sixth year of his age He was a fat man of great judgment and had done his Master very good service in several imployments Mr. de Blaspiel his Colleague remained sole Ambassador at Nimueguen he is as honest and civil a man as lives and loves company and good cheer but his best quality is that he perfectly understands the interests of the Elector his Master and is wholly devoted thereunto The Elector of Brandenbourg having defrayed the charges of his Ambassadors by a Steward of the Embassie which for the first year amounted to forty thousand Crowns their allowances were regulated for the future In the mean time the French King began the Campagn with his whole Houshold which never appeared in better order nor richer Equipage but the better to cover the design which he intended he carried with him the Queen and all the Ladies of Court as far as Metz whilst several bodies of his Armies kept at the same time Luxembourg Namur Charlemont Mâ—ns and Ypres the best provided places of the Low-countries as it were blocked up in so much that the Confederate-forces being divided for the preservation of these Towns were in no condition to bring relief to any of them March 1677 8 the French themselves were no less surprized than all the Confederates were when the King leaving the Queen crossed so many Countrys in so great haste that on the fourth of March he came before Ghent which by orders from him was invested the first of that month The besieged to no purpose cut their Dikes and drowned part of the Country for the King lodged his forces and pressed so vigorously the siege that in a few days the Town and Cittadel were both carried It is hard to be expressed what trouble the taking of Ghent put all Holland into They saw to their astonishment that the French who were remote on the one side approached on the other At London all the Confederates exaggerated the importance of that loss that they might excite England to a speedy and open declaration whilst the French King pursuing his conquests caused Ypres to be besieged on the 15 of March and in a few days took it though the Garison made a brave resistance The Treaty was now more than ever damped at Nimueguen so great prosperities stopt the mouths of all the Confederates Ambassadors though the French seemed nothing elevated thereby The same prosperities had great impressions on Holland the people tired out with the War and alarmed by the conquests that were made on their frontiers minded nothing but peace They reflected on the flourishing condition that the United Provinces were in before the War they saw their Treasure exhausted and the inhabitants unable any longer to support the great Impositions and Taxes of the Two hundred peny which had been raised seven times in one year And therefore the Heer Beverning pressingly urged the Ambassadors of the Confederates being vexed to see them still flatter themselves with vain hopes when the only refuge they now had was the declaration of England and indeed that was the thing they wholly applied themselves to without advancing one step towards the peace Mr. Oliver Krantz who the year before went into Suedeland to receive new Instructions from the King his Master with whom the Danes hindered the commerce of Letters was come back to Nimueguen where he found affairs as backward as when he parted from thence and besides a great driness betwixt his Colleague and the French Ambassadors by reason of a difference that had happened between the Countess of Oxenstierne and Madam Colbert the Countess after her Lving-in having been pleased to render her first visit to the Ambassador of Spain's Lady That procedure offended Madam Colbert who twice afterward refused the visit of my Lady Oxenstierne upon pretext of feigned indispositions which hinder'd her not at the same time to receive the visits of several other Ladies This published the ground of the difference which might easily have been adjusted had it happened between persons of other humours of whom the gravity of the one and the frank humour of the other would hardly agree together And that was the reason that the difference of those two Ladies and the driness betwixt the French Ambassadors and the first Ambassador of Sueden lasted even till the end of the Treaty The Tragical death of the Ambassador of Denmark's Ladies brother was also the cause that that Lady visited my Lady Oxenstierne no more Her brother had a Settlement in Schoâ—en where he was accused of keeping inteâ—â—igence with the Danes against the service oâ— Sueden he was brought before a Council of War and there sentenced to be shot to death by four Ensigns The King of Sueden offered him a pardon if he would have acknowledged himself guilty of Treason but the poor Gentleman chose rather to dye and with extraordinary generosity caused fifty Ducats a piece to be given to the four Ensigns that shot him to death The news of that did so afflict the Ambassadors Lady that afterwards she could not so much as endure the sight of a Suede The Baron of Platen Envoy from the Duke of Osnabrug arrived on the 30th at Nimueguen but seeing the House of Lunenbourg had not obtained the title and rank of Ambassador for their Ministers Baron Platen thought that taking the title of Plenipotentiary Minister he might obtain an equality with the Ambassadors of the Powers that came after Crowned heads But he succeeded not in his pretensions though by a liberal expence he did his Master credit April 1678. At the time when there was no tâ—lk at Nimueguen but of the disposition that was in England of openly favouring the Confederates and reducing France to receive the Law it may be said that the French King at the same time gave it to all Europe by the Propositions that he made the 9th of April wherein he declared the conditions on which he was willing to make peace with all those with whom he was engaged in War and whereupon his Majesty fixed as the last point he would condescend to and upon which his Enemies might chuse Peace or War provided they did it before the tenth of May beyond which time he would not be engaged to stand to those conditions I will not here insert a particular relation of these conditions neither of the Memoirs of the Treaty nor of the Treaties that were concluded because they have been already published I shall only say that the Propositions of the 9th of April were the beginning of the Negotiation of peace and the scantling according to which all the Treaties have been concluded and signed though at first nothing appeared more remote from it nor yet afterward until the day that the conditions were in general accepted The Imperialists of all others seemed the least inclined to yeild to those conditions The first which required full satisfaction to be made to Sueden was insupportable to the Northern Princes The Spaniards and other Confederates found
was never any good understanding betwixt him and his Colleague the Count of Kinski nor the Marquess de los Balbases His allowance was 3400 German Florins a Month and he had always several persons of Quality in his Retinue Count Anthony of Oldembourg arrived at Nimueguen on the seventh of September but as he was preparing to give the Mediators and all the other Ambassadors notice of his arrival the Imperial Ministers acquainted him that they expected to be preferred before the English Mediators That Ambassador perceiving this to be contrary to the custom that was established at Cologn would not consent to the Imperial pretensions He well foresaw that not only the Mediators would not have admitted his Visit but likewise the French and all the other Ambassadors who maintained the honour of the Mediation and therefore he gave no notice of his arrival gave nor received no Visit and continued still incognito at Nimueguen but that hindered not but that he met at conferences and especially at all places where they played That Count is the Natural Son of the last Count of that name to whom the King of Denmark was heir as being of the same family but the present Count hath obtained a vast Estate from his Majesty with the Government of the County of Oldembourg he is of the Order of the Elephant and very handsome his presence courage rich equipage and vast expence shewed him to be a great person but his civility and free humour made him beloved of every body insomuch that the Assembly of Nimueguen lost much by his departure which was eight months after his arrival The end of the Campagn drawing now near the Confederates did not think that the French forces would effect any considerable Enterprize Nevertheless the Mareshal de Crequi assured the King that he would make him Master of Fribourg if his Majesty pleased The design appeared extreamly difficult But the Mareshal having obtained permission and all that was necessary for carrying on so great an Enterprize endeavoured to make the Duke of Lorrain believe that he intended some design upon Sarbruck and at the same time made a considerable body of men pass the Rhine at Brisac which on the ninth of October invested Fribourg and marching thither in great haste he forced the place to render before that the Duke of Lorrain could come in time to relieve it Octob. 1677 such was the consternation at Nimueguen among the Germans and all the Ministers of the Confederates that even after the taking of that place they could hardly believe that the Mareshal de Crequi durst have undertaken the siege Fribourg has a Cittadel strong by situation and fortifications the Town is great and well peopled because of the University that is there and the Emperour received a very considerable revenue from it but the consequence of that conquest was better known afterwards than at that time The Voyage that the Prince of Orange was preparing to make into England gave ground of various conjectures On the 17 of Octob. he Embarked at the Brill being accompanied with the chief of his Family and the Heer Odyke the Extraordinary Ambassador of the States-General who had not as it was given out given him a full power to conclude a Peace or make a new League On the 19th the Prince arrived in England where his Marriage with the Princess Mary Eldest Daughter to his Royal Highness the Duke of York was carried on so secretly that the first news that they had of it at Court was the conclusion thereof The news of this Marriage came to Nimueguen the 29th and seeing all the Confederates began to hope more than ever that England would not be long before it declared in their favours they made no more doubt of it after this Marriage And therefore all the Ministers of the Confederates complimented thereupon Ambassador Jenkins and my Lady Temple also who remained at Nimueguen after the departure of her Husband of which no man doubted but that the Marriage of the Prince of Orange was the cause whereof till then they were ignorant The affairs of the North went daily worse and worse for the Suedes especially in Pomerania Stetin was besieged from the beginning of Summer and was extreamly straitned The Danes had taken the Isle of Rugen And though Count Koningsmark routed them there and beat them wholly out of it yet the Town of Stetin deprived of all kind of relief and out of hopes of receiving any was at length forced to render to the Elector of Brandenbourg having given demonstrations of great Lovalty to Sueden and left to posterity an extraordinary instance of constancy and resolution Affairs were wholly at a stand at Nimueguen there was no meeting but for Play Dancing and Collations at the houses of the Ambassadors of France Spain Sueden and Denmark but the League which was signed at the Hague the tenth of Jan. 1677 8 betwixt England and the States-General to oblige the French King to make Peace on the terms they had agreed upon made all the Confederates hope that the countenance of affairs would quickly change to their advantage and that France would be at length forced to stoop or be overpowred by the multitude of enemies England in effect seemed inclined to an open declaration and the King thought it not sit any longer to reject the sollicitations of his Parliament wherefore he made a Speech to them in a quite different strain from that which was mentioned before he acquainted the two Houses with the League that he had made with the States-General for the preservation of Flanders and obliging those to a Peace who would not accept of the conditions that they had judged reasonable He laid before them the necessity of money for compassing those great designs He gave them some account of the moneys which he had received for the building and equipping of Ships and consented that the Supplies which the Parliament did give upon this occasion should be laid out by such persons as they should nominate But of all things his Majesty put them in mind of the advantages which England had reaped and still did reap from the peace it enjoyed whilst all Europe besides were in actual War For preserving so much happy success it was necessary that the French should be still prosperous and that by breaking the measures of the Confederates they might make their Ambassadors change their tone The taking of the Isle of Tobago of all the Vessels that were in that Port and the Ammunition which was in the fort the death of Binkes Admiral of Zealand and the utter ruin of that Colony were sensible blows to the States-General as the taking of St. Guillain during the rigor of Frost and Snow had terrified the Low-countries By these means the French King thought he might overthrow the projects of his Enemies Febr. 167 8 Monsieur de Somnitz Ambassador and Plenipotentiary from the Elector of Brandenbourg on February 25. died at Nimueguen in the sixty and
