Herefusedtobeneuter，andthreatenedtotakepartwithSpain，iftheFrenchpursuedthedesignofbesiegingDunkirkandGraveline，accordingtoaconcerttakenbetweenthemandtheDutch，andinpursuanceofatreatyfordividingtheSpanishLowCountries，whichRichelieuhadnegotiated。Cromwelleitherdidnotdiscernthisturnofthebalanceofpower，longafterwardswhenitwasmuchmorevisible；or，discerningit，hewasinducedbyreasonsofprivateinteresttoactagainstthegeneralinterestofEurope。CromwelljoinedwithFranceagainstSpain，andthoughhegotJamaicaandDunkirk，hedrovetheSpaniardsintoanecessityofmakingapeacewithFrance，thathasdisturbedthepeaceoftheworldalmostfourscoreyears，andtheconsequencesofwhichhavewellnighbeggaredinourtimesthenationheenslavedinhis。Thereisatradition，Ihavehearditfrompersonswholivedinthosedays，andIbelieveitcamefromThurloe，thatCromwellwasintreatywithSpain，andreadytoturnhisarmsagainstFrancewhenhedied。Ifthisfactwascertain，aslittleasIhonorhismemory，Ishouldhavesomeregretthathediedsosoon。Butwhateverhisintentionswere，wemustcharge，thePyreneantreaty，andthefatalconsequencesofit，ingreatmeasuretohisaccount。TheSpaniardsabhorredthethoughtofmarryingtheirInfantatoLouistheFourteenth。ItwasonthispointthattheybrokethenegotiationLionnehadbegun：andyourlordshipwillperceive，thatiftheyresulteditafterwards，andofferedthemarriagetheyhadbeforerejected，Cromwell’sleaguewithFrancewasaprincipalinducementtothisalterationoftheirresolutions。
Theprecisepointatwhichthescalesofpowerturn，likethatofthesolsticeineithertropic，isimperceptibletocommonobservation：and，inonecaseasintheother，someprogressmustbemakeinthenewdirection，beforethechangeisperceived。Theywhoareinthesinkingscale，forinthepoliticalbalanceofpower，unliketoallothers，thescalethatisemptysinks，andthatwhichisfillrises；theywhoareinthesinkingscaledonoteasilycomeofffromthehabitualprejudicesofsuperiorwealth，ofpower，orskill，orcourage，norfromtheconfidencethattheseprejudicesinspire。
Theywhoareintherisingscaledonotimmediatelyfeeltheirstrength，norassumethatconfidenceinitwhichsuccessfulexperiencegivesthemafterwards。
Theywhoarethemostconcernedtowatchthevariationsofthisbalance，misjudgeofteninthesamemanner，andfromthesameprejudices。Theycontinuetodreadapowernolongerabletohurtthem，ortheycontinuetohavenoapprehensionsofapowerthatgrowsdailymoreformidable。Spainverifiedthefirstobservationattheendofthesecondperiod，when，proudandpoor，andenterprisingandfeeble，shestillthoughtherselfamatchforFrance。
Franceverifiedthesecondobservationatthebeginningofthethirdperiod，whenthetriplealliancestoppedtheprogressofprogressofherarms，whichalliancesmuchmoreconsiderablewerenotabletoeffectafterwards。TheotherprincipalpowersofEurope，intheirturns，haveverifiedthethirdobservationinbothitsparts，throughthewholecourseofthisperiod。
WhenLouistheFourteenthtooktheadministrationofaffairsintohisownhands，abouttheyearonethousandsixhundredandsixty，hewasintheprimeofhisage，andhad，whatprincesseldomhave，theadvantagesofyouthandthoseofexperiencetogether。Theireducationisgenerallybad；forwhichreasonroyalbirth，thatgivesarighttothethroneamongotherpeople，gaveallabsoluteexclusionfromitamongtheMamalukes。Hiswas，inallrespects，exceptone，asbadasthatofotherprinces。Hejestedsometimesonhisownignorance；andtherewereotherdefectsinhischaracter，owingtohiseducation，whichhedidnotsee。