they would give all to the King's Ships at Sea which theirs or any other Ambassadours gave to his own Person in his Kingdom where his Dominion was as absolute as he could pretend it to be in the narrow Seas which is to uncover first and cover last so that all their Ships should vail to ours when they met in Case ours would in Return take down the Pavilion as a Civility to theirs afterwards and theirs should remain vailed till we had set up our Pavilion again I told him I could say nothing to that Matter which I knew was very delicate but that if ever we agreed in that Point I thought it must not be by Articles or Treaties but by Concert between the Ministers of each Side as for the States first to give absolute Orders to all their Captains to vail to the King's Ships whenever they met them in the narrow Seas and at the same Time to signifie so much to His Majesty in a Letter of Compliment and as a Resolution taken upon Consideration of so near and happy Alliance as was now entred into between the Nations Upon which His Majesty might consider what Returns of Civility he would be content his Captains should make to an Allie so near as this State was now likely ever to be to the Crown of England Monsieur de Witt was willing to fall into any Expedient and said that whenever I came into England he would hope I might bring this last Matter to pass as happily as I had done all the rest That His Majesty should find he would be wanting in nothing that the Point of Civility or Deference might require in this Matter provided it were without acknowledging our Pretensions to the Dominion of the Sea which they must die rather than do but in what should pass they would leave us to our Interpretations and keep themselves to theirs For the provisional Articles according to my Word which made Way for the Treaty's Conclusion I told Monsieur de Witt His Majesty had in his Answer given me Leave to do it with an Article for the Meeting of Commissioners at both Parties Desire to compleat what should be defective and change what should be found inconvenient and cut off any Thing that should be superfluous so as it might appear to be an Original Treaty between us which would be more for our Honour than to copy after the French That tho' His Majesty had given me this Leave in Compliance to the States yet he had rather the Thing should now be left to Commissioners for these Ends than concluded with Reference to them hereafter I made His Majesty's Concession in this Point easie for these two Ends that either they finding His Majesty indifferent in it might grow so too Men being commonly apt to pull the harder the faster another holds or else if they resolved to insist upon it since I was already engaged to value a Thing which costs His Majesty nothing for as much Obligation as I could to the States which might make Way for some material Return upon another Occasion Monsieur de Witt seemed very much pleased at His Majesty's Compliance with them in this Point and said if I knew His Majesty's Pleasure in any Particulars which he desired should be added or any others changed for common Convenience he desired me to tell him and doubted not but we should end it in twenty four Hours but he was unwilling it should fall into other Hands or remain undone for the Reasons I mentioned in one of my last After much Discourse and no Way left to avoid the Thing we agreed it should be done but with an ample Article for the Meeting of Commissioners for those foresaid Ends and after the Perpetuity I will endeavour to get in these Words Aut quousque saltem ex utriusque partis Consensu indicentur Commissarii or some Words to that Purpose And likewise in the Preamble of this separate Instrument some Expressions of this Kind ut omnibus innotescat quam sincerâ sanctaque Fide nuper contractae Amicitiae non modo in praesens sed in posteros colendae cavere voluerunt And Ad divellenda penitus quaecunque non modo dissentionum sed Litium Altercationum Semina And Ad praecidendam spem omnem Expectationem quorumcunque praedictam Amicitiam novis Altercationibus labefactatam iri interesse possit Which are Things that come now only into my Head but shall be digested against we meet to morrow upon this Occasion And this is all that is possible for me to do in this Matter and which at least is likely to hasten the Exchange of the Ratifications and to leave our Alliance the clearest firmest and most confident that can be I confess I am troubled that it cannot be otherwise because Your Lordship says His Majesty would rather have had it so and if you had not sent me after the Treaty's Arrival an Explanation of what was written to me in an unintelligible Cipher it had been so and my Words had been safe but I think it had been worse in leaving a Dissatisfaction between us which is now avoided and I find My Lord Keeper in a Letter to me seems to put no Weight upon it if done in the Manner mentioned and I know you both put a great deal upon any Person 's employ'd by His Majesty being and passing for an honest Man No Post going from hence till the End of the Week I have resolved to dispatch this by the Yatcht that brought over my Brother whose Orders it seems are to return immediately But I know not how to find the safe Conveyance for the Dutch Ratifications unless another Yacht be sent for them about a Week or ten Days hence and to that End I shall leave them with Mr. Carter at my Lord Cravenss House here and who does all His Lordship's Business who shall deliver them to any Person that brings a Letter from Your Lordship to that Purpose This I think will be much better than to venture them with me in my Journey to Brussels or upon a Passage from thence I am ever with My Lord Your c. P. S. I had forgot the mention of this inclosed Memorial given in Yesterday to the States and by their Order sent me with a Compliment They would receive nothing without communicating it to me They resolve upon the Marquess's Answer for the Treating at Aix to send likewise thither but refer the Quality or Number of Persons to the Marquess's Intentions of going himself or sending some Delegate and that I suppose will depend upon Don Juan's coming over In the mean Time the States are absolutely of Opinion with me that no Treaty can begin with good Intentions on the French Side unless they consent to a Suspension of Arms while it lasts and therefore that the Force of our joint Instances at Paris is to be put upon that Point To Sir Orlando Bridgeman Lord Keeper Hague Febr. 12. S. N. 1668. My Lord
Bishop's where I was received by Lieutenant General Gorgas a Scotchman in that Service who omitted nothing of Honour or Entertainment that could be given me There was nothing here remarkable but the most Episcopal Way of Drinking that could be invented Assoon as we came in the great Hall where stood many Flaggons ready Charged the General called for Wine to drink the King's Health they brought him a formal Bell of Silver gilt that might hold about two Quarts or more he took it empty pulled out the Clapper and gave it me who he intended to drink to then had the Bell filled drunk it off to His Majesty's Health then asked me for the Clapper put it in turned down the Bell and rung it out to show he had playd fair and left nothing in it took out the Clapper desired me to give it to whom I pleased then gave his Bell to be filled again and brought it to me I that never used to drink and seldom would try had commonly some Gentlemen with me that served for that Purpose when 't was necessary and so I had the Entertainment of seeing this Health go current through about a dozen Hands with no more share in it than just what I pleased The next Day after Noon about a League from Munster the Bishop met me at the Head of four Thousand Horse and in Appearance brave Troops Before his Coach that drove very fast came a Guard of a Hundred Hey Dukes that he had brought from the last Campagne in Hungary they were in short Coats and Caps all of a brown Colour every Man carrying a Sabre by his Side a short Pole-Ax before him and a skrew'd Gun hanging at his Back by a Leather Belt that went cross his Shoulder In this Posture they run almost full speed and in excellent Order and were said to shoot two hundred Yards with their skrew'd Gun and a Bullet of the bigness of a large Pease into the breadth of a Dollar or Crown Piece When the Coach came within forty Yards of me it stopt I saw the Bishop and his General the Prince d'Homberg come out upon which I alighted so as to meet him between my Horses and his Coach after Compliments he would have me go into his Coach and sit alone at the back end reserving the t'other to himself and his General I excused it saying I came without Character but he replied that his Agent had writ him Word I brought a Commission which stiled me Oratorem nostrum as was true and that he knew what was due to that Stile from a Great King I never was nice in taking any Honour that was offered to the King's Character and so easily took this but from it and a Reception so extraordinary began immediately to make an ill Presage of my Business and to think of the Spanish Proverb Quien te hase mas Corte que no suele hazer Ote ha d'engannar ote ha menester And with these Thoughts and in this Posture I entered Munster and was conducted by the Bishop to a Lodging prepared for me in one of the Canon's Houses The Bishop would have left me immediately after he brought me to my Chamber but I told him I could not let him go without asking an Hour of Audience that very Evening He would have excused it upon Respect and Weariness and much Compliment but I persisted in it unless he would chuse to sit down where we were and enter upon Affairs without Ceremony He was at last contented and I said all I could towards my End of keeping him to the Faith of his Treaty with the King to the Pursuit of the War till both consented to the Peace and to the Expectations of the Money that was due he answered me with the Necessities had forced him to Treat from the failing of his Payments the Violences of his Neighbour Princes and the last Instances of the Emperour but that he would upon my Coming dispatch one immediately to Cleve to command his Ministers to make a stop in their Treaty till they received further Orders which I should be Master of I went to Supper after he left me but was told enough privately to spoil it before I sate down which was that the Treaty was Signed at Cleve tho' I took no Notice of it because I knew if it were so being angry would hurt no Body but my Master or my Self Next Day the Bishop made me a mighty Feast among all his chief Officers where we sate for four Hours and in Bravery I drank fair like all the rest and observed that my Spanish Cornet and I that never used it yet came off in better Order than any of the Company I was very sick after I came to my Lodging but he got a Horseback on purpose to shew himself about the Town while the rest of the Company were out of sight all the Afternoon The Day after was agreed to give me an Account of the Affair of Cleve upon the Return of the Bishop's Express after my Arrival and at an Audience in the Evening with great Pretence of Trouble and Grief he confest the Treaty was Signed