Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 2/Sir William Temple to Mr. Sidney, March 23

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The Dowager Countess of Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, March 22

Diary of the times of Charles II
by Henry Sidney

Sir William Temple to Mr. Sidney, March 23

Mr. Gilbert Spencer to Mr. Sidney, March 23,—79

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4382896Diary of the times of Charles II — Sir William Temple to Mr. Sidney, March 23Henry Sidney

SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE TO MR. SIDNEY.

March 23rd.

I have had two letters from you since my coming hither, which was about a fortnight ago; but nothing in them that may not be answered from this place, which I am very constant to, and like to be in such weather as I meet here. I wish you in it for your own sake, if your health be so ill as you make me apprehend, though you tell me nothing particular besides what you said a good while since of your eyes. 'Tis too much to know you are in the physician's hands, and in an air that it seems does not use you so well as I could wish, but you will be revived by the spring, which is nowhere more beautiful than at the Hague for the two next months, and till about the middle of June; by that time, I fancy 'tis possible the Prince may be content you should come over, if you desire it, and the world continue likely to be quiet, at least on this side. For my part, I know not how it goes, having not so much as read a gazette since I came down, and finding (in this sense, as well as in the common one,) a kind of sweetness in being in the dark, when one is at ease.

Whenever you come over, and your business with your brother is ended, which I reckon upon, I shall be pressing you to marry, because I think it will be the best for the rest of your life; and, having made some enquiries against my son's coming over, I shall tell you of some I have heard of, who may be in your reach, though they may not be in his, while I live and spoil his fortunes; and I shall take the same pleasure in bringing about such an affair for you as for him, though that be all I have at this time at heart, and shall be mightily pleased to see you both in a way of passing long and easy lives together when I am gone, and as good friends as you and I have always been. I have thoughts of making a journey to the Baths this spring; designing not so much (between you and I) the physick of it, as the entertainment of seeing that part of the West, though I will make the other the pretence, and so may possibly go before the season and spend about three weeks in that adventure.

You will be glad to know that your friend my L. S. and I have been of late upon the best terms that can be, so he has been pressing me to the old business ever since the other has been declared, and says it will be always at my mercy; but I continue fixed to charge myself with no public employment at home. Whether I shall ever do it any more abroad or no, I cannot tell, for I have been mightily pressed upon thoughts of one of late,^[1] which I have said I will not absolutely refuse; but I will be three months older too before I answer whether I will undertake it or no; and, by the grace of God, intend to pass this summer at Sheen till towards the end of August, if I live. Before that time I hope to see you here, and talk over the rest together. If your eyes are ill, this is a long letter. Pray, when you write, say one word of the Prince and Princess's health, just what you find them both; for you know I am much concerned in

them, and hear very different reports, especially of the last. Forget not your own, and reckon upon me as always most affectionately yours,

W. Temple.

↑ "During these discussions, Temple was upon friendly terms with Sunderland and Hyde. When, one day, as he was upon his favourite topic of an intended journey to Florence, the ministers proposed that, if he had a mind to a hot country, he should go into Spain as the King's Ambassador, he demurred at the pecuniary losses which experience gave him reason to expect, and wondered what an ambassador could have to do in Spain. He found that it was again intended to cajole the Parliament as to foreign affairs, by making new alliances against France, with Spain, Denmark, and the other former confederates; and Temple's name was to give an appearance of sincerity to this specious procedure."
"Temple had seen too much to expect this good effect upon Parliament; but he undertook, if the King would make his alliance with the Spanish Ambassador in London, he would go over and cultivate in Spain. He was accordingly nominated Ambassador Extraordinary at Madrid; he received his equipage, and was prepared for his departure in September, 1680, when the King desired him to remain for the meeting of Parliament."—Courtenay's Life of Temple, ii. 61.

[p15-1] "During these discussions, Temple was upon friendly terms with Sunderland and Hyde. When, one day, as he was upon his favourite topic of an intended journey to Florence, the ministers proposed that, if he had a mind to a hot country, he should go into Spain as the King's Ambassador, he demurred at the pecuniary losses which experience gave him reason to expect, and wondered what an ambassador could have to do in Spain. He found that it was again intended to cajole the Parliament as to foreign affairs, by making new alliances against France, with Spain, Denmark, and the other former confederates; and Temple's name was to give an appearance of sincerity to this specious procedure."
"Temple had seen too much to expect this good effect upon Parliament; but he undertook, if the King would make his alliance with the Spanish Ambassador in London, he would go over and cultivate in Spain. He was accordingly nominated Ambassador Extraordinary at Madrid; he received his equipage, and was prepared for his departure in September, 1680, when the King desired him to remain for the meeting of Parliament."—Courtenay's Life of Temple, ii. 61.

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