Letters written by Sir W. Temple, Bart., and other ministers of state, both at home and abroad containing an account of the most important transactions that pass'd in Christendom from 1665-1672 : in two volumes / review'd by Sir W. Temple sometime before his death ; and published by Jonathan Swift ...

To Sir Orlando Bridgman, Lord Keeper.

Hague, Jan. 27. S. N. 1668.

My Lord,

THo' I know my long Dispatch by this Express to my Lord Arlington, will give Your Lordship your Share of Trouble; yet I could not omit the encharging my Brother with a particular Attendance upon Your Lordship from me, nor accompanying him with these Acknowledgments of Your Lordship's great Favour and good Opinion, even before I had the Honour of being known to you. I will presume I have done nothing since to forfeit them, as I had no∣thing before, to deserve them; and that my late good Fortunes at the Hague, will help to continue what my good Fortunes alone at Brussels began, and my five Days stay at London, served to improve in so great a De∣gree. Yet I will assure Your Lordship if I can make any further Advance by the Re∣sentments of your Favour, by my Desires to deserve it in the Return of my best Ser∣vices, or by the true Honour and Esteem of those Qualities, I have discovered in Your

Lordship, upon so short an Acquaintance; I am very far upon my Way already.

But I will leave this Subject in the first Place, to congratulate with you upon ano∣ther; which is the Success of a Council, wherein I observed Your Lordship and my Lord Arlington to have the most steddy Bent, in promoting a Resolution of His Ma∣jesty's, which is on this side the Water, e∣steemed generally the happiest and the wi∣sest, that could ever have been taken by any Prince in such a Conjuncture, and upon Re∣spects not only of his own Affairs, but even those of all Christendom besides. It is not fit for me to tell you much of what I hear of this Kind, or the Applauses given to His Majesty and his Ministers upon this Occa∣sion; to tell you all, I am sure would be endless; but from what I hear, I cannot but raise at least a happy Presage of a New Year, and a new Ministry's running on together, with a Succession of the same Honour and good Fortunes both to His Majesty and his Kingdoms.

In the next Place, I will according to your Orders, give Your Lordship an Ac∣count of some Particulars, that fell into this great Transaction, which I thought not fit to trouble my Lord Arlington with, as not perhaps proper, or of Weight enough, for the View of His Majesty or the Foreign

Commmittee, and yet worth the Knowledge or Reflection of some of his Ministers, in Order to the Conduct of His Majesty's Coun∣cils hereafter, both in this and other of his Affairs.

I must tell Your Lordship, that in my first Conference with Monsieur de Witt since my Return; I begun with telling him, that he could not but remember, that when I passed this Way last into England, I told him, upon what Points His Majesty desired with the greatest Secrecy that could be, to know his Opinion, and by that to guess at what might be the States, upon the present Conjuncture of Affairs in Flanders; to the End, His Majesty might accordingly take his own Measures. That His Majesty guess'd by the general Carriage and Discour∣ses of the Dutch Ambassadors at London, the States were not willing to see Flanders over∣run by France, but could not find they had any thing positive to say to him upon that Subject: That he had therefore sent me pri∣vately and plainly to tell him his Mind up∣on it, as to a Man of Honour, and who he believed, would make no ill Use of it, and (if he thought fit) to know his Sentiments upon that Affair. That, for His Majesty, he neither thought it for his own Interest nor Safety, nor for that of the States or of Chri∣stendom in general, that Flanders should be

lost; and therefore was resolved to do his ut∣most to preserve it, provided the States were of the same Mind, and that it might be done in Conjunction between them; and to that End, desired to know, whether the States would be content to enter into an Alliance with him, both Defensive between them∣selves, and Offensive against France, for the Preservation of Flanders. That he (Monsieur de Wit) might remember, his Answer to me was; first, much Applause of His Majesty's Resolution, great Acknowledgment of his Confidence towards him by that Communi∣cation, much Assurance that the States would be of the same Mind, as to the Preservation of Flanders, which was their nearest Interest next their own: That he found, both His Majesty and the States had the same Mind as well as Interest in this Matter, but that the Distrusts remaining upon the late Quarrel between them, had kept either of them from beginning to enter frankly upon it. But since His Majesty had pleased to break it to him in a manner so obliging, tho' he could not pretend to tell me his Master's Mind, yet he would his own: which was, that the Defence of Flanders was absolutely necessary, but that it ought to be tryed first, rather by a joint Mediation of a Peace between the two Crowns, than by a Declaration of War; but that if the first would not serve, it ought to

