had been for fifteen or sixteen Years last past prodigious Summs rais'd in the Kingdom notwithstanding which the Government was over-charg'd with Debts the People exhausted with Taxes the King's Revenues anticipated there being but a slender Share left for his present Use Besides that he ow'd to the Bankers above Thirty Millions of Livres It must be confess'd that besides the ordinary Charges there had been an absolute Necessity of keeping five Armies on foot at a time and the Civil War requir'd more than ordinary Charges to satisfie the greediness of the Great ones who for the greatest part put their Services and Interests to sale to those that bid most This was nevertheless not the Principal cause of these Disorders the true source of this evil was to be look'd for among the Managers and Farmers of the King's Revenues who keeping the rest from the knowledge of the true value of them Farmed them at half or a fourth part of what they were worth besides that if they were to advance any Money before it was due to supply the present Exigency of the State they were sure to make their own Market at so dear a Rate that it has been computed that sometimes out of a Million of Livres of the King 's ordinary Revenue there was not brought above two or three hundred thousand into the Exchequer These Extortions had been constantly practised against the King during his Minority partly by the connivence of those who had the management of it and consequently a share in the Booty partly by the pressing necessity of the State at a time when standing daily in need of the assistance of Monied Men it was not judged seasonable to dive too far into this Mystery of iniquity till after the Peace when there might be sufficient opportunity to remedy these abuses But the Sur Intendant or Overseer-General of the King's Revenues was more mindful of his own pleasures than this trust Yet was not this the only cause of those Disasters which befel him afterwards there were several other matters of complaint of the greatest consequence exhibited against him which deserved severe Punishment for he had caused a Seat beloning to him to be Fortified without having demanded or obtained leave for so doing and by the profusion of great Sums made himself Friends and enter'd into Cabals to avoid punishment But the King being resolv'd to strike at the root of the Evil caused him to be taken up and examined concerning such matters as were alledged against him whereof he was found guilty by his Judges This bold stroke managed with so much Prudence kept all the rest in awe the Cabal vanish'd insensibly and notwithstanding the vast sums the Sur Intendant had bestowed among the Great ones there was not one that durst appear in his behalf A convincing instance that a Confederacy founded barely upon interest is soon dissolved when the Wheel of Fortune changes and takes away the prospect of future Advantages The King having restor'd Tranquility to the Kingdom and being resolv'd to introduce an absolute Reformation in the Treasury chose for the management of his Revenues a Person well versed in business of this nature of an active Genius John Baptist Colbert Secretary of State Controuller-General of the Exchequer Chief Surveyor of the King's Buildings and Manufacturies exact in his Accounts and a Man of an unshaken Resolution to do Juftice without Partiality and immoveable to any thing that might in the least turn to the disadvantage of the State The Person I speak of was John Baptist Colbert afterwards Minister and Secretary of State a Man of an extraordinary Head-piece and who had such an insight into the management of publick Affairs that he gave innumerable Proofs of his great Capacity whilst he sat at the Helm For by the Conduct and indefatigable Care of this Minister Matters soon appear'd with quite another Face in the King's Treasury The Revenues of the Crown were Let to Farm according to their true Value without any respect to Favour or Interest The Salaries of the Officers were setled at a certain Rate Instead of those Officers who during the late Troublesome Times had abused their Commissions and under the pretext of their Titles pillaged the Country and enriched themselves with the Spoils of the People certain Commissioners were appointed to manage all Affairs of moment A Change so sudden and unexpected appear'd like an Enchantment to the People who were afraid that many Years could not redress an Evil which had taken so firm Root among the Courtiers so that by making due Reflections upon the Times past and comparing them with the present State of Affairs they fansy'd themselves to be transplanted into another Kingdom The King's Treasury was at once stor'd with Money and a just Account being made of the Extorsions and Frauds committed by the Managers of the Revenue it was found that instead of the King 