Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/286

170 fortifying those places where the Duke of Lorraine was coming in. He told me that the French Ambassador was with the Pensioner, that he did jeer him a good while because he would not give him the hand; afterwards Mr. Plot told me he had been with Mr. Rockwood, that he had been telling me how Monsieur D'Avaux had said he expected I should make him a visit before I went into England. He takes it ill that I have not been there all this while; he speaks of a health that was drunk at my table, to the confusion of France.

Monsieur Hoste was with me, and told me, as all the other ministers do, "que tout depend d'Angleterre." He saith they would speak much higher if there was any power that would back them. In the morning, I was with Monsieur Van Beuninghen. He saith all is lost unless the King does agree with his Parliament, for the States and all the Princes of Germany will make their Alliance with France before the next spring, unless they have hopes of some help from us, and then it will be too late. Monsieur Van Beuninghen will sell all he hath, and go and live at Constantinople. He saith we must make a League with Spain, for we have no power at hand able to resist France a month, and therefore, to balance her greatness on shore, we ought