been the Ruin of all the Leagues that have been formerly contracted against her You have to do with a crafty and potent Enemy and as she has found the Benefit of her Maxims practis'd in the late Wars she makes use at present of the same to break your Union How earnest is she at the Court of Rome How importunate with the Northern Crowns and the laudable Cantons to persuade 'em to take the Meditation upon ' em To this purpose she spares neither Gold nor Silver nor Embassies and it is in good part discover'd that she offer'd six Millions to any one that could procure a Peace And which is worse we find to our Sorrow that her Pains have not prov'd altogether fruitless by the Steps that some People tread who interest themselves too much in her Concerns But some zealous Adherents to that Crowâ— will object and say That 't is high time to puâ— a stop to the Miseries that afflict Europe anâ— you ought not any longer to refuse that Peacâ— to France which she demands since she makeâ— such advantagious Offers seeing the Deniaâ— will render you responsible before God foâ— all the Blood that is shed and for all the dismal Calamities that attend War The moâ—â— Christian King say they offers the Confederates Conditions altogether reasonable hâ— offers 'em Barriers sufficient to secure theiâ— Liberty and to secure 'em for the future from the prodigious Forces of that Crown Those Offers are these that follow France proposes by the Danish Envoy That first in respect of the Emperor the Princes and States of the Empire the Dutchess of Lorrain and Savoy the Advantages which his Armies have gain'd upon his Enemies shall make no alteration in the Conditions that have bin communicated to his Danish Majesty That in respect of the King of Spain his most Christian Majesty might justly keep all his Conquests after the Example of the Catholick Kings but that to facilitate a Peace he is willing to restore Roses and Belevers and in a word all that he has conquer'd in Catalonia during this last War He adds That he had still more reason to keep for the safery of his Frontiers all the Conquests that he had won in Flanders yet for the forming of 〈◊〉 Barrier that might remove all occasion of â—isquiet from the United Provinces he would â—estore to the King of Spain Mons and Naâ—â—ur and offer'd to demonish Charleroy As to the Country of Liege he would reâ—ore the City and Castle of Huy to the Biâ—hoprick and make amends for Dinant and Bouilion by reuniting such a Portion of the Country of Luxemburgh as should lie most for the convenience of the Bishoprick and as should be deem'd reasonable by chosen Arbitrators He consents to the re-settling of Trade with the States General according to the Agreements in the Treaty of Nimeguen without any Alteration In case of the King of Spain's Death he consents that the Elector of Bavaria shall enjoy those Countries provided the Emperor will declare the same to be his Will and Pleasure And that tho' the Deceased Queen's Renunciation to Spain during her Minority be Void for the Reasons already made publick to the World his Majesty is willing as well for himself as for the Dauphin to confirm he said Renunciation in favour of the Duke of Bavaria with all the requisite Formalities adding withall that he makes no question but that this Engagement will convince the Confederates beyond all other things of the reality of the Peace which he proposes to ' em As to the Affairs of England the Royal Majestyâ— being wounded in the Person of the K. of Greaâ— Britain his Most Christian Majesty makes no question but that the King of Sweeden and the Emperor himself will propose some Expedient to put an end to that Difference And moreover his Most Christian Majesty has no pretention directly nor indirectly to England excepting what he claim'd during this War to the Islands and Continents of America of which he demands Restitution being ready to renew with that Crown the last Treaty of Commerce which was in force when the War began As for what concerns Germany his Most Christian Majesty-consents that the Treaty of Munster and Nimeguen shall remain in full Force and Vigour That the Truce in 1684. might be chang'd into a Definitive Treaty of Peace nevertheless with these Exceptions That in compensation for Strasburg France shall Surrender up Mont Royal and Trarbag after the Fortifications are Demolish'd granting that it be for the security of the Empire Besides that his most Christian Majesty will restore Philipsbourg and Fribourg to the Emperor and the Empire together with the Fortifications in the same condition as now they are That Fort Lewis and Huninghen shall be Demolish'd That Heydelburg and the Palatinat shall be restor'd to the Palatinate France taking upon her to make Madam amends for the Succession of the Electors her Father and Brother an Article which his Most Christian Majesty stands very much upon In regard of the Duke of Lorrain the Most Christian King consents that the Treaty of Nimeguen shall be observ'd Sar Louis Briche and Hombourg excepted for which there shall be an Equivalent given of an equal Revenue That the most Serene Republic of Venice shall be Arbitratrix if there be any Reunions to make and for the putting a conclusion to all Differences between France and the rest of the Princes she will agree to any just and reasonable Proposals that shall be made on their Part and in their Name In truth we must acknowledge that France is become all on a sudden very Tractable and very Consciencious she who was wont to gripe all and restore nothing now offers the Confederates the Restitution of all the Places during the last War Most Serene Princes here is a particular Favour which the Most Christian King vouchsafes ye He is willing notwithstanding your Obstinacy to continue the War to heap his Graces upon ye to the end you may have reason to forget the Mischiefs he has done ye He offers to be Reconcil'd with ye and lay down his Arms provided you will accept of his Propositions of Peace and rely upon his Promises After this 't is to be thought that you will have no cause to Complain And the Adherents of France will be apt to tell ye that Lewis XIV is at this day Triumphant and Victorious and consequently that 't is for him to give Laws to his Enemies and to make no Restitutions at all but what he pleases himself But to this I answer If France has got such great Advantages over the Princes of the League and is so much a gainer by the War why do's she talk of Peace To spare you therefore the pains of alledging some good Reason or other in justification of a Prince whose Interests you so heartily Maintain I shall only repeat what Mazarine upon the like occasion wrote to M. Lionne Secretary of State concerning the Negotiation of the Pyrenaean