ButMazarinhadinitiatedhimbetimesinthemysteriesofhispolicy。Hehadseenagreatpartofthosefoundationslaid，onwhichhewastoraisethefabricofhisfuturegrandeur：andasMazarinfinishedtheworkthatRichelieubegan，hehadthelessonsofone，andtheexamplesofboth，toinstructhim。Hehadacquiredhabitsofsecrecyandmethod，inbusiness；ofreserve，discretion，decency，anddignity，inbehaviour。Ifhewasnotthegreatestking，hewasthebestactorofmajestyatleast，thateverfilledathrone。Hebynomeanswantedthatcouragewhichiscommonlycalledbravery，thoughthewantofitwasimputedtohiminthemidstofhisgreatesttriumphs：northatothercourage，lessostentatiousandmorerarelyfound，calm，steady，perseveringresolution；whichseemstoariselessfromthetemperofthebody，andisthereforecalledcourageofthemind。Hehadthembothmostcertainly，andIcouldproduceunquestionableanecdotesinproof。Hewas，inoneword，muchsuperiortoanyprincewithwhomhehadtodo，whenhebegantogovern，Hewassurroundedwithgreatcaptainsbredinformerwars，andwithgreatministersbredinthesameschoolashimself。TheywhohadworkedunderMazarinworkedonthesameplanunderhim；andastheyhadtheadvantagesofgeniusandexperienceovermostoftheministersofothercountries，sotheyhadanotheradvantageoverthosewhowereequalorsuperiortothem：theadvantageofservingamasterwhoseabsolutepowerwasestablished；andtheadvantageofasituationwhereintheymightexerttheirwholecapacitywithoutcontradiction；overthat，forinstance，whereinyourlordship’sgreatgrandfatherwasplaced，atthesametime，inEngland，andJohndeWitinHolland。Amongtheseministers，Colbertmustbementionedparticularlyuponthisoccasion；becauseitwashewhoimprovedthewealthandconsequentlythepowerofFranceextremely，bytheorderheputintothefinances，andbytheencouragementhegavetotradeandmanufactures。Thesoil，theclimate，thesituationofFrance，theingenuity，theindustry，thevivacityofherinhabitantsaresuch；shehassolittlewantoftheproductofothercountries，andothercountrieshavesomanyrealorimaginarywantstobesuppliedbyher；thatwhensheisnotatwarwithallherneighbors，whenherdomesticquietispreservedandanytolerableadministrationofgovernmentprevails，shemustgrowrichattheexpenseofthosewhotrade，andevenofthosewhodonotoftenatrade，withher。
Herbaubles，hermodes，thefolliesandextravagancesofherluxury，costEngland，aboutthetimewearespeakingof，littlelessthaneighthundredthousandpoundssterlingayear，andothernationsintheirproportions。
Colbertmadethemostofalltheseadvantageouscircumstances，andwhilsthefilledthenationalspunge，hetaughthissuccessorshowtosqueezeit；
asecretthatherepentedhavingdiscovered，theysay，whenhesawtheimmensesumsthatwerenecessarytosupplythegrowingmagnificenceofhismaster。
ThiswasthecharacterofLouistheFourteenth，andthiswasthestateofhiskingdomatthebeginningofthepresentperiod。Ifhispowerwasgreathispretensionswerestillgreater。Hehadrenounced，andtheInfantawithhisconsenthadrenounced，allrighttothesuccessionofSpain，inthestrongesttermsthattheprecautionsofthecouncilsofMadridcouldcontrive。Nomatter；
heconsentedtotheserenunciations，butyourlordshipwillandbythelettersofMazarin，andbyothermemorials。thatheactedonthecontraryprinciple，fromthefirst，whichheavowedsoonafterwards。Suchapower，andsuchpretensions，shouldhavegiven，onewouldthink，animmediatealarmtotherestofEurope。
PhiliptheFourthwasbrokenanddecayed，likethemonarchyhegoverned。
