L.ETTRE MCCXCTIII

Le Duc d^York au Prince d^ Orange. Illégitimité du Duc de Monmouth.

Windsor, May 3.

I receved yours of the 3 at London, the day we came from Newmarckett, but had so much businesse ail the afternone and till we went to supper into the Citty, that

[1680. Mai.

I had not tyme to write then to y ou , nor to informe y ou of what had past that day in Councell, which now is not necessary to do, since I am sure jou had that post an account ont; since when there are other people corne unto the secretary, to informe him of others that had been employd by the duke of Monmouth and S*" Tho. Armstrong, to see to gett whatt inforriiation they could, about the same affaire, and that after the déclaration his Majesty had make in councell of his ne ver having been married to any but this Queene, which letts his Majesty and ail the world see the D. of Monmouth designs and practices , notwithstanding what he had say to the contrary, and now this affaire has and will be so far enquired, as he can never go about any more to prétend to be P. * of Wales , or to deceve people by that way. I hâve not yett heard what he says to ail that has been done, having stay so little in towne; for I came from thence yesterday in the evening; on wensday his Majesty gos to London to councell, but designs to be back againe hère at night, after which I shall give you a further account of what passes there, and pray beleve me always to be as kind to you as you can désire.

LETTRE MCCXCIX.

M. GodolpJiin au Prince â* Orange. Placement de fonds en Angleterre.

May 4, 1680.

By the lest I had the honour to receive from your Highnesse, I fînd you still persist to hâve merchants security for your mony, and are unwilling to accept of M*" Duncombe, who, I confesse, is noe merchant, but is a banquier of the best creditt that ever has been in England, and is able to answer for as much money, or more, than any three merchants upon the Exchange of London; his 1 Prince.

1680. Mai.] — 398 —

bonds your Highnesse may hâve, with liberty to withdraw your whole summ, or aiiy part of it, at 3 months warning and interest at 6 per cent, for as long as you shall think fitt to leave it in liis liands. This is as good private security as is to bee liad in England, and I will venture to give your Highnesse my poore opinion it is as safe in this manner, as it can bee any where ont of your own hands, and one word more your Highnesse will suffer mee to say upon this occasion , that , as long as the treasury continus under the management of those who hâve now the honour to bee employ'd in it, your money would bee as well secur'd to you upon the Kings revenue as upon any private security whatsoever, and that way you niight hâve 8 })er cent for itt; from M"" Duncomb you can hâve but six. The former of thèse ways in my opinion is very safe, the latter is soe in every mans opinion; but after ail, if your Highnesse does not like either of them and would hâve your money returned into Holland, as î rcceive it, you must please to direct mee to some other merchant whom I may safely employ in that matter, because S"" Nathaniell Herne is dead, that was formerly recommended to your Highnesse upon this occasion. I reckon I shall begin to receive some part of the money within a fortnight more at farthest, and according as I hâve the honour to heare from your Highnesse in answer to this, I shall dispose myselfe to obey your directions. Don Pedro Ronquello is not yett arrived hère; wee expect him with mucli impatience. Every thing elso continues to mend hère.

l.ETTRË MCCC.

Le JJuc (CYork au Prince cV Orange. Insolence des François en Flandre,

Windsor, May 11.

I see by yours of the 14 that you are alarumd ' at the

' aliirriied.

— 399 — [IfiSO. Mai.

behavior of the French in Flandres, which indeed is very extraordinary , as well as inconvénient to the Spaniards,

Iibut I hope thej will proceed no farther, so long as they see us well united; for I cannot tliinke tliey will be willing to draw ail Europe upon them at once. D. P. de Konquillo is not yett come , but before this you will hâve seen the M. de Bourgomene, who went well satisfyd from hence, and can informe you better then any body of ail things hère. To morrow we go to London , to be back againe at night, which is ail I shall saytoyounow, but to assure you that I shall always be very kind to you.

liËTTRK mCCCï.

Sir L. Jenkins ^ au Prince d^ Orange, Même sujet ; le Roi bien disposé.

Whitehall, 11 May 1680.

May it please your Highnesse. The extraordinary proceedings of the French, pointed at in your Highnesses letter of the 14, new style, were represented to his Ma. on sunday at Windsor. His Majestie there upon gave mylord of Sanderland directions that Mr. Savile * (the now Envoyé in France) should forthwith enter in the same measures with the ambassadeurs of the States-generall in that court, as to every thing that is to be donc or sollicited in behalf of Spain , in order to avert the pressures they are now under who live in the Spanish Netherlands. His Majestie thought fitt to discourse the thing to the french ambassadeur, who was somewhat surprizd at it. Ail things are liere very quiet at présent; his Majestie will be in town to morrow, but at night I shall shew him when he comes, the resolution of the States-Generall of the 16, which is just come to hand from M"^ Sydney, and, if I hâve any directions upon it, I shall be sure to communicate them to your Highnesse,

* Léoline Jenkins (1G23 — 1685) ambassadeur à Hymhjue ^ en 1680 secrétaire d'État. ^ George Savile , vicomte Halifax.

1680. Mai.] — 400 —

together with the assurance of my being, with ail respect possible, may it please,

your Highnesses raost humble and most obedient servant