Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/333

 The Ascendency of France under Louis XIV 295 By breaking his engagements, he would incur the censure of violating the sacred word of a king, and moreover the con- sequence of such a violation was inevitable war. His chief aim in hastening the conclusion of the peace signed at Ryswick [1697] was to let his people have time to breathe after a long series of wars, and now, when they had scarce begun to enjoy a little repose, they would be obliged to sup- port a new war, which would immediately become general ; for there was not the least reason to expect that the neigh- boring princes, who were already so greatly alarmed at the power of France, would tamely suffer the king to extend his authority so as to rule, in the name of his grandson, over the dominions subject to the crown of Spain in the Old and New Worlds. On the other hand, it was to be considered that if the king refused to accept the will, this same act transferred the entire succession to the archduke [Joseph]. The same courier that had been dispatched into France would proceed to Vienna ; and the Spanish nation, without any hesitation, would acknowledge the emperor's second son for their king. The house of Austria of course would reunite, between the father and son, the power of Charles V, a power heretofore so fatal to France. And, besides, all security for preserving the peace of Ryswick would cease, the treaty of partition being no longer sufficient to maintain it. . . . The king therefore determined to accept the will. Saint-Simon thus describes in his well-known memoirs the remarkable scene in which Louis XIV announced to his assembled courtiers that his grandson, the duke of Anjou, was king of Spain. At last, on Tuesday, the 16th of November, the king 344. How publicly declared himself. The Spanish ambassador had Louis XIV received intelligence which proved the eagerness of Spain the duke oi to welcome the duke of Anjou as its king. There seemed to Anjou king be no doubt in the matter. The king, immediately after get- ° s P am * ting up, called the ambassador into his cabinet, where his