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1677.

However the King of France obferving every Motion both of his Friends and Enemies, and more particularly the Temper of the English Parliament, had fo much Regard to the Jealoufies rais'd both in England and Holland, of his defigning an intire Conquest of the rest of Flanders, that His Majefty, after having gain'd thefe three confiderable Frontier Towns in the Spring, and difpos'd his Army into Quarters of Refreshment, went to Dunkirk, from whence he fent the Duke of Crequi to Com pliment K. Charles II. and carry him a Letter containing in Substance, That to fhew he had no inten- The King of tion to Conquer Flanders, but only to make a General France Peace, he was contented notwithstanding the great Ad-Proposes a vantages and Forces he had at prefent, to make a General Truce for fome Years, in Cafe his Allie, the King Sir W. of Sweden, would agree to it; which he defir'd His Temple's Majefty to inform himself of, fince he had not Cenve- Memoirs. nience of doing it, for want of Liberty of Couriers in-p. 263. to Sweden.

There were various Conftructions made of this Letter, and it was generally look'd upon as a Politick fetch of the French King, to put His Britannick Majefty upon waving the Declaration, which his Parliament fo urgently preft him to. At Nimeguen the French Ambafladors made a great fhew of it among the feveral Minifters there, till they found it had an Effect contrary to what was intended, and was taken by all for too grofs an Artifice. Monfieur Beverning, the Dutch Plenipotentiary, tho' of all others the most forward for a Peace, yet refented it to that Degree, that he faid openly, That the French were to be commended, who never neglected any thing of Importance, nor fo much as of Amusement. That France had given their Blow, and now would hinder their Allies from giving theirs. That the Referve of Sweden's Confent was an eafie way of avoiding the Truce, if the Allies fhould accept it; that this it felf could not be done becaufe Flanders would be left fo open, as to be easily swallow'd up: by the next Invafion, having no Frontier on either fide. That the Towns now Poffefs'd by France, would in the time of a Truce, grow abfolutely French, and fo the

barder

Truce.

Peace.

A. A. harder to be reftor'd by a Peace or a War. That, for his 1677. Part,be defir'd the Peace,contrary to the Politicks of Monfieur Van Beuninghen, and the other Ministers of the Advances Allies in England, affirming always, that notwithstandof the ing all their Intrigues and Intelligences there, he, MonDutch to- fieur Beverning, was affur'd, That His Britannick Mawards the jefty would not enter into the War to fave the last Town in Flanders. In pursuance of this Confidence of his, he follow'd all the ways imaginable towards a Peace, and by fuch fteps as fome thought forwarder than his Committion, and very ill concerted with thofe of the Allies; fo that about July all Points were adjusted between the Trench and HolLanders; and Monfieur Beverning began to act the Part of fomething more than a Mediator, preiling on his Allies towards a Peace, with great Earneftnefs, not to fay Roughnefs; tho' but with very fmall Effect, for there was little more done of any Moment towards it the reft of this Summer, fave the Meffages that paft to and fro about the Business of the Duke of Lorrain.

In the mean time the Minifters of the Confederates made great Inftances in England, that His Majefty would recal his Troops that were in the French Service, attributing moft of their Succeffes in Germany to the Bravery of thofe English Regiments. But His Majefty excus'd it upon the equality of Mediator, fince there were likewife English Troops in the Service of the Allies, who took this Anfwer, however, for an ill fign of the Profecution which they hoped from His Majefty for the Support of their Languifhing Affairs. The Expectation of thofe great Actions promis'd by the Imperialists this Campagne upon the Rhine, began to wear out, their Troops finding no Subfiftance in thofe Countries, which had been wholly ruin'd by the French in the beginning of the Year to prevent their March: The Prince of Orange flecting on all thefe Circumftances, and forefeeing no Refource of the Confederates, unless from the King of England; and that he was like to fpend the rest of the Summer in Flanders in Marches and Countermarches, the French refolving not to ha

re

zard

Zard anorher Battle, and he not able to fit before a Town, and oppofe a French Army that should come to relieve it, His Highnefs fent Monfieur Bentinck over into England, about the beginning of June, to defire his Britannick Majefty's leave that he might make a Journey thither, fo foon as the Campagne ended, both to purfue his intended Marriage, and to concert Measures with His Majefty to bring France to reafonable Terms. The King return'd him a civil Anfwer, but with wifhes, that he would first think of making the Peace, and rather defer his Journey till that were concluded.

