The Dutch deputies would hear of no relaxation, and no expedient for removing the difficulties that retarded the negotiation.

In vain the plenipotentiaries declared, that the French king could not with decency, or the least regard to his honour, wage war against his own grandson: the deputies insisted upon his effecting the cession of Spain and the Indies to the house of Austria; and submitting to every other article specified in the preliminaries.

Nay, they even reserved to them selves a power of making ulterior demands after the preliminaries should be adjusted.

Louis proposed that some small provision should be made for the duke of Anjou, which might induce him to relinquish Spain the more easily.

He mentioned the kingdom of Arragon; and this hint being disagreeable to the allies, he demanded Naples and Sicily.