Madame des Ursins consulted with two of the courtiers, as to the best measures to be adopted with a child who showed so much force and resolution.  The night was passed in exhortations and in promises upon what had occurred at the supper; and the Queen consented at last to remain Queen.  The Duke of Medina-Sidonia and Count San Estevan were consulted on the morrow.  They were of opinion that in his turn the King, in order to mortify her and reduce her to terms, should not visit the Queen on the following night.  This opinion was acted upon.  The King and Queen did not see each other in private that day.  In the evening the Queen was very sorry.  Her pride and her little vanity were wounded; perhaps also she had found the King to her taste.

The ladies and the grand seigneurs who had attended at the supper were lectured for what had occurred there.  Excuses, promises, demands for pardon, followed; all was put right; the third day was tranquil, and the third night still more agreeable to the young people.  On the fourth day they went to Barcelona, where only fetes and pleasures awaited them.  Soon after they set out for Madrid.

At the commencement of the following year (1702), it was resolved, after much debate, at our court, that Philip V. should make a journey to Italy, and on Easter-day he set out.  He went to Naples, Leghorn, Milan, and Alessandria.  While at the first-named place a conspiracy which had been hatching against his life was discovered, and put down.  But other things which previously occurred in Italy ought to have been related before.  I must therefore return to them now.

From the moment that Philip V. ascended the Spanish throne it was seen that a war was certain.  England maintained for some time an obstinate silence, refusing to acknowledge the new King; the Dutch secretly murmured against him, and the Emperor openly prepared for battle.  Italy, it was evident at once, would be the spot on which hostilities would commence, and our King lost no time in taking measures to be ready for events.  By land and by sea every preparation was made for the struggle about to take place.

After some time the war, waited for and expected by all Europe, at last broke out, by some Imperialist troops firing upon a handful of men near Albaredo.  One Spaniard was killed, and all the rest of the men were taken prisoners.  The Imperialists would not give them up until a cartel was arranged.  The King, upon hearing this, at once despatched the general officers to Italy.  Our troops were to be commanded by Catinat, under M. de Savoie; and the Spanish troops by Vaudemont, who was Governor-General of the Milanese, and to whom, and his dislike to our King, I have before alluded.