thing perhaps might have befallen that Town which happened to Valenciennes a considerable number of French Soldiers having entered into it pell-mell with those that run At that time the Duke of Trimouille sent the Sieur de Sanguiniere a Counseller of the Chastelet of Paris to Nimueguen with Letters of Procuration and the Titles that justified the pretensions he had to the Kingdom of Naples to the end that the same protestation might be made to the Mediators as was made to those of the Treaty of Munster for preservation of the rights that he has to that Kingdom by Anne de Laval of the House of Arragon from whom that Duke descended in right line The Mareshal d' Estrades his Lady arrived at Nimueguen the 12th and was met by the French Ambassadors at Moock on the Meuse two Leagues from thence where she disembarked As all the French were very curious to be present at that first Interview so the people of Nimueguen shewed no less desire of seeing that Lady Immediately after her arrival all the Ambassadors and their Ladies rendered her their publick visits The Nuncio about this time received a Courier from Rome but the cause of his coming was not fully known Nevertheless seeing the noise of the Peace was already spread all over Europe it was not doubted but that that Court desired to find some expedient that might remove the obstacles which hindered the Ambassadors of France from admitting the facultative Brief of the Nuncio because the Pope had named none but the Emperour in it The Nuncio offered then three overtures to satisfie the French Ambassadors the first was to present a Brief in which no Prince should be named The second to give as many Briefs as there were Christian Princes in War wherein every one might have the rank that he desired And the third to follow the stile of the plenary Commissions of the English Mediators by giving a Brief facultative to end the War which was betwixt the Emperour Spain Holland and their Confederates on the one side and the most Christian King the King of Sueden and their Allies on the other But the French Ambassadors continued firm in their Pretensions and would according to the ancient custom have the King their Master named immediately after the Emperour and that was the reason why in all the Treaties of Peace that have been since concluded there is no mention made of the Mediation of the Pope Notwithstanding of that conduct of the Nuncio the pains he took in promoting of the peace were as grateful to the French Ambassadors as they were conducive to the repose of Christendom That Mediator carried himself also in so different a manner from the former practice of Nuncio's in regard of Protestant Princes that it was not his fault if he did not visit all the Ambassadors that were at Nimueguen He render'd the visit to the Envoy of Osnabrug who had visited him and received the Protestants with as much civility as the Catholicks which produced so good effects for the Catholick Interest in all these Provinces and corresponded so well with the reputation of the Pope that on occasion of the Bull which was then believed the Pope would emit one of the most eminent subjects of the States-General said That their Ministers might well preach that the Pope was Antichrist but that for his own part he was persuaded that this man was not News came on the 13. That the Mareshal de Schomberg was advanced with Twenty thousand men towards Duren in the Countrey of Juliers and that he had sent to demand of the City of Cologn the forty thousand Crowns and twelve thousand of Interest which that Town ought to restore to the French King seeing that contrary to the Neutrality agreed upon at the first Assembly held there for the peace the Magistrates suffered that money to be taken by the Garison The Envoy of Cologn who was at Nimueguen demanded audience of the French Ambassadors but they refused it because he came to the Assembly without a Pasport from France The French Army which encamped at the gates of Brussels so netled the Spaniards and incommoded the whole Countrey that there happened some tumult in the Town where Don Pedro de Ronquillo was accused for being the author of those counsels that delayed the conclusion of the peace insomuch that it was affirmed for a certain that the Duke de Villa Hermosa wrote to the Marquess de los Balbases that he would make him accountable for the loss of the Low-countreys if with all diligence he did not conclude the peace The French Ambassadors still expected the last resolution of the States-General that they might send back the Courier which the Mareshal de Luxembourg had at Nimueguen with the news according to which he was to take his measures for putting into action or drawing of the Armies he was upon the point to have marched towards the frontiers of France upon the Letter of the States-General wherein they informed him that they had given orders to their Ambassadors to sign the Peace at Nimueguen but the advice that the French Ambassadors gave him of the new difficulty which hinder'd the signing of it made him to remain still in those parts My Lord Ambassador Temple parted for the Hague on the 14th where finding no final resolution for concluding the peace if the impediment which hinder'd the signing of it were not removed he bestirred himself with all industry to incline the States-General to enter into new engagements with the King his Master that might procure them and their Allies more advantageous conditions than those which France proposed to them The French Ambassadors thought fit in the mean time to make publick the reasons that his most Christian Majesty had to retain the places until Sueden had satisfaction and for that end they caused to be printed the Memoir which on the 17th they gave to the Dutch Ambassadors By this Paper it was given out That the French King having equally espoused the Interests of Sueden with his own and on that account only abandoned so many places which was no less advantageous to the Dutch than Spaniards his Majesty had grounds to hope that these Powers would contribute with him for the re-establishment of that Crown or at least that they would not oppose his design in making use of those places as of a very proper expedient to procure the performance of a condition to which they agreed by accepting the peace But since that the Kings Enemies endeavoured to render his Majesties word suspected he was willing to engage with the States General in all the measures they should judg most convenient for precuring satisfaction to Sueden This Memoir being enlarged and published in way of a Manifesto the States-General caused an Answer containing thirty pages to be made to it by their Ambassadors which was printed in French and Dutch and on the 25th given to the French Ambassadors It contained a long recital of all the
were not in such readiness as they were made believe so that one in Charleville foretold the Count D' Avaux That his stay in that Town should be as long as that of the late Count D' Avaux his Uncle who had waited there four months for his Passports when he went to Munster in the character of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the French King for the Treaty of the General Peace that was afterward concluded there The Ambassadors after two months stay perceiving that the difficulties which were started sometimes about the reciprocal liberty of sending messengers from Nimueguen upon their own single Passports and sometimes about the quality of Prince Charles who demanded of the French King the Titles of Brother and Duke of Lorrain might still detain them long at Charleville they resolved to cause their Goods which were already Embarqued to be brought ashore again and to wait for their Passports in that Town which came at length on the fourth of June bearing date the last of December in the foregoing year with an order of Court immediately to set forward accordingly they Embarked on the seventh of June The sickness of the Duke of Vitry still continued and was thought desperate which obliged the King to nominate in his place the Mareschal d' Estrade who was visited by his Colleagues in their passage at Maestricht and having staid there only a day on Sunday the 13 of June about one of the Clock aftâ—â—â—â—n they came to Moock two Leagues from Nimueguen where having instantly put ashore their Coaches and most part of their Equipage they set forward and came to Nimueguen about five of the Clock at night Though the French Ambassadors were incognito and without Train having left almost all their servants in the Boats with the rest of their Goods which did not arrive till next day yet it may be said that they made a publick entry by reason of the great concourse of people who out of curiosity and impatience to see the so much wisht-for Ambassadors flocked out of the Town upon the Ramparts into the streets and windows The vast number of Waggons laden with packs of Goods that came after and filled the whole street from the gate of the Town to the Ambassadors houses gave ground of admiration to that people who had never seen the like before The people seeing this and being perswaded of the grandeur of France believed that the Ambassadors had brought with them things of vast value and richness so that their houses were presently filled with those of the Town that crouded thither to see them and they were not only looked upon as sure pledges of Peace but also as a probable cause of the wealth of the Town All the people being falsly perswaded that the French were only to be blamed for the delay of the Treaty but now seeing they were come they concluded that in a short time Nimueguen was to be the Theater on which the greatness and magnificence of Europe was to appear Nevertheless matters advanced not so fast as people had imagined for as yet there were none at Nimueguen but Sir Lionel Jenkins one of the three Plenipotentiary Mediators from England and the Heer 's Beverning and Haren Ambassadors Plenipotentiary from the States General of the Vnited Provinces The French Ambassadors sent immedialy to acquaint my Lord Ambassador Jenkins with their arrival who rendered them the Complement and gave them next day a visit in a Coach with six Horses The Dutch Ambassadors did the like and the French rendered the Visits so soon as their Train and Equipage were in a condition to appear abroad The Mareshal d' Estrades had orders with all expedition to part from Maestricht and though his Train and Equipage were not as yet in readiness yet he arrived at Nimueguen the 28 of June whither Sir William Temple another of the Mediators from England came shortly after with my Lady Gifford his Sister my Lady Temple not coming till two months after My Lord Ambassador Temple is a person of much learning singular in his ways and opinions Some judged him partial in the Mediation and somewhat unequal in his humour he is nevertheless a person of great abilities and well acquainted with the Republican principles as appears by the remarks he hath written upon the State of the Vnited Provinces His Colleague Sir Lionel Jenkins is a civil well-bred Gentleman of great integrity and firm to his Religion a person endued with much knowledg who always shewed himself to be good Mediator These Ambassadors had aâ— 100 l. sterling a week besides an hundred and fifty pounds given them for providing their Equipage with Furniture for the Chamber of Audience and a service of the Royal Plate according to the custom of England The report that came abroad at that time that the Prince of Orange intended to besiege Maestricht seemed as unprobable as the enterprize was dangerous notwithstanding the Hollanders flattered themselves with the hopes of carrying that place in a fortnights time and it seemed they only waited for the departure of the Mareshal d' Estrades that they might accomplish their designs but the conclusion of that siege was much to the advantage of the French who that year succeeded in every thing almost that they undertook either by Sea or Land The King in four days took Condâ— and on the 25 of April obliged it to render on discretion After five days siege the Duke of Orleans carried Bouchain on the 12 of May in sight of the strongest Army that the Confederates ever had in the Low-Countries under the command of the Prince of Orange who thought it not fit to hazard a Battel with the Kings Army that lay within Canon-shot of him Aire on the last of July suffered the same fate The King laid the design and the Marquess of Louvois in the command of the Mareshal d' Humieres put it in execution The Fort of Linck was taken the 9th of August The Mareshal Duke of Vivonne was very successful in his Fights on the Sicilian Seas and in the Port of Palermo bâ—rnt part of the Spanish and Dutch Fleet. The death of de Ruyter that happened a little before by a great shot that he received on board his own Ship in an engagement against the French was an irreparable loss to the Dutch who never had an Admiral of so much merit and reputation In the mean while it was easie to be judged by what began to appear that if the Prince of Orange had taken Maestricht there was no hopes of finding the Dutch any ways inclinable to accommodation but an event so contrary to their expectation and the ruin of a great part of their Army of which most of the residue was seen to march by Nimueguen dejected them extreamly and made them think of other measures The first thing that began to be talked of was the Neutrality of the Country about Nimueguen The Mediators at the solicitation of the Dutch desired that the
