Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/163

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THE TIMES OF CHARLES THE SECOND.
47

towards England than jou imagine, and that you may assure yourself of it upon my word, the States will go farther than you have yet desired; you, saith the Prince, only desire to enter with the States into a guarantee of the peace between France and Spain ; we are willing to enter with you and Spain into the firmest and strongest league that can be proposed to us for the preservation of Europe, which is evident to eveiy body is in great danger: we do not much approve of the project of guarantee, for by that we must defend France if it be attacked by the Emperor or any body else, which we should be unwilling to do. This is the sense of the States, and this Monsieur Van Lewen hath order to acquaint you with at London. The town of Amsterdam, saith the Prince, which every one knows hath been such a friend to France, is now forwarder against them than I myself, for that they regard nothing but just their own interest; the rest he would leave to the Pensioner and Monsieur Van Beuninghen, who hath been very instrumental to bring the town of Amsterdam into the good temper it now is in. Monsieur Valconier, burgomaster of Amsterdam, who was the Prince's greatest enemy, pretends now much the contrary, so that he and others of his party say that they find the Prince