discovered in Switzerland But being so cunning as to carry their business private and to surprize the Person as he passed from one City to another they carry'd him into France where he was broken alive upon the Wheel after he had endeavour'd to escape the Torments of his Execution by an Action more resolute than Christian-like For having found in the hole of the Prison where he lay a piece of Glass he cut off his Privy Members and hid them under the Bed that the Jaylor might not know what he had done but in regard he could not stanch the blood so well but that some drops would fall from the wound besides that his Colour plainly shewed that something more than ordinary ailed him the Jaylor would see whence the Blood came So that after a short search having found what was hidden under the Bed all in a puddle of Blood he went and gave the Judges notice of it who being resolv'd to make him a publick Example hasten'd to give Sentence Thereupon they condemn'd him to be broken upon the Wheel and fearing he might not have strength enough to be carry'd to the common place of Execution or that he might dye if they delay'd till the Afternoon Order was given for the immediate Erecting of a Scaffold before the Prison-door and for his speedy Execution The Triple Alliance which France did not foresee astonish'd her so that altho she had promis'd her self the Conquest of the greatest Part of all Flanders she was oblig'd nevertheless to lay down her Arms not but then she had an Army on foot of above a Hundred Thousand Men but in regard that England and Holland made great Preparations by Sea and that she had no Fleet was able to resist two such potent Enemies she was afraid least the English and Hollanders while her Forces were imployed in Flanders might land either in Normandy or Britainy and strike a panick Terror into the heart of his Kingdom France having thus made a Peace as it were by Constraint she plotted nothing more than to revenge her self upon those who had contributed most effectually toward it Now it being apparent that the United Provinces had been most active upon that occasion and that all Europe owed the Peace which it enjoy'd to Them it was their Lot to feel the weight of his Fury yet was she careful to watch her Opportunity before she brake forth into an open Blaze of Revenge For Holland being as yet in League with England and Swedland therefore there must be a way found out to divide her from two such Potent Friends who being United were still sufficiently powerful to disappoint all the French Designs Which as France had still watch'd to bring to pass it was not long before an Opportunity offer'd it self by reason of an unhappy difference between the English and Dutch about Trade Nor did France then take any care as she had formerly done to offer her Mediation to close up the breach between the Two Nations but on the contrary used all means to incense the King of England yet underhand set on foot a Treaty with the Hollanders least they should have any thoughts of making Peace with Great Britain The Hollanders who had often prov'd the good Effects of the French Succours when they had any quarrel with England believ'd they would be still as effectual depending upon the King of France who ceased not to amuse 'em with daily hopes But while they were thus as they thought upon a conclusion with Him to oppose the King of England who was making powerful Preparations against 'em by Sea they were not a little surpriz'd to find that the two Princes were joyn'd both together and that while the English attack'd 'em by Sea the French were to fall upon them by Land and that with a Force so numerous and dreadful that the Memory of History had not Parallel'd the like out of France in a long time And then it was that the United Provinces found themselves in a strange Disorder for tho they wanted neither Ships nor Money yet had they not an Army sufficient to oppose the King of France who had brought his Forces already into the Country about Cologne from whence he intended to make the Attack In the midst of these Troubles to levy Men in Holland was look'd upon as a Remedy that would but little avail when Peace enjoy'd for so many years had render'd the People more fit for Trade than War raw Souldiers not being proper to make resistance against inur'd and hardy veterans Therefore the Hollanders sent into Germany to raise Forces and to treat with those Princes from whom they expected aid but all Europe was so astonish'd at the prodigious Army and Preparations of France that every one kept his own Force at home out of a Jealousie least France under a pretence of assailing the Low Countries should break into Germany The Hollanders at that time had no more than Five and Twenty Thousand Men for tho they had given out Commissions to all that proffered their Service yet they could reckon upon none but those that were drawn down to the general Rendevouze But that which yet enfeebl'd their Condition the more was that De Wit the Pensionary of Holland had always kept the Prince of Orange at a distance from the Management of Affairs and therefore being a better Politician than Souldier yet one who would have a hand in every thing the main business was carried with much Disorder and Confusion There was also one thing more which very much contributed to the Ruin of the State tho at that time not discovered which was that the King of France had Intelligence of every thing that was acted in the Country by means of Mombas then in the Service of the Republic which had given him a considerable Command in the Army He was a Frenchman born so that he was easily gain'd to the King by the Industry of Des Roches Captain of the Prince of Conde's Guards and his near Relation and who had prevail'd with him to take a Journey into France the Winter before where he had been discoursed with by Monsieur the Prince This Conjuncture of Accidents had been sufficient to have utterly ruined the State according to humane probability had not God determin'd the contrary At what time the King of France being ready to enter the Country the States assembled together to consider of the best way for the Defence of their Dominions Monsieur the Prince of Orange who maugre all the shuffling and juggling of De Wit was chosen Captain General for the States advis'd the quitting of all the Places above the Rhine to put in Ten Thousand Souldiers into Maestrick and to encamp with the rest at Bodegrave as being a most advantageous Post to secure Holland Monsieur D' Opdam and Celidrek who spake in the behalf of the Nobility were of the same Opinion but the rest being of a contrary Judgmeni it was resolved that they should hold all