French Ambassadors would extend the limits a little further And as that concession of Neutrality carried with it also an exemption from contributions under which the Garrison of Maestricht put all the Count 〈◊〉 to the Gates of Nimueguen and that 〈◊〉 sieur Calvo some Months before in 〈◊〉 Contributions in the Maaswal had 〈◊〉 and puâ— the â—â—â—ple in fear even to 〈◊〉 heart 〈…〉 the Ambassado 〈◊〉 State◠〈…〉 desiâ—ed aâ—â—â—â—â—ment 〈…〉 lerâ—◠〈…〉 The French Court was very averse from granting such an extent of Neutrality which would have freed their enemies from keeping of strong Garrisons in the Neighbouring places to cover all that Country and therefore that affair lay long undecided The pleasantness of the season invited the Ambassadors in the mean time to take the air in their Coaches without the City but the Dutch Ministers gave notice to the French that seeing there was no security for the Country against the attempts of the Garrison of Maestricht they would not answer neither for what the Garrison of Grave might do being but two leagues distant from Nimueguen and on that side where the Country is only pleasant for 〈◊〉 and taking the air The French â—â—â—â—â—â—adors therefore prohibited their serâ—◠〈◊〉 stragâ—le out of the Town though 〈◊〉 â—emseâ—â—â— did not forbear to go 〈◊〉 â—â—ll together in company being atâ—â—◠〈◊〉 a great numbâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—vants 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ck 〈…〉 〈…〉 â—â—â—e it 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 Mediators to view those places that might serve for limits but finding that there belonged only three Villages to the Jurisdiction of Nimueguen of which the most remote was but a little league from the place they caused a draught to be made of all that was contained within the circuit of that extent which being sent to the King he consented to it as the Ambassadors had proposed A Counsellor of the Town and a French Gentleman named by the French Ambassadors were pitched upon to mark out the places on which were planted the limits of Neutrality the whole extent whereof made a kind of a demi-oval along the Waal comprehending nine Parishes with their dependencies Nevertheless there remained betwixt the Meuse and the Waal above a league of ground which afforded a free passage 〈◊〉 the parties that came from Maestricht 〈…〉 and raise â—â—eir contributions in the Câ—â—â—â—â—â—â—try of Maaswal which lyes betweenn 〈◊〉 Waal and thâ— Meuse The French Ambassador◠〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of September had 〈◊〉 to the Table of Sir Lionel Jenkins and had since that made use of the Table of Sir William Temple â—ut seeing about the end of October Sir William declared that he would go to no mans Table but his own whether that as Mediator he would thereby affect to appear impartial though that custom which was observed at the Treaty of Cologn had in it nothing that seemed contrary to the Mediation or rather that he would avoid the hurry and expence thereof that manner of living which was begun with much satisfaction was thereby interrupted and the Ambassadors met only afterward at the Lodgings of the Ambassadors Ladies where company usually came The Count of Oxenstierne and Monsieur Oliver Krantz the Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of Sweden arrived at that time at Nimueguen and gave the French Ambassadors notice of their arrival who went the same day to visit them separately at their House in a Coach with six Horses but those Ambassadors were not as yet in a condition to render their Visits with the same â—eremony The Count of Oxenstierne iâ— a person hoâ—â— aspect ansâ—vers his birth he is magâ—â—â—t 〈◊〉 the too great expence he put himself tâ—â—as the cause that his house was not always well regulated His indifferent way of carriage joined to a natural gravity made many to judg him vain-glorious His Colleague is a man of learning who writes well in Latin and French he hath the reputation to be a man fit for business he speaks neatly and loves a retired life His Train was very neat and he had fifty Crowns a day from the King his Master but the Count of Oxenstierne had a hundred The Imperialists and Spaniards were not observed as yet to make any hast in coming to Nimueguen notwithstanding the King of England urged them to it by his Ministers Philipsbourg which for want of Ammunition was surrendered in September after it had held out a siege from the beginning of June made them hope that the forces of Germany would gain considerable advantages upon the French but the Ambassadors of that Crown about the end of September received orders from the King to make known to the Mediators that his Majesty having by so many advances shewed his forwardness to procure a Peace he intended to recall them unless the Ambassadors of the chief Confederate Princes did within a month repair to Nimueguen the place of Treaty This declaration having been communicated to the Ambassadors of the States-General they gave notice of it to their Masters Their answer was That if at or before the first of November ensuing the Ministers of the Confederates did not repair to Nimueguen they would begin to treat separately for themselves But that time being elapsed they desired two days longer according to the old stile which is observed in Guelderland and several Provinces of Germany well knowing that the expiration of that term did not draw them into any engagement for if the Confederates made longer delay they could on all hazards in the reciprocal communication of their Commissions start difficulties and find out means to spin out the time as they did without falling upon business until the assembly was compleat Monsieur Hoegh the second Plenipotentiary from Denmark arrived at that time with his Lady at Nimueguen He is a handsome Gentleman of a good Family who rose to that dignity by his good discharge of the several employments he hath enjoyed He had his Lodgings in a house that was provided for him near the houses of the French Ambassadors because that being the highest place of the Town was the pleasantest also for the accommodation of strangers So soon as he had given notice of his arrival he was visited by the Mediators the Ambassadors of France and so by all the rest in Coaches of six Horses according to the Ceremony He had of his Master about five hundred pounds a month which he spent nobly like one that understood the world About the middle of November my Lord Barclay the chief of the Mediators who came from being Ambassador Extraordinary for England in France arrived with his Lady at Nimueguen and after some days being there incognito gave notice of his arrival he was visited by the other Mediators and immediately after by the three French Ambassadors successively with two Coaches of six Horses apiece The Count of Oxenstierne who with urgency demanded audience of my Lord Barclay that he might not as it was believed be prevented by the Ambassador of Denmark obtained it at three quarters after three this was to be just after
their complement and demand audience either the same morning or immediately after dinner But he excused himself saying that he had a business of great importance to dispatch that day with an Envoy of the Elector of Cologn concerning urgent affairs of his Imperial Majesty and appointed them six of the clock at night The French Ambassadors began then to doubt of the sincerity of his conduct towards them and they could not imagin what pretext he could have It is true the Gentleman that made the complement to the French Ambassadors in the name of Mr. Stratman had waited sometime at the lodgings of the Count D' Avaux where at that time they were all three together but the time was but short and the Ambassadors saw very well that Mr. Stratman failed in what was due to their Character though he assured them that he had sent his Secretary to them and that he had taken all the measures that he conceived necessary to give them all manner of satisfaction Whatever the matter was the great affair that Mr. Stratman pretended to be for the important concerns of the Emperor was no more indeed but that he might have leisure at two of the clock to receive the visit of the Ambassador of Denmark and at four of the clock that of the first Ambassador of Sueden The French Ambassadors caused all the circumstances of Mr. Stratman's conduct to be observed nevertheless the made their visit all three together at six of the clock at night with seven Coaches and six Horses a piece a great number of servants in Livery and Flambeaux insomuch that there had not as yet so splendid a Train been seen at Nimueguen These Ambassadors intended to put Monsieur Stratman in the wrong they knew very well that the real distinction of preference is not to be made according to the order that visits are given in but according to the order they are rendered by those who have received them as to that they expected to see how Mr. Stratman would carry towards them that they might thereupon take their measures with him It was above a fortnight before Mr. Stratman put himself in a condition of rendering any visit during which time he pretended an indisposition That delay could not be attributed to any thing but the expectation of a Courier by whom it was said he was to be instructed how to behave himself in prospect of the inconveniences which he expected to meet with on the part of the French Ambassadors if he gave not to that Crown the preference which it hath always pretended to In the mean time he made an apology for that delay in a Letter which he wrote to the Marshal D' Estrades imputing it to an indisposition that had seized him The French Ambassadors sent a Gentleman to make him a complement and condole with him about his sickness To whom he answered That he hoped suddenly to be in a condition to 〈◊〉 and thanâ— them for their civility No man doubted but that Monsieur Stratman found himself in some perplexity and that he was very sensible how hard a task it would be for him to go on as he had begun without exposing himself to troublesome consequences He perceived how the French Ambassadors had deported themselves towards the Count of Kinski who would have observed a particular way of conduct as to them He understood that the French Ambassadors would refuse his visit if he failed in giving them the preference and he was ignorant that if his procedure should deprive him of the opportunity of seeing the Ambassadors during the whole time of the Treaty it might be a considerable prejudice and obstacle to the peace At length the 22. Mr. Stratman sent to demand audience of the Marshal D' Estrades but not till he had visited the first Ambassador of Sueden and sent in formality to demand audience of the Danish Ambassador who was not then in Town The French Ambassadors had agreed among themselves about the answer that was to be given to the Gentleman that should demand audience so that so soon as he had made his complement the Marshal D' Estrades told him that Mr. Stratman knew not what was due to the King his Master and his Ambassadors and that therefore he would not admit of his visit Mr. Stratman was not willing to expose himself to the receiving of the same answer from the other French Ambassadors and therefore did not send unto them He expected indeed that the French would shew some discontent but as being Ambassador from the Emperor he looked not for an answer of that nature That Minister is a learned man and writes well both in Latin and French He hath always adhered to the Bishop of Gurck and opposed the Count of Kinski He was preferred to the Emperor from the service of the Duke of Newbourg at that time when the Emperor married the daughter of that Prince All the discourse at Nimueguen at this time was of the great atchievements that the Confederates pretended they would do in this Campagn The Elector of Brandenbourg was come into the Countrey of Cleves to order affairs there this Countrey being daily threatned by the Carisâ—◠〈◊〉 Maestricht to oblige the inhabiâ—â—nts to pâ—â— the Contributions that were laid upon them The Elector was detained by the Gout at Ham four leagues beyond Wesel whither the Ambassador of Denmark was gone to visit him and whither many other of the Confederate Ministers were to go The Prince of Orange was set out to come to that Assembly which was called the Great Council of War But the news of the siege of Valenciennes and the urgent instances of the Duke de Villa Hermosa for succors from the States General made the Prince of Orange alter his course broke up the Diet at Ham and for some time disconcerted the measures of the Confederates In the mean time the difficulties that hindred the French Ambassadors from visiting those of the Emperor and Elector of Brandenbourgs produced sad effects and might have put a stop to the cause of the Negotiation that was begun had not their pretensions been so well grounded as they were The Ambassadors of Brandenbourg published a printed Paper to prove that their Master had right and was in possession of sending and having admitted several Ambassadors into one and the same Assembly tâ—â—â— endeavoured to give instances of it taken from the Relations that Abbot Ciry printed of the Transactions which passed at the Treaties of Munster and Osnabrug However that made nothing to their advantage They denied those matters of fact that made against their pretensions which are related in the Memoirs of Mr. Chanut as well as the late instances of the Assembly at Frankfort at the Coronation of the Emperor and they insisted particularly on the conduct that Monsieur Colbert held at Cleves towards three Ambassadors of the Elector whom he treated equally and without distinction The last instance signified nothing for confirmation of their pretension Mr.
