Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/Diary continued, October 22 to November 5
22nd.At ten in the morning I arrived at Waesdyke. I found the Princess just going to Amsterdam. I told the Prince of the prorogation; he was much troubled, and said we were all undone; that we could not expect the States here would take any measures till they saw us better settled. All we can hope is to hinder them from making an Alliance with France. He thinks we intend to fall in with France, and, by the letters he received to-day from Paris, he hath great reason to suspect it. The Ambassador sent him word that there was money lately gone into England. The Prince hears from the Hague that they think the Parliament is prorogued because they refused the Alliance, which he was not sorry for; he saith 'tis a folly to think they will do it before the 25th of January. The Prince had a great mind to have stopt my journey, for he saith it will be necessary for me to be here. I spoke to him about Mr. Carr, and have his consent, and about Mr. Bracey, and have his promise; he was a-shooting all day and supt late; at ten I received an express to bring over Mr. Serjeant.
23rd.I took my leave of the Prince. He said he would write to the King, and bid me tell my Lord Sunderland and the other Ministers he intended 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.
25th.I was with the Pensioner, who is troubled as all the world is at the prorogation, but he says we must make the best of it, and see what can be done.
26th.I sent to Monsieur de Werkendam, he being President, to desire to wait upon him; but he prevented me and came himself. Mr. Rockwood said that he was unwilling to be examined, but that he was contented to have his narratives read before them both, which was done, but Mr. Serjeant denied several passages of it. I went afterwards, and took my leave of my friends; and at twelve went in the Prince's yacht.
27th.At four o'clock I arrived at Mayslandsluys, and was five hours going to the Brill; at twelve, we set sail from thence, got clear of the sands by four o'clock, and then came to an anchor.
28th.The wind being west, we stood into Zealand; about twelve, the wind came north, and at eleven we came to Margate.
29th.We set sail at six, and came to Greenwich at two. At six I waited upon the King, and told him all I knew of Mr. Serjeant, which he was well enough pleased with. He asked me how matters went in Holland. I said they were not well pleased with the Prorogation; he complained a little of the Prince, that he would not be persuaded. At night, I was with my Lord Sunderland; he told me the whole story of the Duke; how the Duke of Monmouth's proceedings and the Earl of Shaftesbury were not to be endured; that if the King had died, he would have made great troubles, either setting up for himself, or for a Commonwealth. That the Parliament was to be prorogued; Lords Essex and Halifax discontented. He thinks matters do not go so ill as we think. The Duchess of Portsmouth I find is not well with the Prince, but extremely well with the Duke. The King kinder to him than ever; he is to come back out of Scotland, and never to go again; he thinks to quiet every thing by his going. The Duke of Monmouth will come back when the Duke does.
30th.I carried Mr. Serjeant to the King, who was well pleased with him. He made the same protestations that he had done to me; that he knew nothing of the plot.
31st.Mr. Serjeant was before the King in Council, who gave them all good satisfaction. My Lord Sunderland told me of the project, which I approved of.
November 1st.I was with Sir William Temple, who is discontented; talks of giving over all public thoughts; he thinks matters go ill; and I find they do with him, for neither the King or the Duke do like him.[1] They think that he puts the Prince upon all those notions and opinions that he writes perpetually about; they would be glad that the Prince would not so much hearken to him; and that he would fall into measures with the King; which is thought the wisest thing he can do, for if the King should take measures with France, he would be in ill condition; and for the present, I do not know what else he can do. The Duke is unsatisfied with him, and thinks he intends to set up for himself. Sir William Temple thinks he hath nothing to do but to be quiet. He told me how my Lady of Essex had writ to him, to desire him to persuade her Lord to quit, for she could not approve of the ways that were taken, and was unwilling her friends should be engaged in them. He was at Cashiobury to talk with her about it.[2]
November 2nd.Mr. Montague was with me; he told me his opinion of Lord Essex, Lord Halifax, and my brother Algernon. I received a letter from the Prince, and gave his to the King. There was more talk this day of the plot than ever. Sir John Baber told me how little the Prince was beloved; that the alliance would not be approved of, because it was thought it would be to his advantage.
3rd.I was with Mr. Foulkes, and resolved to put off my business as much as it was possible till the next term: I went to the Chancellor and Mr. Pelham.
4th.I writ to the Prince and Mr. Fitz' Patrick. Lord Sunderland writ a long letter in cipher to the Duke about me. At night he told me that his business would not do. I was with my Lord Halifax, and found him melancholy and uncertain what to do.
5th.I was with my Lord Shaftesbury; he told me the whole story of his being to be killed. In the morning I had talk with my Lord of Essex; he told me he wondered the Prince could talk with such a villain as Fitz' Patrick. A cipher of his was found among Coleman's papers. He owned his being resolved to quit. Sir Harry Capel means to move for the sitting of parliament, and would have Sir William Temple to assist. A project was resolved to bring the Lord Chancellor into the Treasury. The King approves of it; he is to be with him to-morrow.
The Duke has given full power to Lord Sunderland to make what conditions he pleases, and with whom. I writ to the Prince of Orange.
- ↑ "I was now in a posture to be admirably pleased with having no part in public affairs. The Duke unsatisfied with me of late; the Duke of Monmouth and Lord Shaftesbury from the first; Lord Essex and Halifax out of all commerce with me upon what had passed; great civility from the other ministers, but no communication; and the King himself, though very gracious, yet very reserved. Upon all this and the melancholy prospect of our distractions at home, and thereupon the disasters threatening abroad, but chiefly upon my own native humours, born for a private life, and particular conversation or general leisure, I resolved to give over all part in public affairs, and came no more either to Court or Council in a month's time, which I spent chiefly in the country."—Temple's Works, ii. 523.
- ↑ "His Lady [Lady Essex] being sister to the late Earle of Northumberland, is a wise but somewhat melancholy woman."—Evelyn's Mem. i. 518.