s 54 A Sketch of the H I s x o r y Let.7

of Anstria sue, in our days, for dominion at thegâte of every palace in Europe Francis the firstwas the principal in his own quarrels, paid hisown armies, fought his own battles ; and thoughhis val or alone did not hinder Charles the fìíthfrom fubduiug ail Europe , as Bayle, a betterphilologer than politician, somewhere afferts, busa multitude of other circumstances easily to betraced in history; yet he contributed by his Vic-tor i es, and even by his defeats, to waste the strengthand check the course of that growing power Lewisthe fourteenth had no rival of this kind in the houleof Austria , nor indeed any enemy of this import-ance to combat, till the prince of Orange becameking of Gréât Britain : and he had gréât advan»tages in many other respects, which it is neceífaryto consider in order to make a true judgment onthe a flairs of Europe from the year one thousandsix hundred and sixty. You will discover the firstof thefe ad van tages, and such as were productiveof ail the rest, in the conduct of Richelieu andof Mazarin. Richelieu forme d the gréât design,and laid the foundations ; Mazarin purfued thedesign, and raifed the superstructure. If I do notdeceive inyself extremely, there are few passagesin history that deferve your lordíhip’s attentionmore than the conduct that the first and greatestof thofe ministers held, in laying the foundationsI fpeik of. You will observe how he helped toembroil a flairs on every side, and to keep thebouse of Austria at bay as it were, how he enter-ed into the quarrels of Italy against Spain , into