p. 77 Vessels fifteen of the King's Vessels burnt p. 232 Villa Franca taken p. 230 Villeroy Commands the Grand Army in Flanders see Campaign of 1695. Bombards Brussels see Bombardment Vironne Lewis Victor de Rochechovard Duke of Peer and Marshal of France beats the Confederate Fleet. p. 136 Relieves Messina ibid. Vxelles Marquiss de defends Mayence with great Bravery p. 215 216 217 W. Walecourt the French repulsed near that place p. 214 Waldeck Count of General of the Confederate Army p. 219 Routed near Flerus see Battles War Civil War and its Origin p. 3 p. 4 5 Wesel surrendred p. 87 William III. King of Great Britain worsted at Steenkirk p. 239 At Neerwinden p. 248 At St. Denis p. 163 Takes Namur p. 272 Gains the Battle near the Boyne p. 225 Is present at the Great General Council at the Hague p. 226 His Courage and Resolution p 278 Is one of the first that Signs the Peace p. 308 Is acknowledged by France lawful King of England Scotland and Ireland p. 310 Wirtenbergh Dutchy of p. 215 Wirtenbergh Duke of made Prisoner by the Marshal de Lorge p. 243 Z. Zell Duke of routs the Marshal de Crequy p. 133 Takes Treves p. 134 Zutphen p. 94 Zwell p. 93 Books Printed and Sold by D. Midwinter and T. Leigh at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard THE Education of Young Gentlewomen written originally in French and from thence made English and improved for a Lady of Quality Twelves 1699. Advice to Young Gentlemen in their several Conditions of Life by way of Address from a Father to his Children by the Abbot Goussalt with his Sentiments and Maxims upon what passes in a Civil Society Printed at Paris 1697 and Translated into English Octav. A compleat Doctrine of the Bones according to the newest and most resined Notions of Anatomy shewing their Nature and Substance c. By Robert Baker Chirurgeon Octav. 1699. Plain and full Instructions to raise all sorts of Fruit-Trees that prosper in England c. the Second Edition with the Addition of two entire Chapters of Greens and Green-houses by the Author T. Laugford Gent. Oct. 1699. The Lives and Characters of the English Drammatick Poets also an Account of all the Plays that were ever yet Printed in the English Tongue c. first begun by Mr. Langbain improv'd and continued down to this time by a Careful Hand Octavo A Voyage to the East-Indies giving an Account of the Isles of Madagascar and Mascarene of Surat the Coast of Malabar c. Written originally in Fr. by Mr. Dellon M. D. Octav. The Mystery of Phanaticism or the Artifices of Dissenters to support their Schism together with the Evil and Danger of them set forth in several Letters c. By a Divine of the Church of England The 2d Edit Octav. The Life of our Blessed Saviour an Heroick Poem c. with above 60 Cuts The 2d Edit Fol. Resolves Moral Divine and Political By Owen Feltham Esq Fol. Bishop Burnet's History of the Reformation of the Church of England In Two Vol. Fol. Dr. Cave's Lives of the Primitive Fathers In two Vol. Fol. Bishop Tillotson's Posthumous Sermons In Five Vol. Octav. Books sold by Rob. Knaplock at the Angel and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard MR. Hole 's Letters concerning the Gift and Forms of Prayer The Mystery of Fanaticism The Government of a Wife Mr. De la Salle's Discoveries in North America Drydon's Virgil. Juvenal Pufendorf's Introduction to History A. Bishop Tillotson's Works Fol. Sir Roger L'strange's Tully Seneca M. Antonini Imp. Medit. cum Notis G. Gattakeri Graec. Lat. Gibson 's Anatomy Salmon's Dispensatory Chirurgery Synopsis Medicinae THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT LIB I. LEWIS the XIIIth had for a considerable time after his Marriage no Issue by Ann of Austria his spouse till in the Year 1638 on the 5th day of December at eleven of the Clock 22 Minutes before Noon His Birth she was happily delivered of a Son The Imperialists vanquish'd near Rhinefels aâ—d the Spaniards at Sea With what an universal satisfaction this welcome News was received all over the Kingdom is easier to be imagined than exprest The rejoycings made upon this occasion did in a great measure obliterate the glory of famous Victories obtained about the same time by the French over their Enemies the people of France looking upon them all at that juncture as scarce worth taking notice of and of little consequence in comparison of the advantages they promised themselves from the happy birth of a Dauphin The barrenness of the Queen and the ill state of the King's health had given occasion to several Cabals and Factions and no sooner was one head of this pernicious Hydra cut off but another appeared in its stead the divisions of the Great ones being risen to that pitch as to threaten the ruine of the whole Kingdom if by the auspicious Birth of this Prince these dreadful Clouds had not been dispersed Troubles during his Minority But the Death of Lewis the XIIIth which happened when the young Prince was but four Years and nine Months old occasioned no small apprehensions of future troubles in the State great discontents reigned among the Nobility the Parliaments were exasperated by many provocations and the People exhausted by heavy Impositions all which it was feared would have broke out into an open Rebellion during the young King's Minority Cardinal Julius Mazarin The Queen Regent being absolutely satisfied in the ability of the Cardinal Mazarin had made him Chief Minister of State to the great dissatisfaction of such of the Great ones as proposed to themselves to fish in troubled Waters and to find their account in fomenting Divisions in the Kingdom They alledged that the Cardinal being a Foreigner they did not question but that he would tread the footsteps of Cardinal Richlieu and in this high station revived the same haughty Maxims his Predecessor had made use of during his Ministry But this great Minister of State managed matters with so much dexterity that by bestowing ample favours and larger promises upon those of the discontented Party he brought many of them over to his side so that beyond all expectation his Ministry was very quiet for the first five years and the present condition of the Kingdom appear'd to be more flourishing at that time Victories near Rocroy near Rotewil Friburg Nortlingen and Leantz Nâ—ar Cartagena and Castellamara than it had been for many Years before The French gained 5 Victories by Land and 2 at Sea and besides they made themselves Masters of 10 or 12 places of no small Importance But this prosperity was of no long continuance The excessive Ambition and Covetousness the Envy and Jealousies which reigned among the Nobility the pretended Zeal of some of the French Parliaments encouraged by the Favour and Acclamations of the common People which being inveigled with the hopes of an abatement of the heavy Taxes they
ranged on both sides of the Streets upon the Scaffolds that were built for that purpose before the Houses all which together made up so glorious a Show as is easier to be imagined than described All the Princes and other persons of Quality had spared no cost not only in their own Apparrel but also in their Equipages and Servants to the highest degree of profusion The Queen appear'd in a Chariot the King with all the Lords of his Court on Horseback in an Equipage so magnificent that nothing was ever seen or heard of which bore the least comparison to this glorious Cavalcade It was computed that the Charges bestowed on this occasion by particular Persons amounted to ten Millions of Livres every one striving to raise his Fortune by giving the King the most ample Proofs of their Zeal for his Honour and Service They were at a great distance met by the Acclamations of the People who wished the King a long and prosperous Reign As they passed thro' the Streets the Eyes of all the Spectators were fix'd upon him so that it might be truly said they had no Eyes but for him and scarce had he pass'd by in one place but the People run round about to meet him again and to see him as often as possibly they could Others may boast what they will of Honours these Superficial Ceremonies cannot come in the least in competition with those hearty wishes and vows which the People sent after him as he passed thro' the City it being certain that every one had so a real esteem and affection for his Person being prepossess'd with this opinion That one day he would be one of the greatest Princes that ever mounted the French Throne Neither was it long before they were sufficiently convinc'd that they had not been unfortunate in their guess when the King began to take the Reins of the Government into his own Hands and to manage the State Affairs by his own Conduct after the Death of Cardinal Mazarin who did not survive the conclusion of the Peace longer than ten Months This great Minister of State died when he was risen to the Pinacle of his Glory Cardinal Mazarin died March 9 1661. happy in that he had Triumph'd both over his own and the Enemies of the State and more happy still in that he had forced the first to acknowledge his great Deserts and the others to restore Peace to the Kingdom in a manner as glorious to himself as it was beneficial to the State AN ESSAY UPON THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT LIB II. BY the Death of the Cardinal Things were left in such confusion that The King takes the Administration of the Government into his own Hands notwithstanding the extraordinary Idea the people had conceived of the King 's great Ability they cou'd scarce imagine that a Prince then hardly two and twenty years old would venture to take upon himself so heavy a burthen or if he did it would scarce be possible for him to bear it but they were soon convinc'd of their mistake for the King in four or five Years time setled the Government upon so firm a Basis that for above these thirty Years past he has govern'd the Kingdom in great Tranquility without the assistance of a Chief Minister has been Victorious over his Enemies and restored Prosperity to the Kingdom a convincing instance that a Man may sometimes be Master of his own Fortune at least thus much is certain that Fortune will not be of long continuance if not upheld and managed by a dextrous Hand The first thing he did was to regulate his time and to prescribe himself certain Rules and Maxims of State gathered partly from the most famous Princes in former Ages partly from the Advice of the most quick-sighted of his Council He was so far from being check'd in his Glorious designs by the fatigues that must needs attend the management of publick Affairs that on the contrary these served only for a better relish of the Enjoyment of his Pleasures There was never a day but he imployed five or six Hours with his Ministers who were to give him an exact account of every particular transaction that passed in the Government He gave constantly once or twice a Week Audience to every Body was present at all the Councils and if any thing of great moment was to be debated there he would retire into his Closet to ruminate so long upon the matter till he had chosen what he judged most advisable to be done But notwithstanding his constant application to business it is not to be imagined His Divertisements that he renounced the enjoyment of his pleasures The heavier the burthen of publick Affairs laid upon his Shoulders the more requisite it was to be relieved by some pleasant intervals The strength both of our Spirit and Body is not inexhaustible but limitted within certain bounds which if transgressed leave us destitute and void of Vigour At the beginning of his Reign there were always Rejoycings Feastings Balls Carousels and Running at the Ring at Court this young Prince taking an extraordinary delight to pass his spare time in such noble Exercises and Divertisements as have been always accounted to belong to Princes to dazle the Eyes of the People who are extreamly taken with these Things and commonly judge of the Power of the Prince by these outward appearances of Grandeur Never any Prince understood better how to manage this point to his own Advantage and how to make the Lusre of the Throne appear more Glorious in the Eyes of the People It must be confess'd that his Court has always been the publick School of Politeness and Magnificence notwithstanding which as his chief delight has been all his life time in managing his glorious Designs in order to bring them to a happy issue so his Divertisements were never enticeing enough to him to make him neglect the management of Publick Affairs And as young as he was when he took the Administration of the Government into his own Hands he shew'd as much Eagerness and Assiduity in Reforming the Disorders that were crept into the Government as he did for his Pleasures Happy Prince who remains Master of his Pleasures who is not so intoxicated with his Diversions but that he can make use of and leave them whenever he pleases He who makes himself a Slave to his Pleasures in lieu of enjoying those honourable Recreations which were invented for the Relaxation of our Minds and Bodies finds himself insensibly entangl'd by a Charm sufficient to corrupt all his generous Inclinations Among other Abuses that were crept into the Government He re-establishes good Order in the Treasury the Mis-management of the King's Revenues as it was most likely to draw after it very fatal Consequences so it wanted a speedy Redress these being the Nerves of the State which if defective in their Function the whole Body remains without Motion and Vigour There
