DIPLOMACY IN POLAND-LITHUANIA 305
1675, he wrote to Charles II inviting him to act as godfather at his daughter's
christening. Lawrence Hyde was chosen as ambassador and proxy for the King.
As son of the late Earl of Clarendon, architect and historian of the Restoration,
he was well suited to dabble in French-sponsored intrigues. He was just 35 years
old, Member of Parliament for Oxford University, and Master of the Robes. He
left Portsmouth on The Tyger on 11 July 1676, arriving at Danzig on 8 August.
Having presented his credentials to the syndics of the city - 'Our trusty and well-
beloved Lawrence Hide, Esqr, Our Master of Our Roabes, being to passe into
Poland as our Ambr,.. .' - and settling a dispute over the rights of inheritance
of English and Scottish citizens resident in Danzig, he met up with the Marquis
de Bethune, Ambassador of France. This latter, brother of Queen Marysienka,
was the prime mover of Hyde's mission. They decided to journey together in
search of Sobieski who was campaigning against the Turks and Tartars in the
far south-east. As Hyde reported to the Secretary of State, Sir Joseph
Williamson, 'it is a pretty step'; and 'I have no minde to ramble up and down
very much in Russia.' Moreover, the Tartars were raiding deep into central
Poland, and to run the gauntlet, the two ambassadors had to travel under escort
in very undiplomatic conditions: 'M. de Bethune and I came hither in one coach
and lay together in one barne. I hope that you will not be apprehensive that I
could lose any dignity ... I am confident it will never be prejudiciall to the prece-
dency of an English Ambassador.'^21 At Lwow, Hyde learned that Sobieski was
under siege in his camp at Zurawno on the Dniester, and incommunicado.
Motivated no doubt by the lateness of the season and his desire to see Sobieski
after so much effort, he made a mistake which was literally fatal. He tried to
mediate. He composed three letters, one to the King of Poland, one to the
Turkish Commander, and one to the 'Prince of the Tartars':
Your Highness is not ignorant what a strict and antient friendship hath been between the
Most Serene and Most August Ottoman Port and His Sacred Majesty the King of great
Britaine, France and Ireland, my most gracious master; by whom being sent great
Ambassador to the Most Serene King of Poland and Lithuania, where I understand there
was a treaty of Peace begun ... and thought it part of my care and duty ... to prevent as
much as in me lyes ... the further effusion of blood, I judged it best to give your Highness
notice of my arrivall here, and at the same time signify that if the intercession and medi-
ation of the aforesaid Most Serene King of great Britaine, France and Ireland... may
promote so becoming, so noble, so great an act of love and respect, I wil endeavour to
my utmost that such a mediation be interposed by his sacred Royal Majesty. And for as
much as by a singular good fortune I have upon my coming hither lighted upon the most
mighty King of France and Navarre's... wee have both of us thought fit jointly to offer
our endeavours and entreaties by the same messenger, a servant of the Most Serene King,
my master ... In the meanwhile, I hope your Highness wil take this in good part: in
confidence whereof I wil commend myself to the favour of your Highness. Leopol, 15 Oct
New Style 1676.^22
The sorry end of the proposed mediation was related in his next report five days
later: