Men there and even to dispute it with the French if it was not quietly put into their Hands However though Mazarine and his Pupil had a great Mind to this strong and important Place yet at that time they were forced to let it slip through their Fingers as well knowing the Protector had a powerful Army on Foot in England But some time after they found means to Charm it from us with French Gold to the great endamaging of our Shipping which Trade on that Coast In the Year 1656. the French relying upon their own Strength at the remarkable Siege of Valenciennes received a great Overthrow But the English had better Success for whilst the French stood looking on and concluded it utterly impossible Sir Thomas Morgan who Commanded the English Forces Stormed Mardike recovering the Top of the Walls almost before they were expected passing through showers of Bullets and Fire to the Astonishment both of the French and the Besieged and possessed themselves of that strong Fortress and after that they saved it from a Surprize attempted by the Spaniards in the dead of the Night And indeed most of the Towns that were taken during this War may be justly ascribed to the English Valour which Valour peradventure Lewis XIV may one day Experience in the Heart of France as several of his Predecessors have done The Spaniards grown weary of this War the usual way of Accommodation was proposed viz. a Match between the Spanish Infanta and the French King This Match was greatly opposed by Mazarine who concluded if a Peace ensued and the King gave himself up to the Embraces of a Young Wife his Authority would be lessened But the Queen-Mother declared resolutely for it saying That whether he would or no it should be done for that her Son should marry one of her Kinswomen But this had like to have broken off by the Sickness of Lewis which every one concluded would terminate in his Death Whereupon Cardinal Mazarine knowing the many Villainies he had committed in France and the Mischief done by his Evil Council was about to pack up his Awls and trudge for Italy fearing if the King should die he should fall a Sacrifice to the Fury of the Rabble And thereupon he sent a Gentleman to the Mareschal de Turin to know if he might have a safe Retreat in the Army till he could otherways shift for himself But that Protestant General returned him so cold an Answer that he was put out of all Hopes However whilst he was studying what to do the King began to recover and accordingly escaped that Death that threatned him to be the cause of the Death and Ruine of more than a Million of People The King being Recovered Mazarine was sent to Bayon and Don Louis d' Ardo de Gusman came to Saint Sebastians the more commodiously to treat about the Peace being constituted for that end Plenepotentiaries And accordingly it was concluded on sundry Articles to the great Joy of the Frontier-Towns who by Burning Plundering Quartering Soldiers and Contributions were reduced to extream Misery And Lewis sent a Procurator to Don Louis d'Ardo in his Name to Espouse the Infanta and the Marriage was consummated at Fonterabia in the presence of the Court of Spain and the two Kings met in the Isle of Conference situate between both Kingdoms where Mary of Spain was delivered to Lewis of France as his Wife and both Kings solemnly swore to keep and confirm to one another the Treaty of Peace and the Young Queen entered Paris in an open Chariot shining with the Treasure of both the Indias But Card. Mazarine for Grief to see his Purpose crossed as some gave out fell sick and died on the Nineteenth of March 1661. to the Joy of all France to whom he had a long time been a Scourge and instilled that Spirit of Cruelty into Lewis XIV that has since been manifested to the World in Characters of Blood This Cardinal had his first Rise under Richelieu the great â—ardinal of France and from a mean Birth raised himself and his Family to the greatest Dignity France could afford a Subject He was born an Itaelian and by his cunning bore himself up in the Favour of this King and his Father in spight of all the mighty Opponents he met withal For beside the Prince of Conde Duke of Conti and most of the Nobles he stood the Envy of the People in general whom he had sorely vexed by Taxes and Oppressions The Court went into Mourning for him but continued it not long for an occasion of Joy soon after made it vanish The Duke of Orleance falling in Love with the beautiful Daughter of Charles I. of England the Lady Henrietta at the publick Ceremory of that illustrious Marriage the Mourning went off Thus far we have traced this Monarch as we may term it in his Leading-strings For the Cardinal whilst he lived had the absolute Rule of his Mind whatever share he had in his Body and from thence we may hitherto conclude him an Engine that moved by