it is not to be doubted extremly surpriz'd to see himself stopp'd on the sudden by that surprizing Change which has so lately happen'd in England and who can doubt but that this change of Soveraigns has been a Mortal Blow to him seeing that by that means he not only sees his Great and Ambitious Desigâ—â—s overturn'd and in lieu of a near Ally and intimate Friend he finds on the Throne none but an unrecon-cilable Enemy burning with Zeal for the Preservation of Europe and with a desire of Punishing thâ— Usurper and that which is yeâ— more sensible to France is thaâ— this New Monarch will not fail oâ— being Seconded by all the Christian Princes We have seen England in changing of Master to make the face of the Affairs oâ— Europe change also especially in the Low-Countries the decree of their Ruine having been determined between the Two Kings Lewis the XIV and James the II. after that France had long consider'd the United Provinces aâ— the only Obstacle that could prevent it from Conquering the rest of Europe well knowing that those States would at all times Oppose themselves to the Ruine of their Neighbours push'd on by a Motive of Generosity of Equity and of Interest also Therefore the King of France could not perceive which way he should go about to overcome his Opponents but in mining and in destroying totally those Provinces thereby shutting them out of the power of hindring him or of opposing his Design and that he could not do without England's consent Wherefore after the death of Charles the Second he so dextrously did embark King James in his Design and set him at variance with his Parliament through Religious Motives by ridiculous demands of the abolishing of the Test and Penal Laws which had been established for the support of the Kingdom and the preservation of the Establish'd Religion France was assur'd that by that means it should set the King and Parliament out of power or reuniting again and that by those means Lewis the XIV should oblige that Prince whom he led by the Nose to apply himself to him for Mony which he certainly knew the Parliament would refuse him that in case they should grant it to him it should be on such conditions which the King would not accept And thus that ill advis'd Pâ—â—nce would not fail to turn himself towards France as he has done and to let himself be obseded and won by fair but false Promises to render him absolute Master over his People and his Parliament with which Lewis the XIV has so long fed and entertain'd with dexterity the weak Imagination of his Ally that he has lull'd him asleep into a Lethargy very opposite to his right Interest to that of his People and even to that of all Europe of which it may be said That England holds the Scales In the year 1672. France was already working on her project against the United States through the means of England if we consider with what weakness Charles the Second permitted himself to be ty'd up by those Treaties he made contrary to so many Obligations which he had to the said States and of his particular Interest feeding himself with hopes of a share in those said Provinces before they were taken With what weakness did the same Prince sell to France the Town of Dunkirk and behold with his Arms folded Lewis the XIV take the principal places of the Spanish Netherlands not only Cambray Valencienne S. Omers Erre but so many others al-also which were as so many bulwarks to stay the fury of Lewis the XIV And ever after the Peace of Nimeguen have not whole Provinces submitted to the French Yoke And while that under the shelter of that Peace other Soveraigns had disbanded their Forces France alone kept his Arms because it knew what it was hatching and what it design'd to do The Town of Luxembourg was a Thorn in its side and it would be Master of it and Charles the Second was as little mov'd or it as if he had been pay'd to let him do and say nothing and behold unconcern'd that place taken from the Spaniard Free Europe which little by little saw one Province after another and one Town after another submitted to France did frequently cast its Eye towards the Parliament of England in hopes to receive some relief from that part but France had so well taken its measures there that before that Illustrious Body was assembled divers Lords at the sound of Louis d'Ors were become deaf to the Complaints of the generality and some amongst them had even lost the use of Speech and were become motionless for the publick good and that of the Nation and so soon as the House of Commons began to harp on that string the King made use of his Authority to prorogue them to another time and so business run in the same course again and gave leave to France to continue its way to gain Conquest on Conquest In the mean time the true English men who are the most jealous of their Liberties of any Nation were forc'd to be silent and quietly behold themselves hedg'd in on all sides without opposing it nor daring to complain Those that were lukewarm would frequently ask Why the Spaniards and the Imperialists who had most interest in it did not oppose themselves to that Tâ—rrent and to those French Conquests I confess that if they could have done it alone they ought to have gone about it and they can never be excus'd for having neglected it but those who know a little the Affairs of the World are not ignorant of the misery Spain is fallen into during the minority of a King and that the Netherlands are far remote from the Empire which has many Heads and which of truth cannot assist them without its Allyes that are nearest to those Provinces who are the King of England and the States of the United Provinces The Emperor has continually the Turks at his doors over which he is to keep a strict watch at all times Besides as I have already mentioned the Empire 's compos'd of divers Members who have each their Soveraign and their different Interests and therefore a long time is required and divers Springs must play to set so great a Machine going and frequently before the resolution of it be taken France has done its do and then it speaks of Peace and of Accommodation by which means Lewis XIV has for the most part kept his Conquests if they deserve that Name after which every one retires home disbands France makes shew to do the same and if it acquiesces so far to disband some Troops in one part of the Kingdom it raises others in another and thus remains still in the same posture to do mischief ready to attempt some new thing so soon as it finds any favourable opportunity In that interval France did not remain quiet it had its Emissaries in all the Courts of Germany who using the slight of
hand acquir'd thereby many Creatures it is a Maxime which has long since succeeded well with them and particularly at the Court of England during the last Reigns those Emissaries have labour'd with so much zeal and heat and return'd so frequently to the charge doubling the Dose when there was occasion that they often succeeded and by those means have opposed themselves to the best Designs which the Emperor and the soundest part of the Empire could have had But suppose that the Empire had been in as good an harmony as it is at present through the good Union there is betwixt the Emperor and his Princes and that France had nothing to do but with the Empire alone I maintain that by only setting it self in a posture of Defence on the side of Germany it might make 〈◊〉 Master of a good pare of the Spâ—â—â—sh Netherlands if its Neighbourâ— oppos'd not themselves to it before the Emperor could remedy it Besides that since the taking of Luxembourg the passage is partly block'd up to the Germans and all that they could do werâ— to draw near to Burgundy and to Alsatia or form some considerable Siege to draw the Arms of France that way but as that would have hel'd the Germans long in hand the French King would notwithstanding do his business in Flanders But if England had had on its Throne as it has at present a King well intention'd for the welfare of Europe and the particular good of his own People he might alone stop the French King in the apprehension he has of landing Men on his Coasts in his own Kingdom and this truth is so certain that Lewis the XIV as powerful as he has been as high as he would seem to be has never undertaken any thing that way but after he had consulted the Kings of England then Reigning and even Cromwell himself while he usurped the Government of the three Kingdoms Thus we have seen that this Monarch before getting into Flanders had sweetned the Court of England by the means of his Honey he taught them to speak French and to like whatever he did undertake and quietly to let him so fast advance that at last it had no longer been in the power of the English to drive him back I know that France alone knows how much this has cost it but what matters at what rate so one obtains ones Desires Thus the most Christian King having dispos'd England on that side and having strength enough as doubtless he has to set a considerable Army on foot on the side of Germany besides that 〈◊〉 Flanders that he is in a condiâ—â—â— to hazard a Battle with the Impâ—rialists and their Allies if these laâ—â— had the ill fortune to be beaten a that may happen the Success beinâ— various it is certain That then thâ— Germans would have much to dâ— to rally again into any Body thaâ— were capable to do any advantageous Exploit that Campaign foâ— the good of Flanders there being nothing that wastes more thâ— Troops that are compos'd of diverâ— Members and under divers Chiefs than the ill success of a first Campaign And there needs sometime but one Ally to decline the common Interest like the Pin of a Carriage to put all the rest out of power to do any thing and to break the best Designs which might have been form'd and it would be in such like occasion that the Pride of France would swell and that the usurping Torrent would over-run its bounds more than ever on the