the Calamities of War and are sometimes a Prey to one and sometimes to another Which are not to be fear'd when People are under the Government of a Great King who when any Storm ariseth can quickly allay it It was not only your Frontier of Champagne which was threaten'd but likewise that of Piccardy The Spaniards appear'd there with an Army and having made themselves Masters of Catelet and la Chapelle they attempted Guise but not thinking it fit to lose Time about it they resolv'd to join with the Arch-duke and Viscount Turenne who were enter'd into Champagne Viscount Turenne who knew what was best to be done advanc'd so far as Ferté Milon with an intention to deliver the Prince of Condé out of Vincennes But your Majesty having broke his Measures by causing the Prince to be carry'd to Marcoussis and from thence to Havre de Grace the Viscount was oblig'd to return and join the Arch-duke who had taken Rhetel and some other Places Champagne which groan'd under the Tyranny of the Spaniards who put all to Fire and Sword took Arms and augmented the Army of Marquess du Plessis whom your Majesty had sent to guard that Frontier He thought with these Succours to have been able to retake Rhetel and having invested it the Arch-duke endeavour'd to raise the Siege This prov'd of great Advantage to your Majesty to whom the Defeat of your Army would have been of very dangerous Consequence Nevertheless since it was impossible for you any longer to see your Enemies in the heart of your Kingdom you sent Cardinal Mazarin to the Mareschal that upon his own knowledge of your Strength he might give order either to fight or retreat The Cardinal who was naturally very fearful where there was danger was at first of Opinion not to run any hazard but the Mareschal du Plessis who convinc'd the Cardinal of what ill Consequence it would be to give the Enemy any signs of their Weakness it was resolv'd in a Council of War wherein this Minister was present to fight The Mareschal du Plessis having rais'd the Siege march'd directly toward the Enemy who was now become more numerous by the Duke of Lorrain's Troops The Fight was sharp and obstinate on both sides but God gave your Majesty so compleat a Victory that Viscount Turenne was forc'd to fly only with sixteen Persons being abandon'd by all his Troops for the Arch-duke went off one of the first and left him to shift for himself He was very near being taken in so long a retreat as he had to make and wherein he was so hotly pursu'd but having defended his Life and Liberty at their cost who attack'd him he sav'd himself in Barleduke into which when he enter'd People thought him very much wounded being cover'd all over with Blood but it prov'd only the Blood which he had drawn of your faithful Subjects Your Majesty heard of this Victory with unspeakable Joy and sent to Marquess d' Aumont d' Hoquincourt and de la Ferté each a Mareschal's Staff who had very particularly signaliz'd themselves in that Battel It was to excite others to follow their Example for there is nothing more animates your Nobility than the Honours you bestow on them and the French are of that Temper that they will sacrifice a thousand Lives if they had so many in the Service of their King if he give 'em but a good Word or the least Preferment 'T is for this also that your Majesty is belov'd by your Subjects you that have the Secret even in refusing to grant Requests to oblige those whom you deny by your manner of denying them For a Prince ought to have the Gift of not only making himself to be fear'd but that also of making himself belov'd For Fear without Love degenerates into Distrust which makes People suspect that he who ought to be both Father and Master will turn Tyrant And this Suspicion is so dangerous that there is nothing which a King should not do to keep it out of his Subjects Minds If the Prince of Condé's Party which he had in France did your Majesty so much harm upon the Frontiers of Picardy and Champagne it did you a great deal more in Italy where it was impossible for you to succour Piombino and Porto Longonne which fell again into the Spaniards hands Your Majesty to whom the Preservation of Catalonia was of great importance sent thither the Duke of Mercoeur who seiz'd Count Marcin the Prince of Condé's Creature and who did all he could to debauch the Troops you had in that Country This foresight sav'd Barcelona where the Enemy kept intelligence having a great mind to recover that Place But the Duke of Mercoeur being no great Captain and the state of your Affairs not permitting you to send him any considerable Succours all languish'd in that Country and your Reputation began to decline in those Parts However the Choice of this General was not to be imputed to your Majesty it was a Court-Intrigue that oblig'd you to prefer him before many other Commanders of much greater Experience But there being a Reconciliation made between your Minister and the Duke of Beaufort whose eldest Son Mercoeur was he was to have a share of those Favours which when the Accommodation was made were agreed on Beside the Cardinal design'd to marry one of his Nieces to him and therefore thought it much better to prefer him than another Your Majesty was then too young to perceive what prejudice you receiv'd by it and how dangerous it is for a Minister to prefer his own Interest before his Masters But God be thanked it was not long ere our Eyes were open'd in so nice a point and no Prince ever knew better than you to give to all Persons those Employments which are sit for them This was not the only Fault which Cardinal Mazarin did The desire he had to be the sole powerful Man in the Kingdom made him seek how to amuse those he made use of to destroy the Prince of Condé The Bishop of Langres Favourite of Monsieur the Duke of Orleans your Uncle without whose privity the Prince was arrested from that time never forgave the Cardinal so that joining himself with others who envy'd the Fortune of that Minister they all strove to ruine him The Parliament who sought by all means to augment their Authority and being perswaded that during your Minority was the properest time to effect it divers Counsels were held wherein they resolv'd to demand the Enlargement of the Prince of Condé and his Brothers with the Banishment of Cardinal Mazarin Your Majesty oppos'd it with a Resolution becoming your great Courage but Monsieur the Duke of Orleans heading those who design'd the Destruction of this Minister and all the States of the Kingdom joining with 'em you were oblig'd to grant what they desir'd in point of Policy tho' it was very much against your Will Cardinal Mazarin seeing himself forced to depart the Realm thought
Pennance for his Faults because it brings him again to himself and there is nothing which makes us wiser than those Mortifications which we did not expect they that have the Wind still with them run the hazard of never knowing themselves The Prince having quitted his party your Majesty thought rather of pacifying your Kingdom than of driving the Enemy from the Frontiers which you flatter'd your self might be easily done when it was at Peace within it self The Province of Guyenne was still in Arms for the Prince of Condé the Prince of Conti was in Bourdeaux where as a Prince of the Blood he was so considerable as to draw many to take part with him in his Disobedience the Count d'Ognon was in Brouage where ill Example made him play the Tyrant Great Forces were requir'd to reduce those People because of their Intelligence with the Spaniards from whom they receiv'd Assistance But your Majesty considering it wou'd be easier to gain them by fair means you made the one Mareschal of France upon Condition he deliver'd up the Place he kept into your Majesty's Hands and granted the other very considerable Terms if he wou'd quit his Brother's Party Your Majesty who had found a way to make Cardinal Mazarin return and to settle Peace in Paris where you had again fixt the Parliament in its usual Seat And having now no more Domestick Troubles to fear you did not only raise Forces to secure your Frontiers but to raise your Reputation very much lessen'd abroad You had lost all you had in Catalonia your Affairs in Italy were also in an ill Condition those in Flanders not in a much better Case and of so many Conquests which I have already mention'd no more remain'd to your Majesty but Arras in Campagn the Enemy kept St. Menehout Mouzon and Rhetel upon the Frontier of Picardie Le Catelet and Capelle in Bourgundy Bellegard wherein were the remains of the Prince of Condé's Faction Here was work enough for a young Prince who had not yet the experience of Riper Years but your Majesty having prudently begun with that which seem'd to be of greatest Consequence you besieg'd Bellegard and became Master of it having thereby cut off the Head of the Rebellion You hardly knew what to do next so much were you press'd on all sides The Prince of Condé was enter'd into Picardy where he had taken Roye the Arch-Duke threaten'd Campagn these two Places were of like Importance to you but you cou'd not remedy all at once the Forces of your Kingdom were exhausted so that your Majesty was oblig'd to do things by degrees one after another You march'd to the Relief of Picardy made the Enemy quit Roy and afterwards besieg'd Rhetel which being taken you made your self Master of Mouzon In the mean time the Enemy possess'd themselves of Rocroy for which you were reveng'd by reducing St. Menehout to your Obedience Your Arms in Catalonia began to be dreaded you took there several strong Places and you had taken the Town of Gironne had it not been for a Miracle wrought by Heav'n in favour of your Enemies They plac'd on the Rampart a little Cabinet wherein were the Reliques of a holy Bishop of that City and presently there appear'd such an infinite number of Flies which fell upon your Army that all your Cavalry was astonish'd at it The Horses not being able to abide it broke their Bridles and run cross the Fields they roll'd themselves in the Mire to get rid of the Flies and many perish'd so that seeing the Enemy was ready to make use of the Advantage they had by so favourable an Accident it was thought fit to raise the Siege In Italy you carry'd the War into Milanez where the Count de Grancé whom you had made a Mareschal of France took Carpignan and beat the Marquess Caracene whom the King of Spain sent against him You were now oblig'd to acknowledge the Government of England tho' at the same time your Kindness and Justice led you to protect him who was the lawful Prince thereof But the Spaniards who sought to make an Advantage of your Aversion to Cromwell's Usurpation and were treating with him to your Prejudice you had recourse to the only means left you to secure your self against the Mischief they intended you You offer'd him your Mediation to accomodate the differences amicably which were then between England and Holland of which you were very willing to see an End because they might have proved very much to your Enemies Advantage This was a great deal for a State which had been so Sick to be free from Convulsions which had like to have brought it to its Grave But as in long Sicknesses there are often Relapses Count Harcourt whom your Majesty had made use of to reduce the Rebels to their Duty became one himself He found a way to get into Brisac where the Garrison being at his Devotion he design'd to erect a Kind of Soveraignty in Alsatia if he had been strong enough to support the Burthen The Spaniards did all they cou'd to oblige him to put the Place into their Hands but not offering enough to tempt him he refus'd them and thought of agreeing with the Duke of Lorrain who had enough to pay him well for there was not a Prince who had so much ready Money as he but being an Idolater of it he could not resolve to part with so much as Count Harcourt demanded so that the Business hanging long in Suspence it came at last to nothing because the Spaniards who distrusted him caus'd him soon after to be arrested Your Majesty to whom this Business appear'd to be of great importance as indeed it was sent often to and again to make him return to his Duty But seeing he cou'd not come to any Resolution you besieg'd Beffort to cut off all Relief which he might hope to have from that side you made your self Master of it in the midst of Winter for it is fit the French should learn to make War in any Season they who under your Majesty ought to despise Heat and Cold and to habituate themselves to either This Conquest joyn'd to the very good Terms you offer'd Count Harcourt prevail'd with him to accept 'em You gave him the Government of Anjou you let him enjoy all his Estate and his Place of Grand Ecuyerr he being to deliver up all he held in Alsatia This Business being thus over and so well for your Majesty you next thought of re-taking Rocroy where the Garrison spoil'd all the Country round about it under the Command of a Governour who was not a sleep and had learnt his Trade under the Prince of Condé I mean Montall whom your Majesty hath so succesfully employ'd and who did you great Service in the last War But you believ'd the taking of Stenay was of much greater Advantage and therefore you march'd your Army thither under the command of Mareschal Fabert This General was much to be valued
have notice of it but the Prince of Condé who unluckily took a review of his Troops the Day after yours encamp'd before the Place and being on Horseback when the News was brought him he presently March'd and so well took his time that he pass'd through your Army without being known after which you were oblig'd to raise the Siege but resolving to repair this Affront by some considerable enterprize you besieg'd Montmedi The Enemy's Army full of Pride for that which had happen'd to you at Cambray flatter'd themselves they could give you the like Check before Montmedi The Prince of Condé who was their Hero was pray'd to undertake the care of it but Viscount Turenne who observ'd him having march'd Night and Day with a Party of the Troops which he commanded and Mareschal la Ferté whom you had charg'd with this Expedition being in a good Posture tho' his Lines were not yet finish'd The Prince of Condé durst not undertake the Attack so that you reduc'd this strong Place under your Obedience Viscount Turenne went and rejoyn'd his Army after the departure of the Prince of Condé who as great a Captain as he was could not hinder Turenne from taking St. Venant When the Prince of Condé saw that he with Don John of Austria went and besieg'd Ardres hoping that Viscount Turenne would either quit his Enterprize or let him finish his without giving him any Trouble The Prince thought he should sooner do his Work than Turenne because St. Venant was defended by a good Garrison and that there was scarce any body in Ardres But Viscount Turenne who knew that one of the best Qualities in a General was not to lose a Moment of time us'd such Diligence that he oblig'd the Enemy to Capitulate two days sooner than the Prince of Condé imagin'd and presently march'd against the Prince who having notice of it was half Mad for had he given the Prince but four Hours time more he had made himself Master of Ardres being just ready to spring a Mine which had done all that he could desire and then there was no appearance the Governour could have held out longer but he knowing he was so near being reliev'd refus'd to hearken to any Capitulation The Prince not being so strong as Turenne resolv'd to raise the Siege which was no little Honour to the Viscount whose Diligence had made the Prince fail both of relieving Montmedi and of taking Ardres Not to lose any time is so necessary a Quality in a General that without it no Man can ever hope to be a good