Fate decreed that Mademoiselle de
Querouaille should be brought into England by means of a
political movement; love ordained she should reign mistress of
the king's affections.
It happened in January, 1668, that a Triple Alliance had been
signed at the Hague, which engaged England, Sweden, and the
United Provinces to join in defending Spain against the power of
France. A secret treaty in this agreement furthermore bound the
allies to check the ambition of Louis XIV., and, if possible,
reduce his encroaching sway. That Charles II. should enter into
such an alliance was galling to the French monarch, who resolved
to detach his kinsman from the compact, and bind him to the
interests of France. To effect this desired purpose, which he
knew would prove objectionable to the British nation, Louis
employed Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans, to visit England on
pretext of pleasure and affection, and secretly persuade and
bribe her brother to the measures required.
The young duchess, though an English princess, had at heart the
interests of the country in which she had been reared, and which
on her marriage she had adopted as her own. She therefore gladly
undertook this mission, confident of her success from the fact
that of all his family she had ever been the most tenderly
beloved by Charles. Therefore she set out from France, and in
the month of May, 1670, arrived at Dover, to which port the king,
Queen, and court hastened, that they might greet and entertain
her.
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