Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	brother_n	france_n	king_n	6,746	5	4.1256	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51449	The most Christian Turk: or, a view of the life and bloody reign of Lewis XIV. present King of France Containing an account of his monstrous birth, the transactions that happened during his minority under Cardinal Mazarine; afterwards his own unjust enterprizes in war and peace, as breach of leagues, oaths, &c. the blasphemous titles given him, his love-intrigues, his confederacy with the Turk to invade Christendom, the cruel persecution of his Protestant subjects, his conniving with pirates, his unjustly invading the empire, &c. laying all waste before him with fire and sword, his quarrels with the Pope and Genoieze, his treachery against England, Scotland, and Ireland, the engagements of the confederate princes against him; with all the battles, sieges, and sea fights, that have happened of consequence to this time.		1690 (1690)	Wing M2870A; ESTC R216384	73,891	189

to the Progress of their Arms whereby he became a great Instrument of keeping Lewis the Great in his Throne who else had by this time been Little and Insignificant But in what manner he requited him the Sequel will demonstrate The Prince of Conde after much Blood-shed in an intestine War retreated into Flanders with divers of his Party who would not leave him and there was set at the Head of the Spanish Forces Whereupon Hostilities ensued and the Spaniards recovered a great many of the Towns that had been taken from them So that where Force could not prevail Insinuation and Flattery took place and at last the Prince was gained upon to return Home as did the Dukes of Conti and Longueville being highly Caressed and a Pardon was published to all that had been in the Civil War and Lewis who hitherto had acted nothing memorable in his own Person being arrived at the Thirteenth Year of his Age Anno 1651 he was declared to be of sufficient Years to take upon him the Government and to act in Person which Declaration was approved by the Parliament of Paris and Proclaimed throughout the Kingdom Yet the War continued with Spain and many Battels were fought and Towns lost and won things being carried on with various Success So that the King that he might say he had been on Horse-back got up at the Head of his Troops to shew himself to the People which did indeed give a little hopes to those that were ready to revolt that things might go better than they had done But how they were mistaken will appear in its proper place In the Year 1654 great Preparations were made to Crown Lewis King of France and Navar and on the Fourth of June the Court arrived at Rhemes and was received by about Two thousand of the Citizens on Horseback about a League from that place to which was made a Guard of about Five thousand of the Inhabitants in Arms and the Suburbs were crouded with the Soldiery At the Entry were divers Triumphal Arches beautified with golded Lilies and many flattering Devices the Streets being hung with Tapestry and other Ornaments And upon his approach the Cannons were thundred off and volleys of small Shot discharged and the Aldermen of the City taking him for some petty Deity fell on their Knees and in that posture presented him the Silver Keys of the Town And Cardinal Mazarine being at the Church of Nostrodame with the Clergy the King alighted there The Bishop of Soissons officiated in the stead of the Archbishop of Rhemes who was a little before dead the Bishop of Caesaria being his Coadjutor The Bishops of Noyon and Beauvais attended in their Pontificals the first making an Oration in which he gave the King many flattering Epithets scarce due to mortal Man However knowing that Air of Vanity possessed his Mind that makes him value himself much upon his own Praises nothing was omitted that a Court-parasite could industriously produce Then the Archdeacon did the like and the Deacon gave him a Missal to kiss who kneeled down upon two Velvet Cushions placed on a Foot-cloath under a Canopy of State and from thence he went unto the Choire to assist at the Te Deum and the Vespers were performed in Musick The Vespers over he went to the Archbishop's Palace which was prepared to receive him and the next day the Coronation was Solemnized with great Pomp the Queen-Mother of England and the Dukes of York and Gloucester being present And there he was annointed with the Holy Oil which the Priest makes the ignorant People believe was miraculously sent from Heaven on purpose to annoint their Kings that they may be the more Dreaded and Reverenced And now this spruce young Monsieur being on the Throne began to make some Figure in the World though he still acted by others Heads and Advice And to give the World a proof of French Fidelity he clapp'd up a Peace contrary to all Mens Expectation with Oliver Cromwell the English Protector at the time when King Charles II. with his two Brothers were at the French Court and had been promised not only Protection but also aid to regain the usurped Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. Nor was this all but he proceeded more treacherously with his near Kinsmen for in the Treaty amongst other things there was an Article to Banish them France and its Territories Of which King Charles having private Notice and finding it fruitless to complain where the Royal engagement was so little regarded to avoid a ceremonious Expulsion with generous disdain he turned his Back upon that ungrateful Court and with his faithful Followers as Prince Rupert and other Nobles he retired into Germany and was there received with all imaginable Joy and found amongst Strangers that Reception without any promise or word given which his Cousin of France had so generously promised and afterward so basely denied But his Brothers the Dukes of York and Gloucester stayed behind the first having a Command in the Army under Maresch●l de Turin against the Spaniards But that weighed nothing for the League being made he was ordered to be Packing Nay it went so far that a Message was sent to their Mother though Daughter to Henry the Great of France to be gone but she sent Word That she knew her Right to be in France if the King knew not what belonged to his Dignity and that a Daughter of Henry IV. from whom he was descended and held the Crown was not so easily expelled from her Native Country This resolute Answer of the Queen's made Lewis XIV dissemble the Matter and her stay was winked at though not approved Here you may see French Faith to distressed Princes who though never so near Ally'd to that King could obtain Refuge no longer than his Interest moved him to break his Promises And this early beginning has been very much improved as will appear in the Series of this History The League Offensive and Defensive being made with England against Spain Six thousand Men were sent into Flanders who beat the Spaniard and took Dunkirk whilst the French in a manner stood still and looked on For as an Historian of their own truly has it Though France abound with Men it is wont to make use of the Valour of its Neighbours in all Wars against Strangers For it hath continues he been found by Experience That the French are only for the first Onset but cannot abide nor weather so many Discouragements as the English Scots and Switzers can in War Besides their Foot are not to be compared to Strangers therefore they may ascribe their most difficult Conquests to their Money and the Valour of the English Scotch Irish and Switzers According to the Treaty Dunkirk was secured by the English For the crafty Protector not being ignorant of the Falshood of the French Court had given secret Orders to Lockhart who Commanded in Chief immediately upon surrender to enter it and Post his

