Briefwisseling. Deel 4: 1644-1649

[p. 226]

4149. St. Goffe. (L.B.)

When I shall have told you that I have not yet seene nor heard from Mons. Knuijt¹⁾, whose intentions were, after he had waited on His Highnes, to repaire presently hither with such orders as may promote the great busines you know of, I need not adde anything concerning the impatience and affliction I have beene in, both for the matter itselfe, and the weekely account I am to give of it to Her Majesties. I believe the extraordinary occasions and motions of your army have beene the cause, he would not persue those intentions. In all my lettres from France, since I saw you, the Queene presseth the accomplishment of it, and for that purpose sent Mylord Jermyn to Fonteinebleau for further powers and directions to accompany the lettre already sent to His Highnes. And accordingly Mons. d'Estrade either hath or shall within few daies receave order in it. I send this in hast by this post, ready to go away, intending myselfe to follow him to morrow morning, there being a necessity of my attendance of you, about some other particulars as well as this, wherein it shall appeare, how constantly the Queene persues the old and cheife proposition, and that this very thing concerning the fleet is looked upon especially in order to that, as the ready meanes to bring it to a present conclusion. I can not entertaine you now at large, but only this in short; we are now like to proceede in the methode your first answere, wich I carried to Paris last January, did prescribe, and France intends really and thoroughly to joyne in it. It is uncertaine yet here, where the Prince fastens, but they discourse of Hulst, and therefore my thoughts are to come to the Poulder van Namen. But I can not determine anything ..... Hage, October, Satterday²⁾.

I must not forgett to let you know that your gallant brother in law³⁾ is so clearely and firmely disposed to this great and glorious undertaking, and hath so wel digested the consideration of his present fortune here, that if he meet with His Highnes favour in it, he will not easily be diverted.

1) Zie No. 4123 en 4127.

2) Nl. 9 Oct. - Huygens schreef boven den brief: R.10.8b (Oct.) 45.

3) Nl. Philips van Dorp, de vroegere admiraal (zie I, blz. 163). Hij zou het bevel voeren over de schepen, die voor de onderneming naar Engeland zouden worden gebruikt.