of the Services which he had done Spain should be restor'd to the Governments and Employments which he possess'd before his disgrace and that the King should secure the Enjoyment of 'em to him and his Son the Duke of Enguien Mazarin who was the Prince's Irreconcileable Enemy neatly eluded all that Don Lewis could advance to support his Pret ensions and told him in a word that it would be a fruitless loss of Time to make many Disputes about a thing which the King his Master would never consent to That the Restoration of the Prince to his Governments and Employments was enough to open a wide Gate for Rebellion and to encourage the great Lords of France to take up Arms against their Sovereign and take part with her Enemies upon the least discontent Mazarin's unshaken Constancy in this Particular quite disarm'd Don Lewis and was the reason that at length he granted France the two Important Places of Avennes and Juliers to obtain the Prince's Restoration So that had not Mazarin bin afriad of some unlucky Disappointment as well on the King of Spain's part who might alter his Resolution and refuse his consent to the Infanta's Marriage as on the Christian Kings side who was become passionately in love with his Niece to whom he had made Promises of Marriage These Considerations I say made him press on the Negotiation or otherwise 't is most certain that Mazarin had also obtain'd the City of Cambray 'T is true that in the first Conferences Don Lewis had propos'd to the Cardinal to make an Exchange of Bethune and St. Venant for some other Places which he offer'd to give him upon condition he would consent to let 'em go Mazarin enlarg'd himself at first very cunningly upon the Difficulties of accepting an exchange of two such Posts so important and usefull to France however if Don Lewis would part with the City of Cambray together with Cambresis he hop'd he might be able to persuade the King not only to deliver up Bethune and St. Venant but also bergues and Bassee Don Lewis having consider'd with himself that the loss of Cambray would be a great disadvantage to Spain and that thereby the whole Low Countries would be expos'd to the Invasions of France upon the first Rupture return'd for Answer to the Cardinal that he would never consent to the exchange of a Fortress so considerable In the mean time Cardinal Mazarin being very well satisfi'd with Avennes and Juliers thought he had gain'd sufficient to make amends for his missing Cambray Which made him say one day as he was talking to M. de Lionne that if he could but persuade Spain to deliver up Juliers to the Duke of Newburgh t' would be a great satisfaction to him as being convinc'd that it would be more for the Honour of France then the winning of four good Towns So that he made no scruple of writing to the Duke of Orleans That he had not only got Avennes which his Royal Highness deem'd so important but also the Restitution of Juliers to the Duke of Newburgh with other Advantages which had cost the King no more then the Government of Burgundy for the Prince and the Employment of Grand Maistre for the Duke of Anguien his Son Avennes as all the World knows is a Place of Importance in the Low Countries within the Province of Hainault between the Sambre and the Meuse It bears the Title of an Earldom and lies not above four Leagues from Landrecy and as many from Maubeuge And this Town was in part the Boundary that was allotted to France on that side And by the yielding up of that City the particular Interests of the Prince of Chimai were sacrific'd to the Publick Now let us view the rest of the Boundaries By the XXXV Article of the Treaty it was concluded That the King of France should remain seiz'd of and effectually enjoy the following Places viz. Arras in the County of Artois Hesden Bapaume Bethune Lillier Lens in the County of St. Pol Terroane Renti as also all the other Bailliages and Castellan-ships of the said Artois except only Aire and St. Omer with their Appurtenances and Annexes By the XXXVI Article it was agreed That in the Province of Flanders the King of France should be possess'd of Graveline the Forts Philip Ecluse Hannuin Bourbourg and St. Venant By the XXXVII is was concluded That in the Province and County of Hainault the most Christian King should enjoy Landreci and Quesnoi By the XXXVIII Article it was likewise greed That the most Christian King should enjoy in the Dutchy of Luxemburgh the strong Holds of Thionville Montmedi and Damvilliers the Provostship of Ivoy Chavanci Chateau and the Provostship belonging to it the Town and Post of Marville seared upon a little River called Vexin which belong'd formerly in part to the Dukes of Luxemburgh and partly to those of Barr. By the XXXIX it was agreed That Marienburgh and Philippeville seated between the Sambre and the Meuse with their Appurtenances and Annexes should be allowed the most Christian King in exchange for la Bassee and Berg St. Winox and the Fort Royal of which the Catholick King was to remain in Possession by the XLIV Article it was covenanted That the Catholick King should re-enter into and enjoy the County of Charleroy By the XLV the King of Spain engag'd to restore to the most Christian King Rocroy Chatelet and Linchamp with their Dependences and Annexes By the XLVI Article it was agreed That the most Christian King should restore to the Catholick King the Cities and Places of Ypre Dixmude Oudenard Furnes with their Dependances c. These were the Boundaries prescrib'd to France in the Low Countries We shall now set down the Bounds that were assign'd her in Spain By the Negotiation began at Madrid in the Year 1656. upon which the present Treaty was grounded it was concluded That the Pyrenean Mountains which had anciently divided Spain from Gaul should also part the two Kingdoms at this day In pursuance of which the most Christian King was to remain in Possession of all the County of Viguery of Jurisdiction of Roussillon of the County and Jurisdiction of Conflans and of the Countries Cities Places Castles Burroughs Villages and other Places of which it consists It was also agreed That the County of Cerdaigne in the Principality of Catalonia should remain in the Hands of the most Catholick King By the XLIX the most Christian King engages to restore to the Catholick King the strong Holds and Ports of Roses Trinity Fort Capa de Quers la Seau d' Vrgel Toxen the Castle of Bastide the Towns and strong Holds of Baga Ripol and the County of Cerdaigne wherein are Belver Puicerda Carol and the Castle of Cerdaigne in the same condition as then it was 'T was also said That Part of Cerdaigne that lay in the Pyrenean Mountains on that side next France should remain to his most Christian Majesty as should be
