had secured the protection of France; so he had as imprudently parted with Dunkirk, without being assured of that strict friendship and union, which he boasted of would be procured with your majesty by the treaty in relation to that place. That when you once found yourself master of it, without any stipulation or particular engagement with England, you would think your civility nothing but meer courtesy, which would not embark you in any affairs. That as his own interest had made him engage in the business of the match, to be revenged of some bad treatment from the Spaniards, and out of fear of being supplanted by the Spanish faction in England; so out of a view to his own interest, by being supported by that of France, he had sacrificed the interest of the king his master, and had given up a place which, for the honour of England, and its importance to foreign nations, was more valuable than all Ireland.-There have been so many turnings and windings in this affair to oblige me to speak again and again so often to the king, the duke of York, and the chancellor, that it would be tedious to give your majesty an account of them; but I must still do them the justice to say, that their manner of treating was the most honourable I ever saw; and I do not believe there is an instance to be found in history, where, in a negotiation of 5 millions, or even a much smaller sum, one prince has been satisfied with the bare word of another for the payment of the money; especially being a prince but lately restored to his dominions, whose prerogative is but small, and the authority divided between him and a parliament. This uncommon procedure fully perswaded me that the king of England very earnestly desires to be in friendship with your majesty, and knows how useful it may be to him; and that the chancellor seconds and cherishes this dis

first Dutch war, weakly begun, and with dishonour concluded; and the Triple

position for his own particular interest; and that it is for this sole reason, principally, that the duke of York goes to have an interview with your majesty at Dunkirk, to give you stronger assurances of this: and, I believe, he will be furnished by the chancellor with some informations, which may be of use at any such time as your majesty may form any designs in Flanders."The royal brothers and Hyde, we see, in the opinion of D'Estrades, were very good Frenchmen; and the chancellor merited the thanks Lewis returned him for his favour in this negotiation. If this man merited too at the hands of his country, on this occasion, it must have been by mere luck: for whether settlements on the continent are eligible for England, or not, was no pårt of the consideration with him: but how he could get most money for his master, and ingratiate himself with the king of France, who treated him, after all, in the time of his distress, but very scurvily for his pains. It was, however, a just reward for his iniquitous behaviour in this affair.—If the reader will be pleased to turn to lord Clarendon's own account of the sale of Dunkirk, he will find a very striking instance of his truth and sincerity. For notwithstanding all here written by D'Estrades, at the very time, and on the spot, the chancellor tells the world, that "he was averse to it: that the king [of France] sent M. D'Estrades privately to London to treat about it: that the business was first referred to a committee, and then to the privy council, where it was fully debated and agreed to, lord St. Alban's only dissenting: and that b. Id. p. 319.

a D'Estrades' Letters, p. 285.

League", so well known, and so much talked of; may be thought exceptions to

whether the bargain was ill or well made, there could be no fault imputed to him; he having only, with some other lords, been appointed to treat for the sale, the matter having been deliberated and fully debated"." What belief is due to such a writer! Party-men may call him great and good; but the impartial enquirer into facts will be at a loss to know how he merited these characters. It should not be omitted, "that the advising and effecting the sale of Dunkirk," was one article of impeachment against his lordship by the house of commons.

19 The first Dutch war-and-the Triple League.] It is not my design to enter into a minute detail of the one or the other of these remarkable events, as they may be found very particularly related in most of our histories. Suffice it here to say, that the aversion his majesty had to the Dutch; the hatred entertained against them by the duke of York; the desire of gain by the merchants; and the readiness of a pension-parliament to advance the necessary supplies; all concurred to engage in a measure which turned out greatly to the nation's dishonour.In his majesty's "declaration, touching his proceedings for reparation and satisfaction for several injurious affronts and spoils done by the East and West India companies, and other the subjects of the United Provinces," he says, "Whereas upon complaint of the several injuries done unto and upon the ships, goods, and persons of our subjects, to their grievous damages, and amounting to

2 Clarendon's Continuation, vol. II. p. 383-391. b Journal, 6th Nov. Fol. Lond. 1664, O. S. See also Temple's Works, vol. 1. p. 305.

1667.

this assertion; as the one made a breach

vast sums; instead of reparation and satisfaction which hath been by us frequently demanded, we found that orders had been given to De Ruyter not only to abandon the consortship against the pirates of the Mediterranean seas (to which the states general had invited us); but also to use all acts of depredation and hostility against our subjects in Africa. We thereupon gave order for the detaining of the ships belonging to the States of the United Provinces; yet, notwithstanding, we did not give any commission for letters of marque, nor were there any proceedings against the ships detained, until we had a clear and undeniable evidence that De Ruyter had put the said orders in execution, by seizing several of our subjects ships and goods. But now finding that our forbearance, and the other' remedies we have used to bring them to a compliance with us, have proved ineffectual-we have thought fit to declare to all the world, that the said states are the aggressors, &c." &c." These reasons were not very extraordinary. For as to the injuries done to the merchants, they were old complaints, and in a way of accommodation: and the Dutch themselves had reason to complain of the taking of Cape de Verde, and some East India ships by the English;—and, consequently, there was ground rather for arbitration than war. But the court was not to be diverted from it. It began with vigour, and was carried on with zeal on both sides. Many battles were fought with great bravery, in which the English, for the most part, were the conquerors. The French, with Denmark, pretended to come in in aid of the vanquished. They did, however, but little. At length the Dutch took a severe revenge: their fleet entered the Thames, and burnt part of the

between the two crowns, and the other gave

royal navy; to the no small mortification of their adversaries. This brought on a peace (which was concluded at Breda, in June, 1667); whereby the English were no great gainers.- -Sir William Temple, in a letter to lord Arlington, dated Brussels, July 19, N. S. 1667, speaking" of the good news writ him by his lordship of the Dutch being beaten off at Harwich;" adds, "for since we are in a disease, every fit we pass well over is so much of good, and gives hopes of recovery. I doubt," continues he," this is not the last; for, I hear, De Witt is resolved that their fleet shall not give over action till the very ratifications of the treaty are exchanged: in which he certainly pursues his interest, that the war may end with so much the more honor abroad, and heart at home; for, commonly, the same dispositions between the parties with which one war ends, another begins. And though this may end in peace; yet, I doubt, it will be with so much unkindness between the nations, that it will be wisdom on both sides to think of another, as well as to avoid it. All discourse here is of the peace as a thing undoubted; and every pacquet I receive from England confirms me in the belief that a war abroad is not our present business, till all at home be in better order; no more than hard exercise, which strengthens healthy bodies, can be proper for those that have a fever lurking in the veins, or a consumption in the flesh; for which rest, and order, and diet are necessary, and, perhaps, some medicine too, provided it come from a careful and a skilful hand. This is all I shall say upon that subject; which, I presume, has before this received some resolution by my lord ambassador Coventry's arrival: for, I confess, my stomach is come