Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

Charles, Second Earl of Middlcton. 245
(the Archduke Charles). If either of the two last re-
fused to accept the portion assigned to him, it should
be sequestered until the dispute could be settled.
A second partition treaty, signed in London,
differed from this in some important particulars. In
this it was resolved that the Archduke Charles should
succeed to the throne of Spain, and that the monarchy
should never descend to a King of France, or Dauphin.
In the mean time, Louis's ambassador was busily
engaged in forming a party in Spain. He repre-
sented to the people that their late sovereign, Philip
IV., had no right to will away the throne against the
laws of nature and customs of the realm. The
Dauphin and his children should inherit it, before
more distant relations. Should they accept the
young Duke of Anjou, they might educate him in
the customs of their country.
At first Harcourt had some difficulties to encoun-
ter, but when tidings of the partition treaty reached
Spain, public opinion turned in his favour. The
people were justly indignant that France, Holland,
and England should presume to parcel out their
kingdom, without so much as consulting them on the
subject. Some nobles, who had been gained by the
French party, assured them that their only security
against dismemberment lay in accepting a French
prince for their sovereign. The insolent conduct of