Colbert at that time had only the character of Envoy Extraordinary for mediating the differences that were at that time betwixt the States General and the Bishop of Munster and Monsieur Colbert being in the Electors Countrey it was not his part to raise any dispute upon that head The Ambassadors of the Emperor complained also of the publick refuse which the French made of the visit of Mr. Stratman The cause of those misunderstandings was imputed to the Spaniards who finding themselves always thwarted in the equality which they so strongly pretend to with France contend not for it with other Crowns to the end they may unite them all and so oppose themselves with greater force to the precedency which France claims or at least to disturb it as much as they can in the possession of an advantage which they cannot obtain for themselves There was an innovation made at Nimueguen of what was practised at Cologn in regard of the Mediators to whom in that quality all the Powers had granted the precedency in the affairs that concerned the Mediation And the Mediators on their parts being desirous to prevent all occasions of quarrels which frequently happen upon occasion of Livery-men especially when many of different Nations meet together in one place perswaded all the Ambassadors in the first place to command their Pages and Lacqueys to wear no swords which was punctually observed And seeing most of the streets of Nimueguen are so narrow that two Coaches can hardly pass a breast the Mediators drew up a writing to be signed by all the Ambassadors by means whereof they did sufficiently obviate all the inconveniences which were to be feared during the Treaty That writing bore That in consideration of the narrowness of the streets when two Coaches going contrary ways should meet that Coach which should be least advanced into the street should put back without any consequence to be drawn therefrom or prejudice to any ones pretensions that he that should most punctually obey that order should be held to be the most inclined towards the peace the matter being thus concerted for no other end but for avoiding all occasions of quarrelling and to keep those who laboured for the restauration of the publick repose in goodintelligence together The French Ambassadors were the first who signed that writing the Swedish did the like and the Danish Ambassadors followed their example but the matter went no farther so that it was to be feared that some unhappy accident might afterwards happen amongst so many Ambassadors but the order that was made for preventing any disorder amongst servants was punctually put in execution There happened at that time long debates concerning the manner of treating about the affairs of the peace and that matter was not easily adjusted all the Confederates were for having it managed only by writing The French Ambassadors maintained that having given in their first propositions in writing the way of treating by word of mouth with the Mediators was the shortest The Confederates would not condescend to this but made very long answers in writing to the French propositions which seemed rather invectives than answers to the proposals of peace But the French waving all these disputes which produce always strife gave their answers verbally by the Mediators the Dutch were the first that approved this method and all the Confederates at length yielded to this way of treating as the most expedient for diispatching in a short time Don Pedro de Ronquillo continued still incognito at Nimueguen whither Mr. Christu arrived on the 18th of March. This Third Ambassador of Spain is a Fleming Doctor in the Laws and Counceller in the Flemish Council in Spain who hoped to have the Office of Chancellour of Brabant in recompence of his services In the mean time the News of the siege of Valenciences before which the King came the first of this Month made all people very impatient to know the success of that enterprise it being known what care and circumspection had been taken for the preserving of that place but the news that came of the Trenches being opened the Ninth in the night time was quickly followed with the taking of the place on the 17th about Nine in the morning The manner of taking Valenciennes surprized all men and daunted the Spaniards The King commanded the Counter-scarp to be attacqued with two Half-moons that flanked a Crowned work and that they should lodg on the front of that work which covers another that is before the Gate of the Town But the Kings forces marching cross those Half-moons attacqued that great Crowned-work on the front and sides and entered it on all hands killed or made Prisoners all that opposed them and pursuing those that saved themselves in the Town gained the Bridg and second Work and by a Wicket where they could not pass but one after another they made themselves masters of the Town-gate so that in less than half an hour the King saw a place of that consequence taken by force April 1677 The Confederates hoped that the siege of Valenciennes begun in so bad a season would have ruined a great part of the Kings forces but that Conquest with others that were foreseen would follow much disheartened them Nevertheless the Treaty of Peace went on but very slowly for all that The Confederates grounded their hopes on the great Exploits that the German Forces were to perform in Alsatia and on the Declaration of England which they expected in their savours not doubting but that the Parliament would sollicite the King to join with them for opposing the progress of the French but the Confederates at that time found themselves much disappointed in their Expectations The two Houses of Parliament represented to the King of England the necessity of putting a stop to the progress that the French made in the Low-countries The King answered those that made him the Address from the Parliament That it was the thing he had in his thoughts and that he should take care that the French should not be in a condition of giving jealousie to his Subjects and that his Subjects should have no cause to have any His Majesty of Great Britain was afterwards informed that Don Bernardo de Salinas Envoy from Spain gave it out that his Majesty had called the Authors of that Address Rogues The procedure of that Minister so much the more offended the King of England as that in so nice a juncture it might have produced dangerous effects in his Kingdoms and therefore he sent order to Don Pedro de Salinas to keep within doors and to make ready to depart out of the Kingdom within twenty days The Ambassadors in the mean time remained at Nimueguen like Spectators and all that was done there was to consider and observe what passed in the Low countries where after the taking of Valenciennes the King made himself Master of Cambray on the third of April five days after the Trenches were opened the Governour with
disposition to promote the common cause In effect they sufficiently perceived that they were engaged farther than they would have desired which made the Spaniard fear that if they accepted a Truce they might in a short time be abandoned by the greatest part of their Confederates On the fifth of May the news came by Letters from England that the Session of Parliament was broken up the 26. of the foregoing Month and that the King was fully satisfied with them though no Act had passed contrary to the Interests of France but that his Majesty of Great Britain had adjourned them till the 27 of May to consider of such means as might give a new countenance to the present affairs There came news also which gave some content that the first Ambassadors of the Emperor and King of Spain were shortly to come with the Popes Nuncio to Nimueguen where all affairs were at a stâ—â—â— because the Count of Kinsks had no 〈◊〉 to agree but on preliminaries until thâ—â—â—â—ing of the Bishop of Gurck the châ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Imperial Embassy The President Canon Envoy and Plenipotentiary from the Duke of Lorrain being come to Nimueguen on the 25th of May payed a visit to the three French Ambassadors in one of the Coaches of Don Pedro de Ronquillo who remained still incognito Mr. Spanheim who was at Nimueguen about the affairs of the Elector Palatine visited also the same Ambassadors who returned the Visits without any ceremony seeing this last had had the quality of Envoy in other Negotiations it was not doubted but that he carried the same character in this but it appeared afterward that he had only Credential Letters from his Master and therefore the Confederates would not admit him into their Conferences About this time the Elector of Brandenbourg wrote to the King of England concerning the Injustice that he pretended was done to his Ambassadors by France and the matter said he touched him the more sensibly that the decision of that difficulty was left to his Enemies without doing the lustice which was due to him and that he expected it from his Majesty of 〈…〉 Britain without which he would be â—â—â—ged to recall his Ambassadors from Nimueguen But that Letter and all the instances that were made upon that subject had no effect as to France which had not the same reasons as England had to condescend to those new pretensions On the first day of June 1677. Seignior Beliagua who had been Nuncio extraordinary at the Emperor's Court to incline him to contribute to the peace of Christendom arrived at Nimueguen by water from Cologne and came to the house that was prepared for him near the French Ambassadors the scarcity of convenient Houses not permitting him who was sent before to follow the express Orders he had to chuse a house in some part of the Town which might be equally distant from the French and Spaniards that he might give no cause of jealousie to either of those two Nations The arrival of a Mediator so disinterested as the Uncle of his Holiness ought to be gave hopes that his Mediation would much contribute to the promoting of the Peace because of the confidence that the chief parties concerned reposed on him Seignior Beliagua is of a very noble Family in Ferrara and rich in estate he is Patriarch of Alexandria and was Governour of Rome in the reign of Clement IX nor was that charge taken from him under â—â—â—ment X. his Successor but in exchange of the extraordinary Nunciature of Vienna from whence he was sent Mediator to Nimueguen by Innocent XI who at present fills the Holy See Although the allowance of great Nuncio's exceed not 370. Roman Crowns a month and that he was not well paid his Train was nevertheless splendid and his House well ordered His civil and familiar carriage gained him the affection of all people and his good intentions towards the Peace made him to be equally respected by all the Ambassadors Next day after his arrival the French Ambassadors sent three Gentlemen together to testifie the joy they had for his happy arrival and to offer him all the civilities they were able to perform impatiently expecting a fit time to come and salute him in person The three Gentlemen were received by the Nuncio according to the custom of Italy in the Chamber of Audience upon three elbow-chairs They spoke covered and were conducted by the Nuncio as far as the dore of the outer anti-chamber that looked into the Court. The same honour was done to the Gentleman that render'd that compliment on his part and the day following after noon the three Ambassadors of France went severally to visit the Nuncio incognito and on foot his house being distant but a few steps from thence yet they were followed by all their servants The Emperors Ambassadors were there also in the morning incognito On the fifth of June the Nuncio gave notice of his arrival to the two Ambassadors of the Emperor who had their publick audience at five of the clock afternoon and to the French Ambassadors who visited him at seven of the clock with a train of seven Coaches and six horses a piece The Towns-people were very curious to see such ceremonies but much more for this being impatient to see how a Nuncio of the Pope looked The Burgomasters of the Town and a great number of other persons placed themselves in the Windows of the Neighbouring houses to see him at his gate whilst he received and re-conducted the Ambassadors to their Coaches He was in a plain long purple habit lined with scarlet and carried a Cross of Diamonds but he was cloathed commonly in a short habit No body wondered at the curiosity of that people seeing it was a very extraordinary thing to see a Pope's Nuniorâ—â— a Protestant Town The Countrey people both Protestant and Catholick came flocking to Nimueguen for that end these found their spiritual consolation and those satisfied the great curiosity they had to see an Ambassador sent from the Pope of whom their Ministers give them an hideous description The Burgomasters of Nimueguen in consideration of the neutrality of the Town and of the Negotiation of so great a work as that of a general Peace visited the Nuncio and offered him all they could do for the free exercise of the Catholick Religion but he was satisfied to have a large Chappel only in his house whither Catholicks might freely come as they did to the French Ambassadors Chappel where service was performed on Festival-days with all the solemnity that is usual in Parish-Churches having even placed a Bell in the top of a Tower which was heard over a great part of the Town Some days before the arrival of the Nuncio a Jesuit belonging to the Family of Don Pedro de Ronquillo went about the streets in the habit of his Order this seemed so strange a thing that it stirred up the curiosity of all the people and therefore the Magistrates fearing lest such Novelties might
Court should authorise his Colleagues that the event might be the less laid at his dore The French Ambassadors sent three Gentlemen to return his compliment in the like terms of esteem and civility whom that Ambassador answered in French The same Gentlemen had Orders also to go wait upon the two other Spanish Ambassadors and to compliment them apart But it being just before insinuated that they had not as yet the character those Gentlemen were advertised not to give them the title of Excellence and for that reason Din Pedro de Ronquillo was not at home thô they went twice to his house and at dinner-time But Mr. Christin received the compliment without the least difficulty The Nuncio made no doubt but that if in the first steps that the French and Spaniards made there happened any thing that might give discontent to the French the Treaty might thereby receive great prejudice and therefore for preventing the same inconveniences to which the conduct of the Imperial Ambassadors towards the French had given occasion he so ordered mâ—â—tes that the carriage of the Spaniards should give the French no cause to complain So that that Mediator extremely zealous for the repose of Christendom hoped that by bringing the French and Spanish Ministers to a good and familiar correspondence together the affairs of the Peace would the more successfully be promoted Though the Marquess de los Balbases remained still incognito yet the French Ambassadors sent to compliment my Lady Marchioness and to desire audience of her They visited her separately and without much ceremony and so did all the other Ambassadors and their Ladies expecting till they could render her their publick Visits Of all the Ambassadors Ladies that were at Nimueguen the Marchioness de los Balbases was the only Lady that spoke not French but seeing she understood a little of it and that the other Ladies had no great difficulty to understand Italian from conversation and play they had no need of any Interpreter The progress that the French Tongue had made in foreign Countreys appeared at Nimueguen for there was no Ambassadors house where it was not almost as common as their Mother-tongue Besides it became so necessary that the Ambassadors of England Germany Denmark and other Nations held all their Conferences in French The two Danish Ambassadors agreed that even their common Dispatches should be made in that tongue because Count Anthony of Oldembourg spoke good High Dutch but not a word of Danes which his Collegue did Insomuch that during the whole course of the Treaty of Peace nothing hardly but French Writings appeared