But we are also
in treaty with France, as he says; but it must be to the
excluding our alliance with the King of Spain or House of
Austria: which we do not know presently what will be determined
in. He tells me the Vice-chamberlaine is so great with the King,
that let the Duke of York, and Sir W. Coventry, and this office,
do or say what they will, while the King lives Sir G. Carteret
will do what he will; and advises me to be often with him, and
eat and drink with him; and tells me that he doubts he is jealous
of me, and was mighty mad to-day at our discourse to him before
the Duke of York. But I did give him my reasons, that the office
is concerned to declare that without money the King's work cannot
go on. He assures me that Henry Brouncker is one of the
shrewdest fellows for parts in England, and a dangerous man:
that while we want money so much in the Navy, the officers of the
Ordnance have at this day 300,000l. good in tallies, which they
can command money upon: that Harry Coventry, who is to go upon
this treaty with Lord Hollis (who he confesses to be a very wise
man) into Holland, is a mighty, quick, ready man, but not so
weighty as he should be, he knowing him so well in his drink as
he do: that unless the King do something against my Lord
Mordaunt and the Patents for the Canary Company before the
Parliament next meets, he do believe there will be a civil war
before there will be any more money given, unless it may be at
their perfect disposal; and that all things are now ordered to
the provoking of the Parliament against they come next, and the
spending the King's money, so as to put him into a necessity of
having it at the time it is prorogued for, or sooner.
Pages:
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073