the several Places beyond the Rhine which nevertheless they very much weaken'd by draining those Garrisons to supply Maestrick In the mean while the King having lain for some time before Charleroy march'd in view of Maestrick and stay'd some Twelve or Fifteen Days before Wise a small Town in the Territory of Liege into which he clapt a Garrison there having received Intelligence from Mombas that all the Towns above the Rhine were slenderly mann'd and almost naked of Defence he pass'd the Meuse at Wise and after he had beaten off certain Troops that were advantageously posted he sate down before Orsoy with a formal Siege The Governor wanted no Courage but in regard the Town was neither strong of it self nor sufficiently Garrisoned he surrendred his Charge the day following The French plunder'd the Town and hang'd up all those of their own Nation that they found in Arms and among the rest one Man that was Threescore and six years of Age who was the chief Canonier in Orsoy From thence the Army marched to Rhineberg which Dossery surrendr'd without striking a stroak For which not long after the Prince of Orange caus'd his Head to be sever'd from his Shoulders Nor did the Governor of Wesel make a Resistance much more to his Honour though the Place was able to have sustained a long Siege who surrendred it to the Prince of Conde after and Entrenchment of two or three days Whose Punishment therefore though not so severe as Dossory's was something like it For the Hangman skimm'd his Sword over his Head but spar'd him his Ignominious Life Buric was at the same time taken by Marshel Turenne After which the Prince of Conde advanc'd into the Country and took in Deudetrom Rees and Emeric with the same Ease that he master'd other Places These Victories though they cost but little Blood gave the King of France the Reputation of a Caesar in his Army For they saw that he might say like Him I came I viewed and vanquished Therefore to uphold the Glory he had won he resolved to pass the Rhine as formerly that Emperor had done but he would pass it after a more Noble and Heroick Manner For Caesar had pass'd it by the means of a Bridge but he was resolv'd to swim it over Two Gentlemen of the Country Neighbors to Tholus whose Names I cannot well remember came to the Prince of Conde at Emeric and offer'd to shew him a Place where he had but an hundred Paces to swim He gladly accepted their Offer which made the French now look upon themselves at the End of their Conquests in regard the Issel stopped their Entrance into the Country not only because of its depth but also by reason the Enemy lay strongly entrench'd on the other side of the River Thereupon the Prince of Conde having highly caresses'd the two Gentlemen and promising them large Reward 's commanded the Count de Guiche to go along with them to try whether or no he might confide in what they had said immediately they carried the Count right against Tholus and throwing themselves first into the Water the Count followed with his Squire while his Party stayed behind by the River side Upon this Tryal finding that the Gentlemen had spoken nothing but what was Truth the Count returned and made his Report to the Prince who sent the King an Account of what had happened adding withal if he pleased to take the Honour of the Enterprize upon himself how easie it would be for him to surprize the Enemy who little mistrusted any such Discovery and minded nothing but to guard the Issel The King eager in the Chase of so much Honour flew to the Prince of Conde's Camp and after he had supped with him marched all night along the Bank of the Rhine and arrived at the Place about half an hour before day In the mean time the Prince of Orange who found more fidelity among the Meaner Sort than among the Nobility being advertized by the Boors who saw the French when they sounded the Depth of the River that the King had some Design on the other side sent thither Mombas with the Cavalry and Infantry Mombas had already forfeited his Honour by keeping Correspondence with the Enemy but tho this Opportunity was no less favourable for him to continue his Treacherous Designs was afraid that for want of being known he might run some hazard in the Conflict bethought himself of writing to the Deputies of the States who attended the Prince of Orange and thereupon sent them a fair Story that there was no Likelyhood that the French had any Design to pass the River and that therefore if they thought good he would put himself into Nimeghen whither it was most probable that the French intended to march He took his Time to send this Letter when the Prince was absent from the Camp with a Detachment so that the Deputies not having the least Mistrust of his Fidelity and believing the Care of Nimeghen to be of greater Consequence sent him Orders to march thither The Prince of Orange returning to the Camp was strangly surprized to hear what Mombas had done and being now confirmed by this last Action of his in some former Suspitions he had of his being a Traitor caused him to be Arrested Which done he commanded Wortz a German whom the Republick had taken into their Services to march with all speed to Tholus with some Companies that were drawn out of the Army Wortz did all he could to hasten his Entrenchments and order'd the Cavalry to advance to the side of the River Whither the King being also arriv'd caused several Pieces of Canon to be brought and levell'd against Wortz's Cavalry who thereupon retired among the Trees that grew by the banks side In the mean time the French threw themselves into the River where they lost abundance of Men who were swallowed up in a Gulf which others observing took the advantage of the left hand and forded over like Cowes one at the Tayl of the other Wortz his Cavalry beheld the Enemy passing the River without so much as giving the least Ground till they saw some of the French Horse that were passed the River begin to Form themselves into a Body And then indeed they presently drew out from among the Trees but they were so far from endeavouring to repel the Enemy who were retired back into the Water that they stopped at the River side from whence they discharged a Volley of Shot but at such a distance as did little or no Execution Which Cowardise of theirs put Life into the French who had they been vigorously pursued into the Water would never have adventured to make head again or to have made a stand till more assistance came to their Relief So that as soon as they found themselves strong enough to march against the Dutch Horse who still kept their Station without moving they marched out of the River with their Swords in their hands and put the
Crown chiefly under John the First to free himself out of the hands of the English and afterwards under Francis the First to deliver himself out of the hands of the Spaniards had Authority given them to verify Treaties of Peace to prevent the Distipation of the Crown Revenues But their Authority is yet greater when it shall be a Law received in France that the Parliament may vacate Treaties which are not verifyed that is to say if the Treaties were not made in due Form or were found prejudicial to the People But it cannot be said that France receiv'd any prejudice by the Pyrenaean Treaty or that the Treaty was not concluded with all the usual Formalities In respect of Formalities there were so many observ'd as took up much more time than was necessary for the Repose of the People who after so tedious a War thirsted after nothing so much as Peace nor was it enough that De Lionne and Pimentell set their hands to the Treaty but to render it more solemn Cardinal Mazarine and Lewis de Haro the Principal Ministers of both Crowns were oblig'd to sign it also so that we may say that it was the most Authentick Treaty that had been concluded in a long time before Besides they had observ'd all the Circumstances imaginable insomuch that the place appointed for the Conferences was neither in France nor in Spain which nevertheless is very remarkable For that then they were willing that Spain should go cheek by jowle with France yet afterwards they would not allow that the Treaty had been ratify'd But that which seemed to put the Treaty not only out of the King 's but out of the reach of all France to do it Injury was that the chiefest of the Clergy and Nobility had sign'd the Contract of Marriage between the King and the Infanta wherein the aforesaid Renunciation was contain'd So that it was an idle thing to say that the Parliament which at most does but represent the Orders or Estates of the Kingdom would not approve a Treaty which was already approv'd by the King the Clergy and the Nobility Now that this Treaty brought no prejudice to France is as easie to prove For though France at that time had a great advantage over Spain we must consider nevertheless that this advantage might one day turn against it self as being oblig'd to share it's Conquests with England then in Alliance with her Now not to mention in the least what are the dangerous Consequences that I could draw from such a Partition it shall suffice to say That the Interest of France was not to let the English get Footing in Flanders who were an Enemy much more dangerous than the Spaniard Besides France by that Treaty had made sure of the greatest part of Her Conquests and had changed into a certain Right the Right of Nations which was a Right subject to several Chances of Fortune and then to object that the Dauphin had not ratify'd the Queens Renunciation is an Objection so weak that it does not deserve an Answer For I wouln fain know whether a Father and a Mother do not bind their Issue when they sign a Contract And whether the Dauphin had more right to question that which the King and Queen had sign'd than they who live under the same Laws and the same Monarchy All these Considerations give us plainly to see that whatever of Right belonging to the Queen was in the Treaty was only to amuse the Common People and particularly those of Flanders who being perswaded that the Queen had a Right to the Netherlands were in a capacity to foment a Rebellion to which they might be provok'd by the ill Usage of the Spanish Soldiery who for want of Pay commit many Violences and Disorders It being therefore a great piece of Prudence to prevent all Trouble that might arise from thence the Baron of Isola one of the Ministers of the House of Austria put Pen to Paper to shew the Vanity of the Consequences which the pretended Author of the Treatise drew from the Right of the Queen Of which a great number of Copies were sent into Flanders Germany and the Neighbouring Parts some were also conveyed into France but the Court resolving that the People should make it's Ambition an Article of their Faith made such an exact Enquiry after the Publishers that two or three were committed to the Bastile and were in great danger of their Lives For as it was not lawful in that Kingdom to write Truth either in Religion or Politicks neither was it permitted to be spoken or taught to any one whatsoever And therefore as well they who bought the Book as they who published these Books were oblig'd to keep out of the way as if they had been Malefactors But the more they thought to restrain the Peoples Wills the more the People endeavour'd to set their minds at Liberty so that many honest Folks made it their business to content their Curiosity in spight of all the publick Prohibitions By vertue of these Imaginary Pretensions the King fail'd not to send to the Governour of the Netherlands to surrender into his hands those places which as he pretended belong'd to the Queen And because he could not choose but know that the Governour would no way answer his Expectations he follow'd the Messenger with a puissant Army to make himself the Master of them by force thereupon having received the Governors Answer that the King his Master would fairly part with nothing he enter'd Flanders took Charleroy Aeth Courtray Audenard and Lisle while the Marshal D'Aumont with another Army attack'd the Cities and Towns that lay nearer the Sea These Conquests carried on with such a rapid Success astonish'd the Neighbouring States who thought it their Interest to stop these violent Proceedings especially the Low Countries who by no means liked the near Approach of so formidable and ambitious a Neighbour Therefore they engaged the King of England to enter into a League wherein the King of Swedeland also joyn'd by which they obliged themselves all three to make the French and Spaniard lay down their Arms with a Resolution to declare a War against the obstinate Refuser This League was call'd the Triple Alliance afterwards so fatal to Holland as I shall relate in due Place that it may be thought they had reason enough to repent their Negotiation They say it was a Person of Rochel who laid the first Foundations of it after he had made those Powerful Princes deeply sensible how little the Ambition of France was to be trusted however it were France who seldom easily pardons those that have once offended her well knowing that the same Person was in Switzerland labouring to insinuate the same Opinion among the Cantons sent thither the two Platells of which the Eldest was a Captain of Horse the other Esquire to Monsieur Turenne to apprehend him It had been a knotty Enterprize and of dangerous consequence for the Platells had their Errand been
that it was his desire the Person might be restor'd and that if he had done amiss it was only for his want of years and that he himself would undertake the Young man should do better for the future Monsieur Segnalay having heard the Prince with that Gravity which he so awkardly affects made answer that the thing was out of his Power and that therefore he must speak to the King But Monsieur the Dauphin not enduring that a Person of his Condition should so unworthily requite the Honour which he did him Schol'd him so severely that he soon humbled his vain-glorious Pride Let us then conclude from hence that it is a great Misfortune for a Prince to be born a Subject of the Crown of France and a great Imprudence in him that is free to put himself under the Yoak Ask the Prince Palatine who is only his Neighbour how he likes his Neighbourhood and I am sure he will tell you there is no difference from being a Subject and a Neighbour If he speaks like a Prince they speak to him like Masters and if he intends that France should let him be at quiet He must submit to all her Demands Let us ask him whether he hath any Subjects that are Faithful to him among so many Subjects as are obedient to him and whether France have not quite debauch'd their Allegiance Lastly let us ask him whether he dares complain though every day he finds one Corner or other of his Territories lopt off from his Subjection and whither they do not tell him on the other side that he is happy to be under the Protection of so great a Potentate Let us now visit the Courts of the other Princes of Germany and see what passes there before we make any Reflection upon the Princes of France What shall we say of the Ecclesiastical Electors of which the one sells his Country by the suggestion of her Emissaries the other suffers her self to be scar'd by her Emissaries the other is so obedient to her Will as if the same Interest actuated in all Yet at the same time let us confess that this is not done without some sort of Violence for who questions the various Tricks and gins that are made use of daily to separate 'em from their real Interests To some they pretend that the most part of their Territories are Dependencies