Bijdragen en Mededeelingen van het Historisch Genootschap. Deel 57

[p. 1]

Further correspondence relating to the Buat affair
By
R.R. Goodison.

Introduction.

The documents presented here form a supplement to the ‘Buat Correspondence’ published in these pages by W. del Court and Dr. Japikse in 1906. That publication consisted of the actual letters written by Buat to Arlington and Sylvius which had been discovered among the Newsletters in the Public Record Office. With them were printed some of Sylvius' letters, to be found among the State Papers Holland¹⁾.

The present collection consists of two groups. In the first there are certain letters from Sylvius to Arlington which have hitherto escaped notice because, being written from Antwerp - where Sylvius made his headquarters during his visits to the Continent - they are to be found among the State Papers Flanders²⁾, and not among the State Papers Holland at the Public Record Office. One or two other documents of interest have been added to this group.

The second group consists mainly of extracts from the correspondence of Sir Walter Vane, English envoy to the Elector of Brandenburg during his stay at the electoral Court at Cleves, from December 1665 until February 1666.

1) See Bijdragen en Mededeelingen, Historisch Genootschap 27, pp. 542 sqq. (Hereafter referred to as Bijdr. en Meded. 27). There is an explanation there of the arrangement of the classes of documents at the Public Record Office.

2) P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33 & 34.

[p. 2]

To this correspondence is prefaced Vane's instructions. His letters, which are to be found in the Public Record Office among the papers relating to the German States¹⁾, and also in the British Museum where his letter-book has been preserved²⁾, show that there existed a second line of contact between the Orangist party and England during the Buat intrigue.

Vane was sent to persuade the Elector not to make an alliance with the Dutch against the Bishop of Munster, for the Dutch were very anxious to obtain his help, and one of the first things which De Witt had done in November on his return from the fleet had been to open negotiations with Brandenburg³⁾. The English government

1) P.R.O.S.P. 81. 56 & 57. Hereafter referred to as P.R.O. 56 and P.R.O. 57 respectively.

2) B.M. Add. MSS. 16272. Hereafter referred to as the Letter Book. It contains letters to the Chancellor and to Secretary Morice which are not in the P.R.O., as well as copies of the letters sent to Vane. The Letter Book is interesting because it is in the hand of John Locke, the political theorist, who was Vane's secretary on this mission. So are the letters in the P.R.O.
Antwerp was a useful centre for the British government in its relations with the United Provinces. Arlington maintained there at this time a certain Jerome Nypho or Nipho, an agent through whose hands passed all the correspondence connected with the Buat affair. Nypho was a native of Flanders who entered the service of the Royal family during the period of exile. See Cal. S.P. Dom. 1676-7, p. 486; also Wages and Board paid by Sir A. Apsley, Treasurer to H.R.H. servants among Clar. S.P. 1665 (Bodleian). He returned to the Southern Netherlands in the autumn of 1664; there is a passport dated 30 November 1665 in his name. See Cal. S.P. Dom. For further information about Nypho, see 10 Sept. 1665 Downing to Arlington, P.R.O.S.P. 84. 178; 31 Dec. 1665 Vane to Arlington, below; 8 and 15 Jan. 1666, same to same, both below; 16 Feb. 1666 Nypho to Williamson, S.P. 77. 33; 27 Aug. 1666 Cal. S.P. Dom.; 3/13 May 1666 Cal. S.P. Dom.; Newsletter 30 April 1666, Colenbrander, Zeeoorlogen I, p. 305-6; 16 May 1670, Antony Kann to De Witt, Brieven aan De Witt II, p. 527; and January 1670, Cal. S.P. Dom. 1670, p. 12.

3) 19 Nov. 1665 De Witt to Van Beuningen. Brieven van De Witt (ed. 1723) p. 116.

[p. 3]

only hoped to keep the Elector neutral, for it was unable to offer him subsidies as could the Dutch; and the principal inducement it suggested for preserving neutrality was the interest of the Prince of Orange. Accordingly Vane went on his embassy instructed to use the Orangist connexion for all it was worth. He was to assure the Elector that England had no design to ruin the Republic but had been driven to war by the States party, because of De Witt's animosity towards the Prince. Citing the many evidences of the inclination for the elevation of the Prince shown by the Dutch people, Vane was to urge the Elector to use his influence, especially in Guelderland and Friesland, to stir the Orangists to ‘shake the Act of Seclusion’. Vane was further instructed to deliver, on his way to Cleves, letters from Charles to the Dowager, assuring her of Charles' hope for the restoration of the Prince, and asking for her guidance; he was also to try and secure the support of the Princess of Nassau and the Electress, the Dowager's daughter. The Prince himself he was to assure of Charles' kindness and desire for his restoration ‘without which wee make no accompt of any peace with the United Provinces’¹⁾.

To the Elector Vane spoke as he was commanded, and even added that the restoration of the Prince was the principal aim of the King when he began the war²⁾. The Elector held out no hopes at any time that he would be a party to any efforts openly in the interests of the Prince³⁾ although he showed himself at least as zealous as Charles in protestations in William's favour.

It seemed unlikely that he would succeed in using the

1) See his Instructions. Letter Book. For the Dowager's alleged influence at the Elector's court see 29 Oct. 1665, D'Estrades to Lionne, 2nd letter, Lettres D'Estrades III.

2) See Vane's ‘Premier Compliment’. He repeats the substance of his Instructions. Letter Book.

3) ‘The Answer of the Commissioners of the Elector to my proposalls’. The Elector thanked His Majesty for his kindness to the Prince of Orange, and would concur in ‘all thinks (sic: things) that shall be possible’ for the Prince's restoration, but action must be careful ‘by reason that those of Hol. will never restablish (sic) him by force’. Letter Book.

[p. 4]

Dowager, for Downing had complained that she used her influence at Cleves more in favour of France than England, and she had on the whole shown herself a conscientious Hollander in the past. Nevertheless he did succeed in some measure in enlisting her support. On his way to Cleves he passed through the Southern Netherlands¹⁾ and while there he met Sylvius, who was establishing contacts with Buat. Buat believed that Vane's mission was doomed to failure, as the Holland interest in the Elector's court was too strong; but both Vane and Sylvius made representations to Buat, and he passed them on to the Dowager, urging the Prince's great interest in not allowing the treaty between the Elector and the Republic. She, wrote Sylvius, promised all that could be hoped for, and that she and the Prince himself would write strongly to the Elector²⁾. This evidence is very indirect, but there is no reason to suppose that Buat - presumably Sylvius' informant about the Dowager's intentions - would have entirely invented the promise; and it constitutes a serious breach in the Princess's pro-Holland attitude. It seems possible that the Dowager also used her influence on her daughter the Electress in favour of England, for Vane reported that he found her very helpful to his cause³⁾. This suggests that the Dowager was more deeply involved in the intrigue - at least in its earlier stages - than has been generally supposed.

Cleves was near enough to the Republic to enable Vane to maintain contacts with Orangists there. First among these was Buat. Probably he was the ‘Co^ll of the States’ who visited him and gave him an account of affairs in the Republic⁴⁾, and on two occasions he supplied Vane with information about the course of the negociations with the Bishop of Munster⁵⁾.

1) Vane wrote from Brussels on 4th and 5th Dec. 1665. P.R.O.S.P. 81. 56.

2) 19 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Arlington, below.

3) 8/18 Jan. 1666 Vane to Charles II, below.

4) 26 Jan. 1666 Vane to Chancellor, below. He was expecting to see him. See 8/18 Dec. 1665 Vane to Arlington, below.

5) 15/25 Dec. 1665 same to same. and same to Charles II, below.

[p. 5]

Buat was not the only Orangist with whom Vane was in contact. Mme. Sommelsdijk¹⁾ - daughter-in-law of the great Sommelsdijk - wrote to him urging the release of a certain Abe Lus²⁾; but this was not the limit of her correspondence. On 8 January Vane wrote that he had received a letter from her, in which she said that all the provinces were inclined to the restoration of the Prince of Orange, the people murmured highly, and ‘many towns desire it also. But a means to begin the business they finde difficult.’ Therefore she suggested that Charles should write to the States General to say that he was very inclined to peace, and ‘then to recommend to them the person of the Prince of Orange as his nephew.’ She warned him not to say that ‘he desired a peace and the re-establishment of the house of the Prince of Orange,’ as this would play into the hands of the opposite party, and lastly she warned him to deliver the letter to the President of the States General, and not to De Witt, to ensure that it should be read³⁾. This episode is not only of interest as showing that Orangists regarded Vane as one of their channels of communication with England, but also as showing the attitude of a notorious Orangist to the question of connecting the Prince's interests with the cause of peace.

Vane's principal importance in the Buat affair lies in his

1) She was something of a social leader and entertained widely; Downing records that he met D'Estrades at her house in 1665 (25 June Downing to Arlington, Colenbrander, Zeeoorlogen I, p. 228). In 1666 she was suspected of an intrigue with Col. Bampfield, De Witt's agent and spy (Scott to Aphara Behn, 12/22 Sept. 1666. Bampfield ‘continues his advances to Mme. Somerdike’. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1666-7). She was later in contact with Lauderdale (30 Dec. 1670 Lady Sommelsdyck to Lauderdale. B.M. Add. MSS. 22878). Aitzema records the following story (10 Aug. 1666 Newsletter, P.R.O.S.P. 101. 50) ‘le sr. de Somersdyq tenerae coniugis immemori (sic: Hor. Odes I; it should, of course, read “immemor”) s'estoit mis sur la flotte. Les mesdisants disent que c'estoit pour un Lacquay, qu'il vouloit casser, et sa femme retenir’.

2) Williamson's letter of 5 Jan., below.

3) 8/18 Jan. 1666 Vane to Charles II, below.

[p. 6]

contact with Van Beverning, on which these documents shed much light. During the whole of the first phase of the negociations, both Sylvius and Buat placed their chief hopes in using Van Beverning. The hopes which stirred Orangist bosoms at the end of 1665 were partly due to his resignation from the Treasurership of the Union, which they rightly took to mean that he no longer saw eye to eye with De Witt. He believed that De Witt was playing too much into the hands of France, and that it would be better for the Republic if it made peace with England. He had been moving towards this view for some time; he had approached Downing during De Witt's absence at sea in the summer of 1665 with suggestions for a negotiation, though he abandoned these afterwards when the tide of war turned in favour of the Dutch. His defection now was regarded as a serious blow to the States regime¹⁾, and D'Estrades tried to dissuade him from his intention, though with no effect²⁾.

The first overtures in the Buat affair had taken place during September 1665, soon after Downing's departure from the Hague. Buat had met Sylvius at Paris, and had passed on to Van Beuningen, the Dutch ambassador there, certain peace proposals, supposedly from England, which Sylvius had communicated to him.

The second and more important part of the affair began with Buat's first contacts with Van Beverning. Early in November they were both sent to Maastricht as deputies of the States to meet the French troops which were marching against the Bishop³⁾. It is here that these documents begin to add considerably to our knowledge of the exact course of the negotiation. On the way they fell into discussion, and Van Beverning let it be known that he was not in agreement with De Witt, and thought that the Pensionary's schemes went too far and were not in the

1) 8 Jan. 1666 Newsletter (Aitzema) He writes that Holland ‘a suiet de se fascher contre le S. Beverling, qui a résigné sa charge; et semble avoir un aversion des affaires’. P.R.O.S.P. 101. 48.

2) 26 Oct. 1665 D'Estrades to Lionne. Lettres D'Estrades III.

3) 19 Nov. 1665 De Witt to Van Beuningen. Brieven van De Witt (ed. 1723) II p. 116.

[p. 7]

best interests of the State, which needed peace; that all good citizens should strive for this, and that he himself was profoundly inclined to it. Buat, seeing an opportunity to gain a powerful friend for the Prince, encouraged him in this talk, and assured him of his agreement in the matter. He insinuated that a good peace was possible, and that if the States could be induced to consider the Prince of Orange, it would have a good effect on the King of England, and he urged Van Beverning to work for this.

Van Beverning replied that he would willingly do so, except that he feared that he had a bad reputation in England; but that if he could be assured that this was not so, he would do his best. Buat therefore offered to write a letter to Sylvius which, when shown to the King, would clear his mind from any doubt about Van Beverning's character; and the letter was written¹⁾. As soon as Buat left Van Beverning, he wrote to the Dowager urging her to send for the latter as soon as he came to the Hague, in order if possible to confirm him in his opinions. The Dowager did so, and showed Van Beverning the letter from Buat containing these opinions; and he made no difficulty about confirming them. Rompf, the court physician, wrote that she had gained him entirely²⁾.

Meantime Sylvius had travelled from England to Antwerp, where Buat wrote him two letters³⁾ urging him to seek out Van Beverning as soon as he came to the Hague, and explaining his hopes for forming a party for peace, which would be capable of coercing De Witt. He admitted that the hopes for peace were less now than they had been, because of the French army. Nevertheless he still hoped to be able to use his friends and he hoped for a great deal

1) The account of this interview is to be found in Sylvius' letter to Arlington of 19 Dec., below. The letter which Buat wrote recommending Van Beverning has not survived; it missed Sylvius, who was on his way to Antwerp, and Arlington received it. See Sylvius to Arlington 8 Dec., where he says that Arlington wrote to him on the 20th Nov. and mentioning a letter from Buat which answers the description of this one.

2) 9 Dec. 1665 P.A. Rompf to his father, below.

3) 26 Nov., 3 Dec. 1665, Bijdr. en Meded. 27.

[p. 8]

from Van Beverning; he suggested that he himself and Van Beverning should come over to England to negotiate with Charles there. Nor were his hopes without foundation. Rompf said that there were many who inclined to the Prince¹⁾ and had suggested that he should be admitted to the Council of State or become a child of State, and many were unwilling to agree to the recall of Van Gogh, the States ambassador in England - which De Witt wanted to satisfy Louis - lest it should prejudice the chances of peace. Amsterdam was hesitating, as De Witt himself told Van Beuningen, and the Dowager was working hard to gain its support, and that of many other towns as well, for the ‘good patriots’ feared that De Witt's faction was working to engage the Republic too closely with France, while the people wanted a ‘good accomodation’ and the restoration of the Prince.

Rompf's evidence as to the activities of the Dowager is valuable, for he was in a position to know what was going forward at the Court, and this letter strengthens the suggestion that the connexion between the Dowager and the party which supported Buat was closer than is generally suspected, and justifies to some extent the suspicion with which De Witt regarded her. The activities of those about the court were watched, and most likely, their correspondence too, which restricted their contacts with England²⁾.

Buat's suggestion, that he and Van Beverning should come over to England, Sylvius passed on to Arlington, urging that the greatest possible use should be made of Van Beverning. To secure his adhesion to the peace party, Sylvius suggested that he should reply to Buat in terms which would show Van Beverning that the English government had every confidence in him; this, Sylvius felt sure, would engage him finally.

Sylvius was so enthusiastic for his mission that, without waiting for further instructions from England, he had written to Buat arranging a rendezvous in Holland, in order to learn the details of the basis of the scheme³⁾, and

1) See 12 Nov. 1665 D'Estrades to Lionne, Lettres D'Estrades III.

