Spaniards were wholly discomfited and there were five or six hundred kill'd upon the place two hundred that died of their Wounds and three or four hundred that were taken Prisoners There were presented to the King six Colours and two Standards that had been taken in the Fight and the King rewarded those that presented them Marsin being defeated the King marched against the Town of Alost which altho it were of no great Defence yet caused the Enemy some Loss In effect the French puff'd up with the taking of L'Isle and the Success of the Battel they had given the Spaniards presented themselves in full day within Musket-shot of the Town but before they got themselves any shelter they had a great many Men killed without reckoning the Wounded which were also in no small number The Trenches being opened and the Batteries raised which began to thunder upon the Town it yielded to the King who put a Garrison in it which he might have done at the beginning of the Campaign without the loss of a Man for he had found this Place abandoned but he believed it not to be of so great consequence as it was which is now but too well known since it is at this day the Subject of the War wherewith we are menaced not to say the Pretext After the taking of Alost the King retired to Arras where the Queen attended him and from thence set forth for St. Germain en laye which was the Place where he made his Abode The happy Success which the King had during this Campaign joined with the pitiful condition wherein the Spaniards were who could not bring ten thousand Men together made the neighbouring Princes think it their Interest to oppose in time France's aggrandizing her self any more Thus carried on by the same Spirit which had made them so often take the part of France against the Spaniards they took then the part of the Spaniards against France The King of England the King of Sueden and the Hollanders made an Alliance together called the Triple-League whereby they united themselves not to kindle the Fire which already burnt but too fiercely but to endeavour to quench it and in case either of the two Crowns should obstinately persist in the War it was stipulated that they should declare themselves against it which Clause was expresly put in not to irritate France by testifying that this Treaty was directly concluded only to oppose her Ambition But France who knew what to think of it was so incensed thereby and particularly against the Hollanders whom she accused to have procured this League to be signed by the others that she resolved in time and place to be revenged thereof In the mean time not being strong enough to resist alone these three Potentates she was obliged to promise that she would lay down her Arms if Spain would on her side consent that she should continue in the possession of her new Conquests Alost being excepted which she offered to restore The Spaniards would not at first hear speak of this Treaty and were resolved not to permit that the Right of Convenience should be established thus at their prejudice But two things made them soon change their Resolution The one that whilst they were amused in talking of an Accommodation France had all on a sudden seized upon Franche Comté The other that one of the three States began as they say to waver when it came to the point having been gained by the Money of France whereof it was more sensible than of its own true Interests The Ministers of Holland who were employed in this Treaty know whether I impose any thing contrary to truth and I know that it was they who first began to perceive so shameful a Commerce The Spaniards therefore consented that the King should keep all the Places he had taken except Franche Comté and the County of Alost which he had already promised to restore unto them It is besides to be understood that Franche Comté had been conquered in eight days but that which rendred this Conquest so easy is that France had gained the Governour who after he had made this fine Bargain with her retired to Paris But as the Treason is much better loved than the Traitors I believe they kept but a part of their Promise vvith him at least I have been told as much by one that pretended to know it In the mean time those that were employed to bring the Spaniards to consent to the Treaty as it had been proposed before the taking of Franche Comté let France know that the concluding the Peace depended only on her France stuck at the parting with so fair a Province but it being necessary either to do it or to resolve upon War she chose that part that seemed to her most for her ad-advantage which was to give up this new Conquest together with the County of Alost according as she had agreed to do Thus by the Entremise of the Triple-League was Peace restored to Europe But before I pass any further I must acquaint thee with so unworthy an Action then done by the French that Posterity will scarce believe it nor should I my self have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes It was accorded by an Article of the Treaty That whatever should on the day of the Ratification of the Peace be found upon the Lands of France should appertain unto her and that whatever in like manner should be found upon the Lands of Spain should appertain to the Crown of Spain France therefore designing to make her advantage of this Article caused before the coming of the Ratification the Ax to be set to a Wood of tall over-grown Trees which was upon the Lands of Spain and having fell'd the Timber transported it into her own Lands that when the Ratification should come she might dispose thereof at her pleasure I appeal to the Duke d' Arschot or the Prince de Chimay to testify whether I say any thing but Truth for I well know that this Wood belonged to one of them tho I cannot at present remember to which of the two it was War was not the sole Affliction which this year befell Flanders GOD sending them moreover so terrible a Plague that there was scarce an House exempted from it In the mean time GOD preserved the French of whom tho they were in Garrison in the Towns where it made the greatest ravage and above all at Oudenarde yet was there not so much as one that died thereof Some impute this to their Temper which is very different from that of the Flemings but for my part I attribute it to a permission of GOD who when he pleases saves some to take others The Peace being made as I just now told you every one enjoyed in repose the Benefit he might expect thereof The Hollanders alone for having laboured for the Publick Good saw themselves exposed to the Hatred of France who expected only a favourable occasion to
