[132] James affected the same ceremonial as the King of France, and received the latter's ambassador sitting and covered. Louis only said, smiling, "Le roi mon frère est fier, mais il aime assez les pistoles de France." Mazure, i. 423. A more extraordinary trait of James's pride is mentioned by Dangeau, whom I quote from the _Quarterly Review_, xix. 470. After his retirement to St. Germains, he wore violets in court mourning; which, by etiquette, was confined to the kings of France. The courtiers were a little astonished to see _solem geminum_, though not at a loss where to worship. Louis, of course, had too much magnanimity to express resentment. But what a picture of littleness of spirit does this exhibit in a wretched pauper, who could only escape by the most contemptible insignificance the charge of most ungrateful insolence! [133] Mazure, iii. 50. James was so much out of humour at D'Avaux's interference, that he asked his confidents, "if the King of France thought he could treat him like the cardinal of Furstenburg," a creature of Louis XIV. whom he had set up for the electorate of Cologne. _Id._ 69. He was in short so much displeased with his own ambassador at the Hague, Skelton, for giving into his declaration of D'Avaux, that he not only recalled but sent him to the Tower. Burnet is therefore mistaken (p. 768) in believing that there was actually an alliance, though it was very natural that he should give credit to what an ambassador asserted in a matter of such importance. In fact, a treaty was signed between James and Louis, Sept. 13, by which some French ships were to be under the former's orders. Mazure, iii. 67. [134] Louis continued to find money, though despising James and disgusted with him, probably with a view to his own grand interests. He should, nevertheless, have declared war against Holland in October, which must have put a stop to the armament. But he had discovered that James with extreme meanness had privately offered, about the end of September, to join the alliance against him as the only resource. This wretched action is first brought to light by M. Mazure, iii. 104. He excused himself to the King of France by an assurance that he was not acting sincerely towards Holland. Louis, though he gave up his intention of declaring war, behaved with great magnanimity and compassion towards the falling bigot. [135] Halifax all along discouraged the invasion, pointing out that the king made no progress in his schemes. Dalrymple, _passim_. Nottingham said he would keep the secret, but could not be a party to a treasonable undertaking. _Id._ 228; Burnet, 764; and wrote as late as July to advise delay and caution. Notwithstanding the splendid success of the opposite counsels, it would be judging too servilely by the event not to admit that they were tremendously hazardous.