It was a circumstance not less significant that no previous communication was made to Barillon.

Both he and his master were taken by surprise.

Lewis was much troubled, and expressed great, and not unreasonable, anxiety as to the ulterior designs of the prince who had lately been his pensioner and vassal.

There were strong rumours that William of Orange was busied in organizing a great confederacy, which was to include both branches of the House of Austria, the United Provinces, the kingdom of Sweden, and the electorate of Brandenburg.
It now seemed that this confederacy would have at its head the King and Parliament of England.
In fact, negotiations tending to such a result were actually opened.
Spain proposed to form a close alliance with James; and he listened to the proposition with favour, though it was evident that such an alliance would be little less than a declaration of war against France.

But he postponed his final decision till after the Parliament should have reassembled.