's being indebted to the Bankers and Receivers they ow'd him vast Sums Their prodigious Riches and most magnificent Palaces which they had built in all Parts of France the Richness of their Furnitures the Extravagancy and Profuseness which were daily to be seen in their Houses and at their Tables not to speak of many other Things which being so many Monuments of their Pride and Luxury appear'd as so many Witnesses against them were without question more than sufficient to convict these People born for the most part to no Fortune of Extorsions and Depredations But the King being resolv'd to proceed against them in a Legal Way In December 1661. a Court of Justice was established by his Order composed of certain Judges chosen out of the several Parliaments of France who were to take Cognizance of all the Abuses committed in the Management of the King's Revenues and to punish the Guilty according to the Heinousness of their Crimes Whilst they were busie in putting their Commission in Execution there happen'd an unforeseen Accident which had been likely to have proved the Source of a most cruel War the Matter in question being not about the Possession of some Towns or Provinces but how to defend the most antient Prerogative of the French Crown attacked by the Spaniards Precedency of the French Crown in its most sensible Part. The finest Flower belonging to the French Crown is the Precedency it enjoys above all the others There is no Kingdom which surpasses it in Riches Power and Number of People and in making a due Comparison it is evident that the great Actions of all the other Kingdoms join'd together can scarce come in Competition with the glorious Exploits of the French For these Thirteen Ages last past since the first Foundation of this glorious Monarchy the Sceptre has never been devolved or surrender'd into the Hands of any Stranger And such have been the Exploits performed by the French Nation in behalf of the True Religion and maintaining the Liberty of Europe that Time will never be able to blot
THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT TILL THE General Peace Concluded at RESWICK In the YEAR 1697. By Mr. LE GENDRE Made English from the third Edition of the French LONDON Printed for D. Brown at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar Th. Leigh and D. Midwinter at the Rose and Crown and Robert Knaplock at the Angel and Crown both in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIX THE PREFACE TWO Great Men being at this time Employ'd in Writing the History of our King 't is for their most Excellent Pieces the Publick ought to reserve their Admiration mine being in comparison of theirs but an Essay It is from their most Skilful Pen the Curious must expect to be enlightned in Matters of the greatest Moment I being ready to submit the whole to their Judgment It is to them I appeal as to the true Judges of History and what Difficulties are to be surmounted to merit the Name of a good Historian His Stile ought to be lively and natural and to have an equal mixture of Sweetness and Purity He ought to have an equal Share of Wit and Judgment to represent Matters with the utmost Fidelity and an undaunted Courage to unmask Vice and give due Praise to vertuous Actions These great Talents requisite in an Historian made me tremble at the very Thougts of this Undertaking till a certain Friend of mine a Person of extraordinary Merits and Parts did in some measure recover me from the Fear that seised me representing to me that such a Combination of Perfections must be considered and numbred among those imaginary Accomplishments which are made use of in Sciences to encourage us to such great Undertakings as are sought after by many but attained to by few But if it be so great a Task to write a general History how much more difficult is it to write the History of our Time to give it a true Relish that agreeable Variety and other Embellishments by which the antient Historians have rendred their Names so Famous to Posterity They had frequent Opportunities to give most ample Demonstrations of their Eloquence in these magnificent Harangues which are to be met with in their Works under the Names of their Great Captains who before they Engaged in Battle used to Animate their Troops by representing to them the Justice of their Cause and to Encourage them with certain hopes of Victory Our Princes and Generals have laid aside this Way of Addressing themselves to their Soldiers which takes away from our Modern Historians the Advantage of Embellishing their Historical Relations with these agreeable Diversions and Events which surprise the Reader and which are of no small Moment to take away the Tediousness of the Relations of the many Sieges and Battles which happen in a long War without any other mixture of pleasing Varieties When the antient Historians