strangers chusing rather to express themselves in French in their publick ceremonies than to write in a language that was not so much in use as it July 1677. The Assembly now beginning to be formed and many strangers being with the Ambassadors at Nimueguen the Mediators on the second of July thought fit to renew the Writing that was spoken of before concerning the means of avoiding the inconveniencies which might happen upon the meeting of Coaches they likewise intreated the Ambassadors to command their Gentlemen upon severe penalties not to fight any Duels and all their servants not to make any disorder in the Town neither by day nor by night This was approved hy all the Ambassadors because of some Duels that had been already fought The Nuncio who was no less zealons for preservation of peace amongst the families which were to procure a general peace to all Europe made a like Writing in Italian which was signed by the Ambassadors in the same manner as that of the English Mediators was In thâ— mean time the Confederates raised all their Batteries in England and were not discouraged Their Ministers made new instances to the King of Great Britain That it would please him to recall the Forces that he had in the French Service representing to him that they were the cause of the loss of Mont-cassel His Majesty made them answer That in that Engagement there were none of his subjects in the French Army but the single troop of the English Gen d'arms wherein there were but seventeen English all the rest being French and that on the contrary the Dutch had two Regiments of Scots who had behaved themselves better in that action than any others of the whole Army That besides he could not recall his Forces from the French Service without declaring War against France seeing he had sent them thither before he was received to be Mediator and that desiring to retain that quality and only labour to procure peace he could not recall the one unless he likewise at the same time recall the others that he had in their service The Confederates had nothing to say to so just and reasonable an answer as that was and they found themselves disappointed of their hopes seeing that that powerful German Army that was to enter into France was put to a stand on the frontier by the Forces which the Marshal de Crequi commanded and so distressed for want of provisions and the parties of the neighbouring Garisons that it was obliged to retreat They conceived also so great jealousie of the King of England's equipping of a Fleet that they were in doubt whether on that side they had not as great cause to fear as to hope On the 13th of July there was an extraordinary Courier from England having Orders to Ambassador Temple to repair forthwith to London and accordingly on the fifteenth about five a clock in the morning he embarqued for that Voyage Every one had his several reasons concerning the hasty departure of that Mediator and could not agree whether it was a good or bad presage for the desired peace On the 16. the Marquess de los Balbases returned from Holland not well satisfied with the people of Amsterdam from whom he received not that favourable reception which he expected by reason of an opinion which that people had that the Spaniards for their own particular interests were the only cause of the continuance of the War Mr. Vlkens Envoy from the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp a Prince in League with the King of Sweden and who hath been dispossessed of his Territories by the King of Denmark rendered his first Visits to the French Ambassadors on the third of August and the same day the Count of Kinski and Mr. Stratman the Imperial Ambassadors visited publickly the Ambassadors of Spain who returned the Visit the same day The Nuncio ought to have been dissatisfied at those publick Visits made before the performance of that which was due to him as Mediator and Nuncio of the Pope Besides the French Ambassadors declared that at the very instant that the civility which was due to the English Ambassadors as Mediators was not rendered to them and that the Ambassadors of that Crown suffered those of the Emperour to have the precedency they would likewise re-assume the rank which they pretended to be their due without any respect to the Mediation
been more inclined to peace than any other not only because it suffered more by the interruption of commerce but also because it hath been more tender of its liberty having Magistrates disinterested and zealous for the Commonwealth Rotterdam had its advantage by the continuation of the War because there being but little or no Trade at that time in Holland but what came by means of the English all was brought to that Port as to the center of the Province and the most convenient place for them Nevertheless one of the most considerable Magistrates of Rotterdam so powerfully assisted those that were well affected towards the Peace that they gained almost all the voices of Holland The rest of the Provinces have found it always to be so much their interest to follow the example of that Province in matters of greatest importance that they still acknowledg that they owe their last preservation to its prudent conduct The Provinces of Guelderland Vtricht and Overyssel in which the Prince of Orange has acquired a great authority since the French King forsook his Conquests there durst not openly declare for peace because it evidently appeared to be contrary to the interests of that Prince but they referred themselves to what Holland should think fit to be done concerning that great affair The effect of all these Declarations was That the Hier Beverning received orders from the States-General secretly to acquaint the French Ambassadors that they accepted the conditions which that King was pleased to grant to them This Ambassador that he might act according to the intention of his Superiors who would not allarm their Allies gave the Count d' Avaux notice that he earnestly desired to discourse with him in private and that for that end he would fetch a walk alone upon the Rampart of the Town about seven a Clock in the morning because at that time no body would be there The Count d' Avaux failed not to be there and had an hours conference with him after which he gave his Colleagues an account of the result of that discourse which gave occasion to the Dispatches whereby the King was informed of the good disposition of the States General in consideration whereof his Majesty granted them ten days longer than the tenth of May as they had desired that during that time they might endeavour to perswade their Allies to accept of the conditions proposed as themselves had done The Marquess of Fuentes arrived at Nimueguen the sixth of May he is Son to the Ambassador of the same name who was in France after the Kings Marriage he came from Venice where he had resided Ambassador thirteen years and the Court of Spain called him thence that they might employ him in England but it was believed that the nature of those important affairs which were then treating at London was the cause why the Duke of Villa Hermosa detained him at Brussels that he might send him to Nimueguen there to fill the place of second Ambassador The Peace began to be so certain in Holland that the joy of the people appeared in all places who at the Hague expressed the same by shouting God save the States-General and the Prince of Orange the Peace is concluded It was not so at Nimueguen where the Confederates were troubled because they saw the effect which the conditions offered by the French King were like to produce They declared to the Mediators That it was impossible an affair of so great importance as that of the Peace could be resolved and concluded in so short a time as the French King had prefixed On the 20 of May a Courier brought to Nimueguen a copy of the Letter which the French King wrote to the States-General from the Camp at St. Denis The 18th the King acquainted them that with pleasure he was informed that they had sentiments conform to the sincere desire which he had of contributing all that could conduce to the establishing of Peace whilst he enjoyed the advantages that his Arms had procured to him and which he might still expect in the sequel of the War By the same Letter the King granted to the States-General the seventh Article of the Treaty of Commerce about which the Ambassadors had not agreed at Nimueguen and that he might fully remove the apprehensions they were in of the loss of Flanders his Majesty promised That so soon as by a Treaty concluded upon the conditions proposed they should return to his ancient Alliance and oblige themselves to be Neutral during the course of the War he would still in consideration of them grant the same conditions to Spain and that in the mean time he should not attack any place in the Low-countries but that he should always be ready to grant them that Barriere which they judged so necessary for their repose That if they thought fit to send Deputies unto him they should find him in the Neighbourhood of Ghent until the twenty-seventh of that Month. So soon as that Letter came to Nimueguen the Count d' Avaux went with two Coaches and all his Retinue to give the Dutch Ambassadors notice of the same The noise of this Letter and that publick visit which much rejoiced the people gave an alarm to the Ministers of the Confederates Every one of them dispatched Couriers the same day clearly perceiving that the conduct of the French would infallibly produce the effect which his Majesty expected from the States-General This beginning of Negotiation gave so large a subject to the conferences of the Confederates that the meetings which for a long time they had held were at that time doubled That Letter of the French Kings was the same day brought to the States-General by a Trumpeter whom his Majesty sent to the Hague and was there received with all the demonstrations of joy The States after four days consultation on the 25th sent their Answer by one of their Trumpeters whom the Kings Trumpeter conducted to the Camp They expressed in few words the profound respect wherewith they had received the Letter which his Majesty had done them the honour to write to them and testified the exceeding joy which they conceived from the sincere desire that his Majesty had of contributing to the peace of Europe humbly beseeching him to give credit to the Hier Beverning their Extraordinary Ambassador whom they would send to his Majesty to inform him how desirous they were of giving him fresh assurances of their sincere intentions for the Peace The Dutch Ambassadors having on the 26th received a copy of the answer of the States-General gave it to the French Ambassadors who sent it to the King by the same Courier who brought the copy of his Majesties Letter to Nimueguen his Majesty was well satisfied to find therein that the States-General fully corresponded with the inclination that he had for the Peace At the same time the Heer Beverning received orders to go within a few days and wait upon the King that he might be more
particularly informed of his Majesties intentions That Ambassador would willingly have excused himself but the States Order being renewed on the 29th he set out from Nimueguen in Laid-coaches The reluctancy of the Heer Beverning was attributed to the fear he had of disobliging the Prince of Orange whose Interests did not admit of the Peace till that time this Ambassador was reputed a very good Republican but afterward he was thought wedded to the concerns of the Prince of Orange though it could not be affirmed whether fear or inclination were the cause of that engagement He is a man of a penetrating wit who knows what is good and always pursues it by just means He is assiduous and painful and hath been employed by the States in many Embassies and in all the Treaties that have been made since the year 1650 but he loves retirement and it was not without trouble that he left his Country-house near Leyden to come to Nimueguen The Heer Haren his Colleague is a Gentleman of Friesland of much credit in that Province and addicted to the interests of the Prince of Nassan Governour and Hereditary State-holder of the Provinces of Friesland and Groninguen The Heer Beverning arrived on the 30th at Antwerp and there found a Trumpeter who stayed for him to conduct him to the French Camp where having seen Monsieur de Pompone he had Audience of his Most Christian Majesty He found him so sincere in his intentions towards the Peace and so favourably inclined towards the States-General that on the first of June he left the Camp but in the account that he gave his Superiors of his Negotiation he told them that he found the French King as well informed of the condition of his enemies and of the places that he might attack as he was of his own affairs About the same time the Marquess de la Fuente gave notice of his arrival to the French Ambassadors but seeing he had already visited those of the Emperour in publick without giving the same declaration that his Colleagues had given to the Mediators to whom all the Ambassadors gave the precedency the French Ambassadors ordered a Gentleman to tell the person that came from him that they could not see him unless he first performed what was due to the English as Mediators By that the French Ambassadors obliged Ambassador Jenkins to whom they had given their promise constantly to maintain the honour of the Mediation It was alledged that it was to no purpose for the Marquess de la Fuente to give that particular declaration since that instead of one which might suffice for the three Ambassadors of Spain they had already given two But the French Ambassadors maintained that for the same reason they ought to have a third and that no consideration should hinder the Marquess de la Fuente from following the example of his Colleagues in that matter that on the contrary they had great cause to wonder that by such a refusal he would in some measure seem to condemn their conduct so that for want of that declaration the French Ambassadors saw not the Marquess de la Fuente during the whole course of the Treaty unless at the meetings of the Ladies where he used to come as the other Ambassadors did The news from England were at that time very tumultuary they advised that the King of Great Britain had Prorogued the Parliament to the third of June promising at that time to give them good news of the Peace Seeing a Prorogation of it self cuts off all that hath been proposed and treated in preceding Sessions without being concluded and confirmed this Prorogation put a stop to some pert Addresses which the House of Commons had made to his Majesty of Great Britain such as that whereby they desired the King would declare who they were that had counselled his Majesty to give the answers which he made in the mouth of May the year before and in the Month of January of the present June 1678 The Marquess de la Fuente who had not as yet communicated his plenary Commission caused on the first of June a copy thereof to be given which was collationed by the Nuncio's Auditor The French Ambassadors found it not to be in the form that it ought to be because all the four Ambassadors of Spain being named therein and being Posteriour in date to that of the three Ambassadors who were approved it seemed that by that means the Spaniards might disown when they should please all that they had done till then since that that new plenary commission might annul the former And therefore the French Ambassadors refused to accept of it and pretended that the Marquess de la Fuente should have one apart or that this last should be of the same date with the former without which they declared that they would not acknowledg him for an Ambassador In the mean time they were in great impatience at Nimueguen to know what had been the success of the deputation of the Heer Beverning who to the trouble of the Confederates went from thence to the French Camp not doubting but that all these proceedings would at length terminate in a Peace with the Dutch They thought it a matter of so much importance to divert that blow that for that end they set all engines at work but on the fourth of June a Courier from the Camp brought the French Ambassadors a copy of the answer which that King had made to the Letter of the States-General and another of the Memoir that his Majesty had caused to be given to the Heer Beverning The King by that Letter testified the pleasure which he had to see the States-General in a disposition towards Peace that his Majesty was willing to condescend to several things in favour of their Allies and how joyful he would be by restoring to them his ancient amity to enter with them into such engagements as might for ever secure their repose and liberty It can hardly be believed what good effect the word Liberty produced in the minds of the Dutch that word was so agreeable to them and so sensibly affected them that in all the impressions that have been made of that Letter in Holland the word Repose is left out to make that of Liberty sound the louder They talked publickly that whatever secret or publick enemy they might have for the future they would not fear the loss of their Liberty in which the present War had made so great a breach By the Memoir given to the Heer Beverning the French King at the desire of the States-General granted a Truce for six weeks to begin the first of the ensuing Month which extended that Truce until the fifteenth of August to the end that the States might have all the time they wished for to perswade their Allies to consent to the Peace in consideration whereof the States should promise not to assist them in any manner during the whole course of that War if they would
