CHARLES II.

219

separate peace, he still kept up connexions withthe French monarch. Fie apologized for desertinghis ally, by representing to him all the' realundissembled difficulties, under which belabored;and Lewis, with the greatest complaisance andgood humor, admitted the validity of his excuses.The duke likewise, conscious that his principlesand conduct had rendered him still more ob-noxious to the people, maintained on his ownaccount a separate correspondence with the Frenchcourt, and entered into particular connexionswith Lewis, which these princes dignified withthe name of friend/hip. The duke had only inview to secure his succession, and favor thecatholics; and it must be acknowledged to hispraise, that, though his schemes were, in someparticulars, dangerous to the people, they gavethe king no just ground of jealousy. A dutifulsubject, and an affectionate brother, he knew noother rule of conduct than obedience ; and thesame unlimited submission, which afterwards,when king, he exacted of his people, he wasever willing, before he ascended the throne, topay to his sovereign.

As the king was at peace with all the world,and almost the only prince in Europe placed inthat agreeable sruation , he thought proper tooffer his mediation to the contending powers, inorder to compose their differences. France, wil-ling to negociate under so favorable a mediator,readily accepted of Charles’s offer; but, it wasapprehended, that, for a like reason, the allies

HAP,

LXVI.

I«74.