doublytodesolationandruinforthesakeofit。HeleftthefrontieralmostquitedefencelessonthesideoftheRhine，againsttheinroadsandravagesofFrance：andbyshowingnomercytotheHungarians，norkeepinganyfaithwiththem，heforcedthatmiserablepeopleintoallianceswiththeTurks，whoinvadedtheempire，andbesiegedVienna。Eventhiseventhadnoeffectuponhim。Yourlordshipwillfind，thatSobieski，kingofPoland，whohadforcedtheTurkstoraisethesiege，andhadfixedtheimperialcrownthattotteredonhishead，couldnotprevailonhimtotakethosemeasuresbywhichaloneitwaspossibletocovertheempire，tosecurethekingofSpain，andtoreducethatpowerwhowasprobablyonedaytodisputewithhimthisprince’ssuccession。Tekeliandthemalcontentsmadesuchdemandsasnonebutatyrantcouldrefuse，thepreservationoftheirancientprivileges，libertyofconvenience，theconvocationofafreedietorparliament，andothersoflessimportance。Allwasinvain。Thewarcontinuedwiththem，andwiththeTurk，andFrancewasleftatlibertytopushherenterprises，almostwithoutopposition，againstGermanyandtheLowCountries。Thedistressinbothwassogreat，thattheStatesGeneralsawnootherexpedientforstoppingtheprogressoftheFrencharms，thanacessationofhostilities，oratruceoftwentyyears；whichtheynegotiated，andwhichwasacceptedbytheemperorandthekingofSpain，onthetermsthatLouistheFourteenththoughtfittooffer。Bythesetermshewastoremaininfullandquietpossessionofallhehadacquiredsincetheyearsonethousandsixhundredandseventy-eight，andonethousandsixhundredandseventy-nine；amongwhichacquisitionsthatofLuxemburgandthatofStrasburgwerecomprehended。TheconditionsofthistruceweresoadvantageoustoFrance，thatallherintrigueswereemployedtoobtainadefinitivetreatyofpeaceuponthesameconditions。Butthiswasneithertheinterestnortheintentionoftheothercontractingpowers。
TheimperialarmshadbeenverysuccessfulagainsttheTurks。Thissuccess，aswellasthetroublesthatfolloweduponitintheOttomanarmies，andatthePorte，gavereasonableexpectationofconcludingapeaceonthatside：
and，thispeaceconcluded，theemperor，andtheempire，andthekingofSpainwouldhavebeeninamuchbetterposturetotreatwithFrance。Withtheseviews，thatwerewiseandjust，theleagueofAugsburgwasmadebetweentheemperor，thekingsofSpainandSwedenasprincesoftheempire，andtheothercirclesandprinces。Thisleaguewaspurelydefensive。Anexpressarticledeclaredittobeso：andasithadnootherregard，itwasnotonlyconformabletothelawsandconstitutionsoftheempire，andtothepracticeofallnations，buteventothetermsoftheactoftrucesolatelyconcluded。Thispretence，therefore，forbreakingthetruce，seizingtheelectorateofCologne，invadingthePalatinate，besiegingPhilipsburg，andcarryingunexpectedandundeclaredwarintotheempirecouldnotbesupported：norisitpossibletoreadthereasonspublishedbyFranceatthistime，anddrawnfromherfearsoftheimperialpower，withoutlaughter。Aslittlepretencewastheretocomplain，thattheemperorrefusedtoconvertatoncethetruceintoadefinitivetreaty；
sinceifhehaddoneso，hewouldhaveconfirmedinalump，andwithoutanydiscussion，allthearbitrarydecreesofthosechambers，orcourts，thatFrancehaderectedtocoverherusurpation；andwouldhavegivenupalmostasixthpartoftheprovincesoftheempire，thatFranceonewayorotherhadpossessedherselfof。ThepretensionsoftheDuchessofOrleansonthesuccessionofherfather，andherbrother，whichweredisputedbythethenelectorPalatine，andweretobedeterminedbythelawsandcustomsoftheempire，affordedaslittlepretenceforbeginningthiswar，asanyoftheformerallegations。TheexclusionoftheCardinalofFursteilburg，whohadbeenelectedtothearchbishopricofCologne，wascapableofbeingaggravated：
buteveninthiscasehismostChristianmajestyopposedhisjudgmentandhisauthorityagainstthejudgmentandauthorityofthatholyfather，whoseeldestsonhewasproudtobecalled。Inshort，thetruereasonwhyLouistheFourteenthbeganthatcruelwarwiththeempiretwoyearsafterhehadconcludedacessationofhostilitiesfortwentywasthis：heresolvedtokeepwhathehadgot；and，therefore，heresolvedtoencouragetheTurkstocontinuethewar。Hedidthiseffectually，byinvadingGermanyattheveryinstantwhentheSultanwassuingforpeace。Notwithstandingthis，theTurkswereintreatyagainthefollowingyear：andgoodpolicyshouldhaveobligedtheemperor，sincehecouldnothopetocarryonthiswarandthatagainstFrance，atthesametime，withvigorandeffect，toconcludeapeacewiththeleastdangerousenemyofthetwo。ThedecisionofhisdisputeswithFrancecouldnotbedeferred，hisdesignsagainsttheHungarianswereinpartaccomplished，forhissonwasdeclaredking，andthesettlementofthatcrowninhisfamilywasmade；andtherestofthese，aswellasthosethatheformedagainsttheTurks，mightbedeferred。ButthecouncilsofViennajudgeddifferently，andinsistedevenatthiscriticalmomentonthemostexorbitantterms；onsomeofsuchanature，thattheTurksshowedmorehumanityandabettersenseofreligioninrefusing，thantheyinaskingthem。ThusthewarwentoninHungary，andprovedaconstantdiversioninfavorofFrance，duringthewholecourseofthatwhichLouistheFourteenthbeganattime；