Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/Diary continued, March 4 to March 14
4th.Monsieur Graham, alias the Baron D'Arly, came to me, and told me that the Duke de Vitry had told him that the King his master had a design upon England as soon as he had built his ships, and put his fortifications in good condition to preserve his ships; he told me that there was one that was intendant of Monsieur Tellier, and was so to Monsieur Vitry, that will give the King an account of all the designs of France, and where he employs his money. There is also an Abbe that is employed by Monsieur Colbert, and hath the disposal of the monies that is distributed in England, Holland, and Germany; he will also inform the King of all he knows, and would have offered his service to the Prince four years ago. Both these are discontented, and, if the King will give them a pension, and offer them a retirement in case the business is discovered, they will let him know all this gentleman does, also offer to visit the ports and the shipping, and to give his Majesty an account in what condition they are. He is born in Guelderland; he hath been a major in this service; he advised me to draw Colonel Scott out of France. Monsieur Siegle was with me to assure me his master had not made any alliance with France.
5th.Monsieur Van Beuninghen came to me; he told me that the resolution would not pass till the Prince came back, for some reasons that he was obliged not to tell me; but he assured me I should like them very well; that the French Ambassador had not yet desired that it should not pass, but that if he did, he should be against the passing of it. He told me they thought of sending Pats into Spain. He begins to incline to us, and a great many that were for the Alliance with France are now on our side.
6th.I sent for the Doctor: he was with me twice. Colonel Fitz Patrick stayed with me all the afternoon.
7th.I took physick. In the evening the French Ambassador sent to see how I did. Soon after Sir Robert Southwell came; he told me the reasons why my Lord Bodmin did not come. He brought Mr. Dorley with him, and gave me his instructions to peruse, and the project of a treaty. He tells me there is a great calm in England.
8th.I went with Sir Robert Southwell to the Prince; he gave him his instructions and other papers to read; he advises him to make what haste he can to the elector; he tells him plainly that he will find difficulty—that he is an odd-humoured man, and extremely unsatisfied with this state, and not very well pleased with the Prince. He pretends to have subsidies from them till the making of the peace, and will give no longer than to the time they made the declaration that they were not able to give any longer; he showed the King of Denmark's letter, which was obliging. While we were talking, Odyke came, and told us that the business was done. The Amsterdamers have a good opinion of matters, for the Actions are higher than ever they were; they are risen to 24, some say 30.
9th.Mr. Hare was with me: he told me the several reasons of Sir Henry Capell's quitting—that the three Ministers are labouring to have the Parliament sit, that they are endeavouring to make conditions, and give up the Lords in the Tower; they had a conversation with the King, and had brought him to consent to several things, but, when they began to speak of the Duchess of Portsmouth, he rose and went away. My Lord Lauderdale never comes amongst them, but is mightily in with the Duke. The King hath a new mistress, Lord R———'s daughter. She brought the Duke of Monmouth to the King; he resolves to take up arms in case the King dies, for he will conclude him murdered. In the afternoon Sir Robert Southwell was with me, and showed me his letter to my Lord Sunderland, and afterwards told me his conversation with the Pensioner.
10th.Sir Robert Southwell and others dined with me. I had a long discourse with the Prince, and gave him an account of what I heard out of England.
11th.I dined with the Prince: there dined Monsieur Spaen, the Elector of Brandenburgh's general, who hath got a great estate by the war. I heard that Mademoiselle de Wylde was ill. I spoke to the doctor, and he gave me no great satisfaction. I went to court, and found Monsieur Fuen-Mayor.
13th.I was with the French ambassador; I went afterwards to Monsieur Spaen. At night I was at court; the French Ambassador came thither, and afterwards the Prince. He told Sir Robert and I that the French Minister at the Elector's court had given the Electrice a present of 700,000 crowns; that he had drawn near 400,000 out of Cleves, and made the people furnish them with waggons to carry it away.
14th.Sir Robert Southwell and the English gentlemen dined with me. At night he took his leave, but the Prince told him he would write. Amongst other things, he said that he was now extremely unwilling to have a war, but he thought things could never be brought to a good pass without one. He said that he believed no copies of the resolution would be given out; that there had been a great business about it. The province of Friez protested; the other provinces protested against their protestation; so that they are now writing against one another.