the loss of only two or three hundred Men on our side The Enemies had betwixt four or five thousand kill'd and wounded and we took above three thousand Prisoners all their Baggage Provision Ammunition and sixteen Colours Immediately after the gaining of the Battle Siege of Palamos the Marshal de Noailles besieged Palamos a small Maritime Town but well fortified There was a Garrison of three thousand Men in the place which did defend themselves only five days after the Place began to be Batter'd by our Cannon both by Sea and Land For whilst the Marshal attack'd it by Land a French Squadron of Men of War batter'd it by Sea After we had made our selves Masters of the Counterscarp there were two Breaches in the Wall but so narrow that not above one Man could mount it at a time in Front Some Soldiers having taken notice of it shew'd it to their Officers who approving of their Design they mounted the Breach entred the City and taking advantage of the general Consternation this unexpected Sight of the Enemy upon the Ramparts had put them into they soon made themselves Masters of the City on the 7th of June The Fort or Castle being forced to Surrender at Discretion within three days after the Marshal without loosing time sat down before Gironne This Place was so considerable for its Strength that in the Year 1684 Gironne taken it obliged the French Army to raise the Siege But our late Victory near the River Ter the taking of Palamos the furious discharges of our Batteries and the vast number of our Bombs which did great Execution and set the Town on fire besides the little hopes there was of being relieved obliged the Inhabitants and Garrison to Capitulate in five days We made our selves Masters of several other places betwixt Gironne and Barcelona and all the Country round was seised with such a Consternation that their Capital City it self would scarce have been able to hold out a Week against our victorious Arms if the Heats had not been so excessive as to prevent us from undertaking the Siege and the Confederate Fleet was so seasonably to their Assistance and had supply'd them both with Ammunition and Men. This was the only Fruit they reap'd from the Equipment of so numerous a Fleet it being fear'd otherwise that the Spaniards might have concluded a separate Peace with us if they had not come to their Relief It was also supposed that at the Sollicitations of the Duke of Savoy this Fleet was to endeavour the regaining of Villa Franca It was composed of one hundred and thirty Sail among which were threescore and fifteen for the Line of Battle It was given out that they were to Retake Nice to Bombard Thoulon and to lay Marseilles in Ashes There were also some who pretended that they were to chastise Genove for refusing to join with the Confederacy But all these Projects vanished into Smoak they being disenabled for want of Provisions and by the many Distempers that reigned among the Seamen to undertake any thing of moment they kept the Sea for some time after till the approaching Winter Season forced them to seek for a safe Retreat in the Spanish Ports Their Fleet in the Ocean made more Noise but did not much more Damage Descent in Camaret Bay They made an attempe upon Camaret-Bay at the neck of a Land which juts into the Sea near Forest Of eight or nine hundred Men who Landed by the help of their Chaloops betwixt three and four hundred were killed the rest made Prisoners The rest of their Forces that were to second the Attack being deterr'd by the ill Success of their Comrades and the continual Fire from our Entrenchments upon the Sea-shoar did not judge it advisable to attempt any further Descent but under the Protection of some of their Frigats return'd to their Ships On the 22th day of July Diepe Bombarded they Bombarded Diepe which was laid in Ashes most of the Houses of this City being of Wood and closely built the Inhabitants fled from their Habitations with their best Moveables the Fire consumed the whole City there being no body to stop its Fury But the Enemies were great Gainers by this Bargain it having been computed that this Expedition cost them more than the re-building of the whole City could amount to On the 20th of July they appear'd before Havre de Grace which they likewise Bombarded for some time as well as Calais but without doing any considerable Damage the Fire having been soon extinguished by the Care of the Inhabitants This done they made an attempt upon the Forts which guard the Entrance of the Port of Dunkirk two Engines not unlike to that they had made use of at St. Malo's advanced towards the said Forts with an Intention to blow them up but by the help of the Cannon mounted upon several Batteries along the Sea-shoar these two Vessels were blown up into the Air at about a thousand yards distance from the Mole The little Success of this Campaign on the Confederates side Campaign 1695. did in some measure abate the Heat of the English and Dutch who for these seven years last past had bore the greatest Share in the vast Expences of the War In Holland the common People cry'd out aloud for Peace in London tho' they did not do it so publickly yet they were very desirous of it The Parliament took an Account of the Supplies granted for the use of the War and what Share each of the Allies ought to have in the Expences pursuant to the Treaty's concluded for that purpose They excluded the Speaker of the House of Commons from their House and imprison'd several of their Members They also Summon'd the Earl of Danby Duke of Leeds President of the Privy Council but these Proceedings ceased with the Session of Parliament There were some who look'd upon this Affront put upon one of the Prince of Orange's Favourites K. William III. as a Spark of Fire which being couch'd for some time under the Ashes might in time break out into a Flame And their Conjectures seem'd not ill grounded considering that since the Death of the Princess of Orange Queen Mary eldest Daughter to the King of England who died on the 18th of December in the Year 1694. Queen of Englands Death King James's Party began to appear more formidable than before and that the Differences betwixt the Court and the Princess of Denmark only Sister of the deceased Princess Q. Mary might furnish them with an opportunity to Foment the intestine Divisions in that Kingdom or that perhaps some of the Confederates discouraged by the change of Affairs in England might not prosecute the War with the same Vigour as before But it was not long before these Hopes were frustrated in the end For the Prince K. William III. either by his good Fortune or Conduct prevented all these Dangers there being not the least appearance of any Commotion On the