come to the other. That I knew, France had already offered a Peace to the Offi••es made by the States upon an Alternative at the Choice of the Spaniards; that he thought our Mediation ought to be offered to both Crowns upon that Foot, to induce France to make good their own Offer, and Spain to accept it. And that to this Purpose, he thought it very necessary to make a strict Alliance betweeen His Majesty and the States.

That for making an Offensive Alliance, it could not be; for it was a Maxim obser∣ved by this State, never to make any, at least when they were in Peace; that for Defensive Leagues, they had them with many Princes, and he believed would be ready to enter in∣to one with His Majesty; and tho' he could not at all answer, what would be the Mind of the States upon these Points, yet he had told me his; and would add, that he was not usually mistaken in theirs, and that he would at least use all his Endeavours to bring the States to such Opinions and Re∣solutions.

When I had said this, and observed by his Action and Face, that he assented to this Recital, of all that had passed between us; I ask'd him whether this was all right, that I might know, whether I had mistaken no∣thing in representing His Majesty's Mean∣ing

to him, nor his to His Majesty. He an∣swered, that it was all right, and that he very well remembred it, and much commen∣ded a Method of proceeding so exact and sin∣cere, by an Endeavour to avoid all Mistakes between us.

I then told him, that I had upon my Ar∣rival in England, represented all as faithfully to His Majesty as I had done to him; and that upon it. His Majesty had taken so much Confidence in his (Monsieur de Witt's) Opinion and Judgment, as well as in his Credit with the States, that he had taken a sudden and firm Resolution upon it; first, to join with the States in the Offer of a Media∣tion between the two Crowns, and upon such Terms, as they and I should agree, but with a Desire, that they might be as advan∣tageous as the States could be induced to for the Preservation of Flanders, and Recovery of such Places as should be most necessary to it: In the next Place, to conclude a Treaty, the strongest that could be between us, for obli∣ging France to accept the Peace upon those Terms, and in the mean time for putting a stop to the Course of their Arms in Flanders. But that His Majesty thought it necessary to begin all this. with a strict League between him and the States, for their own mutual De∣fence, and to this Purpose had sent me over as his Envoy to the States with full Powers,

and the Draught of a Defensive League be∣tween us; but refers the rest for what tou∣ched Flanders, to what the States and I should agree.

Monsieur de Witt received this Discourse with a Countenance pleased, but yet as I mark'd, something surprized, and as if he expected not a Return from His Majesty so sudden and so resolute. He said, that the States would be much pleased with the Ho∣nour His Majesty did them, and the Over∣ture he made them; that I should chuse my Time whenever I desired it, for my Audi∣ence; and would pass the Forms of deman∣ding it from the President of the Week: That he was still confident the States would enter with His Majesty into the Mediation, tho' France gave them Hopes of succeeding by their own: That the Provinces differed in Opinion upon what Terms the Peace should be made: That Utrecht was so bold as to think nothing but Justice ought to be consi∣dered in the Case; that all that France had conquered, should be restored to Spain, and their Pretensions be referred to Judgment or Arbitrage. But Holland with most of the other Provinces, were of another Mind, and considering their own present Condition, as well as that of France, thought it best, to keep the French to their own Offer; but he believed would come to Means of more Force,

if France should recede from what they them∣selves had advanced to the States. That, for the Defensive League between us, he did not know whether the late Sore were yet fit for such an Application, but would try the Mind of the States. That he doubted, they would think it like to prove too sudden a Change of all their Interests, and that which would absolutely break them off, from so old and constant a Friend as France, to relie wholly upon so new, and so uncertain a Friend, as England had p••••••ved.

