The Embassy of Everaard van Wccde 19 



with the King of England. There was more to be apprehended 

 from the second part of the mission than the first, and it would be 

 well for His Majesty, the King of France, to strive to prevent 

 this embassy. 



Avaux attached himself to Abbeville as soon as the English 

 envoy arrived. He reasoned with Abbeville thus: 



What is the purpose of this embassy of Dykvelt but to unite the party of the 

 Protestants and the Parliamentary leaders in opposition to the King? If the 

 real motives of the embassy are those outlined in Fagel's address to the States, 

 then it is quite superfluous for Dykvelt to go to London. The instructions of 

 Albeville are to clear up all difficulties relating to commerce and religious differences. 

 Moreover, Van Citters, the Dutch ambassador at London, is quite capable of 

 carrying on the negotiations at the English court. There certainly is no honest 

 reason for a special deputation. 68 



Albeville seemed to approve of Avaux's position. He promised to 

 persuade King James to prevent the embassy. He begged Avaux 

 to write 'in the same sense' to Monsieur Barillon, the French 

 ambassador in London, in order that the latter might win over his 

 confidant, Lord Sunderland, who stood very close to the King. 69 

 But Avaux suspected the sincerity of Albeville. He wrote to the 

 King, his master, that even though Albeville gave him "the most 

 beautiful assurances in the world, he nevertheless appeared to act 

 a great deal with the Prince of Orange, and wished to please him." 70 

 Surely, the French ambassador at the Hague had every reason 

 to be disturbed. He saw that he was fighting a losing battle. The 

 forces of the Prince gained daily in power. Dykvelt applied him- 

 self most assiduously to the task which had been given him. He 

 was in constant communication with Albeville. 71 And the French 

 ambassador saw plainly that the English envoy was playing into 

 the hands of the Dutch. On January 30, he tells of a three hour 

 conference that Albeville had had with Dykvelt and Bentinck, 

 William's most trusted counsellor and friend. 72 In this conference 



68 Avaux, vol. vi, p. 35 ff. 



69 Ibid, p. 36. 



70 Ibid, idem. 



71 Avaux, vol. vi, p. 36, p. 43, p. 44. 



72 Ibid, p. 43. 



103 