Men there and even to dispute it with the French if it was not quietly put into their Hands However though Mazarine and his Pupil had a great Mind to this strong and important Place yet at that time they were forced to let it slip through their Fingers as well knowing the Protector had a powerful Army on Foot in England But some time after they found means to Charm it from us with French Gold to the great endamaging of our Shipping which Trade on that Coast In the Year 1656. the French relying upon their own Strength at the remarkable Siege of Valenciennes received a great Overthrow But the English had better Success for whilst the French stood looking on and concluded it utterly impossible Sir Thomas Morgan who Commanded the English Forces Stormed Mardike recovering the Top of the Walls almost before they were expected passing through showers of Bullets and Fire to the Astonishment both of the French and the Besieged and possessed themselves of that strong Fortress and after that they saved it from a Surprize attempted by the Spaniards in the dead of the Night And indeed most of the Towns that were taken during this War may be justly ascribed to the English Valour which Valour peradventure Lewis XIV may one day Experience in the Heart of France as several of his Predecessors have done The Spaniards grown weary of this War the usual way of Accommodation was proposed viz. a Match between the Spanish Infanta and the French King This Match was greatly opposed by Mazarine who concluded if a Peace ensued and the King gave himself up to the Embraces of a Young Wife his Authority would be lessened But the Queen-Mother declared resolutely for it saying That whether he would or no it should be done for that her Son should marry one of her Kinswomen But this had like to have broken off by the Sickness of Lewis which every one concluded would terminate in his Death Whereupon Cardinal Mazarine knowing the many Villainies he had committed in France and the Mischief done by his Evil Council was about to pack up his Awls and trudge for Italy fearing if the King should die he should fall a Sacrifice to the Fury of the Rabble And thereupon he sent a Gentleman to the Mareschal de Turin to know if he might have a safe Retreat in the Army till he could otherways shift for himself But that Protestant General returned him so cold an Answer that he was put out of all Hopes However whilst he was studying what to do the King began to recover and accordingly escaped that Death that threatned him to be the cause of the Death and Ruine of more than a Million of People The King being Recovered Mazarine was sent to Bayon and Don Louis d' Ardo de Gusman came to Saint Sebastians the more commodiously to treat about the Peace being constituted for that end Plenepotentiaries And accordingly it was concluded on sundry Articles to the great Joy of the Frontier-Towns who by Burning Plundering Quartering Soldiers and Contributions were reduced to extream Misery And Lewis sent a Procurator to Don Louis d'Ardo in his Name to Espouse the Infanta and the Marriage was consummated at Fonterabia in the presence of the Court of Spain and the two Kings met in the Isle of Conference situate between both Kingdoms where Mary of Spain was delivered to Lewis of France as his Wife and both Kings solemnly swore to keep and confirm to one another the Treaty of Peace and the Young Queen entered Paris in an open Chariot shining with the Treasure of both the Indias But Card. Mazarine for Grief to see his Purpose crossed as some gave out fell sick and died on the Nineteenth of March 1661. to the Joy of all France to whom he had a long time been a Scourge and instilled that Spirit of Cruelty into Lewis XIV that has since been manifested to the World in Characters of Blood This Cardinal had his first Rise under Richelieu the great ●ardinal of France and from a mean Birth raised himself and his Family to the greatest Dignity France could afford a Subject He was born an Itaelian and by his cunning bore himself up in the Favour of this King and his Father in spight of all the mighty Opponents he met withal For beside the Prince of Conde Duke of Conti and most of the Nobles he stood the Envy of the People in general whom he had sorely vexed by Taxes and Oppressions The Court went into Mourning for him but continued it not long for an occasion of Joy soon after made it vanish The Duke of Orleance falling in Love with the beautiful Daughter of Charles I. of England the Lady Henrietta at the publick Ceremory of that illustrious Marriage the Mourning went off Thus far we have traced this Monarch as we may term it in his Leading-strings For the Cardinal whilst he lived had the absolute Rule of his Mind whatever share he had in his Body and from thence we may hitherto conclude him an Engine that moved by the Dictates of that covetous and ambitious Prelate but for the future we must consider him moving more directly in his own Sphere It is observed of Nero by Suetonius and others That the beginning of his Reign was tolerable and not comparable to those Cruel and Irregular practices that followed and left a Lasting stain upon him to all Posterity Notwithstanding the terrible Name Lewis XIV supposed to have gained in the year 1662 his Ambassador contending with the Spanish Ambassador for Precedency at the Reception of another Ambassador near the Tower was there worsted had several of his Horses and some of his Attendence killed and wounded For the King of England's Council not undertaking to determine in this Matter they were left to dispute it and a Proclamation was put out forbidding any English to meddle in this Matter upon great Penalties so that the Ambassador of Lewis the Great appear'd but very Little being forced to sneak to his Lodging by all the by-Ways he could find though they pretend to claim Precedency of all the Ambassadors of Europe unless at the Court of Vienna where the Lords of Austria bear Rule Yet this made Monsieur to storm and bluster at a strange rate insomuch that the King of Spain being of a quiet disposition and not desirous to involve himself in another War gave him such satisfaction as contented him upon his sending complaints to Madrid preferring the Quiet of his Kingdoms before a Punctilio of Honour Which so puffed up the Frenchman that he had a great Mind to be Quarrelling with England and not well knowing how to begin he pitched upon a peremptory demand of Dunkirk that was then in the Hands of King Charles II. This Demand was looked upon by the French themselves as so Extravagant that they could not imagine the English would hearken to the delivery of a place gained with the loss of the Life 's of so many brave Men and

