Let. S.
201
to reap the succession, but a German army mighthâve been there to defend it ; for the court cfMadrid insisted on having twelve thousand of thesetroops, and, rather than not to hâve them osl'eredto contribute to the payment of them private!y j .because it would hâve been too unpopular amongthe Spaniards, and too prejudicial to the Austriartinterest, to hâve had it known that the emperordeclined the payment of a body of his ovvn troopsthat vvere demanded to secure that monarchy tohis son. These proposais were hais refused, and haisevaded : and in return to the osier of the crownof Spain to the archduke, the impérial councilsaíked the government of Milan for him. Theythought it a point of deep policy to secure theItasian provinces, and to leave to England andHolland the care of the Low countries, of Spain ,and the Indies. B y declining these proposais, thehouse of Auítria renounced in some sort the wholesuccesiìon : at least íhe gave England and Hollandreasons, whatever engagements these powers hadtaken, to refuse the harder task of putting lierinto possession by force ; vyhen slie might, andwould not, procure to the Englisli and Duth,and her other allies, the easier taík of defendingher in this possession.
I said that the measures mentioned above wererendered impracticable, by the emperor chiefly,because they were rendered sb likewise by othercircumstances at the famé corijuncture. A principalone I Ihill mention, and it lliall be drawn fromfhe state of our own çountry, and the disposition
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