upon the Crown and that if they do not use all means to Captivate the Kings favours he will no longer suffer 'em to enjoy that to which they have no Right at all so that while he deprives them of the true Character of Soveraign which is to be independent in their Authority he endeavours to insinuate the contrary that their dependance upon France is the only way to support their Dominion To others he cries that they have nothing to do but to consider his Power from thence to assure themselves that they have no other hopes but in Him and while he feeds them with these fair Hopes he boys up the People in their Disobedienc to the end the Soveraigns may always standing in need of him to suppress their mutinies It may well be thought that I speak of Liege where France holds her Divan contrary to the Faith of Treaties and where the Dissentions between the People and their Sovereign make her as absolutely Mistress of the City as if it belonged solely to Her for who is so blind as not to see through her Politicks upon this occasion For being in continual fear least Monsieur of Cologne should at length open his Eyes she resolves to have a Remedy ready against all manner of Accidents And therefore as she maintained the People of Messina in their Rebellion so will she support the Inhabitants of Liege in all their Rebellious Practices should Monsieur of Cologne at any time bethink himself of re-assuming his Lawful Soveraignty For indeed if this were not the Intention of France what could hinder Monsieur Cologne at this day from reducing to Obedience a City which is open on all sides without Fortifications or any Garrison It were then to be wished that he would come again to himself and consider that his Alliance with France has only serv'd to draw upon him the hatred of his People and the utter Ruin of his Country for not to mention the imperial-Imperial-Armies who have been Constrained to feed upon his Country we see How he has been treated himself by those in whom he has put all his hopes and confidence Who can be Ignorant of the Horrible Contributions which France has Levied upon his Subjects the General Desolation of his Territory the Sacking and Plundering of his Towns and the Destruction of his Citadels and other Stately Buildings Who can be Ignorant of what Happened at the Hay where the French not contented to have Tyranniz'd o're the Inhabitants threw the Castle to the Ground and ruin'd one of the Noblest Bridges upon the Meuse by which meanes that City finds her self depriv'd of all her chiefest most considerable advantages for having admitted them within her Walls But let us go on to the other Princes of Germany and see whether they have any more reason to boast of the French kindnesses I could Epitomize all at once what I have to say to this point by only declaring what happened but lately to the King of Danemark For as it may be easie for others to judge what they are to expect by the carriage of the French toward their Allies therefore in my opinion that might suffice to prove the Violence of her Proceedings and how she goes about to make her self Mistress of the whole World But in regard there are several that would be glad to see what pretty Courses she takes to bring about her Designs I will give you a short account of her Maxims and Devices There is no Body can be ignorant of the Marriage of the Dauphin with the Dauphiness The great Rephuation which Monsieur of Bavaria and the great Sway which he carries in the Empire as well by reason of the Extent of his Dominions as also by reason of their Situation caus'd him to be courted of all hands during the last War as He who brought a great Accession of Strength to the side for which he should declare The King of France being careful of losing such an Advantage dayly made him a Thousand advantageous Propositions to engage himself in his Interests On the other side the Emperor was no less sedulous to gain him to his Party So that the Duke of Bavaria judging of his Power by the Applications that were made to him resolved to hear both and to fix where he could make his best Markets As for the Emperor he only offered him a League Offensive and Defensive against France whose Ambitious designs he laid before him beleiving that enough to bring him over to the German Interest But Bavaria being in hopes of something more advantageous listened more willingly to the propositions of France which
A BREVIATE OF THE Proceedings OF FRANCE From the PYRENAEAN TREATY to this TIME AS ALSO I. The Speech of Monsieur Zierowsky the Emperor's Embassador to the King of POLAND II. A Memorial presented by the said Embassador to the King of POLAND III. A Letter from Monsieur Du Vernay to Count Tekeley IV. A Letter from Count Tekeley to Monsieur Du Vernay V. A Letter from Monsieur Peter Jaigel Governour of Cassovia to Monsieur Du Vernay Printed at Cologne and Reprinted at London to be sold by Walter Davies in Amen-Corner 1684. TO THE READER THE Author of this Little Discourse was most certainly a French Protestant and One who has been a Sufferer among the Rest in the late Persecution of the Reformed Religion in France 'T is but a small Treatise but it gives the World a large Prospect of the Violencies and Cruelties of the French Government both at home and abroad and the Miseries of those that lye under it's Oppression How far it may have an Influence upon Other Nations or Answer the Author's Expectation who has made it his Business to exhort them to the Recovery of their Liberty wrested from them by Bribery Breach of Leagues and Correspondence with the Turks Themselves to the Destruction of so many Families as have perished in the Desolation of their Country and the Ruin of Christianity it self I know not but certainly to our own it may be of Great Advantage to make the People consider the Felicities they enjoy under a King truly Most Christian a just and peaceable Soveraign and how much more happy they are than their Neighbours and how industriously they go about to bring Themselves into the same Condition by their own needless Discontents and Fiery Dissentions Which certainly they would never do did they but seriously weigh in the same Ballance the Arbitrary Dominion of the French hereafter displayed and the Immunities and Advantages we Enjoy by the Excellent Composure of our Government both in Church and State THE AMBITION OF FRANCE UPON EUROPE IT is no difficult thing to discern the Original of those Miseries under which we labour at this day They who will give themselves the Trouble to reflect upon the Transactions which have been the most remarkable for these Twenty years last past in Europe will agree with me that if we had been so fortunate to have grown wife by our Sufferings we should not have seen our selves reduc'd to those Calamities under which we now groan For in short this is not the first time that France has been known to have broken Leagues tho never so sacred and inviolable Her Ambition has not been able to keep her self reserv'd without appearing in her Colours But we have been either so weak or so blind as never to make a vigorous opposition till it was too late Therefore we can only impute our Misfortunes to our selves and must ingeniously confess that if we suffer at this day the punishment of our Imprudence 't is no more than what we justly deserve In a word to whom ought we to impute the Imbecillity of the Spaniards but to our selves who have so often