2) See 12 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Arlington, below.

3) 5 Dec. 1665 same to same, ibid.

[p. 9]

was awaiting Buat's reply with impatience. When he next wrote he was as full of enthusiasm as ever, and as confident in the scheme¹⁾. The provinces, he believed, would need peace this winter, though De Witt and his cabal were opposed to it, and the French engagement constituted an obstacle. Nevertheless it would be impossible to levy fresh imposts in the invaded provinces, and so the full cost of the war would fall on Holland; and even there resources began to fail a little. It was not the wealthy merchants nor yet the ‘bon bourgeois’ who were feeling the pinch, but the ‘little people’, who lived by fishing and by the flow of merchandise. They found it impossible to live, and Sylvius thought it would be strange if there were not some rising among them. In Zealand affairs were still worse, and the people were beginning to murmur against the magistrates. Many of these even were willing to detach themselves from De Witt; and since Buat had friends and credit there, Sylvius suggested that Buat went there to ‘feel the pulse’ of the province. It was necessary to stir them up for the Prince, since De Witt worked so hard to cajole them; but Buat convinced him when they met that an attempt on Zealand should be postponed until they had tried Holland first²⁾.

Sylvius left Antwerp for this meeting in Holland on 13 December³⁾ and he met Buat near Rotterdam. It is more than a coincidence that the meeting took place near the town of Rotterdam, where two of Buat's chief supporters were to be found⁴⁾, and it is extremely probable that the negotiators met at the country house of one or other of these men. They deliberated what should be done about Van Beverning - for Buat had avoided meeting him until he had first met Sylvius - and they agreed that it was of the first importance to win him over, because he was a man who could be set up against De Witt as a leader; and, having Arlington's orders to do so, they concocted a letter purporting to come from Sylvius to

1) 8 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Arlington, below.

2) 19 Dec. 1665 same to same, ibid.

3) 12 Dec. 1665 same to same, ibid.

4) i.e. Kievit and Van der Horst.

[p. 10]

Buat, to show Van Beverning, by which they hoped to assure him that Charles approved of him¹⁾. If so, it would supply the only thing they lacked, for there existed in all the towns a passion for peace which only needed leadership to become effective. De Witt, Sylvius complained, opposed the inclination for peace by urging that Charles was unwilling to entertain any thoughts of an accomodation, and had rejected all Dutch overtures. So well had he done his work, that it was only with the greatest difficulty that the Orangists were able to persuade the regents of the sincerity of Charles' offers. Therefore Buat and Sylvius composed another letter, to be shown to obstinate burgomasters, and produced especially in Amsterdam, the town for which De Witt and the Dowager were already fighting. This complaint of De Witt's attitude towards peace is interesting because it confirms the statements made by De Witt himself as to the true ends of the Buat negotiation; he argued that it was designed solely to suggest that Charles was prepared to come to terms, and to discredit De Witt himself by making him appear as the sole obstacle in the way of peace²⁾. De Witt, Sylvius continued, even suppressed Van Gogh's last letter to the States because it suggested that Charles was inclined to peace; therefore he advised Charles to reply to the States' last letter in such terms that the eyes of the Dutch regents should be opened: the negotiators would have the letter printed and distributed in Holland, where the position among the regents was encouraging, for not only had they hopes of the town of Amsterdam, but the whole of North Holland was strongly for peace, whilst the towns of Delft, Dordt, and Rotterdam were ‘very split’ between the States' party and those who wanted peace³⁾.

It is in this letter of 19 December that the first note of doubt crept in. Sylvius wrote that even if they could not

1) See the copy of this, dated 16 Jan. 1666, placed under 19 Dec. 1665, below.

2) e.g. 4 Sept. 1666 to Dorp, Fannius, Brieven van De Witt (ed. Fruin) III. Cp. 23 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Williamson, below.

3) 19 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Arlington, below. Vane actually did have the letter printed. See 26 Jan. 1666 Vane to Arlington, below.

[p. 11]

form a party in the Republic, they would be able to establish valuable correspondences there - already offering his government a consolation. The explanation of this new note is that, as he wrote to Williamson, although the time is ripe for a coup, those in charge of the Prince's affairs were very slack. If they had used their chances they would now have a very considerable party in Holland itself, capable of opposing the Pensionary, but they took no trouble to gain adherents, and seemed to think that the power of England would force Holland to consider the interests of the Prince; and in Zealand itself the Dowager had thrown away her hand by offending powerful regents. Thus the Orangists had slept in thir reliance on England, and did not help themselves. Sylvius protested against this attitude, and told them sharply that if they hoped for support from Charles they must set to work themselves and form a party.

Van Beverning still seemed the man for the party leader, and showed no inclination to back out of his engagements, agreeing to meet Charles' representative in Flanders. Buat was enthusiastic in his praises, describing him as ‘homme franc et point fourbe’ and one who talks ‘à Coeur ouvert à ses Amys’; and the English government approved the suggestion that he should be used. Nevertheless he expressed a wish that his name should not be mentioned in the letters to England¹⁾ because he distrusted the English court, and the French knew too much of what went on there. This made Buat write as if Van Beverning were cooling off a little²⁾ but that he did not despair of keeping him, because although De Witt was trying to win him back, he remained firm in the cause of peace. Sylvius replied from Antwerp by express and urged Buat to pin him down at the earliest opportunity.

On the 24th of the month Sylvius visited Holland for the second time³⁾, meeting Buat and discussing the situation with him as on his previous visit. The conference did not result in any change of view on Sylvius' part; he wrote

1) 19 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Arlington, 2nd letter, below.

2) 23 Dec. 1665 same to same, ibid.

3) Same, 2nd letter, below.

[p. 12]

to Arlington that it was still possible to form a peace party in Holland with which to frustrate De Witt, who was more French than ever, but that the well-intentioned party wanted to know what the King would ask as his terms. If they were possible, they would do all Charles could ask to secure their acceptance, and would also secure certain other advantages - these must refer to the Prince - which Sylvius could only retail by word of mouth. They decided at this conference that Sylvius should return to England to report¹⁾ and on 30 December he left Antwerp for London²⁾.

After Sylvius' departure Buat became nervous about the success of the affair, for Van Beverning was cooling. The subsequent story of Van Beverning's connexion is told in detail in Vane's letters. Early in the next year Buat was still working to secure his cooperation, and they held further conversations. Van Beverning even refused to go on a mission to Cleves to negotiate with the Elector, until the States pressed him, and he told Buat that he would delay his departure until he could see Sylvius. He avowed his devotion to Charles, and said he was convinced, as was everybody else by the letter to the States, of his desire for peace; but in spite of this, Buat did not feel that he had ‘discovered his inner mind’³⁾. And in spite of a promise of secrecy he had given Buat, Van Beverning mentioned to the Pensionary that he had something on foot with Buat, and he promised that he would tell him if anything came of it; this was the first time De Witt came into the affair. It is possible that Van Beverning did more than mention the matter to De Witt.

Arlington was full of hopes for the success of the negotiation. He wrote⁴⁾ that France ‘may be decieved by our agreeing with Hollande, for which we have a private transaction on foote and such as may probably begat a peace if De Witt and his party doe not disappoint it, which

1) 25 Dec. 1665, Sylvius to Arlington, B. en M. 27. Cp. Vane to Arlington, 5/15 Dec. 1665 (below) which confirms Sylvius' views.

2) 29 Dec. 1665 Sylvius to Arlington, below.

3) ‘descouvrir son intrieur’: Sylvius' Report, B. en M. 27.

4) 20 Jan. 1666 to Ormonde, Bodleian, Carte MSS. 46.

[p. 13]

they will do certainly if they dare against the popularity of the opinion and desire of peace and some reasonable persuasion they have that the King desires it. If this be brought to passe and but upon reasonable good terms wee shall be happily delivered from ye burden of ye warre which growes very heavy... God send it.’ This confirms all De Witt's suspicions about the English attitude, that the negotiation was designed to sow discord between the allies, and to cast discredit on himself and coerce him into agreeing with the English terms.

Sylvius was sent back to the Republic in February with instructions which mark the high-water mark of the Buat affair. Many of the towns of Holland were inclined to support the demand for peace, and Van Beverning was on the point of lending his name and position, for although he had been induced to go to Cleves, the Orangists did not abandon their attempts to keep in touch with him. This they did through Vane. Van Beverning was also still connected with the Dowager, and since his mission was to the Elector of Brandenburg, with whom her influence was supposed to be very strong, he took care to do nothing which would damage his relations with her. He had her assurance before he went that he woud be persona grata at the court of Cleves¹⁾. This assurance suggests that the Dowager was still trying to win over Van Beverning, though at the price of fostering the Dutch-Brandenburg alliance and abandoning her tentative support of Vane's mission²⁾, if indeed this ever amounted to very much.

About the middle of January Vane received from the Hague a suggestion that a ‘considerable person’, who turned out to be Van Beverning, would be pleased to meet him at Cleves, but wanted first to know if Vane was sufficiently instructed for such negotiation³⁾. When he

1) See 26 Jan. 1666, Vane to Arlington and 29 Jan. same to Chancellor, below.

2) This is the view adopted by the English government. It claimed (see Instructions to Hollis and Coventry 18 Apr. 1667 P.R.O.S.P. 84. 182) that she ‘perverted’ the Elector from the English alliance.

3) 8/18 Jan. 1666 Vane to Arlington and same to Charles II, below.

[p. 14]

next wrote Vane believed that this overture was made at the instigation of the ‘good party’ in the Republic, and in despite of De Witt. His belief was strengthened when the Elector showed him a letter from the Dowager ‘wherein she tells him that Beverling was to communicate to him something concerning England and the affairs of the Prince of Orange.’ This must have raised his hopes of Van Beverning very high; but before the letter was posted he heard further news which altered the complexion of affairs; he learnt that his man had been reconciled to De Witt¹⁾, a pact which had been sealed by offering Van Beverning a place on the States of Holland deputation to the States General²⁾. The reconciliation was the result of hard work on the part of De Witt, for he could ill afford to let such an able and influential supporter desert to the enemy, and Van Beverning's influence was considerable not only in his own town of Gouda but in the Council of State and generally speaking at the Hague³⁾. But although they were reconciled it is very unlikely that the confidence between them was ever complete, for De Witt wrote about Van Beverning in a tone full of suspicion, and quoted a correspondent from Brussels who alluded to some understanding between England and Van Beverning⁴⁾. Nor were his suspicions allayed by the letter from Arlington asking that Van Beverning might be sent to England.

Van Beverning did not give up his scheme for meeting Vane, for by the 26th January Vane was assured that he was still avoiding office, and was still desirous of a meeting. The Elector favoured the idea of a meeting⁵⁾, for all

1) 22 Jan. 1666 Vane to Arlington, below. The passage beginning ‘after all this ye Elector told me’ is in the Letter Book added in the margin, as if after the letter had been completed.

2) 19-22 Jan. 1666 Newsletter (Aitzema) S.P. 101. 48. The ‘Co^ll of the States’ told Vane that he refused the position. See 26 Jan. 1666 Vane to Arlington, below.

3) 18 Feb. 1666 D'Estrades to Louis. Lettres D'Estrades IV.

4) 19 Feb. 1666 to van Beuningen, Brieven van De Witt (ed. 1723) II, p. 187-8.

5) 26 Jan. 1666 Vane to Chancellor, below.

[p. 15]

through the war he showed an interest in securing a peace between England and the Republic, and saw in this offer of Van Beverning's an opportunity to advance the interests of his nephew the Prince of Orange as well¹⁾.

Therefore Van Beverning used the Elector to sound Vane to find whether it would be any use entering into conversations with him. For he was not willing to take the first step, and neither was Vane. Nevertheless Van Beverning declared his willingness to go to England and asked Vane - through the Elector - whether England was willing to include France in the negotiations. He also suggested to the Elector that Holland would be willing to do something for the Prince, and assured him that the proposal came from the ‘good party’. All this was reported to Vane, but he remained unresponsive and distrustful²⁾. His distrust was justified in that Van Beverning was not willing to risk offending French opinion by meeting Vane personally³⁾; he was instructed to tell everything to Colbert, the French minister at Cleves⁴⁾. As it was, French suspicions were aroused, and Louis believed that Van Beverning held frequent conferences with Vane⁵⁾. This Van Beverning denied, and he succeeded in satisfying Colbert of his sincerity⁶⁾, and clearing

1) He had offered as early as November 1665, to sound opinion in the Republic on the subject of peace, (see 6/16 Dec. 1665 Vane to Arlington, below) and Blaspiel, the Elector's representative in the Republic, had endeavoured to induce De Witt to declare whether peace without France was possible, and when that failed (see 15/25 Dec. 1665 Vane to Arlington, below) he had written to Van Beverning, telling him that Vane was prepared to see Blaspiel and a reliable person with him, and that Charles wanted nothing more than an honourable and reasonable peace. (See 29 Dec. 1665 Blaspiel to van Beverning, Brieven aan De Witt II.)

2) 2 Feb. 1666 Vane to Chancellor, below.

3) 9 Feb. 1666 same to Arlington, ibid.

4) 11 Feb. 1666 De Witt to van Beuningen, Brieven van De Witt (ed. 1723) II.

5) 19 Feb. 1666 Louis to D'Estrades, Lettres D'Estrades IV.

6) 25 Feb. 1666 De Witt to Van Beuningen, Brieven van De Witt, (ed. 1723) II.

[p. 16]

his name of any complicity in English negotiations. He asserted that he had only met Vane by chance on one occasion in front of the Elector, and then had only exchanged words of civility, and had no other communication with Vane at all¹⁾. This is very probably true. Vane's last letter from Cleves, dated 16 Feb. 1666, contains no mention of any personal contact, and since he arrived in Antwerp on 23 February²⁾ and must have taken at least about three days on the journey from Cleves - the distance is over 70 miles - any such contacts can only have taken place between the 16th and the 20th - - hardly long enough for ‘frequent conferences’.

R.R.G.

1) Aitzema, XII p. 533.

2) 24 Feb. 1666 Nypho to Williamson, below.

Part 1: Sylvius' Correspondence. Letter from Sylvius to Arlington³⁾.
Brussels, le 5 décembre 1665.

Je profite de la première commodité que i'ay pour vous asseurer de mes trèshumbles respects et vous faire scavoir comme despuis mon arrivée en ces quartiers ie n'ay point esté inutille et ay désia travaillé avec quelque sucxès à ce que vous a pleu m'ordonner à mon despart. J'ay receu sur ce subiect là une lettre de Monsr Buat⁴⁾ dont le contenu est assez considerable; si Sa Maté en veut profiter il ne peut manquer d'en tirer un grand advantage. Monsr Buat me marque qu'il à fait désia quelques progrès pour le service du Roy et qu'il a commencé à destacher Monsr Beverling des intérests de Pensre d'Hollande et qu'il a espérance de l'attirer entièrement de nostre costé. Pour

3) Partly ciphered and unsigned. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33. In Sylvius' hand.

