James declared that he gave not the least credit to the rumours of a Dutch invasion, and that the conduct of the French government had surprised and annoyed him.
Middleton was directed to assure all the foreign ministers that there existed no such alliance between France and England as the Court of Versailles had, for its own ends, pretended.

To the Nuncio the King said that the designs of Lewis were palpable and should be frustrated.
This officious protection was at once an insult and a snare.

"My good brother," said James, "has excellent qualities; but flattery and vanity have turned his head." [471] Adda, who was much more anxious about Cologne than about England, encouraged this strange delusion.

Albeville, who had now returned to his post, was commanded to give friendly assurances to the States General, and to add some high language, which might have been becoming in the mouth of Elizabeth or Oliver.

"My master," he said, "is raised, alike by his power and by his spirit, above the position which France affects to assign to him.