make them feel her resentment The Occasion or to say better the Pretext was soon found As there is nothing suffered to be printed in France without License some French-men who were not perhaps over-well satisfied with the Government or who it may be had received some particular discontent published certain diffamatory Libels against the King and his Ministers which bearing on their Title-page the Name of Amsterdam as the place of their Impression the King took great Offence thereat as if it were not usual to put upon a Book the Name of a Printer that knows nothing of it There appeared also sometime after a Print wherein the King was represented upon a Horse without Bit or Bridle with this Inscription He knows not whither he goes Insinuating thereby that it was to no purpose for him to make so many Reviews that he might surprize one or other since he would every where find resistance But of all which at that time appeared for I mention not here the hundredth part there was not any thing better invented or more to the purpose than a certain Medal on the one side whereof was represented Monsieur van Beuningen who had the greatest share in managing the forementioned Treaty of the Triple-League and on the reverse Joshua staying the course of the Sun with these Latin Words In conspectu meo stetit Sol. Now we must know that the Sun was the French King's Device and that those who had invented this Medal meant thereby that even as Joshua had stayed the Course of the Sun for to defeat the Philistins so Monsieur van Beuningen who was called Joshua stayed the Course of the King that was upon the point to destroy the Flemings This Medal no sooner appeared abroad but France highly menaced those who had made it and since she accused the Hollanders thereof they thought it became them to shew the whole World that they were not capable of such Actions Wherefore they gave in charge to their Ambassador to disabuse the King and his Ministers but to take his time so fitly for the doing it that it might not be believed they were induced to make this Excuse through the fear of their Menaces In the mean time to say the Truth this Medal was never either invented or made in Holland I have heard say that it was made at Rome and was the Invention of the Italians who being if we may so say plunged over Head and Ears in Repose and Delights know not oftentimes what to apply themselves unto unless it be to speak ill of their Neighbour Others impute it to some discontented French-man who had perhaps been frustrated in his desires or otherwise ill treated However it was this I well know that there is not so much as one Person in all Holland who will grant that it was made in their Country which yet if it were so they would easily acknowledg since they are not over-guilty of concealing what they do The Treaty of Peace whereof I ere-while spake was still in being but withal it was plainly seen that in the Estate wherein things were it could not long continue France who was sensible of her own Power daily as we may say provoked every one with her Bravadoes and there was none but the King of England whom she managed because she knew he was strong at Sea and would be a great Succour to those in whose favour he should declare himself The Hollanders who knew all the Steps which France made towards him endeavoured on their side to keep up the good Intelligence which was between the two Nations tho not with their ancient submissiveness as believing it no less the Interest of the English to hold a good Correspondence with them than it was theirs to live in amity with the English Things were in this condition when there arose a Difference between that Republick and England upon the Subject of Commerce The Republick endeavoured speedily and amicably to terminate this Affair but the King of England who was highly sensible of some former Indignities of theirs being incessantly sollicited by France to declare War against them was so resolute to make his own Terms in this Treaty that the Republick thought fit to have recourse to France whose Interest it was not to suffer the King of England to become so powerful France for some time amused their Ambassador as if she had a design to make a League with them but as what she did was only to have time to gain the King of England whose Friendship she courted at an high rate she had no sooner perfected her Treaty with him but she began clearly to manifest her Intentions Besides I might here say That the Hollanders were somewhat deficient in their Conduct towards the King of England with whom matters might have been accommodated notwithstanding his great Pretensions But since I know that the sole Obstacle herein was Mr. de Witt Pensionary of Holland who had a great influence on that Commonwealth I should be to blame should I cast upon many what was the Fault of one alone For in fine it was none but he that hindred the terminating the Difference with the King of England who was willing to remit many things in favour of the Prince of Orange for whom he demanded some Establishment but de Witt 's Jealousy of this Prince was so great that he preferr'd his own particular Interests before the common Utility Not but that he was a Man of great Wit and who foresaw well enough vvhatever might be the Consequence of an Affair but he had his Heart too