M A - University of Limerick Institutional Repository

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Holland, and also gained Denmark to Jiis
interest; and a treaty, which had
been, Sor Some time concerted, against
the Bourbon family, was signed at the
Hague, in September i yoo.
Leopold, the Emperor, first began
the war in Italy, in the Spring oS the
year i7os. He waited till the Germantic
body should come over to his
interest, before he would attack Lewis
on the side oS Germany. The Emperor
had a party in Spain, and a correspondence
there ; but no advantage
could be reaped from thence, unless one
of his suns was there in person, which
it was impossible to effect without the
assiststanee of the English and Dutch
fleets. King William did all in his power
to hasten the preparations, and also
intended to have headed the allied army
io the beginning os the year 1302.
Death, however, presented his design,
and deprived the yvorld of this great
man.
(^•reen on her ascension to the
throne, entered into all the measures of
king William. The dispositions made
by England, and Holland, in order, if
possible, to pot the archdude Charles
on the throne of Spain, or, at least, to
expose the ambition of the Bourbon family,
perhaps, deserves the attention
of all ages. Hollnd was to maintain
two-hundred thouSand troeopr to be employed
in the field, or kept in garrisons.
This. was more than the vast monarchy
os Spain could Surnish at this juncture.
A province os merchants, who had been
almost totally Subdued in two months,
about thirty years beSore, could now do
more than the sovereigns os Spain aVaples,
lianale.S, Pern, and Mexico. England
was to Surnish Sorty-thousand. Partics
in alliances generally Surnish lets
at length than they promised; England.
on the contrary, in the Second year of
the war, Seat fifty, instead of forty -
thousand men ; and, towards the end
os the war, she maintained, of her
eewn troope, and those of her allies,
tipon the frontiers of France, in Spain,
in Bale, in Irelanc^ in Anltricas and, in
a
her fleets, two-hundred and twentythousand
soldiers and Sailors.
The emperor was to furnish twentyfour
thousand men, exclusive of the
assistance os the empire, and those allies
whom he expected to detach from
the Bourhon family. Mean while, the
grandson of France reigned peacebly at
Meldeiil and Lewis Seemed now at the
height oS bis power and glory. But
those who could penetrate the sccrets
os the courts oS Europe, especially that
of France, began to apprehend a change.
Spain, which had been greatly weakened
under the late kings of the blood of
Charles V, become more So in the beginning
of the reign of a son of the
Bourbon family. The houfe of Austria
bad partisans in Several provinces of this
monarchy. Catalonia seemed ready to
shake off the new yoke, and to declare
for the arcbduke Charles. It was impossible
to conceive, that Portugal
would nor, sooner or later, espouse
the cause of the' Austrian family. It appeared
her interest to kindle, among
the Spaniarde, who were her natural
enemies, a civil war, by which Lisbon
must be a considerable gainer. The
duke of Saatay, though but just become
Sather-in-law to the king oS Spain, and
allied to the Bourbon family both by
blond and treaties, yet already appeared
dissatisfied with bis Son-in-law. He.
at first, received a monthly pension os
fifty-thousand livres, which was augmented
to fifty-thousand crowns ; but
this did not appear to him Sufficient ty
keep him in the Bourbon interest He
wanted, at least. to have Mont/erruS
and part of Milan given up to him.
The haughty treatment be experienced
from the French generals, and the ministry
of Versailles, gave him reafon to
suspect, that he would Soon be disregarded
by bis Sons-inlaw, who Surrounded
his dominions on all sides'
Engcne, at the head of thirty-thoufand
men, made a descent upon Italy,
by she bishopric of Trent and the territories
oS Venice, having a full power
to pursue what measures be thought