and so past Remedy and that it had been so before his Express arrived tho' much against his Expectation as he profest I am sure 't was not against mine for I left Brussels in the Belief that I should certainly find all concluded which made my Journey much harder than it could have been with any Hopes of succeeding I told him when I found all ended and no hopes of retrieving it that I would be gone within a Day or two and would take my Leave of him that Night being not well and needing some Rest before I began my Journey He said and did all that could be to persuade my Stay till I had represented his Reasons to the King and received an Answer and I found his Design was to keep me as long as he could while his Agent at Brussels received Bills of Exchange from England that were ordered him in my Absence so that I knew not how much every Days stay would cost the King and that no other Service was to be done His Majesty in this Affair besides saving as much of his Money as I could The Bishop finding me immoveable advised me however in pretended Kindness to go by Collen which tho' four or five Days about would be the only Way that was left for me with any Safety the Dutch and Brandenburgers having posted themselves on Purpose to attend my Return upon all the other Roads and he offered me Collonel Ossory an Irish Gentleman in his Service to conduct me I seemed to accept all and to be obliged by his Care but wished my Self well out of it and took my Leave tho' he pretended to see me again next Day I went home laid instead of going to Bed as I gave out I laid my journey so as to be on Horseback next Morning between three and four of Clock upon good Friday which I thought
for the Defence of this Place in Case of the Enemy's marching this Way The general Belief here of the most Intelligent is that France has had the Skill or good Luck de nous endormir both us and Holland in this great Conjuncture and by assuring us of Peace upon good Terms with the Dutch and at the same Time the Dutch of never According with us nor breaking with Spain to their the Hollanders Prejudice will amuse us both in a slow Treaty till they have made so great an Impression in these Countreys as will give neither of us the Liberty to take those Measures upon this Affair to which either of our Interests might lead us And perhaps find Means to divert the Treaty at last for coming to any Issue They say that delaying our Treaty for the Point of Poleroon is losing a Dinner for Mustard and that every Day it is deferred endangers an irrecoverable Conjuncture that Heaven hath given us of making our Selves Considerable to whom which way and to what Degree we please God send these Reasoners to be deceived and that we may not be so at least no more by the same Hands I am My Lord Your c. To Sir Philip Warwick Brussels June 21. S. N. 1667. SIR I Am very sorry that I must rejoice with You and condole with all your Friends at the same Time and upon the same Occasion for tho' the Retreat I hear you have made from Business must needs be a Trouble and a Loss to us all yet I know it is an Ease and a Happiness to your self or else a wise Man as you are ought not to have chosen it I will not tell you how great a Contentment I had in knowing my Business lay so much in your Way because I never intend to pursue more than what His Majesty pleases to make my Due and I have ever reckoned both upon your Justice and your Kindness But I must bear this Disappointment since you are the Author of it which is the best Consolation I can think of In the mean Time I hope you do not intend to retire from the Commerce of your Friends as well as that of Business for tho' you should lock your Self up within your Walls of Frog-Pool I shall ever pretend to have a share in you there it self and never omit any Occasions of assuring you that no Change you can make in your Course of Life can ever make any in the Resolutions I have taken of being always SIR Your c. To my Lord Arlington Brussels July 19. 1667. My Lord THE Diligence of the Posts or Favour of the Weather have given me two of Your Lordship's to acknowledge since my last of the 1st and 5th current with the good News of the Dutch being beaten off at Harwich for since we are in a Disease every Fit we pass well over is so much of Good and gives hopes of Recovery I doubt this is not the last for I hear De Witt is resolved that their Fleet shall not give over Action till the very Ratifications of the Treaty are exchanged In which he certainly pursues his Interest that the War may end with so much the more Honour abroad and Heart at home for commonly the same Dispositions between the Parties with which one War ends another begins And tho' this may end in Peace yet I doubt it will be with so much Unkindness between the Nations that it will be Wisdom on both Sides to think of another as well as to avoid it All Discourse here is of the Peace as a Thing undoubted and every Pacquet I receive from England confirms me in the Belief that a War abroad is not our present Business till all at home be in better Order no more than hard Exercise which strengthens healthy Bodies can be proper for those that have a Feaver lurking in the Veins or a Consumption in the Flesh for which Rest and Order and Diet are necessary and perhaps some Medicine too provided it come from a careful and a skilful Hand This is all that I shall say upon that Subject which I presume has before this received some Resolution by my Lord Ambassadour Coventry's Arrival for I confess my Stomach is come down and I should be glad to hear the Peace ended and our Coasts clear since it will not be better but all this while Multa gemens Ignominiam Plagasque superbi Hostis and I am sure would not desire to live unless with hopes of seeing our Selves one Day in another Posture which God Almighty has made us capable of whenever we please our selves I am sorry to find the Commerce between England and Spain so far cut off as it should seem by Your Lordship's Complaints of having received none of a Date later than May the 1st for mine holds yet pretty constant tho' I suppose visited by the French in their Passage On Sunday last I received one from Mr. Godolphin of the First currant where he told me the Treaties were sent Signed by several Ways into England and therefore concluded some of them arrived He seems to doubt still the Portuguees accepting their Share in it which is the likelier because the Marquess tells me he hears by this Ordinary that better Terms may be offered them tho' 't is pleasant the Spaniard should not have yet resolved to give them the Title when for ought I know without it all their own may be in Danger His Excellency assures me they are resolved in Spain upon declating a general War both by Sea and Land and that Way make the French unmask their Designs that they have sent Order already to sieze upon all that belongs to the French in their Indies who have a great Share in the Spanish Fleet that is daily expected home that they have remitted by this Ordinary to his Excellency a Hundred and Thirty Thousand Crowns which is the third Remise of about that Sum arrived since the War began and that they have negotiated with the Fregoni or some such Name being the ablest Merchants at Amsterdam for Nine Hundred Thousand more so that the Process seems well entered and I wish them a good Issue We have here no Certainty of the Progress of the French Arms nor can we say that Courtray is taken tho' the Report has continued more or less these four Days but the Marquess would not own any Advice of it on Saturday Night tho' he spoke very despairingly of the Town but confidently of the Cittadel's holding out at least fifteen Days if those within it did their Duty His Excellency makes a very different Story of the Baron of Limbeck's Defeat which was reported here and assures me that having carried some Relief into Courtray He retreated with only Two Hundred Horse and meeting a Party of Six Hundred of the French charged through them killed the Captain of their Vantguard with several others and came off with the Loss only of Fifteen Men. Yesterday Morning the Marquess went to Gant with
continue what my good Fortunes alone at Brussels began and my five Days stay at London served to improve in so great a Degree Yet I will assure Your Lordship if I can make any further Advance by the Resentments of your Favour by my Desires to deserve it in the Return of my best Services or by the true Honour and Esteem of those Qualities I have discovered in Your Lordship upon so short an Acquaintance I am very far upon my Way already But I will leave this Subject in the first Place to congratulate with you upon another which is the Success of a Council wherein I observed Your Lordship and my Lord Arlington to have the most steddy Bent in promoting a Resolution of His Majesty's which is on this side the Water esteemed generally the happiest and the wisest that could ever have been taken by any Prince in such a Conjuncture and upon Respects not only of his own Affairs but even those of all Christendom besides It is not fit for me to tell you much of what I hear of this Kind or the Applauses given to His Majesty and his Ministers upon this Occasion to tell you all I am sure would be endless but from what I hear I cannot but raise at least a happy Presage of a New Year and a new Ministry's running on together with a Succession of the same Honour and good Fortunes both to His Majesty and his Kingdoms In the next Place I will according to your Orders give Your Lordship an Account of some Particulars that fell into this great Transaction which I thought not fit to trouble my Lord Arlington with as not perhaps proper or of Weight enough for the View of His Majesty or the Foreign Commmittee and yet worth the Knowledge or Reflection of some of his Ministers in Order to the Conduct of His Majesty's Councils hereafter both in this and other of his Affairs I must tell Your Lordship that in my first Conference with Monsieur de Witt since my Return I begun with telling him that he could not but remember that when I passed this Way last into England I told him upon what Points His Majesty desired with the greatest Secrecy that could be to know his Opinion and by that to guess at what might be the States upon the present Conjuncture of Affairs in Flanders to the End His Majesty might accordingly take his own Measures That His Majesty guess'd by the general Carriage and Discourses of the Dutch Ambassadors at London the States were not willing to see Flanders over-run by France but could not find they had any thing positive to say to him upon that Subject That he had therefore sent me privately and plainly to tell him his Mind upon it as to a Man of Honour and who he believed would make no ill Use of it and if he thought fit to know his Sentiments upon that Affair That for His Majesty he neither thought it for his own Interest nor Safety nor for that of the States or of Christendom in general that Flanders should be lost and therefore was resolved to do his utmost to preserve it provided the States were of the same Mind and that it might be done in Conjunction between them and to that End desired to know whether the States