contributed to reduce them to their present condition Was it not easy for us to see that they supported themselves only by the means of those Cabals that were maintain'd in France against Cardinal Mazarin and that if the Prince of Conde had forsaken their Interest their good Fortune and Reputation had been at an end nevertheless when we observed that we had lost the Assistance of that Prince who was return'd to his Duty by the Pyrenaean Peace and that France to the prejudice of a League so sacredly ratify'd forbore not however not only to foment the Troubles of Portugal but also to send considerable Supplys to their assistance at several times I say when we saw that the Peace was no more than a Cloak for France's Ambition have we not suffer'd the Oppression of our Neighbours without so much as opening our Lips as if True Policy had not taught us that it was time to oppose the Designs of a Nation which would never be contented 'till she had satisfy'd her Ambition by the Conquest of the World Nevertheless with what confidence if I may not call it Impudence did she maintain that she acted nothing but what was conformable to the Peace Did not she likewise insinuate that whatever was done in the behalf of Portugal was done without her Order To which purpose while she covertly sent Supplys of Men and Money into that Kingdom she publish'd her strictest Prohibitions to prevent the Transportation of Arms thither yet underhand encourag'd her Subjects to carry supplys to that Crown as the only means to purchase Esteem and Reputation yet all this while carry'd fair with the Embassador who made loud complaints of these Breaches especially when he saw that the Marquiss of Beauveau had permission to levy a Regiment of Cavalry for the Service of that Crown in the Metropolis of France just under his Nose after he had Articl'd to outward appearance with the Portugal Embassador but in reality with the Court of France After all which proceedings she would needs have it that whatever the Spanish Embassador said was but the effect of his Fancy and Imagination as now at this very time she would make us believe that she has no Design to make a War tho she has eaten up a Country within these few Months to which she has no Right at all and to which she has not the least of Lawful Pretences if Reason and Justice were the Rule of her Actions All this while though we have observ'd all along these Practises of France without the least opposition yet neither do we make any advantage of them at this day that we see our selves just ready to be made the Unfortunate Victims of Her Ambition 'T is true I know there are several who will reply that Succours have been sent to the Spaniards which if it were done we are beholding to the Prince of Orange who having a deeper Fore-sight than others could not suffer us to be overwhelm'd without doing at least what was his Duty to do which is the reason we find him so firmly bent against the Persecutions and Injuries of France which esteems not Vertue but when it agrees with Her Interest But to return to the business I say that France endeavour'd to blear the Eyes of the Spanish Embassador who had in mind however to hunt the wrong Deer when an unexpected Accident made her act with more boldness and forbear any longer to disguise her Thoughts She had treated with Montgeorges who was slain in the late Wars and who was then a Captain in Candale a stout Soldier and one who lov'd War above all things to carry a Supply of Officers and Soldiers into Portugal Now Montgeorges being embark'd with his Company and upon his Voyage into Portugal happen'd to be taken by the Spaniards which were advertis'd of his Departure upon which there
Dutch to flight Thus Wortz's Cavalry having fordidly given ground the French rallyed and grew stronger and stronger by the Addition of more Force the French continually passing the River some wading others in Boats Mounsieur the Prince of Conde also having put himself into a Boat with the Duke D' Angion and several other great Personages of the Court was got near the opposite Shore when he perceived that Monsieur de Longueville having thrown himself into the River was very near drowning so that he was forc'd to return back to take him into the Boat but then speedily recovering the other side he was no sooner landed but he drew up his Forces into Battalia to attack the Enemies Entrenchments The Dutch Infantry seeing but little security in their slender Works and on the other side having put all their confidence in their Cavalry by which they saw themselves now totally abandoned took more care to crave quarter than to make any resistance which Monsieur the Prince of Conde offered them crying out aloud to them to lay down their Arms All this while the French advanced forward without so much as discharging a Gun on either side so that the King of France who saw all that passed thought himself sure of a Victory that would cost no Blood But Monsieur de Longueville who had been drinking hard at Emeric advancing up to the Trenches let fly a Pistol so that the Hollanders not a little ashamed that they had forborn so long and believing now there was no Quarter to be expected returned in answer to the Dukes Pistol such a smart Volley that many of the most considerable of the Enemy were fetched off their Horses Monsieur Longueville who began the skirmish was killed outright the Prince of Conde wounded with many others too long to Catalogue The French at first astonished at this unexpected Accident having recovered themselves from their Fears rallyed again and fell upon the Intrenchments where they found some Resistance especially at a Barricado where stood a grey haired Officer but one who notwithstanding his Years shewed a Courage becoming the Prime of vigorous Youth but at length being overlaid with number the rest betook themselves to flight without demanding Quarter which they thought would but be in vain The French having now no Enemy to fight pillaged the Castle of Tholus and put the Island of Bettaw under Contribution Nor was this the only advantage which they gained by their Passage over the Rhine for the Hollanders fearing least the Enemy should come upon their backs forsoke the Issel and retreated to Utrech where the People would have Sacrificed Mombas to their Fury upon whom they laid all the blame of what had happened But Monsieur the Prince of Orange though he knew he deserved Death but was willing to have him first examined if not put to the Rack to the end he might understand the depth of his Treason gave Order that he should be conveyed through a Postern and hid in a Hay-loft to preserve him from the Rage of the People In the mean while the King in Person took the City of DOESBERGH and Monsieur Turenne took in Nimeghen Zuoll Deventer Graves Arnheim the Fort of Skink Creveceur and several other Places Utrech also fell into the hands of the French without the Constraint of a Siege For while the King lay before Doesbergh the Burgher-Masters of the Town carryed him the Keys as if they had been afraid they should not have a new Master soon enough Thereupon the Marquiss of Rochford in good reputation at Court was sent thither to command in chief But not having as yet much Experience in War he omitted to make himself Master of Maidam which the Dutch had quitted by the possession of which they had assured themselves of Amsterdam For had they been Masters of Maidam it had been