222 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. Temple, when he went abroad, soon found,lxvt. that the scheme of mediating a peace was likely

"74. to prove abortive. The allies, besides their

jealousy of the king’s mediation, expressed agreat ardor for the continuance of war. Hollandhad stipulated with Spain never to come to anaccommodation, till all things in Flanders wererestored to the condition, in which they hadbeen left by the Pyrenean treaty. The emperorhad high pretensions in Alsace ; and as the greaterpart of the empire joined in the alliance, it washoped, that France, so much over-matched inforce, would soon be obliged to submit to theterms demanded of her. The Dutch, indeed,oppressed by heavy taxes, as well as checked intheir commerce, were desirous of peace; and hadfew or no claims of their own to retard it: Butthey could not in gratitude, or even in goodpolicy, abandon allies, to whose protection theyhad so lately been indebted for their safety. Theprince of Orange likewise, who had great in-fluence in their councils , was all on fire formilitary fame, and was well pleased to be atthe head of armies, from which such mightysuccesses were expected. Under various pretences,he eluded , during the whole campaign , themeeting with Temple; and after the troops weresent into winter-quarters, he told that minister,in his first audience , that, till greater impressionwere made on France, reasonable terms couldnot be hoped for; and it were therefore vain tonegociate.