would be content to enter into an Alliance with him both Defensive between themselves and Offensive against France for the Preservation of Flanders That he Monsieur de Wit might remember his Answer to me was first much Applause of His Majesty's Resolution great Acknowledgment of his Confidence towards him by that Communication much Assurance that the States would be of the same Mind as to the Preservation of Flanders which was their nearest Interest next their own That he found both His Majesty and the States had the same Mind as well as Interest in this Matter but that the Distrusts remaining upon the late Quarrel between them had kept either of them from beginning to enter frankly upon it But since His Majesty had pleased to break it to him in a manner so obliging tho' he could not pretend to tell me his Master's Mind yet he would his own which was that the Defence of Flanders was absolutely necessary but that it ought to be tryed first rather by a joint Mediation of a Peace between the two Crowns than by a Declaration of War but that if the first would not serve it ought to come to the other That I knew France had already offered a Peace to the Offiâ—es made by the States upon an Alternative at the Choice of the Spaniards that he thought our Mediation ought to be offered to both Crowns upon that Foot to induce France to make good their own Offer and Spain to accept it And that to this Purpose he thought it very necessary to make a strict Alliance betweeen His Majesty and the States That for making an Offensive Alliance it could not be for it was a Maxim observed by this State never to make any at least when they were in Peace that for Defensive Leagues they had them with many Princes and he believed would be ready to enter into one with His Majesty and tho' he could not at all answer what would be the Mind of the States upon these Points yet he had told me his and would add that he was not usually mistaken in theirs and that he would at least use all his Endeavours to bring the States to such Opinions and Resolutions When I had said this and observed by his Action and Face that he assented to this Recital of all that had passed between us I ask'd him whether this was all right that I might know whether I had mistaken nothing in representing His Majesty's Meaning to him nor his to His Majesty He answered that it was all right and that he very well remembred it and much commended a Method of proceeding so exact and sincere by an Endeavour to avoid all Mistakes between us I then told him that I had upon my Arrival in England represented all as faithfully to His Majesty as I had done to him and that upon it His Majesty had taken so much Confidence in his Monsieur de Witt 's Opinion and Judgment as well as in his Credit with the States that he had taken a sudden and firm Resolution upon it first to join with the States in the Offer of a Mediation between the two Crowns and upon such Terms as they and I should agree but with a Desire that they might be as advantageous as the States could be induced to for the Preservation of Flanders and Recovery of such Places as should be most necessary to it In the next Place to conclude a Treaty the strongest that could be between us for obliging France to accept the Peace upon those Terms and in the mean time for putting a stop to the Course of their Arms in Flanders But that His Majesty thought it necessary to begin all this with a strict League
some of the small Towns to prevent and ruine a Council of the greatest Importance to Christendom as well as to our two Nations that had been on Foot in many Ages That unless the States General would conclude and sign the Treaty immediately and trust to the Approbation of their several Provinces and Towns after it was done I should give it for gone and think no more of it Monsieur de Witt seemed to think this impossible said no such Thing had ever been done since the first Institution of their Commonwealth that tho' it was true the States General might sign a Treaty yet they could not Ratifie it without Recourse to their Principals and that they should venture their Heads in Signing it if their Principals not approving it should question them for doing it without Orders that he hoped the Forms might be expedited in three Weeks Time and that all Care that could be should be taken to prevent the Addresses of the French Ambassadour among the Provinces I cut the Matter short and told him I continued of my first Opinion to see it immediately agreed between Me and the Commissioners and then Signed by the States which might be done in four or five Days and that the Deputies might safely trust to the Approbation of their Principals in a Point of so great and evident publick Interest That for my Part I know not how this Delay and thereby Hazard of the Affair might be interpreted in England nor what Change in my Orders it might produce That I had now Powers to conclude an Alliance of the last Consequence to the Safety of Flanders and this State that if it should miscarry by the too great Caution of the Deputies in Point of Form for ought I knew they might venture their Heads that Way and more deservedly than by signing at present what all of them believed would not only be ratified but applauded by their Principals With this I left him and the rest that passed in the Progress of this Affair as well as in my Audience or with the Commissioners Your Lordship has it in my Dispatch to My Lord Arlington to whom you will please to communicate these more secret Springs that by knowing the Conception the Forming the Throws and Birth of this Child you may the better consult how it is to be nourished till it grow to Strength and thereby fit to atchieve those great Adventures for which it seems designed I am ever with equal Passion and Truth My Lord Your Lordship 's most faithful and most humble Servant To Mr. Godolphin Hague Jan. 28. S. N. 1668. SIR THO' the Interruption of our Commerce hath been long yet I thought it necessary to renew it at this Time and thereby let you know what has lately broken it on my Side that you may not believe any Interruption of yours has had a worse Effect upon me of late than it ever had before being an Accident I have often been subject to About the end of last Month N. S. I passed through this Place with private Commission from His Majesty to sound the Mind of the States in what concerns the present Quarrel between the two Crowns and how they were disposed to join with him in the Share of a War or Project of a Peace to be endeavoured by our joint Offices between them From hence I went to London with the private Account of what I had in Charge After five Days Stay there I was dispatch'd back as His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary to the States with full Power to treat and conclude upon those Points which His Majesty esteemed necessary for our common Safety and the Repose of Christendom in this Conjuncture Upon the 6th I arrived here had my first Audience on the 18th and on the 23d were signed by me and the Commissioners given me by the States with full Powers three several Instruments of our present Treaty The first containing a League defensive and perpetual between His Majesty and the States against all Persons without exception that shall invade either of them with Agreement to furnish each other upon Occasion with forty Ships of War of which fourteen betwixt sixty and eighty Guns and four hundred Men a piece one with another Fourteen between forty and sixty Guns and three hundred Men a piece and of the other Twelve none under thirty six Guns and a hundred and fifty Men Besides this with six Thousand Foot and four hundred Horse or Money in stead of them at the Choice of the Invaded and to be repaid within three Years after the End of the War the Proportions of Money to the several Parts of the said Aid being ascertained in the Treaty The second Instrument contains our joint Obligations to dispose France to make Peace in Flanders upon one of the Alternatives already proposed and likewise to dispose Spain to accept it before the End of May but in Case of Difficulty made by them to dispose France however to stop all further Progress of its own Arms there and leave it wholly to the Allies to procure the Ends proposed in this League The third Instrument contains certain separate Articles between His Majesty and the States Signed at the same Time and of the same Force with the Treaty but not to be committed to Letters 'T is hardly imaginable the Joy and Wonder conceived here upon the Conclusion of this Treaty brought to an Issue in five Days nor the Applause given to His Majesty's Resolution as the wisest and happiest that could in this Conjuncture be taken by any Prince both for his own and his Neighbours Affairs nor are the Reflections upon the Conduct of it less to the Advantage of the present Ministry in England the Thing being almost done here assoon as my Journey was known in London and before my Errand was suspected by any publick Minister there Three Days after our signing the Suedish Ambassadour signed another Instrument jointly with me and the States Commissioners obliging his Master to enter as a Principal into the same Alliance so soon as some Pretensions he has from the Emperour and Spain are satisfied by our good Offices between them After which Count Dona parted as Ambassadour likewise from that Crown for England where the rest of that Affair will be negotiated and in his Company my Brother Henry Temple with the Whole Account of my Business and the Treaties signed in Order to their Ratification for which a Month is allowed tho' the States promise theirs within fifteen Days after the Date When those arrive and are exchanged I return to my Residence at Brussels to see the Issue of this Business which now takes up the Thoughts and Discourse of all Christendom and from which most Princes will resolve to take their Measures I suppose My Lord Sandwich upon his Way and therefore content my self only with giving you this Trouble and the Professions of my being SIR Your c. To the KING Hague Jan. 29th S.N. 1668. May it please Your Majesty