much envenomed against the House of Orange vvhereunto I shall attribute all the Infelicities vvhich soon after befell that Republick In the mean time I will not say here as many others have done that this was an Effect of the Intelligence he had with the French For let none believe that to make my Court to the Living I will dig up the Dead and make their Process Believe not I say that I will assert a thing which I know not and whereof it is necessary I should be very well assured before I speak In effect a Writer who desires to have the Reputation of an honest Man must be very careful to write nothing whereof he is not exceeding certain Not but that there are very often things related which are somewhat problematical but it is then the Author's duty to let the Reader understand that he is left to the liberty of believing as he shall think fit I say then speaking of Mr. de Witt that altho he were a very wise Man he was nevertheless mightily overseen in not making his Peace with the King of England For to to come a little closer to the matter It behoved him either to satisfy that King in what he required or to be sure of the Alliance with the French that he might not have at the same time these two Powers upon his Back but since instead of having the French for him it was
do but to withdraw the Hospital he spake to the Jurats to find him out a Man with whom he might bargain for the subsistence of the said Hospital and he would lay him down Money before-hand but his Design he said was to leave as few People there as he could because he believed the ill Air did them more hurt than their Malady it self and when he should once be before Saragosa or Melazzo he would send them a League or two thence to take the Air which would contribute more to their Health than all the Remedies in the World By this means he so well cajoled them that they themselves sought him out the Man he desired to whom he gave two Months Advance for fifty poor Wretches who had their Soul upon their Lips and who were so far from being able to brook the Sea that it was judged they could not so much as get to the Vessel without certain Death As for the others they were imbarqued in a Vessel by themselves So that this being done the Duke de la Feuillade had nothing more to fear for his Horse were at Augusta all ready to imbarque expecting only Vessels for that purpose In the mean time there being fourteen Pieces of Cannon in Battery upon the Mouth of the Haven he made his Vessels go out thence into the Road whither he himself also went after he was got aboard the Admiral Thence he sent for the Jurats to whom he had given the most specious Orders in the World of what they should do in his absence and these over-credulous Jurats imagining that he had forgot to tell them something hasted diligently aboard him but were very much surprized to hear him speak in these terms That it was now no longer time to disguise any thing unto them that the Expedition he was going to make was to return into France where the King his Master had need of his Troops and his Vessels that as long as he could assist them he had done it with a great deal of Joy and Clemency since it had cost him above four and forty Millions that now he could no longer do it it was for them to find in their Constancy the Consolation which perhaps he could not give them A Complement so dry and so little expected cast these poor People into a Despair more easy to be conceived than described They endeavoured to dissuade him from his Design by the most moving Words imaginable and by Actions also the most submiss casting themselves many times at his Knees but seeing that all this operated nothing they besought him that he would at least delay his departure for eight days to the end that during that time those who could no longer hope for Mercy from the Spaniards whom they had so mortally offended might retire into France with their Families A Prayer so just and so reasonable ought not methinks to have been refused But the Duke de la Feuillade who gloried in being pitiless told them That this could not be and that all he had to say to them was That if those who would come were not ready by the Morrow-Morning he would weigh Anchor and no longer expect any one They gained however by the force of their Prayers one Day more after which they went to declare this sorrowful News to the Inhabitants who were in so terrible a despair thereat that I do not believe the like was ever seen All the Men all the Women all the Children came upon the Haven piercing the Air with their Complaints and tearing the Hair from their Heads there was heard only a dreadful Groaning whereunto succeeded a mournful Silence as it were to give the French time to make reflection on their Miseries but seeing in fine that they were not moved therewith they began again the same Lamentations with Postures so worthy of Pity that I shall never as long as I live think thereon without being touched with compassion In fine seeing that this operated no more than before every one resolved to embarque and there were four hundred of the best and richest Families in the Town which pass'd into France but with little satisfaction For the French having soon after imputed to them a Conspiracy in Provence whether it were true or only a pretence to get rid of them made them