their God After a long Caressing of this Mistress by whom he had some Children and is said in a great Immergency to play the Man-Midwife to one of them himself and Entertaining her with all the Glory and Gallantry of his Kingdom he grew weary of those Beauties-himself had sullied and searched for those that were fresher Whereupon he cast his Eyes upon Madam Montespan who charmed his Affections a very considerable time which so vexed the former to see her self outed that she went into a Nunnery and there turned Penitent leaving the King to take his full swinge with Montespan who made her Advantage by preferring all her Kindred to places of Honour and Trust Her Brother who would otherways have never deserved it was made Duke and Peer General of the Galleys and a Mareschal of France These Qualifications rendered him of the greatest Quality for a Subject in the Kingdom which caused a pretty Retort when one was comparing this Vivone with Feillade viz. that the last was made Mareschal by the Sword and the first by the Scabbard Yet many were of Opinion that the Kings passion was not so great for Montespan as he pretended for if fame be true one Madam Du Lude a Nun of Lorrain came in with her for a share though privately to save the Credit of that Order which occasioned these following Verses La Valliere of common Race Montespan of Noble was And Du Lude a pious Nun All for Mistresses are Known If you 'd know the Reason why These three his Favourites he creates Our great Prince has a mind to try To Vnite the three Estates But his mind continued wavering for not long after Montespan was laid aside and Madamosel de Fontagne was taken into Favour but she lived not long afterward as being supposed to have received a Dose from her she had rivalled and the Prince of Marsilack who brought her to the King was for finding the Game so well made Chief Huntsman of France To her succeeded Madam de Maintenon who joining with Montespan as a Testimony of their Repentance built the Abby of St. Cry by some called the Seraglio to train up young Women Which occasioned this Epigram Two of fair Venus's Votaries Their Souls with holy Zeal inflam'd Have founded two new Nunneries With the Revenues by their Pleasure gain'd But without Miracle they seem To be in a pitious taking Since that that founded and supporteth them Is now in a continual shaking But to cut off this Digression if it may properly be so termed as to what is consistent to History of this Nature we find that Lewis XIV was not satisfied with having Dunkirk delivered to him but dreading the Growing Greatness of his Protestant Neighbours viz. England and the Vnited Provinces by some extraordinary Contrivance they were set together by the Ears and engaged in an Unhappy War occasioning much bloodshed on either Part whilst France was a looker on But when that Court perceived the Dutch inclined to a Peace as being wearied with an Expensive and hazardous War then and not till then the French put in to assist the States to keep the flame still blazing that so the two most powerful Nations at Sea under Heaven might weaken each other and thereby lay themselves more open and exposed to the Projects of France which has but too apparently been manifested For although in the Year 1666. the French Fleet was abroad yet it was only in a bravado for we could never learn from any hand That that Fleet though the Ships carried many terrible Names as Tempest Lightning Thunder c. effected any thing but rather stood as a looker on whilst the English and Dutch battered each other though at the same time they might have come up the Wind being favourable Nor were the English better served when they were on their part as will hereafter appear So that if there was not as let those believe who are very credulous if they please a design in it for the weakning the Protestant Interest at least we may conclude That this produced nothing as to the Reputation of making War for the Glory of the Arms of Lewis XIV However after several Fights and much Blood-shed though little or none of the French in these Actions upon more deliberate Considerations a Peace was concluded in 1668. Yet in this Interim there are other Remarks than what we have mentioned The French during this Naval War had not the Courage to make any descent upon England or any of the Three Kingdoms but upon our People in the West-Indias their Treachery appeared in a Crimson dye especially in the Island of St. Christophers where the French and English as planters of that Island had lived together in neighbourly Love as every one thought for many years reciprocally and with much satisfaction enjoying the Fruits of their Labour But upon Notice of this War and the iustigation of French Popish Cruelty they fell unawares upon the English and Massacred them without mercy or so much as giving them time to think of a future State seizing upon their Goods and Possessions to the eternal Infamy of the French Nation They likewise seized upon the Islands of Antigo Saint Eustach and Tobago Yet all this while the Court of France pretended they had no Quarrel against the English but what they did was in the defence of their Allies pretending a great Kindness for the Dutch who since have experienced it to their no small Detriment which however may in time be repay'd How the Port at Constantinople and the French Court have hitherto taken equal Measures never observing any Obligation longer than it tended to their Interest we leave the World to judge This was not all the design of Lewis XIV for by embroiling England and Holland he had leisure notwithstanding the Peace solemnly sworn to and concluded with the King of Spain to enter Flanders under Pretence of some Particulars not performed relating to the Contract of Marriage with the Infanta Nor could his Queen persuade him to reason but in May 1667. he entered Flanders with an Army of 30000. Horse and Foot upon which unexpected surprize many of the Garrisons drew off as Armantiers Labassee Conde Bergues S. Guilhain and Furves of which the Mareschal d' Aumont took Possession And the better to secure the Frontiers Lewis commanded Charleroy to be Rebuilt and Fortified Many other Towns of Note were taken being rather got by surprize than by true Valour on the part of the Franch For many of them in this security were unprovided of many things that might have contributed to a longer Defence or secured them from falling into the Hands of the Invader Lille was the only Place that made a resolute Defence for in this place was a Governour of great Repute under whose Command was a Garrison of 4000 Foot and 800 Horse Nor was it gained but by a bloody Siege when the Governour found all hopes of expecting Relief vain through the want of timely Notice

