,
congratulated him upon his accession to the crown of Spain. Charles
received him with the most obliging courtesy. In the course of their
conversation, taking off his sword he presented it to the English
general, with a very gracious aspect, saying, in the French language,
"I am not ashamed to own myself a poor prince. I possess nothing but my
cloak and sword; the latter may be of use to your grace; and I hope
you will not think it the worse for my wearing it one day."--"On the
contrary," replied the duke, "it will always put me in mind of your
majesty's just right and title, and of the obligations I lie under to
hazard my life in making you the greatest prince in Christendom." This
nobleman returned to England in October and king Charles embarking for
the same kingdom, under convoy of an English and Dutch squadron, arrived
at Spithead on the twenty-sixth day of December. There he was received
by the dukes of Somerset and Marlborough, who conducted him to Windsor;
and on the road he was met by prince George of Denmark. The queen's
deportment towards him was equally noble and obliging; and he expressed
the most profound respect and veneration for this illustrious princess.
He spoke but little; yet what he said was judicious; and he behaved
with such politeness and affability, as conciliated the affection of the
English nobility. After having been magnificently entertained for three
days, he returned to Portsmouth, from whence on the fourth of January he
sailed for Portugal, with a great fleet commanded by sir George Rooke,
having on board a body of land forces under the duke of Schomberg. When
the admiral had almost reached Cape Finisterre, he was driven back by
a storm to Spithead, where he was obliged to remain till the middle of
February. Then being favoured with a fair wind, he happily performed the
voyage to Lisbon, where king Charles was received with great splendour,
though the court of Portugal was overspread with sorrow excited by the
death of the infanta, whom the king of Spain intended to espouse. In
Poland all hope of peace seemed to vanish. The cardinal-primate, by
the instigation of the Swedish king, whose army lay encamped in the
neighbourhood of Dantzick, assembled a diet at Warsaw, which solemnly
deposed Augustus, and declared the throne vacant. Their intention was to
elect young Sobieski, son of their late monarch, who resided at Breslau
in Silesia: but their scheme was anticipated by Augustus, who retir