tended to have writ to them by me, but now there was nothing to be said; he desired me to make them his compliments, and to the Duchess of Portsmouth. At ten I arrived at the Hague, and sent for Mr. Meredith; he shewed me a letter from Mr. Serjeant, by which I find that he hath a great mind to be sent for over—he writ to the King.
24th.I received a letter from Mr. Serjeant, and sent for him as earnestly as I could. I went afterwards to Monsieur Van Beuninghen; he thinks we are all undone if the King thinks of living without a Parliament—that the Prince, the Pensioner, and he, will be the first; that we must endeavour to make an alliance with Spain; that it will be to no purpose to propose one here till there be some likelihood of our being settled; and if we do continue in the condition we are, and the French continue to press for an alliance, they will make them all the promises that can be, which will do a great deal with people that are afraid. I went then to Mr. Rockwood; we talked a great deal of Mr. Serjeant; he thinks him a shuffling fellow that hath a great mind to get something, and is afraid of everybody. He told me how the Duke and the Jesuits had a great mind to have Coleman hanged—that my Lord of Danby desired it more than he.