of the French King's Intentions to Invade those Provinces or the unpreparedness of the Court of Spain to send an Army to oppose the Torrent of a French Power advantageously poured into those Countries The Town Surrendered upon Articles on the 28. of August and Lewis who then was in the Army entered into it Notwithstanding the Spaniards during the Siege made some Attempts to Relieve it but their Forces being small they were frustrated In the Year 1668. for the Glory of his Arms Lewis XIV thought of another Enterprize which was to take into his Possession by Force the French Comte which as a kind of a Palatinate or separate Principality had enjoyed many Privileges and Immunities which being altogether unarmed or capable of Defence upon such a Surprize the Inhabitants were forced to send to the King's Deputies to treat of Yielding thereby to prevent the Spoils and Ravage of a Hunger starved Army However in the midst of the Treaty Besanson was possessed by a forced Surrender on the Sixth of February Salines was also Surprized and many other places not being sufficiently Garrisoned or provided with Stores were obliged to their Gates Dole only was capable of making a shew of Resistence but the French Army being numerous and suddenly possessing themselves of the Out-works they were forced to accept of such Terms as were offered by the French King and thereupon they sent him the Keys of the City It may be guessed what little Expectation this Country had of a French Army when in the space of Twelve Days so many strong Places Yeilded that were capable of holding out many Years had they had timely Notice and well provided But it has ever been observable that this King gains most of his Advantages by this way or the force of golden Pistols charged into the Governours Pockets The French King perceiving that the Dutch weary of his Alliance who had done so little for them and pretended so much were inclined to make a Peace and join with the Spaniards and thinking he had gained sufficiently if he could keep what he had got Overtures of Peace where thereupon proposed and Monsieur Colbert was sent to Aix la Chapelle to meet the Ministers of the Mediating Princes And accordingly the Articles of Peace between France and Spain were signed on the Sixth of May and made Publick at Paris and Brussels Yet Lewis was not well pleased to be frustrated in his Expectation of swallowing the Spanish Provinces attributing his disappointment to the Dutch who declaring for the Interest of Spain had obliged him to this Peace But his Threats were retarded by another Enterprize It so happened that the Turks with a nurous Army had besieged the City of Candia situate in the Island formerly called Creet belonging to the Venetians So that may of the French Nobility who had prepared their Equipages for the ensuing Compaign and being prevented by the Peace the French King was forced to comply withal went thither and upon their Return gave an account of the place Insomuch that Lewis thinking to have the Honour of relieving that Bulwork of Christendom which had held out a long doubtful and bloody Siege and upon the Event of which the Eyes of all Europe were fixed sent an Army of French men under the Command of the Dukes of Beaufort and Navailles consisting of 10000 Men who without any detriment entered that City which was laid almost in Ruines with the Bombs shot in by the Infidels Whereupon it was concluded in a Council of War that it could be no longer tenable without performing some extraordinary Exploit and after a farther-Consult it was agreed That a vigorous Sally should be made in Order to the raising of the Siege The French indeed were very forward and to give the Duke of Beaufort his Due he behaved himself like a man of good Courage and Conduct The Sally was accordingly made with great Resolution and the Turks at first were beaten out of their Trenches But the Christians possessing themselves of a Magazine of Three hundred Barrels and Sacks of Powder whether by Matches laid on purpose by the Enemy or fired by chance it blew up and destroyed almost one whole Regiment in which it was thought the Duke of Beaufort was killed and buried by the overthrowing of the Earth for his Body was not afterwards found Which terrible thundercrack so dismayed the French-men who were the foremost in the Sally that they retired in great confusion thinking by the Earthquake it made that all the Ground was hollow and charged with Mines So that the Turks Rallying and being reinforced with great Numbers that came pouring from the Hills the Belieged were driven into the City and the French never after that could be persuaded to make any other Sally or so much as to stay for the Defence of the Place although the Governour almost with Tears besought it But the Duke of Novailles who now Commanded in Chief pretending Orders from his Master took Shipping and with those Forces he had left returned to France which was not for the Glory of the King 's Arms. For had they stayed and done what became Soldiers that famous City had undoubtedly been saved which by this Defeat was in a short time after delivered to the Turks with whom Lewis XIV has since had a better Correspondence as will appear in due Place and Order In the year 1669. the Duke of Lorrain grieved that he had so easily parted with his Countries hoping it was not yet too late to retract he required Aid of the Emperor and King of Spain labouring to engage them against France Whereupon Lewis sent the Mareschal de Crequi with an Army of 18000 Men into his Country who dismantled and pulled down the Walls of divers Towns making great Ravagement though he found little or no opposition For only the little Towns of Epinal and Chate made some shew of a Resistence But there being no Army that could promise them Relief they were compelled to surrender and the old Duke to fly his Patrimonial Country and foregoe those vast Promises the French Court had made him The Eyes of all Europe being upon this unfair dealing and greatly Regretting it to keep the Inhabitants quiet he ordered they should be treated with somewhat more Mildness than is usually observed in the French Conquests as they term them though for the most part got by Surprize or Treachery And finding the Hollanders were no way satisfied with his proceedings for he had infringed upon their Commerce he resolved to begin first and having visited and strengthened his Towns in Flanders and upon the Frontiers he by a subtil Negotiation as some Historians will have it of Henrietta Duchess of Orleance who had an Interview with her Royal Brothers at Dover drew the King of England into an Expensive War against the States But whether by the means of that Princess who died upon her return into France or otherwise we determine not However it is certain that great

