252 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. that the king had at this time concerted measuresixvi. with France, and had no intention to enter into1677. a war in favor of the allies. He had entertainedno view , therefore , even when he pawned hisROYAL woitD to his people, than to procure agrant of money, and he trusted, that, while heeluded their expectations, he could not afterwardswant pretences for palliating his conduct.

Negociations meanwhile were carried onbetween France and Holland, and an eventualtreaty was concluded ; that is, all their differenceswere adjusted , provided they could afterwardssatisfy their allies on both fides. This work,though in appearance difficult , seemed to beextremely forwarded , by farther bad successeson the part of the confederates, and by thegreat impatience of the Hollanders; when a newevent happened, which promised a more prosper-ous issue to the quarrel with France, and revivedthe hopes of all the Englisli , who understoodthe interests of their country.

inoirs, and his Letters. In these last, we see that theking never made any proposals of terms but what wereadvantageous to France, and the prince of Orange believedthem to have always been concerted with the French am*bassador. Vol. i. p. 4; y.

In Sir John Dairymple’s Appendix, p. 10;, it appears,that the 'king had signed himself, without the participationof his ministers, a secret treaty with France, and hadobtained a pension on the promise of his neutrality : Afact, which renders his royal -word , solemnly given tohis subjects, one of the most dishonorable and most scan-dalous acts, that ever proceeded from a throne.