4) Of 26 Nov., printed Bijdr. en Meded. 27 pp. 543-4. Sylvius' letter reports its contents.

[p. 17]

peu qu'il soit secondé il m'a prié de scavoir si Sa Maté s'il trouveroit pour agréable que Monsr Beverling et luy passassent en Angleterre et que si Sa Maté le trouvoit bon qu'il falloit que i'escrivisse Monsr Buat sa réponce en des termes obligans pour la personne du dit Monsr Beverling, car il luy fairoit voir ma lettre, et me marque de plus qu'il seroit bien ayse que la réponce fut conçevée en des termes qu'il parut à Monsr Beverling que le Roy veut prendre quelque confiance en luy. II ne doute point par ce moyen là de ne le mettre et engage (sic) dans nostre party. Je croy vous scaves comme il a beaucoup du pouvoir et du crédit dans le province d'Hollande et qu'il peut estre fort utille aux desseins de Sa Maté, desorte que ie croy que l'on ne doit pas négliger une telle occasion et oster à Pensre d'Holande un si considérable second. Il vous plaira donc la dessus m'envoyer au plustost des ordres et me mander ce que ie dois escrire ou respondre là dessus. J'ay envoyé un exprès hier à la Haye auprès de Monsr Buat¹⁾ pour le prier de me donner un Rendezvous pour conférer avec luy, et le faire un peu explicer sur la proposition qu'il fait de passer en Angleterre avec Monsr Beverling, et scavoir sur quel pied et à quel dessein ils veulent entreprendre voyage, car il ne s'estend point du tout là dessus mais il demande seulement l'agréement. Je luy ay mandé que i'en vay escrire en Angleterre et que cependant il entretint Monsr Beverling dans ces sentiments, et luy fit espérer de la satisfaction de ce costé là. J'atens sa réponce avec impatience pour me rendre incontinent au lieu qu'il me donnera et m'esclairsyr à fons de toutes choses et vous en donner une parfaite cognoissance, mais suivant la disposition que ie voy en ceste affaire. i'oserois vous asseurer de quelque bon effect; mais ie vous prie que cela puisse demeurer fort secret et de mon costé ic vous promet que ie ne manqueray pas à y apporter toute l'adresse et le zèlle que l'on peut attendre de ma capacité. J'aurois bien encore quelque chose à vous dire sur ce subiect, mais le temps de la poste me presse et ie suis si peu accoustumé au chiffre que cela mange beaucoup du temps. Je finiray don en

1) Buat mentions this letter in his letter to Sylvius of 3 Dec. Bijdr. en Meded. 27, p. 545.

[p. 18]

vous faisant part de ce que Monsr Buat me mande des troupes de France, qu'ils sont sur la rivière de l'IJssel où le Prince Maurice doit les ioncdre avec douxe ou quatorxe mille hommes, et après doivent entrer dans le pays de Munster. Les troupes françoises ont fait grand désordre partout où elles ont passé et la ialousie des peuples et mesme des Estats aumengte tous les iours contre eux¹⁾. Le commerce est mort dans la Hollande, mais encore plus dans la Zéllande et générallement tout le peuple commence fort à murmurer et souhaitent avec passion la paix. Si ces vaisseaux d'Esmirne eussent eu le moindre malheur asseurément qu'il y eut eu quelque mutinerie, car le peuple ne cherche qu'un prétexte pour le pouvoir faire. Lors que i'auray veu Monsr Buat ie pourray vous dire des particuliarités de toutes choses. Les progrès de l'Evesque de Munster ne sont pas grand à cause de la saison, et l'on commence à douter de prendre Bertan; mais l'on a intercepté des lettres du Gouverneur au Prince Maurice par lesquelles il luy mande qu'il manque de munition ce qui fait espérer quelque sucxès...

1) See note 2, p. 37.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington²⁾.
Anvers, le 8 décembre 1665.

J'ay receu celle qu'il vous a pleu me faire l'honneur de m'escrire du 20me du passé, laquelle me marque comme vous avies receu despuis mon despart une lettre que Monsr Buat m'escrivoit³⁾, dans laquelle il proposoit de passer en Angleterre avec Monsr Beverling. J'en ay receu icy deux⁴⁾ sur le mesme subject, que ie vous envoye afin que vous iugies mieux de l'estast de l'affaire. Je vous ay mandé par ma précédant que ie me suis donné l'honneur de vous escrire de Bruxelles, comme i'avois désia despesché un exprès à Monsr Buat pour luy donner toute l'encourage-

2) Partly ciphered and unsigned. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33. In Sylvius' hand.

3) There is no trace of this letter.

4) Buat's letter of 3 Dec. (see note 2, p. 22) clearly is not one of these, as it contains an answer to his request for a rendezvous.

[p. 19]

ment qu'il se peut dans ceste affaire, et par mesme moyen l'ay prié de me donner un rendezvous pour m'aboucher avec luy, l'asseurant que ie le satisfairoit sur le subiect de Monsr Beverling. J'atens avec impatience le messager avec sa responce pour me rendre incontinent au lieu où il m'ordonnera et scavoir les particuliarités et circonstances de ceste proposition et sur quoy elle est fondée pour vous le mander, afin que Sa Majesté en puisse tirer tout le fruit et l'advantage qu'il se pourra. J'espère que lors que ie l'auray entretenu sur ce subiect de pouvoir iuger à peu pres du sucxès et du but de cette affaire; mais pour ce qui m'en paroist présentement i'ay dessein de croire qu'elle aura quelque bonne suite, mais la principalle et la plus esentielle raison que i'ay et sur quoy ie fonde ceste opinion, c'est la nécessité absolue qu'il y a dans les Provinces en general de se procurer la paix cest hyver; quoyque le Pensre d'Hollande et toute sa Cabale font fort les résolus, et taschent à faire paroistre le contraire, et se sont bien avant engagé avecques la France, ce qui pourroit pourtant porter quelque obstacle et les rendre plus obstinés. Mais la foiblesse des Provinces en General est si grande et si cognue, parmy les personnes qui pénètrent un peu dans les affaires, qu'il est impossible qu'ils puissent soustenir ceste guerre sans mettre des nouvelles impositions sur le peuple, qui n'en peut plus car l'Evescke de Munster les a obligés à des grandes despences et a fort affoibly la Province de Gueldre, la Province de Frise, Overyssell, et la Province de Groningen, lesquelles sont pauvres d'elle mesme et à peine en temps de paix peuvent payent leurs tacxes ordinaires. Mais le desgast que ces Troupes ont fait dans ces Provinces en General les a mis dans une si grande impuissance, qu'ils ne seront pas en estast de payer leurs contributions ordinaires de trois ans, desorte que tout le fardeau et pesanteur de ceste guerre tombe sur la Province d'Hollande, laquelle commence à estre espuisée d'argent car ie scay de fort bonne part que lors que l'on a voulu payer tous les matelots de la flotte l'on n'a peu fournir hors de la banque de la ville d'Amsterdam une asses médiocre somme pour cela. La richesse de ceste Province d'Hollande consistent plus en crédit que en argent contant, et le peu de traffique qu'il y a présentement fait que un chaqun se plaint et prient Dieu dans toutes les

[p. 20]

Eglises pour paix. Le riche marchand et le bon bourgeois n'est point encore dans la nécessité, quoy qu'il soit incommodé, et peut soustenir encore quelques années; mais le petit peuple, qui n'a point de mestier et qui ne vivoit que par la pêche et le commerce, et qui fait la plus grande part des Provinces avec leurs femmes et enfans, il leur est impossible de subsister pendant ceste guerre: desorte que c'est un miracle s'il n'y a quelque soulèvement dans fort peu de temps. Si ce n'est dans la Province d'Hollande ce sera asseurément dans la Province de Zeeland, car ils ont esté plus incommodés que la Province d'Hollande, à cause qu'il y a plus du petit peuple qui ne vit que sur la pêche. Aussi commencent à se destascher des interests du P(ensre) d'Hollande que ie croy qu'il y pourroit bien avoir quelque chose à mesneger de ce costé là comme Monsr Buat y a des Amys et y a quelque crédit parmy eux. Je tascheray à le faire passer là pour taster un peu le poux à ces Messieurs sur l'Intérest du Pr^ce d'Orange; lequel party se fortifie tous les iours. Mais il faut le faire agir plus qu'il ne font et c'est présentement l'estude du Pensre d'Hollande de le caioler et de l'endormir. Lorsque ie seray en Hollande i'espère vous donner un Estat de toutes choses et s'il y a quelque dessein à former: cependant ie tascheray à engager plus avant Monsr. Buat dans la proposition qu'il a fait touchant Monsr Beverling et ie suyvray les mouvemens que vous donnes dans vostre lettre desorte que i'espère que vous aures subiect d'estre satisfait de ma conduite. J'ay veu et receu diverses lettres de Hollande qui toutes parlent de la passion que tout le monde a pour la paix, et mesme un de mes amys m'a mandé que les plus sages et prudens dans l'estast voyent bien qu'il n'y a pas moyen de l'optenir sans se desgager de la France, et m'asseure qu'on y travaille présentement. Le désordre que les troupes de France commettent tous les iours et les ialousies et mesfiance que l'estast en conçoit les confirment dans ceste opinion, desorte que l'on ne doute point qu'ils ne soyent obligés a faire quelque ouverture... Les Estats ont envoyé trois desputés à Cleves pour congratuler l'Electeur de son arrivée. Je croy que Monsr Vaene sera aussi tost qu'eux; il doit y arriver demain. Il m'a chargé de ces lettres que ie vous envoye présentement. Please write in French, as I have difficulty in reading your hand in English.

[p. 21]

Letter from P.A. Rompf to his father¹⁾.
Hague, le 9 décembre 1665.

Vostre agréable lettre m'a esté bien délivrée. Je vous ren graces intimes de la continuation de vostre affection et pour satisfaire à vostre curiosité ie vous diray en peu de mots que les affaires de nostre cher Maistre demeurent encore entre deux, entre l'espérance et la crainte, il ne tient qu'à la ville d'Amsterdam, lequelle bransle encor, et est divisée; toutes les villes de Nordhollande attend avec impatience, que la ville d'Amsterdam se déclare. Madame la Princesse travaille fort à gagner ladicte ville, et m'a dict que le bourgemaistre d'Amsterdam, nommé Van Hoorn²⁾ (qui est du party contraire) l'avoit prié de vouloir avoir un peu patience. Plusieurs villes d'Hollande ont proposé, qu'on mette Monsr le Prince dans le Conseil d'Estat, et qu'on le déclare Fils d'Estat, et ne veulent pas permettre qu'on rapelle Monsr l'Ambassadeur Van Goch³⁾, devant qu'on y aye envoyé une aultre, car ils disent qu'ils ne voulent pas perdre l'espérance d'un accomodement avec le Roy de la grande Brettagne. Sa dicte Altesse a désia gagné Monsr Beverning, et travaille fort à gagner les aultres, traittent les uns par rigeur, les aultres par douceur. Monsieur le Pensionnaire luy donna une visite dernièrement, et aprèz un entretien de deux heures, sa dicte Altesse luy déclara, qu'en cas qu'il vouloit continuera (sic) estre ennemy de la maison, que la maison le haieroit aussy pour jamais là dessus, il a respondu: Madame vous entendrez en peu de temps une chose, que vous n'auriez iamais attendu de moy. Il ne s'est iamais encor tant eslargy que ceste fois. Dieu scait comme tout ira. Cependant touts les bons Patriottes craignent fort, que la partie contraire ne

1) Signed. P.R.O.S.P. 84. 178. This letter of Rompf's has been ignored previously; its importance now becomes clear because Sylvius mentions it in his letter to Arlington of 12 Dec. There is a gap in the published ‘Buat correspondence’ from 3-25 Dec.

2) See p. 59, note 3.

3) ‘Il y annas uune parteie qui ne le trouve pas à propos qui (sic) (Van Gogh) revinne’. Buat to Sylvius, 3 Dec. Bijdr. en Meded. 27.

[p. 22]

travaille à nous engager tant avec la France, qu'on ne se pourra pas réconcilier avec l'Angleterre, quand mesme on voudra... Vous ne scavez pas encore que mon cher Maistre est désja avancé, les Voisins luy ayant déféré la charge du doyen du Voysinnys. Friquet is offering the Emperor's services to effect an agreement with the Bishop of Munster... Dieu nous envoye la paix, laquelle par toutes les bons patriottes est fort souhaittée, car sans un accomodement avec l'Angleterre, nous sommes ruinéz. Par les encloses vous verrez que le peuple est fort enclin, et qu'il ne souhaitte autre chose que le restablissement de mon cher Maistre ce que le bon Dieu veulle... P.A. Rompf.

To his father.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington¹⁾.
Anvers, le 12 décembre 1666.

Je vous ay mandé par ma précédente comme i'attendois à tous moment l'exprès que i'avois envoyé à Monsr Buat; ie viens de recevoir sa responce²⁾ tout présentement, et ie dois partir demain pour le rencontrer dans Hollande et m'aboucher avec luy. Il me marque que là il m'informera de diverses choses importantes qu'il n'ose fier sur le papier. Cependant il me dit comme la Prov. de Hollande est assemblée présentement et qu'elle est fort occupée avec les Estats Généraux pour le traitté qu'ils espèrent de conclure avecques le Roy de Danemarc. He continues that the Dutch need to hasten in this negotiation, since an Anglo-Danish treaty is threatened. Il (Buat) n'en a encore peu scavoir l'issue mais qu'il me l'apprendra à nostre entreveuee (sic). Il m'asseure que pour le traitté entre les Provinces en general et L'Elect. de Brandeb., il scait de fort bonne part qu'il n'y a pas encore grand chose de fait, et que Monsr. Vaene viendra asses à temps, et qu'il y a huict iours que les Estats y ont envoyé trois ambassadeurs

1) Unsigned. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33. In Sylvius' hand.

2) This has not survived; it is not his letter of 3 Dec., because there he dismisses the suggestion of meeting Sylvius.

[p. 23]

Monsr de Riperda¹⁾ de Gueldre, un Monsr de Whit parent du Pensionnaire pour la Hollande, et Monsr Haren pour la Frise²⁾. Il me marque qu'il m'ententretiendra aussi sur ce subiect... Ie vous envoye icy ionct une lettre que i'ay receu par l'exprès que i'ay envoyé à la Haye; c'est du médecin de Monsr le Prince d'Orange, qui s'apelle Romp. Sa Maiesté le cognoit bien, c'est une personne de sens, et fort affectionnée à la maison, et l'on peut faire estast sur ce qu'il mande, car il le scait en partie par Madame la Douarière. Luy et divers autres ont beaucoup de zèlle

1) Adolph Henry Ripperda; he was a Guelderlander. The Nieuwe Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek does not mention his mission to Brandenburg, but Aitzema XII p. 1387 records a resolution of the States of Holland sending Ripperda tot Buirse, Johan de Wit and Haren there.