make them feel her resentment The Occasion or to say better the Pretext was soon found As there is nothing suffered to be printed in France without License some French-men who were not perhaps over-well satisfied with the Government or who it may be had received some particular discontent published certain diffamatory Libels against the King and his Ministers which bearing on their Title-page the Name of Amsterdam as the place of their Impression the King took great Offence thereat as if it were not usual to put upon a Book the Name of a Printer that knows nothing of it There appeared also sometime after a Print wherein the King was represented upon a Horse without Bit or Bridle with this Inscription He knows not whither he goes Insinuating thereby that it was to no purpose for him to make so many Reviews that he might surprize one or other since he would every where find resistance But of all which at that time appeared for I mention not here the hundredth part there was not any thing better invented or more to the purpose than a certain Medal on the one side whereof was represented Monsieur van Beuningen who had the greatest share in managing the forementioned Treaty of the Triple-League and on the reverse Joshua staying the course of the Sun with these Latin Words In conspectu meo stetit Sol. Now we must know that the Sun was the French King's Device and that those who had invented this Medal meant thereby that even as Joshua had stayed the Course of the Sun for to defeat the Philistins so Monsieur van Beuningen who was called Joshua stayed the Course of the King that was upon the point to destroy the Flemings This Medal no sooner appeared abroad but France highly menaced those who had made it and since she accused the Hollanders thereof they thought it became them to shew the whole World that they were not capable of such Actions Wherefore they gave in charge to their Ambassador to disabuse the King and his Ministers but to take his time so fitly for the doing it that it might not be believed they were induced to make this Excuse through the fear of their Menaces In the mean time to say the Truth this Medal was never either invented or made in Holland I have heard say that it was made at Rome and was the Invention of the Italians who being if we may so say plunged over Head and Ears in Repose and Delights know not oftentimes what to apply themselves unto unless it be to speak ill of their Neighbour Others impute it to some discontented French-man who had perhaps been frustrated in his desires or otherwise ill treated However it was this I well know that there is not so much as one Person in all Holland who will grant that it was made in their Country which yet if it were so they would easily acknowledg since they are not over-guilty of concealing what they do The Treaty of Peace whereof I ere-while spake was still in being but withal it was plainly seen that in the Estate wherein things were it could not long continue France who was sensible of her own Power daily as we may say provoked every one with her Bravadoes and there was none but the King of England whom she managed because she knew he was strong at Sea and would be a great Succour to those in whose favour he should declare himself The Hollanders who knew all the Steps which France made towards him endeavoured on their side to keep up the good Intelligence which was between the two Nations tho not with their ancient submissiveness as believing it no less the Interest of the English to hold a good Correspondence with them than it was theirs to live in amity with the English Things were in this condition when there arose a Difference between that Republick and England upon the Subject of Commerce The Republick endeavoured speedily and amicably to terminate this Affair but the King of England who was highly sensible of some former Indignities of theirs being incessantly sollicited by France to declare War against them was so resolute to make his own Terms in this Treaty that the Republick thought fit to have recourse to France whose Interest it was not to suffer the King of England to become so powerful France for some time amused their Ambassador as if she had a design to make a League with them but as what she did was only to have time to gain the King of England whose Friendship she courted at an high rate she had no sooner perfected her Treaty with him but she began clearly to manifest her Intentions Besides I might here say That the Hollanders were somewhat deficient in their Conduct towards the King of England with whom matters might have been accommodated notwithstanding his great Pretensions But since I know that the sole Obstacle herein was Mr. de Witt Pensionary of Holland who had a great influence on that Commonwealth I should be to blame should I cast upon many what was the Fault of one alone For in fine it was none but he that hindred the terminating the Difference with the King of England who was willing to