sz 6 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. enabled to repair their losses, and still to confinelxvi. that mighty power nearly within its ancient"75. limits! A fifth part of these victories would havesufficed, in another period, to have given toFrance the empire of Europe.

The Swedes had been engaged, by the paymentof large subsidies, to take part with Lewis, andinvade the territories of the elector of Branden-burgh in Pomerania. That elector, joined by someImperialists from Silesia , fell upon them withbravery and success. He soon obliged them toevacuate his part of that country, and he pursuedthem into their own. He had an interview withthe king of Denmark, who had now joined theconfederates, and resolved to declare war againstSweden. These princes concerted measures forpushing the victory.

To all these misfortunes against foreign enemieswere added some domestic insurrections of thecommon people in Guienne aud Brittany. Thoughsoon suppressed, they divided the force and atten-tion of Lewis. The only advantage, gained bytire French, was at sea. Messina in Sicily hadrevolted-, and a fleet under the duke de Vivonnewas dispatched to support the rebels. The Dutchhad sent a squadron to assist the Spaniards. Abattle ensued, where de Ruyter was killed. Thisevent alone was thought equivalent to a victory.

The French, who, twelve years before, hadscarcely a ship of war in any of their harbours,had raised themselves, by means of perseverance* and policy, to be, in their present force, though