Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/Diary continued, March 1 to March 3

by Henry Sidney

March 1st. ⁠Monsieur Fuen-Mayor and Monsieur Campricht were with me; they are much concerned that the resolution is not taken. I would have spoke with the Pensioner, but he was not in town. Monsieur Huniken came to me, and told me he had been with Monsieur D' Avaux; that he said most of the towns in North Holland, Amsterdam, and Overissel were for the alliance, but that they were forced to the contrary. At night I asked Mr. Odyke why the resolution did not pass, he said because the Pensioner was out of town.

3rd.⁠I was with the Pensioner; he made me many excuses for not coming to me. He told me the reason why the resolution did not pass was, because he would have been glad to have had it unanimous, but, seeing that could not be, he would endeavour to have it pass to-day or to-morrow; that he would speak to Monsieur Werkendam, who was President, and to the other Provinces that were for it; he told me the reason why the two Provinces of Friesland and Groningen were against the Prince was, because they had heretofore the whole disposal of the places in the government, which they sold, that the Prince hath made some alteration in it. He saith the people begin to be more inclined to the Prince, because they see he does them no hart, and all the good he can; he says there is no stopping the mouths of people, for in a free state they will talk. We then spoke of the alliance with Spain and the Emperor; he said there were thoughts once to send Monsieur Straatman, but, upon consideration that it would make a great noise and give offence to France, it was thought better to send powers to Monsieur Bourgamenero. He told me that Monsieur Siegle was with him this morning, to assure him that his master had made no alliance with France. He told me of the letter the King of Denmark had writ to my master, that their Ambassadors sent word the Court of France was extremely unsatisfied with England, that they would be more unsatisfied if it were possible with the Prince for passing the resolution; that it was thought the King of France would draw the body of his army out of Flanders to Soissons.

From thence I went to the Count de Flodorp. He told me that we had come too late to the Duke du Cell's court, that he had already made a defensive alliance with France, that he did not wonder at it for all the Court was French, the Duchess was a French woman, and forte adroit, and had received a present from the King of France of a diamond pair of pendants of 60,000 crowns, that there was a French Minister that was habile homme, the Captain of the Guard French. That when he was a-hunting he spoke to him of the public affairs, that he said he would do nothing to the prejudice of this State. That he was mightily unsatisfied with the measures that were taken in the Empire; he spoke as if all would be eaten up, but that he should be the last; he saith 'tis necessary to send one quietly, and that he will give instructions to Sir Gabriel Sylvius that would be of use to him. He told me that the Duke of Hanover had also been pressed by the French for an alliance, but he excused it, desiring to keep himself free; that he was mightily in our interest, and was very powerful, for he had 3,000 men, or four, and in war can hare sixteen. He mentioned the marriage between my lady and their son; they seemed to hearken to it, that they would send for him out of France, and send him into England. He saith that one of the chief things all our Ministers are to do is to conserve a good correspondence between the Elector of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Luxembourg: he advises the King to send some horses and dogs to the Duke of Luxembourg.