Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/245

Rh Duc. He told me that the two hundredth penny was half per cent.; that they paid taxes for land that was under water. I went afterwards to dinner to Monsieur Odyke, where the Prince was after dinner; I spoke to him first about the Duke's being King of the Romans; he said there were many difficulties, the Emperor having sons, and he did not know the Duke would approve of it. As to his coming over, he would speak with me in a day or two; he did not yet know of what advantage it would be. I told him the greatest advantage that was proposed to him, was that my friends thought it was the best means of doing him service, and consequently the nation. I told him the Duke would never inherit the Crown, and he is of that mind; and if the succession is not settled somewhere, it will certainly turn to a Commonwealth; he did also agree with me when I read that part of my letter that gave me order to press for powers to Monsieur Van Lewen to treat, and I asked him if I should move it; he desired me to forbear for a day or two, as Monsieur Van Beuninghen was gone to Amsterdam, to see what Rh