"That he was aftonished, that any difpofition fhould be Will.III. "made of the Spanish monarchy, during the life-time, and 1700. " without all the obligations and interefts to wish for the life and welfare of our king, affuring me of the great concern he was under fome time this winter, when they heard from monfieur de Tallard, that he was a little indifpofed. This, I take it, is not unlikely, it being plainly their intereft; elfe I fhould not easily be perfuaded of their good intentions, I wish it was fo elsewhere. Memoirs of marshal it to me, and began much in villars. The earl of Manchefter to the that what might be very doubt earl of Jersey. Paris, May 19, 1700. Yesterday monfieur de Torcy acquainted the emperor's minifter of the whole affair. He feemed mightily furprized, and complained much of the proceedings of our king, taking notice of the many engagements, that have been made between his mafter and him. To which monfieur de Torcy anfwered, That he thought he had no reafon to complain, after what had paffed on that fubject at Vienna, and that the emperor had been informed of every thing, that was now agreed to: that this matter was not of a new nature, for that there had been a fecret treaty between the emperor and France concerning the fucceffion of Spain in 1668. When I faw monfieur de Torcy, he told me all that had paffed, and I was glad to hear of this fecret treaty, that being a good argument to monfieur de Zinzendorf, as you will find afterwards. He foon took notice of VOL. XV. ful, and even not likely to be obtained by a war, might now be fecured by a peace if they pleafed. He faid, what faith can be expected, if the Pyrenean treaty, and the renunciation, that France made, was not valid? To this I answered, That I believed the emperor did not take it to be a full decifion in relation to Spain; elfe he would not have made a fecret treaty with France in 1668, wherein he yielded much more, as I was informed. I then proceeded to fhew him the fituation of affairs. I reprefented the power of France, the intereft they have in Italy, as alfo in Spain; and befides what he had often told me, that it was feared, that the Spaniards would declare themfelves for a prince of France: that I was of opinion, that he himself would think at laft, that this was the only way to prevent it, and that they had it now in their power. Upon the whole matter he feemed partly convinced, and he begins now to think, B that Will.III." without the confent of the prefent poffeffor; and that, con1700. "trary to juftice and a decorum, himself, who was the " rightful that the king could obtain no better conditions, and that the only difficulty, that will remain, is what relates to Milan. I left him to judge, whether he thought the princes of Italy would be contented, that either France or the emperor was mafter there. After this difcourfe he went again to monfieur de Torcy, and defired a copy of the treaty; which he faid he would fend him, and then made him fome proposals as from himself, that he might be the better able to inform his mafter; which he afterwards acquainted me with, and which I fend your lordship in his own words, as well as I can remember them. He is now fo apprehenfive left Spain should. declare for France, as you will fee by the questions he asked monsieur de Torcy, that he will do what he can for the treaty; and it is thought he is very well with the emperor. He fends this day an exprefs to Vienna, and, I think, one to Count Harrach in Spain, as does also the Spanish ambaffador, whom monfieur de Torcy has acquainted with the treaty, and given him a copy of it. He only faid, It was a matter above his underftanding, but he would not fail to inform his mafter of it. The Venetian ambaffador is also acquainted with it; and monfieur Calliere goes this week to the duke of Lorrain to notify it to him. So your lordship will judge it will not be long a fe cret. Count Zinzendorf asked monfieur de Torcy of his own accord, after the agreement betwixt England, France, and Holland, had been shewn him: · 1. Whether France will confent to the archduke's going into Spain, during the life of his Catholic majesty " Monfieur de Torcy's answer: France does confent to it, on condition that the emperor accepts the conditions. 2. Whether, in cafe the Spaniards would make choice of a French prince within the given term of three months, it be agreed not to give ear to the proposals of Spain ?" Yes, it is agreed. 3. That the ceffion of the kingdom of Naples, ought, in my opinion, to be understood as only to the defcendants of queen Mary Terefa; and that it is by no means to be incorporated with the crown nor the houfe of France?" That this will be made easy, and that there will be no difficulties about it. 1700. rightful heir to the whole, was to be compelled to accept Will. III. "a part of it within the space of three months, under the penalty of forfeiting his fhare to a third perfon not yet "named. That, however, he could take no final refolu ture, that nothing could be ❝tion changed in it, fo it be done by The earl of Manchester to the the common confent of England, France, and Holland. The earl of Jerfey to the earl of earl of Jersey. Paris, May 26, 1700. I have acquainted your lordfhip already, that the only dif course we have here is concern Hampton Court, May 13, ing the treaty with England, 