I told him, that the doing what he said, would be the Effect of any Treaties of this Nature between us, let them be as tenderly handled and composed as we could: That France would take it as ill of us of them, to be stopp'd in the remaining Conquest of Flanders, as to the forced out of all they had already gained: That he knew very well, it had been long their Design at any Price, to possess themselves of the Spanish Nether∣lands; and he knew as well, that it was their Interest to do so, considering the Advanta∣ges it would give them over all the rest of Christendom; that it was as much our Inte∣rest to hinder it, and that nothing could do it, but a firm Conjunction between us: That the States Part would be next after Flanders was gone, and therefore they had now as much need of being protected by England a∣gainst

France, as they thought they had three or four Years ago of being protected by France against England; and that they had no other Choice, but either continuing their Friendship with France, till they should see both Flanders and themselves swallowed up by such a Neighbour; or else change their whole Measures, and enter into the strictest Alliance with His Majesty for the Preserva∣tion of both; and let France take it as they pleased.

Monsieur de Witt confessed the Design of France for the Conquest of Flanders, spoke of the Treaties they had made with the States in Cardinal Richlieu's Time, and lately offe∣red again, for partaging it between them; and said, he understood very well the Dan∣ger of such a Council and Neighbourhood, or else he should have fallen into them; but the Ventures were great on the other side too; that the States were much more expo∣sed than the King; that the Spaniards were weak, and ill to be trusted by the States, be∣tween whom there had never yet been any better Measures than barely those of the Munster Peace, after so great Rancors and long Hostilities. That tho' he believed the German Princes would be glad of what His Majesty proposed, yet he knew not how far Sueden might be engaged in the Measures with France, who lay here at their Backs in

the Dutchy of Bremen. And last of all, tho' this Resolution seemed now to be taken by His Majesty and his Ministers, upon the surest and wisest Foundations, which were those of true Interest and Safety; yet no Man knew how long they might last. That if they should break all their Measures with France, and throw themselves wholly upon His Majesty by such a Conjunction, any Change of Councils in England would be their certain Ruine: That he knew not this present Ministry, and could say nothing to them; but that he knew the last too well. Upon which he said a good deal, of our un∣certain Conduct since His Majesty's Return, and concluded that the Unsteddiness of Councils in England, seemed a fatal Thing to our Constitution; he would not judge from what Grounds, Mais que depuis le temps de la Reyne Elisabet, il n'y avoit eu qu'une fluctuation perpetuelle en la Conduite de l'Angle∣terre, avec laquelle on ne pouvoit jamais pren∣dre des Mesures pour deux Annèes de Temps. After this ended, with some Melancholy that looked a little irresolute, I told him, that as to their own Interests, he knew them, and could weigh them better than I; that after my Audience and first Conference with Commissioners, I should quickly see how the States would understand them, in which I knew very well, how great a Part he

would have: That for our Danger, I con∣fest they would be first exposed to France, and we the last, which made it reasonable they should make the first Pace to their Safety: That for Sueden, I had no Orders to negoti∣ate with them, but being fully instructed in His Majesty's general Intentions, I should be glad to see them strengthened all I could, and to that Purpose if he thought fit, I would talk with the Count de Dona the Suedish Am∣bassadour here, and see whether he had any Powers, to engage their Crown in any com∣mon Measures for the Safety of Christendom; that if by such a Conjunction, we could ex∣tend it to a Triple Alliance among us, upon the same Foundation; I believed, he would think it too strong a Bar for France to ven∣ture on. That for the Unsteddiness of our Councils, I would rather bewail than de∣fend it; but that I should not have made this Journey, if I had not been confident, that had been ended, and we now bottom∣med past any Change or Remove. That I could not pretend to know any Body's Mind certainly but my own; but that upon this Matter, I was as confident of His Majesty's, of Your Lordship's, and My Lord Arling∣ton's, as I was of my own: Upon this Oc∣casion I said a great deal, not only of the Interests, but Resentments that had enga∣ged His Majesty and His Ministers in this

Council; and concluded, that I was confi∣dent it could never break, but would an∣swer, if ever it did, it should never be by my Hand, and was as confident I might answer the same for Your Lordship and My Lord Arlington; and that you would fall or stand upon this Bottom.