have made the Court of Spain tremble considering the Misfortunes that threatned the Kingdom being carry'd to Don Lewis de Haro never put so much as a Minutes stop to the Negotiation True it is that de Haro had a deep sense of it but Mazarin who had his Prospects redoubl'd his Importunities and hasten'd more then ever the Conclusion of the Treaty When the Kings of France had the Misfortune to make Alliances that were likely to prove fatal to 'em and which infallibly would have prov'd the Ruin of their Dominions what did they do to break ' em Witness the Conduct that Lewis XII observ'd upon the like Occasion He had concluded a Treaty of Confederacy with the Emperor Maximilian The second and third Article of which Treaty imported that the two Princes should engage themselves to ratify and confirm the Contract of Marriage concluded between Charles Duke of Luxemburgh Son of Arch-duke Philip and Madam Claudia of France the most Christian King's Daughter Lewis promis'd that in case he died without Issue Male that the Dutchies of Milan Genoa as also the Countries of Ast and Blois and all the other Lands and Signiories of his Demesnes should be deliver'd up after his Death and immediately after the Consummation of the Marriage of the Duke of Luxemburgh with Madam Claudia of France into the Hands of that Princess his Heiress to enjoy to Perpetuity upon condition that if she happen'd to have any Sisters she should allow 'em a Dowry in Mony proportionable to their Birth The Ministers of Lewis XII after they had seriously consider'd how disadvantagious this Marriage was to France and how powerful the House of Austria was like to grow set all their Engins at work to break it To which purpose by the King's consent there was an Assembly order'd to be summon'd which was held in the year 1506. at Plesses-Les-Tours where the King was present and by a knack of Policy as daring as well found out they order'd underhand a famous Doctor of the University of Paris to appear upon the Stage who came and made a Speech to the King beseeching him in the Name of all the States of France to match the Princess his Daughter with the Duke of Valois presumptive Heir of the Crown This Doctor with so much Eloquence set before the King the Misfortunes that suddenly threatned France if he suffer'd Madam Claudia to marry Charles of Austria or any other Foreign Prince that from that very moment the Match was brok'n off and by that manner of Proceeding Lewis XII disingag'd himself from his Word and Oath and the Treaty which was made in 1501. and confirm'd by another three Years after at Blois was declar'd null and void There 's no Question to be made but that Lewis the XII himself was the Person who order'd the Duke of Valois to be nominated to him by all the States of the Kingdom to the end that by that means he might bring himself off fairly from his Agreements with Maximilian and Philip his Son who had reckned upon the word of that Prince as upon a thing that was irrevocable This is an Example past all Contradiction besides a great number of others that might be found in History sufficient to justifie the Reasons which the Court of Spain had then has she minded her own Interests to have refus'd the Marriage of the Iufanta to Lewis XIV who was a Foreign Prince that they might have bestow'd her upon the Emperor's Son who was of the House of Austria and had demanded her at the same time However it were Mazarin in this particular acted the part of a great Politician and not to mention other Important Services which he did the French Monarch it may be said that tho' he had done nothing else during the whole course of his Ministry this alone was a thing that never ought to be forgot by France So that he made no scruple to write to Monsieur le Tellier immediately after the signing of the Treaty That there was great Reason to hope a long continuation of the Treaty in regard that both Parties were equally satisfy'd But that in his Opinion the King had reason to be more contented because that all the advantage was on his side And besides that there was also this farther Benefit that Don Lewis believing he had don his Business admirably well would never dream of laying hold upon Opportunities for the furture should they present themselves to repair the great Prejudices that Spain had receiv'd by the Conclusion of that Peace However had France stook to this Treaty how disadvantagious soever it was for Spain and had not transgress'd the Limits that were prescrib'd him we should not have now beheld all Eurpoe in Arms and the Princes of the August League unanimously resolv'd not to surcease the War till France has restor'd to every one what she has wrested from 'em since the Conclusion of that Treaty Her want of Faith and Sincerity not only transported her to declare her self the Irreconcileable Enemy of the House of Austria by vertue of those Rights which she pretends to claim as yielded up to her by vertue of that Peace but has openly invaded the Dominions of other Sovereigns of Europe and without any other Right and Title then the Challenges of her Ambition and Power she has run her self into those Excesses that now make her lookt upon with Detestation and Abhorrency We have shew'd ye the Fault never to be repair'd that the Court of Spain committed in consenting to the Marriage of the Infanta with Lewis XIV and to a Treaty of Peace so disadvantagious to her Interests Now let us see the fatal Event that attended 'em and begin with the Bounds that were prescrib'd to France by the Treaty which done we will examin the Conduct which she observ'd to extend those Limits as far as we see 'em now extended And lastly we shall conclude with representing to the Princes of the League the necessity of being inexorable to the Importunities of France for Peace unless extreamly to their Advantage Their Interest to keep inviolably united together and never to listen to the Proposals of France unless she makes Restitution of all that she has usurp'd since the Pyrenean Peace All the World knows that the main thing that obstructed the Pyrenean Treaty was the Accommodation of the Prince of Conde We shall not therefore trouble our selves to recite all the Particulars that pass'd in the great number of Conferences between the Ministers of the two Crowns upon this Subject as being otherwhere to be met with 'T is sufficient to say that Mazarin had the Honour of the Triumph and that he obtain'd of Don Lewis all that he could expect So true it is that the Right and Justice of a good Cause are not battry proof against the Artifices of a Crafty Minister and that Honesty and Sincerity frequently become the Cullies of wily Cunning. Don Lewis demanded that the Prince in consideration
