[288] The Elector of Saxony complained that bad winter quarters had been assigned to his troops; he therefore recalled them just when they should have been preparing to take the field, but very coolly offered to send them back if England and Holland would give him four hundred thousand rixdollars.

[289] It might have been expected that at least the two chiefs of the House of Austria would have put forth, at this conjuncture, all their strength against the rival House of Bourbon.

Unfortunately they could not be induced to exert themselves vigorously even for their own preservation.
They were deeply interested in keeping the French out of Italy.

Yet they could with difficulty be prevailed upon to lend the smallest assistance to the Duke of Savoy.

They seemed to think it the business of England and Holland to defend the passes of the Alps, and to prevent the armies of Lewis from overflowing Lombardy.