Licensed June 5th 1693. Edward Cooke THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE Confederacy c. Discovered in a CONFERENCE Between the French King AND HIS CHIEF OFFICERS To which is added ARTICLES BETWEEN LUXEMBURGH c. AS ALSO Expedients proposed for a Peace Translated out of French London Printed for Richard Baldwin at the Oxford-Arms Inn in Warwick-lane 1693. SCarce had they given over talking at Court of the taking of Mons and of the advantages that France would receive by so important a Conquest which put into her Hands the Key of all the Spanish Netherlands but a whispering began to be spread abroad that the Council had some new design in Hand which promised great things and would be the occasion of as great an umbrage yea greater than that of Monâ— Whilst the Generals were gathering together and Monsieur de Luxembuâ—gh de Loâ—ge d' Humieres Boufflers Vauban and others of the secret Council were passing to and fro it was not doubted but there was some grand Enterprize on foot The Criticks of the times and those which made it their business to foresee things to come met also by courses and did indiscreetly cast the Horoscope of the place threatned with this Thunderbolt upon which it was ready to fall making the Innocent bear the burthen of the Guilty but withall not discovering any thing of their real intentions for France is so subtle in concealing her designs that she would oblige People to believe quite another thing than what she really intends Nevertheless orders were given that all things should be in readiness The Roads were already fill'd with Waggons and Carts loaden with Ammunition and Provision which went to fill the Magazines of Mons Phillip-Ville Maubeuge and Dinant There were never seen so many Bombs and Carcasses gathered together and sent in a time when the rigour of the Winter had rendred the Roads unpassable They were not satisfied with the great Stores of Corn and Forrage that all the conquer'd Countries could furnish them withall besides an innumerable number of Provisions rais'd in the Enemies Country by way of Contributions but also the Hay and Oats of Champaign and the Neighbouring Provinces had been transported in so great abundance that it reduc'd the People of that Country to the last extremity having deprived them of their proper subsistance Besides all these Prodigious Preparations to prevent yet the disorder which might happen to a great and numerous Army if it should once come to want Provisions they made use of the same Artifice as they had done at the Siege of Mons I mean that the Victualler General found a way how to bring from Holland 100000 Crowns worth of Dutch Cheese by the intelligence he had with a Baker at Gaunt who knew the secret how to get it convey'd In the affair of Mons so great a provision was made that after the reduction of that place the Army being first furnish't the rest was publickly sold for fear it should be spoil'd so that nothing was seen in the Boats and publick Markets but Holland Cheese So that we may say that France partly maintains her Armies upon the subsistance of her Enemies and the opportunity she hath by the means of her Gold and Silver to spread Corruption in a Country as fruitful of Traytors as Brabant emboldens her and makes her undertake in the midst of Winter the Siege of the strongest places in Europe whilst the Allies who do not use so much precaution see themselves incapacitated for want of Magazines to enter the Campaign before the Month of June But it is not of Yesterday that France has been a practitioner in this mattter In the War of 1672. she managed otherwise for then Marquis de Louvois found the way some Months before the Declaration of the War to draw from the Principal Bankers of the City of Amsterdam in ready Mony full eight Millions of Silver This Summ and many others privately raised in several other Cities of these Provinces were advanced and defray'd a part of the charge of the War which had like to have overturn'd the State and to put it upon the brink of ruin But without calling in the time past for our assistance or diving into things acted in the precedent Wars and Ransacking as we say the Ashes of the Dead let us discourse of the Living and bring upon the Stage the Illustrious Marquess of Gastenaga heretofore Governour of the low Countries What has he not done to fill his Coffers The French Cavalry has lost in him one of the best Jockeys in all the Countries of Germany Liege or Brabant and I do not know how they will do after the Campaign and who shall furnish them sufficiently with Horses to remount their Cavalry For we reckon that he has conveyed into France since the Declaration of the War to the number of 40000 Horse for which he had three Pistoles per Horse for his pains But now when we unmask the cause of so many Misfortunes must we not avow whether we will or no that we know the evil and are not