147
But while all men of penetration, both abroadand at home, were alarmed with thefe incidents,the vifit, which the king received from his filter,the dutchefs of Orleans , was the foundation offtill ftronger fufpicions. Lewis, knowing theaddrefs and infinuation of that amiable princefs,and the great influence, which die had gainedover her brother, had engaged her to employall her good offices, in order to detach Charles from the triple league , which , he knew, hadfixed fuch unfurmountable barriers to his ambition ;and he now fent her to put the laffc hand to theplan of their conjunct operations. That he mightthe better cover this negociation * he pretendedto vifit his frontiers, particularly the great workswhich he had undertaken at Dunkirk; and hecarried the queen and the whole court alongwith him. While he remained on the oppofitefhore, the dutchefs of Orleans went over toEngland; and Charles met her at Dover, wherethey paffed ten days together in great mirth andfeftivity. By her artifices and carefles, fhe pre-vailed on Charles to relinquifh the mod fettledmaxims of honor and policy, and to finiffi hisengagements with Lewis for the ddhrudtion ofHolland; as well as for the fubfequent changeof religion in England. >
But Lewis well knew Charles ’s charafter, andthe ufual fluctuation of his counfels. In order tofix him in the French interefts, he refolved tobind him by the ties of pleafure, the only oneswhich with him were irrefiftible; and he made
L 3
C HAP.
rxv.
i6;o.
l«th May,
Alliancewith Fiance