de l'intention de leurs Hautes Puissances Et demeureray á jamais celuy qui suis avec passion Monsieur Votre tres affectionné et tres humble Serviteur Johan de Wit From Monsieur de Wit Hague March 16. 1668. SIR YOur Dispatch of the 11th Instant did not come to my hands till the 14th at Noon the Courier who brought it having not been dismiss'd from Brussels till the 13th I was very glad to see you had at last dispos'd the Marquis to dispatch the Baron of Bergeyck for Aix la Chapelle being very much perswaded that it imports us mightily to have a quick Conclusion of the Peace or else to see clearly into the most inward Dispositions of the King of France as well as those of the Spanish Court and that all Delay is very prejudicial to our Intentions and to the Interests of Spain And that we may be neither surpriz'd nor abus'd on either side I think in the present Conjuncture two things are absolutely necessary The first is that England and this State be well furnished by Sea and Land and the other that we take away not only all lawful Cause but also as much as possible all Pretext from France to delay or avoid the concluding and signing the Treaty of Peace To satisfie on our side for the first Point we are resolv'd as soon as the Season will permit to send into the Field all our Cavalry which consists of 7300 Horse and provisionally 25 Regiments of our Foot for which the chief Rendezvous shall be at Bergopzoom or thereabouts from whence there will be a convenient March in a few days into most part of the King of Spain's Places in the Netherlands We have also given Order for equipping 48 Ships of War above the Number commonly used for Guard and Convoy And the States have already given order to their Ambassadors in England to concert with the King of Great Britain and his Ministers upon the Number of Ships and Men that each Party shall be oblig'd to have ready and in what time Besides the Deputies of the State have this Day finally agreed with the Ministers of the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunebourg to bring into the Service of this State three Regiments of Horse and 3000 Foot and I hope the Treaty will be signed to morrow or the next Day And further they are going here to augment the Old Militia by new Levies to the Number of 12000 Men with the Troops of the said Dukes which are to enter into the Service of the State And I will not fail of helping what I can to the accomplishing of all this as soon as it can be done by the Constitution of the Government And if you approve all these Preparations and Diligences as I hope you will since they seem very necessary and no way offensive since he who really desires the Peace will find in it his Support and Advantage and that these Forces shall not be employ'd till the last Necessity against him that by his Wilfulness would disappoint Christendom of the Benefit of it I desire you by your Letters to make the Exhortations necessary to the King of England and his Ministers that they may not fail on that side to make the like Preparations and Diligences As to the 2d Point I think it imports much that the Marquis of Castel-Rodrigo should explain himself upon which of the two Conditions proposed by the Alternative he pretends to have accepted wherein there seems the less Difficulty since his Excellence will without doubt explain himself for the abandoning the Places the King of France has conquer'd the last Campagn with their Dependances But then I think it will be our Interest and Duty to endeavour that some reasonable Exchange be made for Places far in the Heart of Flanders against Places lately taken in the Franche Compté or others that shall be more for the Advantage of France and less for the Inconvenience of Spain and Us. Besides to take all Pretext from France which they may pretend to make upon a Defect of Powers in the said Marquis either in the principal Matter or by default of a Clause of Substitution or otherwise I think it will be very necessary that the K. of Great Britain and the States General shall be obliged to ratifie and accomplish whatever shall be treated and concluded at Aix and shall promise in the firmest manner the K. of France can desire to oblige Spain in case of necessity to the said Ratification and Accomplishment by all their Forces both by Sea and Land And in short that in every Occurrence they will do very judiciously to obviate all Exceptions and Delays which can be brought to the Prejudice of the Peace But further when we shall have brought the King of France to an absolute Necessity of either finally concluding or discovering his Intention contrary to the Peace in that Case upon the first Step France shall make to frustrate Christendom of such a general Good the King of Great Britain and the States shall without further Delay bring all their Forces by Sea and Land not only for Defence of the Spaniards but also for the Intent specified in the third of our separate Articles and more amply deduc'd in my Dispatch of the 25th of February last For the rest if you have receiv'd the King of Great Britain's Ratification upon our last Marine Treaty I shall wait till you think proper to exchange it upon which I shall endeavour to câ—â—form the States to your Desire whether our Ratification shall be sent to our Commissioners now with you or whether you will please to send your Secretary or your Brother hereto the Hague or whether you know any way will please you better For in this and every other Occurrence I shall endeavour to follow your Desires and second your Intentions as being not by form of Compliment but very really Sir Your c. De Monsieur de Wit A la Haye 16me Mars 1668. Monsieur VOtre depêche du 11me de ce mois ne m'a esté rendue que le 14me apres midy le courier qui la apportée n'ayant esté expedié et parti de Brusselles que le 13me J'ay esté fort aise de voir que vous aviez enfin disposé Monsieur le Marquis de Castel-Rodrigo á depêcher le Baron de Bergayck promptement vers Aiz la Chapelle estant tres persuadé qu'â— nous importe d'avoir une prompte conclusion de la paix ou de voir clair dans les intentions les plus interieures du Roy de France aussi bien que dans celle de la cour d'Espagne et que tout delai est fort prejudiciable á nos intentions et aux interêts de l'Espagne Et á fin que nous ne puissions pas estre surpris ou abusés de coté ou d'autre je juge qu'en la conjuncture presente deux choses nous sont absolument necessaires dont la
April and the 15th of May the strained Exceptions against the Marquis of Castel-Rodrigo's Powers and his Acceptation of the Alternative As chiefly for what regards the Forces to be rais'd with all possible readiness and the manner by which we ought to proceed to the Defence of the Netherlands as soon as the K. of France shall begin to move against them The States are every Day more confirmed in the same Sentiments as their Actions declare by marching an Army with all Diligence to Berg-opzoom and by sending an Express to the King of Great Britain with Intelligence that they are of Opinion that in order to satisfie the K. of France upon the Scruples propos'd in Monsieur de Lionne's Paper of the 19th Instant with Promises and Assurances sufficient we must let him know discreetly and yet positively that we think his Generosity will not suffer him to ruine a State or a Minister of Spain whom the King of England and the States General have obliged at his Request to accept the Conditions prescrib'd with a formal Assurance that by that means he should free himself from all Danger of the War And at least that the Honour and good Faith of the King of Great Britain and the States cannot suffer such a State or Minister to be injured without lending him their Service and Assistance And by every body's Disposition here I am assured that as soon as the Agreement is concluded we shall march to the Assistance of the Netherlands upon the first Step France shall make to attack them if the King of England will do the like But to acquit our Consciences and let the World see the Justice of our proceeding I am entirely of opinion we must make all Advances and give all due Assurances to France to oblige them to the Peace Upon which with many other Particulars I refer you to the Deputies of the States to communicate to you having not time at present to enlarge further but only to repeat in one word that I am truly Sir Your c. Johan de Wit De Monsieur de Wit A la Haye 25 me Mars 1668. Monsieur J'AY bien receu la lettre dont il vous a plù m'honnorer le 25me de ce mois surquoy je vous diray en peu de mots que je suis tout á fait de vôtre opinion tant á l'egard de la disposition du Roy de France á continuer la guerre l'insuffisance de l'offre de vouloir restituer tout ce qu'il pourroit coâ—querir entre le premier d'Avril et le 15me May les exceptions recherchées contre les pouvoirs du Marquis de Castel-Rodrigo et contre son acceptation de l'alternative que principalement et sur tout á l'egard de l'armement que l'on devroit avancer avec toute la promptitude possible et de la maniere de laquelle on devra accourir á la defence du Pais bas des que le Roy de France commencera á se remuer pour l'accabler Lés Etats ont dêja approuvé et confirmé encore de jour en jour les mémes sentiments par leurs actions faisants marcher en toute diligence une armée aux environs de Berg-opzoom et ayants envoyé leur avis par un exprez au Roy de la Grande Bretagne qu'ils sont d'opinion qu' aussi bien que de satisfaire au Roy de France sur les scrupules proposés dans l'ecrit du Sieur de Lionne du 19me de ce mois avec des asseurances et promesses suffisantes il faudra luy faire savoir discretement et neantmois bien positivement que nous jugeons que sa generosité ne pourra pas permettre qu'il accable un Etat ou un Ministre d'Espagne que le Roy d'Angleterre et les Etats Generaux ont obligé á sa requisition d'accepter les conditions prescrites avec une asseurance formelle que par lá il se deliverroit de tout danger de la guerre Et qu'au moins l'honneur et la bonne foy du Roy de la Grande Bretagne et des Etats ne pourra pas souffrir qu'on accable un tel Etat ou un tel Ministre sans luy prêter leurs services et assistances Et je ne vois point de disposition icy qui ne m'asseure que l'oppignoration estant conclue on marchera au secours des Pais bas dés la premiere demarche que le Roy de France fera pour l'attaquer si le Roy de la Grande Bretagne en veut faire autant Mais pour nous satisfaire en bonne conscience et pour faire voir á tout le monde la justice de nôtre procede Je suis entierement d'opinion qu'il faudra faire toutes les avances et donner toutes les asseurances requises á la France pour parvenir et pour l'obliger á la paix Surquoy comme aussi sur plusieurs autres particularitez je me remets á ce que les Deputez de l'Etat vous communiqueront plus en detail n'ayant pas de tems de m'etendre icy plus amplement mais seulement pour repeter en un mot que je suis tres veritablement Monsieur Votre c. Johan de Wit From Monsieur de Wit Hague April 4. 1668. SIR I Could not immediately answer yours of the 2d Instant by reason of a Feaver I got by a great Cold last Night But towards Noon the Feaver lessening gives me leave at present to tell you that though it is now some Days since M. Beverning's Departure for Aix la Chapelle yet I do not see how in the present Conjuncture of Affairs it shou'd be more necessary for you to reside in that City than at Brussels but on the contrary that the Affair is now reduc'd to such a Point that the Business which carried you to Aix ought to be treated and finish'd in a few days in the Place where you are and in the Netherlands and I think the King of England's Ministers and those of the States at Paris have negotiated with Address in procuring us an Instrument which in a few Days will put us in a clear Light upon what we are finally to resolve and to do if the Marquis of Castel-Rodrigo seconds us as we hope and expect from his Prudence and from the visible Interest of his Master which obliges him to it I speak of the Project of the Treaty drawn upon the Foot of the Alternative and concerted between the said Ministers of our Masters at Paris and the Commissioners of the K. of France whereof I am sure you have receiv'd a Copy from Sir John Trevor I think this Project gives us a certain way of obtaining the Peace or else a War wherein all the Princes and States of Christendom will support us or at least commend our Conduct and Proceeding And I think we must proceed in it after this manner I suppose before-hand that
sparing no Man's part and holding an equal proportion with every Man's Estate Only this Circumstance should be in it to make it easy That not only every Man should have the Offer and Pre-emption of his own but if upon refusal it should be sold to another Hand yet it shall be free for the Owner to buy it of him at any Time within a certain Space as of two or three Years and the present Purchaser to be content with the Profit he shall have made in the mean Time which will prove a great Interest for his Capital Thirdly A reducing of the Interest which the King pays from Ten to Eight in the Hundred with which the Bankers may very well be contented and must be I suppose if the King pleases and finds a Course to make them see their Security cannot fail them For two in the Hundred Gain is of all Reason enough for them where the Security they receive is as good as what they give as it is in this Case For the King's Security to the Banker is in effect the Banker's Security to his private Creditors and whenever one fails the other must Now the Bankers pay but Six in the Hundred at most for In-land Mony and less for some And I have Reason to doubt a very great Trade is driven with them from Holland by Dutch Merchants who turn their Mony through their Hands encouraged by the great Interest they gain there in lieu of so small here that the States have lately refused to take the Value of Twenty Thousand Pounds Sterling of the Duke of Lunenburg's Mony at Two and a half per Cent. and Three is the utmost that any Man makes And if the King by granting good Security punctual Payments and the Reputation of good Order in his Revenue were gotten into Credit I do not see why he might not upon Occasion take up what he pleased at Six per Cent. as well as the States do here at Two and a half Fourthly To enable the King upon any Occasion to give better Security I know nothing would do so much as if the Parliament could be disposed to settle the Customs upon him for one Year after his Death as they are already for his Life but that being an uncertain Term Mony will not be readily or without Exaction of Interest lent upon that which may fail next Day And yet I conceive it to be the largest Branch of the Revenue and in all other Points the most certain Fifthly If any Thing were set on foot in Parliament towards an Act of Resumption of Grants of Crown-lands since a certain Time Use might at least be made of it towards drawing such Grantees to a voluntary Composition of holding their Grants at the Rent of a fourth or fifth part of the real Value to the Crown in Consideration of having such Grants confirmed by Act of Parliament or the King's Engagement to consent to nothing to their Prejudice after their Consent to such a Rent and Tenure Sixthly A View may be made at least of what has been gained by any Grants from his Majesty above what were really his Majesty's Intentions to grant As where the King intended to give Five hundred Pounds a Year and perhaps Seven or Eight or a Thousand Pounds is made of it And the same of Sums of Mony out of certain Benefits granted towards the raising them And what is found to be beyond the Intention of the King's Grant to be repaid Many smaller Particulars might perhaps be thought of All which with what has been mentioned will be made valuable by a good Order in the management and a stanch Hand in Grants hereafter till the King be as much before-hand as he is behind-hand now I am my Lord your c. To Mr. * Now Earl of Montague Montague Hague Jan. 2. S. N. 1669. My LORD IT is an ill Sign of the Dulness of this Place that I must have Recourse to the Complements of the Season for the Occasion of a Letter and that I can find very little to say from hence besides wishing your Lordship according to our good old Stile a merry Christmas The Spaniards have not yet had so much good Nature as to make ours here the merrier with their Two hundred thousand Crowns I doubt it has some Enchantment or other upon it and is not to be delivered but in some fatal Hour or by some charmed Knight All is here frozen up and the Bishop of Munster may march if he pleases but if he do as has been so much talkt will blow his Fingers unless he receives very great Influences from your warmer Climate For the good Pay of these States is in so much Credit among their Neighbours that I believe they will not want what Forces they shall have Occasion for besides what they have a-foot I should be very glad to hear what becomes of my Lord and Lady of Northumberland and how long they intend their Pilgrimage supposing your Lordship keeps some Correspondence with them of which I am out of the way but very much in that of being My LORD Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant To my Lord Arlington Hague Jan. 18. S. N. 1669. My LORD THE Baron d'Isola arriving here Yesterday I have this Afternoon had some Discourses with him upon the Subject of his Journey which he professes to be a Desire of advancing the Treaty of Guaranty as a Thing his Master has more Interest in than Spain it self which will be better able to subsist after the Loss of Flanders than the Empire can I find he came with Hopes of affecting much by his Eloquence and great Parts and by making others see more of their own Interests than they were willing to do And so the two Themes wherein he came provided were To make it evident that France would open the War again this Spring and within six Weeks attack either Burgundy or Luxenburg and on the other Side That the Councils of Spain as they are now composed if they saw not a solid and firm Assistance from their Neighbours would fall into the easiest way of ending that Matter by giving up Flanders upon the best Terms they could That they were as a sick Man that would not or could not help themselves and were so to be dealt with by those that were so deeply concerned in their Loss as these States in particular seem to be And that after the Disarming of the Duke of Lorrain which France had now resolved and the seizing of Burgundy which would be their next Work it would be impossible to maintain a War in what remains of Flanders when they could do it no longer by Diversion after these two Inlets into France stopt up From this we fell into the Story of the Suedish Subsidies and the Hardships put upon Spain in that Business all which I suppose your Lordship has heard a dozen Times already and are obvious enough and therefore I shall not repeat them not remembring any Thing
and their Pretensions in the same Condition they were before The same Liberty still remaining upon the last Article of the Marine Treaty to appoint Commissioners and alter or add any Thing when both Parties shall agree and will be but like taking so much by Advance upon Account of a greater Debt So that I am apt to conclude from all these Observations That they who influence our Merchants in this Prosecution either have no meaning this Treaty should end fairly and so they put it obstinately upon that single Point and in that Form which they know will never be granted or else they aim at gaining an Occasion of raising new Disputes with the Dutch whenever they find a Conjuncture for it there seeming some Reason for the Dutch Opinion that agreeing upon an Article as ours propose it we may fall into new Contests upon the Extent and Interpretation of it whenever we please If this last End be in the Bottom of this Business and it be taken up or countenanced by his Majesty or his Ministers upon Reason of State and we make our Provisions and take all our Measures accordingly for ought I know it is a wise and may prove an honourable Council in Time at least if the present State of Affairs in Christendom should change by any sudden or unexpected Revolution But if our Merchants or those who influence them in this Matter mean no such Thing as a Conclusion of the Treaty but only by the depending of such Disputes to leave an Unkindness and Weakness in our Alliance which may in time shake the Foundations of it and make way for new Measures on one Side or other which will in time prove destructive to both I cannot but interpret this as the Effect of their Distast or Envy at the King 's present Ministry and the Course of his Councils which have not gained greater Honour abroad nor perhaps Safety and good Will at home by any Thing than by our late Alliances so renowned here and thereby the Stop we have given to the Progress of the French Greatness And therefore it must come from the Influence of some who would be glad to see not only our Alliance shaken or changed abroad but our Ministry at home too which I shall be sorry to see till the King can find better Hands for himself and the Kingdom to place it in And whenever that happens as much as I am your Lordship's Servant I shall be very well contented and so I dare say will you too If your Lordship should imagine any particular Envy or Peek at me or my Employment here may have contributed to the Difficulties which have succeeded in this Business and that our Merchants or those that influence them believe it would thrive better in any other Hand I will beg of you not to be sway'd by Considerations of Kindness to me in a Matter of publick Concernment nor to fear that whenever this Employment falls you shall be troubled with me at home as great Ministers use to be with Men out of Office For while the King's Business goes well 't is not two Straws matter whether such a Body as I have any Share in it or no. And there 's an end of all the Reflections I have had upon the most troublesome and untoward Business that I thank God I ever had in my Life or I hope shall ever have again And perhaps I am mistaken in them all However if your Lordship can pardon this you shall be sure not to be troubled in haste with any more of it from My Lord your c. To my Lord Arlington Hague Aug. 7. S. N. 1669. My LORD I Was very glad to find your Lordship in your last upon your Journey into the Country because I very much doubt whether the Exercise or Diversions you usually allow your self are what your Health requires and what your Cares and Troubles deserve I am sure in the Prospect I have of them I am so far from envying them with all their gay Circumstances that I think your Lordship has a very hard Bargain of them altogether unless it be one Day made up to you by the Glory and Satisfaction of some great Success in the Pursuit you intend of his Majesty's and the Kingdoms Honour Safety and Happiness which I doubt will need some stronger Councils than Men seem at present disposed to But this is none of my Business I cannot give your Lordship any Account of what you say is made a great Matter of by Somebody to a private Hand about the Difficulties intended by Spain in the two last Suedish Payments with Design of making new Demands I am only in Pain at present to see the first Payment finished which is not yet arrived but expected by the first Courier When that is done and the Guaranty delivered by Sueden as