Naval Preparations were made before it was publickly known to what Intent The Duchess of Orleance dying suddenly and not without Suspicion of evil Practice the Duke by the persuasion of Lewis XIV was Married to the Daughter of the Prince Palatine of the Rhine Upon which Country no doubt and it since has but too plainly appeared he had an Eye In the Year 1672 on the 7th of April the French King's Declaration was put forth prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with the States of the Vnited Provinces And out of a Bravado he marched in person at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men. By which surprizing Invasion he like a Torrent carried all before him So that many looked upon the Low Countries to be lost if no speedy Stop was put to this Progress But it has always been observed that though the first Motions of the French are impetuous yet the least discouragement makes them Recoil They had on a sudden filled with their Troops the Duchy of Cleves the Electorate of Collen the Duchy of Limburg the County of Zutphen Vtreitcht and its Territories with many other places and got into their hands several strong Towns and into this Combination the Bishop of Munster was drawn who took Groll and some other places though not very considerable They passed the Rhine likewise and did considerable damages in such places as were found unprovided Committing great Outrages Which so puffed up Lewis XIV that being returned to Paris he was congratulated with Flatteries and Applauses from all the Societies of the Kingdom And in Imitation of the Heathen Idolaters the Queen caused a Chapel to be built at Roan dedicated to our Lady of Victories The King was styled the invincible Hero though he was always so tender of himself that he neither engaged in any Battel or Skirmish or seldom came within Cannon shot of any place that resisted doing what best suited his Valour which has not overmuch of the Hero in it But indeed the Progress of his Arms had a Recoil for the Provinces being recovered out of the Amaze this sudden Attempt put them into and the Prince of Orange now King of England confirmed in his Patrimonial Offices and honourable Trusts as Stadtholder Admiral and General of the Vnited Provinces he presently took the Field with an Army of 24000 Men recovering several places and causing the French to retire and performing many other Exploits worthy himself and the Glory of his Ancestors But having taken a view of the French King's Affairs hitherto at Land let us cast our Eyes a little upon the Ocean The Fleets being Abroad in May 1672. on the 28th of that Month a sharp Ingagement ensued the then Duke of York commanding as Admiral It continued a long time bloody and doubtful during which many brave Men were lost as the Earl of Sandwich c. who would not leave his Ship though all in Flames till it was too late to succour him His Body was found sloating and afterward honourably buried but we cannot learn that the French did any thing considerable in this Action or that any more than their Reer-Admiral Monsieur de Rabiniere Trees les Bois came up to a close Fight who behaving himself like a man of Courage was slain and afterward honourably Interred at Rochel the rest lying off in a Line and firing at a Distance and many times greatly endamaging the English especially in their Rigging though they perceived only the Blue Squadron Engaged the Red not being able to come up in time So the French stood rather Neuters or Lookers on than any ways concerned in the Battel From this there grew a suspicion that they had Orders to keep from Engaging as much as possible that the two Fleets of England and the Vnited Provinces might batter each other that through their weakness the French King might become strong at Sea which more visibly appeared the following Year 1673. This Year the Valiant Prince Rupert Commanded the English Fleet where the French joining him he made One hundred and twenty Sail of stout Ships The Dutch were Commanded by Du Ruytter and Van Trump so that a sharp Engagement happened But the French no sooner heard the Bullets begin to rattle and saw with what Fury and Violence the Dutch and English Engaged but almost all that Fleet stood away pretending to gain the Weather-gage the which when they had very favourably got they e'en kept it for the Glory of their Master's Arms for they never came up again during the Fight And those few Captains that had so much Sense of Honour as not to follow their Admiral who were but very few had secret Intimation that they were in danger of being hanged when they came into France for not following their Flag or Orders But how they came off has not yet occurred The Prince though he made good the Fight and came off with Honour and Bravery stormed to be thus deserted Whereupon when the French Admiral came on board him to make his Excuse which proved but a very lame one the Prince is reported to look upon him with Indignation and after reproaching him with Baseness told the Monsieur That had he been one of his Master the King of England's Subjects he would have killed him with his own Hand And to let the World see how much the English Valour surpasses that of the French and how much Lewis is beholden to it for his Greatness I need instance but one Particular viz. During this War the strong City of Mastreicht was besieged by an Army of about Forty Thousand and the King came as near as he durst venture that his Men might be the better encouraged It was invested on the Sixth of June and there was in it a Garrison of 7 or 8000 Men one Faro a Valiant Man being Governour The besieged made a stout resistence and many were killed on both Sides insomuch that the French began to saint At what time the Heroick Duke of Monmouth who was at the Head of the English in the height of Youthful Valour despising Danger went on to the Assault through Showers of small and great Shot and Commanding in the Trenches though Two or Three Mines were sprung to obstruct his Passage he and the few that followed him charged with such resolution that they carried the Half-Moon contrary to the Expectation of all Men in less than half an Hour though the Shot flew round him as thick as Hail maintaining it till he had delivered it to a French Collonel who was sent to relieve him But no sooner was the Duke and the English retired but the French though strongly possessed not being able to endure the fire of the Besieged quitted it This vexed the Duke to see that a Regiment could not keep when put into their hands what himself and a very few English had got Insomuch that he prepared to regain it which he did with such daring Resolution that accompanied only by Twelve Voluntier-Gentlemen he threw himself over