Netherlands which would be without hope of Remedies if they were to wait for succour from Germany as it may easily be judged by what I have said and which might easily have happen'd there being nothing impossible in it Moreover France which has most strong Reasons to be on its guard and to always fear has long since so well provided for its Frontier places on all sides that it will require of its Enemies almost a whole Campaign to carry one only of any importance Since France has left the way to Italy the King is so fully persuaded that the Conquest of the seventeen United Provinces of the Netherlands would facilitate him the ways to that of Europe but particularly of the Empire that he has apply'd himself wholly to it and has always endeavoured to amuse by illusive Promises part of those very Provinces while that he render'â— himself Master of the other partâ— under the Dominion of Spain having first lull'd England asleep France requiring only the favour to decide alone that Dispute with Spain But that Lewis the XIV might accomplish that first Design on the Spanish Netherlands there was a necessity that the States of the United Provinces which had a notable interest in the preservation of the Neighbouring Provinces under their lawful Prince should give their helping hand to their ruine or at leasâ— should look on that Monarch without moving till he had come on their Frontiers But there was but little likelihood of that wherefore the French King foreseeing well that those States would never fall in that Lethargy nor would permit to have their hands ty'd up while a conceal'd Enemy approach'd them and penn'd them up close taking from them â—ittle by little all those Places which were to serve them as Bars â—t was for that very Reason that that Monarch did on the sudden alter his mind and beholding according to his Desires what he had long expected a Catholick Prince on the Throne of England who had for divers years been in â—is Pay allowing him consiâ—erable Pensions when yet he was â—ut Duke of York and consequently â—id entirely possess and obseade him He made use of the ill Diposition of the new King in his Concerns with the States General â—o that it was no longer difficult â—or the French King who waited â—ut for that moment to accomâ—lish his Project thus those two Kings the one push'd on by his Ambition the other by his ill Inâ—lination join'd together to Exerminate the Seven United Proâ—inces under the fair and specious pretence of Religion and Extirpating of Heresie that tâ—â— other Catholick Princes who weâ— concern'd in the Preservation 〈◊〉 the United Provinces might neâ—â— oppose themselves to such an hoâ—â— Work and so lull them asleeâ— If that business had succeeded 〈◊〉 Lewis the XIV he had withoâ—â— striking one blow render'd hiâ—self Master all under one of tâ—â— Spanish Netherlands and after thaâ— made use of all the Forces of 〈◊〉 Kingdom together with those 〈◊〉 his Conquests to enter into Geâ—many and directly March to thâ— Empire follow'd with an Armâ— of more than an Hundred Thousand Men what Prince of thâ—â— Empire or the Emperor himselâ— could have disputed the Busineâ—â— with him or have put a stop 〈◊〉 his March But for so great a Work it waâ— necessary to fasten England firmâ—â— to his Interests and to pull dowâ— â—he States of the United Provinces which was the chiefest Business 〈◊〉 not being likely that Soveâ—aigns who so well
know their own Interest as do those States â—hould permit Lewis the XIV to â—dvance one Foot of Ground more â—han he is already being but too â—orwards all that Monarchs fair Promises and his kind assurances of Friendship remaining without â—ffect not being able to win them to be deceiv'd And perceiving that his Credit was at an end in those Provinces that all the Propositions of the Count d'Avaux his Ambassador were suspected and that he was still entertain'd with much Circumspection as Lions are fed still pulling the hand back finding himself discover'd and cried down not to lose any more time to flatter and amuse â—â—e said States being not able to accomplish his ends that way he â—esolv'd to ruine them at the same time that King James the II. goâ— on the Throne he knowing weâ— his Genius was satisfied that there wanted nothing but a Golden Apple to amuse him and to follow that itching desire which thaâ— Prince had to render himself Absolute Master over all his Kingdom to alter the Laws and thâ— Religion of it and to feed hiâ—â— before hand with the hopes of thâ—â— Spanish Indies that he might nâ—â— longer find himself oblig'd to Assemble his Parliament who approv'd not of his Proceeding noâ— of that great Alliance he had witâ— France which under what shapâ— soever it was represented to them did always appear hiddeous Dâ—ring all that long Interval anâ— till there were a fair occasion 〈◊〉 perform that great Design thâ— French Emissaries did continuallâ— pour their cold Poison in the English Court which was quaff'd 〈◊〉 in large Draughts by some of thâ— Grandees which they endeavour'd to Digest without noise seeing that at the same time they thus under-hand set forward their Masters Interest others who were not at such a distance provided themselves with an Apple against draught as did many others in all the Courts of Christendom It was in this contagious time so infected with the French Lewis D'Ors that Europe was to tremble and that all honest people that concern'd themselves in the common Cause of the good of Christendom were to shake at the very sight of that weight which was going to crush Europe to pieces seeing that its general loss had immediately follow'd that of the Seventeen United Provinces the Emperor nor the King of Spain not being then able to prevent nor put a stop to that Torrent which had chang'd it self into a Deluge from which not England it self had been Exempted in its time if afterward it would not have danc'd to the French Flutes and obey'd the Orders of its Ambitious Monarch I am willing to make use of these Terms seeing that all those that are Pensioners of France are soâ— but to Execute his Orders and to Work to increase the Grandeuâ— of Lewis the XIV not to oppose his Interests but on the contrary Sacrifice their Honour and their Lives to them so oft as the Good and the Interest of France should require it If ever Lewis the XIV had obtain'd his end and had made himself Master of the Forces of the Seventeen Provinces as he plotted it in his greedy Imagination through the King of England's Means there had then been no ways left for this last to retire though he should perceive his Error as Charles the II. had done and he must either by fair or fouâ— means have gone on with that he had begun through a weak Complacency and then the Most Christian King had rais'd his Voice and Arm at the same time and had spoken in Magisterial Terms to all the Princes of Europe neither had that of England been left for the last but had been oblig'd to submit to the same Fate with all the others as a Reward for all the good Services that he should have render'd him I once again repeat that the Designs of France were not new that long since Lewis the XIV had had them before him even before that James the II. had got on the Throne and during his Brother's Reign he luckily made use of the Dutchess of Orlean's Management who was Sister to both the Kings Charles and James But the First of them who had continually before his Eyes the Tragical end of his Father and who was still very sensible 〈◊〉 the sufferings and troubles of his Exile had much to do to resolve upon it and the Apprehensions which he had of his People did retain him and hindred him from Assisting France in all things as he was solicited to do and he at last did abandon it as we did see by the Peace which he had made with the States of the United Provinces and then he seemingly did relinquish the Interests of his Ally not to Prorogue his Parliament who very plainly did forsee the danger in which the Nation was going to fall had France continued its Progress as it had began in 1672. and the years following After the Peace of Nimeguen the Kings great Design against the United Provinces remain'd as buried during the remnant of King Charles his Reign but he soon rais'd it again for at King James's Ascending the Throne France gather'd new Vigour and beholding there so good a Friend with whom he was tied in Religion and Inclination Lewis the XIV fail'd not to strike the Iron while it was hot and during the Three or Four Years of his Reign the French Emissaries gave divers Assaults and set all Hands to work the French Ambassador Barillon made great Largesses to all those whom he thought propper to do his Master Service the Curtisans tasted of the Cake as well as divers Ministers at Court thus all unanimously did labour to perswade James the II. so soon as he was King to second Lewis the XIV in his Designs divers not knowing them there needed no great Perswasion to attain it because that Prince was already sufficiently inclin'd to it of himself and at that time of all Employs that of Messenger was the most necessary there was nothing seen but such kind of Persons on the Road from London to Paris and from Paris to London till the Treaty was finish'd of which the chief matter and knot of the Business was the ruine and destruction of the United Provinces All the Religious Orders and above all the Jesuits did take a great Interest in that Business and already cried out The Town was their own there was a perpetual motion among them the Ships that cross'd the Seas on both Parties were throng'd with those Zealots and Apostolick Postilions thus were all things in motion for the Good of France and for the Advancement of its Monarchs Designs some through Interest some through Zeal and others through meer Ignorance This Business thus built up with Lime and Stone concluded and resolv'd on betwixt the Two Kings Lewis the XIV the better to compass all things was desirous to strengthen himself towards the North but having lost the friendship of the Sweeds for having fail'd in keeping those Treaties which had formerly pass'd