Captain For in War some times All depends upon an Instant and he that knows not how to make use of it doth not deserve any great Esteem Turenne did not yet end his Campagne he likewise took La Motthe au Bois and many other Forts upon the Canal of Bourbourg after which he made himself Master of Mardik That which pass'd in Catalonia would not deserve to be told were it not convenient it should be known that the Reason why your Majesty made no more Conquests there was because you thought it enough to keep those you had already The Country which is divided from Rousillon and Cerdaigne by a Chain of Mountains of a prodigious Heighth and whose Avenues are so narrow that two Men can hardly pass in Front seems to be made for another Soveraign and it would be to force Nature to unite them under one Government so that your Majesty contenting your self with the Bounds which God seem'd to have set between your Kingdom and that of the King of Spain you resolv'd not to enter into his but only to let him see you had Troops sufficient to guard your own so that all which afterward pass'd was only some light Skirmishes which caus'd little alteration till a Peace was concluded The Prince of Conti who commanded in this Country the last Year seeing there was now little Honour to be gotten by him there pray'd your Majesty's leave to go and supply the Place of Prince Thomas who was dead You granted his Request but it had been much better for his Reputation to have stay'd in Rousillon than to go into Italy and be forc'd to raise the Siege of Alexandria de la Paille which he had joyntly undertaken with the Duke of Modena If your Majesty would know why you met with more ill turns of Fortune in that Country than in any other 't is easie to give your Majesty a Reason for it The Spaniards look upon the Milanez of very great Consequence to them the loss of which would certainly draw after it other Places they possess in that Country so that whenever they are attack'd they use all imaginable means to relieve them Beside the Princes of Italy do not ordinarily Pray for you when your Armies come amongst 'em They are very well pleas'd with your Protection but do not care for your Neighbourhood It is enough for your Majesty to have a Door open to help 'em in time of need and if you suffer no body especially Spain to meddle with 'em you shall still be in great Reputation among 'em All then which I think you ought to do in that Country is to continue the Allyance which you have with the Duke of Savoy with whom a good Correspondence is not only necessary for the keeping of Cazall but likewise of Pignerol That of other Princes is of no use to you but may prove prejudicial by making others believe you have great Designs upon their Liberty and therefore may put them upon entring into a Confederacy against you I know that at this time your Majesty is in so great Reputation that a League of the Princes of Italy against you would turn to their Confusion if it were not supported by the Forces of all Europe But your Majesty must take heed the Italian Princes do not serve for Trumpets to other Potentates who are Jealous enough of your Majesty and would readily joyn to interrupt your Prosperity Beside you must do all you can to avoid allarming the Swiss of whom you have more need than you Imagin for should they recall the Troops they lend you it would deprive you of a Strength you cannot spare To which I may add that in such a Revolution the Duke of Savoy may leave you and then by his Defection your Frontiers which are not fortify'd on that side will suffer very much I know very well that when a Prince resolves to make War he ought not only to think by what means he may succeed but also what is like to be the Sequel and End of it I consequently know that the Princes of Italy are too well advis'd to declare themselves against your Majesty from whom only they can hope for help when they are oppress'd and against whom they cannot arm any other Potentates but those of whom they ought to be extreamly jealous To which Branch soever of the House of Austria they address themselves they have reason to
not think your Majesty was so much to be fear'd at Sea as by Land were surpriz'd with this Action which gave them another Idea of your Power and was one of the reasons why they made such Applications to your Majesty for a Peace They saw they were like to speed no better with you at Sea than at Land and therefore desir'd an Accommodation rather than expect uncertainties that might deceive them The end of this Campaign prov'd more successful to your Majesty than the beginning The Enemy besieg'd Charleroy when Montall the Governour of it was gone to Tongres which he thought they design'd to attaque But he got again into Charleroy with a Squadron of Horse and made the Enemy raise the Siege All these happy Successes made some envy your Majesty whom you had no design to molest Many took part with the Enemy against you but the Duke of Bavaria resolv'd to stand Neuter and would not declare against you but employ'd the Money which your Majesty gave him to Levy new Troops The Duke of Hanover promis'd you to do the same but as I shall presently shew he was much against his will kept from making good his word Your Majesty having thus order'd your Affairs in that Country as soon as the Spring came on you laid Siege to Mastricht which you took in thirteen Days after opening the Trenches tho' the Enemy look'd upon it as a Rock that would break all your Designs From thence you went into Lorrain to hinder the Duke of that Name who joyn'd with your Enemies from drawing that Country into his Party You caus'd the Capital City to be fortify'd which was not then Tenable and after you your self had seen the Works begun you went into Alsatia to give such Orders as in the present juncture you thought necessary Your Majesty took in some places there which properly belong'd to the Inhabitants themselves according to certain Priviledges obtain'd from their Emperours and tho' after the Treaty of Munster you did not think fit to meddle with them yet your safety now obliging you to take another Course you presently caused them to be demolish'd It concern'd your Majesty to do it for the Emperour had a second time sent an Army into the Field to oppose your Designs Viscount Turenne fac'd 'em and twice offer'd 'em Battel but Montecuculi who Commanded the Emperour's Army declined Fighting and Encamp'd so strongly that Turenne could not force him to an Engagement They lay observing one another both endeavouring to gain the Bishop of Wirtsburg who had not yet declar'd himself The Bridge which he had upon the Mein was not to be surpris'd because it was so near the Capital City and was of considerable advantage to both Parties Monsieur Turenne thinking himself sure of the Bishop because he had promis'd him to let no body pass which was all that Monsieur Turenne desir'd he provided Magazines at Waxtheim in case he should be oblig'd to stay there any time but when he thought himself safe relying on the Promise which had been made him the Bishop treated with Montecuculi who pass'd the Bridge took Waxtheim and all your Provisions It requir'd extraordinary Conduct and Prudence in General Turenne to get out of the Straits whereinto this breach of Faith had brought him Nevertheless like a great Captain long experienc'd in the Trade of War he Posted himself very advantageously and made a new collection of Provisions hoping to break Montecuculi's Measures But the five Villages wherein were his new Magazins being all at a time set on fire and burnt he was now in a worse condition than before by the Bishop of Wirtsburg's Treachery I cannot conceal from your Majesty what was said in your Army upon this strange Accident I dare not say I believe what I have to tell you it is so terrible and surprising that you your self cannot but tremble with indignation to hear it But tho' perhaps I should do well not to speak of it yet how can I keep from your Majesty that which you are so much concern'd to know All your Army believ'd those Villains who burnt your Magazins in the five Villages were employ'd by Monsieur Louvoy because his hatred to Turenne encreas'd daily That which caus'd the suspicion was this Great Man's saying at that very time the Enemies which your Majesty had out of your Kingdom were not so much to be feared as those you had in it Your Majesty seized upon the City of Treves whose Elector had boldly enough declared against you by delivering up to your Enemies Coblents and Hermestein Montcouculi past the Rhine at the first of those places and having joyn'd the Prince of Orange they laid Siege to Bonne A place tho' not very considerable yet they were three weeks before they could make themselves Masters of it Your Majesty knows the Reason why you suffered the Place to be taken without striking a blow to relieve it and if credit may be given to the Officers of your Army and to some others who have the Honour to be near your Majesty this was another trick of Monsieur Louvoy's to keep Viscount Turenne's Reputation from growing too great The Campagn ended with making the Bishop of Wirtsburg repent his breach of Faith Turenne ruining a very fine Castle of his having first burnt all the Moveables and Furniture without suffering the Souldiers to plunder or take any thing that the Bishop might not under-hand buy his Goods again of them who generally sell what they get for the tenth part of its value and then the Bishop would have been no great loser for in truth he could not be punished enough because when such Men as he break their words they deserve to be very severely dealt with But it must likewise be confest that Monsieur Turenne on his part was too credulous to believe a Person that in respect of his Birth was not to be trusted and who might be presumed to be rather your Majesties Enemy than your Friend Not long after this the Elector Palatin turn'd his back upon you under pretence that he suffered as much by your Troops as if he had been your declared Enemy Which was not in your Majesties Power to redress because the Imperialists were privately trucking to have Phillipsburg deliver'd to them So that there was a necessity of drawing your Forces near to cover it The taking of Bonne and the Prince of Orange's taking of Narden through the Cowardise of the Governour for which he was exemplarily punish'd were two Misfortunes that contributed very much to the Elector Palatine's deserting you For you were forced to abandon Vtrecht and the Duke of Luxemburg who Commanded on that side in the place of Marquess Rochefort whose incapacity obliged you to quit that Frontier had much ado to save himself and his Army But having done it contrary to the Opinion of many who concluded he must needs suffer very much in so long a March as he had to make he took care to
a resolution to put an end to so great a work Your mediation was received by the Northern Crowns in spite of all the Traverses made by the House of Austria to render it suspected and your Ministers finding so great a Progress made towards the ending of their Differences their Endeavours succeeded so well that a Peace was concluded The Sweeds being delivered from their Troubles caused by this War you ordered Vicount Turenne whom you had sent the Year before into Germany to take upon him the Command of Mareschal Guebrient's Army and to act in concert with them but tho' he was a great Captain he was defeated at Mariendall it being impossible for him to avoid it Here begun the Campagne of 1645. wherein you had quickly your Revenge almost in all places where you had Souldiers You took Roses in Catalonia having sent thither Count Harcourt in the place of Mareschal la Motthe whom you caus'd to be seized not only for the Faults he was guilty of the former Campagne but because to excuse himself he endeavour'd to blemish the Reputation of your chief Minister whom he accus'd to be the cause of his ill Success pretending he had let him want all things But 't is not reasonable that any Person should justifie himself at another Man's cost at least when things are not as clear as the Day The Spaniards endeavoured to relieve Roses but Count Harcourt having opposed their Passage while the Count du Plessis Praslin was before it they tryed to put in Relief by Sea but met with the same Difficulties because your Fleet was there Your Majesty who takes pleasure in rewarding Men of Merit sent a Mareschal's Staff to Count du Plessis The taking of this Town was follow'd with the defeat of the Spaniards in the plain of Livrons and the re-taking of Balaguier so that after so many happy Successes all that had gone ill in the former Campagne was quite forgot The Duke d' Anguien whom you sent again this Year into Germany quickly reveng'd Vicount Turenne by defeating the Enemy at Norlingue while the Duke of Orleans in Flanders took the Fort of Mardyke Link and Bourbourg Your Majesty multiplied your Conquests with adding those of St. Venant Lilliers Armentiers and Bethunes You caus'd the Fort of la Motthe to be demolish'd out of which the Lorrain Troops were driven with great difficulty and which served them for a place of Retreat after committing a thousand Robberies Prince Thomas had again signaliz'd the Glory of your Arms in Italy if he could have kept Vigevane and its Cittadel which he had taken But it was impossible for him to resist the great Efforts the Enemy made to retake ' em The Emperour on his side sent so strong an Army to the Rhine that he re-took all the Places he had lost Phillipsbourg only excepted Perhaps it had not been done if the Duke d' Anguien had been at the Head of your Majesty's Troops but he was fallen Sick and return'd to Paris Vicount Turenne in the mean time took Treves and your Maiesty restored it again to its lawful Prince whom after a long Imprisonment you set at Liberty You have always been a Sanctuary to the Unfortunate witness the Barbarines to whom you gave protection though all Europe thought them unworthy of it for the War they had kindled in Italy which was but just then extinguish'd But it was enough when they were persecuted to have the Honour of your Protection of which the Duke of Monaco being confident threw himself into your Majesty's Arms and quitted the Spaniards Party which till then he had followed The Year 1646 was full of great Events your Majesty took a second time the Fort of Mardyke which the Enemy had re-taken towards the end of the Campagne your Majesty likewise took Furnes and Dunquerque which gave so great an Allarm to all Flanders that they thought themselves irrecoverably lost Vicount Turenne enter'd into the very Heart of Germany which made the Emperour perceive it was better to make a Peace than to hearken to the Spaniards who endeavoured to perswade him that your Majesty during your Minority was not able to bear the Burden of so many weighty Affairs you had then upon your Hands Nevertheless your Minister engag'd you in an Enterprize for which he ought never to be forgiven since it was in no wise to your Majesty's Advantage and that the publique Interest was less consider'd in it than his own He had married one of his Relations to a Nephew of the Barbarin's and this Allyance disposing him to do all he could for them he carry'd the War to the Borders of Tuscany and caused Orbitelle to be besieged His design in this was to mortifie the great Duke the Barbarin's capital Enemy but this Enterprize having allarm'd all Italy it gave such Succours to the Spaniards as raised the Siege tho' your Fleet had repulsed the Enemy's The Success which your Arms had at Piombino and Portolongonne did drowne the Memory of this Loss but the Joy for that Success was damp'd by the raising of the Siege of Lerida wherein Count Harcourt had spent seven Months to no purpose The Protection which your Majesty gave to the Barbarines was so great an Advantage to them that their Goods which had been seiz'd by the Pope's Order were restored to them The Cardinal Desté was also sensible of the Honour you did him in embracing his Interest for without it the Admiral of Castile would never have done him reason who took a pleasure to insult him in the middle of the City of Rome You were indeed at that time the Protector of the Oppressed which you made appear to the Venetians in whose favour you sent an Ambassador to the great Turk to dis-swade him from the War he was about to make upon them The Respect which the Grand Signior had for your Majesty made him promise all things but Interest will prevail over Promises when one hath to do with Barbarians the Turk quickly forgot this when he saw that Republique was not in Case to defend it self The Year 1647. was remarkable for your Majesty 's then having the Small-Pox by which you were in great Danger But we were soon rid of our Fear when we saw the greatness of your Courage for you ask'd Pardon for one of your Officers whom the Queen had commanded not to come near you she suspecting you were infected by him What a loss had it been for France and how great a happiness for Spain if your Sickness had been Mortal as 't was feared The Spaniards whom as young as you were you daily made to feel the weight of your Arm were so astonisht that they sent into Flanders the Arch-Duke Leopold hoping that the greatness of his Birth would incite him to out-do those that had preceeded him in the Government of those Provinces and make better Head against your Majesty He came into the Country with a good Army and re-took Amentiers Landrecis and Dixmude