of which he â—resented one to every particular Person telâ—â—ng 'em with a Smile at the time that he â—ade the Presents That his Majesty was not 〈◊〉 rich as fully to remunerate the great Obligaâ—â—ons which they were about to confer upon him however that they had to do with a Prince who â—â—anted neither Good-will nor Power to make 'em Great Lords in France At the Fourth Conference 't was agreed That Louvois should engage for the payment of 400000. Livers in ready Mony to the Chief Burgo-master and that every one of the Proâ—osts Consuls and Magistrates the were of â—he Cabal should have for their share 300000 Livers in consideration of which the Keys of the City should be put into his Hands and the said City was to be put into his Majesties Hands to reck'n from the 23d of October 1661. which was the Day made choice of for his Majesties taking Livery and Seizsin Besides that Louvois engag'd to alloâ—â— the said Magistrates their House-Rent freâ—â— at his Majesties Charge from the time 〈◊〉 their Arrival at Paris assuring 'em of 〈◊〉 Majesties Friendship and Protection againâ—â— all that should make any Attempt upon theâ— Liberty France having thus made her self Mistreâ—â— of the Capital City of Alsatia Louvois seâ—â— word to the Duke of Mantua that if he 〈◊〉 a mind to quit Casal for Mony he would 〈◊〉 him down two Millions upon the Nail 〈◊〉 Importance of that Negotiation and the feâ—â— the Court was in lest the Secret should be 〈◊〉 vulg'd caus'd his Majesty to make choiceâ— Colbert Croissi in the absence of Louvois 〈◊〉 had proffer'd to undertake a Journey 〈◊〉 Italy as he had done into Alsatia but thâ—â— the Fatigues of his first Journey would 〈◊〉 permit him At length Colbert Croissi depaâ—â—ed in all haste after he had receiv'd full 〈◊〉 structions and came to Casal Incognitâ—â— where he had a Conference Face to Face 〈◊〉 the Duke As they were about to take the leaves after the first Treaty which they 〈◊〉 together Colbert pulling out some Papers out 〈◊〉 his Pocket unluckily let fall his Memoirs uâ—der the Table which the Duke took up so soâ—â— as the Minister was gone out of the Roomâ— and having read 'em he found the Purport 〈◊〉 'em to be That in case the Duke made aâ—â— scruple to part with Casal for two Millioâ— Colbert should come up to his Price what-ever 〈◊〉 were and that if he only stook for Mony â—â—at he should mount up to four Millions â—aving the rest to his Prudence But above 〈◊〉 things he had order not to return till 〈◊〉 Affair was fully concluded The next day in the Morning coming to â—tend the Duke as he was dressing himself 〈◊〉 of the Prince's Pages neatly slipt the â—emoire into the Ministers Pocket without â—â—ing perceiv'd and then the Duke making 〈◊〉 if he knew nothing of his Orders told 〈◊〉 'T was impossible to deliver up such an â—â—portant Place as Casal under less then four â—â—illions in Silver and that he expected 'em 〈◊〉 be paid upon the Day that the Town was 〈◊〉 be deliver'd or immediately after signing 〈◊〉 Treaty Colbert was extreamly surpriz'd 〈◊〉 hear that the Duke's Mind was so strangely â—â—er'd from what it was the Day before and â—â—gning that he would return home without â—â—ing any thing told the Duke that he would 〈◊〉 as much as lay in his Power and that he â—â—ould presume to exceed his Master's Orders 〈◊〉 far as some few hundred thousand Livres â—â—ould reach above the two Millions that he 〈◊〉 offer'd the Day before 'T was agreed 〈◊〉 That his Master should give 500000 â—â—vres more above the Two Millions that he 〈◊〉 offer'd the Day before together with an â—â—nnual Pension of 200000 which should be â—â—gularly paid during his Life Upon this the poor Prince fell into the Snare and 〈◊〉 glitter of the French Lewidores daz'ld him 〈◊〉 that degree that he sign'd the Contract of Salâ—â— and Colbert returned to Court in less then Siâ—â— Weeks Thus France became the Mistress of Twâ—â— strong Barriers without so much as drawinâ— a Sword which secur'd her both on Germany and Italy side Besides these notorious Attempts upon the Peace the most Christian King besieg'd Courtray and won it Whiâ—â— done he spent no less then 3000 Bombs upâ—â— Luxemburgh and laid it in Ashes If the Spâ—niards complain of these Cruelties he 〈◊〉 swers 'em That the Marquis of Grana 〈◊〉 committed Acts of Hostility which he nevâ—â— so much as dreamt of and then like a 〈◊〉 Man le ts loose all his Fury and sends Botâ—flers and Montal to commit all the Ravagâ—â— imaginable orders 'em to waste all befoâ—â— 'em with Fire and Sword to the very Gaâ—â— of Mons and to act those Villanies and Crâ—elties in the midst of Peace that scarce couâ—â— have bin committed in the height of a 〈◊〉 bloody War If Charles the Bold Duke of Burgunâ—â— had the Sir-name of Terrible given him 2â— Years after his Death because he renewâ—â— the Rigour of War in former Times 〈◊〉 which had been discontinued for some Agâ—â— among the Christians it may be said 〈◊〉 Lewis the Great has out-done him and 〈◊〉 never any Prince has rendred himself more Terrible in History or more odious to the World then this Monarch has made himself by his Cruelties and Barbarities during the whole Course of his Reign But let us proceed to the other Breaches of the Peace The most Christian King perceiving that â—ll the Princes of Europe lay secure and careâ—ess and that not so much as one of 'em stirr'd â—o oppose his Designs while every one minded noting but his own particular Interests thought himself at Liberty to do whatever he pleas'd Thereupon he bethought himself of building Fortresses along the Rhine upon the Territories of his Enemies and Barriers and Securities of his Conquests but which expos'd their Dominions to the first Fury and Havocks of a War in case of a Rupture and enabl'd him to carry his Arms into the Heart of Germany before the Forces of the Empire could be in a Condition to march With this Design he erected that important Fortress of Mount-Royal upon the Moselle within the Peninsula of Trebon upon a steep Rock almost encompass'd with the River he fortiy'd Sar-Lewis upon the Sar and rais'd the Fort of Huninghen consisting of Five Bastions seated upon the Rhine with a wooden Bridge a little below Bale in Sungouw To which we may add the Forts which he rais'd upon the Rhine near Strasburgh c. When these Enormous Actions were complain'd of in France the Answer was ready 〈◊〉 For the Imperial Ministers were told That their Master had no reason to be jealous 〈◊〉 what she did for that she was very well satisfy'd there was nothing done contrary to the Peace In the Year 1684. France gives the Catholick King to understand that he was to deliver into her Hands the Equivalent that had bin offer'd her in lieu of the Country oâ— Alost and upon the King