2) Van Haren, a notorious Orangist, and one of Downing's old associates. In 1662 already Downing calls him ‘my friend’. (See Japikse, Verwikkelingen, p. 183). When Aitzema's assistants, the clerks to the Greffier, were sentenced in 1670 for divulging state secrets, he was incriminated (see Newsletters of May 1670, P.R.O.S.P. 101, 53 ff. 208, 210, 218, 225, 268). He also supplied Van Ruyven, a correspondent of the English government, with information. (See Sentence of the Court of Friesland 26 Mar. 1667, Copy in P.R.O.S.P. 84. 182.) Dr. Japikse also identifies as Van Haren the man who ultimately told Downing of the secret orders to send De Ruyter to Guinea. (See Verwikkelingen p. 459.) Downing thought he could be retained in the interests of England by a pension of £ 500; at least a present of £ 200 or £ 300 would do some good. So, Downing wrote, please give Edmond Woodruffe, the servant whom he employed in these matters, an order for £ 500 instead of the £ 250 he asked for before. 6/16 Dec. 1664 Downing to Clarendon, Lister III p. 352. 25 Nov./5 Dec. 1664 same to Bennet. S.P. 84. 173, printed Colenbrander, Zeeoorlogen, I, p. 145. It is possible Van Haren got his money, for there is a warrant to pay Woodruffe £ 500 dated 7 Jan. 1665 (Cal. Treas. Books 1661-7 p. 644). There is also a letter of 18 Apr. 1665 (ibid. p. 677) from the Treasurer to the Auditor of Receipt urging the immediate payment of £ 300 to Woodruffe, as Downing needed it immediately for an undivulged purpose, which may be this very payment, or perhaps a later gift of the same nature.

[p. 24]

mais ils sont si observés qu'ils n'osent pas escrire, et à peine c'est il voulu résouldre à me réponce (sic) par cest exprès. He describes the effect of the great storm in Holland, spoiling goods in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and flooding the countryside. Toutes ces espreuves que Dieu leur envoye abbat fort le coeur de tout le peuple, qui commencent fort à murmurer et ne respirent qu'après une bonne paix. Par la première que ie me donneray l'honneur de vous escrire i'espère vous pouvoir donner un estast certain de toutes choses, et particulièrement sur la proposition que Buat a fait touchant Beverling. Je n'oublieray rien pour advancer ceste affaire, ou aucun autre de ceste nature, qui puisse donner dans vos sentimens, ou qui soit conforme aux instructions que vous m'aves donné de bouche. Enfin i'espère si bien employer le temps que ie seray icy, que vous aures subiect d'estre satisfait de ma conduite, n'ayant pas une plus grande ambition...

M.S.

Letter from Sylvius to Williamson¹⁾.
d'Anvers, le 19 décembre 1665.

Je vous ay mandé par ma précédente comme ie allois faire un petit voyage en Hollande ce qui a esté cause que ie ne vous ay point escrit l'ordinaire dernier. J'ay trouvé à mon arrivée icy celle que vous aves eu la bonté de m'escrire avec les nouvelles et les gazettes que vous m'aves envoyées, dont ie vous remercie bien fort, et vous prie de vouloir continuer à me les faire venir pendant mon séiour en ces quartiers; car ie fais imprimer icy ce qui est nécessaire par le gazettier, et l'envoye en Hollande, et cela faira par fois quelque bon effect. Dans le peu de temps que i'ay esté en Hollande i'ay veu des pitoyables marques²⁾ de ce dernier orage. Details of the damage. Ce malheur là, et le peu de commerce, ionct aux grands impositions mest le peuple dans des grandes nécessités qu'il est impossible qu'ils puissent plus longtemps supporter, et si la guerre

1) Unsigned. In Sylvius' hand. Headed ‘Monsieur’; this undoubtedly means Williamson. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

2) Underlined in the text.

[p. 25]

dure c'est un miracle s'il n'y a quelque sédition, car le peuple murmure hautement contre le gouvernement et parlent ouvertement du restablissement du Prince d'Orange¹⁾ espérant par là que le Roy se laissera induire à la paix. Ce n'est pas une opinion populaire, mais quantité des Estats ont cest pensée, et si ceux qui mesnagent les affaires de Monsr le Prince d'Orange eussent profité des occasions qui se sont présentées pendant nostre guerre, il auroit présentement un party fort considerable dans la Hollande et qui auroit peu traverser tous les desseins du Pensionnaire. Mais ie asseure que i'ay esté un peu surprins de voir la négligence et la mauvaise politique de ceux qui mesnagent ces affaires¹⁾ et du peu de soin que l'on a de gaigner ou de s'acquérir des Amys; et l'opinion qu'ils ont que la force et la puissance d'Angleterre obligera la Hollande à considérer les interests de Monsr le Prince fait qu'ils s'endorment dans ceste espérance et qu'il ne s'ayaent pas des moyens qu'ils pouroyent avoir. J'ay prins la liberté de leur dire mes sentimens la dessus et leur ay fait cognoistre que s'ils attendoyent secours et de l'appuy da Roy, que sa Maiesté espéroit aussi que de leur costé ils fairoyent aussi des efforts pour former un party, et c'est à quoy ils travaillent présentement avec tous leurs amys¹⁾, lesquels sont en asses grand nombre, et s'ils pouvoyent gaigner seulement un homme de vigeur et de résolution, vous verries en peu de temps un grand changement; car tout le peuple et génerallement toutes les villes de la Hollande ne souhaitent que la paix, et ils le témoignent asses par la lettre qu'ils ont escriste au Roy dont ie vous envoye la copie, laquelle m'a esté donnée en Hollande. La plus grand part des villes ne vouloit pas consentir au rappel de leur Ambassadeur¹⁾, craignant qu'en le retirant ils se trompent de leur espérance de paix, desorte que le Pensionnaire avec tous ses Amys et son crédit, n'a peu les faire condescendre à cela mais il a formé ceste lettre pour les contenter. Je croy que si ches vous l'on profite de ceste occasion, il y aura lieu de fort embarrasser Monsr de Whit. J'escris sur ce subiect là au Mylord Arlington et luy marque bien exactement l'estast de toutes choses et luy fais voir comme les affaires sont icy dans

1) Underlined in the text.

1) Underlined in the text.

1) Underlined in the text.

1) Underlined in the text.

[p. 26]

une crise¹⁾, et à la veille d'un grand changement. J'ay pendant mon séiour en Hollande fait parler à une personne pour faire une eschange des nouvelles comme vous avies desiré... Je vous envoye icy ionct les gazettes d'Harlem, d'Amsterdam et d'icy, mais elles ne sont pas de la force ny du estille de celles d'Oxfort que vous m'aves envoyé...

M.S.

1) Underlined in the text.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington²⁾.
le 19 décembre 1665.

Je ne me suis pas donné l'honneur de vous escrire l'ordinaire dernier à cause que i'estois allé en Hollande comme ie vous avois mandé par ma précédente pour m'aboucher avec Monsr Buat. Il m'a rencontré vers Rotterdam et nous avons esté ensemble un iour et une nuict, n'ayant pas osé demeurer d'avantage avec luy, craignant d'estre cognu et de plus luy est fort observé. Mais i'ay eu asses de temps pour m'informer à fons de toutes choses et s'il me falloit estendre au long là dessus il me faudroit faire un livre plustost qu'une lettre. Je m'attacheray seulement à ce qui est de plus essentiel et vous diray que après luy avoir communiqué le subiect de mon voyage et l'asseuré des sentimens que le Roy avoit pour les intérests du Prince d'Orange, ie le priay de me vouloir dire franchement l'estast et la disposition des affaires dans la conioncture présente, afin que i'en puisse faire un fidèle rapport, et de m'esclaircyr aussi sur la proposition qu'il avoit faite dans ses lettres touchant Mr. Beverling. Il me dit sur ce subiect que ayant esté envoyé à Maestric avec luy pour recevoir l'armée de France qu'ils tombèrent diverses fois sur le discours des affaires présentes et que Beverling luy tesmoigna n'estre pas dans les sentimens du Pensionnaire de Witt et qu'il voyoit que ses desseins alloyent trop loin et qu'il croyoit que ce n'estoit point l'intérest de l'Estast la

2) Unsigned, partly ciphered. In Sylvius' hand; probably from Antwerp. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

[p. 27]

route qu'il prenoit, mais qu'une bonne paix estoit ce à quoy tous les bons compatriots devoyent butter, et qu'il seroit tousiours porté pour cela. Buat voyant l'occasion pour engager cest homme icy et procurer à Monsr le Prince un si puissant amy, le fortifia dans ces bons mouvemens, et luy tesmoigna estre de ce sentiment, et luy dit de plus qu'il croyoit qu'il auroit lieu de parvenir à une bonne paix si l'on s'i prenoit d'une bonne façon, et qu'il ne doutoit point que si l'Estast vouloit considérer Monsr le Prince d'Orange cela contribueroit beaucoup à porter le Roy à escouter des propositions, et luy conseilla de travailler à cela. Sur quoy il luy dit qu'il le fairoit volontiers, mais qu'il scavoit que l'on luy avoit rendu des mauvais offices en Angleterre auprès du Roy, mais que pourtant s'il croyoit y estre bien receu qu'il pousseroit cest intérest. Sur cela Buat s'offrit de m'en escrire et qu'il me prieroit de monstrer la lettre au Roy pour l'esclaircyr là dessus, et qu'il ne doutoit point qu'il n'eut subiect d'estre satisfait de la réponce; desorte qu'il luy permit de m'escrire et c'est c'este lettre que vous aves reçeuee (sic), laquelle il envoya par France afin qu'elle me fut rendue avec plus de seureté, mais elle demeura un peu longtemps en chemin. Pendant le séiour qu'ils firent ensemble en ces quartiers là, il le mit diverses fois sur ce mesme subiect, mais il le vit tousiours ferme dans ce sentiment, et quand ils se séparent Buat escrivit à Madame la Douarière et luy fit scavoir en quelle disposition estoit Beverling, et la prioit de l'envoyer quérir dès qu'elle apprendroit son arrivée à la Haye, et luy en parler; ce qu'elle fit, et elle luy monstra la lettre que Buat luy avoit escrit sur ce subiect, sur quoy Beverling luy advoua d'estre encore dans ce sentiment du despuis. Buat retourna à la Haye dans l'espérance de trouver là de mes nouvelles, et il apprint mon arrivée en ces quartiers, desorte qu'il a esvisté de voir Beverling iusques à ce qu'il m'eut parlé. M'ayant donc représenté tout cecy et voyant le grand advantage que s'estoit pour le service du Roy et l'intérest du Prince de gaigner une personne de ceste importance, et lequel l'on peut mettre en teste au De Witte, et de plus ayant vos ordres pour cela, ie n'ay rien voulu négliger; et comme il me dit qu'il estoit nécessaire qu'il eut quelque chose pour luy monstrer nous avons concerté ceste lettre ensemble, dont ie vous envoye

[p. 28]

la copie avec laquelle Buat doit aller trouver Beverling; et s'il le trouve encore dans les sentimens où il estoit lors qu'il le quicta, il espère asseurément l'engager dans nostre party. Si nous sommes asses hereux pour cela, ie ne sais nulle difficulté qu'il n'entraine toute la Hollande de son costé, car toutes les villes générallement ont une passion pour la paix, et il ne leur manque qu'un homme du crédit et du talent de Beverling pour leur donner de la résolution. Car le Pensre de Witte qui ne demande point la paix voit que toutes les villes d'Hollande n'aspirent que cela, et qu'il ne peut les engager à la guerre que en leur persuadant, comme il fait encores tous les iours, qu'il n'y a point d'espérance de paix du costé d'Angleterre et que le Roy reiecte toutes les propositions qu'on luy fait. Et il a si bien sceu persuader cela à ces Messieurs, que quoy que l'on leur puisse dire, il est impossible de leur en dissuader; et Buat m'a dit d'avoir parlé à des Bourgemaistres et à diverses villes qu'il n'a peu désabuser de cela, desorte que luy et moy avons encores concerté ceste autre lettre, dont ie vous envoye aussi la copie, avec laquelle il doit chercher l'occasion d'aller voir ces Messieurs d'Amsterdam et d'autres villes, comme il fait souventefois, et les mettre adroitement sur ce discours, et s'il voit qu'ils soyent encores préoccupés de ceste opinion, il leur produira ma lettre, laquelle ie croy faira un très bon effect sur l'esprit de ces Messieurs, que De Witt nourrit dans ceste pensée, vous asseurant qu'il ne néglige rien pour les entretenir dans ceste erreur, iusques là qu'il a mesme fait supprimer la lettre que Monsr Van Gohe avoit escrite à Messieurs les Estats sur ce subiect dans laquelle il leur marquoit qu'il avoit trouvé le Roy plus enclins qu'autrefois à recevoir des ouvertures, desorte qu'il ne faut rien négliger pour les éclaircyr sur ce point. La lettre que les Estats ont escriste au Roy par l'ordinaire dernier en offre une bonne occasion, et si sa Maiesté y fait responce, il ouvrira les yeux à ces Messieurs en leur faisant cognoistre qu'il n'est pas si ennemy de la paix que De Witt leur a voulu persuader; mais de peur qu'il n'obscurisse une telle vérité, ie croy qu'il seroit fort nécessaire que ceste lettre fut rendue par une personne qui soit à Sa Maiesté, afin qu'elle fasse plus d'esclat, et que celuy qui la rendra aye le soin de la faire imprimer en mesme temps et la rendre publique par tous

[p. 29]

les coins de la Hollande, et que iusques au petit peuple il en puisse avoir cognoissance. Si Sa Maiesté me iugoit capable de ceste commission, ie tascherois à m'en acquitter avec asses de sucxès et ie ne doute pas qu'avec les moyens que Buat et moy avons concerté ensemble, que cela ne dézille les yeux aux plus ignorans et ne descouvre les mauvais desseins du De Witt et ses grands engagemens avecques la France, dont le plus sage et prudens craignent les suites; et ie croy de plus que pouvant estre par ceste occasion en liberté en Hollande parmy les cognoissances que i'ay dans l'estats avec les petites lumières que i'ay et assisté par ceux qui poussent l'intérest du Prince, ie ne pourroit manquer d'y estre fort utille pour le service du Roy; et quand mesme l'on ne pourroit pas former un party, i'employeray si bien mon séiour là soit pour former des correspondences que i'establieray, soit du soin que ie prendray à m'informer à fons de leurs forces et de l'estast de leurs affaires, que ie ne doute point que à mon retour ie ne vous donne des lumières pour former des desseins de grande conséquence. Le zèlle et la passion que i'ay pour le service du Roy m'a fait prendre la liberté de vous faire ceste proposition. Si elle tombe dans vostre pensée vous faires bien de l'effectuer au plustost, car les affaires sont dans la Hollande dans une crise soit pour la paix ou pour la guerre; De Witt, n'ayant pas asses d'authorité de pousser ses desseins de hauteur se sert de diverses ruses et adresses pour gaigner le printemps, cependlant qu'il scait que les engagemens de tous les Princes de l'Europe se font, et que les ayant amusés iusques à ce temps là, il croit qu'ils seront forcés de prendre tel party qu'il voudra. Buat m'a asseuré que un de ces Amys et qui a grand part dans le gouvernement, luy a dit que l'on avoit fait despuis que les troupes de France sont arrivées un nouveau traicté avecques la France, mais que cela estoit si secrèt qu'il n'y avoit pas six des Estats que le scavoyent, et m'a dit de plus que toutes les résolutions secrètes qui se prenent sont avec la communication de D'Estrades, desorte que l'esprit et la politique de De Witt et de Monsr Van Beuning et les amys qu'ils ont, et ceste lettre qui a esté escriste au Roy, est de concert avec d'Estrades, lequel a fort pressé le rappèl de Monsr Van Gohe. Mais De Witt u'a peu faire passer cela dans la Hollande, et la plus part de villes