well as us and Holland I shall be in no great Fear besides that of the Spanish King's Death or of Spain falling into some Agreement or other with France for the Exchange of Flanders by seeing so great a War still entailed upon it and their Neighbours unwilling to share so far in their Dangers as perhaps it were Our and the Dutch Interest to do I am sure in the present Posture of that Monarchy if I were of their Council I should be of Advice to do it whenever France would be content upon it to quit all Pretence to the rest of the Spanish Dominions And perhaps 't were wise for France to get Flanders by that or any other quiet Condition For within two Years after he were well possess'd of that little Spot of Ground I doubt no Prince or State in Christendom would pretend to dispute any more with him then than the Spaniard does now But these are Events to be considered by Men in greater Spheres than I am and perhaps deserve to be a little more thought on than they are I have received and returned a Visit with the French Ambassador so that we are upon as good Terms as can be My Lord Culpepper pass'd this way last Week and upon that Occasion I cannot but desire your Lordship to let me know more particularly from you how I am to treat any English Lord as to the Hand and Door in my own House For though the French Example is given me as to all publick Ministers yet there is nothing specified as to other Persons and if I am to follow it in this and other Particulars I desire to have something from his Majesty's positive Commands to bear me out as the French Ambassadors have and as methinks the Case deserves Since I am told the Innovation began in Monsieur Cominges's Time in England and that before the Orders he received in it he gave the Hand to all Gentlemen of Quality in England and to all Persons of great Quality or Families though of his own Nation And that my Lord St. Albans ever gave it to all English Lords while he was Ambassador at Paris Though it seems
du desespoir de voir le projet se reduire á rien L'une ou l'autre de ces deux choses supposés V. E. voit qu'on les peut supposer toutes deux il est aisé de juger que la Cour de Suede aigrie de l'Espagne par toutes les choses que ses Ministres luy auront representé ne voudra plus nous continuer le moyen que nous avons encore de finir ce grand ouvrage V. E. voit donc de quel importance il est de poursuivre les dernieres impressions que la Suede a eues jusqu ' icy par la nouvelle d'une prompte entiere conclusion Car aussitôt que l'Espagne sera en possession des Guaranties de tous les Confederez on pourra dire que non seulement toutes les apparences seront sauvées mais qu'on aura meme pouroû au fond de la chose Que s'il manquoit quelques formalitez á la perfection de cet ouvrage il ne faudra que du tems car comme tout sera disposé á une entiere conclusion on ajustera tout á loisir sans que le gros de l'affaire soit en danger Je prie V. E. de faire reflexion que des circonstances pareilles á celles que vous avez presentement comme sous la main n'ont pas accoutemé de s'offrir deux fois á une meme personne que c'est leur laisser perdre de leur force que de differer á s'en saisir Mais la prudence les bonnes intentions de V. E. me rassurent contre la crainte d'un evenement si funeste J'aurois du moins la consolation d'un homme qui a fait son devoir qui n'a rien oublié pour epargner un si grand malheur á la Chretientié Je suis c. To Mr. Cary. Hague Dec. 6. S. N. 1669. SIR I Very much wonder to hear from Mr. Andros the Difficulties you make in delivering the Tin according to my last Order and that you thereby occasion so much Prejudice to the King's Service which I thought you would have advanced all you could when I writ to you to desire your Care in that Business But that you may understand what you call my Commission to you I will let you know that I had no Power to give any Orders at all about that Matter but in Pursuance of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury's Commands and therefore new Orders being arrived from them by Major Andros they are to be obey'd in what concerns the Tin-Business I desire you once again to comply with him readily in the Delivery of the Tin according to the last Letter wrote you upon that Subject and do absolutely disown you in all Difficulties you shall make upon Pretence of any Order from me And if you continue to delay it any longer shall upon the first Notice of it write effectually to the Constable to do his Majesty Justice in it and me in particular who neither expected nor deserved this Dealing from you Your Servant To Major Andros Hague Dec. 6. S. N. 1669. SIR SInce the writing of this I received yours of the 4th complaining still of Mr. Cary's refusal to deliver the Tin whereupon I have written him the inclosed Letter which is as much as I can say in it If he continues his Impertinence still I suppose 't will be at his own Cost since your Protest And if you will send me Word what are the ways of proceeding against him I shall write either to the Constable or to the Governor of Ostend or Sir Mark Ognate at Bruges to favour your Dispatch I am Sir your Servant To the * Now King of Portugal Prince Regent of Portugal Hague Dec. 8. S. N. 1669. SIR THo' nothing could happen more acceptable to me than the occasion which the Portugal Ambassador lately gave me not only of promoting the Peace so much desired between Portugal and this State both Friends and Confederates of the King my Master but also of shewing some little Mark of my great Devotion for the Queen my Mistress yet I confess my Satisfaction was much encreased by your Royal Highness's Letter when I found how acceptable that small Service was to you I do not in the least pretend to deserve the Thanks your Royal Highness is pleased to give me at least not upon any other account than that of desiring by all means to seek other and greater Occasions of being serviceable to your Royal Highness and to the Affairs of Portugal and in so doing I may have some better Pretence to your Royal Highness's Favour wherewith you are pleased to honour me I wish your Royal Highness all Health and am Sir c. Principi Portugaliae Hagae Comitis Dec. 8. S. N. 1669. Serenissime Princeps QVanquam nihil mihi gratius istâ occasione accidere potuisset quam mihi nuper praebuit Dominus Legatus Portugaliae non modo exoptatam utrinque concordiam finem litium inter Portugaliae Foederati Belgii Status utrosque Regi Domino meo Amicos adeò Confoederatos promovendi sed eodem nomine immensi erga Reginam Dominam meam obsequii saltem exiguum aliquod specimen exhibendi auctam tamen cumulatam planè ex literis A. V. R. oblectationem meam fuisse confiteor cum illi tam acceptum extitisse istud qualecunque officium summâ cum voluptate percepissem Ego me autem nec gratias quas mihi dignata est A. V. R. meruisse praefero saltem non alio nomine quam summi istius quo teneor desiderii ulteriores aliquas majores occasiones consequendi quibus devotissimum prorsus in A. V. R. res Portugaliae studium meum testari potero benevolentiamque istam cujus testimonio me tam eximiè ornatum voluit omni meliore modo demereri Valeat interim A.V.R. meque semper inter praecipuos Gloriae suae Cultores rebusque suis addictissimos aestimare velit To Sir John Trevor Hague Dec. 10. S. N. 1669. SIR I Received yesterday yours of the 23d past together with his Majesty's Instructions of the 22d and could have wish'd Mr. Werden had brought them with him for a Reserve though not to have been communicated till the last Minute of his stay and the Despair of all other Trials for by that means we might have kept the Business entire whereas now though it may recover some Life yet I much doubt whether it ever can the Strength and Health of its first Constitution For besides so great and so many Jealousies as are entred into it on all sides I count Monsieur Marechal's going away a very ill Accident and can yet make no Guess how Monsieur Applebome will acquit himself whenever we shall come to the Payment of the Subsidies tho' Monsieur Marechal was so forward as to make it sure But Mr. Werden can tell you how different sorts of Men
even in time of Peace and upon this Condition Sueden will be content I think what he promises is sufficient that is to bring into the Field the 16000 Men in three Months after the Attack for there is no Appearance of employing so great Forces unless by way of Diversion since the Troops to be furnish'd by his Majesty and the States General joined to those of the Catholick King will be as many as can be well employ'd for the Defence of Flanders for it is not designed they should be Masters of the Field Your Excellency sees that you may reckon if you please upon 10000 Men from the States in 15 days time and tho' there be no Term specified by the King my Master I think your Excellency need make no Difficulty upon it since the Words As soon as possible signify the shortest time one can desire And I confess that not having observed any Reflection upon the Time in the Orders of the Queen Regent of Spain which were communicated to us by the Ambassador Gamarra I gave no notice of it to his Majesty thinking my self sufficiently guarded by my Powers to sign the same Project which had been sent into England as well as Spain I hope that as soon as your Excellency will have sent Powers to the Spanish Ambassador to deliver the Mony there will be no Difficulty in signing the Project as it has been communicated to him And I do not think from what I can judge by the Minister of Sueden that the Affair is likely to suffer any further delays whereof I thought good to give your Excellency this Intelligence which you may make use of according to your Prudence and the Interests of the King your Master I am My Lord your c. Au Connetable de Castille La Hay le 23 Jan. S. N. 1670. Monsieur JE ne doute pas que Monsieur l'Ambassadeur d'Espagne ne communique á V. E. par ce Courier le Projet du concert des forces particulieres lequel a eté arreté icy par le consentement des Ministres de trois Confederez Je puis bien assurer V. E. que pour le reduire á la forme ou il est tous les Ministres se sont relachez á l'envi autant qu'il leur a eté possible Il seroit inutile de les presser de nouveau pretendre en obtenir davantage Nous avons trové assez de difficulté á l'emporter sur les Ministres de Suede pour avoir sa Guarantie avant que d'aller plus loin de faire de nouveaux pas inutiles aprés tous ceux que nous avions faits Il nous asseure de n'avoir jamais rien proposé qui tendît á faire venir de Troupes de Pomeranie ni de Breme qui sont des lieux ou il n'y en a pas un plus grand nombre que ce qu'il faut pour les garnisons que si l'on le presse sur ce point il nous repond que pour entretenir des Troupes supernumeraires en ces lieux lá il faut des Subsides en tems de paix même qu'a ces conditions la Suede en sera satisfaite Il me semble que c'est assez qu'il promette de faire agir le 16000 hommes trois mois ecoulez aprés l'attaque car il n'y a guere d'apparence d'employer de si grandes forces que par voye de diversion Les Troupes qui doivent etre fournies par sa Majesté les Etats Generaux etant jointes á celles du Roy Catholique leur nombre sera suffisant pour la