again where I left off After you had as I have already said declar'd War against the Dutch you quickly invaded their Country They had recalled their Troops from Collen into which in their Room enter'd Three Thousand Men of the Circle of Westphalia Your Army was in all Respects very Formidable so Brave and Numerous a one had not been seen a long time and to shew your Power the Prince of Condé was at the Head of another almost as great besides a flying Camp which was commanded by the Count Chamilly The Duke of Lorrain had no mind to stay for you in Collen he went out of it the last Year for you had sent some Troops to Winter in that Country into whose Hands he was afraid to fall He retir'd to Francfort where he begun to make new Levies believing that this War made so near the Empire would create you so many Enemies that he should quickly meet with an Opportunity to shew his ill Will to your Majesty But nothing could stand before you in less than a Month yout took Forty fortify'd Towns one of which could heretofore have held out a whole Year against a considerable Army But your Conquests I say rais'd you new Enemies the Emperour sent an Army against you to which the Marquess Brandenburg joyn'd his Troops They pretended to make the Princes of the Empire repent their so far taking your part as to let you have Winter Quarters in their Country but all they could do was but to augment your Majesty's Glory since instead of repulsing you Viscount Turenne drove them into the Country of Mark where he quarter'd all the Winter A little before this great Action your Troops past the Rhine by Swimming which caus'd such a Consternation among your Enemies that you were within a little of being Master of Amsterdam But a Burgh-Master of the Town by giving Counsel to open the Sluces and let in the Sea rather than submit to any other Soveraign saved the City Nevertheless being reduc'd to extremity they sent your Majesty Propositions of Peace which the Prince of Conde who had been Wounded in passing the Rhine advis'd you to accept All your Generals were of the same Opinion and their reason for it was because the Emperour and the Elector of Brandenburgh having already declar'd themselves against you there was no doubt but the whole Empire allarm'd by your Conquests would likewise follow their Example But Marquess Louvoy who pretended that he alone knew more than all these great Men put together perswaded your Majesty that the Dutch were brought so low that they could never rise again and therefore you should accept of no other Composition than their acknowledging themselves to be your Subjects To which they must certainly yield because they were not able to bear the payment of what the Princes who declared for them demanded for the Succours they lent them He perswaded your Majesty to strike while the Iron was hot and not to take other measures by making Peace and if your Majesty did let slip this Opportunity you could never while you liv'd expect the like To make good what he said he pretended he had Intelligence from several Persons in the Country And your Majesty confiding in him because all the secret Dispatches went through his Hands sent back the Dutch Embassadours who were come into your Camp to offer you very good Conditions And tho' they came again a few Days after with much better Terms yet your Minister who was not for Peace because his private Gain was so great by continuing the War kept things from coming to any Conclusion The Inhabitants of the Hague in the mean time Massacred John de Witt who had sent those Embassadours to you but they were recal'd soon after his Death This should teach Men never to refuse good Terms in hopes of better and that it is not prudence to make an Enemy desperate Beside Affairs sometimes change their face in an instant and therefore we ought not to let things cool but come to a Conclusion while they are warm Which should have been done in this case because your Majesty had declared you begun this War only to humble the Hollanders You sufficiently humbled them in forcing them to offer you so much as they did and in not pretending to more you had made it appear that Correction not Conquest was your design But proceeding so far as you did procured you new Enemies so that you see how much you were obliged to Monsieur Louvoy I am confident that the great Hatred he bore me was one reason why he gave your Majesty such ill Counsel He foreseeing the continuance of the War would be prodigiously Expensive and consequently that in a little time I should not be able to find Money enough to defray the vast Charge your Majesty would be put to to maintain it I should then be disgraced and lose the Honour of your Favour But this was not the only fault Monsieur Louvoy committed this Campaign it was he that was the cause why the City of Amsterdam did not open its Gates to your Majesty For after you had put a Garrison into Vtrecht the Marquess of Rochefort was sent to Command there This General of a new impression was guilty of so great a fault in not seizing upon Mayden that your Majesty's goodness is to be admir'd you did not punish him with the loss of his Head You know the reasons why Monsieur Louvoy protected this General they were the same with those that made him so bold as to desire your Majesty to make Madam Fresnoy a Lady of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen She was Wife to one of the Marquess's Deputies and he the Son of an Apothecary by the Daughter of a little Deputy in the Post-Office When all the World knows that Persons of the greatest Quality even Dutchesses would have thought it a great Honour to have had the place I wonder he was not asham'd to recommend a Woman of no better Reputation to a place so near a Wise and Virtuous Princess such things are never to be pardon'd but give me an occasion to admire your Majesty's goodness Your Majesty's refusing by Monsieur Louvoy's perswasion to accept of a Peace put all Europe into Combustion The Spaniards who were more concerned than the Emperour or the Electour of Brandenbourgh to keep you from Conquering Holland took the Field to favour the Prince of Orange's Designs They joyn'd with him and had you not been so cautious as to gain Count Marsin who Commanded the Spaniards they had defeated the Duke of Duras who Commanded your Flying Camp after Monsieur Chamilli's Death But Marsin purposely kept the Spaniards so long from passing the River Roer that he gave the Duke time enough to save himself A Naval Combat accompanied these great Events to your Majesty's Glory for your Ships which joyn'd the English Fleet came so seasonably in to their Assistance that otherwise the English had been beaten The Dutch who did
run a great Risque in endeavouring to force them but considering it would be an affront to him to come so far and then retreat and also if he staid longer the Enemy would be stronger than he by the Duke of Bournonvill's coming up to them Considering I say what Resolution soever he took he had a great many Difficulties to grapple with he resolv'd to do that wherein there was most Honour which was to fight However it must be confest we have a great deal of reason to say that in Battels God only is the Giver of Victory seeing without him it was impossible in this Action for your General to have come off with Honour He was in the first place oblig'd to force the little Village of St. Seim into which the Enemy had put their Infantry There was no coming to it but through Defiles guarded by their Dragoons but he overcame all those Difficulties with so much ease that had his Troops been the best that ever were in Europe yet they could never have done what they did unless God had fought for him They routed the Dragoons and took the Village they afterward advanc'd against the Horse thro' narrow Lanes beat 'em and put 'em into so great a Fright that they never thought themselves safe till they had past the Necker This Victory cost your Majesty dear for you lost in the Fight a great many good Officers that might have done you great Service You had so much to do and in so many Places at once that to direct and order what was fit to be done required such a Head as yours Count Souches who commanded the greatest part of the Imperial Forces enter'd into Flanders and joyn'd with the Prince of Orange whose Army consisted of Threescore Thousand Men and that part which remain'd in Germany grew strong in a little time by the Forces which came to it from all sides so that they were scarce sensible of their late loss Your Majesty was oblig'd to provide for the Safety of Rousillon where the Spaniards made a shew of undertaking somewhat But that which most troubled you was that the Hollanders who being now Masters at Sea by the King of England's deserting you threaten'd the Coasts of Normandy and Britany where the Alarm was so great that one would have thought all had been lost But after roaming to and fro they attempted to surprize Belle Isle where they receiv'd a Repulse which oblig'd them to retire and then landing upon the Island of Noirmoustier they pillag'd it and exacted a Summ of Money from some of the best Houses which they threatn'd to burn if it were not pay'd them This Invasion which look'd as if it would have swallow'd up your whole Kingdom ending thus in doing so little they went to seek for better Fortune in America imagining that when you had so much to do at home you could take care of nothing there But they having besieg'd St. Thomas met with so great resistance that it holding out till the Season was too far spent to keep the Sea they were forc'd to raise the Siege In the mean time Viscount Turenne after the Battel of St. Seim came back on this side of the Rhine to joyn a part of his Army he had left there to make the more haste but understanding the Enemy was to be re-inforc'd he re-pass'd the River to fight them a Second time before they should grow too strong for him But they retreated over the Mein under the Canon of Francfort the General following them so close that he charged their Rear in passing the River and cut off near Eight Hundred of their Men But not being able to force them out of that Place he return'd back to destroy the Elector Palatin's Country which very much provok'd the Elector especially the burning some Villages tho' without the General 's Order it being in truth done by the Souldiers that resolv'd to be reveng'd upon the Country for barbarously murdering some of their Comrades The Elector in his Passion sent by a Trumpet a formal Challenge to Viscount Turenne but he was too prudent a Man to accept it but made him this answer That having the Honour to command your Majesty's Army he could do nothing without your Orders as to the Elector's complaints against him they were without ground for had the Elector's Subjects not dealt so cruelly with your Majesty's Souldiers they had never thought of burning their Houses That he did not refuse the Honour the Elector did him in offering to sight with him provided each of them were at the Head of an Army and then he hop'd he might do your Majesty some Service The Imperialists having staid long enough under the Canon of Francfort to reinforce themselves with the Recruits which were sent them from several Princes of the Empire Viscount Turenne found their Army stronger than his own so that he entrench'd himself between Landau and Weissemberg When the Imperialists saw him retreat they took their turn to follow him and came to Mentz where they pretended to pass the Rhine but the Elestor of that Name with whom your Majesty had taken measures would not do as the Bishop of Wirtsburg did but pray'd 'em to seek a Passage somewhere else The Prince of Orange's Army remain'd all this while encamp'd and your Majesty wonder'd at it not being able to guess why he attempted nothing with so considerable a Force The Prince of Condé observ'd him but being much the weaker he thought fit to entrench himself and not to fight but when he saw an opportunity The Prince of Orange seeing all your Troops imploy'd either to make Head against him or to observe the Imperialists whose Army would in a little time be Sixty Thousand Men by the joyning of Marquess Brandenburg who was already on his March gave Order for the besieging of Graves by Rabenhaut an Officer who had gotten some Reputation against the Bishop of Munster when that Prelate was of your Party Count Chamilli younger Brother to him of whom I have made mention commanded in the place and defended it so well that Rabenhaut had time enough to catch cold before it The Garrison made frequent Sallies so that at three Months end he was not much farther advanc'd than he was the first Day tho' he had promis'd to give a good account of the Town in three Weeks In the mean time the Prince of Orange seem'd to design entring into France which he thought easier to do than to begin a Siege in sight of your Army which would not have suffer'd it without coming to Blows The Prince of Orange in order to his Design began to march and the Prince of Condé follow'd him and fell on his Rear so rudely that he kill'd above Three Thousand Men made as many Prisoners and took his Baggage and some of his Canon before he could recover himself or well know what was to be done The Country which was full of Hedges and broken Ground made by Torrents of