the Dictates of that covetous and ambitious Prelate but for the future we must consider him moving more directly in his own Sphere It is observed of Nero by Suetonius and others That the beginning of his Reign was tolerable and not comparable to those Cruel and Irregular practices that followed and left a Lasting stain upon him to all Posterity Notwithstanding the terrible Name Lewis XIV supposed to have gained in the year 1662 his Ambassador contending with the Spanish Ambassador for Precedency at the Reception of another Ambassador near the Tower was there worsted had several of his Horses and some of his Attendence killed and wounded For the King of England's Council not undertaking to determine in this Matter they were left to dispute it and a Proclamation was put out forbidding any English to meddle in this Matter upon great Penalties so that the Ambassador of Lewis the Great appear'd but very Little being forced to sneak to his Lodging by all the by-Ways he could find though they pretend to claim Precedency of all the Ambassadors of Europe unless at the Court of Vienna where the Lords of Austria bear Rule Yet this made Monsieur to storm and bluster at a strange rate insomuch that the King of Spain being of a quiet disposition and not desirous to involve himself in another War gave him such satisfaction as contented him upon his sending complaints to Madrid preferring the Quiet of his Kingdoms before a Punctilio of Honour Which so puffed up the Frenchman that he had a great Mind to be Quarrelling with England and not well knowing how to begin he pitched upon a peremptory demand of Dunkirk that was then in the Hands of King Charles II. This Demand was looked upon by the French themselves as so Extravagant that they could not imagine the English would hearken to the delivery of a place gained with the loss of the Life 's of so many brave Men and
Majesty's Friendship but could not enter into any such Alliance as he required However he persisted to encroach upon the Empire suffering his Troops that should have been withdrawn to quarter at discretion eating up that little the Inhabitants had left them to subsist withal winking at the many Complaints that were made and proving deaf to the Cries of the People This occasioned the King of England to complain by his Ambassadors but this prevailed little or nothing till he found a Defensive Alliance was carrying on against him and then under pretence of Winter Quarter he drew off some of his Troops Let us look a little back upon the Proceeding of Lewis le Grand in the Principality of Orange a place of Sovereign Right for some Ages belonging to the Illustrious House of Nassaw and the Inheritance of his present Majesty of Great Britain This Principality and City of Orange is very advantageously Situate exceeding fruitful and for the most part Inhabited by Protestants These Considerations made the French King Long to be Master of it for he seldom troubles himself to War on the Alps or in cold barren Countries Whereupon during the Minority of the Prince without the least Title or just Pretence to warrant his Actions he sent an Army to take Possession of it in the Year 1660. exercising a great deal of Cruelty and Inhumanities upon the Subjects contrary to the Law of Arms and of Nations demolishing the Bastions and strong Fortifications thereby purposing to himself if he should be obliged by the Princes who looked upon him as an Intruder and an Oppressor to relinquish it he might with more Ease repossess himself of it as he saw occasion Nay so far extended his Malice that he not only ruined the Cittadel but caused the Magnificent Monuments of Prince Maurice's Greatness to be laid in Ruines And indeed in the Year 1665. he was obliged to Relinquish that Principality and the Sieur Zuilychem to take Possession of it for his Master When in April that year as a presage of the Prince's good Fortune and future Greatness a Crown of Light darting Rays appeared over the City of Orange hanging as it were in the Air over the Palace or place of State appointed for his Reception to Consolate his distressed Subjects who for five years had groaned under the Tyranny of France But their Tranquillity lasted no longer than the Year 1673 for then the French King supposing to make his Arms the Terrour of Europe that so he might at pleasure become the great Arbitre of Peace and War he on a sudden and very unexpectedly entered it with his Troops And although after by an express Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen the Principality of Orange was restored and the King of England was Guarrantee of that Peace yet the unwearied Incroachments of the French Troops of Provence and the Intrigues of the Popish Bishop of Orange rendered daily the Subjects of the Principality more uneasie till in the Year 1682. Lewis XIV