this extremity and seeing themselves in most imminent danger of becoming an absolute Prey to the K's Conquering Arms judg'd it most conducible to their present condition to sue for Peace for which reason the States deputed some to the King to know upon what terms he would be pleas'd to grant it and at the same time sent to Charles II. then King of England to be informed concerning his Pretensions against them For it is to be observed that it was not the French King alone who was offended at the Hollanders they had given great causes of complaint to the King of England by their Insolence both to him and his Subjects by troubling their Commerce and especially by fomenting divisions betwixt that Prince and his People which ever since the Peace concluded at Breda they had look'd upon as the main pont of their own security Our King being not ignorant in the Art of improving so favourable a juncture and how to represent the injuries receiv'd by the Dutch to King Charles II. it made so lively an impression upon that Monarch that he quitted the Triple-Alliance and declar'd open War to the Hollanders Having equipp'd a Gallant Fleet the same was joyn'd by the French in the Channel and the Dutch threatned with a most powerful Invasion by Sea but the Enemies had secured themselves so well at Sea and had provided a Fleet so numerous and well mann'd that when the Fleets of both Crowns engaged them on the 7th of June they could after a most bloody and obstinate Fight boast of no other advantage than to have chased them towards their own Coasts and made them retire to their own Ports The Propositions of Peace made by the two Kings were look'd upon by the Dutch as so extravagant and intolerable that they resolved rather to bury themselves in their own Ruins than to purchase the Peace at such a Rate Being therefore reduced to that Extremity as to be forced to take such Measures as were most suitable to their present desperate Condition they had recourse to their Sluces and Dikes which they opened and pierced through in many places and put the Country under Water to serve them as a Barricado against their Enemies who were upon the Point of snatching from them their so much admir'd Liberty The Remedy appear'd so dangerous in the Eyes of all the World that the most considered it to be of worse consequence than the Evil they feared but nevertheless it proved the real cause of their Safety For our King finding all his Measures broken by this insurmountable Obstacle left Holland leaving the Duke of Luxemburgh to Command in his Absence with Orders to take the opportunity of the approaching Winter to push on his Conquests with all the vigour imaginable under the favour of the Frosts and Ice At his Return into France the People charmed with his Presence after so Glorious a Campaign received him in Triumph and accompanied him through all places where-ever he pass'd with all the joyful Acclamations and Vows due to a Conqueror The Dutch Troops having taken new Courage after the King's Departure Besieged Voerden under the Command of the Prince of Orange with fourteen Thousand Men. All the Country round about it lay under Water there being only one Passage left to approach it which was a Dike on the side of Utrecht To cut off from the Town all Communication and hopes of Succours the Prince had caused two Forts to be erected on each side of the Dike and betwixt both a Battery strengthened with a good Intrenchment But all these Fortifications were not strong enough to frighten the Duke of Luxemburgh who after the Siege had lasted two Months advancing early in the Morning attack'd them in the Front but being repulsed there he was so far from giving over his Design that having caused the Depth of the Waters to be sounded and finding them not above four Foot deep in a certain place which he judged convenient for the Attack he led his Men with a marvellous Resolution through the Waters and taking them in Flank made himself Master of one of their Quarters on that side from whence assaulting the Forts he took them not without a great Slaughter on the Enemies side who being obliged to raise the Siege the Duke provided the place with a sufficient Garrison and marched back again to Utrecht with a considerable Booty and a good number of Prisoners of War The Prince of Orange raises the Siege of Voerden The bravest and most couragious Action that ever was undertaken especsally if it be considered that the Duke had not above three Thousand Men with him by reason that he was not joyn'd by some Troops which he expected to have met him in his March according to Orders and because that the French Troops were not very numerous at that time thereabouts the Viscount of Turenne having lately been reinforced from thence with a good Body of the best Regiments to observe the Motions of the Elector of Brandenburgh The more all the Neighbouring Princes were surprized at the stupendious progress of the King's Arms War with the Elector of Brandenburgh the more they judged it for their Interests to put a stop to his Conquests It is not to be imagined