time, cavalry should patrol every evening on the roads near the
boundary between Middlesex and Essex.

The state of those roads, however, though contemporaries
described it as dangerous beyond all example, did not deter men
of rank and fashion from making the joyous pilgrimages to
Newmarket. Half the Dukes in the kingdom were there. Most of the
chief ministers of state swelled the crowd; nor was the
opposition unrepresented. Montague stole two or three days from
the Treasury, and Orford from the Admiralty. Godolphin was there,
looking after his horses and his bets, and probably went away a
richer man than he came. But racing was only one of the many
amusements of that festive season. On fine mornings there was
hunting. For those who preferred hawking choice falcons had been
brought from Holland. On rainy days the cockpit was encircled by
stars and blue ribands. On Sundays William went to church in
state, and the most eminent divines of the neighbouring
University of Cambridge preached before him. He omitted no
opportunity of showing marked civility to Tallard. The Ambassador
informed his Court that his place at table was next to the royal
arm chair, and that his health had been most graciously drunk by
the King.

All this time, both at Kensington and Newmarket, the Spanish
question was the subject of constant and earnest discussion. To
trace all the windings of the negotiation would be tedious. The
general course which it took may easily be described. The object
of William was to place the Electoral Prince of Bavaria on the
Spanish throne. To obtain the consent of Lewis to such an
arrangement seemed all but impossible; but William manoeuvred