England under Charles II. from the Restoration to the Treaty of Nimeguen, 1660-1678: English History from Contemporary Writers
Taylor, W. F.
1889
Sale of Dunkirk to the French. Burnet: Hist. of his own Times, Lond., 1724, fol., vol. I, p. I72. 1662.
The business then in agitation was concerning the sale of Dunkirk. The Spaniards pretended it ought to be restored to them, since it was taken from them by Cromwell, when they had the king and his brother in their armies: but this was not much regarded. The French pretended, that, by their agreement with Cromwell, he was only to hold it, till they had repaid the charge of the war: therefore they, offering to lay that down, ought to have the place delivered to them. The king was in no sort bound by this. So the matter under debate was, whether it ought to be kept or sold ? The military men, who were believed to be corrupted by France, said, the place was not tenable; that in time of peace it would put the king to a great charge and in time of war it would not quit the cost of keeping it. The earl of Clarendon said, he understood | |
57 | not those matters; but appealed to Monk's judgment, who did positively advise the letting it go for the sum that France offered Schomberg advised that the king should keep it; . . and he was sure it could never be taken, as long as England was master of the sea. But he was singular in that opinion. So it was sold, and all the money that was paid for it was immediately squandered amongst the mistress's creatures. |