Oneofhissonsdied，asIremember，duringthenegotiationsthatprecededtheyearonethousandsixhundredandsixty：andthesurvivor，whowasCharlestheSecond，ratherlanguished，thanlived，fromthecradletothegrave。
Sodangerousacontingency，therefore，astheunionofthetwomonarchiesofFranceandSpain，beinginviewfortyyearstogether；onewouldimagine，thattheprincipalpowersofEuropehadthemeansofpresentingitconstantlyinviewduringthesametime。Butitwasotherwise。Franceactedverysystematicallyfromtheyearonethousandsixhundredandsixty，tothedeathofkingCharlestheSecondofSpain。Sheneverlostsightofhergreatobject，thesuccessiontothewholeSpanishmonarchy；andsheacceptedthewillofthekingofSpaininfavoroftheDukeofAnjou。Assheneverlostsightofhergreatobjectduringthistime，soshelostnoopportunityofincreasingherpower，whileshewaitedforthatofsucceedinginherpretensions。ThetwobranchesofAustriawereinnoconditionofmakingaconsiderableoppositiontoherdesignsandattempts。Holland，whoofallotherpowerswasthemostconcernedtoopposethem，wasatthattimeundertwoinfluencesthathinderedherfrompursuinghertrueinterest。HertrueinterestwastohaveusedherutmostendeavorstounitecloselyandintimatelywithEnglandontherestorationofkingCharles。Shedidtheverycontrary。JohndeWit，attheheadoftheLouvesteinfaction，governed。TheinterestofhispartywastokeepthehouseofOrangedown：hecourtedthereforethefriendshipofFrance，andneglectedthatofEngland。ThealliancebetweenournationandtheDutchwasrenewed，Ithink，inonethousandsixhundredandsixty-two；butthelatterhadmadeadefensiveleaguewithFrancealittlebefore，onthesuppositionprincipallyofawarwithEngland。Thewarbecameinevitableverysoon。Cromwellhadchastisedthemfortheirusurpationsintrade，andtheoutragesandcrueltiestheyhadcommitted；buthehadnotcuredthem。ThesamespiritcontinuedintheDutch，thesameresentmentsintheEnglish：andthepiqueofmerchantsbecamethepiqueofnations。FranceenteredintothewaronthesideofHolland；
butthelittleassistanceshegavetheDutchshowedplainlyenoughthatherintentionwastomakethesetwopowerswastetheirstrengthagainstoneanother；
whilstsheextendedherconquestsintheSpanishLowCountries。HerinvasionintheseprovincesobligedDeWittochangehisconduct。HithertohehadbeenattachedtoFranceintheclosestmanner，hadledhisrepublictoserveallthepurposesofFrance，andhadrenewedwiththmarshald’EstradesaprojectofdividingtheSpanishNetherlandsbetweenFranceandHolland，thathadbeentakenupformerly，whenRichelieumadeuseofittoflattertheirambition，andtoengagethemtoprolongthewaragainstSpain。Aprojectnotunliketothatwhichwasheldouttothembythefamouspreliminaries，andtheextravagantbarrier-treaty，inonethousandsevenhundredandnine；
andwhichengagedthemtocontinueawarontheprincipleofambition，intowhichtheyhadenteredwithmorereasonableandmoremoderateviews。
AstheprivateinterestsofthetwoDeWitshinderedthatcommonwealthfrombeingonherguard，asearlyassheoughttohavebeen，againstFrance，sothemistakenpolicyofthecourtofEngland，andtheshortviews，andtheprofusetemperoftheprincewhogoverned，gavegreatadvantagestoLouistheFourteenthinthepursuitofhisdesigns。HeboughtDunkirk：andyourlordshipknowshowgreataclamorwasraisedonthatoccasionagainstyournobleancestor；asifhealonehadbeenanswerableforthemeasure，andhisinteresthadbeenconcernedinit。IhaveheardourlatefriendMr。GeorgeClarkequoteawitness，whowasquiteunexceptionable，butIcannotrecallhisnameatpresent，who，manyyearsafterallthesetransactions，andthedeathofmylordClarendon，affirmed，thattheearlofSandwichhadownedtohim，thathehimselfgavehisopinion，amongmanyothers，officers，andministers，forsellingDunkirk。Theirreasonscouldnotbegood，Ipresumetosay；butseveral，thatmightbeplausibleatthattime，areeasilyguessed。
