Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/114

cii Lord Sunderland, who was entirely of their party and entered into all their views, was appointed Envoy to the States of Holland. But soon "a change came o'er the spirit of his dream." His plan of the council, from which so much had been expected, had already shown symptoms of failure. The machine he had invented being too cumbrous, and formed of too jarring materials to bear the strain and friction to which it was exposed, soon went to pieces; and, with regard to his own particular friends, in three short months from the time that he thus writes of them, he had sufficient proof that, as far at least as he himself was concerned, they were very far from being "the three honestest men in England."

In the mean time, Sidney sailed for Holland, bearing with him instructions to cultivate the friendship of that power, and to strengthen the alliance with England by new guarantees; and no less positive and earnest were the private injunctions he received from his friends who sent him there, to secure to each of them the favour and friendship of the Prince of Orange, in case of accidents.