an easie thing to hinder any Vessels from going in or out from Amsterdam for that they were to pass by Maidam which they durst not have attempted if the French had been Masters of it which had been the way to have compell'd Amsterdam to have surrender'd of it self as Utrech had done Not but that if the King himself had appear'd before the Walls they had certainly carryed him the Keys in regard that such was the general Despair that every one thought of nothing else but to save his own Family not minding the publick Interest of their Country So that without expecting a Summons from the King they held a Councel in the City and debated whether they should not go to meet the King and beseech him to take as well the City as the Inhabitants into his Protection and it was an even Lay but that they had taken that Resolution had not two Burghermasters whose Memories ought to be Sacred to Posterity and whose Names were Offte and Hassenar encouraged the rest to pluck up good hearts and rather to call the Sea to their Assistance which was a more certain remedy when they should be reduced to the last Necessity than to receive the French After the King had taken the City of Doesbregh he encamped before Zeist two Leagues from Utrech where he was attended by the States Embassadors with Propositions of Peace but he being swell'd with the Suecess of his Arms propounded such rigorous Conditions that the Embassadors were forced to return without being able to accomplish their Desires Nevertheless when they arriv'd at the Hague the States resolved to send them back again for that their Affairs were then in such a desperate Condition that they thought themselves happy that they could be thought to accept of any manner of Conditions There was yet another Difficulty in the Treaty for that the King would conclude nothing without the King of England who finding the Conjuncture favourable was no less severe in his Demands The States Embassadors being returned to Zeist and finding there the English Embassadors likewise proposed a New Treaty but very difficult to conclude For besides that the French would not remit any thing of their former Pretensions the English Proposals ran so high that it had been the Ruine of the State to have agreed them France demanded a Medal every year by way of Tribute with all the Expences of the War which amounted according to their Accompts to a prodigious Sum. England demanded Possession of the Indits and so many other things which appertained to the Republick so that the States had as good have abandoned all as to conclude a Treaty so disadvantageous The States being advized of these things by their Embassadors who were returned from Zeist resolv'd to break down their Dams which was their last Remedy upon the utmost pinch of Necessity But that which made them take this Resolution so much the sooner was this that the People laying all the blame of their Misfortunes upon those who managed the publick Affairs had massacred the Pensionary of Holland together with his Brother hoping that the Face of Affairs would change
upon the Change of New Masters These Extremities causing the States to break up their Dams gave them leisure to think and consider of their Affairs Whereupon they sent to the Princes of Germany the Propositions of Peace which both Kings had made them thereby to prepossess their minds with what they began already to harbour as touching the Ambition of France They laid before them the sad condition to which they were reduced and that if they delayed their Succour any longer it would be too late when they had a desire to do it That their present Safety was in the Water which could not always secure them That when the Winter came the French would march over the Ice to storm their Walls So that if they could not resist when the Provinces were entire and flourishing there was little likelyhood they should now withstand so potent an Enemy when they were fallen from their ancient Reputation These Remonstrances of which they could not doubt the Truth considering the lamentable Condition of the Republick mov'd the Emperor to pity as also the Marquiss of Brandenburgh and several other Princes of the Empire The Marquiss of Brandenburgh as being the most potent was the first that took the field for their Relief So that the King knowing that he had now to deal with a Prince stout resolute and a try'd Souldier rais'd his Camp from before Zeist and returned toward France But before his departure he resolved to try to make himself Master of Boysleduc which was block'd up upon one side by the Garrison of Creveceur on the other by that of Endoue Bois le duc is a Town seated in the midst of a Marsh but notwithstanding the strength of its Scituation the Fortifications are but weak Nevertheless there is a Cittadel on that side next to Holland with two Forts on the other side next Maestricht which however would signifie little did not the Situation render it almost inaccessible The King took up his Head Quarters at Boustel but while he was preparing all things for a seige God who had began to take Holland into His Protection sent such continual Rains for four or five days together so that the Country being Level was immediately all under Water as if the Sluces had been opened The King however hoping for hard Weather stop't at Bockstel for eight or ten days but finding the Weather continue bad he Discamped and returned Home And now the Prince of Orange who after the Death of the Pensionary had the sole Authority of command conferred upon Him seeing the People in some sort of Repose upon the Retreat of the King of France bethought himself of giving them yet further Content by the Punishment of Mombas whose Head they eagerly demanded He had been conveyed from Utrick to Wordes and from Wordes to Nieurburk whether the Dutch Army was retired Thereupon the Prince of Orange call'd a Counsel of War and began to examin the business which appear'd every day more foul than other at length his Conscience not permitting him any rest and giving himself for lost he began to think of making his escape which nevertheless was a difficult thing to do by reason he was very strictly guarded having Sentinels at his Chamber Door and under the Windows of his Lodging While he was musing what course to take one of his Friends brought him a Letter which gave him to understand that he had but three Days to live if he did not find some way to escape For that the Council of War was resolv'd to make him an Example to others and therefore advis'd him to look to himself Mombas finding himself so severely threatned discours'd the same day with one of his Guards who promis'd him for a certain Sum of Money to let him escape out at the Window when he should be put to stand Sentinel at that Post which would fall out the next day Having gone thus far he also sounded a Spanish Officer who was to be upon the Guard the same day at a deep Water to know if he would let him pass that way and get him a Guide ready The Officer no less covetous of Money than the Sentinel agreed for an hundred Pistols to all that Mombas desired The Bargain being thus driven gave the Hundred Pistols to one Villare who served him in the Nature of his Squire and had been an Agent in the business to carry them to the Spaniard but Villare instead of giving them to the Officer ran quite away with them whether it were that he were naturally enclin'd to such kind of Varlet's