Thus, it plainly appears, that there was a confpiracy on all fides, to go on with thofe measures, which must perpetuate the war; and a confpiracy founded upon the intereft and ambition of each. party; which begat fo firm an union, that, inftead. of wondering why it lafted fo long, I am aftonished to think how it came to be broken. The prudence, courage, and firmnefs of her Majesty, in all the steps of that great change, would, if the particulars were truly related, make a very fhining. part in her ftory; nor is her judgment lefs to be admired, which directed her in the choice of perhaps the only perfons, who had skill, credit, and resolution enough, to be her inftruments, in: overthrowing fo many difficulties.

Some would pretend to leffen the merit of this, by telling us, that the rudeness, the tyranny, the oppreffion, the ingratitude of the late favourites,, towards their mistress, were no longer to be borne.. They produce inftances, to fhew, how her Majefty was purfued through all her retreats, particularly at Windfor; where, after the enemy had poffeffed. themselves of every inch of ground, they at laft attacked and ftormed the caftle, forcing the Queen to fly to an adjoining cottage, pursuant to the advice of Solomon, who tells us, It is better to live on the house-top, than with a scolding woman in a large boufe. They would have it, that such continued ill ufage was enough to enflame the meekeft fpirit. They blame the favourites in point of policy, and think it nothing extraordinary, that the Queen fhould be at an end of her patience,,

and refolve to discard them. But I am of another opinion, and think their proceedings were right. For nothing is fo apt to break even the bravest fpirits, as a continual chain of oppreffions; one injury is best defended by a second, and this by a third. By these steps, the old mafters of the palace in France, became maflers of the kingdom* ; and, by these steps, a General during pleasure, might have grown into a General for life; and a General for life into a King. So that I still infist upon it as a wonder, how her Majefty, thus befieged on all fides, was able to extricate herself.

Having thus mentioned the real causes, although disguised under fpecious pretences, which have fo long continued the war, I must beg leave to reafon a little with thofe perfons, who are against any peace, but what they call a good one; and explain themselves, that no peace can be good,. without an entire restoration of Spain to the house. of Auftria. It is to be supposed, that what I am to fay upon this part of the fubject, will have little. influence on thofe, whose particular ends or defigns of any fort, lead them to wish the continuance of the war; I mean, the General and our allies abroad, the knot of late favourites at home, the body of fuch as traffic in stocks; and, laftly, that fet of factious politicians, who were so violently bent, at leaft, upon clipping our conftitution, in church and ftate. Therefore, I fhall not apply myself to any of thefe, but to all others indifferently, whether whigs or tories, whofe private interest

* Sce Dedication to Prince Pofterity, in Tale of a Tub, vol. I.

is.

is beft answered by the welfare of their country. And if, among thefe, there be any, who think we ought to fight on, till K. Charles be quietly settled in the monarchy of Spain, I believe there are feveral points, which they have not thoroughly confidered.

For, firft, it is to be obferved, that this refolution against any peace without Spain, is a new incident, grafted upon the original quarrel, by the intrigues of a faclion among us, who prevailed to give it the fanction of a vote in both houses of parliament, to justify thofe, whofe intereft lay in perpetuating the war. And, as this proceeding was against the practice of all princes and ftates, whofe intentions were fair and honourable; fo is it contrary to common prudence, as well as juftice: I might add, that it was impious, too, by prefuming to control events, which are only in the hands of God. Ours and the States complaint against France and Spain, are deduced in each of our declarations of war, and our pretenfions specified in the eighth article of the grand alliance; but there is not, in any of thefe, the leaft mention of demanding Spain for the houfe of Auftria, or of refufing any peace without that condition. Having already made an extract from both declarations of war, I fhall here give a tranflation of the eighth article in the grand alliance, which will' put this matter out of difpute.

The EIGHTH Article of the GRAND ALLIANCE.. "WHEN the war is once undertaken, none of the parties fhall have the liberty to enter 66 upon

upon a treaty of peace with the enemy, but "jointly, and in concert with the others. Nor "is peace to be made, without having firft ob"tained a juft and reasonable fatisfaction for "his Cæfarean Majesty, and for his Royal Ma“jesty of Great Britain, and a particular fecuri"ty to the Lords the States General, of their "dominions, provinces, titles, navigation, and G6 commerce and a fufficient provifion, that the "kingdoms of France and Spain be never united, "or come under the government of the fame per"fon, or that the fame man may never be king of "both kingdoms; and particularly, that the "French may never be in poffeffion of the Spa"nish Weft-Indies; and that they may not have "the liberty of navigation, for conveniency of "trade, under any pretence whatfoever, neither "directly or indirectly; except it is agreed, that "the fubjects of Great Britain and Holland

may have full power to use and enjoy all the "fame privileges, rights, immunities, and liber"ties of commerce, by land and fea, in Spain, "in the Mediterranean, and in all the places. "and countries which the late King of Spain, "at the time of his death, was in poffeffion of, "as well in Europe, as elsewhere, as they did "then use and enjoy; or which the fubjects of "both, or each nation, could use and enjoy, by vir"tue of any right, obtained before the death of "the faid King of Spain, either by treaties, conven"tions, cuftom, or any other way whatfoever." Here, we see the demands, intended to be in

fifted on by the allies, upon any treaty of peace, are, a just and reasonable satisfaction for the Emperor and King of Great Britain, a fecurity to the States-General for their dominions, &c. and a fufficient provifion, that France and Spain be never united under the same man, as King of both kingdoms. The rest relates to the liberty of trade and commerce for us and the Dutch; but not a fyllable of engaging to difpoffefs the Duke of Anjou.

But to know how this new language, of no peace without Spain, was first introduced, and at last prevailed among us, we must begin a great deal higher.

It was the partition treaty, which begot the will in favour of the Duke of Anjou; for this naturally led the Spaniards to receive a prince supported by a great power, whofe intereft as well as affection engaged them to preserve that monarchy entire, rather than to oppose him in favour of another family, who must expect assistance from a number of confederates, whose principal members had already disposed of what did not belong to them, and, by a previous treaty, parcelled out the monarchy of Spain.

new.

Thus, the Duke of Anjou got into the full posfeffion of all the kingdoms and states belonging to that monarchy, as well in the old world as the And whatever the house of Auftria pretended from their memorials to us and the States, it was at that time but too apparent, that the inclinations of the Spaniards were on the Duke's fide. However, a war was refolved; and in order to

carry