Briefwisseling. Deel 4: 1644-1649

4351. H. Tuthill⁴⁾. (L.B.)

Den Prins en u ben ik steeds dankbaar. ‘Now, Sir, having lately seene a booke in print of the negotiation of D.^r Goffe with his Highnes about a marriage betweene the prince of Wales and his Highnes daughter⁵⁾, I could not refraine - for the considerations above sayd - to signifie both unto him and you, that which God hath been pleased to make knowne unto me, concerning the matter agitated with the sayd Goffe, viz.: That God hath determined to cut off that race from inheriting the crowne of England, and to transfer it unto Ffrance by war, and that before this present English warr hath an end. I conclude therefore, that the more his Highnes shall strive to crosse this purpose of God, the more losse he shall accrue unto himselfe, and shall render himselfe the lesse esteemed of the Netherlandish nation. Truely his Highnes ought to have been warned, concerning [the] marriage with England, by Gods warning from heaven, by that which befell, when the young prince first tooke shipping for England⁶⁾. But as he neglected that then, if he shall also neglect this by me now, let him thanke God for his warnings, but blame himselfe for his sufferings etc.’ ..... Rotterdam, Adij 17 Maij 1646.

4) Zie No. 3946.

5) Zie No. 4056. Het pamflet was eerst in het Engelsch verschenen.

6) Willem II had bij zijne zeereis in 1641 met moeite kunnen uitzeilen.