seconded as he believ'd by a strict alliance with England having no more to manage nor to fear from the United Provinces I leave to guess what he had and might have done and how far he had push'd on his Ambition I maintain that then the Pope with all Italy the Emperor with the whole Empire and Spain with all the Riches of the Indies had not been of power to hinder him from making himself Master of all Europe There is but England alone then that is Capable to make the most Christian King alter his Designs and that could not happen but by such a lucky Catastrophe and so unexpected as that which has lately happen'd there under the Reign of William the IIId For there was requir'd to be Sitting on the Throne in order to such a Change a Disinterested Prince Zealous of the Glory of God and the good of Christendom Jealous of the Usurpation which Lewis the XIVth had made in Europe Incorruptible Magnanimous a Man of Counsel and Execution understanding well his own Interest and who had been highly provok'd by France that he might not hearken to any accommodation nor yield any thing to the prejudice of his Allies This is what we find entirely in that Prince who has newly Ascended the Brittish Throne wherefore so soon as this Heroe had pass'd over into England and that a happy Success had seconded his Great Designs we have seen Lewis the XIVth become motionless on the sudden as formerly did Atlas at the sight of the Medusa's head which was shew'd him by that Generous Perseus The Foundation on which the French King had built his Grand Design the strict Alliance which he had with James the Second having once given way all the rest of the Fabrick is fallen to the ground and his Castles in the Air have gone into Smoak having no hopes to take any Measures in his Designs with this his present Britanick Majesty who to cut off all his Hopes and stop all his Proceedings has driven out of England all the French Emissaries resolv'd never to hearken any more to them in the Design he has to restore the quiet and tranquility of Christendom and to maintain Europe in that Deliverance which He has lately procur'd to it by his only Elevation to the Throne I prove my Axiome by that which follows When a Town is Besieg'd and that at the approach of its Deliverer its Enemies abandon it and their Designs miscarry they retire and though the Heroe which has caus'd its deliverance be not yet enter'd that Place it is publish'd abroad that the Place is Reliev'd as really it is So Lewis the XIVth having a Design of Conquering Europe to Depose the Lawful Soveraigns thereof and to Sacrifice all Christendom to his Ambition as it is no longer doubted it being a Truth but too well averr'd and known That Usurper has no sooner seen William the IIId Proclaim'd King but that he has abandon'd his Enterprise and chang'd his Design and in lieu of destroying the Powers of Europe has had no other thoughts but of preserving himself and his Kingdom I joyn to the coming of William the IIId to the Crown of England the strict Alliance there is between his Majesty of Great Brittain and the States of the United Provinces as also the Union of the Emperor with all the Princes of the Empire I confess that it has been a great Business to have freed Europe from the danger which threatned it to have dispers'd in a Moment all the great and pernicious Designs of an Ambitious Prince that on all occasions made no scruple to break his Faith when that Crime agreed with his Ambition and Interest who notwithstanding his Word given to the Contrary back'd with his Oath has neither spar'd the blood nor the ruine of so many Thousands of Christians in the bare Opinion that he ought to do it for his Interest 's sake and to weaken his Enemies having not spar'd even his own Subjects And if we return to the Primary Cause we cannot but believe that the Heavens wearied with so much Injustice with so much Cruelty and enormous Crimes and with so much blood-shed which Cries for Vengeance has at last rais'd William and Mary on the Throne and suggested a good Union amongst the Princes of Christendom to stop the Barbarous Course of Lewis the XIVth But it is not enough to have reduc'd the Lyon that Sack'd Europe to get into his Den his Claw must be pair'd also and his Teeth pull'd out that hereafter he may do no more harm and that his Power may be limited that he may no longer Desolate our Countries that he devour no more the Innocent and that the most Christian Oppress no more the Christians Lewis the XIVth's Policy and Interest in the Condition he is at present reduc'd is to gain time to see whether any Change would not happen in England nor no Contestation in Germany whereâ—ore he offers in all places he can Neutrality that he might find 〈◊〉 those Princes that should not declare themselves some Mediaâ—ors or to speak more properly â—â—tercessors near the Emperor and â—â—e King of England as well as â—ear the United Provinces in the â—â—r he is of a total downfall if â—ngland and the Empire continue 〈◊〉 they have began and as it is to believ'd they will do according 〈◊〉 all appearance if they love â—â—eir quiet their preservation and their own Interests as well as the good of their People I confess that much has been done especially by the King oâ— England to have deliver'd Europâ— at present without drawing his Sword but the future must be thought on and the means muâ—â— be taken from France of any more threatning Europe to set it in right Ballance with the House 〈◊〉 Austria or at least in a Conditioâ— of having need of its Allies anâ— not put an end to this preseâ—â— War which is kindling in all places 'till that be perform'd To succeed the better in it anâ— to animate the more all the Princes of Europe they ought to caâ—â— up what France has Usurped from them the dammage they havâ— receiv'd by it and that whiâ—â— they may receive hereafter aâ—â— never lay down their Arms ' tiâ— they all have had full satisfaction for the more it shall be fore'd tâ— restore the more will its Soveraign be weakned I set in the first Rank the Pope who by all the Catholicks is corsider'd as the head of the Church Christ's Vicar on Eaâ—â—â— St. Peter's Successor the Common Father of all Christians the Dispencer of Celestial Graces and who being consider'd as such ought to be fear'd respected rever'd honour'd and obey'd as to the â—piâ—itual laying aside the Câ—nâ—â—st which is among the Catholicks themselves concerning the Temporal and not withstanding that Lewis the XIVth names himself â—he Eldest Son of the Church and â—he most devout Son of the Sovevaign Pontis what Mortification has not the good Father receiv'd â—rom him since his coming to the
that remainiâ—â— Barren after some consideraâ—â—â—â— time she might be Divorc'd aâ—cording to the Laws and Statutâ—â— of that Kingdom All the study of the said Queen was but most particularly a little before her death to labour hard for the advantage of France and at the last her greatest business was to intercede with the King for that Money which was come to Cadiz on the French Account in the last Fleet that was come from the Indies And we have seen that contrary to the right Policy and the true Interest of Spain the Queen succeded in it for that Money ought to have been sequestred under the King's Seal 'till the Council had seen what Course the Affairs of Europe had taken in these present Conjunctures Spain had no want of pretences it had just cause to have kept back without blame those 14 Millions which of truth were Counterbands seeing that no strangers have the liberty to negotiate in the Spanish Indies under pain of Confiscation 'till his Catholick Majesty had seen what satisfaction he should receive from France on all his other Demands and Pretensions and in case he receiv'd none he then might have been his own Pay-Master as it is frequently practis'd even amongst private Persons but what I say here is after Death the Physician seeing the Birds are flown there is no remedy for this time but for the future the Persons concern'd will consider better Another of the late Queens application was to bring the Catholick King to accept of a Neutrality which France offer'd him that joyn'd to the recovering of the Money we lastly mention'd was the only business of the Ambassador Rebenac But while they were thus acting against the Interests of Spain God has taken that Queen away in the prime of her Age before she could render that last piece of service to her Uncle the French King which was so necessary to him at this present How can it be help'd I confess that it is a very great loss for France but it must comfort it self as Spâ—in has done for parting with the 14 Millions France ever slye and cunning made use of a specious pretence to oblige the King of Spain to accept of the Neutrality endeavouring to perswadâ— him that by that means he should become a Mediator betwixt France and the Empire as if the Most Christian King did not know the strict Union there is betwixt those two Monarchs which make but one House and Family Thus their interest being but one and that of the Emperor being the same with that of the King of Spain which is well known to his Christian Majesty let any judge whether France being certain of that Truth which is not to be doubted had a desire to referr her Concerns into the hands of the Catholick King except she were at the very last gasp not knowing what Saint to Pray to But the most probable and the most receiv'd Opinion is that the French King makes his last Efforts to diminish the number of its Enemies and though Spain should be so weak as the French Partisans would make us believe it is and that at most it could but stand on the Defensive part The French must have two Armies on foot to prevent the Spaniards from advancing The one in Catalonia and the other in Flanders and