represent to us a Great Minister of State in the Cabinet of his Prince or an Assembly of Wise Senatours deliberating in Council concerning some Affairs of the greatest Moment they lay hold of this Opportunity to unfold the whole Mystery of the Matrer and to lay it open to the view of the Reader and by their different Advice to discover all the Craft and Intrigues of the most refined Politicians These pretended Discoveries have a secret Charm which is infinitely pleasing to many who measure the Ability of an Historian by his Insight into Matters of State and by his diving into the Events of Things from far fetch'd Causes A Prejudice common to the greatest Part of Mankind who imagine that Princes never act according to their Inclinations but are only guided by some more secret Motives just as if Great Men by being placed in a high Station were divested of these Passions incident to the rest of Mankind But howsoever it be it is unquestionable that he who intends to give us a History of our Time cannot in any wise pretend to give entire Satisfaction to these conceited Politicians For how is it possible to imagine that a private Person should be able to discover the Secrets of the Cabinets of Princes which Time only can bring to light And supposing some of them were by chance come to his Knowledge with what face could he publish them to the World From whence it is evident that all what is to be expected from an Historian who writes the History of our Time is to give us as faithful Relation as possible can be of the Events of Things and to represent them to the Reader in their due order and places and to insert their Causes as far as they came to his Knowledge This is the whole Design of this Treatise to wit to represent to the Reader a true Idea of the Reign of our King which may serve them as a Guide to their own Judgment what Rank this Great Monarch deserves to be placed in among those Great Men whom God has raised up from time to time for the Felicity of the People and the Glory of the Common-wealth For these thirty Years last past our King has been the Admiration of all Europe even his Enemies not refusing to pay due Praises to His Great Actions and these Powerful and unsuccessful Leagues against France are the most Glorious and undeniable Instances not only of his Strength but also of his Merits and Great Qualifications THE CONTENS A. ABbeville a Physician of this City Cures the King Pag. 14 Academies of Sciencies of Painting Sculptures Architecture and Musick Establish'd by the King p. 53 Agousta taken p. 137. Near the Port of this Place Admiral Ruiter was killed in a Sea Engagement p. 137 Alexander VII Pope of Rome his Character before his Exhaltation p. 43 He Sollicits Spain for Succours p. 42 He orders the Subscription of the Formular against the five Propositions of Jansenius p. 75 Algier Bombarded three several times demands Peace p. 172 Alliance betwixt England Sweden and Holland call'd the Tripple-Alliance p. 67 Alost opens its Gates p. 65 Alsace the Viscount Turenne forces the Germans to a retreat from thence is granted to the King p. 165 173 Ambassadours and other foreign Ministers to the number of thirty are present at the Solemn Audience given by the King to the Marquis de la Fuente p. 37 Ambassadours of Muscovy and Guinea p. 79 Ambrun surrendred after a Siege of six days p. 242 Anjou Philip of France Duke of Anjou p. 285 Appeal to the next General Council p. 202 Arnheim surrendred after one days opening of the Trenches p. 92 Arts the King encourages all manner of Arts and Sciences p. 53 Asfeld Baron of defends Bonn with great Bravery p. 218 Aeth taken p. 65 p. 293 Avaux Anthony de Mesme Count de Avaux French Ambassadour at the Treaty of Nimhegen p. 166 Aubusson George d' demands and obtains Satisfaction from the King of Spain about the Enterprize of the Baron of Batteville p. 35 Aubusson Francis d' Duke of Fevillade Marshal of France p. 162 Aumont Anthony d' Marshal of
Bishops of that Assembly p. 187 Is made Arbitrator by the King of the Succession in the Palatinate p. 195 Abolishes the Franchises of Quarters p. 190 Gives his Dispensation to Prince Clement of Bavaria p. 201 Interview of the French and Spanish Court p. 18 Invalides the Royal Hospital built near Paris p. 169 Ipres taken by the King p. 156 Ireland the King sends Succours into that Kingdom p. 214 L'Isle besieged by and surrendred to the King p. 66 K. Kayserswert taken by the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 215 Knock Fort the Allies lose above two thousand Men before it p. 269 L. Ladeburgh the Imperialists defeated by Tuâ—rene near this Place p. 124 Lagos about eighty Vessels were taken and burnt betwixt this place and Cadiz p. 245 246 Lavardin Marquiss of French Ambassadour at Rome p. 197 The Pope refuses him Audience p. 198 League against France betwixt the Emperour