that it was so much out of Compassion or the Consideration of the deplorable Condition to which this so flourishing and potent Commonwealth had been reduced within the space of two Months that made them take these Measures to prevent its ruine by their assistance but their own Fears and Jealousies which represented to them Europe in Chains and as a Vassal of France if the King should Conquer the United Provinces what Wonder then if all were ready to lend a helping hand to preserve that from whence depended in a great measure their own Safeties whilst some therefore endeavoured to obtain their aim by secret Intrigues others presented themselves with their Swords in Hand The Elector of Brandenburgh was the first who shew'd himself most concern'd for the Preservation of the Dutch whether it was that their Money had had more influence over him than the rest and made him more Zealous for their Interest or whether it were that he was dissatisfied at our King for not restoring to him some Places which belonged to him and were taken by our Troops from the Dutch I will not pretend to determine It is unquestionable that he was a Prince very aspiring and ambitious one of the bravest Men living and of great Experience in Martial Affairs who maintain'd at that time an Army of twenty five Thousand Men who wanted to be employed some where or other Add to this the Sollicitations of his Nephew the Prince of Orange who earnestly intreated him to employ his Forces for the Relief of Holland which might serve as the most effectual means in the World to establish his Reputation among them So sure it is that all the Ties of Consanguinity are weak if not strengthned and link'd
to his own Credit and Interest as to our King's Protection and the prudent Management of the then Bishop of Marseilles Coll. Johnson and the King's Ambassadour in Poland a great Politician and one of those extraordinary Persons who by their singular Merits become honourable to their Age and Highly Serviceable to the Church and State This King acquir'd immortal Glory about nine Years after when he left his Kingdom and marched in the year 1683 to the relief of Viena But ever since that time he had altred his measures and in lieu of prosecuting the War with vigour against the Infidels had given himself over to Idleness his main Care being to heap up such Treasures for his Children as to put them in a Condition either to obtain the Crown after his Death John Sobieski K. of Poland or at least to put them beyond the want of it whereas the best Treasure he could have left to his Children would have been to bless them with the Love of the People But these gave such evident demonstrations of the little esteem they had for his Family by pillaging his Estate during the Interregnum that it sufficiently appear'd to the World that his memory was become odious to them After the Death of this Prince a general Diet was call'd together in order to chuse a Successor to the Crown At this critical Conjuncture when most Princes of Europe were engaged in a War it was no wonder if each Party pretended to maintain their Interest at this Election The Election of a King of Poland inclining either to the Interest of France or the Confederacy being look'd upon at this juncture of time of such Consequence as to carry along with it no small Influence towards the raising or diminishing the Hopes of the Confederate Princes each Party therefore were not sparing in making Intrigues for or against the Interest of such a Person as they either wish'd to be elevated or excluded from the Throne of Poland Among the rest that pretended to the Crown was the present Czar of Muscovy His Empire is of a very vast extent Candidates for the Crown of Poland Czar of Muscovy reaching from the Boristhenes to the utmost Confines of the North and on the other side from the Frontiers of Sweden to the River Tanais It was represented to the Poles how glorious 't would be to their Nation to chuse a King who Commanded over so vast a Country but they wisely consider'd that their Liberty would be in no small danger under so Potent a Master who was able to bring them under Subjection by the Force of his own Arms. Duke of Lorrian The young Prince of Lorrain eldest Son to the late Prince Charles entred also the List of the Candidates not so much in hopes of succeeding in it as out of an Ambition of being put in the same Rank with the rest in his younger Years There was also much Discourse of Prince Lewis of Baden Prince Lewis of Baden This Prince was a great Master of the Art of War and had had great Success against the Infidels in Hungary whom he had vanquish'd at several times The Emperour in acknowledgment of his Services and the Prince of Orange K. William III. out of a particular Respect for his person would without all question have espoused his Interest if by joynt-consent of the Confederates it had not been judged more advisable to support the Faction of Prince James Sobieski Pr. James of Poland Brother-in-Law both to the Emperour and the Elector of Bavaria Every thing seem'd to concur for his