Tricks or whether his Master were in his Debt and so he thought to pay himself while he had an opportunity however it were Mombas reckning upon his Payment made it his business now to deceive the Watch that guarded him in sight to which purpose He first complained of a great Pain in his Leg upon which he sent for a Chyrurgeon and shewing him his Leg which by reason of a wound he had received was grown bigger than the other He also desired the Prince to send him one of his Chyrurgeons who concluded that his Grief required a large Plaister which they sent him to apply to the place affected upon this pretence he kept his Bed without any Suspition and upon the day appointed he sent for some Tobacco telling the Guards he would smoak a Pipe with them after Supper but pretending of a suddain to be very sick he went to Bed in the Souldiers presence desiring them withal to smoak their Tobacco in the next Chamber because it offended him The Souldiers seeing him in Bed and not dreaming that he had a Design to escape presently withdrew who were no sooner out of the Chamber but Mombas slipt out of his Bed took the Plaister from his Leg and clapt it upon his Eye and leapt out at the Window where the Sentinel stood that had been brib'd as already has been said In this Disguise he got through the Camp without being discover'd but when he came to the Spaniard he was strangely surpriz'd to find that he would not let him pass any farther unless he gave him the Hundred Pistols before-hand which he had promised him By this dispute Mombas presently discovered the Roguery and Treachery of his Man Villaire but there was no retreiving that which was gone and therefore he must now satisfie the Spaniard as well as he could for the Spaniard was resolved he would have his Bargain and Mombas had it not to pay over again In the end being forced to make a Vertue of Necessity he turned his Pockets the inside outermost and offered him all he had about Him But seeing that nothing but the Hundred Pistols would content him Mombas told the Officer that he might do with him as he pleased but if he were the occasion of his being retaken he vowed to discover him in the first place and therefore bid him quickly consider for he had nothing farther to say The Officer terrifyed with these
Threats took what Mombas was able to give him and let him pass with his Guides After this Mombas waded up to the Wast in Water for three Leagues together very often in danger of being drown'd But it was but just that a Traitor who had occasioned the Ruin of a Nation should have his turn of Misery who tho he endured a large Portion of Misfortune and Hardship yet suffered not the half of what he deserved Mombas being thus arrived at Wordes after he had endured an Ocean of Disasters more easie to imagine than to describe took a Room in the Boat that goes from Wordes to Uytrecht but he was no sooner sat down but he perceived that a Woman who sat next him knew him and had told his Name to another Woman that sat next to her Thereupon in a Peck of Troubles he quitted the Boat being resolved to take some other way But not daring to adventure the High road for fear of being known he threw himself into any other guide then his own despair having neither Sous nor Doit to help himself When he came within a quarter of a League of Utrecht he forsook the Water but so bedaub'd with Mud and Dirt that there was no possibility of presenting himself in that condition Thereupon he got leave at the next House to dry his Cloaths and so getting into the Town he went to the Sign of the Palace Royal where he met one of his Nephews by chance who was a Captain in the French Army His Nephew seeing him enter was so far from believing him to be his Uncle that he took him for an Apparition For there had lodged the night before a Person who came from Nieurburgh who had reported it for certain News which he had seen with his own Eyes that Mombas's Head was cut off And this Report was so spread about the City that no body would believe that Mombas was come to Town In the mean while the Duke of Luxembergh who was then chief Governour of Utrech paus'd whether he should admit Mombas into his presence or no For on the one side he knew it might be of advantage to discourse him as who perfectly understood the Country and on the other side he consider'd that it would be no good Policy to give him a kind Reception which would but convince the World of the private Correspondence which he held with the King which latter thoughts prevailing he resolv'd not to see him at all and therefore to those that told it him for great News that Mombas was in Town he made Answer that he did not beleive it adding withal that it could never be that a Man who had born Arms against the King would put himself into his hands Every Body understood what the Duke meant so that all Peoples mouths being clos'd after that there was no more mention made of Mombas than if he never had been As for Mombas himself when he understood that the Duke of Luxembergh would not see him he went to wait upon the Prince of Conde at Arnheim but that Prince being as Politick as the Duke of Luxembergh deny'd to speak with him but in private and that at such an hour when all People else were asleep Thereupon he sent the Captain of his Guards for him about three of the Clock in the Morning to bring him to his Quarters where the Prince received him into his Closet wrapt up in his great Leaguer Cloack There he sold Holland a second time disclosing all the secrets of that Republick or at least as much as he knew before he was Arrested and after he had informed the Prince of as much as he desired to know he retired to Collogne in expectance there of a Promission to return into France which was one of the wry Faces he was to make in hopes to wipe off the suspicions which he already lay under Sometime after he had intimation given him that he might go and attend the Duke of Luxemburgh who made use of him in the taking of Wordes which the French quitted after they had been only once Masters of it He it was also that brought the Duke before this place when the Prince of Orange beseig'd it so that he seemed now as desirous to make his Treacherie publick as he was before careful to conceal it Now though all this that I have said may seem to be rather a History of the War then a keeping close to my Subject which is to set forth the falshood of France however I beleive it not so remote from the matter neither since it serves so well to recal to Memory the Idea's of so many Treacheries and Breaches of Faith In a word though it cannot be denied but that the French are sufficiently couragious yet we may say that she rather chooses to joyn Subtlety and Slight to Strength without which she could never prove so Successful in all her Enterprizes though we must needs say at the same time that another great Reason of Her Prosperity is this that Money costs Her little or nothing for to come now from War to Peace let us examine how she brought to pass a separation of the Allies and whether that Metal did not stand her in more stead then all the Rhetorick of her Ministers One of the great Obstacles of the Peace was the great difficulty of Reconciling the Interests of the Crown of Sweden from the Interests of those Princes who had any thing to do with it As for the Crown of Sweden its chiefest Interest was this that as it was engaged in a War only for the Service of France