go out of the Country and they are gone to linger out their Miseries in another Climate where perhaps more compassion will be taken of their Misfortunes As for those that remained at Messina their Punishment was very speedy For the French had not yet weighed Anchor when there arose in the Town a Spanish Faction which had always subsisted therein and which had several times endeavoured to reduce it under the obedience of its true Master To this there opposed it self another which would not hear speak of ever falling again under the Yoke of the Spaniards and they were going to decide their Difference by compleating the Desolation of this Town the Image whereof was already but too frightful if the Governor of Regio who was not above two Leagues off had not stept in to hinder the Disorder Whilst he was negotiating on the one and other side to make them lay down their Arms with Assurance of Pardon to both of them the Spaniards having by the help of their Faction made themselves Masters of the Town entred thereinto with Drums beating breathing forth no-but a just Vengeance but which they rendred too cruel by their manner of taking it for without demurring any farther as many People as put their Heads out of the Windows to see them pass so many did they kill at least of those who appeared to be any thing aiming particularly at Persons of Quality I will not undertake to tell how many Massacres they made in this poor desolate Town nor how much they thereby augmented the Aversion the People already had for them for besides that I should perhaps have difficulty enough to do it things were carried to such extremities it belongs not to my Subject whereunto I should do much better to return without digressing any farther The abandoning of Messina joined to the Inclination which the King of England always had for France brought again upon the Board the Propositions of Peace which had already been talk'd of before but that the Spaniards would never hearken to them because the French King spake not of restoring Messina When I speak here of Propositions of Peace it is easily understood that I will speak of what pass'd in the Cabinet of Princes and not of what pass'd at Cologne or Nimeguen where they had already wasted so long time to no purpose These Propositions did not equally please every Body For altho the Emperor and Princes of the Empire had done nothing yet so advantagious but that a good Peace was to be preferr'd before so unprofitable a War since nevertheless they considered that in the condition wherein things were they could not hope for such an one as they
French Intrigues OR THE HISTORY OF THEIR Delusory Promises SINCE THE Pyrenaean Treaty Printed in French at Cologne and now made English LONDON Printed for W. Hensman at the King's-Head in Westminster-Hall and Tho. Fox at the White-Hart over against St. Dunstan's-Church in Fleetstreet and at the Angel in Westminster-Hall 1685. The Publisher of the French Edition to the Reader TWo things courteous Reader I have to tell thee The one that this Book was really made by a French-man and so that they would be to blame who should attribute it to any Stranger whose Inclinations are biass'd against France Hereof I was willing to advertise thee to hinder thee from believing that Passion guided the Author's Pen. It was rather as he protested to me through a design to render himself knowing in the History of the Times that he traced the Relations which I give to the Publick The other thing I have to tell thee and which I desire thee to take in good part is That I find my self indispensably obliged to declare unto my Country the Intrigues of her Neighbours to make her change her Master or at least to give her another Face by depriving her of her Liberty This appears so natural that I believe none can think strange of my Enterprize I will tell thee further altho it be of no great importance to thee that I have received what I here give thee from the Author 's own hand who made some abode in this Town hoping to get himself advanced in the Troops which his Electoral Highness is raising for the defence of the Empire But seeing great Difficulties raised against him as there are elsewhere against others who would shelter themselves from the Storm he grew weary of attending and bidding me adieu delivered me his Manuscript in exchange for some Books I give it thee as I received it without either adding or diminishing Those that shall take the pains to read it will see how the French neglect nothing to put themselves in credit in all the Courts in Europe and that it is not Holland alone which they endeavour to amuse by Delusory Promises so to carry without any opposition what remains for them to take in the Low-Countries and perhaps to pass further if they meet with no Obstacle THE HISTORY OF Deluding Promises SINCE THE Pyrenaean Treaty IT is not unknown to any that there have for a long time been two Powers in Europe under the shelter of which the other States lived in repose and assurance We know also that these two Powers are France and Spain who likewise received succour from the other States to the end that these two Crowns might continue as it were in an equal poize so necessary for the good of all the rest Neither of them therefore was suffered to aggrandize it self to the prejudice of the other So