Another Person they dragged to Mass and because he hung back and cryed out He would never do it they beat him to Death But should we come to particular Persons the Numbers would fill a Volume as large as those of the Martyrs Monsieur de Garrison a Venerable Man who had done great Kindness for the Intendent went to wait upon him in this extremity to intreat his Protection but he like a true Papist who holds no Faith to be kept with Hereticks notwithstanding he offered him all his Goods not only rejected his suit but caused him beyond what he had suffered to be dragged through the Streets and miserably misused as a means to deterr others from Petitioning him This sort of converting was not only used in this City but throughout all the Dominions of the King though in different Methods of studied Cruelty Some they tossed from one Soldier to another kicking buffeting and beating them with Rods three or four Days and Nights together to keep them waking and when at any time they fainted or sunk down then they used them in that manner on the Ground or on Beds and when they had rested roused them again Some they hung up by the Heels and smoaked them with burning wet Straw till they were almost dead Some again they blew up almost to bursting by putting a pair Bellows into their Fundaments They basted the Soles of the Feet of others with Lard and held them to a Fire till almost Roasted One Isaac Favin a Citizen of Negroplisse they hung up by the Armpits a whole Night and pinched off his Flesh with Pincers yet could not prevail to make him abjure These Cruelties and many more were committed not only upon Men but also upon Women and even upon Children that were of any Years The younger Infants were every where taken from their Parents by force and thrust into Monasteries and Nunneries Wives Widows and Virgins were in many Places Ravished and Deflowred Some Children though of very tender Years they kept fasting till they fainted and then brought them before their Parents as imagining they would rather turn than see their Children Perish Many times the Priests would persuade some to Abjure declaring it should be only seemingly to comply with the King's Decree but when they had unadvisedly done that in hopes of some respite then they compelled them to torment their Friends and Relations into an Abjuration the which if they did not in three Days or so much time as was given them the Booted Apostles are sent to them again upon a scruple of their not being thorowly Converted Sometimes they bind the Mothers that give suck to Posts and lay their Infants to perish in their sight unless they will Abjure And when these Dragoons were weary of tormenting and inventing new manner of Torments tired with the patience of the Sufferers and despairing to bring them to their Terms the Officers Rate them and send them back to torture them worse saying The King has Commanded it and it must be done bawling out That the King intends to have but one Religion in his Dominions These are the pleasant Paths by which Lewis XIV invites his Protestant Subjects to enter into the Bosom of Mother-Church exceeding those of the Heathen Emperors for they only killed and made way for the triumphing Martyr to enter into Glory but here they have a lingering Death and by a Series of Torments above what humane Nature is able to bear their Hearts are sometimes forced to give their Tongues the Lye Some Persons they tortured with Engines and put brass Pans or Kettles over the Heads of others and with continual beating upon them made the Party in a manner distracted Those of the better Sort fled to Paris thinking the Dragoons would not come so near the King's Palace But alas there they found no Re●uge for a Decree was set forth commanding them to depart the City and retire to their respective Habitations on greater Pains and Penalties Nor did these Monsters of Converters only spightfully misuse their Persons but likewise shewed their Malice upon the poor Cattle as if the King had commanded them to bring the Hogs Cows Sheep and Oxen over to the Church as well as their Owners for some of them they Hoxed and so suffered them for want of Legs to go to perish in the Fields others they killed out-right and suffered to rot on the Ground Some again they drove into Rivers and drowned They cut down the Timber and burnt it destroyed their Vineyards and sold their Houses drew their Fish-ponds and threw their Fish into the Street These Missionaries exceeding the Barbarity of Tartars were attended by a multitude of Rascally Friars and Priests to take Confessions and Abjurations as likewise by a Bishop before whom they were to be Examined And when those that through Torments and being tired out had Abjured were at Mass they had Spies set upon them and if it appeared that they did it not sincerely then they were thrown back into their former Misery And although these Loyal People as the King himself confessed them to be would have left all they had and forsaken the Country yet that was forbid them on strict Penalties as even Death or perpetual Imprisonment The Ports were strictly watch'd and Ships on pain of Forfeiture forbidden to take them in yet through Providence many escaped into England Holland Germany c. and found Succour and Shelter Their Ministers only found the Favour to be Banished but to leave behind them their Wives Children and Relations Nay they hardly escaped sending to the Gallies for such are the Vnchristian Ways of the Most Christian King that he will have it a Crime in his Country for Men to be Learned and Vertuous So by this means a Million of Families were ruined and many Thousands perished through Want Torture and in Prisons for all the Gaols of the Provinces were filled with these distressed People Nor did their Malice and Cruelty stop here for although the Ministers had Liberty to go into Banishment under the hardest of Conditions yet the King's Ministers on the Frontiers frequently stopped them under frivolous pretences till the time given them to depart was expired and then charged them with breaking the Orders in not departing within the limited time and that they must go to the Gallies by which means they stripped them of all that little they had left and well they thought it if they so escaped to wander in strange Lands and relie upon Providence which indeed did almost every where plentifully provide for them The Elector of Brandenburgh put out a Declaration in Favour of them inviting and encouraging as many as would or could Escape to take up their Habitations in his Territories commanding all his Subjects to Comfort Harbour Cherish and Entertain them and gave Order to his Ministers to see it carefully observed in all his Cities and Towns throughout his Dominions The like in effect was observed in England Holland and other