totally defeated that they have never since been able to recover their loss But without robbing that Prince of any part of his Glory we may say That this success was owing to none but God for had he not taken your Majesty into his Protection the Enemy might have advanced to the head of a narrow Way through which the General must have past in their presence They might also have fallen upon him when by the inconvenience of the Ways he was oblig'd to divide his Army But beside all these Difficulties there was an apparent danger in giving Battel for had it been lost the Enemy might have march'd to the very Gates of Paris But 't is sometimes God's Will that neither Party shall think of doing that which they should do and then he leads those step by step whom he hath resolv'd to protect The happy success of this Battel of Rocroy was follow'd with a Joy that was the more sincere because your Subjects had a tender Love for your Majesty and the Queen your Mother The Persecution she had suffer'd as well as Mary de Medicis during Cardinal Richelieu's Ministry procur'd your Mother a great deal of pity and as Pity is usually accompany'd with Esteem the more unhappy she had been the more People resolv'd to follow her Fortune However it ought to be observ'd it was otherwise with Mary de Medicis for all People saw her departure out of the Kingdom with dry eyes no body was concern'd but her own particular Servants and Domesticks Upon which may be made this very good Reflection That Princes soon lose the Love of their best Subjects by their ill Government She had shewn too much Favour to Mareschal d'Ancre and his Wife both of her own Country to be pity'd by the People And as in France as well as in other Places they do not love to obey Strangers the Grandees murmur'd at it and left the Court because the Queen little regarged their Complaints The King your Father also grew jealous of their Power which caus'd the Assassination of the Mareschal and the tragical end of his Wife However it was very ill digested and God be thanked we have not seen your Majesty's Reign stain'd with any thing like it A King never doth well to dip his Hands in the Blood of his Subjects When they deserve Punishment they ought to be legally prosecuted in a Court of Justice which perhaps sometimes cannot be safely done when a Subject becomes so great that his Master hath just cause to be afraid of him Wallestein was such a one and therefore the Emperour Ferdinand III. was excusable for commanding he should be kill'd Henry III. had the same reason to rid himself of the Duke of Guise when he was upon the point of usurping his Kingdom and shutting him up in a Monastery But except in such cases a Criminal is to be put into the hands of Justice not only for the Prince's own sake but because it is necessary the People should know that the Person is guilty Henry IV. took this course with Mareschal Biron for tho' he fear'd that if Biron perceiv'd his Designs were discover'd he might raise Troubles in the Kingdom yet that did not hinder the King from having a greater regard to what he ought to do for his own sake than for what might thappen The Queen your Mother SIR had done well had she taken example by that which befel Mary de Medicis she had not then brought the State as she did within so near being lost by the choice she made of Cardinal Mazarin to succeed Cardinal Richelieu His being a Stranger made all your Subjects forget the Obedience that was due to their Soveraign It was to no purpose to tell them He had already done great Services to the Crown and was still able to do greater because he understood foreign Affairs better than any other Person which indeed is absolutely necessary for a Publick Minister But they fancy'd these Reasons not so good as their own nor could they be beaten out of their Opinion That he being born a Subject of the King of Spain was never to be trusted And accusing the Queen-Mother of being more a Spaniard than a French-Woman they seem'd to repent the Pity they had had for her which appear'd in their confessing Cardinal Richelieu had reason to persecute her tho' all the Sufferings she had endur'd had no other foundation than a pretended private Intelligence she kept with the King of Spain her Brother But so People might satisfie their Passion they car'd not at what Price they did it I have reason to call all that Passion which was done a little after the Death of the King your Father since it is certain that your Subjects do not alway call Reason to their Aid If they had they would have seen that the Queen your Mother was not so much to be blam'd as they thought seeing she had preferr'd before others a Man that was able to keep up the Reputation the Crown had gotten in foreign Countries and knew what course was to be taken to meet there with success 'T is that which all the World doth not know tho' it be a thing of very great Consequence My Brother whom your Majesty Honour'd with making him Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs took the liberty many times to represent it to your Majesty but the Marquess Louvoy who hath Maxims very contrary to those Great Men's who have preceeded him in the Administration of the Kingdom destroy'd in a moment all that he strove to do But I know not whether the Marquess will always have Reason on his side because he makes use of the Strength only of your own Subjects which Cardinal Richelieu who knows as much as he did not do when he carried the War into Germany made Catalonia and Portugal revolt and led the way to the low'ring of the House of Austria Indeed tho' your Kingdom be very powerful and your Majesty hath a third part at least increas'd its Strength by your Conquests yet 't is contrary to good Sense to exhaust all its Forces Your Majesty will be better able to maintain the War by arming other Princes in your Favour But to do that you must treat them like Soveraigns as they are and not pretend as Monsieur Louvoy doth because they are your Majesty's Inferiours they ought to look upon themselves as Slaves Your Majesty perhaps knows not what Answer he made to the Elector Palatine's Envoy who complaining at the beginning of the Holland War That his Master was no better treated than those who were actually in Arms against you the Marquess told him That it did not become such a petty Prince as his Master to make so great a Noise about so small a Matter That your Majesty was not bound to give an account to any Man of your Actions And That the Elector's standing so much on his Points was the way to lose the Honour of your Friendship Such great Words SIR may
for his great Fidelity to your Majesty because he was almost the only Man among those who were Governours of Places who refus'd the Prince of Condé's Offers who did all he cou'd to debauch him out of your Service But he resolv'd not to follow the Example of others and kept Sedan which your Majesty put into his Hands The Prince to whom Stenay belong'd desir'd Forces from the Arch-Duke to relieve it The Arch-Duke promis'd him and indeed did all he cou'd to oblige Prince Francis to lend him his Troops But because this Place had been dismembred from Lorrain he would not but upon Condition it should be re-united to which the Prince would not yield and this Business having encreas'd the mis-understanding that was between 'em the Arch-Duke had much ado to keep 'em from coming to down right Blows Your Majesty came in Person to the Siege after you had been at Reins where the Ceremonies of your Consecration had been perform'd Your Majesty was very liberal to your Souldiers who all admir'd the Inclination they saw you had to War While your Forces were before Stenay the Prince of Condé prevail'd with the Spaniards to besiege Arras supposing that because this Place was of much greater consequence to you than the other you wou'd raise the Siege of Stenay to relieve it But they were deceiv'd in their expectation it only made your Majesty the more diligent to take it and you were no sooner possest of it but you made hast to relieve Arras The taking of Arras was of such importance to the Spaniards that they neglected nothing to make themselves sure of it Their Lines were the best that ever was seen and at equal distances they had rais'd Redoubts by which they were the more secur'd and not content with all this Precaution they had made Holes in the Ground within to stop the Cavalry But the Siege began with an ill Omen for the Chevalier Crequi who had not yet any great Reputation for a Souldier but hath since so well behav'd himself that your Majesty after making him a Mareschal of France hath given him the Command of your best Armies threw himself into the Place at the Head of Five Hundred Horse This Relief did Montjeu great Service who commanded within and who to spare his Purse had but an indifferent Garrison for in those Days your Majesty not being able your self to order your own Affairs the Governors of Places appropriated to themselves the Contributions without rendring any Accompt to your Majesty with which they undertook to defend the Place wherein they commanded which was very inconvenient for instead of maintaining a good Garrison they thought of nothing but heaping up Treasure this your Majesty cou'd not remedy but by changing this Custom and putting things into the State they are at present And indeed as now your Safety is greater than it was before so you have taken away a Company of petty Tyrants who as soon as they were put into the command of any place thought themselves as great as your Majesty Montjeu who was a brave Man held out near two Months without letting the Enemy get much Ground upon him in the mean time your Army under the Command of Vicount Turenne appear'd in view of their Lines and begun to intrench because he fear'd they would come out and fight him and that they being stronger than he he might receive some Affront It was the Prince of Condé's Advice that they should go out of their Lines and fight Turenne because said he they expect the coming of Mareschal Hoquincourt with the Troops he commands and then they will know how to talk with us But the Arch-Duke maintain'd that they cou'd not go out of their Lines without quitting some Out-works which they had taken and if they did not quit 'em the Garrison would again beat them out of 'em which was still the same thing and therefore they were better continue their Attaques and endeauour to take the Town before Hoquincourt should arrive The Arch-Duke's opinion was follow'd because amongst the Officers that were in a Council of War there was none but the Prince of Condé who durst contradict him This gave Vicount Turenne time to put his Army into a condition not to be insulted and to expect the coming of Mareschal Hoquincourt who as soon as he came attack'd the Abby of St. Eloi and carried it He lodged there with his Army round about him and acting in concert with Vicount Turenne who was on the other side of the Lines they cut off the Enemies Provisions and hinder'd all Convoys from coming into their Camp Montjeu seeing himself so near being reliev'd felt his courage encrease and having repuls'd the Besiegers in two Assaults they made upon one of his Outworks they were in such consternation that Viscount Turenne thought it a fit time to set upon them in that disorder The Prince of Condé who foresaw they could make no resistance said to the Archduke That since he would not believe him at first he hoped he would now and seeing there was no more time to be lost the only way they were to take in their present condition was to raise the Siege and fall upon Hoquincourt to whom Turenne could give no assistance The Archduke seem'd well enough inclin'd to it and fell into particular discourse of their Retreat but having consulted Count Fuensaldagne who past for a great Souldier among his Country-men was by him wholly disswaded from it St. Louis's day being come which Viscount Turenne had chosen to make his Attack he gave the Signal agreed on with Mareschal Hoquincourt so that both having marched Viscount Turenne forced the Lines in that part which was guarded by Fernando Solis But Mareschal Hoquincourt miss'd his way which gave the Archduke time to think of Retreating but Viscount Turenne following his blow beat the Lorrainers in their Quarter which was next to Solis The Prince of Condé seeing the disorder advanced to a little Rivulet which separated his Quarter from the rest and there making head against Vicount Turenne and Mareschal Hoquincourt who had now joyn'd him he gave the Archduke and the Troops he had brought out of France time to retreat in good order his infantry never the less suffer'd very much in their Retreat with the Prince who was the last man and which he managed with so much prudence that the Spaniards admired him among whom he got very great credit for so brave an action The Enemy's Cannon and Baggage fell into Your Majesties hands You went to the Cathedral Church of the City and there gave God thanks for the Victory he had given you for you still attributed all things to him like a good Christian believing that your good conduct or the force of your Arms could do nothing without his aid The taking of Quesnoi was the fruit of this Victory and therewith ended this prosperous Campagne Your Conquests were likewise increased in Catalonia by the taking of Villafranca and Puicerda from
he let himself down by it and got away upon a Horse purposely brought thither Some thought his Design was to go to Paris there to foment new Disorders but his Horse falling on the Pavement of Nantes which is very bad he fled to Machcoul a Castle which belong'd to the Duke of Rets his Brother Mareschal Meilleray prepar'd to go thither and besiege it which made the Cardinal go thence to Bellisle The Mareschal would likewise have follow'd him if your Majesty would have given him leave but one Reason of State why you would not permit him was because you fear'd that the Mareschal who was very powerful in that Province would not keep it for you and that after your Endeavours to put things into good Order you your self might be the occasion of new Disorders But seeing it had been a kind of braving your Majesty to have stay'd in your Kingdom after he had been so unhappy to incur your Indignation he went into Spain and from thence to Rome from whence your Majesty would not suffer him to return till he had given you the Satisfaction you expected Indeed it concerns the Majesty of a great King not to suffer a Subject to beard him but to reduce him to his Duty otherwise it would be an Example to others of dangerous consequence Your Majesty knowing that the Spaniards had not well recover'd their Rout at Arras hasten'd to take the Field where after having taken Landrecis Condé and St. Guillain the Arch-Duke was so allarm'd that he thought every Moment you would attack him in Bruxells the fear of it made him employ ten thousand Peasants to make a kind of Fortification about it and 't is for your Majesty's Reputation Posterity should know it because it cannot but take notice that after the Arch-Duke had made you tremble in your Capital City of Paris you should do the like by him in so short a time and that you must be a great King to do such Miracles But what I can say is That you forget nothing which is for the publick good of your Kingdom and that then you knew as well how to Treat as to make War It plainly appear'd in the Treaty you made with Prince Francis whose Design you discover'd by his letting the Lord Inchequin who manag'd all his Affairs fall into your Hands at the Rout of Arras For instead of thinking he was taken Prisoner by chance you concluded it to be a premeditated Contrivance which made you stand so stiff upon the Propositions that Lord then made Who still pretended all that he said was from himself without having any Order from the Prince his Master But even from his Feign'd Story your Majesty rightly judg'd necessity oblig'd him to treat with you which shew'd you a prudent and well advis'd Prince seeing to conclude only from appearances is the way to be deceiv'd in all a Man doth It were to be wish'd your Majesty had been able to be present in all your Armies as well as in that of Flanders you then had seen with your own Eyes in what manner things went you might then have weigh'd all Enterprizes before you gave your consent to their being put in execution but seeing your knowledge of Places and your Enemies Forces were but imperfect you met with a check in Italy of which only Cardinal Mazarin's