon this subject, but cannot answer whether hee will or no. God of heaven inspire your Highnesse with such counsels, upon thees great and difBcult occasions, as may ende in such fortunes as are wished you by your most obedient and most humble servant.

LETTRE inCCLXXII.

M. Godolphin au Pnnce d^ Orange. Le Duc d^ York et même le Roi avoienf, conçu de la défiance envers le Prince.

Dec. 14. 1679.

I acquainted your Highnesse formerly that both m^ Hyde et mylord Feversham had promised me to write to the Duke, according to what you desired of them; they have done soe and I beleive very seasonably; for that rumour could not but have given a great deale of jealousy to the Duke, since I find it had made some impression even in the King himselfe, and the reports that were spread hère that your Highnesse had thoughts of comming over at this time , joynd to the Duke of Monmouths obstinacy of staying, did very much helpe to confirme the King ^^^ in his appréhensions, but your Highnesse letter, which ^^B I shewed him, and mylord Sunderlands care to lett him

1679. Décembre.] — 374 —

see the malice as well as the weaknesse of those rumours , hâve fully satisfyed his Majesty in that matter. I shew'cl jour Highnesse's letter to mylord Sunderland, and, as to what concern'd himselfe in itt, hee takes it very well, as hee ought to doe [yfj your Highnesse is pleas'd to tell him your opinion of him with soe much freedome; as to his inclinations for making any Allyance with France , no body knows better than hee does how destructive it must bee to us, and therefore I am persuaded no body's thoughts are more remote from it, and this [ may say for him that he left nothing undone that he could imagine might promote our allyance with Holland and , whensoever that appeares to bee practicable, I am confident he will always bee for itt. The pétitions that were framing hère for the sitting of the parliaraent , hâve , I beleive , bothe hastned and lengthned the time of the prorogation ; the Kings intentions are to keep himselfe quiett, if he can, not to think of the rest of the world , and in the mean time to apply himselfe to doe those things that he thinks most likely to create such a temper in the people as that the Parliament may meet next winter without ill conséquences to him; he continues resolv'd not to see the Duke of Monmouth.

LETTRE MCCLXXIII.

M. Godolphin au Prince et Orange. Le Roi redoute eœtrêmernent une alliance des Etats- Généraux avec la France.

Jan. the 1. 1680.

I hâve the honour of your Highnesse's of the 2^ , and am sorry you doe not like the gray horse. I hope yett, when you come to use him, you will like him better, but however I would not hâve sent him, if I had thought you could hâve stayed for him till March, but your Highnesse seem'd to bee in hast and that made mee résolve to send him , rather than make you stay any longer. — Your Highnesse will give mee leave to acquaint you

by this expresse that the Kîng is exceedingly alarm'd bv M"^ Sidney's last letters , with the feare of your entring into an AUyance wich France; there is nothing that he can not résolve to doe rather than suffer itt, and he has directed mylord Sunderland to tell M"" Sidney that he should assure the States that , in case France should really résolve to break with them, upon their declining to enter into the Allyance that has been proposed, he would assist them to the utmost of his power, and not to delay to call the Parlement upon that occasion, v^hich it is always in his power to doe , within a month or 6 weeks , though without some such great occasion it bee not his intention they should meet, till he has had time to doe severall things, which he is very much perswaded may helpe to bring them to a better temper. The King would hâve spoken himselfe to M^ van Leewen ^ upon this occasion , but the emb'"'' having the goûte, he sent mylord Sunderland to him, to lett him know his mind in this matter and to désire him to write to the States accordingly by this expresse, which the King thinks it reasonable to send, though it happens to bee within 24 houres of the ordinary post. This being really the King's mind, and I hope like to continue soe, if it does not come too late to your knowledge, I hope it will encourage your Highnesse to struggle a little more than ordinary, to divert so great a blow as this would inevitably bee to us ail.