Let. 7. and State of Europe . 179

on the upper and lower Rhine , in Denmark , inSweden , and in the provinces of Germany belong-ing to thefe two crowns; on the Mediterranean,the Ocean, and the Baltic. France fupported thiswar with advantage on every fide : and when yourlordlbip confiders in what manner it was carriedon againft her, you will not be furprifed that fhedid fo. Spain had fpirit, but too little ftrengthto maintain her power in Sicily , where Medinahad revolted; to defend her frontier on that fideof the Pyrenees ; and to refill the great efforts ofthe French in the Low Countries^ The empirewas divided; and, even among the princes whoacted againft France , there was neither union intheir councils, nor concert in their projects , nororder in preparations, nor vigorin execution: and,to fay the truth , there was not, in the whole con-federacy, a man whofe abilities could make hima match for the prince of Conde or the marlhalof TuRENNE; nor many who were in any degreeequal to Luxemburg , Crequi , Schomberg , andother generals of inferior note, who commandedthe armies of France . The emperor took this verytime to make new invalions on the liberties ofHungary , and to opprefs his proteftant fubjedts.The prince of Orange alone acted with invincible ‘firmnefs, like a patriot, and a hero. Neither thefedudtions of France nor thofe of England, neitherthe temptations of ambition nor thofe of privateintereft could make him fwerve from the trueintereft of his country, nor from the commonintereft of Europe . He had raided more fieges,

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