Monsieur de Witt seemed much satisfied with what I had said; assured me for his Part, he would give his Hands towards a good Con∣clusion of this Affair: That he would trust His Majesty's Honour and Interest upon so great a Conjuncture, as well as the Sincere∣ness and Constancy of His Ministers, whom he could judge of by no other Lights, but what I gave him; made me Compliments upon the great Confidence he had taken in me and my manner of dealing, by what he had heard and seen of me, since the first Vi∣sit I made him in my Passage here, after the End of the War; and concluded, that I should see the Count Dona, and try how far Sueden was to be engaged in this Affair.

I tell Your Lordship all these Circumstan∣ces, that knowing where the Difficulties have been, how they have been overcome, and upon what Advances on my side, this Knot has been tied, Your Lordship and My Lord Arlington may the better know, how to support this Affair, and make any others easie by recovering the Credit of our Con∣duct

in England, so far lost by the Unsteddi∣ness too truly laid to our Charge; and at least by your own Constancy, in what you have begun, make good the Characters you have already in the World, and the Assuran∣ces I have given Monsieur de Witt upon your Occasion.

That Evening I went to the Count Dona, and run over all Ceremonies of our Charact∣ers, by going straight into his Chamber, taking a Chair, and sitting down by him before he could rise out of his. I told him I hoped he would excuse this Liberty upon an Errand, wherein I thought both our Masters were concerned; that Ceremonies were intended to facilitate Business, and not to hinder it; that I knew nothing to make my seeing the other Ambassadours at the Hague necessary, and so was content with the Difficulties had been introduced between our Characters; but thinking it absolutely for my Master's Service, to enter into Confidence with His Excellency upon my Errand here, I had re∣solved to do it in this Manner, and if he gave me Leave, would pursue it as if our Acquaintance and Commerce, had been of never so long a Date.

The Count embraced me, gave me great Thanks for the Honour I did him, made me Compliments upon so frank and confident a Manner as I used with him; and said he was

ready to return it upon any Thing that I should think fit to communicate to him.

After this I entred into the Detail of my whole Progress to that Time, both in Eng∣land and here; of His Majesty's Reasons, of the common Interests of Christendom, of the Reception my Errand found from Monsieur de Witt, and the Hopes I had of succeeding: Of our Discourses about engaging Sueden in the same Measures, and a Desire of extending our League, into a Triple Alliance among us, for our own mutual Defence, the Safety of Flanders, and thereby of Christendom. That I knew how the Crown of Sueden had been treated of late Years by France, how close they had kept to the Friendship with His Ma∣jesty, and how beneficial as well as honou∣rable, such a Part as this might prove to them, by the particular Use they might be of to the Crown of Spain; and that upon any good Occasion they might be sure of His Majesty's Offices and the States, who resol∣ved to enter into this Affair without any o∣ther Interest, than that of the Preservation of Flanders, and thereby of their own Safety, and the common Good.

The Count Dona professed to applaud His Majesty's Council, to be confident that Sue∣den would be content to go his Pace in all the common Affairs of Christendom, which he was assured of by his own Instructions in

