Let. 8.

and State of Ëurope ;

2 - 5 ?

France ; the next campaign might hâve been openedearly on our side; and’ several other gréât andobvions advantages might hâve been obtained; butthe Dutch reíused to contribute, even léss khantheir proportion, for the Queen had ofFered to takethe defìciency on herself, to the expense of barracksand forage; and disappointed by their obstinacythe whole design.

We were then amuse d with visionary fchemesof marching our whole, army, in a year or twomore, and aster a town or two more were taken,directly to Paris , or at least into the heart ofFrance . But was this fo eafy or fo sure a game?The French expected we would play it. Theirgénérais had visited the several poils they mighttake, when our army íhould enter France , toretard, to incommode, to distress us in our march,and even to make a décisive stand and fo giveus battle. I take what I fay here from indifputableauthority, that of the perlons consulted andemployed in preparing for this gréât distress, Hadv/e been beaten, or had we been forced to retiretowards our own frontier in the Low Countries,aster penetrating into France , the hopes on winchwe protradted the war would hâve been difap-pointed, and, I think, the most sanguine-wouldhâve then repented refusing the osiers made atGertrudenberg. But if we had beaten the French ;for it was fcarce lawful in thòfe days of our pré-somption to suppose the contrary, would the wholemonarchy of Spain hâve been our immédiate andCertain prize? Suppose, and I suppose it on good

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