Therefore it behoves the Confederate Princes to take another course which is to oppose him with a puissant Force proportionable to his own and to tire him out by a prolongation of the War which will at length enforce him when throughly debilitated and brought upon his last Legs to restore to every one their Rights and what he has usurp'd by breach of Treaties and no less treacherous in observance of his word As often as I revolve in my mind the Quarrels which Lewis XII had with Ferdinand King of Arragon and compare the Genius's of those two Princes one with the other as well as their Conduct I cannot forbear to apply it to the Contests at this present between Lewis XIV and the Confederate Princes For in all the Treaties that Lewis made with Ferdinand the latter was always too hard for the former And it may be said That of the Princes that ever reign'd there never was one more perfidious or who more gloriously vaunted in the Display of his Dishonesty as may appear by the Reply which he made his Secretary who telling his Master how Lewis complain'd extreamly of his having deceiv'd him twice Twice reply'd Ferdinand By God he lies like a Tooth-drawer I have cheated him above ten times I am persuaded that the most Christian King has out-done Ferdinand in point of Knavery So that if the Confederates should reproach him with having twice deceiv'd 'em he might truly answer that he had deceiv'd 'em as oft as he concluded Treaties with ' em So that the Confederate Princes have no more to do then to consider how little Ground they have to depen'd upon that Monarch who boasts the Trophies of his Perfidiousness no less then Ferdinand But the Friends of France will answer That Lewis XII was as little scrupulous in violating his word in his Treaties with Maximilian the Emperor witness the Treaties of Trent and Blois Which if it be true and that Princes violate their Words and Oaths as soon as they have pledg'd and sworn 'em to what purpose do Treaties serve We must say as Silius said to Hannibal That Alliance and Justice hang at the point of the Sword and that prevailing Power is the only Law among the great ones And thus you see a wide Gate set open for Plunder and Robbery and there Remains no more for us to do but to prepare our selves for open and perpetual War and the continual shedding of Blood with as much Cruelty and Barbarism as Beasts of Prey According to the words of Seneca speaking of unjust Wars I can safely say 't is not only a piece of Cruelty but the natural Inclination of a Savage Beast to delight in nothing but Blood We may call it a turning of the Brains topsie-turvie or a sort of Madness for there are several kinds of it Tho' none more visible then that which transports Men to Murder and Butchery We may aver without wronging the Honour of Lewis the Great that Seneca learns him a good Lesson in this Place and not only him but all other Ambitious Princes Nor is Seneca the only Abhorrer of these abominable Principles That Man says Aristotle must needs be lookt upon as very cruel who makes his Friends his Enemies out of a Desire only to make War In like manner says Dio the Prusiean To be prone to War and Combat without a Cause is a pure Madness that seeks Mischief for Mischief's sake However it be this is certain that the most Christian King himself being the Author of all the Calamities and Misfortunes that at present turmoyle Europe as well as his Counsellors among whom we may number Luxemburgh who may be call'd his Right Hand and the Person who infuses into him a good part of these Cruelties which his Armies commit will be no less responsible before God then if he should imbrue his Hands in the same Massakers Let him give out as long as he pleases by his Ministers and Emissaries in all the Courts of Europe That he burns with a Desire to stop the Bleeding Veins of of so many Innocents who shed their Blood in this cruel War Let him publish by sound of Trumpet by Heralds at Arms in all the chief Streets of his Capital City his eager Passion to restore Peace to his Subjects Let him order the Archbishop of Paris to order the tiring all the Saints in Heaven with his Forty Hours prayers Let him weary the Holy Father with Importunities to mediate an Accommodation between him and the Catholick Princes as formerly did Paul III. between Charles V. and Francis I. We must answer him in a Word that 't is not his Grief for the Sufferings of Christendom that inclines him to a Peace but his eager desire to dissolve the Union of the Confederate Princes whose power infuses into him Fears of dreadful Consequence resolv'd after he has recover'd Strength to recommence the War and plague all Europe with more Mischiefs in the midst of Peace then in the heat of blody War If this Monarch have now more pious and equitable Sentiments and such as are truly different from those which he had when he concluded the Three so often-mention'd Treaties together with the Truce for Twenty Years let him make 'em appear by the Restitution of all that he has usurp'd since the first Peace concluded in the Island of Phesants The Roman Lawyers affirm That he is a public Robber who being demanded wherefore he detains the Possession of such or such a thing has no other reason to give then only because he possesses it To which we may add that Saying of Aristotle speaking of those who advise War That they very seldom take any heed whether it be Just and Lawful to reduce their Neighbours under the Yoak of Bondage who never gave 'm any Cause or to oppress those who never did 'em any Injury Should the Question be put to France by what Rights she now possesses so many Principalities and separate Dominions of which she has despoil'd so many several Soveraign Princes It would not suffice her to allege her chimerical Rights of Reunion Dependence and Convâ—â—â—â—ence pumpt from the hollow Noddle of some old Advocate of the Parlament of Paris more fit to be derided then to be the Ground of any serious Contest wherein important Matters of Fact must be supported by sound solid and undeniable Reasons But if you can but get France from thence as out of her Fortress in regard she had no other Reason to give she must be constrain'd to acknowledge that she possesses 'em because she possesses ' em So that is not this a perfect Robbery and a manifest Usurpation of her Neighbour's Rights and is there any Wrong done her in demanding Restitution Ought she not to be contented with her having enjoy'd 'em so many Years and to have all-a-long receiv'd the Revenues which amount to immense Sums It may be thought also that the Princes of the League would do her a great Favour if they discharge her
