i56

A Sketch of the H i S t o r y Let. 7.

then Richelieu engaged his masser, and profitedof every circun:stance which the conjuncture afford-ed, to engage him with advantage. for, first, hehad a double advantage by engaging fo late: thatof coming frcíh into the quarrel agunst a weariedandalmost exhaustrd enemy ; and thatof yiddingtothe impatience of his friends, who. p.ri-íî d by rheirneceíhties and by the want they had of France , gavethis miniíler an opportunity of laying thoie cl :ímsand establiíhing thoíe pretensions, in ail Lis marieswith Holland, Sweden , and the princes and fiâtesof the empire, on which he had projected the írn eaggrandizement of France . The manner in L 1he engaged, and the air that he gave to his en-gagement, were advantage» of the second h it,advantages of réputation and crédit ; yet v. -sthefe of no fmall moment in the course of thewar, and operated strongly in favor oí France ashe designed they íhould, even aster his death,and at and aster the treaties of Wcffphaîia. Hevarnifiied ambition with the mofì plausible andpopuîar pretences. The eltctor of Treves hadput himfelf under the protection of France and,if I remember right, he made this ítep when thee-.u s or could not protect him against the Swedes,wbom he had reason to apprehend. No matter,the governor of Luxemburgh was ordered tosurprise Treves, and to seize the elector. Heexecuted his orders with fuccefs, and carried thisprince prifoner into Brabant. Richelieu feizedthe lucky circumílance; he reclaimed the eltctor - .and on the refusai of the cardinal infant, the war