Spain and Denmark Holland and all the Princes of Germany except the Dukes of Bavaria and Hannover p. 107 111 League betwixt England and Holland against France p. 153 League of Ausburgh p. 193 League betwixt the Empire Spain England Holland and Savoy against France p. 207 p. 209 Leopold Ignatius Emperour of Germany desires Succours from the King p. 57 Enters in a League against France p. 107 Makes Peace with France p. 165 Makes a Truce with the King p. 177 Enters in another Alliance against him p. 193 Declares for the Election of Prince Clement of Bavaria p. 200 Makes Peace with France p. 308 Leuze Engagement near Leuze 229 Lewis XIII seises Lorrain p. 80 His War with the Hugonots p. 188 Lewis XIV sirnamed the Great his Birth p. 1 Troubles under his Minority p. 2 Is present at the Battle of St. Anthony p. 5 Falls dangerously ill at Calais p. 13 Marries the Infanta of Portugal p. 17 Enters Paris in Triumph p. 20 Lewis the Great his Divertisements p. 25 Obliges Spain to allow him the Precedency p. 37 Receives Satisfaction for the Affront put upon his Ambassadour at the Court of Rome p. 45 Causes a new Codex or Lambock to be compiled p. 52 Restores the decayed Commerce p. 56 Sends Succours to the Emperour p. 57 And to the Dutch p. 58 Lewis the Great besieges and takes Listle p. 66 Conquers the French Comte in eight days p. 68 Suppresles Jansinism p. 69 Builds Versailles p. 77 And takes Possession of Lorrain p. 81 LEWIS the Great declares War against Holland p. 85 His first Conquests p. 87 seq New Conquests p. 92 Draws the King of England from his Alliance with the Dutch p. 95 Besieges and takes Mastrick p. 103 seq Besieges and takes Besanson p. 114 Makes himself Master of the whole French Comte in one Months time p. 117 LEWIS the Great takes Conde p. 134 Sends Succours to Messina p. 136 Takes Valenciennes p. 142 The Town and Cittadel of Cambray p. 148 Ghent p. 156 Ipres p. ibid. Restores Peace to Europe p. 162 Erects the Academies for the Cadees p. 168 Builds the Hospital of the Invalides p. 169 Founds the Community of St. Cyr. p. ib. LEWIS the Great Chastises the Corsairs of Barbary p. 171 172 Genoeses p. ibid. Summons all his Vassals in Alsace to do him Homage p. 174 Goes to Strasburgh to receive in Person the Oath of Fidelity p. 175 Makes a Truce with the Emperour for twenty years p. 177 LEWIS the Great obliges the King of Spain to resign the Title of Duke of Burgundy p. 177 Causes Luxenburgh to be block'd up p. 178 Covers the Siege of Luxenburgh p. 179 Makes a Truce with Spain for twenty Years p. 180 Differences betwixt him and the Court of Rome p. ibid. He suppresses Calvinism in France p. 187 The whole Kingdom makes Vows for his Recovery p. 192 The Motives that obliged him to have recourse to Arms. p. 202 Takes Philipsburgh and the whole Palatinate p. 203 204 LEWIS the Great receives the King and Queen of England with an unparallell'd Generosity p. 213 Sends Succours into Ireland p. ib. Besieges and takes Mons. p. 228 The City and Cittadel of Namur p. 233 Being troubled with the Gout is carried in a Chair to all Places where his Presence was most necessary p. 236 The Prince of Conty Elected King of Poland by his Encouragement and Protection p. 299 Restores Peace to Europe p. 307 Limburgh taken by Henry Julius Prince of Conde p. 128 Limerick in Ireland bravely defended by the French p. 225 The English obliged to raise the Siege ibid. Limits see Differences Lines what they are p. 249 New Lines drawn from the Shelde to the Lis and from Courtray to the Sea-side p. 268 Longueville Duke of kill'd p. 98 Longe Alphonse de Durasford Duke de Lorges Marshal of France makes good his Retreat against the Imperialists after the Death of Turenne p. 132 Takes Heidelbergh p. 246 Louvois see Tellier Luxenburgh block'd up p. 178 Besieged p. 179 Taken p. ib. Luxenburgh Francis Henry de Montmorancy Duke de Pency Luxenburgh Peer and Marshal of France takes Groll Deventer and all the Places in the Province of Over-Yssle p. 93 Obliges the Prince of Orange to raise the Siege of Voerden p. 97 Repulses the Dutch at St. Denis p. 163 Beats the Allies at Flerus p. 219 Leuze p. 229 Steenkirk p. 239 At Neerwinden p. 248 His Death p. 270 M. Machin or Engine made use of by the English against St. Malo p. 252 Maine Lewis Augustus Duke de Maine Commands the French Cavalry at the Battle of Steenkirk p. 239 Signalizes himself at Neerwinden p. 248 St. Malo see Bombardment Manheim a strong Place in the Palatinate p. 204 Marcin Count de Marcin General of the Spanish Forces marches to the Relief of L' Isle p. 66 Is Routed p. ibid. Mardick a Fort. p. 13 Maria Theresia Queen of France see Austria Maria Adelhida Dutches of Burgundy see Savoy Marsal granted to the King p. 80 Mastrick besieged by the King p. 103 Taken p. 106 Besieged by the Prince of Orange p. 135 Mayence besieged p. 215 Taken p. 217 