remit many things in favour of the Prince of Orange for whom he demanded some Establishment but de Witt 's Jealousy of this Prince was so great that he preferr'd his own particular Interests before the common Utility Not but that he was a Man of great Wit and who foresaw well enough vvhatever might be the Consequence of an Affair but he had his Heart too much envenomed against the House of Orange vvhereunto I shall attribute all the Infelicities vvhich soon after befell that Republick In the mean time I will not say here as many others have done that this was an Effect of the Intelligence he had with the French For let none believe that to make my Court to the Living I will dig up the Dead and make their Process Believe not I say that I will assert a thing which I know not and whereof it is necessary I should be very well assured before I speak In effect a Writer who desires to have the Reputation of an honest Man must be very careful to write nothing whereof he is not exceeding certain Not but that there are very often things related which are somewhat problematical but it is then the Author's duty to let the Reader understand that he is left to the liberty of believing as he shall think fit I say then speaking of Mr. de Witt that altho he were a very wise Man he was nevertheless mightily overseen in not making his Peace with the King of England For to to come a little closer to the matter It behoved him either to satisfy that King in what he required or to be sure of the Alliance with the French that he might not have at the same time these two Powers upon his Back but since instead of having the French for him it was
French Intrigues OR THE HISTORY OF THEIR Delusory Promises SINCE THE Pyrenaean Treaty Printed in French at Cologne and now made English LONDON Printed for W. Hensman at the King's-Head in Westminster-Hall and Tho. Fox at the White-Hart over against St. Dunstan's-Church in Fleetstreet and at the Angel in Westminster-Hall 1685. The Publisher of the French Edition to the Reader TWo things courteous Reader I have to tell thee The one that this Book was really made by a French-man and so that they would be to blame who should attribute it to any Stranger whose Inclinations are biass'd against France Hereof I was willing to advertise thee to hinder thee from believing that Passion guided the Author's Pen. It was rather as he protested to me through a design to render himself knowing in the History of the Times that he traced the Relations which I give to the Publick The other thing I have to tell thee and which I desire thee to take in good part is That I find my self indispensably obliged to declare unto my Country the Intrigues of her Neighbours to make her change her Master or at least to give her another Face by depriving her of her Liberty This appears so natural that I believe none can think strange of my Enterprize I will tell thee further altho it be of no great importance to thee that I have received what I here give thee from the Author 's own hand who made some abode in this Town hoping to get himself advanced in the Troops which his Electoral Highness is raising for the defence of the Empire But seeing great Difficulties raised against him as there are elsewhere against others who would shelter themselves from the Storm he grew weary of attending and bidding me adieu delivered me his Manuscript in exchange for some Books I give it thee as I received it without either adding or diminishing Those that shall take the pains to read it will see how the French neglect nothing to put themselves in credit in all the Courts in Europe and that it is not Holland alone which they endeavour to amuse by Delusory Promises so to carry without any opposition what remains for them to take in the Low-Countries and perhaps to pass further if they meet with no Obstacle THE HISTORY OF Deluding Promises SINCE THE Pyrenaean Treaty IT is not unknown to any that there have for a long time been two Powers in Europe under the shelter of which the other States lived in repose and assurance We know also that these two Powers are France and Spain who likewise received succour from the other States to the end that these two Crowns might continue as it were in an equal poize so necessary for the good of all the rest Neither of them therefore was suffered to aggrandize it self to the prejudice of the other So that if Spain formed any Enterprise all the neighbouring Princes presently declared in favour of France if also France would make any Conquests the same Princes failed not to oppose it And thus they diminished the Power of that Crown which began to be suspected by them It was by this wise Policy that the Affairs of France were re-established after the taking of Francis the First For the King of England who had an Army ready imbarqu'd to make a descent into that Kingdom fill'd with desolation and terror by the Captivity of its Monarch was the first to propose a League against Charles the Fifth and all the Princes of Italy entring thereinto they obliged the Emperor to make a Peace and release his Prisoner who had been carried from Pisqueton to Madrid upon Conditions far less advantagious than those he had promised himself after his Victory By the same wise Policy it was that the Princes of Germany suffered the French without any opposition to keep Mets Thoul and Verdun which they had seized on by surprize For altho they had reason to be very apprehensive of this Nation which is but too much addicted to usurp upon its Neighbours yet since it was at that time sufficiently embarassed to defend it self against the House of Austria they thought rather of making it their Support against that House which for a long time aspired after an Universal Monarchy than of fearing lest it should become one day so powerful