willing to remedy it since we see that no exact inquiry has been made into all these rotten Members who betray'd the good Party and sold by the example of Judas Iscariot their Country their Wives and Children and all that was most Sacred and Inviolable in the Government But to return to my matter in Hand After having so furnished the Magazines as we have already said Orders were dispatched which were carried in all hast by Curriers sent into Savoy Germany and Catalonia to cause all the Troops to be upon their March in order to be in Flanders at the beginning of the Month of April To cover yet better the great Design and to deceive the Enemies by Marches Countermarches which were caus'd to be made Monsieur Boufflers had orders to go to Mons to command in the absence of Monsieur Luxenburgh who staid at Paris to assist at the last Resolutions of the great Council of War which was to be held before the opening of the Campaign where several obstacles and difficulties that Monsieur de Vauban and de Megrini had proposed in the Execution of this project were to be decided Now it is acknowledged by all that these two Ingineers are beyond all controversy not only the best of this Age but also that France ever had since she was govern'd by Kings and that we may call them without Hyperbole the Right Hand of the Conquests that the King has made during the whole course of his Reign and greatest prosperities if we consider the Invention the good Order the Capacity and the quick Execution in which we may say that they have not their fellows in Europe But let us say also without Hyperbole or Flattery that it is a great advantage for an Ingenious Man when he has to do with a Prince who spares nothing for the Execution of a design and this doth not a little contribute to acquire him a great Reputation
of the Duke of Lorrain and of the Electors who took Three good Cities from me that year The deceased Marquess de Louvois whom I now very much lament foretold it me the good Man was a very good Physiognomist and as he knew his People extremely well so he was observed not to be mistaken in the choice he made of Persons of merit to fill the vacant places which has been the cause that during my Reign I have always had the choicest Persons It was he that presented Monsieur Catinat to me to Command in Italy being a Man he said who had experience and the good Fortune to have pass'd through all the inferiour degrees in the War having been formerly a common Soldier I was also willing to imploy the Duke of Duras to Command in Germany but Louvois advis'd me rather to send the Marshal de Lorge his Brother as a Man who had more of Softness and execution which agrees better with the natural slowness of the Germans I had also made choice of Monsieur Lauzun for Ireland at the Sollicitation of Madamoiselle de Monpensier my Cousin but the poor Man is no more what he was and the affairs of that Kingdom were quite changed after the loss of the Battle of the Boyn where he commanded joyntly with King James Louvois advis'd me to call him back as soon as possibly and to send the brave St. Ruth of happy memory whom I much lament because he was the Man that Purg'd my Kingdom of the Huguenot Heresie He was naturally hasty but brave as his Sword Be it as it will I found him very serviceable to me and if he had not been unfortunately kill'd by a Cannon Bullet I am persuaded that the War would have lasted still in Ireland and that the Prince of Orange would not have come off so cheap in Flanders It is also the deceased Marquis of Louvois who presented Tourville to me to Command my Fleet as an Admiral of a gallant Person And I vow that I have had till this very time a great deal of trouble to stop the Torrent of his Courage He talks to me in all my undertakings of nothing but giving Battle to the Enemy Hitherto I have always hindred him because I was not altogether satisfied with the Engagement of 1690. where the Hollanders alone with 20. or 22. Men of War dar'd to attack him at the head of my Fleet which was composed of more than 80. great Ships whilst the English contented themselves to be Spectators and that which caused astonishment was that after a Fight of more than Six hours not one of the Enemies Ships was taken having retreated after the Fight in very good order tho' in truth disabled and unmasted So the last Expedition I order'd him to shun all Engageing and when the Enemies should be on the one side to go on the other which he observ'd very well 'T is also from the same hand that the Marquiss de Bouflers was presented to me tho' in truth Madam de Maintenon also contributed for she wearied me Night and Day and I never saw her but she spoke to me of him But I have not been deceiv'd in him He is one of the bravest Officers that I have at this Day in my Armies and from whom I reap the greatest benefit by the Contributions which he takes care to gather together and