Mazarine Julius Cardinal Premier Minister under the Regency of the Queen Mother p. 2 His Conference with Don Lewis de Haro p. 18 His Death p. 22 Mehaigne a small River near Namur p. 235 Messina shakes off the Spanish Yoke p. 136 Metz Chamber of Re-union established at Metz. p. 174 Mirc-Court the ordinary Place of Residence of Charles IV. Duke of Lorrain p. 81 Missionaries preach among the Calvinists p. 189 Mons besieged and taken by the King p. 228 Montausier Charles Duke of Peer of France Governour to Lewis Dauphine p. 170 Montmelian taken p. 231 Montecuculi Count of his Character p. 129 Munster Bernhard-van Galen Bishop of invades Holland p. 58 Joyns his Troops with the French in the Dutch War p. 93 Declares against France p. 111 N. Namur besieged by the King and taken p. 233. Besieged by the Allies p. 271 Nancy fortified by the King p. 107 Naerden a small Place in Holland
in a little while after he saw them marching with Drums beating and their Officers at the head of them towards the Palace which they invested on all sides putting Corps de Guards on all the Avenues leading to it and not contented with this they committed other most enormous outrages discharging their Fusees charg'd with Ball for an Hour together at the Gates and Windows of the Palace not sparing even the Ambassadour's Person who came out into a Balcony to see what passed among them He was no sooner oblig'd to retire from thence but they attack'd the Ambassadrice who being ignorant of what had passed near her Palace was returning home in her Coach She was in no small danger of having been assassinated by several Musquet Bullets that passed near her but she had the good Fortune to escape without any other hurt than what was occasioned by the fright one of her Pages being kill'd just by her Coach side and one of the Footmen sorely wounded At the same time the Shirri's who never make use of Fire-Armes followed closely the Footsteeps of the Soldiers knocking down all the French Men they met with in the Streets of Rome and in all likelihood this Tragedy would have ended in a General Massacre of the French if the People of Rome had not testified their aversion to such barbarous Actions and made loud exclamations against the Author as well as the Executioners of this bloody Tragedy If the Government had not been concerned in this Action of the Souldiery it had been but a piece both of Justice and Prudence to have given some publick and real Demonstrations of their dislike by inflicting a prompt and most rigorous punishment upon these Insolent Offenders but so far were they from calling them to a severe acceunt that they gave opportunity to the Ring-leaders and such others as were known to have been most concerned in the slaughter of the French to slip away eight or nine days being passed before they made an enquiry after those Assassins To heap injuries upon injuries the Cardinal Imperiale Governour of Rome some time after block'd up a fresh the Palace of Farnese under pretext that it had been taken notice of that the Ambassadour ever since the last affront was offer'd did appear abroad with a more numorous Attendance than he had been used to do before so that the Duke seeing himself treated with so much Indignity left Rome and retired to a place belonging to the Great Duke of Tuscany The News of a thing so exterordinary being communicated to most Courts of Europe there were very few who could perswade themselves that the Court of Rome could be so much overseen as to come to those extremities without great provocation given on the Ambassadour's side But all what could be laid to his Charge amounted to no more than that he had delay'd for some days to pay the first Visit to some of the Pope's Kindred who were not of the Ecclesiastical Order the Duke being willing to receive first the King's Instructions concerning a Punctilio which hitherto remained undecided For the rest they pretended to have great cause of complaint against the Duke who as they alledged peing of a haughty temper had dissuaded the King from allowing yearly pensions to these new Princes And this being questionless the main cause of their hatred was also the true occasion of the quarrel for it was easie to be perceived that upon all occasions they show'd much Indifferency not only to the Ambassadour but also to the French Nation in general which at last broke out into an open Enmity For considerable time there had scarce pass'd a day but some sparks of that devouring Fire which lay couch'd under the Ashes did appear which at last broke out in a Flame with the more noise and violence The Offence if any had been given was scarce worth taking notice of but supposing it had been much greater the Revenge appear'd so Cruel in the Eyes of all the World that notwithstanding all the endeavours used by the Pope to engage the Crown of Spain in the