France takes Courtray Dixmuyden Furnes and Armentiers p. 65 Ausburgh League made against France here p. 193 Austria Ann of Queen of France the King's Mother and Queen Regent after the Death of Lewis XIII p. 2 Chuses the Cardinal Mazarine her Chief Minister p. 3 She is very desirous to marry the King with the Infanta of Spain p. 15 She presses the Spaniards to give Satisfaction to the King about the Just Pretensions of the Queen p. 64 Her Death p. ib. Austria Maria Theresia of Queen of France Spouse to LEWIS the Great p. 20 Makes her publick Entry in Paris p. 21 Her Just Pretensions upon some of the Provinces of the Low Countries p. 61 Nullity of her Resignation to the Succession of Spain p. 62 63 Her Death p. 170 B. Baden Prince Lewis of Baden Commands upon the Rhine Entrenches himself at the approach of the Dauphin p. 246 Had obtained two great Victories against the Turks p. ibid. Was one of the Candidates for the Crown of Poland p. 296 Barcelona besieged and defended with the utmost Bravery p. 305 Battles of Roeroy Rotheleiler Friburgh Nortlingen and Lintz p. 3 Of St. Anthony p. 5 Of St. Godard p. 57 Of Senef p. 117 Of Sintzheim p. 123 Of Entsheim p. 125 Of Turkheim p. 128 Of Cassel p. 146 Near Epoville p. 151 Of Flerus p. 219 Of St. Denis p. 163 Near the Boyne p. 224 Of Steenkirk p. 239 Of Neerwinden p. 248 Of Marsaglia p. 250 Near the River Ter. p. 258 Batteville Ambassadour of Spain his Enterprize against the Count Estrades the French Ambassadour p. 33 Bavaria Maria Victoria of Bavaria married to Lewis Dauphin of France p. 171 She has three Sons Her Death p. 285 Bavaria Charlott Elizabeth of Bavaria Dutchess of Orleance her Pretensions to the Succession of the Elector Palatine her Brother p. 194 Bavaria Maximilian II. Elector and Duke of Bavaria declares in favour of the Allies p. 207 He Assists with his Troops at the Siege of Mayence p. 216 Is present at the Great Council held at the Hague p. 226 Is made Governour of the Spanish Netherlands during Life p. 235 Commands the Spanish Troops at the Battle of Steenkirk p. 239 And at Neerwinden And all the following Campaigns p. 248 p. ibid. Bavaria Prince Clement of Brother to the Elector is elected Archbishop of Cologne when he was seventeen years old p. 201 Beauvilliers Paul Duke of Beauvilliers Governour of the Children of France p. 285 Beaumont taken by the Allies p. 228 Bellefonds Bernhard de Gigaut Marshal of France p. 66 Berry Charles of France Duke of Berry p. 285 Besanson Besieged and taken by the King p. 116 Brisseleau Francis defends Limerick in Ireland p. 225 Bombardment of Tripoli and Algiers p. 171 172 Of Genoa p. 172 Of Pignerol p. 250 Of St. Malo p. 252 p. 267 Of Diepe p. 261 Of Havre de Grace p. 262 Of Calais p. 262 268 Of Dunkirk p. 261 260 Of Brussels p. 273 Bonn taken by the Allies p. 218 Bossuet Jacobus Benignus Bishop of Meaux Preceptor of the Dauphine p. 170 Bouchern taken by the Duke of Orleance p. 134 Bouflers Lewis Francis Duke of Bouflers Marshal of France defends Namur p. 271 Commands one of the great Armies in Flanders p. 279 Bourbon Lewis Duke of Bourbon Son to Julius Prince of Conde signalizes himself at the Battle of Steenkirk p. 239 And of Neerwinden p. 248 Bournaville Prince of General of the Imperialists put to flight by the Viscount of Turenne p. 124 Brahe Count of Swedish Ambassadour in England what hapned at his publick Entry p. 33 Brandenburgh Frederick William Elector of go's into the Campaign to assist the Hollanders p. 99 Repasses the Weser upon the approach of the French Army p. 100 Makes Peace p. 101 Takes up Arms a second time p. 102 126 His success against the Swedes p. 159 Is obliged to restore what he had Conquer'd from the Swedes p. 160 161 Brandenburgh Frederick II. takes Keyserswert p. 215 Born p. 218 Reinforces the Army of the Allies after the Battle of Fleurus p. 220 Brisac A Chamber establish'd at Brisac p. 274 Bulls refused by Pope Innocent XI to those Bishops that had assisted at the Assembly of Clergy in the Year 1682. p. 187 Burgundy Lewis Duke of Burgundy Eldest Son of Lewis Dauphin of France p. 285 Burgundy The King obliges the King of Spain not to make use for the future of that Title p. 177 Burick Surrendred p. 87 C. Cadees Establishment of the Academies of Cadees p. 168 Calais The King falls dangerously ill in this Place p. 13 Bombarded See Bombardment of the French Callieres Francis Lord of Negotiates at the Hague p. 291 Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Reswick p. ibid. Calvinism its first Origin Progress and Suppression in France p. 75 187 Calvo Francis Count of defends Mastricht p. 135 Cambray The City and Cittadel taken by the King p. 135 Campaigns of 1667. p. 65 Seq of 1672. p. 85 Of 1673. p. 101 Seq Of 1674. p. 113 Of 1675. p. 128 Of 1676. p. 134. Seq Camp of 1677. p. 139 Of 1678. p. 153 Of 1688. p. 203 Of 1689. p. 213 Of 1690. p. 218 Of 1691. p. 225 Of 1692. p. 231 Of 1693. p. 244 Of 1694. p. 253 Of 1695. p. 262 Of 1696. p. 276 Of 1697. p. 292 Campredon taken by the Marshal of Noailles p. 214 Caprara Count of General of the Imperialists p. 123 242 Carmagnole Surrendred p. 230 Carthagena taken and plundered by the French p. 307 Casal possess'd by the French p. 174 Is besieged by the Allies and dâ—molish'd p. 265 266 Castle Follet p. 264 Castile that Kingdom from before the Year 1017 only an Earldom p. 32 Catinat Nicolas de Marshal of France His Exploits in Savoy and Piedmont p. 223 230 250 Takes Aeth in Flanders p. 293 Cardaigne the Country of Conquer'd by the Duke of Noailles p. 229 Chenailly Marquiss of defends Grave with great Bravery p. 120 121 Charles II. King of Spain His Sickness p. 286 Charles II. King of England sells Dunkirk to the French King p. 47 48 Engages in a War against the Dutch p. 58 Enters with them into an Alliance p. 67 Declares War against them a second time p. 95 Makes Peace with them p. 110 Makes a new Alliance with Holland against France p. 153 Is acknowledged Mediator at the Peace of Nimhegen p. 157 Charles IV. Duke of Lorrain his Character Conduct in respect to the Spaniards p. 79 80 Defeats the Marshal of Crequy and takes him Prisoner in Treves p. 133 134 Charles V. Duke of Lorrain forced to repass the Rhine p. 151 Refuses the Alteration offered him by the King at the Treaty of Nimhegen p. 166 Charles Leopold his eldest Son is put in Possession of that Dutchy p. 309 Charleroy p. 265 100 149 Chartres Philip Duke of only Son of Philip of France Duke of Orleance is wounded at Steenkirk p. 239 Signalizes himself at Neerwinden p. 248 Chigi Cardinal Legat sent into France to
