Sir _W._ tells us he
managed at the _Hague_, _Brussels_, and at _Aix la Chappelle_, which
saved _Flanders_ from the hands of the _French_, in 1668. The _French_
published that they were beholding to the most Christian Kings
Moderation for that Peace; who was willing to put a stop to the
progress and course of his victorious Arms. But the truth of it is,
they most justly ascribed all the Merit, and all the Glory of the
Peace, and of the Triple League, to the generous resolution and
stedfastness of the States-General. They made use, upon this occasion,
of a Minister of State far beyond Sir _W._ in Prudence, Experience,
and Capacity, one, who was in the Opinion even of his Enemies, the
most able Manager of Affairs of his Age.

I shall not undertake, my Lord, in this place, strictly to examine Sir
_W. Temple_'s _Memoirs_: I will do it shortly if God spare me with
Life; nay, and I promise you a Volume of Remarks, at least, as large
as his Book.

If, like him, I had the Vanity to procure the printing of Memoirs,
during my life-time, I could now have a fair pretence so to do, and
without all question I should publish more just and solid ones than
his are. Not, that I have the presumption to judge my self more
capable to do it; but, in several places he relates some things
falsly, whereof I am much better informed. The only Hero of my piece
shall be Truth, without Complaisance or Flattery; without Passion, no
not so much as against him: So that I shall do him the satisfaction
and kindness to instruct him better, even touching divers Matters,
which he performed and executed, without knowing so much as the reason
why he was made to act so.

It is not likewise, because I have been one of the Council of the King
his Master; yet I have had the Happiness, during some Years, to
partake in the Confidence of a Minister of State, who was in several
important, weighty Occasions, as it were the _Primum Mobile_ of that
Conduct and Management that surprized all the World. You know, my
Lord, what Credit he had, and of what nature his Intelligences were.
Sir _W._ may well imagine that I did not ill improve this able
Ministers Confidence, when Sir _W._ tells us, _That I had wholly
devoted my self to him_.

Men are not ignorant likewise, that oftentimes I have had some access
to the King's Ministers of State, and even near to the King himself,;
it did more especially appear, in the business for which I took my
Journey to _Nimeguen_; and it