deffense des Paîs-bas car on n'a pas dessein de se repandre dans le paîs de s'y elargir ni de paroitre maitre de la campagne V. E. voit que quand il luy plaira quinze jours de tems la rendront maitresse de dix mille hommes de Troupes des Etats Generaux á l'egard du Roy mon Maitre quoy que le terme ne soit ni exprimé ni precisement specifié il me semble pourtant que V. E. ne peut former de difficultez sur cela Car ces mots Au plustot que faire se pourra emportent bien un terme limité quelque court qu'on veuille le sousentendre personne n'ayant jamais exigé une chose plutôt qu'elle ne se peut faire J'avoüeray que les ordres pleins pouvoirs de la Reine Regente d'Espagne qui nous ont eté communiqués par l' Ambassadeur Gamarra ne faisants aucune mention de cette petite difference je n'en avois pas donné avis á sa Majesté me croyant assés muni assés autorisé par mes pleins pouvoirs pour signer le même projet qui avoit eté envoye en Angleterre aussi bien qu'en Espagne J'espere que dés que V. E. aura depeché les Pouvoirs á l'Ambassadeur d'Espagne de delivrer l'argent il n'y aura plus de difficulté á la signature du Projet tel qu'il luy a eté communiqué Et autant que je le puis juger sur tout par rapport au Ministre de Suede je ne croy plus que cette affaire trouve de retardement C'est dequoy j'ay voulu donner avis á V. E. C'est á elle á en user selon sa prudence les interets de son Roy á m'estimer comme je suis c. To Sir John Trevor Hague Jan. 24. S. N. 1670. SIR I Am to acknowledge yours of the 7th with an enclosed to Monsieur Van Beuninghen which I have sent to Amsterdam having first perused it as you pleased to give me leave I shall say nothing upon it till I have spoken with him and seen how we agree in Matter of Fact Because the Weight of all seems to lie upon the use of those privative Contracts to the Exclusion of our Trade having been disowned if not invalidated by the Treaty between the two Nations after the first War and upon the Practice having been exercised accordingly for several Years after and till within few Years of our second War Which two Points if they can be evidenced by the Treaty and by sufficient Testimonies of the subsequent Practice we have certainly all the Reason in the World for our Demands But if we must rely upon the common Equity in Freedom of Traffick between Friends we are engaged in the Question upon which we cannot yet agree whether the same Rules are current in the Indies as in Europe To which I suppose we shall hardly our selves consent if the West must be comprehended as well as the East But I shall be able to say more upon this when I have got a Sight of the Treaty after the first War and heard Monsieur Van Beuninghen upon your Letter And in the mean time shall assure you of all the Offices I can possibly render towards
tell him what I could make of all this laid together For on the one side there were Circumstances enough to awake a suspicious Man and on the other side he could never think it possible for any Nation or Court it self to quit so certain a Point of Interest and great a Point of Honour as must be forfeited by our breaking our Alliances with this State or entring into any with France whose Greatness had occasioned our Measures for our own as well as our Neighbour's Defence He said I knew the best of any how all these Matters had pass'd How his Majesty had engaged these States in those common Measures and even prevailed with them to make a Sacrifice of the ancient Kindness and Alliance this State had always before with France to the Considerations of the present Danger from the Greatness of that Crown to the rest of Christendom though they might have had what Terms they pleased from them for the dividing of Flanders That I knew with how inviolate Faith and Firmness the States had constantly observed for these two Years past their Friendship and Alliances with his Majesty and how great a Part I had in contracting and pursuing them by the particular Confidence the States and He especially had in my Person as one that was persuaded of our common Interests that knew my Master's Mind and would not be an Instrument to deceive those that trusted me For these Reasons he said he desired to know my Opinion upon this whole Matter especially that of my Journy into England which he said would be very surprizing to every Body here and therefore he would be glad to give the News of it to the States in the best manner he could I protested to him that I had hitherto received constant Assurances from both the Secretaries of State of his Majesty's Resolutions to observe constantly the Measures in which he was engaged to this State And that I knew not a Word more of the Reasons of my sudden Journy into England than what I had told him That I had Orders to leave my Family behind me And that his Majesty might possibly think it necessary for his Information to speak with me upon the present Conjunctures and to return me immediately according to my Lord Arlington's Letter That I confessed I was apt to make many of those Reflections that he had done but could not believe it possible for any Crown ever to enter into Councils so destructive to their Honour and Safety as those he suspected That if such a Thing should ever happen I desired him to remember what I told him upon the Scruples he had made in trusting our Court upon the Negotiations of the Triple Alliance Which was that I told him then what I thought of his Majesty's Dispositions and Resolutions as well as those of his Ministers That I could not believe it possible for them to change in a Point of so evident Interest and which would be so understood by the whole Nation That however I could answer for nobody besides my self but this I would and that if ever such a Thing should happen I would never have any Part in it That I had told the King so as well as him and would make it good That for the present there was nothing more to be said but that I must go away for England That if I returned he would know more and I doubted by what he said that he would guess more if I returned not Monsieur de Witt smiled and said I was in the right That in the mean time he would try to cure himself and Others of all Suspicions upon my Journy And would hope on t'other side it might be of use to the common Interests by possessing his Majesty of the great Importance of the late Seisure of Lorrain and of the States Resolutions to stick close to him in all Measures he should take upon it And so we parted I would have gone away immediately upon this Summons but that it found me very ill and uncertain whether it would end in a Fever as it seemed to begin but since a great Swelling fallen upon my Face I hope it may pass However being forced to delay my Journy some few Days I could not but give your Lordship this Account before-hand and leave it to you to make what use of it you think fit without expecting any Answer since I hope so soon to follow it But I know your Lordship fully persuaded of our Interest to preserve our Alliances here and the present Measures of Christendom which depend upon them And tho' you have said nothing yet to make me distrust our Counsels in that Matter yet I confess I have not the better Opinion of it from what I find of your Lordship's estranging your self of late or being estranged from the Consultations of them I have likewise reflected upon the kind Hint your Lordship gave me some time since of my Lord Arlington's not being the same to me which he had formerly been and constantly since our first Acquaintance Which made me I confess then doubt rather some Mistake in your Lordship's Observation than any Change in his Friendship or Dispositions From himself I must needs say I yet find nothing of it and tho' his Style seems a little changed in what concerns our Publick Affairs yet not at all in what is particular to me When I come into England I shall soon know the Truth of your Conjecture and tell it you because by that I shall judge the Truth of mine For having never said or done any Thing to deserve the least Change in his Lordship's Friendship to me since it first began I am sure if it happens it can be derived from nothing else but a Change he foresees in those Measures at Court which he has been with your Lordship so deeply engaged in and which he knows as well as your Lordship that I will never have any Part in the Councils of altering till I can be convinced that any others will be more for his Majesty's Honour and Safety All this I say in Confidence to your Lordship without touching any Word of it to my Lord Arlington or any other Person And shall increase this Trouble no further because I hope to have so soon the Honour of seeing you and assuring you a nearer way with how much Passion as well as Truth I am and shall be ever My Lord your Lordship 's c. To the Great Duke of Tuscany London Nov. 4. 1670. SIR I Should not have satisfied my self barely to resent all the Favours of your most Serene Highness and particularly the Honour of your last of September the 30th if I were any way capable of acknowledging them as I ought either by my Expressions or my Services But your Highness being pleased to oblige so many ways so unprofitable a Person can hope for no other Returns than the Pleasure of your own Generosity and the Devotion of a Heart so grateful as mine I
qu' á mourir that I think it will not pass for a very just Exception and our Friend Count Marsyn who is hot at Hand will I hope come to himself and help to keep all Things quiet in Flanders till Don John's Arrival which is now talk'd of but I am not the easiest to believe it I beg your Lordship's Favour or rather Justice both to esteem and use me as My Lord your c. To my Lord Arlington Hague Jul. 15. S. N. 1670. My LORD I WAS very glad to find that the great Measure of his Majesty's Grief upon Madame's Death was a little lessened by the Satisfaction he had received that it had passed without that odious Circumstance which was at first so generally thought to have attended it and of which I endeavour in my Discourse here to allay the Suspicions since I see his Majesty is convinced though it is a very difficult Matter to succeed in after so general a Possession which has been much encreased by the Princess Dowager's Curiosity to ask her Phisician 's Opinions upon the Relation transmitted hither to one of them from his â—rother who is the Dutch Secretary at Paris and pretends it came from Dr. Chamberlain tho' something different from what he transmitted into England However it happened it had certainly all the Circumstances to aggravate the Affliction to his Majesty which I am infinitely touch'd with as well as with the Sense of an Accident in it self so deplorable But it is a necessary Tribute we pay for the Continuance of our own Lifes to bewail the frequent and sometimes untimely Deaths of our Friends Et levius fit Patientiâ quicquid corrigere est nefas The Baron d'Isola parted this Day for Brussels from whence he told me he would answer your Lordship's last Letter by which he pretends to have drawn Confidence of his Proposals succeeding in England with the Temper the Dutch had given it here But he does not press the Matter much at present because he does not pretend