that it would it self have a design to oppress them This Conduct lasted as long as the Spaniards were in a flourishing condition Wherefore the same Princes at least a great part of them saw also with pleasure the Strength of France augmented by the taking of Rochel which often served no less for an Asylum to Male-contents than for a Rampart to those of the Reformed Religion But since those of the Religion abused it as we may say by making it a Retreat for the Factious GOD would punish them to teach them another time that Things Divine are not to be mix'd with Prophane In the mean time the Mareschal de Bassompiere who saw farther than many others had a Saying witty enough thereupon For being one day drinking jovially with some of his Friends a time when Men ordinarily discover the greatest Secrets of their Heart he told them very seriously he believed they would be Fools enough to take Rochel Which I impute not to any design he had of making an Insurrection but to his Foresight that the taking thereof would be of as ill consequence to the Neighbours of France as it was fatal to those of the Reformed Religion In effect we may say that this was the first Step whereby the Kings of France mounted to that supreme Grandeur which makes them at this day dreaded by all Europe We may also say that the greatest Fault which ever the Hollanders committed in their Politicks was that they did not at that time assist those of their Communion who might at this day do the like for them But assuredly they considered it as a Rebellious Town and believed not that it was lawful according to the modern practice to prefer ones Interest before whatever is most sacred However it were People being very far from believing that ever France could be so powerful as to think of encroaching upon the Liberty of its Neighbours they with delight beheld the Care that the Cardinal de Richelieu took to pull down the Crown of Spain and they were even vext that the Conspiracies which were continually framed against him and which every moment sprang up afresh like the Heads of Hydra often hindred him from succeeding in his Designs It was for the same reason that all the Princes instead of opposing the secret Intrigues whereby this Minister endeavoured to take the Crown of Portugal from the King of Spain who had seized it from the House of Braganza were on the contrary very glad that this Affair went happily on I have read in a very curious Manuscript that all the Princes of Italy furnisht him with Money for that purpose and that the Affair being terminated according to
Messina the Revolt thereof not only drew a new War on that side through the Protection which France gave that Town but also put a great deal of Disorder in the Affairs of the Spaniards who were obliged hastily to withdraw their Troops from Catalonia and send them into Italy By this means the French finding themselves Masters in Catalonia retook Bellegarde which they had lost pillaged all the Country from the Pyrenaean Mountains even beyond Gironne and had they had a design of making themselves Masters thereof as well as of many other Places there is a great appearance that nothing could have hindred them But not being willing to establish themselves beyond these high Mountains which Nature seems to have put for a Separation between the two Realms they contented themselves with the Prey they had got and let the People feather themselves every Winter to the end they might plume them every Spring Altho the War of Messina was of very great consequence yet should I not cross the Seas to seek a Subject for this Work were it not that I shall at the same time find a fair matter to prove the Unfaithfulness of the French They sent thither at first the Marquess de Vallavoir a Gentleman of Provence not in quality of a Viceroy but with a Command equal thereunto so that he wanted nothing but the Name He behaved himself in this Charge during the space of eighteen Months or thereabouts with great satisfaction to the People to whom he caused at his Arrival to be delivered gratis a quantity of Corn which had been brought from France and whereof the Messineses could never have more need for they had already a long time eaten Horses Rats Mice and other unclean Animals their best Repasts being only of these sorts of things with a few ill-tasted Herbs when they could get them But at the end of that time Vallavoir having had a Difference with the Intendant because they would both rob without sharing one with another was revoked and the Duke de Vivonne sent in his place who brought into that Country a greater Name but a less Sufficiency He came thither with the quality of a Viceroy which so much the more pleased the People as they believed that this would oblige France to do something more than she had hitherto done to disengage so considerable a Town which was still so closely block'd up that it received no other Succour to live upon but what came to it from France As soon as the Duke was in the Town he put all his Authority into the hands of his Secretary took care to make provision of all sorts of good Wines enquired where were the fairest Courtizans caused a Chair to be made wherein he might sleep commodiously as he was carried along and in fine forgot nothing whereby he might keep himself as portly as when he came thither At the beginning when he pass'd along the Streets every one extolled his Civility because they observed him from time to time to bow down and lift up his Head like a Man that would salute some-body but at last a Person having observed that it was because he slept and having shewn it to others there was no more such pressing to see him pass along the way which was very commodious for him because he was not very desirous that it should be always known whither he went Notwithstanding