easiness can be accus'd He was so fast tyed to his own Country notwithstanding all the Wealth and Honours he had heap'd in France which ought to have made him forget it that he endeavour'd to get a Husband there for the Sister of the Princess of Conti and the Dutchess of Mercoeur but of all those that presented themselves he lik'd none so well as the Duke of Modena This Allyance the Cardinal represented so considerable to your Majesty as if he had no other end than drawing in this Prince to espouse your Interest so that he prevail'd with you to give the Duke the command of your Army in that Country jointly with Prince Thomas and these two Generals being joyn'd broke the Marquess of Caracene's Measures who design'd to surprize Regio which so rais'd their Courage that they thought themselves in a condition to besiege Pavie But they were forc'd to quit the Siege which had very much lessen'd your Majesty's Glory if that which happen'd elsewhere had not repair'd your Reputation for beside that which you did in Flanders your Army in Catalonia did not only preserve its Conquests but enlarg'd 'em For it seis'd upon Cap-daquiers and being enter'd into the Campourda put all under Contribution home to Gironne The Fault whereof your Minister was guilty in Italy was not the only one of which his Ministry may be accus'd he was very fond of a Maxime which no body but himself approv'd and which your Majesty suffer'd because you had so much confidence in him he employ'd in all your Affairs two Persons instead of one which was always the Ground of perpetual jealousie between 'em and which must necessarily produce very ill Effects For two Men with equal Power and Authority look upon one another as two Enemies tho' they seem not to do it and they will never let slip an Opportunity of doing one another an ill turn they are never better pleas'd than when one of them doth a Fault and they commonly suborn People to procure each other's Ruine To redress this is very difficult but 't is absolutely necessary for the good of your Kingdom Your Majesty is far from liking this Maxim you know that the most perfect Government is that which comes nearest to GOD's and therefore you give absolute Power to those that act under your Orders 'T is enough that they render you an Account of what they do but you do not put Persons in equal Ballance one with another if you did you should be sure to be but ill served for if they that have Commission to do a thing do it not with all the Authority of their Master they are always ill obey'd Beside if two Persons have Power to command the same thing one usually crosseth what the other undertakes their differing in Opinion produceth this Effect as well as the Jealousie which is between 'em so that we ought to conclude a State is ill govern'd where there are so many Masters We likewise see that Monarchical Government is counted the most perfect and that the best Policy'd Republicks are those where there is the least Confusion Whatever was the matter this Disorder reign'd in your Revenue and in your Armies you know that in Italy there were two Generals in Flanders likewise Cardinal Mazarin was pleas'd this Year to joyn two Men together whose Humours and Inclinations were quite contrary to one another's I mean Viscount Turenne and Mareschal de la Ferté who could never agree and who also had lately quarrel'd The Mareschal took out of the Viscounts Hands a Prisoner under pretence of exchanging him for one of his Men taken by the Enemy but in truth it
fear it for that of Germany pretends they are Feudataries of the Empire of which the Emperour holds the Reins and consequently ought to command them That of Spain hath upon 'em the right of Convenience which is as good a Title as any other so that to which side soever they turn they will find it much safer for 'em to maintain Friendship with your Majesty than to address elsewhere but then your Majesty ought to perform your Part because when People see themselves neglected their Resentment of it will not alway permit them to Reflect on what they should do and the Desire of being reveng'd is sometimes so deeply rooted in their Hearts that they will buy Vengeance at any Rate Amidst so many important Affairs which your Majesty had on all sides your Mind was never the less set upon all that might procure the ease and quiet of your Subjects there was not a Year pass'd wherein you did not publish some good Laws among which I cannot forget that excellent Edict which did forbid all Pages and Footmen to wear Swords You commanded that it should be so exactly observ'd that those Disorders which before daily happen'd begun to cease your People were also very much oblig'd to your Majesty for delivering them from the troublesom Importunitys of Beggars of whom Idleness for the most part made so great a Multitude who would rather beg than work that no body in any place could be quiet for 'em the Streets were full of 'em as well as the Churches where People could not say their Prayers without being every Moment interrupted by ' em You commanded that they should be shut up in the Hospital General your Edict concerning it made the Deaf to hear the Dumb to speak and the Lame to walk this Law wrought more Miracles than ever were seen done at one time under the Gospel it was an intolerable Abuse to see so many Idle People lying in all Passages upon Bundles of Straw with Limbs to appearance Distorted and out of Joynt to move Compassion yet when they were to be shut up were all Sound and Streight and could work as well as others The League which your Majesty made with the English procur'd you the Year following the Service of their Ships to besiege Dunkirk which you invested both by Sea and Land Don John of Austria and the Prince of Condé came to relieve it their Army had in it a new Rebell upon whom your Majesty had heap'd many Favours but he cover'd his Ingratitude and Breach of Faith with pretending he had cause to complain against your Minister it was Mareschal Hoquincourt he endeavour'd to make the Town of Peronne whereof he was Governour to declare for that Party into which he had thrown himself but the Fidelity of his Son and of the Inhabitants kept the Place for your Majesty The Importance of Dunkirk oblig'd the Eenmy to hazard all rather than suffer it to be lost so that being come to view the Lines Viscount Turenne went out and gave them Battel Your Troops answer'd the hope you had conceiv'd of their Courage and having beaten the Enemy's Army the Town Render'd it self to your General you came your self thither to put it into the Hands of the English who according to the Treaty made with them were to have it which you were necessitated to do to keep them from joyning with your Enemies but it was a vexation to you to see so fine and considerable a Town fall into any other Hands but your own You contented your self with requiring a Condition to be made good which was very advantageous to the Catholicks they being thereby allow'd to enjoy their Liberty of Conscience contrary to the practice of the English in their own Country but the necessity which oblig'd you to give them the Possession of the Town oblig'd them likewise to yield to so just a Demand The Defeat of the Enemy before Dunkirk open'd to you a Door to greater Conquests Gravelin Bergues Furnes Dixmude Menim Oudenard Ypres and some other Places fell under your Dominion for which Success your Peoples Joy had been much greater had it not been lessen'd by the fear of losing you for it was about this time you were so sick at Calais that it was believ'd you could not recover Great was the Grief of your Court and Army every one was in such a Consternation as cannot be exprest you only appear'd every Day the same endeavouring to Comfort the Queen your Mother and the Cardinal who stood despairing at your Bed's side You were at last given over by all your Physicians so that the last Remedy thought of was to give you a Vomit which tho not then in use was ordered by a Man expresly sent for from Abbeville upon the Reputation he had for having done many great Cures You were thought to be so near lost that there were two or three of your Courtiers who complemented Monsieur your Brother upon his being in so fair a way to succeed you Indeed the Curtains of your Bed were drawn and it was believ'd you were so near dead that your Almoners were ready to begin the De Profundis But at that very Instant you gave some Signs of Life so that People seeing they were mistaken they gave you the Vomit which you would not take till you had ask'd Cardinal Mazarin whether he thought it wou'd cure You. He told you he hop'd it might which so encourag'd you that you drank it all at a Draught and without making any Face You had that day a hopeful Crisis and People begun to perceive some Change which made the Man in whose Hands you were give you another Dose which perfected the Cure Your Majesty's Youth contributed very much to it as it doth in all kinds of Diseases you so perfectly recover'd your Health that a Month after it could not be perceiv'd that you had been Sick The Loss which your People fear'd of your Majesty's sacred Person made the Queen your Mother Earnestly desire to Marry you The Queen's Inclination as well as your own was to the Infanta of Spain which Allyance had produc'd a general Peace and also given your Majesty a Princess of exemplary Vertue whose Beauty was not to be despis'd But the Spaniards who fear'd this Match might one day bring them under your Dominion because she was the presumptive Heir of their Kingdom shew'd shuch an horrible Aversion to it that you were oblig'd to cast your Eyes on the Princess of Savoy Your Majesty went to Lions to see her and conclude the Business The Dutchess of Savoy came with her Daughter to meet you and you were so well pleas'd with the young Princess that the Dutchess her Mother was over-joy'd thinking she could never expect a greater Happiness All your Courtiers likewise believing it was a done business begun to look on the Princess as she that was to be their Queen But the Spaniards foreseeing that if this happen'd all Flanders would fall under your Majesty's Power
Rain offer'd the Prince of Orange an advantage which he could not have met with in an open Plain He threw his Infantry into these Posts which hindred your Majesty from advancing But the Prince of Condé was so eager in pressing still forward that he did things which another would have thought impossible He had a great many Men kill'd and had himself Three Horses shot under him so much did he hazard his Person by his Example to give warmth to the Action But by the great resistance made by the Enemy he was still repuls'd till night came on and parted the Combatants both attributing to themselves the Victory But there was no colour for the Enemy to pretend to it because that which makes a Victory is to remain Master of the Field to have the pillaging of the Enemy taking Prisoners and several other things not necessary to be specified All this fell out on your Majesty's side but nothing of it on theirs unless perhaps the Enemy might boast that the Prince of Condé lost as many Men as they and it may be a greater number of Officers But it must be confest that the end of this Battel did not answer the beginning which could not be more to any General 's Glory But the desire he had to get all made him lose more than he imagin'd and till that very Day it could not be decided which of the Two the Prince of Condé or Viscount Turenne knew most in the Trade of War Many were prepossest in the Prince's Favour and thought the Prize due to him but others now began to be of another Mind and gave it to his Rival This Battel however spoiled the Prince of Orange's Design who now thought no more of entring into France Monsieur Louvoy who did not love the Prince of Condé was very much pleas'd with what had happen'd because it gave him an Opportunity of doing the Prince ill offices to your Majesty So that since this Campaign he hath not been any more imploy'd and I believe never would have been again at the Head of an Army if Viscount Turenne had not been kill'd the following Campaign there being then a kind of necessity that a General of Reputation should succeed in his Place As Monsieur Louvoy knew how to do a great deal of Mischief to his Enemies so he was able to deliver his Friends out of Danger and those that were so happy to have his Protection as appears by what he did for Monsieur Bret Lieunant General of your Army in Catalonia where his Vanity and Imprudence made him commit a Fault which deserv'd exemplary Punishment Your Majesty some time ago sent him into that Country and left him there some preceding Years with the chief command of your Army because then there appear'd no considerable Enemy But the Spaniards having sent thither the Duke of St. Germain a General of Reputation with a part of their old Troops your Majesty thought fit to send against him Count Schomberg not inferior to him and who had often engag'd him when they were both in Portugal This was some mortification to a Man so Vain as Monsieur Bret who was now but a Lieutenant General which not being able to bear he did so rash a thing of his own Head that none but Marquess Louvoy could have sav'd him The Enemy after having taken Bellegard which gave them entrance into Rousillon came and encamp'd within Canon shot of your Army which so displeas'd Monsieur Bret that he gave them Battel while his General was yet in Bed and without expecting any Orders from him But he was beaten to the purpose and if Count Schomberg who wonder'd at his Boldness had not by his good Conduct repair'd his Fault your Majesty's Army had been totally defeated Your Cavalry which without viewing the Ground he had engaged among Pits and Places broken with currents of Water were many of them cut off and Rabliere who commanded them was taken Prisoner with other Officers of note Those that came off were in no condition to have made any considerable resistance all that Campaign if that which happen'd elsewhere had not oblig'd the Enemy to return again into Catalonia Messina the Capital City of the Kingdom of Sicily having a long time complain'd of the Extortion and Tyranny of their Viceroys and having often inform'd the Council of Spain thereof without receiving any redress they resolv'd one day to try whether they could shake of their Yoke and after having made themselves Masters of the Haven and one of the principal Forts of the Town they all cryed Liberty That Word tickl'd the Ears of the Multitude who against reason often think they shall better their Condition by changing their Master and made above Sixty thousand Men take Arms. The better sort of Citizens considering it was impossible to resist their Soveraign any long time unless they were supported by a Power able to assist them consulted what was best for them to do whether to address themselves to your Majesty or to have recourse to the Turk They were not long deliberating on the choice they were to make those that had a little care of their Religion declar'd that in all respects their best and most justifiable way would be to implore your Majesty's help and send Deputies to request your Protection The Offers their Deputies made you were that they would deliver themselves up to your Majesty upon Condition you would treat them better than the Spaniards had done Whereupon you assembled your Council who finding it would be of great advantage to you to lay hold of this opportunity to cut out work for the Spaniards on that side the Deputies had assurance given them that your Majesty would assist them with all your Forces But it was not thought fit you should accept of the Soveraignty which they offer'd you but that it would be better to endeavour to turn their Government into a Common-Wealth You sent back the Deputies with fair promises which at the same time you effectually perform'd by giving order to the Marquess Valavoir to take some of your Men of War and Convoy to Messina some Vessels loaden with Provisions of which they had great need and which came very seasonably to them for they began to be in extream want The rebelling of Subjects against their Soveraign is a business which should be well considered before it be attempted 't is always attended with such ill consequences that were they not bound by their birth and allegiance to be faithful to him yet their own interest should oblige them to it But as Subjects owe their Soveraign perfect obedience so the Soveraign on his part ought not to use his Subjects like Slaves nor lay heavier burdens on them than necessity of State requires Otherwise they will quite sink under their load or else like a resty Horse will kick against the Spur as it happens when we endeavour to break and tame a young Horse all at once without using him by