1700, O. S. I have your letter of the 19th, and laid it before the king. His majefty approves of what has been faid to count Zinzendorf, concerning the treaty, only as to the fecond query: a Whether, in cafe the Spaniards would make choice of French prince within the given term of three months, ⚫ it be agreed not to give ear to [attendre] the propofals of Spain ?' A. Yes, it is agreed. The fenfe of these words is it not this? That, though the Spaniards fhould, within the three months, propofe to make choice of any prince of the -houfe of Bourbon, yet the -French fhall not in that cafe hearken to fuch a propofition, but fhall adhere to what is literally prescribed in the treaty. Your lordship will fee, in difcourfing with monfieur Zin- zendorf, if he does not under-ftand it thus; and take care, that it be fo explained to monfieur de Torcy, as to leave no room for any difficulty.' It and I have made fome enquiry, matter Will. III. tion till the return of a courier from Madrid, who was to 1700. "bring him an account of the king of Spain's fentiments, on 66 an matter as much as poffible to the May the 13th, and am fenfible court of Spain. the fecond propofition of monfieur de Zinzendorf might have The earl of Manchester to the been plainer by the word 'ecou earl of Jersey. opinion, that the emperor's mi- to agree to it; and monfieur ⚫ter' instead of ' attendre ;' but words, not having then dif I was willing to keep his own words, not having then difcourfed with monfieur de Torcy : though I now find his anfwer he faid provided the emperor went further, and on that query within the term of three months figned and ratified; elfe they fhould not think themfelves obliged.' This he added, in order to leave him in more doubt, which he thought he faid it was not very likely was proper at prefent; though the Spaniards would now be more their friends; and befides, this king would keep ftrictly to what is prefcribed by the treaty. I afterwards talked to monfieur Zinzendorf, who understands it in your lordship's fenfe, and I did explain to him further what monfieur de Torcy had told me he did not entirely agree to it, concerning that matter. At first though there was little difference, fo that there can be no ill conter is fo fettled, that I hope the fequence from it; and this matking will approve of it. fome excufe to me, and faid, Monfieur de Torcy made the time would not permit them to confult firft with the king in relation to the duke of Lorrain, and told me, they had fent a project to be figned by him, and it was not convenient to let this matter cool: That fome condi-" tions were fent, but fuch as would 66 an affair of fuch confequence to both of them." In this Will. III. anfwer the Imperial court perfifted with little variation, ex- 1700. would cause no difputes: As, 1. That the duke is not to quit Lorrain till he is in poffeffion of Milan. 2. That Milan fhould go to his heirs and family, as Lorrain now does. 3. That the dauphin fhould renounce all his claim. 4. That they would not agree with the emperor 'till the inveftiture from him was fettled, if neceffary, in relation to Milan. Monfieur de Tallard has a copy of this project; and, when it is figned, which will be very foon, it will be neceffary, that the king and the ftatesgeneral fhould fign an act to confirm the fame. Monfieur de Villars has communicated the treaty to the emperor, who declared in general terms, that he was very much inclined to the peace of Europe. By the couriers, which he was to fend eight days after, he will explain that matter further. Monfieur de Torcy fays, they have an anfwer from the French ambaffador at Rome, and the pope feems to approve of the treaty. After this he faid, it would be very convenient, England and France fhould always act in concert in the affairs of Europe; and let fall fome words, as if he understood there was a treaty on foot between England, the Emperor, Denmark, and Poland; That the Danish minifters had made feveral offers in England, &c. I told him, I thought there was nothing of that nature, and it was not very likely, because we fent our fleet to affift Sweden, which was in a manner de cept claring against Denmark and Poland: That I fuppofed their minifter here had made propofals to this court, at least it was faid fo. But, fince the affurances he had given me, that no alliance or treaty should be made with them, till matters were compofed, without communicating it to the king my mafter, I was intirely fatisfied, and I hoped he would be fo likewife, reports of this nature being generally fpread to create mifunderstandings. The fecret treaty of 1668, was figned by the father of count Averfperg, who is now with you. The emperor then confented, that France should have Naples and Sicily, all Flanders, and the Philippine islands. Count Zinzendorf fays he was banished for that reafon. The earl of Manchefter to the earl of Jersey. Paris, June 9, 1700. The courier, which monfieur de Villars was to fend back from Vienna eight days after his arrival, is come back. Monfieur de Villars writes, that he had difcourfed with count Caunitz; that he was preffed to ftay fome days before he fent back the courier; that, when they found he could not do it, they let him know, that the emperor would, in ten days time, give him a pofitive anfwer; and that he would not take any measures with Spain; B 3 and |