Custody and Preservation of one of these Places is entrusted with the Spaniards and for that Luxemburg has had too much experience of the Bravery of the Hollanders 't is not his Opinion that his Majesty should adventure his Fame and Reputation upon a Siege where he must fight against whole Armies of which the Garisons are Compos'd So that his Majesty in all likelyhood will be contented with taking a Journey into Flanders to give his Ladies a little fresh Air and if he finds no probability of doing any thing considerable he will return by the way of Dinant under pretence of some Indisposition of Body If the Marshals of Luxemburg de Lorge Catinat and Bouflers are to be believ'd there will be some set-Battles this Year and therefore it was not thought convenient to undertake any this last Winter for fear of Tyring out the Soldiers considering the need of Fresh Men to support so many great Actions Only the French could wish their Cavalry were a little more Numerous and that they could be suppli'd with the Horses which the Jews of Metz engag'd to procure ' em But the strict Order taken by the Confederates was an Invincible Obstacle which they never expected Thus you see what famous Exploits were design'd in the Cabinet at Versailles But if the Confederate Princes do their Duty and act by concert 't is in a manner certain that France will only Triumph in Imagination and that she runs a great hazard of seeing her self in as bad or worse Condition in the end of the Campaign as she was at the Beginning The Confederates with much more reason hope to Ruin her by prolonging the War and to enforce her in despight of all her Flourishes and Bravado's to Surrender back all her Usurpations 'T is a good Omen for the Confederates that France begins the first of all to talke of Peace and that she offers to restore some part of her Conquests 'T is a sign she is weary of the War and that her Conscience upbraids her with Perfidiousness and at the same time ordains her to make restitution of her Usurpations if she intends to be Reconcil'd with her Enemies As for the Confederates who are without Reproach in that Particular they are not yet so Harrass'd by the incumbent Necessities and fatal Exigencies attending a long War but that with far less Prejudice they can still maintain their Resolutions of never hearkning to a Treaty unless that France submit to surrender whatever she has possess'd her self of by Invasion since the Pyrenean Peace ADDENDA THAT it is the general Interest of Europe to have the Pyrenean Treaty restor'd to its full Force has been shewn at large in the foregoing Discourses but how particularly England is concern'd in that Restitution is what will appear by the following Reflections wherein I intend to shew that it is particularly both the Interest and Honour of this Nation never to consent to a Peace till the Affairs of Europe be reduc'd to the same condition as they were when the Treaty we speak of was concluded 'T is agreed on all hands That the Peace of Christendom cannot be lasting and firm unless there be an Equilibrium between the two Greatest Powers For when at any Time one prevails over the other Ambition never wants a Pretence to make War which in its consequence tho at first began only between them Two yet in the end sets all the States of Christendom together by the Ears and involves them in all the Miseries that attends a most barbarous and unmerciful War So long as the Spaniards were at the Top of the Wheel what Troubles Wars and Misfortunes did they not occasion in Christendom by their foolish and immoderate Ambition to Lord it over all the World besides And since the French have succeeded them in their Fortunes and Designs what Barbarities desolations and Cruelties have we not seen and felt This therefore sheweth the absolute necessity of an Equilibrum between France and the House of Austria but the Question is how to come at it Whosoever will be at the pains to consider well what has bin said before must agree That there is no other way left to balance those two Powers but to revive the Pyrenean Treaty which put such reasonable Bounds to those two contending Empires that I dare say it would be very easy to preserve Peace in Christendom did the Christians but mind their own true Interest But perhaps some will say against this How can you affirm that that Treaty did set the Scales even between those two Crowns seeing the French are grown so powerful since that time and the Spaniards on the other Hand have suffer'd such considerable Losses This is a great Objection I confess indeed and that which seems at first a Demonstration that that Treaty was too advantagious to France yet when it is throughly enquir'd into it will appear to be very trivial and of no force at all as I hope to shew before I have done And the better to clear this Difficulty I say first That to pretend to set such an exact Equilibrium between France and the House of Austria as may infallibly secure the Peace of Europe without the concurrence of the other States is a foolish and an idle Speculation and indeed an Impossibility 2. That all that we can reasonably expect is to set France and the House of Austria in such a condition that whenever one of them shall venture to disturb the Peace of Europe it might be in the power of another State to turn the Scales and command them to be quiet And 3. I say That the Treaty concluded at the Pyrenees left France and the House of Austria in such a condition Now to prove this I have nothing else to do but to shew That there was then such a Power in being as was able to keep both the French and Spaniards in Peace and that was England But to set this truth in its full Light I shall only put the Reader in mind of the Causes of the Growth of France in which the Author of the foregoing Treatise is in my Opinion very defective For tho' the great Ability of their Ministers of State the good use of their Mony and the Arbitrary Power of their King may have contributed very much to these Conquests yet after all they owe more to say not all to the kindness of King Charles II. and to the supine carelesness of the English This will appear the more visible if we consider the happy Circumstances that King Charles was in upon his Restoration The Effeminacy Luxury and other Vices which have bin since so common amonst us were then unknown to the English for Cromwel had left him a true sober and warlike Nation Our Seamen having curbed the Dutch they defied and that with Justice all the Powers of the World to contend with them for the Empire of the Sea We were Masters of Dunkirk a very considerable Place and which lying between the French