were persuaded that his errand was not to facilitate the signing of the Peace nor to bring the distant parties to a nearer accommodation as to the conclusion of it His proceedings appeared all along too contrary to the character of a Mediator to make that to be believed In the mean time on the 9th in the evening the Ambassadors of the States-General had a long conference with the French they represented to them the short time that remained for ending that great work the accomplishment whereof was only retarded by a difficulty which ought not to seem of great importance to them in comparison of the great advantages which the peace would produce and seeing they had not time to translate into French the Memoir which they had to give in concerning that they contented themselves to tell them the substance of it The French Ambassadors made no answer to the instances of the Dutch but that their hands were tied and that without new Orders they could proceed no further At length the tenth came which was the great day that was to give a happy beginning to the repose of Europe or quite quash all hopes of it for a long time Nevertheless there appeared no hopes that the peace could be signed that day and it could not be conceived why the refusal of a deputation which was not absolutely necessary should put a stop to the accomplishment of so great a good The Hier Odyke returned to the Hague the 7th because he had lost all hopes of peace but both by reason that he believed that the tenth day might produce some change in affairs and that he had Orders from the Prince of Orange to make on the eleventh a protestation in name of the States against all that could be concluded if that day past without signing the peace he came back the same day in haste to Nimueguen The Hier Boreel Envoy Extraordinary from the States-General went at nine in the morning to wait on the Marshal D' Estrades and gave him the Memoir made the day before wherein the States-General thanked his Majesty for the care which he still took to remove all obstacles that occurred in the conclusion of the peace not only with them but Spain also and prayed his Majesty to consider that the enemies of their State having represented to them the evacuation of the places and the peace at the same time as desperate they had been obliged to enter into engagements with the King of Great Britain not to stave off the peace but to take from them the pretext they made use of and to clear his Majesty from being the cause of the same That for that end they had reserved to themselves a certain time which being ready to expire suffered them not to make the deputation that his Majesty desired but not doubting but that since all the conditions were at present agreed upon the peace would be signed before the eleventh they would not fail to make a deputation not to St. Quentin but to Paris to give his Majesty the testimonies of their respect and of the satisfaction they had from the conclusion of the peace M. Colbert and the Count D' Avaux went at the same time to the Marshal D' Estrades house but being unwilling to meet the Heer Boreel there because they designed all three to go that morning to the House of the Dutch Ambassadors and to tell them their last resolution they let the Heer Boreel come out without seeing him and immediately after they all three took coach and went to the Dutch Ambassadors It was believed so certainly that the French Ambassadors had no power to sign the peace that Ambassador Temple himself advised those of Holland to press them to it because he really believed they could not do it Nevertheless the French Ambassadors declared to them in that conference that they had power to sign their Treaties of Peace and Commerce and that it must be done the same morning if it were possible The Dutch being no less persuaded than the rest of the Confederates that without new Orders the French could conclude nothing were no less surprized than overjoyed at that proposition All the Articles about which there had been any debate were read over and they agreed to sign the Peace that day But seeing that conference had lasted from ten of the clock in the morning until half an hour after two in the afternoon and that some time was still required to write over the Treaties fair the signing was delayed until the evening The French Ambassadors had found by experience the importance of secresie for carrying on such a Negotiation to a happy end in so great an Assembly where there were almost as many persons to be feared as there were Ambassadors and where there was no less disposition to conceive jealousies of the conduct of France than it was easie for the Confederates to create new grounds of distrust and that was the cause why the French Ambassadors pretended to the last that they could not sign the peace upon pretext of a very slight obstacle to the end that the conclusion having almost nothing to hinder it they might in an instant surprise those who expected nothing less than such a change The length of the French and Dutch conference had already so alarm'd the Confederates that they were all in commotion before it was ended but they were very sensibly touched when they came to know that the peace was concluded and that it was to be signed that day without any possibility of hindering it It troubled them the more that they found England acting in their favours in the same manner as they had long desired Ambassador Temple could not forbear to evidence his discontent to the French Ambassadors who went all three together to visit him in the afternoon and to acquaint him that if he thought fit they would sign the Treaty at his house for upon pretext of some indisposition he received them in his night-cap and gown and absolutely refused their offers whether it was that he had instructions so to do or that he despaired not for all the matter was gone so far but that before night some impediment might arise that might break off the conclusion thereof That Mediator so little expected that the peace should be concluded that day that he had a Messenger ready in his house to part at midnight and to carry news to the States-General of the expiration of the term which engaged them to the execution of the Treaty that they had signed and that he might let the French Ambassadors see more clearly that the Mediation approved not that Treaty he prayed them to put his own and Colleagues names out of the Preface saying that the King their Master had not sent them as Mediators to a General Treaty there to sign a Separate Peace The Ambassadors of Denmark and Brandenbourg with the Bishop of Munster did all they could to hinder the signing of the peace They framed a
means they made use of at Nimueguen to break off the peace with Spain was to get the Mediators to propose a Truce for six months during which they hoped that the differences of all the Princes who were engaged in the War might be happily ended But hitherto their opinions as to that were quite different seeing they had refused all the Truces that had been proposed to them In the mean time the Northern Confederates made great preparatives for putting in execution a new enterprise which they designed upon the Isle of Rugen Matters were in such a state that the decision of one difficulty seemed to be the necessary cause of another and that so great an affair as Peace could not be brought forth without great stratagems The seventh and eighth were spent in the Heer Bevernings frequent coming and going to demand of the French Ambassadors the clearing of several doubts which the Spaniards raised to all the Articles of the Treaty saying that they had secret notices which being but confused rendered them scrupulous and distrustful upon the smallest appearances In fine they demanded an explication concerning the Chattelleny of Aith which was the ground of a difficulty of little less consequence than that of Bonvignes and Beaumont Since that Chattelleny was yeilded to the French King by the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle his Majesty dismembred several Villages from it and adjected them to the government of Tournay and in that state the King pretended to deliver back this Chattelleny but whether the Spaniards thought fit of themselves to demand that explication or that they were put upon it by others they desired a particular clause concerning that to be put into the Treaty and upon the refusal of the French Ambabassadors they framed a Memoir which they gave to the States-General They said that the dismembring of the Chattelleny of Aith made by the French King absorped the chief part thereof that no less lay at stake than seventy Villages and the City of Leuze which is but a league and a half distant from Aith That since his most Christian Majesty had in the conditions made no reservation of the dependencies of that Chattelleny as he had of Verge and Memin depending on Courtray the French Ambassadors by refusing the clause demanded shewed but a captious fetch that they might restore to Spain but a part of so considerable a Chattelleny The French were in great pain to know what could have given the Spaniards ground at that time to make that reflection upon the dismembring of the Chattelleny of Aith and to think that the design of the French was to make their advantage of the omission that might have been made thereof in the Treaty The truth is the Spaniards would have had no ground of complaining if Aith and its Chattelleny should have been restored to them in the condition that it has been so long in They could not imagine what was the reason of this new emergent but it was obvious that the Prince de Lignes who has a great Estate in the dismembred part of that Chattelleny having sent a Secretary to Nimueguen upon the account that it concerned him to have his Lands return again to the Spanish Dominion had without doubt given the Spaniards information of that affair and of the necessity of inserting a clause concerning it in the Treaty The Heer Beverning acted not in that affair with the same zeal as he had formerly made appear The distasts he had received the last time that he had been at the Hague made him proceed much more slowly than his usual application did allow for after all the pains he had taken to end a War which the Vnited Provinces could no longer support he little expected to have his conduct blamed Nevertheless they endeavoured to let him see that there were several faults and considerable omissions in the Treaty which he had signed The five principal were these First that in the Preface the French King seemed to be the Protector of the States-General though it contain no term but what is conform to his Majesties Letters and the answers of the States Secondly That the Neutrality to which the States-General were engaged by that Treaty was indefinite and by consequent might be extended beyond the present War Thirdly That the Heer Beverning had exceeded his commission in having obliged the States to warrant the Neutrality of Spain Fourthly That he had omitted an Article of Amnistie and Oblivion which ought mutually to be stipulated in all treatties of Peace And Lastly That he had forgot to mention the Barriere which the French King granted to Spain in consideration and for the security of the States General Though most of those faults were more grounded on the discontent of those who regretted the conclusion of the Peace than on any important or dangerous consequence yet the French King was willing to satisfie the States General in any thing that might farther concern them And seeing the indefinite term of their Neutralitie and the warranting of that into which Spain was to enter were the points that appeared to be of greatest importance the explication thereof which the French Ambassadors gave to the Dutch according to the desire of the States was approved and ratified by his Majesty at Fontainblean the 5th of September in the same manner as if it had been inserted in the Treaty The French Ambassadors understood by the Letters which Courier brought them on the 9th that the Court was perswaded that there would be greater difficulty in concluding the Treaty with Spain than had been at first imagined and that was partly the cause why the French King gave Orders to the Count d' Avaux to go with all diligence to the Hague where his Majesty judged his presence necessary But seeing affairs appeared then to be in a better state at Nimueguen than was believed at Court that Ambassador departed not However another Courier having on the 10th brought a compromise from the King whereby his Majesty referred to the States-General the decision of all the differences that retarded the conclusion of the Peace with Spain The Count d' Avaux arrived on the 11th at the Hague where it was not difficult for him to observe that there were many there fully inclined to introduce if they could some change in the State whereinto the signing of the Peace had put the affairs of the Vnited Provinces Nevertheless it was already known that all the Provinces had consented to the ratification of the Peace some absolutely and others upon conditions which they submitted to the determination of the States insomuch that before the end of six weeks the Ratifications might be exchanged if no difficulties stopt the conclusion of the Peace with Spain In the mean time the English forces that in so great number came over into the Low-countreys bred great umbrages in Holland the people could not tell what need there was of an Assistance that came not till the peace was concluded And seeing