that if Spain formed any Enterprise all the neighbouring Princes presently declared in favour of France if also France would make any Conquests the same Princes failed not to oppose it And thus they diminished the Power of that Crown which began to be suspected by them It was by this wise Policy that the Affairs of France were re-established after the taking of Francis the First For the King of England who had an Army ready imbarqu'd to make a descent into that Kingdom fill'd with desolation and terror by the Captivity of its Monarch was the first to propose a League against Charles the Fifth and all the Princes of Italy entring thereinto they obliged the Emperor to make a Peace and release his Prisoner who had been carried from Pisqueton to Madrid upon Conditions far less advantagious than those he had promised himself after his Victory By the same wise Policy it was that the Princes of Germany suffered the French without any opposition to keep Mets Thoul and Verdun which they had seized on by surprize For altho they had reason to be very apprehensive of this Nation which is but too much addicted to usurp upon its Neighbours yet since it was at that time sufficiently embarassed to defend it self against the House of Austria they thought rather of making it their Support against that House which for a long time aspired after an Universal Monarchy than of fearing lest it should become one day so powerful that it would it self have a design to oppress them This Conduct lasted as long as the Spaniards were in a flourishing condition Wherefore the same Princes at least a great part of them saw also with pleasure the Strength of France augmented by the taking of Rochel which often served no less for an Asylum to Male-contents than for a Rampart to those of the Reformed Religion But since those of the Religion abused it as we may say by making it a Retreat for the Factious GOD would punish them to teach them another time that Things Divine are not to be mix'd with Prophane In the mean time the Mareschal de Bassompiere who saw farther than many others had a Saying witty enough thereupon For being one day drinking jovially with some of his Friends a time when Men ordinarily discover the greatest Secrets of their Heart he told them very seriously he believed they would be Fools enough to take Rochel Which I impute not to any design he had of making an Insurrection but to his Foresight that the taking thereof would be of as ill consequence to the Neighbours of France as it was fatal to those of the Reformed Religion In effect we may say that this was the first Step whereby the Kings of France mounted to that supreme Grandeur which makes them at this day dreaded by all Europe We may also say that the greatest Fault which ever the Hollanders committed in their Politicks was that they did not at that time assist those of their Communion who might at this day do the like for them But assuredly they considered it as a Rebellious Town and believed not that it was lawful according to the modern practice to prefer ones Interest before whatever is most sacred However it were People being very far from believing that ever France could be so powerful as to think of encroaching upon the Liberty of its Neighbours they with delight beheld the Care that the Cardinal de Richelieu took to pull down the Crown of Spain and they were even vext that the Conspiracies which were continually framed against him and which every moment sprang up afresh like the Heads of Hydra often hindred him from succeeding in his Designs It was for the same reason that all the Princes instead of opposing the secret Intrigues whereby this Minister endeavoured to take the Crown of Portugal from the King of Spain who had seized it from the House of Braganza were on the contrary very glad that this Affair went happily on I have read in a very curious Manuscript that all the Princes of Italy furnisht him with Money for that purpose and that the Affair being terminated according to
desired and as was to be wish'd for the Good of Europe they were rather of opinion to continue the War than to do any thing whereof they might for the future repent The Prince of Orange added thereunto That since it was not easy to reassemble when once they should be separated they ought to take good care not to do it without knowing how and upon what terms But the Hollanders who in the Party of the Confederates had the Power which the Jesuits attribute to the Pope that is of binding and loosing said on the contrary That for their part they were weary of the War and as they had not the Keys of the Apostle but the Keys of the Chest my meaning is that they provided for the Appointment they said in two words That they must treat otherwise that they had not wherewithal to furnish out so great Expences This was a determinate Sentence to the greatest part of the Confederates every one thought then only of making his Treaty the most advantagious he could But as this was all that France desired to wit to disunite them she took care only to content the Hollanders in whom consisted all the Strength of the Party To this two things might much contribute the one to restore unto them the Town of Maestricht which they had in vain endeavoured to recover by Arms the other to give them some assurance that the Peace should be