Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

230 The Earls of Middleton.
mendations, and there is not one man in the place
who knows him. This fellow has had the impudence
to propose to me an attempt on the Prince of
Orange's life ; and as I rejected this proposal with
aversion, the conversation finished. But when I gave
an account of it to the king, my master, lest the
man should make his escape, he spoke to the Count
de Druis, to secure his person until the king's orders
about him should be received. It is for this reason
the King of England desires you to inform his
Majesty of this adventure immediately, it being his
opinion that the said Vane should be closely im-
prisoned, but in other respects well treated, because
we cannot prove whether he has been instigated to
this by our enemies, or by indiscreet zeal."
The treaty for a general peace was signed Sep-
tember 20th. Louis acknowledged William as King
of Great Britain, but refused to banish James and his
queen from St. Germains, as the former wished him
to do. One of the stipulations likewise insisted on
by the French king was, that Mary Beatrice should
be paid a dowry of ,£50,000 as Queen of Great Britain,
her undoubted right, whether she were regarded as
queen consort or queen dowager. Necessity obliged
James to accept this offer, but he was much at a loss
about the proper manner of receiving the dowry.