the Refreshments which Messina from time to time received from France it is impossible to say to what misery it was reduced There needed no more but to give Bread to have the richest Goods in the Town Husbands there prostituted their Wives Fathers their Daughters Brothers their Sisters and there was not so much as the Superiors of Nunneries but endeavoured to subsist by the Intrigue of some handsom religious Woman But the Hatred which the Inhabitants had conceived of the Spaniards was so strongly imprinted in their Mind that all languishing and dying as they were they chose rather their Miseries than to return under their Dominion They let themselves then be amused by the frivolous hope which the Viceroy from time to time gave them that he would soon go open the Passages but they were other Passages that he thought on which had in the mean time so ill treated him that they had brought him to his Litter The Officers according to the Example of their Chief led not a more glorious Life The Chevalier Duke General of the Horse made good provision of these sorts of Passages and tho he were above five and fifty years old yet must he have no less than four so much fear had he of wanting For the Commander of the Foot as he brought with him out of France not a Preservative against all sorts of Evil but an Evil worse than all the Evils of Italy he took of them where-ever he could find them well knowing that worse could not befall him The Sea-Officers followed the Example of the Land-ones and if they visited their Vessels it was only to bring aboard them lewd Women It was in the mean time impossible that France should not have knowledg of these sorts of Disorders but the Duke de Vivonne held her by such sweet Bonds that having committed the Fault to send him to Messina for a Viceroy she had rather Messina should perish than revoke this Sardanapalus In the mean time the War which every day grew hotter and hotter in Flanders and Germany had been so favourable to France that the English Parliament being now assembled they humbly addressed to their King who had at the end of the second Campaign made Peace with Holland That he would be pleased to recall the English Troops which were in the service of the French King whereunto they also added That he would declare War against the French unless they abandoned the Protection of Messina which was an Obstacle to the Peace that had been so long talkt of The King of England tho a Friend to France yet condescending to the Requests of his People sent to the French King to do both the one and the other if he would have him still continue his Friend This News was a Thunder-clap to France but since she must as we may say either obey or resolve upon War with England she began to shew the Choice she would make by already dismissing the English that were in her Service But it was here that her Insincerity appeared in its full extent whereof perhaps the King of England may yet one day testify his Resentment when his People when the Fanatical Party amongst them had of late Years almost frighted into a Rebellion with Dreams and Visions of Popery and Arbitrary Government shall which they begin apace to do have regained their former Loyalty and Zeal for his Service You shall know then that the English being dismiss'd instead of making them go to Dunkirk or Calais from thence to pass to Dover which was their right way they were sent through Burgundy through
desired and as was to be wish'd for the Good of Europe they were rather of opinion to continue the War than to do any thing whereof they might for the future repent The Prince of Orange added thereunto That since it was not easy to reassemble when once they should be separated they ought to take good care not to do it without knowing how and upon what terms But the Hollanders who in the Party of the Confederates had the Power which the Jesuits attribute to the Pope that is of binding and loosing said on the contrary That for their part they were weary of the War and as they had not the Keys of the Apostle but the Keys of the Chest my meaning is that they provided for the Appointment they said in two words That they must treat otherwise that they had not wherewithal to furnish out so great Expences This was a determinate Sentence to the greatest part of the Confederates every one thought then only of making his Treaty the most advantagious he could But as this was all that France desired to wit to disunite them she took care only to content the Hollanders in whom consisted all the Strength of the Party To this two things might much contribute the one to restore unto them the Town of Maestricht which they had in vain endeavoured to recover by Arms the other to give them some assurance that the Peace should be durable and not subject to be broken on the first occasion As to the former France did not at all hesitate she promised at first the Restitution of Maestricht which gave the Hollanders more desire than ever to terminate the War for they saw their Frontiers thereby assured as well as their State in its first Splendor For the other she procured the King of England to intervene who promised to be Guarant of the Peace And to give a great Idea of its Duration there were Propositions made in respect of Spain to whom she offered to restore certain Places which were to serve for a Barrier as well to her as to the Hollanders who by this means saw that France removed yet farther from their Neighbourhood which was all they had to desire not loving so dangerous a Neighbour The Hollanders before they accepted of these Conditions did all they could being deceived by Appearances to make them be accepted also by their Allies but seeing that they were obstinate not to do any thing therein they made their Peace apart imagining well as the truth