Part 1, Folios 70-73. Letter dated at London from the Duke of York to the Prince...

Part 1, Folios 70-73. Letter dated at London from the Duke of York to the Prince of Orange. He thinks the Prince's decision to stay in the vicinity of Honslardike [Honselaarsdijk, Holland] until he hears whether the French will accept a cessation of hostilities, is a good one. The Duke's opinion, for the reasons he gives, is that the Prince ought not to appear against peace but should go along with the inclination of the people and not lose his interest with them by opposing it. Whether or not the Prince wishes it there will be peace given the 'miserable condition' Spain is in and the state of affairs in England between the Commons and the King (about which he writes at some length). The Duke is frank in his advice to the Prince not to continue in measures that may be very prejudicial to 'our family' and would, in the Duke's opinion both ruin the Prince in Holland and 'us here'. The Duke ends 'pray let nobody see this letter, it is only write [sic] for you, and not fit for anybody else to read, or to know I say so much to you, tis my kindness has made me write it, and you may be sure I shall always continue it to you'.