Advantage He was eldest Son to the late King he wanted not Riches to purchase the Voices and Protection of the Great ones The Princes of Germany had espoused his Interest as well as the Dutch the Emperour and Prince of Orange K. William III. made use of all their Credit to promote his Elevation to the Crown But all these Advantages which in all outward appearance seem'd to be the most proper means to compass his Design prov'd perhaps the true cause of his Disappointment For his near Alliance with the House of Austria had raised a Jealousy in the Polish Lords lest he should when once their King improve it to their disadvantage and be encourag'd by the Neighbourhood of the Emperour to make use of his Power to the prejudice of their Liberty The pressing Sollicitations made in his behalf by the German Princes began to be suspected by the Populace by reason of a certain Jealousy and Emulation which is always to be observed betwixt two Potent neighbouring Nations He was as Liberal in his Promises to pay the Debts of the Crown in case he was elected King as profuse in his Money to gain the Hearts of the Poles but in vain nothing being able to remove the Aversion they had conceived against him The Confederates finding the Poles thus disposed began to despair of the Success of the Prince for which Reason they raised a new Faction for the Elector of Saxony The Elector promised to turn Catholick and there were not wanting those Elector of Saxony who assured them that he had abjured the Lutheran Religion two or three Months before notwithstanding that since that time he had made publick Profession of it He offered ten Millions for the Payment of Arrears due to the Army who during the time of the Interregnum had revolted for want of Pay He promised also to maintain at his own Cost fifteen thousand Men and never to make Peace with the Turks till he had restored all what they had taken from the Poles These specious Offers would perhaps have influenced the Poles to prefer the Elector before the rest if the Eyes and Hearts of the Polish Nobility had not been guided by the real Prospect of more solid Advantages The French Ambassador the Abbot Malehoor de Polygnack recommended to them Francis Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conty Prince of Conty the eleventh Prince of the Royal Blood of France who promised to pay their Troops all their Arrears in ready Money and to retake Caminieck without the least Expence to the Commonwealth The Prince of Conty had gained the Esteem of all Europe not only by his Courage but also by many great and generous Actions and his unparallell'd Moderation He had Signaliz'd himself in the War in Hungary and since his Return had given many Demonstrations of his Valour to the World At Steenkirk and in the Battle of Neerwinden he had shew'd himself both an expert General and a brave Soldier These great Qualifications which made very favourable Impressions in the hearts of a War-like People received a new Lustre by our King's Recommendation to the Chief Men of Poland But this Negotiation met with no small Difficulties as being opposed by almost all the rest of the Princes of Europe The Ministers of these Princes insinuated without intermission to the Poles that to chuse a French Prince would be to put all
Expences bestowed in the carrying on of this Siege lost twenty Thousand Men the Flower of their whole Army The Confederates being flush'd with this Success Campaign 1666. boasted every where of this Conquest but the wiser sort among them were not much overjoyed at this Advantage as looking upon it as a means to retard the conclusion of a Peace For the People being exhausted with Taxes wished very earnestly for a Peace as the only means to free them from those heavy Impositions Their Commerce was considerably diminished our Privateers who continually infested their Coasts taking some of them every Day it having been Computed that the English alone have since the beginning of this War lost four Thousand two Hundred Merchant Men valued by themselves at thirty Millions of Sterling But there appeared in England many other Causes of Intestine Divisions and Confusion For the Money began to be very scarce and was so much Clipp'd of late Years that its intrinsick value did not amount to two thirds sometimes not to one half of what it ought to be As nothing is more pernicious and destructive to Commerce than the adulteration of Money so these Disorders made many grumble against the Government it being a customary thing for the Common People to impute any publick Disaster to the mis-management of those at the Helm which was also improved by a Party who insinuated into the People that great store of the English Coin was Transported into Holland The Agents of the King of England believing the present juncture very favourable to their Design set all their Engines at work for his Restauration They brought over many to their side some out of Novelty others being moved by a seasonable Repentance others out of Affection to their King joined in the Design of restoring him to the Throne They