peradventure a third in Navarre which might take him up at least Fifty Thousand Men which he might have employ'd elsewhere If Spain had accepted of that Neutrality and if Lewis the Great mean time had overcame the Empire what would have become of Spain afterwards after all what assurance has it that France would more religiously observe the Neutrality than it has the Peace and the Truce and who had been its Caution that when the French King had had an opportunity he had not fallen on some place of the Netherlands and it may be on Navarre and Mentz all at one time when the Governours were fallen asleep in the arms of a Neutrality as in a deep Lethargy as they did presently after the Peace of Nimeguen in which the Marquess of Grana was reposing at ease filling his Purse by sparing the entertaining of a number of Forces which were so necessary to him while he had to do with so dangerous a Neighbour who no longer remember'd Treaties than while he Sign'd them because they were at that time of use to him he never wanting afterwards Pretences when he would break them A Neutrality in this juncture of time is very hurtful to Spain and to its Allies but above all to the Emperor and to the Empire Spain would do as if when Two Brothers were Attack'd one should look on his Companion with foulded Armes while he was divested of all expecting his turn to be next whereas if they both defended themselves at once they might either overcome their Enemy or drive him away What assurances has Spain that if the French King could overcome the Empire he would not Attack it next as he would doubtless do Wherefore his Catholick Majesty ought to make a last Effort in this present Conjuncture he ought to consider thâ—t France has taken from him Lisle Valiencienne Cambray St. Omer Erre and many other places in the Provinces of Flanders Namur Hainau Luxembourg and in fine the City of Luxembourg which was as a Bull work to the rest of Flanders and of Brabant as well as to the other Provinces while England remain'd with folded Arms against its own proper Interest having been brib'd to let France do what it pleas'd King James as zealous a Catholick as he was did consent that Lewis the XIV should seize on the remainder of the Netherlands while he should sit himself with the Spanish Indies as his Ally had promised him he should thus did they without any scruple divest their Catholick Neighbours of their Rights and shar'd them amongst them without casting of Lots If that Prince had not abandon'd the Throne that Neutrality might have been very considerable but now the Case is alter'd in quitting of the Crown he has Disarm'd himself he is now but like a Wasp without a Sting which buzzes about but cannot sting Spain has lost in him a conceal'd Enemy and a false Ally who sold to France that which belong'd not to him and that consented to the seizing on Goods wherein he had no share but God who laughs at the design of Men would not permit that those of James the II. should come to perfection Providence for the safety of Europe has bestow'd his place to another Prince and has conducted as 't were by the hand William the III. to the Throne he according to all appearance is to be the Instrument through which God will give rest to Christendom Thus Spain in lieu of an Enemy which it had in James the II. late King of England recovers in his Successor a good Friend and Ally faithful to his Word and who being join'd to his Allies may all together labour effectually to establish the King of
Persons are as honest as themselves so that it will not be difficult for the French to impose upon them but as to Europe we are now in a time that no Prince will have any Alliance will France much less with any of its Princesses as Wives seeing there is general complaint of them for having caus'd Disorders in all the States they came to The United Provinces are highly concern'd to keep low the French King to take from him all desires of molesting them nor to go so far towards them as the Conquest of the Netherlands of Spain It was always the aim of Lewis the Great according to the advice of Mounsieur de Sulli formerly Ambassador of France into England in the time of Henry the IV. who gave him to observe that the conjunction of the United Provinces with France was the only means to restore it to its ancient Grandeur and to render it Superior to all the rest of Christendom Formerly the French Kings had their folly fix'd on Italy believing in imitation of the ancient Romans that it was the Gate they were to pass through to attain to the Universal Monarchy but having found that way too Thorny and that Country having frequently been the Church-yard of the French they have grown weary of it and have turn'd themselves towards the Low-Countries where hitherto Lewis the XIV has succeeded better and he had found out a means to continue there his Progress if the Heavens had not prevented it by the change in England I know that the United Provinces had had nothing to fear if the Netherlands of Spain had been in a condition to maintain themselves with their own strength or if the late Kings of England had had the same Sentiments which Queen Elizabeth had and if Charles and James the Seconds had said to Monsieur Barillon that which that Queen said to Monsieur of Sulli That neither France nor England nor any other Prince had any thing to pretend to the Netherlands that she should not suffer that the King his Master should have any thoughts that way Perhaps the Lewis D'Ors were not currant in those Days in that Great Princesses Court as they have since been and that that Princess did better understand her own true Interest than divers Kings who have succeeded her have done But thanks to Heaven those Kings are pass'd and God has at this present seated on the Throne a King who understands very well his Interest and that of the Nation much better than did his Predecessor and who following the Traces of that Great Princess was no sooner got to the Government but he sent back Monsieur Barillon to tell his Master that he had nothing to do in the Netherland end that he would prevent him from any furâ—hâ—r Usurpation in those parts The Elevation of that Great Pâ—â—â—â—e oâ—â— the Throne of England is a fatal Blow to the greatness of Lewis the XIV we must have so much Charity as to confess it but at the same time it produces the Quier and Repose of all Europe it is a Bit clapp'd in the French Kings Mouth which retains him from a running so far as to the United Provinces and that shelters them from all his Insultations and from all his Threatnings and furnishes them at the same time with Mâ—ans to resist him vigorously and to clip his Wings so short that he may not fly any more beyond his just bounds it is a bitter Pill which he is forc'd to swallow and which â—ill make him to disgorge and 〈◊〉 re-establish those bounds which 〈◊〉 had remov'd during his Neighbours weaknesses in a profound â—nd universal Peace The United Provinces as well 〈◊〉 divers other States find themâ—â—lves deliver'd now from that danâ—er that threatned them and it 〈◊〉 now their turn to speak aloud â—nding themselves assisted by so â—owerful an Allie as England they â—â—ay demand the Restitution of all â—â—e Places of the Spanish Netherâ—â—nds which have been taken from â—â—em since the Peace of the Piâ—â—eans because those places serve 〈◊〉 preserve them and as bars that 〈◊〉 a large Territory betwixt them â—nd so dangerous a Prince besides â—hat the damage they have suâ—â—ain'd in their Trade is very conderable and gives them cause of â—reat pretensions France has supâ—lanted and deceiv'd them in diâ—ers occasions and it has endeavour'd to lull them asleep especially in the last place by the Count d' Avaux its Ambassador through vain promises which Father Limojou the French King's Almoner call'd Illusory and in which there was no sincerity nor good Faith as we have seen in all his Proceedings after the Peace of Nimeguen and that it has been but a continual Usurpation That this King might the longer and with more safety enjoy those Places that he had Usurped aâ—â— Truce was patch'd up for Twenty Years during a full Peace which he likewise broke in few Years after After he had Fortified those Conquer'd Places made his Alliance with James the II. and destroy'd by an unheard of Cruelty which is natural to him the Protestants in his own Kingdom as he assureâ— by his Declaration of the revocation of the Edict of Nants that he had made that Truce but in order to destroy them notwithstanding all the Protestations to the contrary which the Count d'Avaux had made to obtain it and to deceive with more ease in the opinion that after he had made an end with those Protestants whom he accus'd of having Dutch Hearts and Intelligences with them 't was to that end that â—he seisure tended which was made of all the Books and Papers belonging to their Consistories â—hroughout the whole Kingdom â—o know the Sums they had sent â—nto Holland during the War â—nd seconded by the King of Engâ—and then Reigning he should â—ver-run the United Provinces and leave for a time those of the Spaâ—iards considering them always he only ones that could cross his Designs and hinder him from â—aking his great Conquests over â—urope But now Fortune has â—urn'd her back to him and by the event we find that he has not cast up right and that his Most Christian Majesty had not reckon'd on the Elevation of the Prince of Orange to the Crown of England by that fall of his Ally who has broken all his Measures and destroy'd his Alliances open'd aâ— way to the Sâ—ares to attack him in his own Hold and to reduce him to Guard his own Kingdom no longer to think but to defend himself it is no longer now thâ— time of the Peace of Nimeguâ—â— which was made up on its consideration but through the Treacherâ— of France as the baseness witâ— which it has observ'd it as weâ—â— as the Treatises of Trade shew 〈◊〉 sufficiently and that the Kiâ—â— had quite another aim than thâ— States-General had propos'd 〈◊〉 themselves at the conclusion 〈◊〉 that Peace and afterwards of the Truce Seeing that the King hâ— violated all Trading and declaâ—â— War to the United Provinces on â—he frivolous pretence and