durable and not subject to be broken on the first occasion As to the former France did not at all hesitate she promised at first the Restitution of Maestricht which gave the Hollanders more desire than ever to terminate the War for they saw their Frontiers thereby assured as well as their State in its first Splendor For the other she procured the King of England to intervene who promised to be Guarant of the Peace And to give a great Idea of its Duration there were Propositions made in respect of Spain to whom she offered to restore certain Places which were to serve for a Barrier as well to her as to the Hollanders who by this means saw that France removed yet farther from their Neighbourhood which was all they had to desire not loving so dangerous a Neighbour The Hollanders before they accepted of these Conditions did all they could being deceived by Appearances to make them be accepted also by their Allies but seeing that they were obstinate not to do any thing therein they made their Peace apart imagining well as the truth was that this would soon oblige them to speak otherwise In the mean time they sent to the Prince of Orange who was gone towards Mons which the French had a long time block'd up and which was very much straitned to draw back his Troops But whe-this Prince received not their Pacquets time enough or whether he were in despair to see that they had let themselves be deceived by the Artifices of the French he gave them Battel believing perhaps to make the States change their Design by doing some Action of great Eclat This Fight was obstinate enough but after the Prince of Orange had forced the French and gained a notable Advantage over them he caused the Peace to be published rather not to appear disobedient to the Orders of the Republick than for any reason he had to hope for any good from it This Peace was followed by that of the Spaniards the Emperor and the King of Denmark but the Marquess of Brandenburg finding that according as his Accommodation had been proposed it was wholly disadvantagious to him refused to sign it and this Refusal having obliged France to carry her Arms as far as Mindem where there was some Skirmish to hinder the Passage of the River the Marquess of Brandenburg was fain to bend but with little satisfaction to Suedeland on whose behalf the French had nevertheless undertaken this War For tho all the Princes restored her a great part of what they had gotten from her yet since they still kept something she imagined that all that France did for her was nothing in comparison of what she ought to do considering the Perils whereunto she had exposed her self and even the Losses she had suffered for her sake In effect for having been willing at her suscitation to make a Diversion in Germany she had lost the greatest part of her Vessels the Esteem of her Neighbours her Riches her Reputation and in one word was reduced to so bad a Condition that if the War had continued any longer it would have been impossible to say what would become of her Fortune This first Discontent of Suedeland was soon followed by two others whereof one touched her Interest and the other her Honour The first was the Homage which France demanded of her for the Dutchy of Deuxponts by virtue of a Decree of the Royal Chamber of Mets at this day so known and renowned in all Europe The second was the Refusal she made to pay her the Subsidies she owed her of old if she did not first consent to renew the Treaty which was between the two Crowns and was very near expiring When the Hollanders saw that the French King was already preparing to make new Alliances they began on their side to think of securing themselves from his Enterprises For this purpose they proposed a League with the neighbouring Princes whereof the King having knowledg was so offended thereat that tho he would himself have subjected the Suede to what I just now told you he failed not to command the Count d' Avann his Ambassador at the Hague to tell the States That if they prosecuted any further the Treaty they had begun he should take it for an Act of Hostility and should see what he had to do These Menaces were odious to all honest Persons but they were so far from being frighted by them in Holland that on the contrary they made haste to conclude the Treaty and to defend their Liberty by Arms which they resolved also no more to lay down but upon good Terms if the King obliged them to take them up again whereof they were nevertheless in expectation every day till the Siege of Vienna was raised which will perhaps make him think twice upon what he hath to do However it be the Haughtiness wherewith he acted towards Sovereign Powers giving cause to fear every thing from his Ambition Suedeland made also a League with Holland by which they promised one another reciprocal Assistance The King of France seeing that Suedeland had declared against him was interiorly vexed thereat but without letting it be seen he sollicits the King of Denmark and the Marquess of Brandenburg the ancient Enemies of the Suede to enter into League with him wherein he found not much difficulty for these two Princes were so ill contented with the last Peace they were obliged to make that they would not hear speak of allying themselves any more with Princes who had so shamefully as we may say abandoned