CHAP

EXVI.

1677 .

Plan ofpeace.

256 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

English court , now found so important a steptaken, not only* without his consent, but withouthis knowledge or participation. A conjunctionof England with the allies, and a vigorous warin opposition to French ambition , were theconsequences immediately expected, both abroadand at home : But to check these sanguine hopes,the king, a few days after the marriage, prolong-ed the adjournment of the parliament from thethird of December to the fourth of April. Thisterm was too late for granting supplies, or mak-ing preparations for war; and could be chosenby the king for no other reason , than as auatonement to France for his consent to the mar-riage. It appears also that Charles fecretlv receivedfrom Lewis the sum of two millions of livres onaccount of this important service *.

The king, however, entered into consultationswith the prince , together with Danby and'Temple, concerning the terms which it wouldbe proper to require of France. After somedebate, it was agreed, that France should restoreLorraine to the duke; withTournay, Valenciennes,Conde, Ath, Charleroy, Courtray, Oudenarde, andBinche to Spain, in order to form a good frontierfor the Low Countries. The prince insisted thatFranchecomte* should likewise be restored; andCharles thought, that, because he had patrimonialestates of great value in that province , anddeemed his property more secure in the hands

Sir John Dalrymple’s Appendix, p. nz.

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