England is to keep continually at Sea that in conjunction with that of the States General he may be Master of the Sea and not only give an Allarm on the Coasts of France but make a descent also in Two different places so soon as possible it can be done then will that Kingdom be in a Combustion and the King of it will lose the North not knowing what place first to Succour as a City that the Fire seizes in all Places and those that shall Land there may be assur'd to be Seconded by a great number of the Inhabitants all along that Coast and from the Neighbouring Provinces William the III. now Reigning ought to be certain that his Predecessors have not for nothing preserv'd that Title of King of France the Rights of Kings never grow out of Date they are always Pupils and at liberty to claim what has wrongfully been taken from them So long as England shall subsist the Kings will have a double Right to France which will never be lost so long as Henry the V. shall have any Successors to the Crown of England he was Son to Margarite of France and she Daughter to Philip le Bell whose Sons deceas'd without Successors to the Crown of France and that Henry as a further Right Married the Daughter of Charles the VI. Being come to France it was decreed by the States of the Kindom that he should be their King after the Death of Charles the VI. and in that Quality the Queen his Mother in Law made him Heir of all her Means and of the Crown of France I am perswaded that there would not need any thing near so much to Lewis the XIV to frame an irrevocable Pretension on England and that the Royal Chamber of Metz would very readily confirm it without the least trouble but there is no such thing on the contrary there has happen'd a time in which all the deceits and subtleties of France begin very much to unstitch and to be thread-bare William the III. has overturn'd the Bankers Tables which the French King's Emissaries had set up in all places their false Coin is no longer currant their Money is cry'd down their Lewis D'Ors which were Worshipped as the Heathen do their Puppets are grown odious to honest People at least the occasion of their Distribution and they are no more capable to corrupt at this time than is the Copper of Sweede Thus France beginning to be cried down by all Christendom and to be slighted in all the Courts of the Princes of Europe it has chang'd its Game and endeavours to imitate those ancient Curtisans who being grown old and wither'd are cast off and abandon'd by every body who alter the Passion once had for them which obliges them also to an alteration in turning Biggots and Superstitious endeavouring to counterfeit Mary-Magdalen thereby to regain that esteem of the People which they had lost by their debauched Lives Thus Lewis the XIV to draw on new Friends and Allies the better to oppose himself to the King of Great Britain and perceiving that all his Credit with the Catholick Princes is at an end that none will any longer confide in him and that his Maxims are cried down he has taken in hand other Means much more subtle than the precedent were he no longer speaks to them of his own Interests but he now Proclaims to them That they must come to the Assistance of the Catholick Religion That it was aimed at when King James his Ally was Attack'd and that he has no other design of making War but for the support of that dear Religion especially by the re-establishment of that Prince on his Throne that if all the Catholicks would but join with him or remain Neuter that he alone will undertake to Re-establish him and at the same time the Catholick Religion in England and Scotland and after â—hat beat down Heresie in its very Center But all this while Lewis the XIV is far from telling what he conceals under those specious Pretences which would be that after he had pull'd down William the III. overcome the Protestant Princes he would do the like to all the Roman Catholicks one after another and thus become Master of Europe 〈◊〉 â—erâ—ain that the diversity of Religion has always been as a large and vast Abiss betwixt the Catholick and the Protestant Princes but the Cruelty and Perfidiousness of the French has fill'd up that Abiss and levell'd the way between them and all difficulties are at present laid aside Even the French King himself unknowingly has given a help in hand to the Business with all his Power for while he endeavours to perswade all the World that he has no other aim than to promote the Catholick Faith and that he Preaches in all places his Conversions that he importunes the Pope to join with him for the Defence of the Church and just in the height of such a fair Mission in all appearance he orders his Troops to enter into the Territories of the Catholick Princes to Attack those of the Prelates of the Church and even to insult the Pope though Head of that Religion which he protests he would defend burning and destroying all over Germany where his Troops but set their Foot without exception of Religion nor of Persons Sacrificing to their Rage the most Sacred Places their Insolence not sparing so much as the Monasteries of the Virgins devoted to the Service of God nor their impiety the Image of our Saviour and that of the holy Virgin his Mother which they have Treated with the greatest Indignation and irreverence that any Atheist could have been guilty of acting in all places like Men that had no Faith and that acknowledg'd no God and all this too as the whole World knows against the promis'd Faith of Treaties and Capitulations which they own they have agreed to but to enter the further and with more ease into Places and to put in Execution their Wicked and Pernicious Designs the King threatning to Cashier those Officers that should not execute with all barbarousness and exactly with the last extremity the Orders of the Court as if they had been sent to put an end to the Would by Fire before the appointed time by Divine Providence After all this how can so cruel and so inhumane a Prince take upon him the Title of Most Christian and while that by an over-plus of Crimes he joyns with the Turks to exterminate and ruine Christendom assuring those Infidels that he has not taken up Arms but to come to their Assistance and to procure them tâ—◠〈◊〉 to recover what they have lost in Hungary and to return before Vienna It is no small trouble to that Most Christian King to have mist his oportunity during the last Siege of Vienna not to have advanc'd with his Army which was ready at hand into Germany without expecting as he did the taking of Vienna but he then believing the loss of it inevitable he thought
be committed in the Palatinate with those that the Grand Seignior has made in Hungary and though this last place has been for a long time the Seat of War yet at the Retreat of the Infidels they have not committed any thing near the like Extortions nor us'd the same violence that the French have done in those places that they have abandon'd in the Palatinate and in the Country of Juliers and of Cologne and if there were no other cause but this though there are but too many more there would need in my Opinion nothing but the sad spectacle of the French barbarousness to animate all the Princes and Members of Europe to a good and firm Union with the Emperor which will be the only means to preserve themselves and to prevent France from doing the like hereafter Though France is brought low through the opposition of England in all its Designs yet has it not forgot its ancient Maxims which have formerly succeeded so well it will not sail to put into practice all the ways imaginable to corrupt some Member of the Empire and to break that Chain of Unity there is amongst them to endeavour thereby to put a stop to the Success of their Arms as it frequently happens that a broken or rotten Pin disorders a whole Carriage and hinders its March France's Crafts and Deceits being already so well fore-known it is requisite that the Princes of Europe should provide against that plague of Corruption which has so freequently infected divers Courts of Christendom divers are to expect that not only Presents will be offer'd to them as well as Pensions but equivalents also to their Pretensions only to remain Neuter But the Example of the Archbishop of Mentz is yet so fresh before our Eyes that it ought to be a fair Mirror for the Princes of the Empire to Represent to them to the Life the Character of France and of its Soveraign which all that proceeding represents in Lively Colours with the breaches of Faith of that Prince even to those that Side with him If ever any Soveraign did Act against his true Interest and that of the whole Empire it was that Prelate but then again never was Prince worse rewarded nor had greater cause to repent of his Fault by the ill usage he has haâ— in his Estate which had reach'â— to his Person also if he had noâ— shelter'd himself from the Threatâ— of the French Envoy But he is not the only Living and Speaking Example the wholâ— Series of time that has pass'd since the Peace of the Pireneans is but a continued Thread of the falsehood of France So that whoever shall catch at the Golden Bait which the King lays for them will have time to Repent themselves as the Elector of Mentz has done and divers others who have fair'd no better But if by a Fatal Chance it should so happen that some Member of the Empire were so unadvis'd as to be Corrupted by France and separated from that Union which is its true Interest though it is not to be expected now that those Princes are so well enlightned that Person ought to be consider'd as a rotten Member Discarded and Treated as an Enemy though he would remain Neuter on this ground drawn from the Holy