The Embassy of Everaard van Weede 15 



contrasts. In many respects they are antithetical, yet from the 

 similarity of their problems and the unchanged attitude of the 

 two sovereigns they have much in common. Little wonder that 

 Burnet, commenting at one stage on the proceedings at the 

 English Court, wrote: "Thus Dykvelt's negotiation at London, 

 and Albeville's at the Hague, ended without any effect on either 

 side." 48 



The response to the eloquent request of the pensionary Fagel 

 was not long in coming. To give some appearance of strength 

 and independence, the Deputies did not reply at once, but referred 

 the matter to their 'commitenten.' Ralph states that their decision 

 came before the arrival of Abbeville. 49 This is plausible, for the 

 States had been made to believe that one of the chief reasons for 

 the present embassy was the delay of the English envoy. 50 More- 

 over, it is further borne out by the evidence of the secretary's 

 register in which the account is given under the date of January 

 15. 51 



The Character of the Envoy 



Upon the decision of the States, Everaard van Weede, Lord of 

 Dykvelt, was chosen as the envoy to England. No one was more 

 fitted for the mission than he. He was well trained in foreign 

 affairs. In 1672, at the time of the Dutch wars, he negotiated for 

 the Republic in France. The French were amazed at the boldness 

 with which he made his demands for justice upon every violation 

 of existing treaties. 52,53 He had been taught in the school of 



48 Burnet, History of His Own Time, p. 452. 



49 Ralph, History of England, vol. i, p. 952. 



50 See Fagel's address, supra p. 11. 



The chief argument of Avaux to the Deputies had been that the proposed 

 embassy was merely a duplication of the work of Albeville. So long as Albeville 

 did not arrive, the Prince's position was secure. 



61 Secretary's Record, January 15, 1687, printed in Fruin's Prins Willem III 

 in zijn verhouding tot Engeland, p. 151, note 2. 



52 Burnet, History of His Own Time, p. 219. This passage is quoted in a re- 

 vised version from a later MS by Burnet to be found in Foxcroft's "Supplement." 



53 Memoir es de Gourville, vol. ii, p. 91, note. "In 1679, after the Treaty of 

 Nimwegen had been signed, Dykvelt was the Dutch ambassador to France." 



99 