had been inevitable if these two Great Men had resolved it For it was an easie thing to have demonstrated to your Majesty that many things wherein Monsieur Louvoy made you believe he had done you great Service would upon Examination have appear'd to deserve quite another Name As for Example I may put into that number the change Monsieur Louvoy perswaded your Majesty to make in the Hospitals which were Erected for such as had the Leprosie and to convert the Revenue which belonged to those Houses into Rewards for such as Served you in your Wars I presume to tell your Majesty when you have seriously consider'd it you must be convinced your Power doth not extend so far in things of this Nature These Foundations are Works of Piety which you are oblig'd to maintain I know very well it hath been pretended these Hospitals are of no use because 't is now said the Leprosie for which these Houses were intended is the effect of meer Debauchery and not an incurable Disease as People heretofore believed But be it or be it not so yet your Majesty is not Authorized to seize the Revenue and give it to whom you please If you can dispose of it the most you can do is to Assign it to some other Hospitals or so to convert it that it may answer the Founder's Intention for to give it to People who make use of it to gratifie their Passions is what Casuists do not allow I doubt whether you can legally unite it to the Hotel Royal des Invalides which you have caused to be built so Magnificently and have laid out so much Cost and Charge upon it that it seems to be intended rather for a Palace than an Hospital for Maimed Souldiers Your Majesty is oblig'd to provide Maintenance for them out of your own Revenue and not out of what properly belongs to others it would be in some sort a shame to do it seeing you would lose the Glory of such a Noble Establishment could it be said you had built it at another's Cost and not at your own The Year 1675 was no sooner begun but your Majesty thought of securing a Communication with Maestricht which the Enemy had cut off towards the end of the last Campaign by taking Huy and Dinant Which was done by the Imperialists when they separated from the Prince of Orange's Army and which made him desire to re-take Maestricht To this end he prevail'd with the Emperour to send Cardinal Baden to Leige a Canon of that Church who under pretence of Residence endeavour'd to make the Town declare for the Emperour which would have very much favour'd the intended Siege of Maestricht His Eminence found the Town very well disposed to do what he desired and I must tell your Majesty that Marquess Louvoy was the cause of it He had upon several occasions discontented the Citizens of Leige who were formerly well enough affected to him he had often caused the Houses which they had out of the Town to be pillag'd which was done in spite because one day passing by the Town one of the Canons railed at him and spoke so loud that Mounsieur Louvoy heard him But the Count d'Estrades who took care of your Majesty's Affairs prevented the Cardinal of Baden by Treating with the Governor of the Citadel who deliver'd it up into his Hands The good Success of this Negotiation having put it out of the Leigeois Power to do the Mischief they intended Cardinal Raden who had nothing more to do in the Town desired a Passport from the Count d'Estrades for his safe return into Germany but making use of it to carry away Arms with him the Governour made that a pretence to stop the Cardinal and his Train All Europe accus'd your Majesty of breach of Faith in making your self Master in this manner of the Citadel of Leige but how easily can you clear your self and shew what reason you had to do it For his Eminence had done the same thing if you had not prevented him as appear'd by his Papers that were seiz'd of which some were kept that made mention of all the Cardinal had been brewing This so silenc'd all those that endeavour'd to blast your Majesty's Reputation that there was not a word more said of the matter This great Affair being ended in the manner I have mention'd Your Majesty besieged Dinant when you had taken it you cleared all the Meuse from that Town to Maestricht by taking the Town and Castle of Huy From thence you went and besieged Limbourg the Prince of Orange made a shew as if he would Relieve it but not doing it you became Master of it and Viscount Turenne return'd again into Germany to make Head against Montecuculi who the Emperour had sent into that Country Viscount Turenne had not now so great Forces to deal with as he had the Year before for you had contrived a diversion in the North by the King of Sweden's declaring War against the Marquess of Brandenbourg The Duke of Hanover was to second the Swede with an Army of Fifteen Thousand Men to keep those in awe who had a mind to assist the Elector But Constable Wrangell who Commanded the Swedish Army being gain'd by his Master's Enemies did not Execute the Orders which were given him so that the Duke of Hanover durst not declare himself Nevertheless this made the Elector of Brandenbourg recal his Troops from the Imperial Army whereupon the Marquess de Vaubrun one of your Lieutenant Generals took Dachsteim in the absence of Viscount Turenne Monsieur Louvoy believing that by the King of Sweden's declaring War he had made amends for the Fault he committed in disswading your Majesty from making a Peace so much to your Advantage thought of nothing but continuing the War now kindled in so many different places The Messineses being in very great distress and beginning to cry Miserere you sent Vallavoir with a second Convoy of Corn which he had the good luck to conduct safely to 'em tho' the Spanyards way-laid him in his passage with Forces much superiour to his I know not what made your Majesty change your Modest Resolution concerning the Messineses You accepted the Soveraignty which at first you refus'd and sent thither in the Quality of your Vice-roy the Duke de Vivonne General of your Gallies Brother to Madam Montespan Who because he was her Brother Monsieur Louvoy prevail'd to have him preferr'd to that Command tho' there were many other Competitors much sitter for it He was indeed very successful at his first coming to Messina for he enter'd the Haven in spite of the Spanyards and took from them a Vessel of fifty Guns He reduced some Forts which the Spanyards still kept and taking the Field he drove 'em out of all the Posts they had within four Leagues round the Town That done he went abroad again made a Descent upon Calabria and brought thence a considerable Booty But when there was most need
of his doing somewhat to the purpose he slept upon his good Fortune which occasion'd many Plots and Conspiracies against him however 't was his good Luck to be deliver'd from 'em all Viscount Turenne being come to his Army found it in a very good Condition by what Marquess Vaubrun had done for since the taking of Dachsteim they had plenty of all Provisions and being eager to Signalize themselves he pass'd the Rhine and offer'd Montecueuli Battel which he refused He could not force him to fight because he was so Advantageously Posted but having tryed all ways he at last reduced him to so great a scarcity of Victuals and Forage that Montecuculi must have certainly been forced to decamp first and then Turenne would have fall'n upon him but advancing to the top of a Hill to take a view of the Imperial Army he was unfortunately kill'd with a Canon Bullet This sad Accident chang'd all things in an instant so true it is that an Army without a General is like a Body without a Soul Montecuculi who was making the best of his way when he knew in what a Consternation your Forces were by the Death of Monsieur Turenne returns again to charge ' em The Lieutenant Generals who Commanded thought of nothing but repassing the Rhine While they were consulting what course to take a Souldier said a very pleasant thing General Turenne crys the Fellow aloud us'd to Ride upon a Pied Horse take the Bridle and but lay it on his neck he will know better than our Commanders where we should go But Count de Lorge conducted the Army safe over the Rhine after having given the Enemy Battel who thought to have made a much better hand of it The Merit of this great Man made your Majesty very sensible of his loss which will every day appear greater by the want you will find of him But it was otherwise with Mounsieur Louvoy who when all France mourn'd for his Death he and his rejoyc'd I certainly know what I tell your Majesty is true and if he could have hinder'd his being so Honourably Buried he would have done it His Funeral Pomp was very great and I know no body but your Minister that spoke against it The Memory of those Great Things he had done is so deeply Ingraved in the Hearts of your Subjects that it is hard to say whether he was most Esteem'd or Beloved He did not only deserve to be commended for those his Military Accomplishments which are the Glory of a Hero but for all other Moral and Christian Vertues so rarely to be found in one Person The Duke of Lorrain was upon the Moselle with his own Troops and those of Lunenbourg Munster and some of the other Confederates and having heard of this Accident laid Siege to Treves where Vignori an old Souldier Commanded Of whose Experience the Prince of Condé under whom he had Served all his Life assured your Majesty He was not at all discourag'd at the Siege knowing Mareschal Crequi was marching to his Relief but while he was giving Orders on Horseback his Horse frighted with a clap of Thunder threw him headlong from a Bastion of which he dyed in a few days This fatal Accident made the Mareschal hasten his March fearing that Vignori's Death might so dishearten his Souldiers as to deliver up the Town But the Duke of Lorrain sav'd Monsieur Crequi the labour of advancing further and met him at Consarbrik where the Sarre and Moselle join The Duke past the River where the Mareschal if he pleas'd might have taken the advantage of charging part of his Army before the rest could have got over But neglecting it I know not for what Reason nor perhaps he himself he was so soundly beaten that all his Troops ran some one way and some another and he narrowly escaping with four more got into Treves where in perfect despair he resolv'd to bury himself in defence of the Place tho' it was of no great importance Indeed the resistance he made was so much greater than the Enemy expected that they offer'd him very good Terms but resolving not so much as to talk of yielding a Captain of Foot called Boisjourdan told the Garrison they had nothing to do with the Mareschal's desperation that tho' he had a mind to perish yet they were not bound to follow his Example Some were of his Opinion and told the Mareschal the Place was not in a Condition to hold out any longer but his Passion not permitting them to say any more Boisjourdan Treated with the Enemy and let 'em into the Town Mareschal Crequi saved himself in the Church where he resolved with some Officers who did not approve of what Boisjourdan had done to stand it out but seeing the Enemy preparing to force 'em they told the Mareschal your Majesty and all France would blame his desperate Resolution and at last perswaded him to yield at discretion Your Majesty in truth was not pleas'd with what he had done and would have been less satisfy'd if his desperation had carry'd him further But knowing what was done by Boisjourdan was an ill Example not to be endur'd you caused him to be seized and he and some of his Companions were Condemn'd by a Council of War to be Beheaded The Sentence was Executed at Metz in the presence of the Garrison No body pitying him because no Souldier can be a Man of Honour who is guilty of Disobedience Your Majesty after these ill Successes had reason to fear the Enemy would enter into France but your Prudence prevented it by raising a Jealousie between the Princes of the House of Brunswick and the Duke of Lorrain the Princes maugre all the Duke could say resolv'd to return to their Country 'T is the Fate of Confederates never to agree what one will the other will not and it would be a Miracle to see them hold together while they have different Interests which is the Reason their Designs so seldom prosper After the Death of Monsieur Turenne your Majesty fearing the Enemy would prevail in Alsatia you sent thither the Duke de Duras whom three days after his Uncle's Death you had made a Mareschal of France You conferr'd the same Honour on some other Officers and Monsieur Louvoy so far prevail'd with you as to let Marquess Rochefort be one of that number tho' he had done nothing more than he had before to deserve it The others were the Count d' Estrades the Duke of Navailles whom you had recalled from his Banishment Count de Schomberg the Duke de Vivonne the Duke de la Feuillade and the Duke of Luxembourg But because the Duke de Duras had not so much Experience as his Uncle you gave the Command to the Prince of Condé whose Reputation only was of great advantage to your Majesty in the present conjuncture The Enemy having past the Rhine at the Bridge of Strasbourg the second time this Town had falsify'd their Promise to you believed they should
