Folios 178-186. Letter dated [March 26 new style] at Paris from Lord Portland to...

Folios 178-186. Letter dated [March 26 new style] at Paris from Lord Portland to the King. Following receipt of the King's express from Windsor, he continued to engage with the French King on the same footing as he had begun and in the terms prescribed by the King. The French King attested his great satisfaction with the assurances given, noting that King William must have considered the issue previously but may not have expected him to make these advances and not been convinced of his desire to maintain the peace. Lord Portland accepted that the King had long thought of the risks to the peace, but was not sufficiently prepared to have formed a plan on how things might be adjusted to suit the interest of two nations, who must be brought into it. This was a very difficult matter and hence the King had commanded Lord Portland to give these assurances and would eagerly await the French King's detailed proposals. The French King undertook to think the matter over, commenting that if King William were in real agreement with him, they could together command the world. News that the King of Spain is in better health may very likely slacken the pace a little; the more so given news of the changes in the Government against the Queen and the Admiral, for instance the restoration to office of the Comte d'Oropesa and of the Duc de Montalte, that the King's confessor has been changed, and that the Queen's confessor will be changed, and that she is to have a Jesuit. He sends the King copies of documents related to his properties in Burgundy and comments on procedures for their return. Further writes of his daughter's health, a hunting trip with Monsieur le Grand and his two brothers, Monsieur de Bouillon's desire to send someone to pay his compliments to the King, the return of Loomans and Lamb. Portland awaits news of Lord Shrewsbury with impatience, noting his unease with Mr Vernon's report that he was spitting blood when he left.