[p. 30]

estoyent d'opinion de le laisser encores là, mais comme il voyoit qu'il ne pouvoit l'emporter il a proposé ceste lettre qui leur donne quelque espérance de paix, et c'est à quoy ils ont condescendre (sic), desorte qu'il tasche encore de venir à son but d'une façon ou d'autre; et effectivement il a de l'adresse à mener ces esprits, et il n'a iusques icy trouvé guerre de l'opposition dans le collège des Etats Généraux. Il y est asseuré de quatre voix là, quand il se propose quelque chose; il a gaigné les desputés qui sont de la part de la Province de Gueldre, lesquels sont pauvres et intéressés, soit par charges ou autre chose de ceste nature; les desputés que la Hollande a dans ce college là sont ces créatures qu'il a estably là de longue main. Pour la Province d'Utrect, elle est aussi absolument dans ces intérests par le moyen de Monsr de Rinseau¹⁾, qui est tout à fait dans ces sentimens, et la Zéllande il se la conserve partie par son adresse, et partie par nostre faute, Madame la Douarière ayant désobligé ouvertement Mons. Tibaut et Mons. Fribergue²⁾, qui sont les plus puissans de ceste province, en donnant des charges à leurs enemys; desorte que sur ce chapitre il se commet de ce costé là beaucoup d'erreurs qui seroyent aysées à remédier et à gaigner ceste Province. Mais pour ne m'esloigner point de mon subiect, ie n'en parleray point présentement et acheveray de vous dire comme le Pensre De Witt fait ce qu'il veut dans le collège des Estats Généraux, desorte que quand les autres trois provinces vienent avec des propositions advantageuses pour Monsr le Prince et qui tendent à la paix, elles

1) Probably Sylvius' spelling of Renswouw or Renswoude. (Aitzema spells it without the ‘d’). Johan, baron of Renswoude, was an Utrechter and sat as a deputy for his province on the States General. He was actually an Orangist, and though he had officially made his peace with the States party, De Witt did not trust him, as his action in the matter of sending De Ruyter to Guinea in 1665 showed. See N.N.B.W.

2) Thibaut was a Middleburg regent of Orangist sympathies; in November he concluded a marriage alliance with the rival town family of De Veth. Vrijbergen was a regent of Tholen. See Brieven aan De Witt II, especially 2 Nov. 1665, from Bampfield; also 14 Nov. 1665. D'Estrades to Louis, Lettres D'Estrades III.

[p. 31]

sont eludées¹⁾. Ce n'est pas aussi ces provinces que le Pensre De Witt craint le plus, mais c'est la constitution de la Province d'Hollande et où il voit tous les iours du changement, et qu'il n'a pas le pouvoir ny le crédit parmy toutes les villes qu'il vouloit avoir. Dans Amsterdam il n'y a qu'un foible party, et c'est celuy que le Pensionnaire de ceste ville qui s'apelle De Grot luy procure; celuy là est entièrement dans les intérests de France, tout le reste du Magistrat n'est point de ce sentiment et est fort enclin à la paix, et l'on pourroit faire des grands progrès parmy eux si l'on profite du temps et avant que le Magistrat se change, qui sera bientost. Car alors les sentimens de ceste ville changera, car Buat m'a asseuré qu'il scait de fort bonne part que De Witt a désia gaigné ceux qui entreront. Pour se qui regarde la Northollande elle est tout entièrement pour la paix et beaucoup inclinée pour Monsr le Prince. Pour les autres grosses villes, comme Dort, Roterdam, Delft et les autres, elles sont fort myparties, desorte que le crédit du De Witt est fort diminué et il ne faut qu'un homme vigoreux et résolu comme Beverning pour tourner la balance. J'atens avec grande impatience le progrès que Buat aura fait sur luy. Je ne manqueray pas incontinent à vous en faire part. Buat m'a fort chargé aussi de scavoir si en cas que l'on vint à un traité, si le Roy y voudroit comprendre l'Eves. de Munster. Je vous prie me mander ce qu'il vous plait que ie responde là dessus. Le traité de Denemark n'estoit pas encore conclu, mais quoy que les demandes feussent grandes de ce costé là il croyoit pourtant que les Estats luy accordèrent tout. Il m'a dit aussi qu'il craint fort que Monsr Vane n'aura pas tout le sucxès que il pourroit souhaiter, car ceste cour est fort coruptible. Il y a le Prince Denhalt²⁾ qui n'a pas de grands biens; il a la réputations d'avoir désia receu d'argent de France, et mesmes l'on dit que d'autres ministres de Monsr

1) Probably he had the Overijssel proposition of October in mind. See p. 45 note 2.

2) Probably Johan George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, who had married one of the daughters of Frederick-Henry. He entered the Brandenburg service in 1658. See Briefwisseling van Huygens, V, R.G.P. series III.

[p. 32]

l'Electeur en ont touché. Il y a encore Monsr de Dona¹⁾ et Monsr Pellex²⁾, et l'un et l'autre passent pour fort intéressés et de plus, ils ont tous deux des charges en Hollande, desorte que il y a grande apparence qu'ils pousseront cest intérest là. Monsr Vane et moy avoient escrit à Buat sur ce subiect; il m'a dit qu'il en avoit parlé à Madame la Douarière et luy avoit rémonstré le grand intérest que le Prince avoit là dedans et qu'il y appoit (sic) mesme de sa gloire et réputation d'appuyer ceste affaire de son crédit. Elle s'est engagée et a promis tout, et elle et Monsr le Prince en escrivent fortement à Monsr l'Electeur. Il m'a dit aussi qu'il estoit venu des desputés de toutes les Admirautés à la Haye et qu'un des Parens de sa femme³⁾ qui est dans ce collège et lequel il l'avoit sondé sur le subiect de leur venue, et luy avoit dit qu'il venoyent faire des plaintes sur divers griefs, et principalement pour demander de l'argent qu'ils n'en avoyent plus et que s'ils n'en fournissoyent bien tost il estoit impossible qu'ils puissent préparer une flotte pour le printemps. Il m'a dit aussi qu'ils ont congiédié tout leur monde horsmis de trente navires, auxquels ils donnent aux matelots dix sols par iours, à condition qu'ils demeureront auprès de leurs navires pour y entrer au premier coup de tambour s'il en est de besoin; mais de tout leur flotte il n'y a que ces trente navires en estast de sortir. Je pourrois m'estendre encore sur le subiect de la Zéllande où il y a beaucoup de chose à dire, mais nous verrons ce que nous pouvons faire premièrement sur la Hollande, et si nous n'y pouvons réussir ce sera là nostre ressource; et asseurément il y aura à faire quelque chose de bon. mais c'est une pitié de voir comme l'on mesnage mal les intérests de Monsr le Prince dans ceste Province, et comme l'on se sert d'une mauvaise politique et il s'y est commis des fautes presques irréparables. J'avois encores diverses choses à vous dire mais i'ay peur de vous ennuyer; ie finiray donc en vous asseurant que ie ne négligeray rien et suivray ponc-

1) Probably Christian Albert, baron of Dohna who was in the Brandenburg service, Briefwisseling van Huygens, III, R.G.P. series III. He was married to Sophia Theodora daughter of Brederode.

2) I can find no trace of this man.

3) I can find no trace of this man.

[p. 33]

tuellement les ordres qu'il vous a pleu me donner. Je vous prie de me faire l'honneur de me faire scavoir vos sentimens plus particulièrement sur ceste lettre, ie les attendray avec beaucoup d'impatience etc.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington¹⁾.
le 19 décembre 1665.

Apres avoir fermé ma lettre, et au moment que la poste devoit partir i'ay receu ceste inclose de Buat; elle a esté escriste hyer au soir. Vous verres ce qu'il me marque touchant Beverning, lequel il me prie fort de ne point nommer pour les raisons qu'il vous marque. Il luy a promis de venir icy avecques luy pourveu que le Roy voulut y envoyer quelqu'un. Il ne scait pas encores que ie suis icy desorte que si vous aves quelque ordre à m'envoyer pour luy taster le poux et voir iusques où ils pourroit aller, ie me resgleray suivant ce que vous m'ordonneres; ou bien si le Roy respond à Messieurs les Estats et qu'il trouve bon que i'aille rendre la lettre, ie pourrois alors commodement parler à Beverning. I'attendray là dessus vos ordres, lesquels ie vous prie de m'envoyer au plustost. Buat marque qu'il luy parlera encore et peutestre que Beverning s'ouvrira un peu plus. Buat m'a dit qu'il est homme franc et point fourbe, et qu'il parle à coeur ouvert à ces Amys, mais qu'il se mesfie fort de la cour d'Angleterre à cause que la cour de France scait beaucoup des choses qui se passent; cela le rend un peu craintif, et n'ose pas trop s'ouvrir. Je n'ay pas le temps de m'estendre plus sur ce subiect; car il ne me reste que ce moment.

1) Unsigned, partly in cipher; probably from Antwerp. In Sylvius' hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

Letter from Sylvius to Buat²⁾.
le 19 December 1665.

Cher Amy, ie vous envoye cest exprès pour vous faire

2) P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34. Headed ‘copie de la lettre que l'ay escriste à Monsr du Buat de mon arrivée à la Haye de concert avec luy pour monstrer à Monsr. Beverling. d'Anvers ce 16me Janvier 1666’.

[p. 34]

scavoir mon arrivée en ce pays, et comme i'espère d'avoir le bien de vous embrasser au premier iour, et vous dire diverses choses de bouche que asseurément sa Maiesté n'eusse pas voulu confier à aucun autre qu'à vous. Car il s'est fort plaint de ce que toutes les fois qu'il a tesmoigné quelque inclination pour la paix, qu'il y a eu des personnes qui l'ont mal expliqué, et qui ont tasché de prendre des advantages là dessus en publiant par tout, et mesme les gazettes en ont parlé, que sa Maiesté s'estoit engagé mal à propos dans une guerre et qu'il ne scavoit pas comme en sortir, et diverses choses de ceste nature qui luy donnent iuste subiect de ce précautionner là dessus. Mais sur le rapport que i'ay fait au Roy de ce que vous m'avies dit de la franchise et probité de Monsieur de Beverling, i'ay eu permission de vous communiquer ce que vous luy faires voir. Je ne doute point que luy et vous ne mesnagies la chose si bien que sa Maiesté n'aura aucun subiect de se plaindre plus sur ceste matière, car ie vous asseure qu'il est fort tendre et ialoux sur ce point. Attendant que i'aye le bien de vous voir ie prie de me croyre tousiours tout à vous.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington¹⁾.
Anvers, le 22 décembre 1665.

J'ay receu celle qu'il vous a pleu me faire l'honneur de m'escrire du 4me de ce mois par laquelle vous me marques que Sa Maté goustoit fort la proposition que Buat avoit fait touchant Beverling. J'ay bien iugé par les ordres et instructions que vous me fait l'honneur de me donner en partant que ie devois pousser cest intérest, et ie vous asseure que ie n'ay rien négligé pour advancer ceste affaire comme vous aures peu voir par ma précédente où ie vous fais un ample relation de l'estast où est la chose de laquelle i'ay encore très bonne opinion, quoy qu'il semble que la lettre de Monsr Buat que ie vous ay envoyée donne

1) Dated 23rd; that it was written on 22nd is shown by the subsequent letter. Unsigned, partly in cipher. In Sylvius' hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

[p. 35]

subiect de croyre que Monsr Beverningh est un peu refroidy; mais pour tout cela ie ne désespère point que Monsr Buat ne l'engage encores et il m'a dit sur ce subiect diverses raisons qui me confirment dans ceste opinion, desorte que ie n'ai douté point que à la seconde attaque qu'il luy donnera, il le gaigne quelque chose sur son esprit. Monsr Buat m'a dit qu'il a despuis peu quitté toutes les charges qu'il avoit dans l'Estast pour se destacher entièrement des interests du Pensre de Hollande et de sa cabale qui ont, à ce qu'il dit, des desseins trop haut pour luy. Le Pensre de Hollande en a prins ombrage et despuis son retour de Maestrict l'a fort caiolé, et peutestre aussi qu'il l'a un peu esbranlé; mais il ne laisse pas tousiours de demeurer ferme dans ceste opinion de travailler à la paix et d'avoir des bons sentimens pour les intérests du Prce d'Orange. J'ay escrit encore à Monsr Buat par un exprès pour luy remonstrer comme le temps presse et qu'il ne doit pas perdre un moment pour le faire expliquer ou l'engager à quelque chose de solide auparavant que les affaires prenent un ply, et qu'il se souviene de ce que ie luy ay dit de bouche sur ceste matière, qui est de toucher son imagination de costé où il le trouvera le plus sensible et enfin de mettre toute son adresse en oeuvre pour nous l'acquérir entièrement. J'espère par le premier ordinaire vous mander quelque chose de plus particulier là dessus et si par ce moyen l'on peut former quelque dessein du costé de Hollande. Vous pouves estre asseuré que si i'y vois la moindre apparence et qui puisse respondre à vos intentions i'en profiteray. Je verray ce qu'il me respondra sur ce subiect et suivant que ie trouveray les choses disposées ie feray encore un voyage en Hollande où i'espère n'estre pas inutille vous asseurant que vous aures subiect d'estre satisfait du séiour que ie feray en ce pays icy. J'atens avec impatience vos sentimens sur la lettre que les Estast G^raux ont escrit au Roy. Il y aura asseurément quelques mesures à prendre là dessus; i'observeray sur cest article là ponctuellement tout ce qu'il vous plaira m'ordonner. Il n'y a aucun changement despuis ma précédente et les choses sont dans l'estast où ie vous ay mandées. He mentions the Danish and Brandenburg negotiations, the state of the Munster war, and the bad state of the Dutch troops, and repeats the naval information from

[p. 36]

the Admiralty deputies at the Hague. Il y avoit divers de ces Messieurs qui estoyent fort mescontens du Pensre De Witt et se plaignoyent hautement de luy. Je n'ay encore peu apprendre si cela est raccommodé i'espère par le prochain ordinaire vous pouvoir informer à fons la dessus...

M.S. answerd 21.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington¹⁾.
Anvers, le 23 décembre 1665.