general; but that such an Affair as this not being foreseen, he could have none upon it: That if it succeeded, he would make all the Paces he could to engage his Master in it, as what he thought, of Honour and Ad∣vantage to the common Safety: But that he would return my Frankness to him with the same to me, in telling me, that he doubt∣ed my bringing it to an Issue: That he first doubted Monsieur de Witt's Resolution, to break upon any Terms with France, and close with England; not only considering what had lately passed between us, but the Interests of the House of Orange, which he must ever believe, would at one Time or o∣ther be advanced by us; whereas he was sure to be supported against them by France: Therefore he believed, tho' he would not oppose it, because the States and People might run into it; yet he would find some Means, to elude the Conclusion or Effect of it, without appearing himself in any such Design: That in the next Place, since such a Treaty could not be made by the States ge∣neral, without first being sent to all the Pro∣vinces and Towns for their Approbation, and Orders upon it to their Deputies; he did not see how it was possible for the French Ambas∣sadour, to fail of engaging some Towns or Provinces against it, and the Opposition of any one of them would lose the Effect; since

no new Treaty could be made by the Con∣stitutions here, without an universal Con∣sent; That however he would not discou∣rage me, but wish'd me Success with all his Heart, upon many Reasons, and among o∣thers, as being so much a Servant to the House of Orange, which could not but profit by a Conjunction between England and Hol∣land: And again promised, whenever I brought it to a Period, to use all his Endea∣vours and stretch his Powers as far as he could, towards engaging his Master, in the same Measures with us.

In the second Conference I had with Mon∣sieur de Witt, I acquainted him with what had passed with Count Dona, which he seemed much pleased with; and said, tho' we could not expect he should have Powers so gene∣ral as to conclude such an Affair; yet an In∣strument might be drawn up between us whereby Room may be left for Sueden, to enter as a Principal into our Alliance; and the Count de Dona had so much Credit at his Court, to recommend it there so as to suc∣ceed, especially upon the hopes we must give him of obtaining Subsidies from Spain, which might countervail what they might lose from France upon this Occasion.

I then fell upon the Form of concluding this Treaty; saying, I could easily foretell the Fate of it, if it must pass the common

Forms of being sent by the several Deputies, to all their Principals for their Result upon it: That I knew, this would take up a Month or six Weeks Time, and that nothing would be so easie as for the French Ambassa∣dour, to meet with it in running that Cir∣cle, and by engaging some one Member, perhaps by Money thrown among the chief Persons in some of the small Towns, to pre∣vent and ruine a Council of the greatest Im∣portance to Christendom, as well as to our two Nations, that had been on Foot in many Ages: That unless the States General would conclude and sign the Treaty immediately, and trust to the Approbation of their several Provinces and Towns after it was done; I should give it for gone, and think no more of it.

Monsieur de Witt seemed to think this im∣possible; said, no such Thing had ever been done since the first Institution of their Com∣monwealth; that tho' it was true, the States General might sign a Treaty, yet they could not Ratifie it, without Recourse to their Prin∣cipals, and that they should venture their Heads in Signing it, if their Principals not approving it should question them for doing it without Orders; that he hoped the Forms might be expedited in three Weeks Time, and that all Care that could be, should be taken to prevent the Addresses of the French Ambas∣sadour among the Provinces.

I cut the Matter short, and told him, I continued of my first Opinion, to see it im∣mediately agreed between Me and the Com∣missioners, and then Signed by the States, which might be done in four or five Days; and that the Deputies might safely trust to the Approbation of their Principals in a Point of so great and evident publick Interest: That for my Part, I know not how this De∣lay, and thereby Hazard of the Affair might be interpreted in England, nor what Change in my Orders it might produce: That I had now Powers to conclude an Alliance of the last Consequence to the Safety of Flanders and this State; that if it should miscarry by the too great Caution of the Deputies in Point of Form, for ought I knew, they might venture their Heads that Way, and more de∣servedly, than by signing at present, what all of them believed, would not only be ra∣tified, but applauded by their Principals. With this I left him; and the rest that pas∣sed in the Progress of this Affair, as well as in my Audience or with the Commissioners. Your Lordship has it in my Dispatch to My Lord Arlington, to whom you will please to communicate these more secret Springs, that by knowing the Conception, the Forming, the Throws, and Birth of this Child, you may the better consult how it is to be nou∣rished till it grow to Strength, and thereby

fit to atchieve those great Adventures, for which it seems designed.

I am ever with equal Passion and Truth,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most faithful and most humble Servant.