presently take Hagenau but the Prince of Condé having oblig'd them to raise the Siege they attacqued Saverne which they thought to carry with more ease But their Success there was the same they had at Hagenau so that this Campaign which at first threatned your Majesty with a turn of Fortune ended so little to your disadvantage that your Majesty had no cause to fear on that side The Sweeds came not off so well They were at last advanc'd into the Elector of Brandenbourg's Country where they took some Posts of no great consequence but they went on so slowly that they seem'd to act in concert with the Elector he taking as little care to oppose them But the Elector knowing that the King of Sweden being press'd by your Majesty would at last act more vigorously against him made haste out of Holland where he then was to defend his own Country and had the good Fortune as soon as he arriv'd to rout the Swedes at a Pass called Felbeling They lost there the greatest part of their Cannon and Baggage a blow they could not recover during that Campaigne The King of Denmark who with the Princes of the Family of Brunswick took part with the Elector had now an opportunity to do his own business They all at one time fell upon the Swede in the Dutchy of Bremen in the Isle of Rugen and some other of his Frontiers And finding little resistance any where the King of Denmark besieged and took Wismar a considerable Port upon the Baltick Sea Your Majesty having now more Reason than ever to be sensible of the ill Service Monsieur Louvoy had done you in perswading you not to make Peace accepted of the King of England's Mediation which he offer'd to all the Princes engaged in the War in order to make an end of it They all consented as you did and sent their Plenepotentiaries to Nimeghen where yours arriv'd first The Spanyard till now appear'd most averse to the Peace but the Business of Messina had brought down his Pride and he fear'd that you would become Master of the whole Kingdom of Sicily as you already were of the Capital City and of Augusta where the Duke of Vivonne had plac'd a Garrison This last Town was not considerable for its strength but being a Retreat for your Shipping was of great advantage to your Majesty The Dutch on the other side were grown weary of the War which was a very great Charge to 'em by the Subsidies they had paid to those Princes who came to their assistance Beside they began to think they were not so much concern'd in the War your Majesty having quitted their Country and there was now no more to be consider'd but the Interests of the Emperour with those of the Princes of the Empire But those being so different promoted the Peace since it is certain they had less reason to distrust your Majesty than their own Party For as the Emperour's Power which he insensibly increas'd gave great cause of Jealousie to all the Princes so the Emperour on his part could not be well pleas'd to see them maintain a good Correspondence one with another and often confer together concerning their Interests without calling him to their Councils Things being in this condition at the beginning of the Year 1676 Monsieur Louvoy who had still a Spleen against me about the business of the Routes endeavour'd to be even with me in an Affair relating to the Finances wherein he suspected I had been tampering But I made it appear to your Majesty as clear as the day that I was no way concern'd in it and that if any thing had been done which could not be justified Damarets my Nephew was to be called to an Account for it who had had the ordering of the whole business I told your Majesty at the same time I would not be answerable for him knowing him to be a dangerous Person where there was any thing to be got I never trusted him he was so Covetous yet I was one of the first he endeavour'd to deceive Your Majesty was much more kind to him than he deserved you gave him a Hundred Thousand Crowns in the first business he undertook for you but there are some People so insatiable that should your Majesty give 'em half your Kingdom they would not be contented However you were so gracious to him as to pass all by for my sake which is not the only thing for which I am indebted to your Majesty Tho' I can say without boasting I never had recourse to your Favour to be pardon'd for defrauding or robbing your Majesty I have always endeavour'd to walk uprightly and I desie any Person to accuse me of the contrary The Heir of one Named Friois by Nation a Swiss who had got a very considerable Estate in your Kingdom could testifie what I say were he call'd to it Friois dyed very Old and was never Married The Person of whom I speak as Heir to him claimed what he left but was oppos'd by one that Farmed your Majesty's Demesnes who pretended a Title to it in your Majesty's Right because Friois was a Bastard So that according to the Law of your Kingdom all he had got belong'd to him that had got the King's Title This Contest put them upon making Friends He pretended Heir to the Swisse thinking he could find no body that could do him more Service than my self offer'd me Two Hundred Thousand Francks if I would stand by him I told him no Sum were it never so great could tempt me to do any thing that was unjust so that seeing he could do nothing with me he address'd himself to some very near Monsieur Louvoy who for that Summ divided among 'em did his business Villacerf and Pouange had Twenty Thousand Crowns apiece Stouppa and a certain Man whose Name I have forgot had the rest The Farmer of your Majesty's Demesnes made his Complaint to me and pray'd me to inform your Majesty what wrong had been done him but I found your Majesty so prepossest that it was impossible for me to do any thing for him I know many other Cases wherein there hath been the like prevarication and your Majesty may be assur'd that during the War there hath been a base unworthy Trade of Selling vacant Places even so low as Ensigns This hath made one Alexander the Son of a pittiful Scrivener so Rich that he thinks himself a Companion for Persons of the best Quality 'T is by the like abuse Charpentier and Bynot his Brother-in-Law are become so wealthy tho' one but the Son of a little Townsman of Compeigne and the other the Son of a Sergeant of Tonnere Your Majesty may make bold with these Mens Purses when you have occasion for Mony and need not fear any body will find fault with it The one will throw up whole Companies he hath sold and the others will disgorge the Blood of entire Corporations wherewith they have fatted themselves
than at first for he was not only beaten but received a wound of which in ten days after he dyed at Syracuse After these two Victories your Majesty could desire nothing more to compleat your Glory and continue your Protection to the Messineses than to have had the like happy end of all your Enterprises in Germany But the Duke of Luxembourg met with so many difficulties there that having tryed a hundred ways in vain to relieve Phillipsbourg he quite abandon'd the design So that after a Siege of more than three Months the Prince of Lorrain who had never yet commanded in chief had the pleasure of reducing so strong a place But he was like to have met his Death in the midst of his Triumph for the Bridge by which he was to enter into the Town as he was passing over it fell under him Which Report says was contriv'd by some of the Greatest Persons in the Emperor's Court who seeing him in so much Favour had resolv'd to destroy him The Swedes continued the War but unfortunately lost Elsembourg Lanscron Christianstat and some other places And tho' they had an advantage over Major General Duncan and a Victory at Lunden yet were they never the better for it Fortune was constant to none but your Majesty The City of Valenciennes fell into your Hands the next Campaign tho' it was one of the strongest in all Flanders and defended by a good Garrison If you would have taken the advantage you might have put all to the Sword but your Clemency became an Advocate for those poor unhappy People and you freely gave 'em both their Lives and Goods when they did not expect to have saved either After this you attack'd Cambray and St. Omer at a time which oblig'd you to divide your Forces so that the Prince of Orange thought now or never was his time to do somewhat He advanc'd as far as Cassel where he was defeated by Monsieur your Brother After which Cambray and St. Omer did not long hold out your Majesty having done all this before the time other Generals use to take the Field your Reputation which was already very great throughout all Europe was now exalted to so high a degree of Glory that you were look'd upon as the greatest Man in the Universe The Prince of Lorrain whose great and generous Soul did rather emulate than envy your brave Exploits redoubled his Courage and came to your Frontiers at the Head of a gallant Army Having taken Mouzon a Place of no defence he sent a Detachment over the Meuse which put the Province of Champagne into a Fright but did them no great harm For this Detachment durst not go far from their Army nor their Army follow the Detachment Mareschal Crequi being advanc'd in order to observe ' em But 't is not so easy a thing to enter into an Enemy's Country for a General must consider whether he can go out again when he pleases especially when he hath no Places near to retreat to nor Neighbours from whom he can expect any assistance However the Prince of Lorrain did not despair of entring again into his own Country to which he now pretended a greater right than before by the Death of his Uncle which happen'd a little after the taking of Treves But since this depended upon the Prince of Orange who had promis'd to march into France he waited for the Effects of that Promise to regulate accordingly his own Attempts The Prince of Orange's hope was grounded upon your Majesty's way of prosecuting the War You had not many Troops but made use of them with that Judgment and Prudence that tho' the Enemy's forces were more numerous than yours yet every Year you added some Town to your Conquests which you did by keeping your Troops together all the Winter whereas the Enemy was oblig'd to separate theirs and quarter them in places so remote from one another that they could not come together when you open'd the Campaign Taking this course you did your Business early in the Spring and then sending a Detachment into Germany you acted the defensive Part in Flanders all the rest of the Campaign It was upon this account the Prince of Orange resolv'd so late in the Year to attempt the Siege of Charleroy I have already told your Majesty why he had such a mind to this Place But he had now another Reason he pretended if he took it he could march into France when he would tho' he was much mistaken in his account for upon notice that Mareschal Schomberg was marching directly to him and that your Majesty was preparing to follow he stay'd for it her but rais'd the Siege Upon this Check given to the Prince of Orange the Prince of Lorrain saw he could no longer depend upon him but frustrated of his hopes he quitted Mouzon and march'd back again up the Rhine Mareschal Crequi followed him and after divers Encampments on both sides they came so near together at Kokesberg that there pass'd a very hot Skirmish between ' em The Emperour's Cuirassiers handled your Majesty's light Horse very rudely but your Guards de Maison had the same advantage over them so that both Armies fled before and pursu'd the Enemy in half an Hour's time The Prince of Lorrain judging by this little Tryal that it was better to go into Winter-Quarters than to stay longer in the Field retreated farther back into Germany Mareschal Crequi made a feignt as if he would have done the like but marching back again he attack'd and took Fribourg before the Prince could come to relieve it You beat the Enemy in Catalonia and ravag'd that Country every Year The Spaniards lost there the Battel of Pouille Nor could they do any thing at Messina tho' they distributed a great deal of Money in hopes to have 'em cut the Throats of your Garrison Your finish'd this prosperous Campaign with the taking of St. Guillain which so abated the Courage of the Hollanders that tho the Prince of Orange had marry'd the Duke of York's Daughter and promis'd by that Match to make England declare for them yet the Dutch had more mind than ever to make Peace Monsieur Louvoy had serv'd your Majesty so well in all your Enterprizes and was become so great a Favourite that I was no longer able to stand against him When Chancellor Seguier died I was a Competitor with Monsieur Louvoy's Father for that Place which he did all he could to obtain for him I got my self to be made an Advocate A Qualification requir'd in the Person that hath that Office but your Majesty to reconcile us gave it to Monsieur d' Alligre Councellor of State tho' his great Age and Infirmities render'd him incapable to execute it so that his Son officiated for him But he was of so odd a Humour that no body car'd to have any thing to do with him D' Alligre dying Monsieur Tellier and I renew'd our Contest which lasted not long on my
to them he chose to retire to his Imperial Majesty whose Sister he had married the beginning of that Winter CHAP. VI. Containing that which past after the Treaty of Nimeghen till the Year 1684. YOVR Majesty having now nothing more on your Hands than the War of the North for which the Emperour was to give you passage You order'd your Army to march on that side Mareschal Crequi who commanded knowing the Truce which your Majesty had made with your Enemies was expir'd drew near to the Weser where Spaen General of the Marquess of Brandenbourg's Troops resolv'd to oppose his Passage But your Army which had pass'd the Rhine in the Face of your Enemies pass'd this River also in spite of Spaen The Elector and his Allies then saw they were not able to deal with your Forces and it being in your Power to make what Treaty you pleas'd you restor'd those Places to the King of Sweden he had lost among which were some of greater consequence than those I have mention'd Your Majesty having in this manner given Peace to Europe the King of Spain sent the Marquess de les Balbaces to your Majesty to demand Mademoiselle your Brother's Daughter in marriage This Princess who would have been much better pleas'd to marry Monseigneur the Dauphin wept bitterly when she heard the News But your Majesty without any delay nam'd the Chancellor the Duke de Villeroy Monsieur Pompone and my self to treat this Affair with the Embassador but no body could pacifie the Princess Your Majesty thinking there could no where be found so good a match for her without consulting whether she lik'd it or not sign'd the Treaty of Marriage She was now to leave France and your Majesty which she did with such a torrent of Tears that made all the Court pity her She never ceas'd weeping all the way tho' Prince Harcourt and his Lady who had the care of conducting her told her what prejudice it might be to her in the Court of Spain where were those who without any occasion would be ready enough to do her ill Offices But her Affliction was so great that she was incapable of Counsel and she seem'd to have a secret Sence and Forefight of that which afterward happen'd to her I had pray'd your Majesty to give this Employment to the Prince and Princess Harcourt who stood in need of your Majesty's Favour for his Father was very unkind to him and led so strange a Life that I thought sit to speak of it to your Majesty he kept a Woman and as some say caus'd her Uncle to be drown'd because he was against their living so scandalously together Your Majesty who will suffer no such Disorders commanded me to send and Exempt of your Guards to Harcourt to bring away the Woman to Prison who was supected to be accessary to the drowning of her Uncle but he had sent her into England so that the Exempt came back without her This was a Lesson one would have thought might have made the Son wiser But Examples are sometimes to very little purpose unless we have dispositions in our selves to make good use of them This Prince tho' he Married a very handsome discreet vertuous Woman yet car'd very little for her and manag'd all his other affairs so imprudently that by his own fault he lost a very great fortune The Family of Guise was extinct by the death of the last Duke of that name who was the Son of a daughter of Monsieur the Duke of Orleans your Majesty's Uncle Madam Guise Heiress to the deceased Duke was an old Princess never marry'd and being a very good Woman had a mind to revive her Family She cast her Eyes upon Prince Harcourt a Friend of hers but who was more a Friend to the Prince having given her a very good Character of him So that she sold him the Dutchy of Guise whereof the yearly Rent amounted to Forty Thousand Crowns beside other Lands He not being Master of Money enough to pay for it she acquitted him of a Million But instead of giving his Friend Thanks who had done him so great a Kindness he began to speak ill of him to the Princess who judging by his horrible Ingratitude what an unworthy Man he was undid all all she had done having by contract reserv'd to her self a Power of Revocation Thus we see what great Fortune Men sometimes lose by