was that this would soon oblige them to speak otherwise In the mean time they sent to the Prince of Orange who was gone towards Mons which the French had a long time block'd up and which was very much straitned to draw back his Troops But whe-this Prince received not their Pacquets time enough or whether he were in despair to see that they had let themselves be deceived by the Artifices of the French he gave them Battel believing perhaps to make the States change their Design by doing some Action of great Eclat This Fight was obstinate enough but after the Prince of Orange had forced the French and gained a notable Advantage over them he caused the Peace to be published rather not to appear disobedient to the Orders of the Republick than for any reason he had to hope for any good from it This Peace was followed by that of the Spaniards the Emperor and the King of Denmark but the Marquess of Brandenburg finding that according as his Accommodation had been proposed it was wholly disadvantagious to him refused to sign it and this Refusal having obliged France to carry her Arms as far as Mindem where there was some Skirmish to hinder the Passage of the River the Marquess of Brandenburg was fain to bend but with little satisfaction to Suedeland on whose behalf the French had nevertheless undertaken this War For tho all the Princes restored her a great part of what they had gotten from her yet since they still kept something she imagined that all that France did for her was nothing in comparison of what she ought to do considering the Perils whereunto she had exposed her self and even the Losses she had suffered for her sake In effect for having been willing at her suscitation to make a Diversion in Germany she had lost the greatest part of her Vessels the Esteem of her Neighbours her Riches her Reputation and in one word was reduced to so bad a Condition that if the War had continued any longer it would have been impossible to say what would become of her Fortune This first Discontent of Suedeland was soon followed by two others whereof one touched her Interest and the other her Honour The first was the Homage which France demanded of her for the Dutchy of Deuxponts by virtue of a Decree of the Royal Chamber of Mets at this day so known and renowned in all Europe The second was the Refusal she made to pay her the Subsidies she owed her of old if she did not first consent to renew the Treaty which was between the two Crowns and was very near expiring When the Hollanders saw that the French King was already preparing to make new Alliances they began on their side to think of securing themselves from his Enterprises For this purpose they proposed a League with the neighbouring Princes whereof the King having knowledg was so offended thereat that tho he would himself have subjected the Suede to what I just now told you he failed not to command the Count d' Avann his Ambassador at the Hague to tell the States That if they prosecuted any further the Treaty they had begun he should take it for an Act of Hostility and should see what he had to do These Menaces were odious to all honest Persons but they were so far from being frighted by them in Holland that on the contrary they made haste to conclude the Treaty and to defend their Liberty by Arms which they resolved also no more to lay down but upon good Terms if the King obliged them to take them up again whereof they were nevertheless in expectation every day till the Siege of Vienna was raised which will perhaps make him think twice upon what he hath to do However it be the Haughtiness wherewith he acted towards Sovereign Powers giving cause to fear every thing from his Ambition Suedeland made also a League with Holland by which they promised one another reciprocal Assistance The King of France seeing that Suedeland had declared against him was interiorly vexed thereat but without letting it be seen he sollicits the King of Denmark and the Marquess of Brandenburg the ancient Enemies of the Suede to enter into League with him wherein he found not much difficulty for these two Princes were so ill contented with the last Peace they were obliged to make that they would not hear speak of allying themselves any more with Princes who had so shamefully as we may say abandoned
they on the contrary that exasperated matters he had no other way but to content the King of England who had many times demanded the Restitution of the Prince of Orange to the Offices which had been enjoyed by his Predecessors with so much Reputation to themselves and Advantage to the Common-wealth Moreover had I undertaken it I could easily here demonstrate That there was nothing so contrary to the Good of the State as the having thus removed the Prince of Orange from the Affairs thereof But since it would occasion the believing of what I will not have believed that what I should do therein would be to captivate the Honour of his good Graces I shall content my self with saying That if Mr. de Witt prevaricated in any thing it was undoubtedly in this But be it how it will the Republick learning from all parts that France and England made terrible preparations for the making War upon her both by Sea and Land did on their side what they believed themselves obliged to do not to be so soon overwhelmed My design is not to engage here in the History of a War so long and tedious as that was for tho I was present at many great Actions which past therein and can speak thereof with as much assurance as another yet since they fought in so many places that one Man cannot have been at them all I should be obliged to report many things upon the Testimony of others which is very often deceitful every one ordinarily adding or diminishing in his Recital according to his particular Passion and sometimes according