much already declared in effect by France against England that it is not so properly an Act of Choice as an inevitable Necessity in our own Defence I shall only tell you That as I have ventured my Life and all that is dear to me to rescue this Nation from what it suffered I am still ready to do the same in order to preserve it from all its Enemies And as I do not doubt of such an Assistance from you as shall be suitable to your Advice to me to declare War against a Powerful Enemy so you may relie upon me that no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with Suucce●● shall be diverted by me to any other Use The Confederate Armies by this Time began to draw together which made Lewis XIV hasten his Troops and form Two Armies under the Commands of the Duke of Duras and Mareschal d' Humiers Whereupon the Governour-General of the Spanish Netherlands caused a Declaration of War to be published against France wherein after he had set forth the Cruelty and Injustice of the French King as the others had done he forbids all Commerce c. Upon which Lewis XIV caused his Declaration of War to be proclaimed against Spain at Marseilles viz on the 29th of April and proceeded to fill all the Towns of the Palatinate that were not reduced to Ashes with his Soldiers as foreseeing the Storm that threatned from so many Quarters of Europe and that such Protestants as were willing to avoid his cruel Usage and Extortions might have Encouragement to leave the Kingdom of France their Majesties of Great Britain put forth a Proclamation bearing Date the 25th of April for the Encouraging the French Protestants to Transport themselves into this Kingdom another Prohibiting the Importation of all Sorts of Manufactures and Commodities whatsoever of the Growth Production or Manufacture of France And on the 7th of May a Declaration of War was Signed and afterwards Published setting forth The perfidious Dealing of the French King as well in Europe as in Africa against the Subjects of England c. And whilst these things were doing News came from the Coast of Ireland that the English Admiral with a Squadron of the King of Britains Ships had engaged and worsted Forty four Sail of the French being double the number of the English as they were attempting to land Men and Arms in that Kingdom And to shew the French a farther Proof of our Naval Courage the None-Such a small Fourth Rate Frigat o● 36 Guns meeting off of Guernsey with two French Men of War one of 30 Guns and 120 Men the other of 16 Guns 6 Pettereroes and 120 Men who were bound with about Twenty small Merchant Ships under their Convoy to Newfoundland the English Man of War engaged them but in the beginning of the Fight the Captain was killed with the Master and Cook and the Carpenter wounded upon which there being no Lieutenant on Board the Boatswain took upon him the Command of the Ship and continued the Fight with that Bravery that after a sharp Engagement of three Hours he took both the French Men of War and brought them into Plymouth During these Transactions Rhinburgh that had been Garrisoned with French Troops by Cardinal Furstemburgh surrendered to the Confederates and Keyserwaert was blocked up The French continued to fortifie Mentz pulling dow● Streets of Building for their better convenienc● on that Occasion Yet so far either Passion o● Fear had wrought in Lewis XIV that he was taken on the 30th of May with an extraordinary Fi● of an Ague which held him for nine or ten Hours which made him fly to his old Refuge of taking the Jesuits Powder as well as their Counsels th● latter having ever been fatal to Christendom And as if the French King had wanted Torche● or Bonefires for Joy of his Recovery his Troops not satisfied with the Execrable Barbarities they had committed in the Palatinate and other Places proceeded in the later end of May to lay in Ashe● the famous Towns of Oppenheim Worms and Spire in the latter whereof the Imperial-Chamber had a long time been kept not leaving so much as a House standing But a party of the Garrison of Bonne attempting to do the like to the Village of Hauff the Country People took Arms and falling upon them killed about sixty of their Number putting the rest to flight and likewise several Parties of French Foragers and such as were sent to make Incursions into the Countries that neighboured on their Garrison were frequently defeated And now the Most Christian King finding himself hard beset sought to cajole the Algerine Pirates to make a Peace with him and fall upon the Confederates Merchants at Sea although they had a little before so sensibly affronted him as to shoot off his Consul c. and notwithstanding any Proposal they would not hearken to any Treaty unless he would redeem the French Captives to the Number of 800 which he had demanded without any Ransom And when his Agent perceived this would not take he proposed a Truce but that likewise was rejected by the Algerines On the Ninth of June the Marquess Choiseul passed the Rhine at Hunningen with 4000 French Horse and Dragoons and entered the Country of Durlach declaring That he came only to Forage promising not to molest any that should remain quiet in their Houses which the Country People relying on thought they had nothing to fear but they quickly found the little regard the French have to their Word For no sooner had they posted themselves in the Places they designed but the Country was given up to the Discretion of the Soldiers who committed the most outrageous Insolencies and Violencies that can be imagined So that many of the poor People being plundered of all they had and their persons abused were driven before the Soldiers like Sheep or Oxon towards Friburgh and Brisac A few indeed escaped to the Black Forrest where several of them perished for Want whilst the French were cutting up their Corn and destroying the whole Country During these Proceedings Lewis XIV caused his Declaration of War against England and Scotland to be published at Paris viz. on the 28th of June commanding his Fleet to put again to Sea proposing great things to his Advantage But as yet his Expections have been frustrated The Town of Keyserwaert being formally Besieged and closely pressed by the Brandenburgh Forces the Duke being before it in person on the 25th of June Monsieur Marcognet the Governour Capitulated upon Notice the German Soldiers in Garrison were inclined to make Conditions for themselves without him and a Parly being beat the Capitulation was Signed the next Morning by which it was agreed That one of the Gates should be immediately delivered up that the French Officers and Soldiers should march out the Day following with Arms and Baggage c. and be Conducted to Luxemburgh but that the Germans should be at Liberty to go