Prince so they left no Stone unturn'd to thwart his Design and to stop the career of his good Fortune Among others Charles IV. then Duke of Lorrain was one of the most active against him Conduct of the Duke of Lorrain He was a Person equally dexterous in advising and executing a brave Soldier and great Captain but the most unquiet and inconstant of all Men living whose delight being to fish in troubled Waters was always in motion always raising Soldiers always in the Field making a Trade of Soldiery choosing one side to Day and another to Morrow pillaging without distinction his Subjects his Friends and Foes a Character more suitable to a Cham of Tartary than to a Soveraign of a small Principality whose Interest is to be gentle and live peaceably and to observe either an exact Neutrality or to shelter himself under the Protection of the most Potent of his Neighbouring Princes Lewis XIII having seized upon Lorrain to chastise the Duke for his many malicious Intrigues he marched with his Troops into Flanders where he gather'd vast Riches by selling their Service at an excessive rate at the beginning of each Campaign putting his Soldiers Pay into his own Pocket and affording them no other Subsistence than full liberty to live at Discretion where-ever they came and to Pillage the Country at pleasure The loud Complaints of the People the little account the Duke made of the Spanish Ministers with whom he would frequently make his Sport having at last occasioned great Jealousies against him he was secured and not set at liberty till after the Conclusion of the General Peace By vertue of this Treaty he was restored to his Dominions but refusing to accept of these Conditions some more favourable were agreed on in a particular Treaty concluded not above two or three Days before the Death of Cardinal Mazarine The next following Year the said Duke having a Disgust at his Family proposed his two Dutchies as a Gift to the King and as a Pledge of his sincere Intentions offered to surrender Marsal into his Hands In Febr. 1652. The Treaty was no sooner concluded and signed but the Duke according to his wonted custom began to make many Evasions and by several Delays fifteen or sixteen Months passed without the least probability of performing his Promise till finding the place invested by the King's Troops who were ready to Besiege it he was constrained to deliver it up During the Wars in Flanders 1663. it was much against his Will that he assisted the King with four or five Regiments as it plainly appear'd the Year following when he left nothing unattempted to debauch them After the Conclusion of the Peace at Aix la Chapelle it was the Wonder of all the World to see him augment his Troops to make new Levies and enter into new Alliances The King was not wanting on his side to give him timely notice that he was not ignorant of those Transactions but his ill Stars having made him insensible of his true Interest and incapable of receiving good Council he continued his former course till the King found himself under an absolute Necessity to drive him out of his Dominions The Duke was so generally hated The King seises upon Lorrain 1670. that there appear'd not any Body that shew'd the least inclination to espouse his Interest much less to lend a helping hand towards his Restauration He himself seem'd not much concerned at his Loss it being more suitable to his Inclinations to march from place to place at the Head of a good Body of his Troops than to lie idle at Mirecourt his ordinary Residence in the Dukedom of Lorrain Living in expectation of the next War he imployed most of his time in making Cabals against France being chiefly encouraged by the Hollanders who at that time made it their Business to embroil Europe and consequently were extreamly glad to have met with a Prince of his Character who might be very serviceable to them in spreading about fears and jealousies thereby to raise against the King so many Enemies as might under pretence of protecting this Prince serve as a Check to the Greatness of France A fatal Maxim of State which had almost proved the Destruction of the United Provinces and in effect brought them to the very brink of ruine This Commonwealth Causes of the Dutch War which in the last Age was no more than a handful of Men confined to a small corner of the World penn'd in betwixt the Fenns and Waters was since become so rich by its Commerce so famous by several Victories so dreadful for its Power and prudent Management that they were the admiration of the World But for four or five Years past they had been so much blinded with Vain-glory and their Affluence of Fortune that by their Vanities they had drawn upon themselves the hatred of all their Neighbours They had been so insolent as to cause several Medals to be made containing very injurious Reflections against Crowned Heads among the rest there was one representing Hollandia leaning upon many Trophies with this Inscription That she had restored vigour to the Law reformed Religion protected maintain'd and reconcil'd Kings clear'd the Seas and secured the Common Tranquillity by the force of her Arms. After the Conclusion of the Peace of Aix la Chapelle they made it their Boast that it was by their means that the Spanish Netherlands had been preserved and that they had stop'd the Career of the King's Conquests and Victories They did without intermission form Cabals in all Courts of Europe being very prodigal of their Money to set on foot new Alliances against him and that with so little respect to his Person that they did not make any Secret of the matter adjuging it to be of such a nature as to be pass'd all Dissimulation The King to make a suitable return and to prevent their Designs against him resolved to attack them with vigour and to try whether he could humble these proud People and revive among them the Modesty and Moderation of their Ancestors and put them in mind what Obligations they had received from the French Kings his Predecessors as also from him in particular Who can be so ignorant as not to know that without the Assistance of France they would have been so far from being able to make such a Figure in the World that on the contrary it would have been impossible for them to defend themselves against the Power of Spain It is to Henry IV. and Lewis XIII they stand indebted for vast Sums and a considerable Body of their best Troops expended and maintained for their Defence and by the Confession of the Hollanders themselves they scarce ever obtain'd a considerable Victory but these Troops had some share in the Action it was but lately that the King had espoused their Interest against the Bishop of Munster and engaged himself in their Quarrel against the Crown of England and upon all
