Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/187

This page has been validated.

THE TIMES OF CHARLES THE SECOND.

71

believe Mr. Algernon Sydney would prove an honest man. If Mr. Henry comes into the house and proves like his brother, I am afraid I shall not be of his Majesty's opinion.

However I am truly yours,

R. Montague.

MR. HYDE^[1] TO MR. SIDNEY.

St. James Street, August 18th.

I was in the county of Wiltshire using my endeavours to be sent up to serve my country in

↑ Lawrence Hyde, created Earl of Rochester by Charles II. was the second son of Lord Chancellor Clarendon. In the parliament called after the Restoration, he was chosen one of the representatives of the University of Oxford; and in October 1661, we find him appointed with Lord Crofts and Sir Charles Berkely in their mission to Paris, to congratulate the King of France on the birth of the Dauphin. On his return he was- promoted from the household of the Duke of York, whose first wife was Hyde's sister, and with whom he seems always to have been a great favourite, to be master of the robes to the King. In 1676, he was sent Ambassador Extraordinary to John Sobieski, King of Poland. In obedience to the directions of his Court, he returned home by Vienna, charged with letters of condolence from his master to the Emperor, upon the death of his wife. Finding, however, upon his arrival that he needed none, having married again, he very wisely said nothing about it, but passed quietly through that capital into Holland, where he was met by a commission appointing him one of the mediators of peace at Nimeguen, in which treaty, however, he only took a nominal part, and soon afterwards he was sent on a mission to the Prince of

[p71-1] Lawrence Hyde, created Earl of Rochester by Charles II. was the second son of Lord Chancellor Clarendon. In the parliament called after the Restoration, he was chosen one of the representatives of the University of Oxford; and in October 1661, we find him appointed with Lord Crofts and Sir Charles Berkely in their mission to Paris, to congratulate the King of France on the birth of the Dauphin. On his return he was- promoted from the household of the Duke of York, whose first wife was Hyde's sister, and with whom he seems always to have been a great favourite, to be master of the robes to the King. In 1676, he was sent Ambassador Extraordinary to John Sobieski, King of Poland. In obedience to the directions of his Court, he returned home by Vienna, charged with letters of condolence from his master to the Emperor, upon the death of his wife. Finding, however, upon his arrival that he needed none, having married again, he very wisely said nothing about it, but passed quietly through that capital into Holland, where he was met by a commission appointing him one of the mediators of peace at Nimeguen, in which treaty, however, he only took a nominal part, and soon afterwards he was sent on a mission to the Prince of

[1]