Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 3.djvu/365

Rh shall possess the dominions of Spain, in as full a manner as their late king Charles. And what is more remarkable, we broke this very article, in favour of Portugal, by subsequent stipulations; where we agree that king Charles shall deliver up Estremadura, Vigo, and some other places, to the Portuguese, as soon as we can conquer them from the enemy. They, who are guilty of so much folly and contradiction, know best, whether it proceeded from corruption or stupidity.

By two other articles (beside the honour of being convoys and guards in ordinary to the Portuguese ships and coasts) we are to guess the enemy's thoughts, and to take the king of Portugal's word, whenever he has a fancy that he shall be invaded. We are also to furnish him with a strength superiour to what the enemy intends to invade any of his dominions, with, let that be what it will. And until we know what the enemy's forces are, his Portuguese majesty is sole judge what strength is superiour, and what will be able to prevent an invasion; and may send our fleets, whenever he pleases, upon his errands to some of the farthest parts of the world, or keep them attending upon his own coasts, till he thinks fit to dismiss them. These fleets must likewise be subject in all things, not only to the king, but to his viceroys, admirals, and governors, in any of his foreign dominions, when he is in a humour to apprehend an invasion; which I believe is an indignity that was never offered before, except to a conquered nation.

In the defensive alliance with that crown, which is to remain perpetual, and where only England and Holland are parties with them, the same care, in Rh