their own Folly But to your Majesty's Praise be it spoken you gave the Duke of Main better Counsel when you preach'd Gratitude to him on the like Occasion when Madam Montpensier gave him the Principality of Dombes and the County of Deu Two as considerabe Estates as any in France whereof one alone cost Seven Hundred Thousand Crowns Certainly there can be no Fault in Man greater than Ingratitude and if it be so great in a Private Man 't is much more in a Prince who ought to have a generous Soul and a Disposition always to do Good Your Majesty whose Power was become considerably greater by the advantageous Peace you had made began a war in your own Dominions which necessity had for a while kept back the Circumstances of your Affairs requiring you not to disturb the Hugonots of whom you long ago resolv'd to purge your Kingdom but you went on with this Work first by taking away the Chambers of the Edict establish'd in the Parliaments of Tholouse Bourdeaux and Grenoble Your Reputation was great enough now to venture upon many things which you durst not attempt before You caus'd Mass to be said in Geneva which had never been done since the Year 1535 when the Priests were driven out of that Town There are certain times more proper than others to give success to what one undertakes and it is in chusing such times that a Prince shews his admirable Prudence A Prince cannot expect absolute Submission to his Will and Pleasure till he hath magnified his Name by some great Actions and he ought to know that sometimes his Reputation will do him more Service than his Power The Neutrality which the Duke of Bavaria observ'd during the War cost your Majesty a great deal of ready Money Beside you promis'd the Dutchess his Wife that Monseigneur the Dauphin should marry their Daughter But seeing a Prince should always take care before-hand what he promiseth because he must never break his word you sent to enquire whether this were like to be a sit Match and whether this Princess's Person and good Qualities did deserve so good a Husband But finding nothing to discourage you from desiring this Allyance a good Education a great deal of Wit and in appearance great respect for your Majesty and the Dauphin who tho' he were not above Nineteen Years of Age yet you resolv'd no longer to defer marrying him you sent my Brother who had been one of your Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen to the Court of Bavaria to conclude this Match and you were so impatient to hear whether some
Thunder in his Hands which will do more Mischief than your Majesty's great Guns tho' perhaps it may not make so great a Noise The People are generally very credulous on such Occasions and your Majesty is too clear sighted not to foresee the ill consequences of it Rome's Fulminations have caus'd the overthrow of very great Kingdoms and your own have felt such furious Shocks as hath requir'd more than a Day to recover it History is full of such Events and tho' your Majesty's Glory and Power secure you at present from fearing the like yet you ought to look on your Heirs who tho' they inherit the one may not have the good Fortune to acquire the other CHAP. IX Of the Love which a Prince ought to have for his Subjects and of Taxes NOthing doth better prove a Prince's Love to his People than his reflecting why they have made themselves his Subjects and given him power over them Every thing hath a Beginning and seeing we own Pharamond to be our first King it is evident we had none before him or at least have no Knowledge left of any when the Gauls were under the Dominion of the Romans much is said of some famous Captains among the Gauls but that was all the Title they had that of King being never given to them We do not read they commanded any where but in the Army and when their Enemies retir'd they return'd to a private Life If they were esteem'd and respected above others it was for their Valour and not for any Authority that still remain'd in their hands since they had none but when they were in Arms. The great struggles the Gauls had to preserve their Liberty which they had taken so much pains to obtain made them think of chusing a Master but such a Master who had only the Name and was so far from making himself a Tyrant that he concurr'd with them to keep 'em again from falling into Slavery Without doubt had they thought that he on whom their Choice was fall'n would treat them as their Old Masters the Romans had done they would certainly have soon set Bounds to his Authority The Establishment of Royalty was at first properly no more than the election of a Soveraign who was to be universally obey'd for the Publick Good and who was to have the same Affection for his Subjects that a Father of a Family hath for his Children and Servants And tho' in later times there have been great changes in Monarchies we ought to return to their true original Constitution No body can be in Love with arbitrary Power and had it not been introduc'd among the Turks their Emperours might have sat more securely on their Thrones A Prince should endeavour to reign in the Hearts of his People by Love rather than subject them to his Will by Power Many Kings have pretended to a despotick Power of doing what they pleas'd but that gave occasion of calling together the States or such Assemblies as in some places are term'd a Parliament or Diet. But call 'em by what Names you please they are still but the same thing seeing they represent the whole Body of the Kingdom composed of the Clergy of the Nobility and of that which is called here in France the Third State Such for Example are the Parliaments in England but our Parliaments in France are Courts only establish'd to administer justice to your Majesty's People In your Minority the Parliament of Paris pretended to meddle with Affairs of State which was an Usurpation upon your Majesty's Authority for which you had just Reason to punish them Good Princes have always been the Protectors of these Assemblies of the States in this Kingdom and of Parliaments and Diets not being concern'd whether they were assembl'd or no because they never intended to do any thing but what was for the Good of their People And to speak properly these States and Parliaments are the People's Guardians but those Princes that have a Design to take away their Subjects Liberties and to introduce Arbitrary Government are always afraid of Parliaments because they are a Rock on which usually their Desires and Hopes split I will not say 't is fit these Assemblies should meet as often as they do in England because by the length of their Debates Opportunities are many times lost that can never be recover'd Nor doth it become Subjects to have the Wardship of their King If it were to be permitted it ought to be at most but in very important occasions and where it seems necessary that all the Orders of the Kingdom give their Consent in all other things the Prince with his Council may be a sufficient Judge it being to be presum'd he will do nothing but for the good of his People If it were proper in this place to ask whether a Prince's Council ought to be agreeable to his Subjects and consequently whether your Majesty's Subjects had reason to press you to banish Cardinal Mazarin it would be a very ticklish nice Question For as it is the Peoples Interest and Concern that no body should give Evil Counsel to your Majesty so on the other hand many Inconveniencies might happen if a Prince should have no Council but such a one as his People like for that were to reduce Monarchs to the Condition of being Soveraigns only in shew But since what we treat of here is quite another thing I will only say that the Consequence which results from the Establishment of the States cannot possibly be deny'd which is that a King ought to have a very tender Affection for his People which he is oblig'd never to depart from The Reason is because there had been no need of such an Establishment if they should have had Power to do what they thought good But seeing such Assemblies were created to be as I may say Guardians and Protectors of the People and have right to interpose their Mediation with the Prince that nothing may pass to their Prejudice It is an infallible Proof that Princes ought to be Fathers to and not Tirants over their Subjects Otherwise the Convocation of the States and Meeting of Parliaments must have been created to favour the one and to take away the Rights of the other Now whoever saw an Assembly of the States accus'd for assuming to themselves an Authority that was not due to them But that Suspicion falls often upon the Princes and many of 'em are not able to defend themselves from it If it plainly appear by what hath been said that Kings have an Obligation to their People that which remains to be said will no less clearly prove it if we examine what are the Obligations of the one and of the other We shall see that if Subjects be bound to obey their Prince the Prince is oblig'd to love and protect his Subjects A Prince to speak properly is in his Dominions that which the Heart is to all the Parts and Members of the Body If the Heart be
gnaw and grate your Subjects and I will maintain they cost your People every Year above Two Hundred Millions I will think what course may be taken to remedy so great a Mischief but I cannot pass by other Leeches no less decryed than these I have mention'd tho' somewhat more serviceable and useful to the Publick I mean the Gens d'Affaires that is the Bankers whom the People think to be the Instruments of all their Misery And indeed in so thinking they are not altogether deceiv'd I confess this Abuse may be more easily reform'd than the other but cannot be totally supprest I will say more of it but must first speak of those things wich ought to precede it The Tradesmen as well as Husbandmen and Labourers are included in that which is call'd the Third Estate but indeed they should be separated and have a Place by themselves since 't is not just that they who take so much Pains to preserve the Kingdom should be mingled with a company of Pettifoggers whose business it is to destroy it I know your Majesty is too Prudent not to protect and in all things concur with them to make Trade and Tillage flourish Were I not oblig'd to observe order in my Discourse I would here more largely shew what Advantages your Majesty may procure them But seeing I must not go before those of whom I have first spoken I return again to the Clergy who take Place of all the other Orders of the Kingdom CHAP. XI Of the Clergy PIety is so absolutely necessary to an Ecclesiastick that your Majesty hath all the Reason in the World not to bestow Benefices but on such as appear to be good and virtuous Men. But seeing People know how to dissemble when 't is for their Interest and Advantage we should not always judge by Appearances but strictly examin and enquire into their Lives and Conversations The Universities and Seminaries establish'd for this purpose are of very great Use and Benefit for tho' many come to them with dissolute and worldly Minds yet they are in a fair way to be reform'd by good Example which they have daily before their Eyes But I think there should be a certain time limited for Peoples staying in those Seminaries to which all Persons of Quality as well as others should be subject and none by any Priviledge exempted For 't is not by long living in Universities but by coming abroad and conversing in the World that many things are learn'd necessary for a Clergy Man to know and which he can never so well learn any where else Pluralities are now grown common But still condemn'd by tender Consciences Those that are scrupulous question whether the going from one Church to another ought to be suffer'd Because as a Lay Man is forbidden to change his Wife or to have more than one at a time so a Clergy Man ought not to have two Livings or to commute that which hath been given to him The Covetousness of Church-men and of other Persons of Consideration join'd with that necessity which hath often oblig'd your Majesty and your Predecessors to reward their good Services first introduc'd this abuse of Pluralities But your Majesty will do well to consider what ill Consequences attend it against which a timely Remedy must be provided Ecclesiasticks well born and bred high are seldom sit Persons to edifie the People for having liv'd in very great abundance and kept the great Men company they must needs retain some of their Vices Their Tables and their Stables consume the Patrimony of the Poor and if in the midst of their Plenty they chance to cast their Eyes on a poor Wretch they command he should be taken out of their sight instead of taking pity on him Were Church-mens Possessions proportion'd to their Character they would live more frugally and give less Scandal Great Riches often ruin Men and if what the Gospel says be true that whatever a Clergy-man's Revenue be yet he ought to take no more of it to his own use than necessity requires how dangerous then must it be to have a Hundred or Fourscore Thousand Livers Yearly Rent which we see many Church men do enjoy Did they bear any part of the Burthen of the State your Majesty would be oblig'd God's Portion set apart to reward their good services but as they are in that respect unprofitable Members of the Kingdom so being priviledg'd by their Character they load others with paying Tythes and other Duties While with great care they free themselves from the Burthen which in justice they ought to bear Your Majesty in so large a Kingdom as yours hath need of a great number of good Servants and you would have wherewith all to reward 'em if you divided among many what you sometimes give but to one and yet not content him You should above all things consider that the Service of God and the Salvation of an infinite number of Souls are brought into danger Riches are a Rock upon which many a Man hath been wreck'd and rich Churchmen for the most part make an ill use of their wealth and become a Scandal to their Diocess whereas if a Bishop had but a competent Revenue he would employ it in things profitable and tending to Edification To put things into this State there is no necessity to take away the Revenue belonging to Bishopricks and Abbies but to oblige those that are worth more than Ten thousand Livers Rent to maintain a Vicar or School-master in Parishes which have none but where one is very necessary For when People are poor and not able to bear a new Charge without being over-burthen'd their Children will want instruction and Ten thousand Livres a year are more than a sufficient maintenance for a Bishop or an Abbot the Service of God doth not require their having such rich and sumptuous Equipages nor such Magnificent and Dainty Tables In the time of the Primitive Church Luxury did not raign so much among 'em and then there were more Saints than Bishops or Court-Abbots Another good effect that would be wrought by lessning the Revenue of the Clergy is that Persons of Quality who enter into Orders upon no other score but to have part of the Wealth that belongs to the Church would not take upon them the Priesthood unless they were truly call'd to it So that for the future there would be none in the Church but Men of great Zeal and Piety whose Example only would be sufficient to invite others to the same life for nothing more prevails on Men than to see what good Lives those lead who are their Superiours CHAP. XII Of the Nobility or Gentry THE Gentry were heretofore very considerable in France and Your Majesty's Enemies so dreaded their Valour that when they were known to be in your Armies the Enemy was still unwilling to come to a Battle but of late the Gentry have lost much of their Lustre and are fallen into so great Poverty that 't is