About the middle of July Sir William Temple went over to England, being recall'd by King Charles, to enter upon the Secretary of State's Of fice, which Mr. Coventry had offer'd His Majefty to lay down, upon the payment of Ten thoufand Pounds. When he came to Court, the King fell often into Converfation with him, and generally in his Clofer alone, or with none other prefent befides the Duke of York and the Lord Treasurer. The Subject of thefe Difcourfes were ufually the Peace, and the Prince of Orange's Journey into England. The King always expreft a great defire for the firft, but not at all for the other till that was concluded. He faid, "His Parliament would "never be quiet, nor eafie to him while the War "lafted abroad, That they had got it into their "Heads to draw him into it, whether he would or 66 no. That they pretended publick Ends and "Dangers from France, and there might be both "meant by a great many honeft Men amongst "them; but the Heats had been rais'd by fome "Factious Leaders, who thought more of them"felves, then of any thing elfe; and had a mind "to engage him in a War, and then leave him in it, unless they might have their Terms in removing and filling of Places; and he was very "loath to be fo much at their Mercy. That be"fides he faw the longer it continued, the worfe "it would be for the Confederates; and therefore " he wonld fain have the Prince make the Peace for them, if they would not do it for them

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"felves

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1677.

A..C.

"felves. That if he and the Prince could fall in"to the Terms of it, he was fure it might be 1677. « done. And after fev ral Converfations upon this

66

Subject, the King told Sir William Temple, He had a great mind that he fhould try if he could perfwade him to it. Sir William reprefented to His Majefty, how often he had been employ'd upon this Errand to the Prince; how immoveable he had found him, and how fure he was to find him fo ftill, unless the King would confider of another Scheme for the Peace; That his Majefty would do well to try another Hand, and he would the better know the Prince's mind, if his Antwers were the fame to both. The King faid. "It was an Affair of Confidence between him and the Prince, and must be fo treated and he knew no body he had befides to fend. Sir William told the King, it he pleas'd he would name one. His Majefty bid him, and he named Mr. Hide, whofe Choice was approv'd by the Duke of York, the Lord Treafurer,and the King himself. Mr.Hide was dispatch'd away accordingly, but found the Prince refolute in the bufinefs of the Peace, upon the Terms he The Prince had propos'd to Sir William Temple.

Towards the end of July the Prince of Orange of Orange makes a fat down before Charleroy, and would have befieg'd vain At it in form, if, as it had been concerted, the Duke of tempt upon Lorrain could have diverted the French Army from Charleroy relieving it. But Monfieur Luxemburgh, with great

diligence, leaving the Marefchal de Crequi with Force enough to Face that Duke, affembled a great Army for the Relief of Charleroy, upon approach whereof his Highness call'd a Council of War to refolve, whether to march and fight the Enemy, or raise the Siege? The laft Opinion prevail'd, and was accordingly executed,and therewith ended this Campagne in Flanders. But this Retreat of the Prince paft not without many Reflections, not only from the Spaniards, but the Dutch alfo, as if his Highnefs had given over the Defign upon fome Intelligences between him and the King of Great Britain, my Lord Oory happening to arrive in the Camp the day before the Council of War, upon which the Siege was rais'd. The

1677.

The Campagne being thus ended the Prince of A. C Orange return'd to the Hague, accompanied by the 1677. Lord Offory, Don Carlos, the Duke of Albemarle, n and feveral other Perfons of Quality, and about The Prince the middle of October, at the preffing Inftances of of Orange his Friends, rather than upon the faint Invitation Lands at of King Charles II. Embark'd for England, with a Harwich, Noble Retinue and Magnificent Equipage. His October Highness, like an eager Lover came Poft from Har 19. N. S. wich to New-Market, where the Court then was, at a Seafon and Place of Country-fports. The Lord Arlington receiv'd the Prince at his Alighting, making his pretence of the chief Confidence with him. The Lord Treasurer and Sir William Temple went together to attend him, and he whisper'd to them both together, faying to Sir William, That he must defire him to answer for him and the Lord Treafurer one to another, fo as they might from that time enter both into Business and Converfation, as if they had been of a longer Acquaintance. This was a wife ftrain of Policy, confidering the Lord Danby's Intereft in the Court at that time, and prov'd of great ufe to the Prince in the Courfe of his Affairs then in England; and though it much difpleas'd the Lord Arlington and his Friends, yet it could not be wondred at by fuch as knew what had paft between the Prince and him. His Highness was very kindly receiv'd by the King and the Duke of Yorka who both invited him often into Difcourfes of Business, which they were furprized to fee him decline induftrioufly, fo as the King order'd Sir William Temple to find out the reafon of it. His Highness told Sir William, he was refolv'd to fee the young Princefs before he enter'd upon any Conferences about the Peace or War. The King laught at this nice piece of Gallantry; but however to humour his Highness in it, he left NewMarket fome days fooner than he had intended.

The Prince upon his arrival at London, and fight of the Lady Mary, was fo charm'd with her Perfon, and all thofe figns of fuch a humour as had been defcribed to him upon former enquiries, that he immediately made his Suit to the King and

the