they should have been obliged to accept of a Peace upon the same Terms as they were proposed by our King It is certain that France never made a Peace which proved more Glorious or more for its Interest than this or which has been managed with more dexterity The chief Glory of it is due only to our King who not only himself made the first Project but also according to the different progress of the Treaty directed every step to be taken by his Ambassadours and Plenipotentiaries Godfrey de Estrades Marshal of France Charles Colbert Marquis de Croissy afterwards Minister and Secretary of State and Anthony de Mesmes Count de Avaux Thus Crown'd both with Lawrel and Olive-Branches he was ever after the Object of Admiration not only of his Subjects but also of all Europe AN ESSAY UPON THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT LIB IV. THE King having restored Peace to Europe employed all his care in rendering it as durable as possibly could be and having now laid aside his further thoughts of extending the limits of his Kingdom he judged it most conducing to his Affairs to secure his Frontiers on all sides by good Fortifications For which purpose after he had consulted with his best Engineers he himself made the Draughts of the most considerable Fortifications appointed the Charges and all other particulars belonging to the perfecting of the Works according to the best modern Rules Never were any places seen exceeding either in strength or beauty some of those that were by the King's Orders built in Flanders and Alsace the Franche Compte to defend the Passages of the Lis the Rhine the Saar the Moselle the Meuse and several other Rivers that border upon his Dominions it has been computed that since his accession to the Crown two hundred and twenty Towns Forts Citadels Ports and Harbours have been fortified by his Orders As he was not insensible that the best safeguard of a Prince is to maintain his Respect among his Enemies so not contented with having fortified his Frontiers unless they were also guarded by a good number of Troops he did only disband some of his Forces retaining the best in his Service to render himself at all times invincible tho his thoughts were now more bent to preserve Tranquility in his Dominions than to conquer his Enemies He kept all the Officers of the Disbanded Regiments in Pay and that he might never want a constant supply of good Officers The Academies for the Cadies even in time of Peace he erected many Companies of young Gentlemen these were brought up in all Warlike-Exercises and entertain'd at the King's Charge in the Citadels and when a Captain or Lieutenant's place became vacant it was these that supplied those Posts proportionable to their Deserts The better to encourage his Troops to glorious Actions by the assurance of a safe Retreat in their Native Country The Invalids he caused that Hospital called the Invalids to be built in one of the Suburbs of Paris a truly magnificent Structure where those that are render'd unserviceable either by Age or their Wounds find an honourable Retreat and Reward for their past Labours and Toils To afford also fome relief to such Gentlemen as often ruine their Estates in the Service of their Country The House of St. Lewis at St. Cyr. he founded a Community for three Hundred young Gentlewomen at St. Cyr. These young Ladies are educated in this House with particular care from the Age of Seven till Twenty when they are either provided with some advantageous Match or else if their inclination be otherwise are sent into a Nunnery This Noble Community is without parallel in Europe For the rest the King order'd his Troops to encamp every Year when he used frequently to take a view of them in Person and in his Progress to visit some of his Frontier Places to keep the Governours and Overseers of his Works and Places in awe and to encourage them by his Presence to perform their Duty As he was in the Year 1683. returning from one of these Progresses Death of the Queen of France where he had been accompanied by the whole Court the Queen Maria Theresia of Austria fell dangerously ill of a Fever which put an end to her Life on the 30th of July after four Days Sickness She was a Princess endowed with extraordinary Qualities very Devout Charitable to the Poor Liberal to her Domesticks and Affable to all the World She had the Happiness before her Death to see the Dauphin who was Born at Fontainbleau in the Year 1661. the first of November seven Minutes after Twelve a Clock at Noon Married to a vertuous Princess and a Father of a very fine young Prince Of six Children which she had brought into the World The Dauphin of France Lewis the Dauphin of France was the only surviving a very Handsome and Wise Prince of great Moderation and Vigorous Constitution as active and dextrous in his Military Exercises as courageous in encountring of Danger Never any Prince had the advantage of a more Noble Education in respect of the Ability of those to whose Care and Tuition he was committed the King having made choice of Charles de St. Maurice Duke of Montausier and Peer of France for his Governour and of James Bossuet Bishop of Meaux so famous for his many Works for his Preceptor but not satisfied with this he never was sparing in his Paternal Care to give him in Person all the necessary Instructions for the Accomplishment of a great Prince A King who really loves his Subjects does in vain strive to raise the Glory of his Country by his great Actions unless he also be careful to instruct his Successour to follow his Footsteps and to preserve by his own Courage and Conduct the Reputation which he has acquired It is easie to be imagined that there was never a Court in Europe but what most earnestly desired to be joyn'd to us in Alliance by so advantageous a Match especially since that Engagement which was some Years before negotiated with the Elector and Electoress of Bavaria on the account of Marriage betwixt the Dauphin and the Princess of Bavaria seem'd to be broken by the Death of the Parents of the said Princess but notwithstanding this Change and that the said Match was not attended with the same Advantages as before Dauphin Married the King jealous of his Honour and Royal Word Married the Dauphin to their Eldest Daughter on the 7th of March in the Year 1680. Notwithstanding all the Obstacles and Difficulties raised by the Imperial and Spanish Ministers about the execution of the Treaty of Nimiguen Europe enjoyed the Fruits of a Happy Peace for three Years In the mean while the King looking upon it as a most Glorious Work to turn his Arms against the Enemies of the Christian Name he resolved to employ his Forces against the Corsairs of Africa a Nation whose chief Glory Commerce and