quarrel neither that King nor any other Prince shew'd the least Inclination to espouse it unless it were to dispose the Pope to give absolute satisfaction to the King Spain had indeed no reason to assist the Pope's Kindred it was rather for the Interest of that Crown to clip a little their Wings and to make them shew more respect to their more Potent Neighbours besides it concerned them very nearly to avoid all occasions of drawing the French Arms into Italy Another advantage which that Crown proposed to its self by abandoning the Pope's Interest at this time and consequently to put him under a necessity of giving due satisfaction to the King was that they did not question thereby to kindle an irreconcilable hatred betwixt them which being continued in the Family of the Chigi's would in all probability prove as mischievous to the French Interest as it would be profitable to them in the next Conclave It is true they could not but look with a jealous Eye upon the Glory which the King was likely to reap from the said satisfaction but considering on the other Hand that this augmentation of his Power would also serve for fuel to kindle jealousie in the rest of the Princes of Europe the Council of Spain judged it most for their Interest to stand Neuter and to endeavour by all means to perswade the Pope to put an end to the difference without coming to an open rupture But Pope Alexander VII was Deaf to their Counsels Before his Elevation to the Papal Dignity he had led a very Austere Life shewing not the least inclination for his Kindred or any other Worldly Pleasures for which reason he used always to have a Coffin set in his Bed-Chamber to put him in mind of Mortality but being by his Elevation arrived to the highest pitch of his hopes he appear'd quite different from what he had been before he affected an extraordinary magnificence of his Apparrel his Furnitures and Equipages were very sumptuous no body more nice and delicate in his Table than himself and he shew'd so much tenderness for his Kindred that he heap'd upon them prodigious Riches So true it is that when those who have led an Austere Life are once made sensible of the Pleasures and Vanities of the World they are sure to make themselves amends for what they have lost before The false Idea the Pope had conceived of his own Power and Strength the strong Inclination he had for his Family and the Antipathy he bore to France made him resolve at last either to refuse the demanded satisfaction to France or at least to put it off by various delays as long as possible could be done in hopes that by some favourable juncture or other the Face of Affairs might be changed in Europe It is unquestionable that the King had all the reason in the World to be dissatisfied with the Pope and
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
Members of the Catholick Church to Write or enter into any Dispute or to accuse one another of presumption or erroneous Opinions concerning the Doctrine of Grace But this prohibition was not sufficient to terrifie a certain Bishop of Ypres in Flanders whose Name was Cornelius Jansenius a Man of very profound Learning to write a Book concerning this Doctrine in a very lofty Stile as believing that his frequently perusing and pondering upon Austin who was always look'd upon as the true Oracle of Grace he had surmounted all difficulties relating to this Controversie This Book was Printed the first time at Paris 1639. It was upon this assurance that the Bishop flatter'd himself to have found out the true meaning of this Doctor and to have received his Doctrine in its genuine Purity free from the errors which had been neglected in the Catholick Schools for above five hundred Years past but these his specious pretences were not able to exempt his Book from the censure of Pope Urban VIII who condemn'd it without making the least Reflections upon any of his Propositions in particular alledging only for a reason because the Doctrine contained in this Book might revive some errors formerly condemned as such by Pope Pius V. and Pope Gregory XIII France had hitherto stood neuter the Learned there having espous'd neither side but after it began to make such noise in the World a certain set of Men of an extraordinary Zeal and great Austerity of Life besides this well vers'd in all manner of Learning and Writing upon most Subjects with a great deal of Politeness began first to make this Book the object of their Solitary Entertainment and afterwards publickly to espouse the Quarrel with so much boldness that they spared no Body in their Writings a fault commonly belonging to those who are very zealous and passionate for Novelties The extraordinary reputation of the Author the moment of the point in question but above all the great and so much admired Name of St. Austin who appear'd in the Frontispiece