To the second demand Lewis replied that he could not refuse his hospitality to an unfortunate king who had taken refuge in his dominions, and that he could not promise even to indicate a wish that James would quit Saint Germains.  But Boufflers, as if speaking his own thoughts, though doubtless saying nothing but what he knew to be in conformity to his master’s wishes, hinted that the matter would probably be managed, and named Avignon as a place where the banished family might reside without giving any umbrage to the English government.

Lewis, on the other side, demanded, first, that a general amnesty should be granted to the Jacobites; and secondly, that Mary of Modena should receive her jointure of fifty thousand pounds a year.

With the first of these demands William peremptorily refused to comply.  He should always be ready, of his own free will, to pardon the offences of men who showed a disposition to live quietly for the future under his government; but he could not consent to make the exercise of his prerogative of mercy a matter of stipulation with any foreign power.  The annuity claimed by Mary of Modena he would willingly pay, if he could only be satisfied that it would not be expended in machinations against his throne and his person, in supporting, on the coast of Kent, another establishment like that of Hunt, or in buying horses and arms for another enterprise like that of Turnham Green.  Boufflers had mentioned Avignon.  If James and his Queen would take up their abode there, no difficulties would be made about the jointure.

At length all the questions in dispute were settled.  After much discussion an article was framed by which Lewis pledged his word of honour that he would not favour, in any manner, any attempt to subvert or disturb the existing government of England.  William, in return, gave his promise not to countenance any attempt against the government of France.  This promise Lewis had not asked, and at first seemed inclined to consider as an affront.  His throne, he said, was perfectly secure, his title undisputed.  There were in his dominions no nonjurors, no conspirators; and he did not think it consistent with his dignity to enter into a compact which seemed to imply that he was in fear of plots and insurrections such as a dynasty sprung from a revolution might naturally apprehend.  On this point, however, he gave way; and it was agreed that the covenants should be strictly reciprocal.  William ceased to demand that James should be mentioned by name; and Lewis ceased to demand that an amnesty should be granted to James’s adherents.  It was determined that nothing should be said in the treaty, either about the place where the banished King of England should reside, or about the jointure of his Queen.  But William authorised his plenipotentiaries at the Congress to declare that Mary of Modena should have whatever, on examination, it should appear that she was by law entitled to have.  What she was by law entitled to have was a question which it would have puzzled all Westminster Hall to answer.  But it was well understood that she would receive, without any contest, the utmost that she could have any pretence for asking as soon as she and her husband should retire to Provence or to Italy.809