to the Love he has for his Country I shall not however pass silently over the Things I shall think fit for my purpose which is to shew the Ambition of France and the Maxims she makes use of to bring about her Designs It is very certain that when the two Kings resolved to declare War against the Hollanders that Common-wealth was in no good condition to undergo it whereof I will alledg three principal Reasons The first and strongest was the little Union there was between the principal Persons of the State whereof some blindly followed the Passion of Mr. de Witt and others on the contrary demanded the Re-establishment of the Prince of Orange in all the Offices of his Ancestors Every one knows the Contests which arrived thereupon and that in fine neither of the Parties getting the Advantage the Prince of Orange was chosen Captain-General of the State but with so limited a Power as it was easily to be judged that if Mr. de Witt was not able to obtain his whole desire he had at least obtained a part thereof But what nevertheless shews that his Spirit reigned not so much as it heretofore had done in the Resolutions of State is what pass'd some time after and I am here going to relate He perceiving that the Prince of Orange by his winning Temper obliging Conduct and in fine by so many excellent Qualities as are in his Person daily gain'd new Creatures and that on the contrary his own Credit every day diminished he began to think of sheltring himself from the just Resentment of this Prince I know that he consulted thereupon Mr. de Groot and another Person who yet in my opinion is no great Politician and that they both confirmed him in the Resolution he had already taken to make a Levy of Twelve Thousand Men in the Province of Holland besides the Forces they were to raise in conjunction with the other Provinces His design herein was to be always Master of these Twelve Thousand Men who were never to go out of Garrison and he would not have the Prince of Orange to have any Authority over them wherefore he had already pitch'd upon Mombas for their Commander in an opinion without doubt that he could not chuse a greater Captain to continue in Garrison But the Prince of Orange whom this Enterprise every way concerned but principally in respect of his Office of Captain-General of the State which was thereby struck at so vigorously opposed it that all this great Design vanished away in Smoke The second Reason which should have made the States fear the not having any great Success in this War is That they had scarce any Troops to guard so many strong Places whereof their little Country is composed those they had being moreover raw and unexperienced seeming to have participated of the Nature of the Inhabitants who are so addicted to Trade that they seem now uncapable of any thing else In effect as a Man becomes a Smith by his often working in Iron so is it to be believed that no Man becomes a Souldier if he be not often in occasions of War For this nevertheless there seemed to be a Remedy which was to have recourse to the neighbouring Princes who had good Troops on foot for which they appeared not to have any use but when they would address to them they found these Princes so alarm'd at the Designs of France that not knowing whether she would not turn her Arms upon their Countries they were glad to stand upon their Guards The third Reason and the last at least of those which I intend to alledg is That there was no hope of having any Succour from Princes more remote whereof some were Pensionaries of France and others so weak and timerous that they seemed to be afraid of offending her It was to little purpose for the States to represent to them that their Interests ought to be common against a common Enemy who aspired after an Universal Monarchy they were insensible as I may say Which I do not however find very strange since they are not at present much less tho many of them are in a great measure stript of their Soveraignty The Emperor nevertheless took fire at the Consequences that were at that time remark'd unto him and which we at this day see to be so funest but having spoken but a moment with Father Emerick or some other Jesuit how far was he from being the Man he seemed to be but a minute before They represented it to him as a scruple of Conscience to undertake a War in favour of an Heretical Republick and he so readily fell into all the Snares they laid for him that when he was press'd for an Answer it was plainly seen that 't was no longer the Emperor who spake but the Monks who spake through the Emperor's Mouth Thus whilst the French King at the head of his Army struck a Terror into all that part of Germany which lies near the Rhine did he amuse himself with causing to be sung in his Closet an Air of Devotion being encompass'd by twenty Jesuits who were Judges of the Melody and who never failed to applaud these worthy Employs of an Emperor It was then through their Counsel that he would not give any positive Answer to the Hollanders till he had first consulted Heaven at Marienzel whither he went with unconceivable Superstitions altho