Places where Briefs were granted and large Contributions given for the Support of such poor Refugees as took shelter and by many Difficulties escaped the Vnchristian Cruelties of the Most Christian King Nor will it be improper for the better informing the Protestant Reader to give a brief Account of what the Manner and Form of the Abjurations and Subscriptions those of the Reformed Religion were to make for the Pleasure of Lewis XIV in which Popery is briefly anatomized viz. IN the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen I Believe and Confess with a firm Faith all and every thing and things contain'd in the Creed which is used by the Holy Church of Rome viz. I Receive and Embrace most Sincerely the Apostolical and Ecclesiastical Traditions and other Observances of the said Church In like manner I Receive the Scriptures but in the same sense as Mother-Church hath and doth now understand and expound the same for whom and to whom it only doth belong to Judge of Interpretation of the sacred Scriptures and I will never take them or understand them otherwise than according to the Unanimous Consent of the Fathers I profess that there be truly and properly Seven Sacraments of the New Law Instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and necessary for the Salvation of Mankind although not Equally needful for every one viz. Baptism Confirmation the Eucharist Penance Extream Vnction Orders and Marriage and that they do confer Grace and that Baptism and Orders may not be reiterated without Sacrilege I receive and Admit also the Ceremonies Approved by the Catholick Church in the Solemn Administration of the forementioned Sacraments I Receive and Embrace all and every thing and things which have been determined concerning Original Sin and Justification by the Holy Council of Trent I likewise profess that in the Mass there is offered up to God a true proper and propitiatory Sacrafice for the Living and Dead and that in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly realy and Substantially the Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and that in it there is made a Change of the whole Substance of Bread into his Body and of the whole Substance of the Wine into his Blood Which Change the Catholick Church calls Transubstantiation I confess also that under one only of these two Elements whole Christ and the true Sacrament is Received I constantly believe and Affirm that there is a Purgatory and the Souls there detained are relieved by the suffrages of the faithful In like manner I believe that the Saints Reigning in Glory with Jesus Christ are to be worshipped and Invocated by us and that they offer up Prayers to God for us and that their Relicks ought to be honoured Moreover I do most stedfastly Avow that the Images of Jesus Christ of the blessed Virgin the Mother of God and of other Saints ought to be kept and ●●ained and that due Honour and Veneration must be yeilded unto them I also do affirm that the Power of Indulgences was left to the Church by Christ Jesus and that the use thereof is very beneficial to Christians I do acknowledge the Holy Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church to be the Mother and Mistress of all other Churches and I profess and swear true Obedience to the Pope of Rome Successor of the blessed St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and Vicar of Jesus Christ In like manner I own and profess without doubting all other things left defined and declared by the Holy Canons and General Councils especially by the most Holy Council of Trent and withal I do condemn reject and hold accursed all things that are contrary thereto and all those Heresies that have been condemned Rejected and Accursed by the Church This is the Goodly stuff to be Imposed on the Consciences of the Protestants which even an Ignorant Indian almost by the Light of Nature might detect And for refusin this they were forced to undergoe all the Torments that witty Horrour could Invent. And to this those that Recanted were obliged to swear in the following Words I Promise Vow and Swear and most constantly profess by God's Assistence to keep entirely and inviolably till death this self-same Catholick and Apostolick Faith out of which no Person can be saved And this I do most truly and willingly profess and that I will to the utmost of my power endeavour that it may be maintained and upheld as far as any ways belongs to my charge So help me God and the Holy Virgin And now to conclude this part of the Glorious Actions of Lewis XIV who would be taken for the very Champion of Mother-Church we shall give you a Copy of the Certificate that the Recanting party is to leave with the Preist when he makes his Abjuration I A. B. of the Parish of C. do certifie to all whom it may concern that having acknowledged the Falsness of the Protestant or pretended Reformed Religion and the Truth of the Catholick Religion of my own free Will without any Compulsion have accordingly made profession of the said Catholick Roman Religion in the Church of D. in the Hands of W. G. In testimony of the Truth whereof I have signed this Act in the presence of the Witnesses whose names are under-written This _____ day of the Month of _____ in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King _____ and of our Redemption _____ c. By this the Reader may see how Innocent Lewis XIV would appear when the Person is compelled to say he makes his Abjuration without any manner of Force and Compulsion voluntarily and willingly when indeed all People even the Preist that takes it knows it to be a palpable Lye Indeed Pope Innocent XI and the Pope we must conclude to be no Friend to the Protestant Religion which is diametrically opposed to his Interest when Lewis XIV by his Ambassador at Rome bore himself so much upon the Meritorious Service he had done the Church in converting such a number of Hereticks as he styled them told the Ambassador That if his Master had nothing else to boast of it would be little to his Glory for his manner of Converting Hereticks was neither pleasing to God nor Man But to trace this ambitious Prince a little farther let us see how little he regards Religion when his Interest or Wilfulness calls him on to Violent and Arbitrary Motions For even the Pope himself fared little better in his Hands as far as lay in his power to attempt against him though he would be styled the Eldest and most obedient Son of the Church Whereby it will appear that his Hand is against all without distinction Whilst Lewis the Great was so earnestly persecuting his Protestant Subjects Pope Innocent XI of a Pope reckoned to be the best that has been for some hundreds of Years finding an Increase of Murthers Outrages and Villanies in the City of Rome and that those