Folios 222-223. Letter from [Lord Godolphin] to the King. After asking to know how...

Folios 222-223. Letter from [Lord Godolphin] to the King. After asking to know how far the King approves of the method taken 'to return the money to Italy' he continues 'The success at Athlone has been so great and so unexpected, that we are in hopes it may soon be followed by the entire reducement of Ireland, and in that case with a fleet at sea so strong as ours is now, we are in great hopes that something may be attempted on the most unguarded parts of France with success by the troops that might be spared from Ireland; and therefore your Majesty will forgive me for saying that my Lord Sydney's last letter by your command was no small affliction as to that particular to us who were so full of these hopes; and one thing more as to this matter, your Majesty will give me leave to prophesy to you which is that you will find the parliament very uneasy to pay a greater number of troops in Flanders, for they grumble too much already at the great sums of money that go out of England, but they will never repine at any charge of invading France from themselves and with a fleet of their own'.