Gospel Qui non est pro nobis est contra nos Of Truth the Union of the Empire is of great Importance and I must confess that all its United Forces may be very powerful but they would be much more if the Emperor could resolve to grant a Peace to the Grand Seignior that so having no longer any thing to fear from that Part his Imperial Majesty may have his Hands at liberty against the Second which has been much more formidable and more dangerous than the First and consequently cause all his Forces to Advance towards the Rhine which would produce Two Effects the one that such considerable Armies would increase that Terror in which France is already Secondly it would by that means much better maintain that Union which is already in Europe with their Allies Besides it is a general Rule which the Emperor ought always to observe never to have Two Wars to maintain at the same time especially when he can avoid one of them as it is in his power to do at this present with great Advantage and Glory It is not to be doubted but that the French King does highly dread such a Truce that he will openly and most powerfully Act with the Turk and the King of Poland and that he will have his Emissaries conceal'd at the Court of Vienna that will labour under-hand and on deceitful Pretences to prevent the Imperial Council from concluding any thing with the Turks Envoy at this present at Vienna To be sure he will neither spare Money nor Religion to attain his end therein To the Grand Seignior he Promises to enter into Germany with a Powerful Army to Ransack there as he has done already thereby to draw the Emperors Forces on that side and give the Great Turk the means and leasure to breathe again and to Assemble new Forces to endeavour to regain what he has lost To Teckeley and the Princes of Transilvania Walachia and Moidavia without enquiring of what Religion they are he assures considerable Sums to continue the War begun he has frequenly sent some to the First and if the others would break off with the Emperor and join with the Grand Seignior he would furnish them wherewith to Pay their Forces As for Poland that will perform enough for France if its King will but remain quiet and not attempt any thing as he has done since the two last Campaigns and prevent by great pretensions the Conclusion of a Truce with the Port. Lewis the XIVth has Springs that are sufficiently strong to detain him and to obtain what he pleases of that Crown perswading it that it is not suitable to her Interest to have the Emperor prosper so much c. At the Court of Vienna the French Emissaries Labour through indirect means to perswade the Emperor's Councellors that his Imperial Majesty may with ease maintain the War against the Turk and France and that it concerns his Glory not to slacken in so fair a Course that he ought to go and plant the Cross of Christ on the very Battlements of the Seraglio at Constantinople but such pretences are at great distance from their Masters thoughts for it is very certain that the French King had rather see once more the Crescent on St. Stephen's Church at Vienna than the Cross on St. Sophia at Constantinople Lewis the XIVth at this time is like to a Man in great extremity of danger that is ready to sink he makes Vows and promises all things to get out again and takes hold of all that comes in his way to keep himself some moments longer above water Thus this Monarch has turn'd himself all manner of ways to find out a Mediator that would assist him to get
our of the danger he is in He has address'd himself to the Elector of Brandenburg the King of Spain and to the Pope but at this present knowing of no better shift and finding that all the Christian Princes do abandon him he has apply'd himself to the Turk And finding that no Christians will any longer confide in him be covers himself with a false Mâ—sk of Hypoceisie he demonstrates to the House of Austria that the Roman Catholick Religion is in danger and that it perishes with him that it has been â—hrough his Care and Zeal so many Conversions have been made in his Kingdom and that he was ready to have done as much in England if there had not been a League made against him But with all these sugar'd words he at the same time Leagues himself with the Enemy of Christendom at that very time he enters the Palatinate and puts all to the Fire and Sword he offers to the Grand Seignior to joyn himself with him on the defensive part and not to lay down his Arms 'till the Sultan has recover'd Hungary At the same time he offers to the Pope that if the Emperor will agree with him he will lend him forty Gallies to aid him to Conquer Constantinople and offers to Re-establish King James in his Kingdoms provided that the Emperor and the Empire will Conclude a Peace with him All these are fair Flowers that conceal a Serpent under them who will certainly sting the hand of him that will but touch them These are the French King's Deceits which he has Inherited from Mazarine to trye whether by such fair Offers he might not break the Union of the Empire But Flanders the Palatinate the Countries of Juliers and of Ments Treves and Colen remain unreprochable Testimonies of his Breaches of Faith and of his Hypocrisie he having nothing less in his thoughts than the Christian Religion For those Offers which his Ambassador Guichardin has made to the Port ought once for all to undeceive all Christendom of that Catholick Faith of which he makes so great a shew But not to rest any longer on the Illusions and Deceitful Offerâ— of France which ought to be suspicious to all the Princes of Europe I say that the Emperor and the Empire ought not to stop in the very beginning of so fair an Opportunity which England offers them nor lay down their Arms 'till they have recover'd Burgundy the French County Alsace but particulary Strasbourg Philipâ—burg Fribourg Brisack and all that France has Usurp'd on that side of Europe Moreover Reseated the Electors Palatine of Mentz Treves and Colen in their Territories and Rights with an entire reparation of all those Wrongs and Damages which he has done them by his Forces and Incendiaries Resign Cardinal Fustenberg into the hands of the Emperor or of the Pope to answer to those things that shall be alledg'd against him and that he is already accus'd of But that which is most just and necessary is to restore the Duke of Lorain to his Dukedom which ought to be restituted in the same Condition that it was in the time of his Predecessors Policy requires that this Dukedom should be separated from France because that would be a means to weaken France It would be to fix a Thorn in its foot thus to Re-establish the Successor of the Ancient Soveraigns to support and uphold it that it might no longer be liable to fall under the Forces of France nor to acquiesce to any Treaty prejudiciable to it nor so much as to have any great Communication with them because that the Duke of Lorain being once restor'd to his Estates neither he nor his Sucessors ought nevermore to trust to the French Kings but ought daily to set before their Eyes with what perfideousness his Predecessor has been Treated Those Great Victories which that Prince has gain'd with such great Success and Glory over the Turks the re-union of Hungary to the Empire which is due to his sole Valour does well deserve that all Christian Princes should Conserve themselves for this Great Heroe Joyn to that the Obligation which his Imperial Majesty has with that Duke by his Mariage with the Queen of Poland It is not to be doubted but that William the IIId King of Great Brittain will Contribute with all his Power to so Just and Laudable an Enterprise even necessary for the quiet of Europe and that his Britanick Majesty will impose it as a Law on Himself to bring it about if he once undertakes it But to Compass this with more ease The Duke of Lorain ought before all things else to propose a Liberty of Conscience in all his Dominion and free Exercise to all Protestants in all the Cities and Borroughs where there are any That will be a means to draw on his side the Assistance of all those of that Religion as well as that of the Allies and of their Subjects in laying aside the Counsels of a Company of Monks which continually beat over and over in divers Catholick Princes Ears to make them act the contrary and to push them forward to a Persecution which will ever prove hurtful to their Persons and Sates The Duke of Lorrain ought not to let slip so fair and so favourable an occasion which perhaps will never offer it self again in all his Life time nor that of his Successors his Interest and that of his Family obliges him to embrace it and to soliciate the King of England as well as the Emperor and those Princes who Compose the Diet of Ratisbone who are already inclin'd to it by the barbarous Proceedings of the French they doubtless will not fall to espouse the Interest of that Prince in consideration of those Services which he has render'd to Christendom and to labour in his Re-establishment as well as in that of others the rather because that Lorrain being in that Duke's Hands will serve as a Bar to the Empire but as I have already said that Prince ought to Labour particularly to bring the Emperor and his Council to grant a Truce to the Grand Seignior without which I cannot see his own Concerns can have any good Success This he ought to consider before sending back the Turks Envoy lest he should slip the Occasion for after that every one will take new Measures The Emperor never had nor never will have a fairer Occasion to entirely Master France than that which at this present he is furnished with by the coming of William the III. to the Crown of England which seems as if God had produc'd that Effect during the time of that great Union of the Princes of the Empire to give an Opportunity to his Imperial Majesty to Subdue France being thereunto excited by the ill Usage they have all receiv'd from the French King and the barbarous Proceeding which he has us'd of late in Germany which has been but a continuation of those Cruelties which his Dragoons have exercis'd in his own Kingdom which