to make my Enemies pay in ready mony which makes a considerable Sum design'd to buy Horses to re-mount my Cavalry For his pains I have lately made him Captain of my Guards besides several other good Offices which he possesses further more I have reserv'd a Marshals Staff for him if the War last two Campaigns more 'T is Louvois also who presented to me Monsieur Amelott formerly my Ambassador at Venice to go and reside with the Laudable Swiss Cantons during this War I have been deceiv'd in him no more than in Monsieur Bouflers for if this knows how to use a Pistol and is able in the handling of a Sword the other is no less in that of the Pen. It is also to his good conduct that I attribute all the good intelligence which reigns at present amongst my Cousins the Suissers Let him but make a Speech with Words well plac'd back'd with a good Purse of my Louisses distributed underhand and behind the Curtain I obtain immediately all I would have They granted me the last Campaign the raising of ten thousand Men of new Troops I hope they will grant me this Campaign at least fifteen thousand to fill up the number of the forty thousand that I have in my service with whom I am very well satisfied for they are the best Foot of my Army I ought not to forget to speak one word by the way of their General Stouppa with whom I am very well contented who seems to have chang'd his Country in changing his Religion that is to say become a good French-Man He takes so strongly to Heart my interests that we see him boldly march at the Head of the Swisser's Troops every where and in all places laughing at certain old and pretended Treaties which say that the Swissers that are in my Service shall not act against the Emperour and his Allies 'T is Louvois also who presented to me the Count of Bethune that I lately sent to the King of Sweedland to feel the pulse of that Prince and to see if there was no way to engage him to a Rupture Bidall writ to me that he could no longer retain his Resentment and that the English and Dutch Capers might make him become one of the French Interest I have given order to the Count de Beâ—hune to say at his arrival at Stockholme That he was arriv'd by chance and that a Tempest had cast him there that he may conceal so much the better his Negotiation I hear thanks to God that he is happily arriv'd I have also in Holland one of the Disciples of Bethune which doth me very good service and who has well succeeded the Count d' Avaux The Count de Bethune had considerable Summs to pay to Madam Morean's Father a rich Merchant at Paris but finding himself disabl'd to serve him he engag'd himself to obtain of the King of Poland by my recommendation Letters of credit for Monsieur Moreau her Husband and that by this means he might as we say kill two Birds with one Stone and be as Janus with two Faces in calling himself Envoy of the King of Poland and keeping in effect the place of the Count d' Avaux in his absence I am very well satisfied with him and I esteem him as one of my best Correspondents in Holland When the Count de Bethune shall have made the first motion to the Northern Princes I have then the Count d' Avaux and Bonrepos ready to set sail for that Coast to go and finish what Bethune shall have begun I have made choice of these two Ministers d' Avaux for Sweedland and Bonrepos
Prince as we may say forcing nature in the Child did so harass him in mounting on Horse back and fencing before he was strong enough to bear these rude Exeâ—â—ises that he thereby lost one full Third of hiâ— Boâ—y In effect those that have seen him undress'd know that he is in a manner all Thighs and Leggs Nevertheless this last opinion is scarcely believ'd if we make Reflection upon his hump back which gives him so ridiculous an Air and which cannot be look'd upon otherwise than a natural defect and it is reasonable to believe he came into the World in this condition because we certainly see by experience that the exercise of Arms contributes rather to regulate and render the Body free than to cause such imperfections Let it be as it will he has improv'd it well We may say that he is at present a Man after the King 's own Heart so it is not to be wonder'd at if he leaves to him the Government of his Armies since he has been bold several times to say That he thank'd God that he had caus'd him to be born without pity and compassion to the end he might be more capable of serving the King his Master and executing his designs A very Christian like sentiment and worthy of Monsieur de Luxemburgh But as to the Hump in his Back it will not be amiss to give an account of a thought which he had the day after the Battle of Fleurns As he receiv'd the Complements of success from the Lieutenant Generals and other Officers of his Army shewing them his Hump he told them he had there a reserve of a Body of Forty Thousand Men of which his Enemies knew nothing which