in a time of full Peace as well with the States as Confederate Princes commanded a powerful Army to take possession of it without any manner of colour or pretext but the Turkish Motto viz. Sic Volo sic Jubeo stat pro Ratione Voluntas This I will this I command My Will it does for Reason stand And thereby his booted Missionaries or Dragoons acted inhumane Barbarities on the Inhabitants unparallel'd in any Reign but his own And here for an Essay of his insupportable Vanity or rather of a Kindness unusual amongst Princes and derogatory to Majesty it self we must not omit That in a Breve in Favour of the late Prince of Conde as Administrator of the Duke of Long aville Lewis XIV had the foolish Confidence to treat his present Majesty of Great Britain with the Title of Messire William Count of Nassaw living at Amsterdam in Holland as if thereby he had entailed upon himself the Principality of Orange which at that time was the Supream Title of King William As for the Actings of the French King in this Principality we shall give you a brief Account in the words of Monsieur â—e Chambrun viz. The dismal Cruelties says he acted upon my unhappy Country and the City of Orange so famous by the Greatness of its Princes is at this day nought but a dismal Heap where one cannot enter without treading upon its Ruines She is at this day a doleful Monument of Cruelty and Injustice I cannot persuade my self that the Ruines of Troy or Carthage were more terrible than these I have mentioned since to one that beholds them at a distance they appear the Habitations of Ostriches and Owls If Posterity shall enquire the cause of this horrid Desolation as certainly it must the Account that shall be given of them will no doubt tend to the dishonour of France History will not forget to hand down to succeeding Ages the heroick Vertues of our Prince when she comes to relate the Ruine of his Territories and Desolation of his Subjects and when they shall understand that the Justice the Sincerity the Valour and indefatigable Care of maintaining the Liberty of Europe were the only Motives that induced the French King thus to treat an Illustrious Prince doubtless they will say This has been the most dismal and most corrupt of all Ages since that which ought to have been the Admiration of the Great Ones of the Earth was the Object of their Aversion and Hatred If this great Prince would have consented to the overturning of the Government of his Country as he was earnestly courted so to doe if he would have taken part with those that aim at the enslaving Europe In a word If he would have betrayed his Country and broken his Faith to his Allies he might have mounted a Throne then offered him But because he loved his Country better than his Interest and preferred his Honour to the richest Advantages and the Liberty of Europe to a Crown it behoved his great Actions should be regarded with Hatred and followed with the unjustest of Treatments But although this Conduct has been blamed in all the Courts of Europe yet nothing has been done to oppose it And I am forced to say 'T is the dishonour of all Europe to have suffered a great Prince to expose so often his Life with the greatest Bravery for its Good and Liberty and at the same time to abandon his Interest with such an unaccountable Neglect England was obliged to protect and assist this Prince not only as being the Guarrantee of the Peace of Nimeguen but from the Principle of Blood and Alliance And indeed what Honour can Accrue to England to see a Sovereignty wrested by unjust violence from a Prince that had Married the Heiress of Three Kingdoms As for me I cannot think of the Desolation of my Country without saying amidst my Tears with Jeremiah How doth the City sit solitary c. Is it nothing to you all you that pass by
to the Progress of their Arms whereby he became a great Instrument of keeping Lewis the Great in his Throne who else had by this time been Little and Insignificant But in what manner he requited him the Sequel will demonstrate The Prince of Conde after much Blood-shed in an intestine War retreated into Flanders with divers of his Party who would not leave him and there was set at the Head of the Spanish Forces Whereupon Hostilities ensued and the Spaniards recovered a great many of the Towns that had been taken from them So that where Force could not prevail Insinuation and Flattery took place and at last the Prince was gained upon to return Home as did the Dukes of Conti and Longueville being highly Caressed and a Pardon was published to all that had been in the Civil War and Lewis who hitherto had acted nothing memorable in his own Person being arrived at the Thirteenth Year of his Age Anno 1651 he was declared to be of sufficient Years to take upon him the Government and to act in Person which Declaration was