obtain'd by number will be constrain'd to acknowledge himself mistaken when he promis'd the King his Master that he would sing Te deum before the end of April in the Cathedral of Maestrich As to his hopes of attaining his Ends by means of the same Artifices which he made use of at the Peace of Nimeguen that you may be plainly convinc'd of it there needs no more then to reflect upon the Conduct which he observes in respect of every Prince in particular and of all in general to disunite and draw 'em off the one from the other He began with the Duke of Savoy upon whom he put the Duke of Orleans believing his Highness might be wrought to a Condescension when touched in the most sensible part which was when he came to be importun'd by the Dutchess his Wife It may be said that she omitted nothing to infuse into him favourable Sentiments in the behalf of France She has been seen to weep warm Tears to fall upon her Knees and imbrace the Prince her Husband beseeching him with all the Tenderness imaginable To put an end to the War to have Compassion upon his Family and his harass'd Territories and lastly to rememember that France was only able to restore him to his ancient Liberty She also deliver'd to him Letters written with the King 's own Hand wherein that Monarch promis'd him upon the Faith of a Prince that he would forget what was past and that he was ready to grant him all the Advantages that he could desire That to render the Peace the more venerable and inviolable it should be seal'd for a perpetual Alliance between the two Houses to which his Majesty would add the Marriage of one of the Sons of France with the young Dutchess of Savoy when they should be of Age which would knit those indissoluble Knots that nothing would be able to unty for the future c. After he had thus assail'd the Duke of Savoy what Springs did he not set at work in the Court of Rome to gain their Favour and incline the Pope openly to favour his Interests by inculcating into the Catholic Princes the Necessity of Breaking those Engagements â—hat united 'em with the Protestants A Union added he that drew after it the ineviâ—able Destruction of the Roman Religion and â—rected Heresie upon the Ruins of it if the Holy Father did not save it by inspiring into â—he Emperor the King of Spain and the rest of the Cotholick Princes speedy Inclinations â—o reconcile themselves with France As for his Imperial Majesty what Pains â—as he Court of France not taken to draw him off from the rest of the Confederates And finding that all the Importunities of the Court of Rome wrought no impression upon the Mind of that Prince and that nothing was able to shake his Constancy did not the most Christian King dispatch an Express to the Court of Vienna to present the Emperor with a Treaty of separate Peace and make him very advantagious Offers if he would but consent to it After he had gone thus forward did he not publish a Manifesto upon the Rhine and in all the Courts of Germany to engage the Princes and States of the Empire to lay down their Arms and stand Neuters or else to accept the Proposals already made ' em What has he left undone to obtain the Mediation of the Northern Crowns of the Republick of Venice of the laudable Cantons to incline those Potentates to espouse his Interests Has he not sent away Embassie upon Embassie and how many Millions has he offer'd besides The Count d'Avaux offer'â— Sweden the Restitution of the Dutchy of Deuâ— Ponts and repayment of all the Losses sustain'd reckoning from the very first Day thaâ— France made herself Mistress of it beside four Millions and 500000 Livres which would be actually paid down together with a Pension of 200000 Livres if his Swedisâ— Majesty would effectually interpose his Mediation with King William the most zealouâ— for continuance of the War Upon the Kinâ— of Sweden's refusal to accept these Offers Bonrepos offer'd the Court of Denmark Six millions together with Mademoiselle de to be given in Marriage to the Prince Royaâ— of Denmark according to the Project beguâ— at Paris before the departure of that Prince 〈◊〉 his most Christian Majesty offering besides 〈◊〉 pay the Dowry and to decree all things immediately after the Ratification of the Peace And the Steps which the Envoys of his Danish Majesty tread both in the Court of England and in Holland have made it appear that those Offers were not made in vain Now let us see what Proposals M. de la Haye the French Embassador made to the Republick of Venice He offer'd the Signiorie besides Three Millions in Silver which were to be paid down that the King his Master should engage to prevail with the Grand Signior to grant her Great Advantages and conclude a separate Treaty of Peace with her 〈◊〉 the Exclusion of the Emperour and â—he King of Poland if she would imploy her Good Offices as well at Rome to perâ—wade the Duke of Savoy to restore Peace to â—taly as in other Courts of the Catholic Princes in confederacy against France I omit several private Conferences between his most Christian Majesty and the Venetian Envoy upon this Subject before his departure from Paris when he went from thence to reside in â—he Court of Spain How did Amelot labour with the laudable Cantons He display'd all his Eloquence in several Speeches which he made in their Dyets and left nothing undone to advance the King his Master's Interests His most effectual Propositions were reduc'd to an Offer of Four Millions and 500000 Livres to which he addded the Payment of all their Arrears All which Advantages said he farther would be attended with a perpetual and inviolable Alliance with the Crown of France by vertue of which the laudable Cantons would be protected at all Times and the Liberty and Repose which they have enjoy'd hitherto would be secured from the Attempts of all that sought their Disturbance And all that the King demanded for so many Favours was only that they should be Mediators for a Peace Let us proceed to the fourth Reason that engages France to sue for a Peace which is the low Estate of her Exchequer and the miserable Condition to which the People are reduc'd And to be fully satisfied in this particular there needs no more then to consider That the most Christian King has so little spar'd his People in Time of Peace that 't is no wonder to see 'em now reduc'd to utmost Misery Certain it is let him put on as good a Face as he pleases that he clearly repents of a Conduct so opposite to his real Interests Good Policy requires that a Prince should diligently labour in search of all the most probable ways to procure the flourishing Condition of his Kingdom while a sound Peace secures him from all Attempts and Interruptions of his Enemies