would always render him Victorious thereby remarking the Artifices which he made use of which without contradiction makes up a good part of the Necromancy of which he was accused and which he himself has begun to Communicate since he has been a Commander to the other French Generals The Marquess de Bouflers who was one of his principal Disciples did him most Honour for he it is that at present seems to have profited most by the Lessons of his Master So Monsieur de Luxemburgh chose him to be at the Head of this reserve of which he spoke and was very careful in all the Battles to place him so well that he was seen running up and down like a Mad-Man not to say fly upon the least signal that he gave him The King seeing him come in turn'd towards him and spoke in these Terms Luxemburgh you are the Person at this Day in whom France places her greatest hopes my People look upon you as their Turenne and I my self esteem you as my right Hand you see me engaged in an unhappy War which consumes my Treasure impoverishes my Subjects ruins the State and makes me apprehensive of unhappy Events It is a lingring Fever which undermines by little and little my Kingdom and I fear lest it should in the issue become like Spain that is to say a poor and impotent Desert Sir answer'd Luxemburgh I thank your Majesty for having forgot my pass'd faults and for honouring me with the preference of the Command of your Armies before the Marshal d' Humieres much Older and Wiser than my self I am at the same time very much Obliged to the deceased Marquess of Louvois my good Friend and to the good Madam de Maintenon who sollicited my release and employ'd all their credit with your Majesty to get me out of the Bastile where I had been shut up upon the Death of the Count de Soissons and several other small matters which I was branded withall I vow I did not expect to be received again into your Grace and Favour your Majesty having had since tâ—e War of 1672 a particular aversion to my Pâ—rson But on the other side I am glad to see that my Enemies have for their part shame and trouble by the Triumph of my Innocence after having imploy'd all their power to ruin me I shall remember all my Life time the reverend Father La Chaise and the jealous Madam de Montespan who have been the principal actors of this Tragedy and if it is natural to keep resentment I will reserve to my self a favourable occasion to let them know that I have not been either a Necromancer nor Madam Brinvilliers Disciple But answer'd his Majesty Let us not talk of pass'd Quarrels altho' what is said of you should be true and also that you had a familiar Spirit to win Battles to gain the Love of the Ladies and to please me I will in acknowledgment of the Services that you have done me in the Wars of Holland and that you may do me in the present War order the Courts of Justice to burn the Informations and the Tryal and to forbid any upon pain of Death throughout my whole Kingdom to talk directly or indirectly of it Sir answered Luxemburg I most humbly thank your Majesty for the care that you will take of my reputation and I do engage upon my word that in remembrance of so great a Favour I will do for my part all that lies in my power to ruin your Enemies and advance your Conquests You know answer'd his Majesty That the first Campaign which was that of 1689. I gave the Command of my Army to the Marshal d' Humieres and that this General who is a good Man did really do me good service For it was him that I sent Ambassador to the Court of England immediately after the Death of King Charles and he executed my Orders very punctually For King James who came to be Crown'd King of three Kingdoms received him with open Arms and very generously accepted all the offers of Alliance and Friendship that Humieres made him on my behalf But this unfortunate Prince afterwards not having followed my Orders found himself all of a sudden overwhelm'd with great troubles and has engag'd me in a War which has Arm'd all Europe against me But to come to my purpose Having then chose him to Command in Flanders against Prince Waldeck a General of good Conduct and well instructed in what concern'd the Order that an Army in her Marches and Incampments ought to be kept in but on the other hand very unlucky to hazard a Battle I remark'd that in this first year the Marshal d' Humieres suffer'd himself to be Coop'd up as we say by Prince Waldeck and that he had during the whole Campaign the disadvantage I remember also very well the Battle of Walcourt which was on the Great St. Louis day Patron and Protector of my Kingdom where all my House-hold was Cut in pieces but I pardon him with all my heart because he did it with a good intention and belief of doing me Service that day The little Genius of d' Humieres was not only the cause of this check but we may also say that he favour'd by the little motion he made the Enterprizes