they were not as yet totally cured of the doubts they had conceived of the sincerity of France no more than of the jealousie that some entertained of the too great authority of the Prince of Orange most part knew not but the peace which was made might be an occasion to make them fall the more easily under a dominion the encrease of which was possibly one of the reasons that made them embrace the peace In fine a Courier on the 13th having brought Letters from the French King whereby his Majesty removed all obstacles that hindered the conclusion of the peace with Spain the Count d' Avaux returned on the 17th to Nimueguen and in the Conference which he had that day at the Dutch Ambassador's house that lasted till two of the clock afternoon all the Articles were agreed upon and that the peace should be signed that evening The Spanish Ambassadors caused the Treaty to be translated into Spanish and the Translation was examined by Mr. Colbert who found two or three words to be amended which did not exactly quadrate with the sense of the French Seeing the Dutch Ambassadors had been the Mediators of the Peace betwixt France and Spain their house was thought the most convenient place to sign the Peace at They caused their Hall of Audience to be prepared for that Ceremony They entered it by a great door about the middle the Chair of State stood at one end on the left hand of the door and the Chimney just opposite on the right The French Ambassadors room had an Entry into the Hall on the side of the Chimney and that which was appointed for the Ambassadors of Spain had its Entry on that of the Chair of State There was a long Table set cross the Hall one end of it towards the door and the other towards the windows but seeing the French would not have the Chair of State to be on the Spanish side it behoved to be removed and the Chimney which was on the right hand as one entred making too great a distinction on that side the Dutch Ambassadors caused it to be covered with a piece of Tapistry that none in their house might have any cause of discontent The French Ambassadors came to the Dutch Ambassadors House about nine of the clock at night with several Coaches filled with Gentlemen They were no sooner in their Chamber but the Heer Beverning gave them notice that all things were ready and having the Treaties in his hand he went and sate down at the upper end of the Table and the Heer Haaren his Colleague at the other end At the same time were opened the doors of the two Chambers and the Ambassadors advanced in equal pace from their several Apartments walking all three a breast As matters were disposed the Ambassadors of Spain had two disadvantages first that they were on the left hand as they entred the Hall and next that advancing to the Table in the rank which they were to keep the Marquess de los Balbases was forced to give his Colleagues the right hand because otherways he could not sit opposite to the Marshal d' Estrades nor at the upper end of the Table All the Ambassadors sate down at the same time the Gentlemen on either side standing at the backs of their Chairs The Marshal d' Estrades and the Marquess de los Balbases took each of them a Pen and at the same time signed the Treaty which the Heer Beverning presented to them Then the other Ambassadors took the Treaty and the Pen and signed it in the same colume every one on the right hand of his Treaty and exchanged them after the first signing The French signed that of Spain and the Spaniards that of France in one colume to the left of the former leaving room for the seals which the Secretaries took care to place at the end of every subscription This being done all the Ambassadors arose and complimented one another standing during the space of half a quarter of an hour after which they returned to their Chambers as before from whence they severally retired to their Lodgings Next day after the signing of the Treaty of Peace the Count d' Avaux with his whole Train parted for Nimueguen by water in quality of Ambassador Extraordinary to the States-General who told him upon his arrival that the Ratification of the Treaty was sent to Nimueguen where they were exchanged on the 20th with all the testimonies of mutual satisfaction among the Ambassadors who gave marks of their good intelligence by feasting and mutual rejoycings The Northern Confederates were at that time more than ever inclined to consent to a truce but the Suedes would not absolutely agree to it they would have willingly accepted of it in Pomerania because they had ground to fear that the great losses they had there sustained might be followed by others more considerable but they were not for it in Schonen where their affairs were in a better condition by the taking of Christianstadt which they had at length made themselves Masters of However the losses they felt in Pomerania were of greater importance to them than all they could gain elsewhere The Confederates at Nimueguen were at that time much surprised at the news of the death of the Bishop of Munster they had reason to fear that it might bring some alteration to the projects that they were forming However the great preparations that the King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenbourg were making against the Isle of Rugen were not at all retarded The Elector embarked his forces in several ships and was himself present at their landing which was so happily conducted that in less than a day he render'd himself Master of the whole Isle and without losing of time he went and besieged Stralsond which he took two days after he had begun to batter it Octob. 1678. The peace with the United Provinces was proclaimed at the Hague on the 28th of September and on the fifth of October publick rejoycings were solemnized throughout all the Towns of the United Provinces except Nimueguen because that Town being Neutral and appointed for the Treaty of the General Peace it did not seem expedient that they who by a separate Treaty were freed from the calamities of War should therefore rejoyce in presence of those who still lay under the burden thereof And it was upon that account that the Ambassadors of the Emperor and of the other Confederates desired the Ambassadors of the States-General that they would not suffer any publick rejoycing to be made in that place before the conclusion of the General Peace The French King who seemed to be no less desirous of the peace of the Empire than of that of Spain put himself in a posture of making the Princes who were engaged in that War to consent to it and for that end he caused a considerable body of his forces to march into the Countrey of Juliers under the command of Monsieur Calvo who possessed
himself of Aix la Chapelle whither part of the Ammunition of Maestricht which then was evacuating in order to its being rendered up to the States-General was transported the rest being carried by water to Huy which was put in a condition necessary for the security of the Magazines What inclination in the mean time the French King made appear to the peace of Germany the Ministers of the Emperor still laboured to persuade the Diet at Ratisbon that his Majesty desired no peace seeing he proposed an Alternative of which both parts were equally impractible They said that the Emperor could not render Philipsbourg because by the Leagues which he had made with most of the Princes of the Empire he had obliged himself to demolish it as a place prejudicial to their liberty and that if he delivered up Fribourg he would thereby leave all Brisgow and the Forest-Towns under the jurisdiction of France and give the French a footing in the Empire with more advantage than they had before by the possession of Philipsbourg For overthrowing these reasons which were thought pretexts to stave off the Peace and to render the intentions of the French King suspected the French Ambassadors declared in his Majesty's name That he consented to the demolishing of Philipsbourg and that to remove from the Emperor and Empire all causes of jealousie and fear concerning Brisgow and the Forest-Towns he was satisfied with the City of Fribourg and three Villages under its jurisdiction This proposition blasted all the reasons of impossibility which were alledged against the practability of the Alternative on which the peace of Germany depended In the mean time all diligence was used to put Maestricht in a condition of being render'd up to the States-General according to the intent of the Treaty of peace And in effect the Count d' Avaux having given his word to the States-General that it should be evacuated by the sixth of October the same day they took possession of it with the greater satisfaction to the Dutch that there were some still amongst them who continued to possess them with distrust and to persuade the people that France intended only to cheat them and that the King would not surrender Maestricht The French Forces that possessed almost all the passes on the Rhine were very uneasie to all the Neighbouring Princes who were engaged in the War The Duke of Newbourg who had most reason to fear was the first that desired of the States-General that he might be comprehended in their Treaty and enjoy the benefit of the Peace according to the 19th Article which gave them power to name their Allies within the space of six weeks that they might be included in the Treaty That Prince had the greater reason to hope that by this means he might put himself out of danger in that he was really an Ally of the States and that he had declared that he would accept the Peace before the expiration of the six weeks The Elector of Mayence and Treves made the same Declaration and the same demand to the States-General by a Memoir which the Baron of Leyen presented in their names at the Hague But what instances soever the States made in favour of those Princes and what assurances soever they gave that the Emperor himself would ere long accept the Peace they could not obtain any thing in a matter which they thought just and conform to the Article of their Treaty before they heard the reasons which the French alledged against that pretension On the 30th the Marquess de los Balbases returned from Brussels whither he went after the signing of the Peace with Spain It was thought that he brought the Ratification of the Treaty because the six weeks wherein the exchange was to be made were expired the day before Nevertheless he brought it not but the French King having sent an Express to the Count d' Avaux that Ambassador declared to the States on the fifth of November 1678. that notwithstanding the negligence of Spain his Majesty was willing in consideration of them to prolong the time of the exchange of the Ratifications until the 20th of that month And by the next Courier that came news was brought that in compliance with the instances of the Ambassadors of the States-General his Majesty had granted the whole Month. At that time the Plenipotentiary of Lorrain declared That his Master accepted the Peace upon the terms proposed by the French King the 9th of April and at the same time chose the second part of the Alternative by which Nancy was to remain to his Majesty who in exchange thereof gave him the City of Toul upon the conditions specified in the Article of the Kings project which concerns that Prince The Nuncio who promised himself that all these particular acceptations of Peace would terminate in the conclusion of the General Peace employed all his care and pains with much zeal to incline the Emperors Ambassadors and the Ministers of other Catholick Princes not to defer any longer the complishment of so great a blessing The French King in the mean time well perceived that these Princes of the Empire consented only to a separate Peace in prospect of putting themselves out of danger of his Arms and not with design to conclude it upon conditions that respected the Empire in general seeing they desired no more but to be comprehended in the Dutch Treaty and consented not to the reinforcement of the Treaties of Westphalia which granted free passage to his Majesties forces through the Empire so often as it was necessary they should march that way for the execution of the same Treaties And therefore the King yeilded not to the desire of those Princes though the States-General who made it a point of honour to procure them the benefit of their peace in the midst of War pretended they had right to have them included in their Treaty The Count de Bouvean d' Epense whom the King permitted the Spring before to take a journey to Berlin to see the Elector of Brandenbourg his old Master about that time came back to Nimueguen though he was wholly addicted to the Interests of his Electoral Highness before the War yet his Majesty did not for all that repose less confidence in him for upon his return from Berlin finding the King in Flanders after the taking of Ghent his Majesty ordered him still to wait upon him designing to make use of all opportunities that might offer to renew a good correspondence with the Elector And therefore he came to Nimueguen with particular instructions from the Court to contribute what he could to that peace and the French Ambassadors acted nothing without his consent in the transactions that passed at Nimueguen concerning that Negotiation The Imperial Ambassadors could not as yet resolve to give their consent to the entire confirmation of the Treaties of Westphalia it was the thing that created them most trouble and which was most prejudicial to the Authority that the
last in the War but their peace depended on the Suedes who being so highly supported by the French seemed no less haughty as to the propositions that were made to them than if they themselves had been in condition of giving the Law to their enemies The morning and evening conferences of the 29. and 30. were very long and the Ambassadors met and discoursed together so that there was no question made of the happy success of the Negotiation Ambassador Temple who upon the advice he received that the Treaty was upon the point of being concluded parted from the Hague on the 29. arrived on the 30. at Nimueguen that he might sign that peace though many things still remained to be adjusted The Ambassadors were at the Town-house from eight of the clock in the morning until two afternoon And as it was not doubted but that that last day would put an end to that great work the end of the evening-conference which began at four of the clock was impatiently expected but it lasted till five of the clock next morning and yet the peace in no condition to be signed The affairs of the Duke of Lorrain took up much time and in that conference M. Stratman made a long and elegant discourse in Latin concerning the pretensions and interests of that Prince though M. Colbert expected no such thing and that he had no time to prepare himself for an answer yet he answered ex tempore with so much force and perspicuity that the whole Assembly were surprised at it It seemed that the Imperialists perceiving that the delay granted by the King expired with the preceding day purposely suffered affairs to be spun out beyond that term to the end that it might not be said that they had suffered it to expire without a conclusion and that they had incurred the penalties upon which the French King granted a second prorogation No other business remained to be determined but the affairs of the House of Furstemberg and the possession of the Dutchy of Bouillon with the granting the demand of the French Ambassadors who would have the result of the Diet of Ratisbon mentioned in the Treaty by which it might appear that the Ambassadors of the Emperor were sufficiently authorised to stipulate in the name of the Empire January 167â— 2 The greatest difficulties being at length discussed the French Ambassadors declared that they had power to prolong for two days the last delay that their King had granted But the Ambassadors of Denmark and Brandenbourg finding that no obstacle could hinder the conclusion of the peace of the Empire though the Ministers of their Masters at the Emperor's Court assured them of the contrary in all their Letters and though the Imperial Ambassadors themselves protested to them at Nimueguen that they would not act in reference to them but as faithful Allyes the first of February about eleven of the clock at night they made a long and smart Remonstrance to the Imperial Embassy that they might endeavour as much as in them lay to divert the blow which they then saw nearer than they had ever before They told the Imperial Ambassadors that their proceedings with the common Enemy so much the more allarm'd them as that in the place where they were shut up they could not come to speech with them that they might represent to them how sensibly it affected them to see that they made mysteries of that which the Enemy scrupled not to make publick that they intreated them to consider the faith of their leagues the Decrees of the Empire and the wrong they would do the Princes their Masters if they restored Sueden to the benefit of the Treaties of Westpbalia contrary to the solemn conclusions that declare they have forfeited the same that above all they pray'd them to give away nothing of what belonged to them and not to suffer that under the name of peace the war might be carried into those parts of the Empire into which the Enemies Forces were never as yet able to advance These Ambassadors added to their Remonstrance a kind of threatning saying that if the Imperialists abandoned them to the discretion of their Enemies they ought not to take it ill if they made use of their â—wn misfortunes for obtaining some reparation