AprincelikekingCharles，whowouldhavemadeasmanybadbargainsasanyyoungspendthrift，formoney，findinghimselfthusbacked，wemayassureourselves，wasperemptorilydeterminedtosell：andwhateveryourgreatgrandfather’sopinionwas，thisIamabletopronounceuponmyownexperience，thathistreatyforthesaleisnoproofhewasofopiniontosell。Whentheresolutionofsellingwasoncetaken，towhomcouldthesalebemade？TotheDutch；
No。Thismeasurewouldhavebeenatleastasimpolitic，and，inthatmoment，perhapsmoreodiousthantheother。TotheSpaniards？Theywereunabletobuy：and，aslowastheirpowerwassunk，theprincipleofopposingitstillprevailed。IhavesometimesthoughtthattheSpaniards，whowereforcedtomakepeacewithPortugal，andtorenounceallclaimtothatcrown，fourorfiveyearsafterwards，mighthavebeeninducedtotakethisresolutionthen；
iftheregainingDunkirkwithoutanyexpensehadbeenaconditionproposedtothem；andthatthePortuguese，who，notwithstandingtheiralliancewithEnglandandtheindirectsuccorsthatFranceaffordedthem，werelittleable，afterthetreatyespecially，tosupportawaragainstSpain，mighthavebeeninducedtopaythepriceofDunkirk，forsogreatanadvantageasimmediatepeacewithSpain，andtheextinctionofallforeignpretencesontheircrown。
Butthisspeculationconcerningeventssolongagopassedisnotmuchtothepurposehere。Iproceedthereforetoobserve，thatnotwithstandingthesaleofDunkirk，andthesecretleaningsofourcourttothatofFrance，yetEnglandwasfirsttotakethealarm，whenLouistheFourteenthinvadedtheSpanishNetherlandsinonethousandsixhundredandsixty-seven：andthetriplealliancewastheworkofanEnglishminister。Itwastimetotakethisalarm；forfromthemomentthatthekingofFranceclaimedarighttothecountyofBurgundy，theduchyofBrabant，andotherportionsoftheLowCountriesthatdevolvedonhisqueenbythedeathofherfatherPhiliptheFourth，hepulledoffthemaskentirely。Volumeswerewrittentoestablish，andtorefutethissupposedright。Yourlordshipnodoubtwilllookintoacontroversythathasemployedsomanypensandsomanyswords；andIbelieveyouwillthinkitwassufficientlyboldintheFrench，toarguefromcustoms，thatregulatedthecourseofprivatesuccessionsincertainprovinces，toarightofsucceedingtothesovereigntyofthoseprovinces：andtoassertthedivisibilityoftheSpanishmonarchy，withthesamebreathwithwhichtheyassertedtheindivisibilityoftheirown；althoughtheproofsinonecasewerejustasgoodastheproofsintheother，andthefundamentallawofinadvisabilitywasatleastasgoodalawinSpain，aseitherthisortheSaliquelawwasinFrance。ButhoweverproperitmightbefortheFrenchandAustrianpenstoenterintolongdiscussions，andtoappeal，onthisgreatoccasion，totherestofEurope；therestofEuropehadashortobjectiontomaketothepleaofFrance，whichnosophisms。noquirksoflawcouldevade。Spainacceptedtherenunciationsasrealsecurity：FrancegavethemassuchtoSpain，andineffecttotherestofEurope。Iftheyhadnotbeengiven，andthustaken，theSpaniardswouldnothavemarriedtheirInfantatothekingofFrance，whateverdistresstheymighthaveenduredbytheprolongationofthewar。Theserenunciationswere