Expences bestowed in the carrying on of this Siege lost twenty Thousand Men the Flower of their whole Army The Confederates being flush'd with this Success Campaign 1666. boasted every where of this Conquest but the wiser sort among them were not much overjoyed at this Advantage as looking upon it as a means to retard the conclusion of a Peace For the People being exhausted with Taxes wished very earnestly for a Peace as the only means to free them from those heavy Impositions Their Commerce was considerably diminished our Privateers who continually infested their Coasts taking some of them every Day it having been Computed that the English alone have since the beginning of this War lost four Thousand two Hundred Merchant Men valued by themselves at thirty Millions of Sterling But there appeared in England many other Causes of Intestine Divisions and Confusion For the Money began to be very scarce and was so much Clipp'd of late Years that its intrinsick value did not amount to two thirds sometimes not to one half of what it ought to be As nothing is more pernicious and destructive to Commerce than the adulteration of Money so these Disorders made many grumble against the Government it being a customary thing for the Common People to impute any publick Disaster to the mis-management of those at the Helm which was also improved by a Party who insinuated into the People that great store of the English Coin was Transported into Holland The Agents of the King of England believing the present juncture very favourable to their Design set all their Engines at work for his Restauration They brought over many to their side some out of Novelty others being moved by a seasonable Repentance others out of Affection to their King joined in the Design of restoring him to the Throne They could scarce have wish'd for a more favourable Opportunity the Prince of Orange King William III. having left the Kingdom destitute of Troops and without a Fleet to guard the Coasts All his Troops were transported to Flanders the grand Fleet was at Cadiz and a good Squadron of his best Ships lately gone out of the Downs to join those in the Streights The King of England encourag'd by these hopes of Success came to Calais with a Body of Sixteen Thousand Men of old Troops under the Command of several experienc'd Generals who were ready to Embark at an hours warning But the Winds proving contrary for some time the whole Design was discover'd and we lost at once both the time and hopes of putting it in Execution For no sooner had the Dutch received Intelligence of this intended descent but they put to Sea with a Squadron of twelve stout Ships which cruised before Calais The Prince of Orange K. William III. without shewing the least Concern at the greatness of the Danger soon found means to disperse these Clouds He secured many suspected Persons recalled his Fleets and some of his Troops out of Flanders and secur'd the Sea-Coasts on that side which was most exposed to danger with a good Body of the Militia A Plot when once discover'd seldom takes effectâ— and in lieu of proving destructive to those against whom it was intended prroves generally the chief means of their Establishment Both the Houses of Parliament gave upon this occasion new Demonstrations of their Zeal and firm Adherence to the Interest of the Prince of Orange King William III. by entring into an Association not only to maintain his Interest against all Pretenders but also to revenge his Death if he should happen to be snatch'd away by some sinister Attempt against his Life Having received these fresh Assurances of their Zeal for his Person and Interest he took such sure measures to prevent all future Danger of this kind that without any further delay he passed over into Flanders At his Arrival in Flanders he found the King's Armies in the Field before him and in the Spanish Territories The King having taken a Resolution to be upon the defensive and sent his Orders to the Marshal de Villeroy who was to Command the French Army in the Lower Flanders to possess himself at the beginning of the Campaign of some advantageous Post from whence he might both observe the Enemies Motions and prevent their Designs and subsist in their Territories till the end of the Campaign The Army near the Meuse was Commanded by the Marshal de Bouflers who pursuant to the King's Orders had divided his Army into four several Bodies at such a convenient distance as to be able to join upon any occasion and at the same time to cover the French Conquests All the measures taken by the Confederates being broken by these seasonable Precautions they were forced to consume their own Territories all the Summer long without being able to undertake a Siege or come to an Engagement though they appear'd more formidable now than ever Their Fleet consisted of an Hundred and Thirty Sail but did no other feats but to burn a few Houses at Calais near the Sands of Cologne and at St. Martins They had three Armies in the Low-Countries one consisting of five and twenty or thirty Thousand Men under the Command of the Prince of Vaudemont in the Lower Flanders which however was not strong enough to Encounter the Marshal de Villeroy who Forraged to the very Gates of Ghent and exacted Contributions from all the circumjacent Countries Their Grand Army at least half as strong again threatned sometimes one sometimes another Place with a Siege but could not meet with a favourable opportunity to put it in Execution A third Army of eighteen or twenty Thousand Men all Germans advanced towards the side of Namur under the Command of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassal They remain'd in that Post for about a Month when for want of Pay or opportunity of being employed in Flanders they returned towards the Rhine Neither did the Confederates act with much better Success on the German side The Prince of Baden keeping close within his Lines till the latter end of August not thinking it adviseable to meet the Marshal de Choiseul who had passed the Rhine with the French Army and stayed on this side near six Weeks After the return of the Landgrave of Hesse the Prince of Baden passed the Rhine and in Conjunction with the rest Marched towards Philipsbourgh without attempting any thing against the Place They afterwards advanced nearer the Marshal but spent the rest of their time in Cannonading one anothers Camp without coming to an Engagement The Duke of Vendosme had but a small Army in Catalonia more considerable for the goodness of his Troops than their Number Yet he remained Master of the Field all that Campaign being belov'd and esteem'd by the Inhabitants of the Country and dreaded by the Spaniards He defeated the Body of their Cavalry much Superiour in number of Squadrons to his He demolish'd many of their Castles which served them for places of Retreat He observed so closely