Je me suis donné l'honneur de vous escrire hyer et vous ay mandé comme i'attendois des nouvelles de Buat. Je viens tout présentement de recevoir celle cy que ie vous envoye²⁾, où vous verres ce qu'il me marque. Je pars de ce moment pour me rendre auprès de luy demain au soir afin de vous pouvoir escrire encore après demain par la poste qui part de la Haye, autrement ie perdois une semaine toute entière. La saison est fort rude et la gellée violente et i'auray bien de la peine à passer mais le zèlle que i'ay pour le service de sa Maiesté me faira presques surmonter l'impossible. Je vous escris celle cy par précaution et en cas que ie ne puis pas passer dans la Hollande à cause des glaces. Tousiours vous verres que ie ne pers point du temps. Je finis en vous asseurant que ie ne négligeray rien et que ie suivray ponctuellement vos instructions en espérance de pouvoir vous escrire après demain de la Haye.

J'ay hier datté mal ma lettre; elle ne devoit estre dattée que du 22me quoy qu'elle soit partie ce matin dans le paquet de l'amy et deux ou trois heures après i'ay receu celle de Buat. Je vous demande excuse si la présente est si mal escriste mais ie suis en haste.

M.S.

1) Signed, partly in cipher. In Sylvius' hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

2) He refers to this letter and the enclosure from Buat in his letter to Arlington of 25 Dec.

[p. 37]

Letter from Sylvius to Williamson¹⁾.
d'Anvers, le 23 décembre 1665.

News of the fall of Lockum; bad state of the Dutch army, difficulty in placing French troops in garrison partie par politique et partie par le désordre qu'ils commettent lequel est si grand que les Estats ont esté obligés par tout où ils ont passé de retirer le peuple du plat pays dans les villes pour ne les exposer point à cent violences, pillant et ravagant où ils passent comme si s'estoit un pays ennemy²⁾. Movements of Dutch troops, difficulty of finding enough, especially for next spring; nor do the Dutch want more French troops. Enfin ie ne voy pas comme ils pourront subsister sans quelques brouilleries ches eux si la guerre dure plus longtemps. Ils entretienent et amusent les peuples par des espérances de paix et ils attendent avec grand impatience la responce du Roy sur la lettre que les Estats luy ont escriste. Si l'on veut ches nous profiter de ceste occasion l'on embarassera bien le Pensionnaire qui a persuadé aux Estats et au peuple que le Roy ne veut escouster aucune proposition mais si une fois l'on peut faire voir le contraire Monsieur De Whit pourroit bien mal passer son temps enfin les affaires sont dans ces pays dans une grande crise et il est presques impossible qu'il n'y arrive quelque changement dans fort peu de temps. The letter concludes about establishing a correspondence.

1) Signed. It is adressed ‘Monsieur’; undoubtedly Williamson was meant. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

2) Cp. Temple's well-known account of the behaviour of the French troops, and Dutch complaints on that score.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington³⁾.
d'Anvers, le 29 décembre 1665.

Je me suis donné l'honneur de vous escrire de la Haye vendredy dernier, mais à mon arrivée icy i'ay apprins que

3) Signed. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.

[p. 38]

ma lettre n'estoit pas venue asses à temps pour l'envoyer avecques la poste, à cause que les rivières sont presques toutes bouchées de la gellée. Je vous asseure que ie n'ay de ma vie tant souffert n'y esté en si grand danger que de mon voyage de la Haye icy où ie suis arrivé auiourdhuy avec beaucoup de peine, et ie pars demain pour me rendre le plus viste que ie pourray en Angleterre. J'espère de passer avec le paquet qui porte la présente mais comme elle vous pourroit estre rendue plustost i'ay pourtant bien voulu vous informer à fons du subiect de mon voyage. Attandant que i'aye ce bonheur etc.

Letter from Nypho to (Williamson)¹⁾.
Antwerp, 2 January 1666.

News. I have no l'res this time from the Place you know but I send some heere to Mr. Sylvius²⁾, I suppose they will give you some news. I have receaved yr last & doe send back that which you send to our friend etc.

Monsr. N.

1) In Nypho's hand, S.P. 77. 34.

2) Probably Buat's letter of 31 Dec. Bijdr. en Meded. 27 p. 549.

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington³⁾.
d'Anvers, le 16 janvier 1666.

I'ay creu que c'estoit de mon devoir de vous faire scavoir mon arrivée en ces quartiers, et ceste lettre sera tesmoing de ma dilligence laquelle estoit nécessaire dans la conioncture présente, comme vous verres par la lettre cy-ioncte que Monsr Buat vous escrit⁴⁾, laquelle estoit adressée à moy icy, ou en cas que ie n'y fus point, à vous.

3) Unsigned, partly ciphered, in Sylvius' hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34. There is also a letter from Sylvius to Williamson of this date addressed ‘de la Haye’, which announces his arrival there, in spite of the dangers of the journey. See P.R.O. Newsletters, S.P. 101. 48.

4) Probably Buat's letter of 14 Jan. Bijdr. en Meded. 27, p. 549.

[p. 39]

J'ay prins donc la liberté de l'ouvrir, mais ie n'eusse iamais osé prendre ceste hardiesse dans une autre rencontre, desorte que i'espère Mylord, que vous ne le désapprouveres point. J'ay veu par icelle la nécessité qu'il y a que ie me rende au plustost auprès de Monsr Buat. Je suis demeuré icy auiourdhuy seulement pour vous escrire et demain s'il plait à Dieu, ie pars; i'espère estre là après demain. Don ie ne manqueray pas par la première commodité à vous faire scavoir au long l'estast de toutes choses, vous priant d'asseurer sa Maiesté que ie m'acquiteray avec toute la prudence et tout le soin dont ie suis capable de ce qu'il luy a pleu me confier. J'espère de venir asses à temps pour faire quelque chose de bon, et si ie trouve encore les affaires dans la disposition comme ceste lettre les despeint ie croy que nous fairons quelque progrès d'un costé ou d'autre. La lettre que i'ay escrit à Monsr Buat deux iours avant mon despart d'Oxfort¹⁾ et laquelle i'ay monstrée au Roy luy a esté envoyée par Monsr Nipho avant hyer, desorte qu'il l'aura tiré hors de peine et luy donnera lieu d'agir et préparer toutes choses attendant ma venue que ie luy faisois espérer quelques iours après. Je suis dans une grande impatience d'estre là, afin de vous pouvoir mander comme i'ay trouvé les choses et ce que sa Maiesté en peut espérer. Enfin, de mon costé, il me manquera ni soin ny dilligence pour effectuer ce que le Roy m'a fait l'honneur de me commander. News of the Danish treaty and the Munster war.

M.S.

1) I can find no trace of this letter.

Letter from Nypho to (Williamson)²⁾.
(Anvers) 1e 6 février 1666.

Explains he missed the post autrement, ie vous aurois pu envoyer les l'res de Mr. le Chevalier Vane.

J'auray soin de faire adresser la l're de l'amy et seray bien ayse de le recevoir icy, car il est temps qu'il reviene

2) In Nypho's hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34.

[p. 40]

comme vous verrez par celle qui est escrite a N're Patron...¹⁾

Monsr. N.

1) Probably Buat's of 21 Jan. Bijdr. en Meded. 27 p. 551. In a similar letter, dated 17 February 1666, he writes ‘Je viens de recevoir les encloses de l'amy’; on 29 February, ‘Je viens de recevoir toutes les encloses avec le dernier courier d'Hollande et encore un autre de N're amy et une pour vous...’; and again, on 13 March, ‘Je vous prie mander moy des nouvelles de l'amy’ and asks whether he shall keep his letters or forward them to England. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34.

Letter from Nypho to (Williamson)²⁾.
(Anvers) 1e 10 février 1666.

... Après avoir tout escrit et que i'estois prêt à fermer le paquet l'Amy³⁾ est arrivé icy en bonne santé comme vous verrez par la cy-ioncte.

A(ntwerp) Monsr. N.

2) In Nypho's hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34.

3) Probably he means Sylvius.

Letter from Sylvius to Williamson⁴⁾.
(Anvers) 1e 11 février 1666.

Is trying to establish a Holland correspondence. Je seray en chemin pour l'Hollande et par les deux que i'ay envoyé l'ordinaire passé au Mylord, il aura veu comme ma présence estoit nécessaire là, mais qu'il falloit que ie m'y rendisse avec beaucoup de précaution, car asseurément l'on m'observe et l'on me pourroit iouer un mauvais tour et indubitablement Monsr de D'Estrade en a le vent⁵⁾, lequel, prévoyant bien la conséquence qu'il y a d'empescher ma venue là, se serviroit de tous moyens pour l'empescher. Neantmoins i'espère d'y arriver s'il plait à Dieu en seurté.

4) Unsigned, in Sylvius' hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34.

5) D'Estrades' first mention of the affair is on 18 Feb. 1666, in a letter to Louis. Lettres D'Estrades, IV.

[p. 41]

Letter from Sylvius to Williamson¹⁾.
Hague, le 19 février 1666.

Je vous ay escrit assez en haste l'ordinaire dernier et mesme ie n'eus pas le temps d'achever ma lettre à cause que ie fus interrompu pour parler à des personnes qui me venoyent donner des advis touchant mon affaire. Je vous diray qu'elle est en une asses bonne assieste, grâces à Dieu, et que ie croy que nous avons paré un coup de la plus dangereuse conséquence pour l'Angleterre qu'il y soit arrivé de longtemps²⁾ mais ce n'est pas le tout; nous travaillons à venir à bout de nostre affaire et elle est en tel estast que quoy qu'il arrive nostre Maistre y aura de l'avantage. Par le premier ordinaire ie vous en diray d'avantage, car ie croy qu'elle est présentement sur le tappis, et nous l'avons poussée bien loin, mais nous avons rencontré des grands obstacles que nous n'avions pas préveux. Je ne doute pourtant point que nous n'en rendions bon compte, et quoy que nos ennemys fassent, i'oserois presque les deffier, et en despit d'eux, nous en tirerons quelque chose. Il n'y a gueres de nouvelles icy, autrement i'en eusse apprins car ie bois tous les iours avec des gens de l'estat qui m'en pourroyent dire. The Brandenburg treaty is on the eve of signature. Some towns are protesting against the new taxes.

1) Signed; P.R.O.S.P. 101. 48.

2) i.e. the scheme to make Turenne Captain General and the Prince General of the Cavalry. See Sylvius to Arlington, 16 Feb. Bijdr. en Meded. 27 pp. 563 sqq., and same to same 19 Feb. ibid. p. 577.

Letter from Nypho to (Williamson)³⁾.
(Anvers) le 24 février 1666.

Letters from Holland talk of an accomodation with England. Je vous prie de remarquer ces paroles, cela me fait en quelque manière soubçonner que ceux qui se voyent avec N're amy à la Haye n'agissent avec le secrèt qu'ils

3) In Nypho's hand. Adressed ‘Monsieur’; P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34.

[p. 42]

ont promis, dont ie vous laisse considérer la conséquence¹⁾. Il est bien vray qu'une partie des Estast semble estre portée pour Mr. le Prince d'Oranges mais depuis que la France s'est declaré si ouvertement pour la Hollande les affaires sont fort changés de face et l'Ambassadeur de France scachant bien, combien l'union et la bonne intelligence entre les Estats et ledit Prince est nécessaire, ne cesse d'aporter tous les soins imaginables pour les réunir et rendre amis, de sorte que ie commence à apréhender que le party qui estoit cy devant pour Mr. le Prince, ne se laisse corrompre et entraisner de Mr. de Witte et de l'Ambassadeur de France, et que tout qu'ils traittent ou promettent à N're amy ne soit fiction, avec dessein de vous éluder pour pouvoir mieux faire leurs affaires au Printemps, pour moy i'ay bien de la peine à croire que Mr. l'Estrade ignore que N're amy est à la Haye, à cause de tant de l'res venans de la Haye qui veulent asseurer la paix entre l'Angleterre et la Hollande; bref ils font esclater l'affaire plus qu'ils ne devoyent s'ils avoyent bonne intention... Vane arrived here yesterday from Cleves... Je viens de recevoir les cy ioinctes de l'amy à 10 heures du matin.

M.N.

1) Buat complained of a leakage of news on the English side; see his letter of 11 Feb., Bijdr. en Meded. 27 p. 562.

Letter from Nypho to (Williamson)²⁾.
(Anvers) le 3 avril 1666.

Letters of 19/29 March have arrived from England, but ie n'ay eu aucune ny de vous ny de N're amy. On se flatte plus de paix à Amsterdam et au contraire tous les gens ont mauvaise opinion de leurs affaires pour l'esté prochain. N're amy Mr. de B. (uat) n'escrit plus. Enclosed is a letter for Downing.

M.N.

2) P.R.O.S.P. 101. 48. There is a gap from 23 March to 20 April in Buat's correspondence.

[p. 43]

Letter from Sylvius to Arlington¹⁾.
d'Anvers, le 3 juillet 1666.

Contrary winds kept me from reaching here before yesterday mais il n'estoit pas nécessaire, d'une plus grande dilligence, puisque la lettre que i'ay escrit à l'amy à la veille de mon despart n'est arrivée qu'un iour devant moy icy, et Monsr Nipho l'a luy envoyée incontinent desorte que i'espère en avoir réponce ceste après disné... Monsr Nipho receut hyer au soir une lettre de luy²⁾ laquelle ie vous envoye là, où il luy mande de m'advertir comme les Hollandois sont prest à sortir et qu'ils embarquent six milles hommes de terre. Lorsque ie le verray i'espère de scavoir plus des particuliarités de leur dessein et de la force de leur flotte. Send a spy there to find out. Comme la poste alloit partyr Monsr Nipho a receu la cy ioncte de l'amy, lequel auroit désia esté icy devant la poste, n'estoit un accident qui est arrivé à son cheval.

S.

1) Unsigned. In Sylvius' hand. P.R.O.S.P. 77. 34.

2) Not the last surviving letter of 11 June, which contains no mention of 6000 men. Bijdr. en Meded. 27. pp. 590-1.

Part II: Vane Correspondence.

‘Instructions for Sir Walter Vane to go to the Elector of Brandenburg’³⁾.

... 6. You shall assure him⁴⁾ that we do not designe or desire the ruin of the State of the United Provinces but only to obtaine just and reasonable satisfaction for the injurys wee have suffered...

20. You shall lett him know that wee looke upon the rise of this warre betwixt us and the United Provinces to bee, not from the Estates but only from de Witte his

3) B.M. Stowe MSS. 191. They must have been drafted late in October, because of the reference to the Overijssel proposition, see p. 45, note (2) below, endorsement.

4) i.e. the Elector.

[p. 44]

faction and adherents out of an animosity to our Nephew the Prince of Orenge and his family, and therefore that wee doe not thinke that wee or the Elector, can have any firme friendshippe with that country, so long as they have such power, and the more for that they are wholy guided by French counsels.