approved by the Parliament of Paris and Proclaimed throughout the Kingdom Yet the War continued with Spain and many Battels were fought and Towns lost and won things being carried on with various Success So that the King that he might say he had been on Horse-back got up at the Head of his Troops to shew himself to the People which did indeed give a little hopes to those that were ready to revolt that things might go better than they had done But how they were mistaken will appear in its proper place In the Year 1654 great Preparations were made to Crown Lewis King of France and Navar and on the Fourth of June the Court arrived at Rhemes and was received by about Two thousand of the Citizens on Horseback about a League from that place to which was made a Guard of about Five thousand of the Inhabitants in Arms and the Suburbs were crouded with the Soldiery At the Entry were divers Triumphal Arches beautified with golded Lilies and many flattering Devices the Streets being hung with Tapestry and other Ornaments And upon his approach the Cannons were thundred off and volleys of small Shot discharged and the Aldermen of the City taking him for some petty Deity fell on their Knees and in that posture presented him the Silver Keys of the Town And Cardinal Mazarine being at the Church of Nostrodame with the Clergy the King alighted there The Bishop of Soissons officiated in the stead of the Archbishop of Rhemes who was a little before dead the Bishop of Caesaria being his Coadjutor The Bishops of Noyon and Beauvais attended in their Pontificals the first making an Oration in which he gave the King many flattering Epithets scarce due to mortal Man However knowing that Air of Vanity possessed his Mind that makes him value himself much upon his own Praises nothing was omitted that a Court-parasite could industriously produce Then the Archdeacon did the like and the Deacon gave him a Missal to kiss who kneeled down upon two Velvet Cushions placed on a Foot-cloath under a Canopy of State and from thence he went unto the Choire to assist at the Te Deum and the Vespers were performed in Musick The Vespers over he went to the Archbishop's Palace which was prepared to receive him and the next day the Coronation was Solemnized with great Pomp the Queen-Mother of England and the Dukes of York and Gloucester being present And there he was annointed with the Holy Oil which the Priest makes the ignorant People believe was miraculously sent from Heaven on purpose to annoint their Kings that they may be the more Dreaded and Reverenced And now this spruce young Monsieur being on the Throne began to make some Figure in the World though he still acted by others Heads and Advice And to give the World a proof of French Fidelity he clapp'd up a Peace contrary to all Mens Expectation with Oliver Cromwell the English Protector at the time when King Charles II. with his two Brothers were at the French Court and had been promised not only Protection but also aid to regain the usurped Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. Nor was this all but he proceeded more treacherously with his near Kinsmen for in the Treaty amongst other things there was an Article to Banish them France and its Territories Of which King Charles having private Notice and finding it fruitless to complain where the Royal engagement was so little regarded to avoid a ceremonious Expulsion with generous disdain he turned his Back upon that ungrateful Court and with his faithful Followers as Prince Rupert and other Nobles he retired into Germany and was there received with all imaginable Joy and found amongst Strangers that Reception without any promise or word given which his Cousin of France had so generously promised and afterward so basely denied But his Brothers the Dukes of York and Gloucester stayed behind the first having a Command in the Army under Mareschâ—l de Turin against the Spaniards But that weighed nothing for the League being made he was ordered to be Packing Nay it went so far that a Message was sent to their Mother though Daughter to Henry the Great of France to be gone but she sent Word That she knew her Right to be in France if the King knew not what belonged to his Dignity and that a Daughter of Henry IV. from whom he was descended and held the Crown was not so easily expelled from her Native Country This resolute Answer of the Queen's made Lewis XIV dissemble the Matter and her stay was winked at though not approved Here you may see French Faith to distressed Princes who though never so near Ally'd to that King could obtain Refuge no longer than his Interest moved him to break his Promises And this early beginning has been very much improved as will appear in the Series of this History The League Offensive and Defensive being made with England against Spain Six thousand