next campaign. The raising the siege of Coni rejoices all honest folk here. . . . . Denmark has made up its quarrels with Holland and England, and Sweden is on the point of doing the same. They write from Ireland that the army of the king has taken by storm that part of Athlone which is on this side the Shannon. They even go so far as to publish that St. Ruth is taking steps to give up Ireland, and to take with him to France the best soldiers that are left; he has for this purpose kept vessels at Limerick. The two fleets are in sight, and they hope to have their turn at sea; after which — and Ireland reduced — the king can have here more than 30,000 English, and then it will be well to be on good terms with him. Since the French have failed in their design on Liege and Brussels they have had recourse to other practices, having attempted to set Bruges and Brussels on fire, by means of incendiaries; but all has been discovered, and there are more than thirty of them in prison. — I am, with much attachment, &c,
“J. Robethon.”
Robethon was naturalised in England on 15th April 1693 (see List xx.). It is not until after the Peace that we hear more of him as Royal Secretary. Some of his letters are printed in Christian Cole’s State-Papers, but the greatest store is contained in the two volumes, entitled, “Original Papers, containing the Secret History of Great Britain from the Restoration to the Accession of the House of Hanover. Edited by James Macpherson, Esq. (London, 1775).”
That there was little cordiality between the kings of England and France after the peace of Ryswick, appears from Robethon’s letter, which mentions that Louis XIV. had granted a pass to a Frenchman to buy French wines for King William’s use, only after some hesitation and as “a great favour.” The first serious business after the peace is concerning the “Perecation,” which he thus defines in a letter to the Earl of Manchester:—
“The Perecation is a tax laid on the Popish Clergy in the Principality of Orange, which is applied to the maintenance of the ministers. While France enjoyed the principality and kept the ministers in prison, they discharged the Popish Clergy of this tax. And when the Peace was made France asked that the clergy might not be called upon for what was past; and this was granted.”
Macpherson informs us that Robethon conducted his royal master’s correspondence with the German princes. There are copies extant in Robethon’s handwriting of letters from King William to many of those princes. There is a paper of Robethon’s endorsed by himself, “Speeches for the King and Queen of Prussia which I composed for Lord Raby, 1701.”
His letter to Lord Manchester, dated “Loo, September 5, 1701,” has a melancholy interest:—
“The king’s health is (God be thanked) every day better. The swelling of his legs is almost entirely gone off by rubbing and fomentations from without; to which they have added some very innocent remedies, which make him void water plentifully. His majesty sleeps, eats, and hunts as well as ever he did. The common opinion is that he will go over to England in six weeks. I hope that affairs will be put then upon a good footing. The Duke of Zell is expected here to-morrow week, with the Elector of Hanover, who will not go for England till some months after the king. The presents which my Lord Macclesfield has had at Zell and Hanover are magnificent, and are above the value of £7000 sterling. — I am, &c,
“J. Robethon.”
Zell and Hanover were virtually one domain, the Electoral Prince of Hanover being the heir of Zell in right of his wife, the Duke’s only child. The two potentates were impressed by Robethon’s ability and industry; and on King William’s death they engaged him to reside at their courts in the capacity of secretary. The letters of congratulation which he received prove him to have been recognised as a useful and influential public servant. The following is from the British ambassador to Denmark:—
“Copenhagen, July 29, 1702. — . . . You will do me the justice to believe that there is none who interests himself more in what concerns you than I do. The embarrassment of the journey prevented me from congratulating you sooner on the honourable station which you now fill at your courts. I would envy them the advantage of having you if I did not see them in such a strict union with ourselves, as to induce me to consider them as one and the same court. The immense loss which England and all Europe suffered [by the death of King William] hath drawn several others in its train, and among these our country may reckon your quitting its service.
(Signed)“J.Vernon.”
Lord Portland’s letter to Robethon shows that that nobleman had not given himself up to rural affairs, as was generally believed. It is dated “Hague, 5th Sept. 1702”:—