on the â—ccount of a sorry Priest the Cardinal of Furstemburg a Rebel to his Lawful Soveraign the Emperor and to his Superior the Pope who during his whole Life in â—ieu of adhering to the Service of the Church to which he had design'd himself has made it his business to disturb Christendom and to give occasion to spill blood in Europe and notwithstanding all that the French King has prefer'd the Interest and Friendship of that Man odious to God and Men to that of their high and mighty Powers and to their Alliances which he had sought after with so much earnestness and protestations by the Peace in 1678. Thus France having first broke the States ought to make use of the means which God puts in their hands by the assistance of the revolution of England which has not only produc'd them a strict Alliance and sincere Union but a considerable Assistance also that by that Union and that mutual Assistance they may oblige the French King to repent of his unjust Proceedings of all those barbarous Actions and Oppressions which he has committed in Europe to bring him back to Reason and Justice and to put him in a condition to make no Innovations for the future so long as that happy time shall last for those Two Nations they both ought therefore to make a last Effort to maintain themselves in that precious liberty which they at present enjoy by a special favour of Heaven that is that inestimable Gem which France has endeavour'd to Ravish from those happy Provinces but God having deliver'd them from all the Threatnings of Lewis the Great and from the design he had projected to entirely destroy them he must be frighted in his turn and his Court must be fill'd with such a terrour as he never has had since his coming to the Crown which may surpass that which he had at the Baricado of Paris since he has no longer in his Kingdom those that delivered him from it and who he has since so ill rewarded There needs but a descent on his Coasts to give it him in good earnest and that is therefore what he apprehends the most and that unhinges him before hand finding the heart of his Kingdom tainted and the Enemy at home who waits but for an opportunity to declare It is not a Sampson who is no longer tied with such new Cords as never were strong enough to retain him and to stop him but a Sampson whose Locks are cut and whose Eyes are put out who turns and winds on all sides to find out some body to lead him out of the Precipice wherein he finds himself he has given the hand of Association to the Grand Seignior he will soon find a pretence for it it is doubtless he 'll say in his Manifest to endeavour to Convert him to the Catholick Faith for that is the wet sheet with which he covers himself at present against the storm which is going to fall on his head which grows giddy so soon as he thinks on that descent five hundred leagues of Coast confound him not knowing where his Enemies will Land there needs but some false allarm and at the same time a real descent to set all those Troops he has along the Coasts in disorder Joyn to that the attack at the same time of his Enemies by Land he must undoubtedly bow under those pressures and much more yet if ever the Allies are so happy as to enter into the heart of his Kingdom then he may pack up his tools and go seek in Poland that which King James has found with him for to follow him to Rome he would not be better welcome there than the Marquess Lavardin 'T is his own Concern let him look to it betimes that King knows that it is impossible for him to prevent a descent let him keep never so good a Guard by Land and though he be never so strong at Sea he has too much of shore to keep wherefore he has order'd his Generals to burn his own Country ten Miles round when ever the English set footing on it and to his Fleet to retire into the Mediterranian where he pretends to be the Lord of the Sea But 't is likely that his Reign will be but short there for the English and Dutch having sufficiency of Ships it will be easie for them to drive it into the Port of Tholon where yet it will not be absolutely secure thirty good Vessels will make them flye to it having no longer any place of retreat in Spain and the Italians not being able to endure them since the business of Genoua England and Holland need not to strain very hard to fit out together 120 Sail of Ships yet that number will be sufficient to overcome France by Sea and to set that Kingdom into the highest Consternation In the Year 1673. De Ruiter that great Sea Heroe whose Memory and Valâ—ur shall last as long as the Worlâ— with a much less number of Forces did beat the French and English joyn'd together against that State but now that the English Fleet shall be joyn'd to that of the United Provinces France will be extreamly put to it and Monsiâ—ur of Segnelai will have as much need of good Counsel as of Money but say the French if we can do nothing in Europe we will preserve our selves for America where they think they will do much in ruining some Plantations of the English and Dutch that have settled themselves there during the time that the Cities and Provinces of France will be ruining mean time that fear that he shall cause to the Savages will not Cure him of his The good disposition in which all Europe is and the Revolution of England ought highly to encourage the States of the United Provinces now that they find themselves supported by all Christian Princes who have with their High and Mightinesses but one and the same Design which is to pull down the Pride of France and that in destroying their Common Enemies they may find themselves deliver'd from future danger by the sole motion of England It is another advantage to the said Provinces to find themselves in good Intelligence with their nearest rest Neighbours who are at their door and that the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of Colen Munster and Liege are all Unanimously bent to embrace their Interest and that France can no longer do in regard to those Prelates that which she did in the year 1672. But on the contrary they joyn now with the good party to oppose themselves as do their Allies to the French King's Insultations who endeavours to make us believe that he has still very great Ties with Denmark seeing that in his Declaration of the 12th of last March he grants to all those Refuged Persons that have left his Kingdom half of those Revenues they left there behind them yet with that Proviso that the Officers shall go and serve in the Troops of the King of Denmark But because that Kingdom
cannot do well without a Trade with Holland it seems that it would be a good piece of Policy to make him expound himself for it would be a breach which his Danish Majesty would make to the Alliances and he would be falling in his Faith in the Treaties to conâ—ent that Officers should be drawn out of the Troops of his Allies besides it seems as if the Affairs of Europe could not permit at this time any Neutrality to any Prince under what pretence soever that being granted Denmark ought to make his Choice and in his Choice to consider well the advantage he draws from the United Provinces the Trade and Profit that results from it to his Subjects and the advantage that the King's Treasure receives by the Entries and Exportations and let them take care not to fall again in the same Consternation in which they were the last year for scarce would the Affairs settle again a second time on the contrary he can draw no Succour from France in the present Condition it is and though it promises to keep it in the possession of Holstein that can be but a Chymerical Promise seeing Lewis the XIVth can no longer preserve his own Provinces nor keep his Cities part of which he undermines through a foresight he has to be oblig'd to abandon them at the approach of so many Enemies Thus ought Denmark Inviolaâ—ly to joyn it self to that whiâ—h is soâ—â—id which is Uniting with the United Provinces have never any thing to unravel which may br ak â—he Alliance nor give occâ—sâ—on to come to a Rupture and follow their Interest as the Shadow follows the Body and generously contemn some pitiful Pension ill pay'd at the best which France â—ffers it is a broken Reed which will hurt his hand and a Will ' o th' Wisp which leads to a Precipice Lâ—t his Danish Majesty but represent to himself the advantage of being free and that a King ought to depend but of God and of his own Sword it is good being in a Condition of making Choice and of following ones true Interest without being tied by Pensionâ— which are but gilded Shackles that are not the lighter for it Sweed which the King of Denmark has continually at his heels and who has no Cause no more than many others of praising Lewis the XIVth not to have any Consideraâ—ion for those Powers that shall Allie themselves with that Monarch who detâ— ns from him the Dutchy of Deux-Pont and considerable Sums of Arrears due to him which he would never pay in spight because his Sweedish Majesty would not continue with him the Alliances which had been Contracted The same will happen to Denmark if they take not care beforehand But when it once finds it self deceiv'd then will it have recourse to the States of the Unired Provinces and to the Emperor but perhaps a little too latâ— mean time it cannot be thought that the Emperor and the Princes of the Empire will look with a quiet temper on the Alliances of the King of Denmark with their commou Enemies nor even that he should remain Neuter for still that is the way to serve him indirectly and to give the People the means to carry into France all the Provision that it will stand in want of their Merchants growing Rich by the Spoll of those that Fight I would gladly see how the King of Denmark would defend himself when his