could scarce have wish'd for a more favourable Opportunity the Prince of Orange King William III. having left the Kingdom destitute of Troops and without a Fleet to guard the Coasts All his Troops were transported to Flanders the grand Fleet was at Cadiz and a good Squadron of his best Ships lately gone out of the Downs to join those in the Streights The King of England encourag'd by these hopes of Success came to Calais with a Body of Sixteen Thousand Men of old Troops under the Command of several experienc'd Generals who were ready to Embark at an hours warning But the Winds proving contrary for some time the whole Design was discover'd and we lost at once both the time and hopes of putting it in Execution For no sooner had the Dutch received Intelligence of this intended descent but they put to Sea with a Squadron of twelve stout Ships which cruised before Calais The Prince of Orange K. William III. without shewing the least Concern at the greatness of the Danger soon found means to disperse these Clouds He secured many suspected Persons recalled his Fleets and some of his Troops out of Flanders and secur'd the Sea-Coasts on that side which was most exposed to danger with a good Body of the Militia A Plot when once discover'd seldom takes effectâ— and in lieu of proving destructive to those against whom it was intended prroves generally the chief means of their Establishment Both the Houses of Parliament gave upon this occasion new Demonstrations of their Zeal and firm Adherence to the Interest of the Prince of Orange King William III. by entring into an Association not only to maintain his Interest against all Pretenders but also to revenge his Death if he should happen to be snatch'd away by some sinister Attempt against his Life Having received these fresh Assurances of their Zeal for his Person and Interest he took such sure measures to prevent all future Danger of this kind that without any further delay he passed over into Flanders At his Arrival in Flanders he found the King's Armies in the Field before him and in the Spanish Territories The King having taken a Resolution to be upon the defensive and sent his Orders to the Marshal de Villeroy who was to Command the French Army in the Lower Flanders to possess himself at the beginning of the Campaign of some advantageous Post from whence he might both observe the Enemies Motions and prevent their Designs and subsist in their Territories till the end of the Campaign The Army near the Meuse was Commanded by the Marshal de Bouflers who pursuant to the King's Orders had divided his Army into four several Bodies at such a convenient distance as to be able to join upon any occasion and at the same time to cover the French Conquests All the measures taken by the Confederates being broken by these seasonable Precautions they were forced to consume their own Territories all the Summer long without being able to undertake a Siege or come to an Engagement though they appear'd more formidable now than ever Their Fleet consisted of an Hundred and Thirty Sail but did no other feats but to burn a few Houses at Calais near the Sands of Cologne and at St. Martins They had three Armies in the Low-Countries one consisting of five and twenty or thirty Thousand Men under the Command of the Prince of Vaudemont in the Lower Flanders which however was not strong enough to Encounter the Marshal de Villeroy who Forraged to the very Gates of Ghent and exacted Contributions from all the circumjacent Countries Their Grand Army at least half as strong again threatned sometimes one sometimes another Place with a Siege but could not meet with a favourable opportunity to put it in Execution A third Army of eighteen or twenty Thousand Men all Germans advanced towards the side of Namur under the Command of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassal They remain'd in that Post for about a Month when for want of Pay or opportunity of being employed in Flanders they returned towards the Rhine Neither did the Confederates act with much better Success on the German side The Prince of Baden keeping close within his Lines till the latter end of August not thinking it adviseable to meet the Marshal de Choiseul who had passed the Rhine with the French Army and stayed on this side near six Weeks After the return of the Landgrave of Hesse the Prince of Baden passed the Rhine and in Conjunction with the rest Marched towards Philipsbourgh without attempting any thing against the Place They afterwards advanced nearer the Marshal but spent the rest of their time in Cannonading one anothers Camp without coming to an Engagement The Duke of Vendosme had but a small Army in Catalonia more considerable for the goodness of his Troops than their Number Yet he remained Master of the Field all that Campaign being belov'd and esteem'd by the Inhabitants of the Country and dreaded by the Spaniards He defeated the Body of their Cavalry much Superiour in number of Squadrons to his He demolish'd many of their Castles which served them for places of Retreat He observed so closely