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 ...

From Mon∣sieur de Wit

Hague, April 16. 1668.

SIR,

AFter having writ to you on the 4th. I find my self ho∣noured by two of yours of the 9th. and 14th. Instant. The Marquis of Castel-Rodrigo's man∣ner of transacting does infinitely displease us; and we believe we have entred enough into his Designs, to conclude, that his aim is to delay the signing of the Pro∣ject, and the sending of the Powers till the French begin to be in motion; and in the mean while to sign or send the Power desired, and summon us by virtue of a former Pro∣mise, to oppose our Arms against those of France, which will then begin to enter into A∣ction, and by that means set us into an o∣pen

War by Advance. However, to give the said Marquis the am∣plest Assurance, and to convince him he is in the wrong, we were willing entirely to a∣gree to your Advice, and to authorize our Deputies to pass a pro∣mise with you in due Form by Writing, in∣serting in it the same Words of our third se∣parate Article: And I think you have very judiciously considered, that the Condition of the Promise ought to be, not only the signing of the Project and Pow∣ers; but if after the Signing, &c. France re∣fuses either to consent to it, or to continue the Suspension of Arms, we believe we have great cause to complain of the Marquis, that notwithstanding the solemn Promise made by the States General, and delivered to Don Estevan de Gamarra in their Resolution of the

5th of this Month, he has delay'd to sign and dispatch the Power; so that if this had been done at first, we had been already out of all Doubt; for either the Conclusion of it would have been pursued at Paris with the Suspen∣sion of Arms; or, in case of Refusal, Eng∣land and this State would already act in earnest, and with a good Conscience for Spain. And I desire you to let his Excellency see as plainly as possible, that if now after the signing and sending the Power to Paris, and before the K. of France can be inform'd of it, he shall receive any Disgrace, it is himself he ought to impute it to; for England and this State will not put into his Hands the Power of involving them in an open War with France, unseasonably,

and against their Inten∣tion clearly exprest in the Agreement of the 25th Instant; which would have hapned if we had left him the liberty to delay the signing or sending his Power, till he had pro∣voked the French to move; or if then sign∣ing or sending the Pow∣er, he had the right of employing our Troops against those of France, before the K. of France could have had Intel∣ligence of the said sign∣ing or sending of the said Power, and by consequence before the said King could have finished the Treaty and continu'd the Suspensi∣on of Arms. I hope, and am assured, that after this Pace, which is the last the States are capa∣ble of making in this Conjuncture, the Mar∣quis will not delay a

Moment the signing and sending of the Peace to Paris; but if, contrary to all Ap∣pearance, he should be capable of doing so, I desire you to let him know, that neither England nor the States can assist one who nifestly refuses, and consequently that he will be abandoned on all sides; and also that we shall find our selves under a Neces∣ssity to reduce him by more effectual means, to accept really and effectually by signing of the Treaty, the Alternative he has already acepted by a separate writing. And I even apprehend that by

the Delays already pass'd, the Affair is re∣duc'd to a Point not to be redress'd; as in truth we shall find our selves embarassed e∣nough, if the King of France be already gone from Paris to his Ar∣my, before the Pro∣ject signed, or the Pow∣er be arrived there. I cannot tell by what Politick his Excellency desires, his Conduct should be decryed by all Men, or that his Government should be lost; for, to think us so ill advised, that he can engage us in a War against France, when they on their side, are earnest for concluding a Peace, is what I can∣not suppose; and if he thinks France will draw back, or refuse the Suspension, then

why he would not let it appear publickly to the World by a ready signing on his Side; this is what I cannot comprehend. In the mean time, Monsieur Colbert at Aix, has loudly made appear the Easyness, and even the Complaisance of his Master, by the Prote∣station he has publickly made, that he has or∣der to sign the Alter∣native, without ex∣cepting against the Pre∣amble of the Marquis's Power upon the Defect of a Faculty to substi∣stute, or upon any o∣ther; whereas on the contrary, the Baron de Bergeyck is not autho∣rized to do any thing at all: And I assure you, the positive Ad∣vices we receive of it, make every Body's

Head turn; Therefore I desire you so much the more to endeavour effectually that the Marquis should finish the Affair without any more delay: For if this last Compliance of the States does not sa∣tisfy him, I confess to you I shall think no further, but of some effectual means to re∣duce him to Reason, and of some Expedi∣ents by which the King of Great Britain and Their High and Mighty∣nesses may take Mea∣sures with France for preventing the Mise∣ries of the Neighbour∣hood; in which I hope you assist with as much Application, ac∣cording to the intent of our Agreement, as I believe you will by all means endeavour to prevent a Case so de∣sperate, and so destru∣ctive to Spain: And for me I shall remain ever with much Passion,

Sir,

your &c.