thing be purchased, if the safety of Denmark be intended by you, others will posseffe
it. In the mean time, your Trading will be stopt there, and elsewhere
hindred, so that it may be, it will not easily return to its former cause; But we
ask quite contrary things froth you; Namely, that you would spare your cost,
that you would not occasion any more sheding of innocent blood, that you would
not expose your selves to any danger, that you would make use of your commerce
and enjoy safely the most large benefits, which my most Serene King
hath bestowed upon you Subjects; which indeed if you stubbomly persevere
in your hostility, you most in vain hope for all obligation of benoits
being abolished by subsequent injuries.
Moreover, the reason which you prestnded for your endeavours[unr]ls now also removed;
namely, to take away the oppression that Denmark is under, which my most
Screne King doth by no means intend, as he bath not yesterday or to day, but a year
ago, by the word of mouth and writing witnessed; But only that he may be permitted
safely to keep that which the Danes themselves have given him, and which
justly he may pretend to have, in compensation for the places which are to be Surrendred.
If upon these conditions, you do not envy a Peace to my most serene King,
which is most equitable. You ay tender the North peaceable within a few weeks
space, and you shall make way for a publick setled Peace in Europe, for the bringing
of which to pass, it is in vain to take a different course from this, and it will be
to no purpose to strive for a Peace Universal. Not that the mind of may most serene
King is averse from having Peace with any body whatsoever, but that it is an absurd
thing to compact as it were into one bundle the controversies of so different natures,
which cannot be agreed upon but by parts. Go on then, Illustrious and Potent
Lords States, follow safe Counsels, and by your example go before the rest of the
Provinces of this Commonwealth, that a happy Peace may be restored to the North,
And believe, that this is sufficient for your glory, that my most serene King doth
confess, that it is now in your power to give unto the North the possession of a
mature and firm Peace.
At the Hague the 17. of March, 1660.
P. I. Coyee.
From Paris, March 31. S. N.
The News here from Court is, That a Grand Council was held on the 15th
instant at Aix, where the King was present, and the Affair of Marseilles as
brought upon the Board; and the King remitted all, except the 1500 thousand
Crowns which his Majesty demanded of that City as a Gist, and for a Present
to the future Queen, together with the Arrears of the Winter-quarter due to the
Souldiery. They are also to give security at Lyon, that nothing shall by them
be done to hinder the building of the new Cittadel, which is intended to bridle
their City, and for this they are to find Sureties of 5 millions of Livres.
You have heard of the difference between the old Princess Douager of Orange,
and the Princess Royal her Daughter in Law, about the disposing of the Command
of the Government of the City and Principality of Orange; his Majesty
of France interposing in the Quarrel, the two Ladies l[unr]eared lest this
Crown might thereupon take occasion to possess it, and so agreed to lay aside
their difference, and accordingly they lately signified their Agreement by
letter to the King. Nevertheless, his majesty having once interposed so far
in the business, as to prepare for a besieging of the place, it was thought
most advisable by his Council, That he was too far engaged in point of honor