that the Emperor's Resolutions are fully taken upon it nor will be till after the Enterview which is as he says about this time contrived between the Electors of Mentz and Triers where an Envoy from the Emperor another from the Duke of Lorrain and as the Baron pretends from some other German Princes are to intervene where the Measures will be fully taken among them In case his Majesty should fall into the Thoughts of admitting that Conjunction as Monsieur de Witt tells me he has likewise some Hopes given him from Monsieur Van Beuninghen I think it were best however reserving the Declaration of any such Consent until he were very well assured of the Emperor's and the other German Princes final and firm Resolutions which I know not whether we may be confident of learning from the Baron d'Isola whose Business seems to be rather first to draw out our Points and make them his Ground for persuading his Court to agree with them and thereby value himself both to his Master the German Princes and others upon his own being the Author of so great a Negotiation And perhaps if his Majesty have a mind to see the bottom of it and wishes it effected for common Interest sake he could not do better than to acquaint the Elector of Mentz privately with his Thoughts upon it and leave him to make use of that Knowledge towards the preparing all Pieces for the Work For I find That Prince must be the Spring of all the Motions that are made in it on the German Side So that all will depend upon his Dispositions and Conduct which for my part I pretend not to understand yet in this Affair For though his late Envoy here visited me with great Professions from his Master to his Majesty and much Civility to me yet I fell into no sort of plain or confident Discourse with him upon this Matter but finding him rather shy in it I resolved not to be behind-hand with him in that Point And so we parted as wise as we met By this Days Post I hear the Count de Monterey is declared Governor of Flanders by way of Interim which yet may last longer than is thought of according to the slowness or uncertainty of the Spanish Councils especially Don John having now finally refused to accept that Charge The Count Marsyn I hear says he will not obey a Man Qui ne fait que naître because the Count Monterey is but twenty eight Years old and therefore sets on foot already many Brigues against him both in Spain and Flanders which we here fear may produce very ill Effects by encreasing the Disorders of Flanders and thereby the Temptations of France though I hope our Friend who you know is something hot at Hand may yet come to himself For methinks his Exception against the new Governor is not very just after having so long obey'd a Man that thought of nothing but dying and for ought I hear was by that Apprehension rendred unfitter for his Post than any he could have met with to leave in it without very great Luck They much persuade me here to make a Journy to Brussels in this Conjuncture having heard me speak of it this Summer and of having his Majesty's leave because they know I am acquainted with those at present upon the Scene I find their Deputies have no Credit there and come back only with Dissatisfaction and Complaints I see nothing like to take me up here when I have observed this Assembly of the States of Holland and what they will do and promise further in the Prince's Business which a Fortnight will determine and therefore am well enough inclined to it But should be much the more if his Majesty should think fit to Complement the Count Monterey upon this Occasion and save the Expence of an express Person by sending him a Letter with me to be delivered as one that goes wholly Incognito and without any Character as was last Year intended I should have done to the Constable Of which your Lordship can easily satisfy me I find the Prince has put off the Thoughts of his Journy till towards the sitting of the Parliament upon what your Lordship last writ By whose Advice his Highness resolves to steer in the Course of his Affairs and Motions relating to England I am ever My Lord your c. To Sir John Trevor Hague July 22. S. N. 1670. SIR I AM at once to acknowledge both yours of the 1st and 5th current with the inclosed Names of the Scotch Ministers in the first and in the other the last Paper concerted with Monsieur Van Beuninghen concerning the Affair of Surinam Upon what concerns the Scotch Ministers I gave in yesterday a Memorial to the States upon which I received this Day a Message from Them expressing their Readiness to perform all Parts of their Treaties with his Majesty and desiring to know from me the several present Abodes of the said Persons to
the End they might direct their Orders to them accordingly But in this Point I was not able to answer Them at so short Warning having not yet upon Enquiry heard of any of the three Persons excepting Mackard who it seems lived some Months since privately at Vtrecht but whether he continues still there or no I am yet ignorant And therefore I told the States Agent That I would endeavour to inform my self of their Abodes if I could but would not take upon me to find them out in any certain Place since it was the Custom and Interest of such kind of Men to be as private as they could and to shift often And therefore I did not see any Thing likely to reach them but a Publication of their Names with the States Orders for their avoiding these Dominions which at some Time and Place or other could not fail of coming to them and have the same Effect that could be expected from a more particular Direction I spoke with Monsieur de Witt this Morning concerning your last Paper of Surinam which he perused having not seen it before nor heard any thing of it from Monsieur Van Beuninghen And therefore he said the States could not fall upon the Debate of it without knowing upon what Grounds or Considerations Monsieur Van Beuninghen might have made these Changes since his last Paper upon this Subject which they expected would have been final in this Matter Besides some Point wherein he thought the Style not so clear he observed two main Alterations in the Substance The first is that our Ships should not carry * Cannons mounted in the River Des Canons montés dans la Riviere Which he said imports that they might carry what Cannon they please so they were not mounted which is not the Business of an hours time and is contrary as he said to your first Agreement with Monsieur Van Beuninghen The second was concerning Major Bannister whose Landing is here positively allowed with the Liberty of going to his own Colony Both which were as he says referred in Monsieur Van Beuninghen's last Paper to the Governor's Discretion and Judgment whether it might be done without Danger of the Colony Upon both these Points we had large Discourses which ended with his assuring me that he should be the last to raise any Scruples upon either of them but doubted that the Zealanders might thereupon especially the last concerning Major Bannister change their late Protestations to Clamors which might occasion the States General to make more Difficulty in these Changes unless they were satisfied in the Reasons of them by Monsieur Van Beuninghen's Dispatches to which all was of necessity to be referred I hear Monsieur Lionne entertained the Dutch Secretary at Paris with the News he had received from Madrid of that Crown 's joining this State with his Majesty and Sueden in the Arbitrage and at the same time with many Reasons why his Master could not admit of it though he said he had not yet communicated it to him However the declared Opinion of such a Minister seems to raise a strong Prejudice in the Case I am sorry the Business of Conventicles gives you so much Trouble and could wish we were at a good End of all such Controversies which make his Majesty appear abroad to have so great and considerable a number of Subjects that have not learnt to obey him and consequently make up no part of his Strength but seem rather to lessen it and amuse People both at home and abroad with Imaginations of Changes Yet Monsieur Van Beuninghen hath represented it hither as a Business which his Majesty will easier master than you seem to be confident of But their Interest here may help them to believe as well as to desire it upon the Expectation of so many Persons and Stocks as will be brought over to them upon this Occasion and makes as they suppose a considerable Increase of their Trade and Diminution of ours I am always Sir your c. To the Count de Monterey Hague Jul. 22. S. N. 1670. My Lord HAving long taken part in what regards the Person and Interests of your Excellency and having heard of your Advancement to so great a Charge as that of Governor of the Netherlands I would not fail of giving you Joy and letting you know the Satisfaction I receive by it upon many Accounts For since by the force of the present Conjunctures it will be often necessary for me in the Post I am in to have something or other to negotiate with the Governor of Flanders about the common Interests I shall be very glad to enter into Business where I have already entred into Friendship and to have to deal with a Person who has already given me so many Testimonies of his fair and prudent manner of transacting as well as of his particular Inclination for confirming the Allyance between the Crowns of both our Masters and for the Advancement of their Interests wherein the Welfare and Repose of Christendom are concerned And whereas the good Order of Affairs in Flanders is very important to his Majesty and the other Parties of the Triple Alliance as well as to the Crown of Spain I will hope that by your Excellency's Conduct some good Order may be taken for setling the Affairs of the Militia of this Country and in the mean time an end be put to the Complaints and Miseries of the Inhabitants since a Government is never well established but in the Hearts of the Subjects nor so hard to be shaken as when the Generality of the People as well as the Nobility finds no Interest in the Change I doubt not but your Excellency proposes these Ends and will succeed in them because you are too generous to mix with them your own Passions or particular Interests which will not be less glorious to You than profitable and happy to Christendom And besides the Advantage Spain will make by your Excellency's good Conduct they will save themselves the Trouble to think of a new Governor or to end an Interim so advantageous to them My best Wishes shall not be wanting to your Excellency nor my Services upon all Occasions where they shall be necessary for no Man is with more Esteem and Truth than I am My Lord Your Excellency's most humble and most affectionate Servant Au Comte de Monterey De la Haye 22 Juill S. N. 1670. Monsieur AYant pris depuis long tems beaucoup de part dans tout ce qui touche la personne les interêts de V. E. venant d'apprendre qu'elle a eté pourvû d'une charge aussi importante que l'est celle de Gouverneur de Pais-bas je n'ay pas voulu manquer á luy donner el para bien temoigner la joye que j'en ay ressentie pour plusieurs raisons Car puisque par l'enchainement de conjonctures presentes dans le poste ou je suis il me sera