Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

250 The Earls of Middleton.
kind but themselves ; and this case, truely stated by
the colonel's friends, would be of great use for them,
and us too, and I am persuaded they suffer at least as
much by them as we do.
"Yesterday the Dutch ambassador was at Ver-
sailles, to demand an audience of the king, and was
refused. It is said the King of France should say
that when he had his audience of the King of Spain,
he should have it of him.
" Whether he said this or not, I cannot be positive.
But it is certain he was refused, and that to the seeing
of as many as were about the king's apartments at
the most public time of the day ; and it is believed
the English ambassador will be served just so. Thus,
you see what that secret treaty is like to bring us to.
How seasonable it may be to think upon John
Murey's (the king's) proposition I leave you to
judge."
When the King of Spain's will was made known
in France, Louis made show of hesitating between
his inclination and engagements with Holland and
England. Madame de Maintenon and the Dauphin,
however, easily persuaded him to accept it. The new
monarch received congratulations from all the princes
of the blood. William deeply resented Louis's con-
duct in accepting the will, but thought it as well to