21. That itt is allready evident that this warre has allready wrought so farre as to make the people weary of their gouvernement, and in a great measure to cast their eyes upon the Prince of Orange, witnesse the frequent affronts putte upon the Drummers¹⁾ that were employed for the levying of men, if they did not make use of the name of the Prince, witnesse also their ordinary discourses in their boats²⁾, the preaching and praying of their ministers³⁾, their cryings out of late against the new forme

1) Downing describes several such incidents in the letters cited in note (2). See also his letter to Arlington of 20/30 June, and a newsletter of 26 June, both printed by Colenbrander in Zeeoorlogen I p. 230. See also 9 June 1665 Cal. S.P. Dom.

2) Downing reported (9/19 June 1665 to Arlington, Colenbrander Zeeoorlogen I, p. 209, and same date, to Clarendon, Lister, Life of Clarendon, III) that the sailors on several vessels demanded the Prince's flag in the midst of battle.

3) Sermons attacking the States and urging the interests of the Prince of Orange came from the most distinguished pulpits. On 4 Sept. the magistracy of Gouda resolved to stop the salary of Jacob Cheperus, because he had preached against the government, in a way not edifying to the commonalty. (Aitzema XI, 2, p. 987.) A newsletter of 2 Oct. 1665 (P.R.O.S.P. 101. 47) says that the townspeople subscribed to pay the preacher themselves, which suggests that his sermon pleased them. And on 4 Nov. the Gecommitteerde Raden reported to the States of Holland that Landtman had preached on a text which ended ‘I will go now and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now’ (Aitzema XI, 2, p. 1043. The text is from Hosea c. 2 v. 5, 6), and in his sermon urged that it was better to return to the Prince of Orange and peace with England, than to become involved in a French alliance. Therefore the States of Holland resolved on 7 Nov. that pastors should be forbidden to bring questions of policy or government into their sermons, under pain of interdiction from their ecclesiastical office. (Aitzema XI, 2, p. 1039, misprinted as p. 1029, and Resolutien der Staten van Holland.) Landtman must be the pastor to whose sermon against a Roman Catholic alliance D'Estrades referred. (12 Nov. 1665, to Lionne, Lettres D'Estrades, III).

[p. 45]

of prayer¹⁾ and the late resolution of the province of Over Isel, for the sending him in Ambassade to us, and making him General and Admiral²⁾. And that when the

1) It was resolved in the States of Holland on 7 Oct. 1666 that steps should be taken to enforce the use of the new form of prayer omitting the name of the Prince of Orange and mentioning the States of Holland before the States General, which had been resolved. upon on 13 March 1663. See Resolutien der Staten van Holland.

2) Overijssel was the province hardest hit by the invasion. It had never been enthusiastic for the war, and it had a traditional allegiance to the house of Orange. Accordingly the province took a resolution demanding peace with England, to enable the Republic to concentrate on overcoming the Bishop; (20 Oct. 1665, Newsletter P.R.O.S.P. 101. 47) and the Heer van Pallandt, who was incriminated with Van Haren as one of Aitzema's informants (see page 23, note (2), and another deputy, proposed on 24th October in the States General that since both the States and the King of England wanted peace, and since Charles had given ‘evident proofs’ of the ‘special inclination’ he had for the Prince of Orange, they had no doubt that if the Prince were sent to England he would secure peace. And they suggested that such a peace would be preserved at home and abroad if the Prince were invested with the positions of his ancestors, and given the ‘upper command of the land and sea forces’. There were five out of the seven provinces in favour of making the Prince General, and a considerable part of Holland was inclined to favour the Overijssel proposition; (26 Oct. 1665 Fannius to De Witt, Brieven aan De Witt II) but in spite of this, the proposition was unanimously rejected by the States General, (Aitzema XI, 2, p. 1016) and even the States of Overijssel were not unanimous in their welcome to the suggestion. Van Pallandt blamed the return of De Witt from sea for the malsuccess of the proposition. ‘Had the school-master only stayed away for another week, this design would have succeeded well’ he said. (See 18 Nov. 1665 ‘W.K.’ to De Witt, Brieven aan De Witt II. ‘Haec sunt ipsa verba’. Temple, at this time English resident at Brussels confirms this view. ‘De Witt is returned to the Hague in high time to prevent the growing mastery of the Orange faction’. (10 Nov. 1665 from Brussels, P.R.O.S.P. 77. 33.) D'Estrades claimed that his influence and French bribes also helped to secure the rejection of the proposition. See his letters to Louis and Lionne of 29 Oct. and 5, 12, and 14 Nov. 1665, and Louis' letter of 13 Nov. 1665. Lettres D'Estrades, III. See p. 47, note (1).

[p. 46]

warre shall have pinched them a little longer, itt is not to be doubted but other provinces will followe their example, and that his Establishment is the only meanes for us both to have any settled quiet with them, and for the keeping up the protestant interest there, wherefore you shall desire that by his influence amongst the people of those provinces especially in Guelderland and Freze¹⁾, hee does sturre up the friends of the family of Orenge to appeare and laye hold of this opportunity for the shaking of the act of Seclusion and the late treaty betweene Holand and Zealand²⁾ and the Lovesteins party, assuring them that wee will stand by them, and that when the Prince shall be restablished, wee will hearken to very moderate termes of accomodation, and that itt would not only bee very dishonourable to us to make a peace without his inclusion, whose Exclusion was a maine part and inducement to the treaty with Cromwell, but that then de Witte and his party, would soe roote themselfe in the gouvernment, as that there would remaine very little hopes of the Princes ever obtaining any thing afterwards.

22. You shall also endeavour that the Elector possesse the Princesse Dowager of Orenge heare with.

23. You shall also heare with deliver to the Princesse Dowager our letters³⁾, assuring her of our harty kindnesse to her and our family, and that wee doe not designe the ruin of the United Provinces, but only just and reason-

1) These provinces were traditionally Orangist in their sympathies.

2) An agreement reached between the two provinces shortly after the death of the Princess Royal in 1661, in connexion with the guardianship of the Prince of Orange, by which Zealand undertook not to broach the subject of the Prince's advancement for a fixed period.

3) For details of his contacts with the Dowager on his way to Cleves, see 19 Dec. 1665, Sylvius to Arlington, above.

[p. 47]

able securitys for the injurys wee suffered by them, and that wee looke on this warre as the only product of de Wittes malice to her and her sonne, and that wee desire soe to pursue itt, as that the consequence thereof maye bee his reestablishment, of which wee doubt not and that wee desire very much to bee guided by her and her counsels, and that wee looke upon the reestablishment of the Prince, as the only meanes to secure and maintaine the protestant interest in those countrys, and to make of value and durance any peace wee can have with them.

24. You are to endeavour to worke upon the Electrice of Brandenbourck upon the same accoumpts, and also upon the Princesse of Nassau¹⁾ if shee bee there.

1) The Princess of Nassau since the death of the Stadholder William-Frederick had been the guardian of her infant son. She neglected nothing, wrote D'Estrades, (29 Oct. 1665 to Lionne, Lettres D'Estrades III) which would assist her son's future. She disposed of charges in the provinces of Friesland and Groningen, and even exerted an influence in the election of the town magistrates, all of which gave her great authority. She wielded a further influence because six of the States of Friesland were members of her son's Council, and she had taken care that all her friends held their offices in strategically strong towns. D'Estrades believed that she was opposed in the province of Friesland by the Princess Dowager, who claimed that without her support no one, neither England nor the States, could be sure of Friesland and Groningen. The Princess of Nassau declared her adhesion to the cause of France, and vowed that she would abandon the Prince of Orange if he would not realise that he had nothing to expect from the King of England, and should therefore put his trust in the King of France. It is more than probable that she hoped, by cooperating with D'Estrades and the States party, to secure for her son some of the advantages which the Prince of Orange was forfeiting; and she asked D'Estrades for the repayment of a debt which Henry IV of France owed to the house of Nassau. Possibly her talk of helping the French went a good deal farther than her intentions, though D'Estrades believed and assured Louis that she had spent a good deal of money in bribing the opposition cabals, (5 Nov. 1665, D'Estrades to Lionne, Lettres D'Estrades III) and he attributed to her influence there the fact that the Overijssel proposition was disavowed in the States Assembly of Overijssel (Aitzema VI, 2, p. 1018.).

[p. 48]

25. You shall also assure our Nephew the Prince of Orenge of (our) harty kindnesse to him and (our care) fullnesse of his interest and concernes if he be there, and that wee doubt not to see him speedily in the charges of his father, without which wee make no accompt of any peace with the United Provinces...

8ber 1665.

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 5/15 Dec. 1665.

He describes his reception by the Elector, to whom he spoke of the interest of the Prince of Orange. The Elector informed him that he would send to me about it. After dinner I had my Audience with the Electrice to whome I also shewd the Kings inclination in this war to serve the interest of the Prince of Orange. Her Electorall Highnesse was more open to me, she told me she was very willing to ioyn to assist his Majesty in all she could. It was a great honour his Majesty did to the Prince of Orange & that familiy, but that she apprehended those of Holland would look upon it as a force. But she bid me presse it...

Baron Sweerin²⁾ told me what I had proposed concerning the Prince of Orange was very pleasing to ye El: & that he had recieved it with much ioy. He spoke to me of the means to attain that end... Then he proposed to send Su³⁾ to Amsterdam to sound their friend there & some others of Holland, as also to speak of a Peace. I said he might doe it as long as he did it of himself and in one way engaged the honour of his Majesty...

There is a great party in the state yt is for a peace without France. But unlesse there appears suddainly some inclination in England, by the wch they may be sure

1) All Vane's letters are signed and partly written in cipher. This letter is in the P.R.O. where it is endorsed ‘Recieved in London 16 Dec. 1665’. It is dated in the Letter Book. This gives three weeks as the time taken for a letter to travel from Cleves to London.

2) I can find no trace of him.

3) Nor of ‘Su’.

[p. 49]

to have a peace they will not be able to hinder the blow...¹⁾

1) i.e. the closer alliance of Holland and France, to which Vane alluded earlier in the letter.

Letter from Vane to Arlington²⁾.
Cleves, 8/18 Dec. 1665.

... Since my arrival here I received a letter from Zeland the wch I find that before the arrivall of Monsr de Witt the State had a designe to make the Prince of Orenge Generall & Admirall. But since his arrivall that great heat is passed, & now they only propose to put him in the Councell of State...³⁾

Monsr de Witt promises much to ye Prss Dowa: as ye E: of Brand: to me, but I am confident tis but a cheat & soe told ye El: of Brandenburg. The States... are in closer alliance with France than ever wch is totally agt the interest of ye Prce of Orange for all this the good parte is still for a peace with his Maty & if that could be found (the) Pr. of Orange might finde his reconing also...

Zealand tells me that the question of the rendition of Orsoye only prevents the conclusion of the Dutch-Brandenburg treaty... Mr. de Beverling the great friend of de Witt has quitted all his charges & resolves to retire, not liking the proceedings of de Witt in bringing in the French. Nor this strict alliance with France wch he says will at last be ye ruin of the State⁴⁾. I was told that 4 or 5 months agoe de Witt was much agt this strict alliance with France, apprehending very much their greatnesse. But having found at his returne from sea, the great in-

2) P.R.O. 56 and the Letter Book.

3) Vane apparently refers to the Overijssel proposition. For De Witt's influence in the matter, see p. 45, note (2).

4) Vane repeats this information in his letter to Coventry of 15/25 Dec. 1665. He adds there that Holland recommends ‘Marman’ of Leyden to be Treasurer ‘who is a great enemy to the house of Orange’. Letter Book.

[p. 50]

clination every body had for restoring the house of Oreng, as his last refuge he has thrown himself into it...

Neither the Dowager nor the Prince of Orange will come here this winter. The pretext is, ye season of ye year. But I finde the hopes and flatterys they recieve of doing something for the interest of ye Prince is ye true cause. I am informed Buatt will be here suddainly...

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 15/25 Dec. 1665.

... ‘My heere Blaspell yt I told yr Lp in my former letters was sent at my first coming hither to the Hage, was by order from the Elector to see me. He tells me yt by all he could doe he could not make my Heere de Witte declare whether there was a door open to make peace with England without France - -

Those of Amsterdam are much altered of what they were a month agoe & have thrown themselves into ye interest of France. The Interest of ye Prince of Orenge looses ground much there...

They²⁾ have recommended one Mairman to the States Generall, in the place of Beverlinge, that quitted the last Satterdaye, a man much of the faction against the house of Orange...

(P.S. I had almost forgot to tell your Lordp that Buatt writte me word that the treaty with (the) Elector was made...³⁾

1) P.R.O. 56 and Letter Book.

2) i.e. the States of Holland.

3) Like much of Buat's information, this is incorrect.

The Elector's Reply to Vane's Memorandum⁴⁾.
End of December 1665.

Son A.E. remercie très humblement le Roy de la Con-

4) In answer to a ‘Memoire given to the Commissioners of the Elector’. P.R.O. 56 It is described as ‘La Seconde Proposition’ in the Letter Book. It was probably presented about 6/16 to 8/18 Dec. 1665.

[p. 51]

stante affection qu'il porte envers le Prince d'Orange, & du soing qu'il a pour son restablissement l'asseurant de son costé, qu'elle ne menquera jamais de contribuer de sa part tout à qui luy sera possible pour cette fin. Mais S.A.E. se trouve obligée de dire que si dans les conjonctures presentes on en feroit seulement de recommendations, que l'on le prendroit, comme si on vouloit forcer l'Estat et que des autres en prendroient des Obligations qui appartiendroient uniquement à l'Estat. Son A.E. promet néanmoins de n'y vouloir rien negliger.

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 5 Jan. 1666.

I recieved a letter from the Hage from Madam Somerdick²⁾, who presses me extremely to recommend the person of one Abraham Lus³⁾, who was taken prisoner this summer in one of the East India ships... That he is of a family that has always beene for the interest of the Prince of Orange...

1) P.R.O. 56 and Letter Book. The Letters are henceforth dated new style.

2) See Introduction, p. 5.

3) ibid.

Copy of the request from Mme Sommelsdijk.

Please release Monsieur Lus ‘un de nos intimes Amies fort Royaliste et tout a fait dans les intérests de la Maison d'Orange ce qui fait qu'il tire nul avantage en ce pays comme vous scaves que font les autres.’ He dined with His Majesty when he visited Dort incognito; he was taken on a vessel coming from the Indies, called ‘t'Slot te Honinge’ and is at present with Jean Baptiste van der Hoeve, a merchant in London.

[p. 52]

Letter from Vane to Charles II¹⁾.
Cleves, 8 Jan. 1666.

He is sending this express as he has no news from England... Has recieved an advertissement from the Hag by Mr. Buatt... Nothing will be concluded either with France or the Estates, the Electrice I suppose the great instrument that has manadged all this businesse, although all the rest of the court is pro-French & by your Maj: particular Commands the family of Orange was to be considered, and has been the chiefe argument to induce the Electrice to doe what shee has done... I have given an accompt of an advice sent me out of the Hag; as also of an overture of a meeting sent mee from Mijn Heere Beverlinge which I doe not doubt but my Lord Arlington will acquaint your Maj: with...

1) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

Letter from Vane to Arlington²⁾.
Cleves, 8 Jan. 1666.

... I had some days³⁾ agoe a letter from a friend of mine in the Hage, that did propose to me the meeting of a considerable person of that side in case I judged, that his Maty was inclined to a reasonable agreement. I answered, I could not come by reason of my character, into any place belonging to the dominions of the States. But that in case he would come here, I could assure him, that his Maty did deesire noe thing more, than an honourable & reasonable peace. Yesterday I recieved his answer. That it was Beverling that did intend to meet me. That he feared this place might be too open for a meeting of yt nature, & that upon better consideration he concieved it

2) The letter begins with a reference to ‘a letter from my correspondent Mr. Nypho at Antwerp’. P.R.O. 56 and Letter Book.

3) The copy in the Letter Book reads ‘6 days’.

[p. 53]

best, to suspend his journey for the present. For unlesse he was satisfied, that I were instructed with something which I might assure him would satisfie England, - since the States had often proposed, but that England hath only hitherto given them the hearing, without declaring, what they expected & on what termes they would come to an agreement, - without which knowledg, he concieved, all other conferences would be to noe purpose. I have thought fit to give notice of it to your Ldp, that yu [sic] may aquaint his Maty with it, that I may recieve yr Ldps directions, in case I heare any farther from him, which is probable enough. This person is discontented, as you have heard by some of my former: is in noe good correspondence with Monsr de Witt, has of late declared to favour the interest of ye Prce of Orange. He is a very able man & very undertaking & perchance it may be from ye good party that this overture is made & therefor, with all submission, it might not be unworthy his Matys consideration, and as I must answer the letter, I shall doe it with all civility, leaving the thing as it is, but saying that perchance he might have found (if he would have done me the favour to come hither) I might have had matter inough to satisfy any proposalls he should have made. The letter came from Mr. Doleman¹⁾, who though he be fallen

1) Thomas Dolman was an English soldier in the States' service. He had been sent to England in connexion with the peace negociations in 1653-4, and had remained in the States' service when the oath of allegience was demanded in 1665. This explains Charles' displeasure. Vane should have known that he was a staunch States party man; De Witt wrote of him in 1667 ‘D'heer Dolman is een seer familier vrundt van myn broeder ende een getrouw dienaar van 't landt’. (Brieven van De Witt ed. Fruin, III p. 293, note. 2. For details of Dolman's career see Briefwisseling van Huygens, III, Ten Raa en de Bas Het Staatsche Leger, and Brieven van De Witt ed. Fruin, and Brieven aan De Witt; also Colenbrander Zeeoor-logen I). Downing wrote of him (28 July 1665 to Arlington, Colenbrander Zeeoorlogen I p. 277) ‘nor is there any man in this country more his (i.e. De Witt's) confident nor more zealous against his Majesty then Dolman’. Had Vane known this he could hardly have hoped that the overture came from the ‘good party’.

[p. 54]

into his Matys disgrace, yet truely I hope his Maty will not take it ill, that I have proceeded thus far in this overture, though it be by his means.

I have recieved also a letter from Madme Sommersdike with an advice, which I suppose must be by instigation of some of the Sta. Genll., wherein she tells me, all the provinces are inclined to the reestablishmt of (the) Prce of Orange. That the people murmur highly, & that many towns desire it also. But a means to begin the businesse they finde difficult & therefor propose this to his Maty that he will write to the St. Grall. that he is very much inclined to make a peace with the St. Genll. & then to tell those reasons his wisdom shall think fitting & then to recommend to them the person of the Prce of Orange as his nephew. As she tells what he should doe, soe she says what he should not doe, that his Maty should not say hee desired a peace and the reestablishment of the House of the Prce of Orange, giving this reason, that it would give matter to ye contrary party to oppose it. She says one thing more. That the letter must not be delivered to many for then it would never be read, but to the President.

What to say to this advice more than that it comes from a person very much addicted to the Prce of Orange I know not. But yet it is possible enough it may trouble them, considering that they make their people believe, his Maty will have noe peace: but desirs their ruin, that they have made several overtures to his Maty, & though he recieved them, yet he made noe answer to any of them. Itt may perchance when it comes to be public, the people seeing the candour of his Matys intentions & findeing the factions amongst their governors & their unwillingness to a peace, make a great stir amongst them as well as having a good effect on neighbouring Princes...

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 15 Jan. 1666.

... The advice in my last I told you I received out

1) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

[p. 55]

of Holland is this last post contradicted, that is, as much as concerns ye Prce of Orange, & it is, it seems by those that had advised the contrary before...

The letter that it has pleased your Ldps to send me I am informed this morninge, surprised mightily de Witte, & that in the Assembly he did desire it should be kept secret for a while¹⁾, yet a printed copy was shewed me of it yesterday. I hope it will produce some good effect there...²⁾

1) Probably this refers to a copy of Charles' letter to the States General of 16 Dec. 1665. B.M. Add. MSS. 17677 AA.

2) He ends ‘By reason letters miscarry & come slowly I shall desire you as I did formerly that you would make use of the adresse of Mr. Nypho at Antwerp, who as I heard att Antwerpe was employed by you, and which was the occasion I have ever since addressed my letters thither’. He wrote on 31 Dec. 1665 to Williamson ‘Pray send the letters for me to Mr. Nipho at Antwerp’, P.R.O. 56.

Letter from Vane to Arlington³⁾.
Cleves, 22 Jan. 1666.

By the last letters out of the Hage, I finde that the comeing⁴⁾ of d'Estrade is delayed by reason he has not his instructions yet out of France, but Beverling will certainly be here, & that within a day or two. When this businesse was first offered to him, he refused it, but it being pressed upon him, he has accepted it. Tis thought he comes by the instigation of the good party in Holland & that de Witt is not very well satisfied with it. I am (told) from very good hands⁵⁾ that he hath three things in charge... (The) Elec: of Brand: spoke to me yesterday to dine with him & shewed me a letter from the Dowager, written to him, wherein she tells him, that

3) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

4) i.e. to Cleves.

5) Buat?

[p. 56]

Beverling was to communicate to him something concerning England & the affairs of the Prince of Orange. He told me also that he had recieved a letter without any name, which he supposes to be from some of the good party in Holland, wherein they advise him, to delay the making an end of his Treaty with France & (the) States Grall, & that suddainly he should hear of something that would surprise him, & something there was in it concerning the interest of the Prce of Orange. Upon which he has written a letter to the States to recommend the interest of the Prce of Orange to them; but that he had notice, though his paquet was delivered, yet that letter was taken out, he knows not how. I suppose this advice to be something of the nature that was sent to me, & I sent to your Ldp by my servant...¹⁾

I am told also that ye towne of Amsterdam begins mightily to find ye want of trade & that there is seven hundred houses this yeare that can not be hired & are likely to stand empty which is supposed to be by reason the merchants quit the towne...

1) He refers to the letter from Mme. Sommelsdijk.

Letter from Vane to Chancellor²⁾.
Cleves, 26 Jan. 1666.

Beverling has arrived... There came a Co^ll of the States³⁾ to see me who tells me Beverling is offered to come into the States Generall for his life, as also to be made Burgomaster of the town of Tergo⁴⁾, but he refuses all upon pretence of his health. He told me also (as severall other people have donne belonging to ye Court) that Beverling desired that we might meet as by chance in a third place. The Elector favours this idea, and though he has no orders Vane has not refused it.

2) Letter Book.

3) Surely Buat himself.

4) i.e. Gouda.

[p. 57]

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, same date.

... Beverling arrived here Friday last & I finde by one, from whome I came just now, who was very late with him last night, that he does not doubt of the successe of his businesse, that he had great assurance by the meanes of the Pss Dow. of Orange that he should be very agreeable here, & of the successe of his business otherwise (as far as I finde) he resolved not to have come at all...

In my former I told you, the letter the King had writt to the States²⁾, had beene suppressed by them, which made me (judging it might be necessary to have it divulged) to have it translated into Dutch, & printed here, & soe have sent it up & downe into severall towns in Holland...³⁾

1) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

2) Charles' letter of 6 Dec. 1665. See p. 55, note (1).

3) There is a letter of the same date, with much the same contents to Williamson. P.R.O. 57.

Letter from Vane to Arlington⁴⁾.
Cleves, 29 Jan. 1666.

... (The Elector) told me also that the towne of Amsterdam was quite turn'd again to the interest of the Prce of Orenge, this being the second turne in three months time for upon the arrivall of de Witte from sea there first appeared some change towards that way but he quelled it again, & I suppose upon the change of the magistrates (which is to be 2d day of February) this alteration happens now. I told the El: if he held good his neutrality a while he might doe the Prince of Orenge's businesse. He said he would doe soe. This ought to make me hope to doe something in that his Maty desires but truely I can answer for noething...

4) There is in the Letter Book a letter of the same date to the Chancellor, with certain minor differences.

[p. 58]

The letter I mentioned to you that the Elector writt to the States Generall concerning the Prince of Orange has beene recieved, read in the assembly & approved of...¹⁾

1) The only letter of which I can find any trace is the Elector's well-known one of 10 March 1666. Aitzema XII p. 219.

Letter from Vane to Arlington²⁾.
Cleves, 2 Febr. 1666.

Fears the Treaty with Holland is nearly signed, and that there is nothing more for him to wait for. I have not seene Mr. Beverling, though he still declares he desires it. But by the proceedings of him he seems³⁾ not willing to make any advance⁴⁾ and truely without it I shall not see him. The Elector told me last night he had a great mind to goe for England. I answered, I could not saye anything of any particular person, but that I was sure any that was sent by the States would be very welcome, hee spoke also much of France and that the States could not treat unlesse his interest was also brought in, I told him I could saye nothing to that, but that I was sure if France meddled in itt, wee were not likely to have a peace, for that the interest of France was to keepe us in warre. Hee told mee also that Beverling assured him Holland would doe him something for the interest of the Prce of Orange in this conjuncture. But I assured him that they would decieve him. Hee said it was the good party proposed itt & soe the discourse ended. Only he said he would further speak to Beverling. I see his designe is by the means of the Elect: to gett what he can out of mee... He asks that ‘some little man of war’ may be sent for him to return in...

2) P.R.O. 57. There is in the Letter Book a copy of a letter of the same date to the Chancellor which differs in some details; these are noted below as they occur.

3) In the letter to the Chancellor ‘is’.

4) In the letter to the Chancellor ‘the first stepp’.

[p. 59]

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 9 Febr. 1666.

He has postponed his departure, as the Elector assures him he was not yet engaged to the Dutch. Beverling went away last Saturday, to acquaint his masters, what he had donne here, & to engage them to consent to some proposition, which is yet in dispute. And the Elector told me, he did not believe he would returne. Though I was told last night, he will returne at the latter end of this weeke... The Elector shewed me a letter that day, that he had recieved from the Hague, by the which he was informed that those of Holland pressed the making of a new generall, that in the vrootschappe of Harlem it was hotly debated, & that at last they said, since it was necessary to have a new Generall, they would have the Prince of Orange. Severall other townes seeme to declare the same thing, nay some say, the towne of Dort also, which would be strange, since de Witte has the power there. The post of Wednesday will bring the success. He told me also, that Beverling exclaimed much against the French & that he said, they must be rid of them & rather than faile, they would doe it, though they were obleiged to come to their end, to let them want everything. I have not seene Beverling, & doe now finde the reason to be for feare of giveing jealousy to the French. But yet he tells the Elector, they will send into England, which truely I cannot see will be soe suddain, by reason of this declaration of warre²⁾. The magistrates are changed at Amsterdam, Van Horne is left out, & it is judged the change is made to the advantage of de Witte they have brought in the sonne of de Grave or Polsbroek, a very young man not above two or three & thirty years old. Vleswijck is another & Valkenier remaining the old Burgomaster...³⁾

1) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

2) Louis', of 26 Jan. 1666. See Lettres D'Estrades IV.

3) In January, Sylvius could report that a proposition had been made in the town assembly that an envoy should be sent to England to negociate under pretext of the exchange of prisoners (31 Jan. 1666 Sylvius' Report, Bijdr. en Meded. 27). Before the outbreak of war, Amsterdam had been one of the principal supporters of the States' regime, for De Witt had cooperated with Cornelis de Graef van Zuidpolsbroek, since 1650 the dominant figure in the regency of the town. De Witt had married his niece. (For these questions of Amsterdam politics, see Elias, De Vroedschap van Amsterdam I, Introduction.) De Witt's government sustained a severe blow when De Graef died in 1664. The opposition faction did not immediately take the place of the adherents of the Old-Burgomaster. De Graef the younger and Van Hoorn retained their places in the government, and, with the support of Pieter de Groot - son of the great Grotius - who had been pensionary since 1660, helped De Witt to keep the opposition faction from office. As De Graef's group was not anti-Orangist, so this opposition - headed by Gillis Valckenier - was only Orangist in that it was independent of De Witt and prepared to use the Prince against him if necessary. It was at these elections in February 1666 that this opposition first came to power when Valckenier was chosen as Old-Burgomaster by his two successful candidates for the positions of Burgomasters. It is this absence of clear lines between an Orangist and an anti-Orangist faction which confused Vane in his estimates of the position. In fact what happened was that De Witt, as soon as he realised that Valckenier's was the dominant faction in the town, set out to work in cooperation with him, and did so for years.

[p. 60]

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 12 Febr. 1666.

The Elector told me last night that de Witte had beene with the Princesse Dowager to tell her that there was an occasion of doeing something for the Prince of Orange they being resolved to make the Marshall Turen Generall & offered to make the P: Generall of the Horse & Admirall. She answered the State might do what they pleased but that she meddled in noething & so would not give her approbation to the thing... Intends to leave on Monday.

1) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

[p. 61]

Letter from Vane to Arlington¹⁾.
Cleves, 16 Febr. 1666.

I had thought to have beene upon my journey, as this day, but findeing the businesse of Beverling to draw towards an end, has made me delay it being told on Saturday that the Elector desired one conference more with me...

By letters out of the Hague I finde that since the declaration of warre by France, all hopes of a treaty with England is vanished, those that desire itt finding affaires in that condition as not to presse it now. The making of a new Generall is diversely spoken of, when it was proposed to have a French man, without naming Mr. de Turene, there was only two townes, voted for him, that was Dort & Medlembeck, the rest were against having a stranger. The Pentionary of Harlem named the Prince of Orange and was asked by de Witte by whose order he did itt. He answered hee was to give him no accompt of that but to his Masters and soe it is thought the necke of that businesse is brooke. Yet I was showed yesterday a letter from the Count Dona²⁾ who is att the Hague who says Turenne will yet be Generall & that the Prince of Orange will also be brought in & soe all things will be done by consent; I finde Beverlinge to effect his businesse here, has much cajoled the Elector about that affaire. But I apprehend the Elector will be deceived & so I told him the last night...

1) P.R.O. 57 and Letter Book.

2) Probably Frederick, count of Dohna, formerly governor of Orange.