Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Countess of Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, February 20
THE COUNTESS OF SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.
It has been no unkindness or any thing you can dislike that has occasioned my not writing as often as I used to do, but indeed I have not been well. I have had a fit of an ague, and been perpetually ill; but yet I think I could have overcome it had not my mind been much out of tone. I thank God both are much better, and that which gave me the trouble I had was the public, which, I hope in God, is in a more hopeful condition than it has been a great while; and I can now assure you, to the great joy of my heart, that our friend is most entirely out of a possibility of being wheedled any more, and he and the two commissioners have all the hopes possible. The King is the rightest one can wish him to be, and will espouse all you or any honest man can desire for the good of Christendom, which is ruined if this alliance does not go on. You know I am not very apt to hope; desponding is more my temper; but surely I was never so pert these four years. How long this will last I can't tell till 777 has been here some time; though they all tell me I need not fear, they shall be too hard for him. If that prove so, I hope in God we may see a little comfort again.
We are in daily expectation of the Duke. The storms have been so great, that the yacht came not to Scotland till Saturday last, and he meant to go abroad on Monday, but the wind has been so contrary, that 'tis believed he did not. You shall now be sure to hear from me every post, and as sure you may be I will ever follow all your advice, and never leave employing all my skill to keep our friend steady to that which can only render him a happy man, and make us all so; indeed he needs no pressing in this case, and you will find he is a sure honest Englishman. Don't think me very impertinent for writing all this. I think you like it, and that's a great temptation to me, for I am more sincerely yours than you can imagine. God send us a happy meeting.