Lionnois and so through the Provinces which lead to the Ports of Guienne that they might have time to debauch the Officers and the Souldiers In effect the Souldiers who since their being in France had been accustomed to Wine seeing themselves in a Country where 't is almost as common as Water would not cross the Sea to go and drink Beer but took Pay under the Captains of the Army of Catalonia who were for that purpose posted in their way As for the Officers all those that had nothing to lose in their own Country were likewise debauched and placed at the same time in the Regiment of Furstemberg which was in Garrison at Perpignan Thus when the English arrived at the place where they were to imbarque they were not the tenth part of what they should have been if France had dealt faithfully in the matter But let us see whether she will keep Faith any better with those of Messina Being as I have just now told you necessitated either to abandon it or to fall out with England she had chosen the first she was in the mean time at a very great stand how to bring it about without the knowledg of the Messineses who had they known it would not have failed to renew the Sicilian Vespers To keep them then from knowing it she began to spread a Report that she would send into that Country another Person in the room of Mr. de Vivonne insomuch that a Merchant who had heard it at Rome having related it at Messina was put in Prison by the Order of the Viceroy who was no way pleased with such sorts of News but the Misfortune of the Merchant having more divulged the matter every one was soon possess'd that there was a new Viceroy coming and also that it was the Duke de la Feuillade Certainly altho I here blame France for her Dissimulation I shall not forbear praising this new General who acted with so much Order and Discretion at his Arrival that no-body entred into distrust of that which brought him thither and I can even say that there was not the least suspicion of it till such time as he was quite ready to set Sail. Before he arrived at Messina he went ashore at Augusta where La Villedieu who had been Captain of the Guards was Governor whom not having found at home because he was like the rest making love to a Nun he took one of his Horses rode round the Ramparts ordered new Fortifications and in fine gave his Orders like a Man that knew how to do something else than eat drink and sleep afterwards without staying a moment he again went aboard his Vessel and having continued his course came into the Road of Messina whither the Jurats came in a Barque to receive him in Peace The Duke de Vivonne came also to meet him upon the Harbor where he gave him the right-hand as having no longer any Authority in the Country In effect after he had dined with him he went aboard a Vessel set Sail for Provence and endeavoured afterward to gain Lions to get himself cured of a Malady which began much to incommode him The Duke de la Feuillade after he had discoursed with the Jurats went upon the Harbor whither he had sent for the Captains of the Gallies whom he ask'd whether they were ready to put to Sea And when they answered that they were not he demanded what hindred them and against what time they could be ready And they telling him that it was impossible for them to be ready in less than a Months time the Duke de la Feuillade who knew what kind of life they led made them so severe a Reprimand that they well saw they had another manner of Man to deal with than Mr. de Vivonne He told them they might do as they thought good but if they were not ready in eight days he would put the Oars to his Vessels and leave them to make love as long as they would In the mean time to cover this Haste with some considerable Design he caused a Map to be drawn of all the neighbouring Towns which appertained to the Enemies as Saragosa Melazzo Palermo and Sema spreading a report that he would soon march to reduce them In the mean time he sware upon the Holy Gospels in the Name of the King his Master to protect the Country against all Persons whatever and to keep their Privileges an Oath which nevertheless he soon after brake as I will shew you in its place The Ceremony of taking it was very fine it was performed in the great Church which they had hung with the richest Hangings in the Town and whither the People came in so great a Croud that they did not on that day think on their Misery The Streets also through which the Viceroy was to pass were hung and Scaffolds erected every where to see him go For tho he seemed to be come to deprive the Women of their Pleasures yet since it was nothing but their Misery which made them do as they did they look'd upon him however as the Messias that was come to deliver every one from the Tyranny of Satan I mean the Oppression of the Spaniards He observed moreover as he pass'd along that one of the Citizens the more to shew his Zeal for the Service of the Crown of France had placed on the side of his Chamber-window a Canopy under which was the Portrait of the King and as he came back he caused his Coach wherein were the Jurats to stop before that House and told them That since they came from making him swear before GOD to protect them and all the People and to keep their Privileges he desired that they also should swear before the Portraiture of the King his Master which was there present that they would keep all Fidelity to him would never speak of returning under the Dominion of Spain and would cause to be severely punished the first that should be so bold as to mention any such thing At the same time these poor People to whom an Interpreter had explicated what he said for he spake no otherwise to the Jurats nor the Jurats to him fell upon their Knees and putting forth their hands out of the door of the Coach sware before the Portraiture of the King all he would have them swear This profound Dissimulation produced all the Effect he expected from it they were confirmed daily more and more by his Conduct that he would be the Deliverer of the State Thus as he persisted always in the Resolution as he said of besieging Saragosa or Melazzo for he spake no more of Palermo they not only suffered him to embarque Store of Victuals without suspicion but the Jurats also offered to encrease his Troops with some Companies of Citizens if he thought he had not Forces sufficient for so great a Design When the Provisions were inmbarqued he caused the Foot to go aboard the Vessels and there being now nothing to