To discharge his Subjects from the ponderous Burdens with which they are overwhelm'd during the War to revoke all Decrees and Declarations that tended to their Ruin and lastly to deliver 'em from all those Burthensome Impositions and chargeable Taxes with which they were oppress'd in Time of War to the end they may have liberty to take Breath and recover their decay'd Strength that they may be the better enabl'd to bear new Burthens when the Exigencies of the State require it Quite the contrary were the Proceedings of Lewis the Great for no sooner were the Pyrenean Peace the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeguen concluded but he turns his Arms against his own Subjects and not content with the Devastations of all Europe he ransacks the Bowels of his own Kingdom â—nd causes his People to wish a thousand Times for War rather then Peace to the end that so many miserable Wretches might live â—ecure from his Ambitious Tyranny What â—s there to be imagin'd that France has left â—ndone to ruin his own Subjects Her Counâ—il has exhausted it self in Decrees no â—ooner is one made publick but three more â—re in the Press The Parliaments and Soveâ—aign Courts that were formerly Protectors of â—he People and which were erected in the Raigns of this King's Predecessors to ballance â—he Royal Authority are now reduc'd to such 〈◊〉 base and sordid Compliance with the Prince â—hat they only sit to consent to and authorize â—is incroachments upon the People The Farmers and they who have manag'd â—he Publick Treasure what have they left unâ—â—one what Artifices have they not made use â—f to draw all the Mony of the Kingdom inâ—o the King's Coffers Have we not seen a â—olbert almost murder himself by tormenting â—is Brains in finding out a thousand Tricks to â—educe the People to utmost Beggary That Great Man was the Object of Court Adoration but the Abomination of the People Nor can I here forbear to recite what one Day â—e answer'd his Majesty upon occasion of some new Imposts that were going to be laid upon his Subjects For upon the King 's telling him That such Exactions would enforce the People to cry out meerly for Wanâ— and finding themselves utterly unable to pay their Assessments for that no body could pay who had it not O Sir said he your Subjects are like a Sack of Flower the more yoâ— shake it the more Meal comes forth However it were both that Minister they that preceded and they that follow'd him in thâ— management of the Finances understood 〈◊〉 well to squeez the Kingdom of France thaâ— whereas Thirty Millions was the highest Suâ— to which the Revenue of the Crown amounted formerly they have rais'd it to above 〈◊〉 hundred and threescore We must not therefore think it strange to see that Monarchy opprest as now it is and the People reduc'd tâ— utmost Misery Besides all these ways the most Christiaâ— King still puts in practise a great number 〈◊〉 others which have equally contributed to thâ— Ruin of his Subjects such are his Quartering of Soldiers Creations of New Offices and suppressing of others his pretended Extirpation of the Huguenot Heresie and hiâ— Pious Foundations of which the Kingdom iâ— full His sordid Compliance with the Monkâ— and Clergy who possessing the fairest Poâ—tion of his Realm have heap'd up vast Treasures and Riches to the impoverishment 〈◊〉 the meaner sort who subsist only by their Laâ—â—our and Industry His prodigious Expences 〈◊〉 building Royal Houses and erecting sumâ—â—uous Monuments to his future Fame The â—ast Treasures he has wasted in bringing Riâ—ers into Places in despite of Mountains the â—â—lid Oppositions of Nature which he has â—â—t through and Valleys which he has fill'd 〈◊〉 all which cost France several Millions and â—â—rty Thousand of her best Men. We may â—â—d to all this the joining of two Seas and â—â—e Royal Canal in which hard Labours the â—â—ing sacrific'd the same number of his selectâ—â—â— Subjects The enhauncing and abateâ—ent of Mony which has ruin'd Trade and â—â—ck'd his People to the last drop of their â—â—ood The vast number of Forts and Forâ—esses which he has built and rais'd upon all â—e Frontiers of the Kingdom which has cost â—m immense Sums The Pensions which he â—â—s paid in all the Courts of Europe to make â—â—liances or for the maintenance of his Emisâ—ries which costs him several Millions and â—e keeping afoot near two hundred thousand â—â—en in time of Peace and 400000 in time of â—â—ar the vast Sums which he expends in â—â—ring out great Fleets besides what his Maâ—â—zins of Ammunition and Provision upon the â—â—ontiers cost him All this I say contriâ—â—tes to the Ruin of France and to reduce it 〈◊〉 that deplorable Condition wherein we find â—â—at this day Let it be as it will the most Christiaâ— King having consum'd the most solid part 〈◊〉 the Crown Demesnes in so many extravagant ways of Expence it may be said Thaâ— he has acted like those unwary Gamesteâ—â— who having undone themselves by Play 〈◊〉 know not where to betake themselves to geâ— more But this Prince is not only contenteâ— to have plaid away his own Revenues 〈◊〉 has also gam'd away the Estates of his Subjects and by that means has reduc'd Franâ—â— to those Extremities which are enough to overturn it So that 't is no wonder to see Famiâ— rage within his Kingdom The most Christian Lewis XIV might havâ— wish'd that his Father Lewis XIII in imitation of Dagobert the ' Leventh King of Francâ— had bin so pious or rather a Person of so muâ—â— Fore-sight as to have cover'd the Church 〈◊〉 St. Denis with Silver to the end that afteâ— he had drein'd his Exchequer he might havâ— had the same shift at a Pinch as Clovis the Soâ— of Dagobert had who uncovered the Church and made use of the Mony to save Francâ— which then began to be afflicted with a moâ—â— terrible Dearth But Henry IV. and Lewiâ— XIII had so much Work upon their Handâ— that their Reigns might well be said to bâ— rather Iron then Silver Reigns and that theâ— were so far from having any Overplus's to laâ— out upon Dagobert's pious uses that they weâ—â— forc'd to borrow to supply the Exigencies 〈◊〉 the State Lewis XIV was the Prince who of all the Kings of France possess'd the vastest heap of Treaâ—ure and who beheld himself the most puissant of all his Predecessors by the prodigious Improvement of his Finances and Reâ—enues To be convinc'd of this there needs â—o more but to consider That the Revenues of the Crown hardly mounted to 16 Millions in the Reigns of the Valois's In Henry â—V.'s time they ascanded to Thirty Richlieu â—nder Lewis XIII rais'd 'em to Forty five â—nd after him Mazarine advanc'd 'em to aâ—ove sixty Which was nothing to what they are mounted at present for according to an exact Computation Colbert and the rest of â—he Publicans and Sinners have advanc'd 'em â—o above a hundred and fifty Millions