from those who would sacrifice them in that manner In fine they adjured them by the Majesty of the Sacred Empire that they would conclude nothing contrary to the Rights of their Masters seeing they were ready to make peace jointly with them upon equitable conditions or otherways to take all necessary measures for a vigorous resistance The Confederate Ambassadors nicked the time in making that Remonstrance for the Conference from which the Imperial and French Ambassadors were just come ended in a total rupture and with so much animosity on both sides that those who formerly desired the peace had cause to fear that the Treaty could hardly be set on foot again But notwithstanding of that Ambassador Jenkins who shewed no less prudence than zeal in his conduct so ordered affairs that next day being the second of the Month the Conferences were renewed Seeing the difference that remained concerning the Dutchy of Bouillon was that which at that time created the greatest obstacle to the conclusion of the peace insomuch that it was thought it would have broken off the Treaty the Nuncio fearing lest that single difficulty might obstruct the fruits of so long and difficult a Negotiation so ordered matters that the Sieurs Charun and Vanderveck Envoys from the Prince and Chapter of Liege declared That since nothing but the pretension which their Master had to the Dutchy of Bouillon hindred the peace they consented that upon the account of that particular Interest the welfare and repose of the whole Empire should be no longer retarded By that means all things were adjusted and in the same Conference which lasted till midnight the Ambassadors agreed to sign the Treaty Tho' the peace concluded betwixt the Emperor and France sufficiently provided for the security and satisfaction of Sueden seeing it restored that Crown to all that the Treaties of Westphalia gave it in the Empire yet there was a necessity of a separate Treaty for Sueden because that King had been declared an Enemy to the Empire and fallen from the advantages which he had by the peace of Munster That Treaty was therefore set on foot with great diligence and had all the success that the particular care of the French King could procure for the concerns of his Confederate The Treaty of Westphalia was made the rule and pattern of this all Acts Decrees and Mandates made to the contrary were rescinded and declared null by it as innovations introduced during the troubles of the War the neutrality of the Emperor and restauration of the Duke of Holstein Gottorp were therein stipulated and all protestations that could be made to the contrary declared null and of none effect The Ambassadors of Denmark and Brandenbourg
least advance towards it especially so long as it was so well supported by the men and money of France In the mean while the French Ambassadors having seen the Answer that the Danish Ambassador made thought fit to reply to it on the 14th saying That the French King's design being to make the peace of the Empire universal his Majesty had stipulated in the Treaty that he should employ all his Offices with the King of Sueden and the Emperor the like with his Confederates to incline them to consent to a truce for better carrying on of the peace That the Suedish Ambassadors were the first that consented to it even by the Treaty whilst that those of Denmark and Brandenbourg were so far from condescending to what had been stipulated for them that on the contrary they had protested against the Treaty and used still all their endeavours to incline the Empire to prefer the continuation of the War before the ratification of the peace The French Ambassadors subjoined That it was this procedure of the Confederates which had given occasion to his Majesty of taking more efficacious measures for obtaining of a general peace with as much expedition as the good of the people required and therefore for making the Declaration of the 24th of February which was so much the more reasonable in the pretensions it contained in that all equity allowed that those who share most in the inconveniences of War should make likewise the greatest advantages of it The Elector of Cologn with whom peace was made was at present most exposed to the passage of Forces and his most Christian Majesty not desiring to make advantage of his Armies to the prejudice of the Empire was willing thereby to gratifie that Prince of all the rest to whom the continuation of a War which the obstinacy alone of the Elector of Brandenbourg entertained still in the Empire was most prejudicial At length the French Ambassadors declared that they would never consent to any proposition unless the re-establishment of the Treaties of Westphalia was fully admitted All men were of opinion that the cessation of Arms mentioned in the Treaty of Peace betwixt the Empire and France was the most proper means of compassing the Peace of the North. And therefore the Ambassador of Brandenbourg finding that the French charged him in their Reply with refusing to accept of that Cessation and that at the same time they declared that they could not admit of any proposition which was not grounded on the Treaties of Westphalia thought himself obliged without further delay to make an Answer which he did the 16th He said That if by a repugnancy which is common on such occasions he had disapproved what the Imperial Ambassadors had concluded with France to the prejudice of his Master it could not be inferred from thence that he was unwilling to accept the cessation of Arms seeing he had made known to the French Ambassadors by the English Mediators that he was ready to conclude it upon reasonable conditions That as the King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenbourg had cause to be very well satisfied with the Mediators so their Ambassadors ought not without express Orders to have the same respect for the offers of the Imperial Ambassadors that those of Sueden ought to have for the care that the French Ambassadors took of the concerns of that Crown and so much the rather because that if in this juncture France particularly performed the Articles of the League betwixt it and Sueden it was manifest that the Emperor did violate that which was contracted betwixt him and the Princes whom he abandoned The Ambassador added That the Elector his Master had only engaged in the War to maintain the Peace of Westphalia against the Invasion of Sueden That his Electoral Highness was willing to have contributed what he could to the preservation of that Peace in its full force but that since it was the intent of the same Peace that those who should break it to the prejudice of those that are comprehended therein should make reparation according to the sentence of the Emperor and Empire there was nothing more just than to put in execution the Decree which the Emperor and Empire had given against Sueden in the present case and that it was far greater obstinacy to refuse that which was reasonable than to pretend to what was lawfully ones due The Mediators in the mean time and the Ambassadors of all the Princes who had made their Peace perceiving that the Month of March which the French King allowed as the longest delay to the Elector of Brandenbourg was drilled on in debates and disputes in Writing without any serious application to the promoting of the Peace solicited the French Ambassadors to consent to a cessation of Arms during all the following Month not doubting but in that time all the difficulties that hindered the conclusion of the general Peace might at length be removed These solicitations made the French Ambassadors declare to the Mediators on the 26. that in compliance with the Instances that had been made to them both by them and the Bishop of Gurck in name of the Ambassadors of Denmark and Brandenbourg for a suspension of Arms until the first of May they consented in name of the King their Master and his Allies to a cessation during the whole Month of April provided the same Ambassadors of Denmark and Brandenbourg accepted of it without delay saying it was neither the fault of them nor of their Allies that that Truce was not granted at the time that they signed the Peace with the Emperor according to the offers that were made then but that it was the protestations of the Ambassadors of Denmark and Brandenbourg only which was the cause it did not then take effect The French Ambassadors declared to the Mediators at the same time that they had not only received the ratification of the Peace which they had signed with the Imperial Ambassadors the 5th of February but that also his most Christian Majesty desiring to see that Peace with all expedition accomplished for the repose of the Empire he had sent them a commission for the fulfilling of the Treaty so that since it was not his fault that the Empire did not instantly reap the fruits of so desired a Peace if it happened that the ratification of the Emperor should not be exchanged within the time prescribed by the Treaty they demanded from that instant in name of the King that the demolition of Philipsbourg and the surrender of all Briâ—gow might be granted to his Majesty and added to the Treaty for satisfaction of the charges that he was obliged to be at And as to the Duke of Lorrain that if that Prince did not in the same time fully and plainly ratifie all that the Imperial Ambassadors had stipulated for him his Majesty in that case held himself acquitted from all the conditions that he had granted to him The circumstance which the French Ambassadors
the whole Garrison having retreated into the Cittadel and the Duke of Orleans who till then had only held St. Omers blocked up caused at the same time the Trenches to be opened But upon notice that the Prince of Orange marched with a great Army to the relief of St. Omer the King detached from his Army the Mareshal of Luxembourg with Eight Battalions the two Troops of his Musquetiers and some Dragoons reserving only so many of his forces as were necessary for forcing the Cittadel of Cambray This Detachment came in the nick of time to strengthen the Duke of Orleans his Army for on the eleventh the two Armies engaged near to Mont-cassel and had a sharp dispute but after a vigorous resistance made by the Dutch-Infantry the French got the day and the Dutch in that defeat lost eight thousand men that wert killed or made Prisoners many Colours eight pieces of Cannon two mortar-pieces all their gross Baggage and many Waggons laden with Arms and Ammunition for the relief of St. Omers which was the chief fruit of the Battel The news of that victory the taking of Cambray on the eighteenth and of St. Omers on the twentieth stunned the Confederates and so many Conquests in six weeks time and before the usual time of the Compagn made the Spaniards despair of being able to preserve any thing in Flanders if peace did not put a stop to those progresses but that which troubled them most was that by these Conquests tâ—ey lost all the Contributions which they raised on the Frontiers of France and which was the surest way they had to pay the small Army that they entertained in the Low-countries In the mean time the Elector of Brandenbourg being come to Wesel there was a great Conference held there concerning the Enterprises which the German forces were to undertake in three several places The Ambassadour of Denmark went thither from Nimâ—eguen the Pensioner Fagel and Admiral Van Trump were there for the States-General the Envoys of the Electors of Cologn Treves Palatine of the Princes of Brunswick and Bishop of Munster were also at that Council of War and the Duke of Newbourg was there in person But the great advantages that the French King had just then obtained diverted the designs which the Confederates had again formed upon Maestricht and Lorrain Many were perswaded that the loss which the Dutch had then sustained would incline them to treat about a separate Peace if the States-General were as desirous of it as the people and all that wished well to the publick seemed impatient to see themselves delivered from so troublesome a War They could not have a better pretext for it than the loss of the battel of Mont-cassel and the sudden return of the Heer Beverning who upon that news came presently back to Nimueguen confirm'd the conjecture that some had of a particular accommodation betwixt Holland and France That Ambassador appeared always so zealous for the real interest of his Countrey that if there was any separate Treaty to be expected it could no ways be managed but by his means and if different interests had not always divided the States-General it would not have been long before they had broken off from the Confederates whose hopes daily vanished though they could not resolve to save themselves from the misfortunes of War by a good Peace which appeared to the Dutch to be the most speedy and safe way to remedy the present Evils and prevent those wherewith they were threatned After this short but no inglorious Campagn the French King dispersed his Forces into quarters of refreshment and being at Dunkirk sent the Duke of Crequi to compliment the King of England and to carry him a Letter whereby his Majesty declared That though his willingness to come to peace did not at all promote the conclusion thereof yet he was ready amidst the prosperities wherewith Heaven was pleased to favour him to consent to a general Truce for some years as the surest means of restoring tranquility to Europe provided that the King of Sueden was of the same mind And seeing his Majesty could have no free correspondence with that Prince he prayed the King of England to inform himself of his intentions not doubting but that he was sufficiently persuaded of the sincere desire he had to second the good offices of his Mediation yea and to contribute all that in him lay for the procuring of a General Peace though he might have ground to expect considerable advantages from his Armies In the mean time it was the common discourse that the French King did but make formal demonstrations of desiring a Peace whilst he found himself so successful and so powerful as to make himself Master of all the Low-Countreys that if he did really consent to a Truce he must either think himself too weak to bear up against the efforts that were preparing to be made against him in Germany and Catalonia or that he intended some enterprise into which they could not dive Some gave out that the French King's Letter was but a politick fetch whereby he gave occasion to the King of England to wave the Declaration which his Parliament so urgently solicited and that the condition of the King of Sueden's consent would be always a sure pretext to stave off the proposition of the Truce whenever France though it convenient The same day May 1677. that that Letter was brought to Nimueguen the Dutch Ambassadors having demanded audience of the French came all to the House of the Marshal D' Estrades whither they brought the project of a Treaty of Commerce the Articles of which were extracted out of the last Treaties which they made with France But the people said publickly That that was but to amuse them to no purpose that it was much better to conclude a Treaty of Peace than a Treaty of Commerce The States General in the mean time sent three hundred thousand Crowns to the Prince of Orange to raise recruits for their Forces publishing that the loss they had sustained at Mont Cassel should not hinder them from rigging out a Fleet which they designed for the assistance of Sicily and Denmark The Confederates nevertheless began to take umbrage at the Negotiation of the Dutch the disposition they found the Sieur Beverning in to treat separately gave them the greater cause of fear in that that Minister ceased not to press them and to complain of their slow proceedings And the Duke of Zell finding himself sollicited to send five thousand men to join the Confederate Army as he had done the year before he made some difficulty and demanded of the States-General an hundred thousand Crowns and as much from the Spaniards and insisted upon this That the Emperor would cause the title and rank of Ambassadors to be given to the Ministers which the House of Brunswick should send to Nimueguen These conditions gave ground to suspect that that Prince and some others of Germany had not the same