Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Earl of Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, August 29
THE EARL OF SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.
Sir,
Your last was of the 22nd instant, S. V., wherein you press for an answer to the propositions made to you some weeks ago by the Prince and Monsieur Van Beuninghen, concerning a defensive league with Spain; so that I find you had not then received my letter I writ you upon that subject, the contents whereof I shall therefore now repeat to you more at large. The King thinks his entering into a new treaty with the States (though it were but barely renewing the last defensive treaty) of absolute necessity; if there were no other reason for it, but that the former treaty being made before the States had made their peace with France, the Parliament, as well as the world abroad, will look upon any alliance made since, and in this conjuncture especially, as much more considerable, and consequently it will be of great reputation to his Majesty's affairs both at home and abroad. This I suppose will, in some manner, answer the objection made by the Pensioner, that we need not have a new treaty with them, there being so strict an alliance already subsisting between us. The reason of their backwardness rather seems to me to proceed from their apprehensions of France, and the consideration of the unsettledness of our affairs here; the former. Monsieur Van Lewen, some time since, in a discourse upon this subject, did as good as own, by saying he believed the States would hardly be brought to any new measures in conjunction with his Majesty whilst the troops of that Crown were in this neighbourhood; and as to the latter, I do not doubt but it has been mentioned to you again and again. We all here know Monsieur Van Beuninghen's fermeté, or indeed opiniatreté, so well, that I fear it will be a hard matter to make him alter his mind, especially in a matter of his own projecting; but, however, you must tell the Prince and Pensioner, that the King has so great a contempt for the Spanish assistance, (being that the affairs of that Monarchy are, as is visible to all the world, in so miserable a condition,) that he wonders a person of so good understanding as Monsieur Van Beuninghen should enter upon such a notion, and fancy that his Majesty or the States can expect any thing from Spain; if the necessity of their affairs should require it. You will easily be able to enlarge upon this head by minding them of the condition of the affairs of that Crown in Flanders, and the state of their garrisons, which is so wretched, that the forces in them all are not able to defend any one of their places against a less power far than that of France. Besides, you will do well to remember, Monsieur Van Beuninghen, that when he was here and an alliance was discoursed of between his Majesty and the Emperor, Spain, and the States, he always looked upon it as an impracticable thing, and would often say the measures were to be taken between England and Holland alone; at least, principally; and then if any other Princes would come into that alliance they might be admitted afterwards.
The King is perfectly of this mind, and says the alliance between him and the States must be the foundation of all the rest, and, when that is well laid, for which his Majesty thinks the making of such a treaty as was proposed by the project you carried over, or some other like it, necessary; not only the crown of Spain, but all other Princes and States who shall be willing, may enter into the same. What you must continue to press for now is, chiefly, that Monsieur Van Lewen (with whom I have discoursed this whole matter at large, and who will, no doubt, have given an account of it there) may have powers sent him, which his Majesty is in great expectation of; and his Majesty says, that, if upon negociating with the said Ambassador, he shall find reason to alter his mind in any particular, he will readily comply with the desires of the States in it, but yet so as, at the same time, there may be a new treaty, though but upon the foot of the former, between his Majesty and the States. This is all that occurs to me now: when we return to London, I will endeavour that this matter may be maturely considered of again, and what his Majesty resolves in it farther you shall be immediately acquainted with.
Mr. Bridgman tells me he gave you an account of the King's illness last post; since, the King has had a fit upon Wednesday, early in the morning, but much less than the former, and has, thanks be to God, missed his fit last night, and having also rested very well, is in a good condition to-day, so that the physicians hope he will have no more fits.
I am,
Your most humble servant,