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Lorrain, and his Dutcby, which had
been so often taken, and as often restored
by the French, was to be for
ever annexed to the crown of France.
This treaty, whichcput in motion the
political artillery of all the princes,
either to oppofe or defend it, proved to
as little purpose as the former. Europe
was again disappointed in her expectation,
as happens almost always.
The emperor would not sign this
treaty oS partition, becauSe he was in
great hopes of having the wholes succession.
The French monarch had
signed it, and waited the event in the
utmost sufpence.
The King of Spain, being Sensible of
his decliningstate, though in the flower
of his age, was inclined to settle his
whole monarchy on the archduke Charles
nephew to his queen, and fon to the
emperor Leopold ; for fo much yvas he
convinced of the necessity of paying
lome regard to the balancing system,
that he became afraid of naming the
eldest Son his Succcssor ; Such a Step he
saw plainly would alarm the rest of
Eur ope, and all the other powers would
immediately have recourse to arms,
when they Saw Spain, with the Indies,
the empire, Hungary, Bohemia, and
Lombardy, in the Same hands. He
therefore requested the emperor Leopold,
to fend his fecond Son Charles to Madeid
with ten-thouSaud men ; but this
would nqt then have been Suffered by
France, Engleind, lis eland, nor Italy, Sor
all were follicitora lor bringing about
the partition. The emperor would not
venture his Son alone to the metcy os
the Spanish council, and he knew he
could not march ten-thousand men to
that kingdom. His intention was only
to send a Sufficient body of troops
into Italy, to Secure himSelf in this part
of the Spanish Austrian monarchy. It
happened in tha important affairs of
theSe two grand princes, as we daily
see among private persons about their
little concerns ; they disputed, and then
grew out of temper , the German
haughtiness railed the Castellan pride.
a
The countess de Perlitz, who entirely
governed the queen of the dying monarch,
contributed likewise to alienate
the affections of many, whom she ought
rather to have gained over to the interest
of Madrid ; and the council of
Vienna rendered things Still more irteconclleable
by their haughty procedure.
The young archduke, afterwards the
emperor Charles VI, generally called
the Spaniardi by Some reproachful
names ; but he learned Srom thence
how cautious a prince ought to be in
his e.xprelsions. The bishop of Leridz,
ambassador Srom Madeld at Vienna, being
disgusted at the Germans, represented
what Charles had Said, in the worst
light, in his dispatches to Madiid ; and
he himSelf wrote against the house of
Austria, in terms more reproachful than
any which the archduke had thrown
out against the Spaniards ' The minds
of the ministers of Leopold, said he, ar^
like the goats horns in my country, little,
stubborn and crooked. This letter
became public; the bishop of Lerlds
was recalled ; and, at his return to
Madeld, he not a little heightened the
antipathy of the Spaniards against the
Germans.
Many other little trilling incidents
which are generally connected with affairs
of importance, contributed likewise
to bring about the great change which
happened in Europe, and prepared the
way for that revolution, by which the
hotffeos Austeia foreverlostSpainand the
Indies. Cardinal Porfoearero and most of
the Spanish grandees, having formed
themfclves into a party to prevent the
dismembering of their monarcy, persuaded
Charles II. to prefer a younger grandfon
of Lewis XIV. to a prince fo remote
from them, and fo incapable to defend
them. This they faid would be no
violation of the folemn renunciations of
the mother, and queen of Lewis ^IV.
to the crown of Spain; since thefe had
been made on purpose to prevent the
clder fons from coming into possession
of the two kingdoms, and, for that
reason, they had chosen a younger son.