Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Earl of Halifax to Mr. Sidney, September 19
THE EARL OF HALIFAX TO MR. SIDNEY.
I have been indisposed and am so still, which, though it be some excuse for me that I have been so slow in answering your last, yet it must not keep me any longer from doing that which I have always so much mind to do. I do not wonder that what hath happened here lately set everybody's thoughts at work where you are; and no doubt till these riddles are cleared, we must expect nobody will be in temper to take any measures with us. But my Lord of Sunderland hath from time to time acquainted you with the state of our world, and by that enabled you to lessen if not destroy the fears that have been raised in Holland upon the late occasions, and when the things are executed which are intended, I hope the conclusion of these matters will give as much satisfaction as the beginning of them afforded occasion for jealousy and dispute. You cannot give me a greater mark of your kindness than your continuing to do me good offices where I am so ambitious to be well, and I do not doubt you will get so good an interest there yourself, as that, besides your own satisfaction, it will be an advantage and a furtherance to those things that are designed.
It is no small mark of the Prince's credit that he hath been able to draw Monsieur Van Beuninghen from his opinion, to which he is naturally partial enough, if I do not mistake him; therefore, if our disagreements here, when the Parliament meeteth, do not prove to be such as will discourage all our friends abroad from dealing with us, I am in hopes we may join in the means for our preservation, notwithstanding the arts as well the power of France, which are both great arguments to discompose any model that can be made against them. We say here that the Duke of Monmouth will go next week, and the Duke a day after him. The King seemeth inclined to go to Newmarket; his inclination is so strong for it, that it is an ill way of making one's court to dissuade him from it, though most wish he would stay in town for more reasons besides his health.[1]
I am ever, your most faithful Servant,
- ↑ Charles's life at Newmarket was one after his own heart. Sir John Reresby thus describes it: "The manner of the King's dividing his time at this place was thus—he walked in the morning till ten of the clock; then he went to the Cock Pit till dinner time; about three he went to the horse races; at six he returned to the Cock Pit, for an hour only; then he went to the play, though the actors were but of a terrible sort; from thence to supper; then to the Duchess of Portsmouth's till bed-time; and so to his own apartment to take his rest."—Reresby's Mem. 288.