CHARLES II.

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of Spain, he was engaged by such views to beobstinate in that point: But the prince declared,that to procure but one good town to the Span-iards in Flanders , he would willingly relinquishall those possessions. As the king still insistedon the impossibility of wresting Franchecomtefrom Lewis, the prince was obliged to acquiesce.

Notwithstanding this concession to France,the projected peace was favorable to the allies;and it was a sufficient indication of vigor in theking, that he had given his assent to it. Hefarther agreed to fend over a minister instantlyto Paris, in order to propose these terms. Thisminister was to enter into no treaty: He was tc>allow but two days for the acceptance or refusalof the terms : Upon the expiration of these, hdwas presently to return : And in case of refusal,the king promised to enter immediately into theconfederacy. To carry so imperious a message,and so little expected from the English court,Temple was the person pitched on, whose de-clared aversion to the French interest was notlikely to make him fail of vigor and promptitudein the execution of his commission.

But Charles next day felt a relenting in thisassumed vigor. Instead of Temple he dispatchedthe earl of Fcverfham, a creature of the duke’s,and a Frenchman by birth: and he said, thatthe message being harsh in itself, it was needlessto aggravate it by a disagreeable messenger. Theprince left London ; and the king, at his depar-ture, assured him, that he never would abate!Vol. XL S

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LXVI.

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