Dauphin who with so much Application did shew them the way to true Vertue that following both the Footsteps and Instructions of such Guides there never appear'd in any Princes in the World more noble Sentiments and generous Inclinations than in these three the Eldest having given already to the French Nation by his happy disposition to Vertuous Actions all the imaginable hopes of becoming one day a great Prince If the vertuous Inclinations of Princes are like Springs which derive their noble Effects and Communicate them to their Subjects nothing is so great but what may be expected from the happy Marriage of so accomplish'd a Prince with a Princess whose Merits equalize if not surpass her high Extraction and that most eminent Station she is placed by Providence in the World The Peace of Italy proved the happy forerunner of a general Peace It was two years since several Proposals had been made upon that Account which were often changed according to the several change of Affairs in Christendom matters being at that time not brought to a perfect Maturity But towards the latter end of this Campaign there appear'd more disposition in the Confederates for a Peace than before and the People both in England and Holland shew'd much eagerness for it the Allies were for the most part discouraged by the many Disappointments they had met with and most of them having no particular Interest in the War began to hearken to these Proposals which were made on our King's behalf to give Satisfaction to some of the Confederate Princes thus every thing seem'd to tend towards the Conclusion of a general Peace if an un-foreseen Obstacle had not overturn'd all these fair hopes Charles II. Charles II. K. of spain the present King of Spain happen'd to fall ill in the beginning of October so as to have three several Relapses in less than six Weeks time This Prince having no Issue and all Europe taking Interest in the Quarrel which was like to arise after his Death about the Succession the Confederates shew'd not much forwardness to bring it to a Conclusion till after the recovery of this Monarch It was perhaps upon this score that the Ministers of the Emperor and of some of the rest of the Confederate Princes found means to raise many difficulties concerning the Passes and the place where the Ambassadours were to meet to carry on the Negotiation of Peace The Conferences were already begun at the Hague as being the Center where the Ministers of the Consederacy used to meet besides that the Dutch shewed more Inclination for the Peace than the rest and made use of all their Endeavours to promote so great a Work Money began to be so scarce among them that they were hardly put to it to find means for the raising of new Troops to furnish their Quota of Men and Money which made up the largest share of the whole Confederacy They were also under some apprehensions that the Catholick Princes might be prevail'd upon either by the Mediation of the Pope or of the Duke of Savoy to conclude a separate Peace For since the Conclusion of the Peace in Italy the Emperor's Minister remain'd still at Turin The Governour of Milan had also taken several Journeys thither the Count de Tesse resided there in our King's behalf and the Marshal de Catinat had stayed there for some time before he repassed the Alpes The long stay of these Ministers in a Court which so lately had changed its Interest their frequent Conferences the many Messengers that were continually sent forwards and backwards betwixt Paris Vienna and Madrid raised no small jealousie in the Dutch and made them fear lest if the Emperour the King of Spain the Elector of Bavaria and the other Catholick Princes should make a separate Peace they would be left a Sacrifice to France But whilst these debates lasted both Parties began to make greater Preparations than ever for the Prosecution of the War Campaign of 1697. The King's Power appear'd more formidable than it did nine Years ago for he had more Money more Troops and better Officers than at the beginning of the War His Forces both in Garrisons and in the Field were counted to consist of four hundred and twenty thousand Men to wit three hundred and fifty Thousand Foot and threescore and ten Thousand Horse without reckoning those Employed in the Sea-Service who were no less considerable this Year than at any time before the King having applied all his Care to Arm in all his Ports and Equip all the biggest and best of his Ships The Confederates on the other side having taken a resolution to make their last Efforts this Campaign the Prince of Orange King William III. and the Dutch made a defensive League with the King of Denmark by Vertue of which he was obliged to furnish them with a certain number of Troops and a Squadron of Men of War But in the midst of all these vast Preparations the Plenipotentiaries of all the Princes that were engag'd in this Bloody War began to open the Conferences for the Conclusion of the Peace Delft and the Hague were pitch'd upon for the Places of Residence of these Ministers and the Castle of Riswick which lies betwixt these two Places to hold their Conferdnces in A considerable time before the opening of these Conferences Neutrallty proposed for Catalonia a Negotiation had been set on Foot at Turin to conclude a Neutrality for Catalonia The Spaniards cannot be more sensibly touch'd in any part of their Dominions than in Catalonia which lying so near to the Center of the Kingdom and Danger threatning from that side puts the People of Spain into a Ferment which is more dreadful among the Spaniards than other Nations The King of Spain wanted the necessary Funds for the carrying on of the War the Duke of Savoy having not disbanded any of his Troops either because matters were thus concerted betwixt our Court and him or because he intended to improve the present Conjuncture to his Advantage the Spaniards could draw but few of their Troops out of the Milaneze The Confederates had no Fleet in the Mediterranean and were consequently not in a Condition to succour them with any of their Troops in Catalonia besides that these Foreign Auxiliaries prov'd more troublesome to the Inhabitants than the Enemy considering all these disadvantages the Council of Spain were inclin'd to accept of this Neutrality if it had not been represented to them by the Emperor's Ministers that if our King should be freed at once from the War both near the Alpes and the Pyrenean Mountains it would be so great an Addition to his Strength that the Confederacy would be reduc'd to a necessity of preventing their Ruin by the Conclusion of a disadvantageous Peace These Considerations were so prevailing with the Spaniards that they neglected their own Interest for that of the Confederacy and refused to accept of the Neutrality with Catalonia The glorious success of