that France should therefore cause Restitution to be made of all those Places which either the King of Denmark the Princes of Brandenburgh or of the House of Brunswick had taken from it On the other side it was the Interest of those Princes not to hear talk of Peace unless they might preserve all their Conquests or at least a good part of them The difficulty then was to reconcile these opposite Interests now you shall see what it was that put this Affair into a fair way and made it not so impossible as it seem'd to be It hapned one day at a Collation that was given by one of the Three French Ministers who understood the Court Secret a Dish of Olives was set upon the Table which the Swedish Embassador tasting and liking very well the French Embassador promis'd to send him a Barril which his Secretary soon after carry'd him The Swedish Minister was not a little surpris'd to see the Secretary of the Embassie become a Porter of Olives but presently recollecting himself he took the Barril in his hand and finding it somewhat ponderous he asked the Secretary what was in the Barril The Secretary made Answer that his Excellency would see when he open'd it and withal desired him to open it himself and not to let any body see him when he open'd it Then the Swedish Embassador knew what it meant and so
them before he had seen them I wonder also you said nothing about the Siege of Filleck However I doubt not but that place by this time is in your power Monsieur Jaygel I believe knows by my last Letters that I have several times endeavoured to send him what I promised and let him have what I have received but I always wanted an opportunity When you send any of your People to me order them not to come to my House but at night to the end we may do our business without any bodies knowledge But what I most earnestly desire is that above all things they take care not to follow the Road that goes directly from Tavoravia to Nimirovia For here are several Polish Gentlemen who by the most Serene King of Poland's Order search visit and detain all strangers that pass The safest way in my opinion is that they leave Premislaw and Toreslavia on the right hand and follow the Road that leads to Sandomiria least they be seen to enter Nimirovia where I am surrounded with Spies I recommend the Enclosed to you and desire you to send them according to their Directions by the first opportunity I will take the same care in all things you shall be pleased to command me I am most cordially Sir Your most zealous Servant Du Vernay Boucald Nimirovia Sept. the 22d 1682. The Superscription was thus To the most Illustrious Lord Count Emery Tekeley Lord of Kesmark and Arve General of the Hungarian Army that fights for it's Country THE Audience being ended His Majesty of Poland said he was convinced of the French Correspondence with the Male-Contents He shew'd himself very angry that the thing had been conceal'd from him Next day some of the Chief Officers of his Court had Orders to go and command the Sieur Du Vernay immediately to depart the Kingdom He said he would obey his Majesties Order but that he earnestly desired those Gentlemen to give him some days that he might take the Coach of Transylvania On the other side the Emperor 's Resident used all diligence and with great Success for Monsieur Du Vernay's Letter carrier called Kelemeschi returned to Nimirovia before his departure This Courier came with those whom Tekeley sent to the Sieur Du Vernay with his Letters and those of his great Agent and Confident Jaygel These Couriers were seized and the Letters they had intercepted were partly writ in Cyphers which you will here find interpreted A Letter from Count TECKELEY to Monsieur Du VERNAY SIR I Doubt not but you have made much of Monsieur Valentine Nemessani my Envoy He has always been faithful to me and very true to my Interest The Recommendations you gave him touching the Affairs he communicated with you will without doubt be of great Importance to him with the most Christian King I am beholding to you for all you have done for him and shall acknowledg it as occasion serves It is time I should inform you of the present State of my Affairs After I had taken Cassovia and entred some Forts about it I went with the Visier of Budas's Troops to attack the Famous Fort of Filleck The Inhabitants refused at first to put themselves under my Protection but after a Fortnights Siege they came to beg I would admit them to capitulate I granted them what they asked which was that the Garrison and what other People there was should go out carrying with them as much as they could upon their Backs Then I raised the Fort in sight of the Imperial Army which was hard by in the Mountains As I am now informed it is marched away and having sacked the Town of Vieuxsols and other Places retires very hastily I design to follow the Imperialists and drive them far off to restore my Country to its former Liberty At length the Emperor will be forced to yield by Force what we beg as a Favour Heaven has commiserated my Fortune indeed somewhat late but I also hope it will draw on a greater and more speedy Vengeance Sir I will take care to inform you of all my other Affairs however I desire you always to stand my Friend I am Sir Always ready to serve you EMERY TEKELEY At the Camp before Filleck Sept. 18. 1682. The Superscription was To the Most Illustrious Lord Monsieur Du Vernay Boucauld Embassador Extraordinary from the French King A Letter from Monsieur Peter Jaigel Governour of Cossovia To Monsieur Du Vernay SIR LAst Wednesday we took and raised Filleck where above a Thousand Janizaries were slain Afterwards the Visier made all the Hungarians that were present and were under the Prince of Transilvania's Dominion be brought before our Illustrious Count then all the Estates of the Upper Hungary being Assembled Monsieur Tekeley was Proclaimed King and confirmed in that Quality by the Great Turk who sent him from the Port a Hat instead of a Crown with a Standard and Scepter After the Ceremony the Count very modestly refused the Title of King He is satisfyed with that of Prince Regent of Hungary His Titles are Emericus Thokolius Princeps ac partium Regni Hungariae Dominus c. After this Election the Visier gave him the best Troops to pursue at the Head of the Army those of the Imperialists Caprara having deserted the Mountains pillaged the Towns and abandoned the Forts Vigles and Zolian and is at last retir'd and has taken his way towards Threnezin Sir we had done something more but we have not received what you promis'd us and without that supply we are forced to proceed gently in our business Monsieur Nemessani is gone to treat of Affairs at the French King's Court. He needs your Instructions we have order'd him in all things to Act to your Honour We will very suddenly send you an Express I beg of you for God's sake make him up as large a Sum as you can I always remain as I ought SIR Your most obliged Servant Peter Jaigel Gassovia Sept. 22d 1682. The Superscription was To the most Illustrious Lord Monsieur Du Vernay Boucauld Embassador Extraordinary from the French King After the Emperors Resident had the second time produced these Letters and the Days appointed were expired his Majesty of Poland sent word to the Marquiss de Vitry the French Embassador in Poland to cause the Sieur Du Vernay immediately to retire that he was weary of hearing daily of his new Designs FINIS