of the Book add to this the merits of the Persons who had engaged in its defence their intreagues and Cabals all this together had made this Book so Famous throughout the whole Kingdom that it was the chief object of Entertainment among the Learned who for the most part talk'd of nothing so much as of the Triumph and Omnipotency of Grace over the Free-Will On the other Hand those that oppos'd themselves to this new broach'd Doctrine pretended to evince that what was contain'd in the Bishop's Book was no more than a repetition of those Errors maintain'd by Calvin in respect of the Mystery of Grace Both Parties maintaining their Opinions with so much heat that things seem'd to tend to some remarkable Revolution in the Church if the Bishops had not given as many eminent demonstrations of their Zeal for the suppressing of this new Doctrine as its Defenders shewed eagerness in propagating and spreading it among the People France being about that time involv'd in heavy both Foreign and Civil Wars it was impossible to call together either a National or Provincial Assembly for which reason fourscore and five Bishops writ to Pope Innocent X. to intreat his Holiness to put an end to these Controversies by giving his decisive Opinion concerning these five Propositions which they said were the Foundation and as it were the Abridgment of the whole Doctrine contain'd in the Book of Jansenius His Disciples on the other Hand were not negligent in the matter but sent some of their Members to Rome who endeavour'd to maintain their Doctrine both in several Private Audiences which were granted them by the Pope and in those Congregations which were held in the Pope's Presence to debate upon a matter of so great moment But all their efforts proved fruitless their Arguments not being strong enough to convince the Holy Father who condemned and declared the following Propositions as Heretical I. Some of God's Commandments are impossible to be performed by a righteous Man notwithstanding he does not want Will and does as much as possible in him lies according to his present condition to accomplish them he being destitute of Grace which enables him to fulfil the Will of God II. We don't resist the Internal Grace even considered as in the State of corrupted Nature III. To perform good or bad Works in the State of corrupted Nature there is not absolutely requisite a liberty in us Mortals which implies a necessity but only such a Liberty as excludes all constraint IV. The Demi-Pelagians did admit of the necessity of an Internal preventing Grace in each particular Action even in the first beginning of our Faith and they were Hereticks because they declared this Grace to be of such a Nature as to be in the Power of Men either to resist or obey its motion V. It savours of Demi-Pelagianism to maintain that Jesus Christ did die and shed his Blood for all Mankind in general Before the Condemnation of these Propositions there was no Body who in the least doubted but that they were the same which Jansenius had maintain'd in his Treatise especially since all those who had espoused his Party had declared them to be so in Flanders France and Rome both in publick and private in their Writings and Disputes as being the true sense of the Doctrine of St. Austin But no sooner were they condemn'd by the Pope but the same Persons who not long before had stood up in their defence with so much eagerness declar'd publickly that these five Propositions were no where to be met with in the Writings of Jansenius or at least not in the same sense as they had been presented to the Pope and that being only an Invention of some of his Proselytes this Condemnation did not in the least impair the reputation of the Book or the Author This dispute caused so much heat among both Parties that there appear'd greater animosities about the matter of Fact than there had been before concerning the true merits of the Cause wherefore an Assembly of Bishops being called together March 9 1654. gave their Opinion in express Terms That these were the Propositions of Jansenius and were Condemned as such in the same sense as he had maintained them in his Treatise This Declaration was not long after confirm'd by a Brief from Rome with a certain Formular annex'd to it In May 1654. In September 1656. Two Assemblies were held in France on the account of this Formular in which it was resolved by the Bishops there present that the said Formular should be subscribed by all the Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks of each Diocese But these resolutions were not put in execution at that time but the matter hung in suspense till the King interposing his Authority brought it to perfection After he had taken the Reins of the Government into his own Hands his chiefest care was how to find out suitable remedies against these Intestine