Allie Lewis the XIVth shall ask him for Powder and Salt-peter for his Money which is that he has most need of at present Mean time it is easie to judge that that would be a great prejudice to the Enemies of France and that it would deprive them from a great advantage which it is likely they might obtain by their Enemies want of Ammunitions wherefore in such a favourable juncture the Allies will not endure any thing to their prejudice nor that can impead their Enterprizes It is much better for Denmark immediately to embrace that party as being its true Interest than to deferr doing so 'till France has had a blow The Most Christian King reckons much on the King of Poland his Allie there is betwixt them a very great Commerce of Money and of Letters that is no News every body knows it though one should not make it ones business to prye into it those Messengers which so frequently pass to and fro shews it sufficiently and no body is ignorant that the French Interest is entirely predominant in that Court That King Employs for the most part French Men for his Ministers in the Foreign Courts The Queen is still French in her inclinations and heart as well as by Birth that is a quality which all the Princesses of France carry along with them when they are Married out of the Kingdom they meddle with Affairs and that which she understands not well how to mannage she is inform'd in by Monsieur the Marquess of Bethune her Brother The Grand Seignior has been infinitely oblig'd to him during the late Campaigns and though that War would not produce any great advantage to the King of Poland yet he is for no Truce he has his particular Reasons which he is not oblig'd to tell If that Prince after the deliverance of Vienna had gone forwards with his Victories long since had the important Fortress of Caminieck been in his hands France flatters him with words that are but wind assuring him that it shall be put into his hands by agreement but who knows whether it will in a little time be in a Condition of keeping that promise It is an unhappiness for Christendom that Lewis the XIVth has found so much Credit in that Court and that the French Coin is so well known in those parts It were well for Prince Jacob if the King his Father did cleave more closely to the Emperor than he has done since Vienna and that preferring the General interest of Christendom to that of France he should give his helping hand towards a Truce to prevent by that means Europe from falling into a greater Mischief than it is lately got out of But let us turn our selves towards its Deliverer Though the English are a Nation which is naturally War-like Undaunted and whose Courage frequently runs even to rashness they loving that Liberty in which they are Born yet it may be said that England during the Reign of its two last Kings has Conrributed to the downfal of Europe into Slavery when it could have prevented it with one word through a deceitful hope that it could save it self from ruine either by the Situation of the Country and by its Forces or by the Illusory promises of France All the Princes of Europe have always pris'd very highly the Alliance with England even in the time of the Emperor Charles the Fifth as we have seen before those Kings have held the Ballance in Europe so long as they have not swerv'd from their true interests and that they have not sold their freedom to
he should deferr his March but a few days and the better conceal his wicked Design and that then the pretence would not only be plausible but just also to all appearance because it had been to prevent the Turks from entring any further but at the same time to render himself Master of the rest of Germany and of all the Ernpire also which should have been his share towards the defraying of the Wars so he had divided with Mahomet the IVth all the Territories both Catholick and Protestant of Germany If after all these Contrivances one may stile ones self a Zealot to the Catholick Religion I referr it to the Judgment of the Pope let us then say rather that he is a Wolf in Sheeps Cloathings cover'd with a false Piety to devour the Christian Princes one after another That was Cardinal Richlieu's Maxime Not to value what he Promised nor his Faith in the observation of Treaties so he but serv'd the French Interest And doubtless it is from those rare Lessons that this Zealous French King has so well improv'd and which he endeavours to imitate so exactly before those of the Gospel which forbid us to do to others that which we would not have done to our selves But if we look on Businesses nearer at hand we shall not wonder at the King 's pressing for the Re-establishment of James the Second and that he leaves no stone unmov'd to reseat him on the Throne We shall find at last that it is not so much Religion as Interest that moves him to it and that the return of that Prince to his Kingdom is most necessary for him much more than the Establishment of the Cardinal of Fustemberg in the Arch-Bishoprick of Colen It cannot be believ'd that it is the natural affection which he has for those two Princes that make him act or the Zeal to Religion as he publishes but his Ambition and the Preservation of his Kingdom For if Prince Joseph Clement and the present King of England would but embrace the Party of France and Unite themselves with that Monarch he would send the Cardinal to Strasbourg and King James where he was in Cromwel's time or into some corner of the State of Modena and if the Town of Algier wouâ—â—â—â—w send Ships into the Câ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 he would not only haâ—bâ—â—◠〈◊〉 with their Prizes in hâ—â— Pâ—rts but would give them Liberty also to build a Mosqâ—â—â— tâ—ere if that Town should require it I see no greater diffâ—â—ulty nor Crime in that than in lending his Forces to Re-build some in Hungary and to pull down the Christian Churches These are then the fruits of this great Zeal of which the French boasted in Rome and at Madrid Now let us turn our faces towards Truth It is not Religion that pushes the French King but he has the Shepherd at his heels the Nets are spread on all parts for him and he has no prospect of escaping and in that dread he is he would embrace the Alcoran if he saw it would shelter him from the new King of England's Resentments whom he has reason to fear as the most dreadful and most powerful Enemy that he has at present or ever had with whom there is no Composition to be made though Lewis the XIVth should return four times as much as he has Usurped from him when he was yet but Prince of Orange Perceiving then that by the means of William the Third he has all Europe on his hands and that he must leave some Fleeces behind him no wonder he extends his hands though in vain towards the one and the other to find out a Mediator to draw him out of that Danger in which he finds himself But he having taken his Eternal farewel of all Faith and Honesty and it having abandon'd him every body does the same daring no longer to trust to him 'till first he has been depriv'd of his Savageness of his Ambition of his Pride and of his insatiable desire of Usurping the Goods of his Neighbours and that is what will not happen 'till he has first been humbled by Losses either in his Armies or of some of his Provinces and that he has been oblig'd to restore to every one that which he has stoln from them and that is what may be advantageous and necessary for his poor People and to all Europe In vain he Flatters himself with an accommodation with some of the Allies whom he pretends to divide from the Union in which we see them at present and by that means to draw himself out of the Briers This King has been inexorable to the Cries of the Poor whom he has Ruin'd and Tormented of the Widdows and Orphans whom he has stript Naked the Heavens will return it upon him as well as all his Enemies who will return him double the Evil which he has done and will force him to swallow down the bitter Fruits of his Ambition and breach of Faith and to Disgorge all his Usurpations which he has Baptis'd with the specious Title of Conquests and return to his Subjects that Liberty of Conscience and places of Hostages which he has forc'd from them against the Faith of Edicts under the pretence of Conversions restore to all his People in general the General States for the surety of their Persons and Means whereas they now groan under the heavy pressure of the Intendants these are Monsters which our new Hercules must vanquish which God has given to free Europe from that slavery in which part of it was already reduc'd and wherein the rest was going to fall the Irons being already set in the Fire for it by the means of James the II. who abandoning his own Interest and that of his Nation had given his Consent and Assistance to the ruine of Europe and had enter'd into a League with the Usurper to make it to fall under the slavery with more ease and greater expedition But the Heavens who have granted the Vows and Petions of all Europe has broken those Chains by the means of a Republick of which he had made his Prey for it may be said without exâ—geration that the States of the United Provinces have given the first blow to break those Shackles through the Assistance they have given of Money of Forces and of Ships to the King of England when he was yet but Prince of Orange Wherefore Europe ought to consider them as â—he Cause of its Deliverance and the Restorer of its Liberty the Refuge of all the Afflâ—cted the â—â—etrâ—at of those whom Lewiâ— the XIVth had Persecuted and stripp'â— and the Azilum of all good People who ought in gratitude to hazard their Lives for the Support of a State who has free'd â—hem from the Lyon's jaws and has receiv'd them with so much Humanity and Charity which doubtless shall be the Cannons with which they shall destroy their Enemies and the Heavens will render them Victorious and their Names shall last to the last of Ages FINIS