26 James Muilenburg 



There were many whisperings about the court. 106 It was under- 

 stood that he was "a man of parts and integrity," 107 but it appears 

 that the people felt "that he might as well have stayed away for 

 any advantage that he will have in his journey." 108 



The First Interview with the King 



Dykvelt had his first interview with the English King at six 

 o'clock in the evening of the third of March. 109 At the envoy's 

 request, the audience was without ceremony. 110 The Count of 

 Middleton acted as spokesman between the two. 111 Dykvelt 

 presented his credentials, and the King accepted them without 

 remark. 112 Dykvelt drove to the palace at Whitehall in his own 

 coach, accompanied by his own servants. 113 The Master of 

 Ceremonies of the King's bedchamber was in charge of these pre- 

 liminaries, and the Count of Harram, the son of the Duke of 

 Hamilton, received the envoy at the palace. As Dykvelt entered 

 the room the King was standing, surrounded by about a dozen of 

 his officers. He nodded kindly to the envoy, and Dykvelt felt 

 encouraged. He introduced himself in a few words. The King 

 listened in a friendly manner and showed many tokens of his favor. 

 When Dykvelt concluded his speech, the King responded that he 

 wished to continue the policy of his brother and to maintain the 



106 Ellis. The Ellis Correspondence, vol. i, p. 250 ff. 



Russell, Lady Rachel, Letters, vol. i, p. 212, February 18-March 1, 1687. 



107 Russell, Lady Rachel, Letters, vol. i, p. 216. 

 10S Ibid, p. 212. 



109 States General, 6929, Public Letter from Everaard van Weede to the States 

 General, March 4, 1687, from London. 



"Volgens hetgeen ich aen U Hoog Mogende met de laatste post den 28ste des 

 voorleden hebbe geadviseert, heeft den Koningh tot mijne audientie gestelt gis- 

 teravond ten 6 uyren." 



110 Ibid. ". . . . dat ich deselve liefst soude neemen sonder ceremonie ende 

 sonder character." 



111 Ibid. 



112 Ibid. ". . . . ende oversulx alleen met overlevering van mijn brieven van 

 credentie, dewelche geene exprimeerde heeft Sijn Maj't de goedtheijt gehadt, 

 van sulx te agreeren." 



113 Ibid. ". . . .in mijn eygen caros en onder het gevolgh van mijn eygen 

 domestyegnen gebracht zijnde tot aen Whitehall." 



110 



