; nor was the opposition unrepresented. Montague stole two or three
days from the Treasury, and Orford from the Admiralty. Godolphin was
there, looking after his horses and his bets, and probably went away a
richer man than he came. But racing was only one of the many amusements
of that festive season. On fine mornings there was hunting. For those
who preferred hawking choice falcons had been brought from Holland.
On rainy days the cockpit was encircled by stars and blue ribands. On
Sundays William went to church in state, and the most eminent divines of
the neighbouring University of Cambridge preached before him. He omitted
no opportunity of showing marked civility to Tallard. The Ambassador
informed his Court that his place at table was next to the royal arm
chair, and that his health had been most graciously drunk by the King.

All this time, both at Kensington and Newmarket, the Spanish question
was the subject of constant and earnest discussion. To trace all the
windings of the negotiation would be tedious. The general course which
it took may easily be described. The object of William was to place the
Electoral Prince of Bavaria on the Spanish throne. To obtain the consent
of Lewis to such an arrangement seemed all but impossible; but William
manoeuvred with rare skill. Though he frankly acknowledged that he
preferred the Electoral Prince to any other candidate, he professed.
himself desirous to meet, as far as he honourably or safely could, the
wishes of the French King. There were conditions on which England and
Holland might perhaps consent, though not without reluctance, that a
son of the Dauphin should reign at Madrid, and should be master of the
treasures of the New World. Those conditions were that the Milanese and
the Two Sicilies should belong to the Archduke Charles, that the Elector
of Bavaria should have the Spanish Netherlands, that Lewis should give
up some fortified towns in Artois for the purpose of strengthening the
barrier which protected the United Provinces, and that some important
places both in the Mediterranean sea and in the Gulf of Mexico should
be made over to the English and Dutch for the security of trade. Minorca
and Havanna were mentioned as what might satisfy England.

Against these terms Lewis exclaimed loudly. Nobody, he said, who knew
with how sensitive a jealousy the Spaniards watched every encroachment
on their colonial empire would believe that they would ever consent to
give