Men were sent into Flanders who beat the Spaniard and took Dunkirk whilst the French in a manner stood still and looked on For as an Historian of their own truly has it Though France abound with Men it is wont to make use of the Valour of its Neighbours in all Wars against Strangers For it hath continues he been found by Experience That the French are only for the first Onset but cannot abide nor weather so many Discouragements as the English Scots and Switzers can in War Besides their Foot are not to be compared to Strangers therefore they may ascribe their most difficult Conquests to their Money and the Valour of the English Scotch Irish and Switzers According to the Treaty Dunkirk was secured by the English For the crafty Protector not being ignorant of the Falshood of the French Court had given secret Orders to Lockhart who Commanded in Chief immediately upon surrender to enter it and Post his
extreamly strengthened and fortified at the Expence of vast Treasure lying at the same time so Commodious for Trade and other Advantages The pretences the French King made were That there was an Agreement with Oliver Cromwell that upon the Payment of a certain Summ of Money it should be delivered to the French But no body as we can hear of was privy to this Contract but himself However contrary to all Mens Expectation his French Pistols gained that strong Town which all the Cannon and Forces of France had the King of England defended it could never have done But now we Experience the damage of that Oversight when too Late For Dunkirk was delivered for Money and Lewis had the unexpected Pleasure of entering into it in Triumph on the Second of December in the Year 1662. These Successes flushed his Ambition to greater Attempts nothing less now than the Dukedom of Lorrain will serve his turn and thereupon he sent his cunning Sophisters to wheedle the Duke out of it by Threats and Promises First That he had an Army ready to fall into it if it were refused Secondly That he would consign him Lands more secure in Lieu of it in another place And to make the old Duke more fond promised to declare him Heir to the Crown of France in Case the Family of Bourbon failed although there was a Dauphin born of the young Queen These and other inveiglings between Force and fair Means wrought so powerfully that the Agreement was made the Sixth of February 1662. and in March following confirmed in the Parliament of Paris to the apparent Wrong of Prince Charles the present Duke of Lorrain who though of years was no ways consenting to his Father's Act. And upon this Agreement the French Troops were immediately sent who seized upon all the Cities and Country of that fertil and spacious Dukedom except Marsal which being garisoned and influenced by the young Prince opposed their Progress This made Monsieur storm and immediately he ordered his Generals to be ready for an Expedition to make War as he term'd it for the Glory of his Arms and came on so terribly in the Head of his Forces that the old Duke though he repented of what he had done foreseeing the ruine that would insue to his People if he opposed and being altogether unfurnished by the surprize of his Towns to Encounter a great Army thought it his best way to submit to his Misfortune And thereupon in an humble manner he went to Metz in Lorrain to excuse himself to Lewis who received the venerable old Man after a haughty manner and would hear of nothing but the surrender of Marsal which not being able to hold out against such a powerful Army as he had brought into the Country it was put into French hands on the Third of September 1663. Much about this time Lewis fell a cavelling like an Unchristian Son with his Holy Father at Rome and the Manner was thus Monsieur de Crequi his Ambassador in that City bearing himself with too high a hand and putting Abuses even upon the Pope himself it so enraged some of the Pope's Guards that whether willingly or by chance remains doubtful a Harquibus was shot into his Coach which wounded some of his Servants This Affront made such a noise in the Court of France that Lewis instead of going in Devotion immediately prepared to make a Procession to Rome with his Dragoons which so frighted Pope Alexander II. that then held the Chair that he was forced to send and meet his Army with Protestation of his Trouble for what had happened and that he should have any satisfaction This stopped his Carier a little and Pisa was pitched upon as the City to examine the matter And on the Twelfth of March 1664. it was agreed between the French and Pope's Deputies a thing that the Pride of the Popes of Rome never submitted to for many Hundred years viz that Flavio Chigi the Pope's Nephew should come to the King and beg the Pope's Pardon so that it seems the Great Pardoner was forced to creep at this Time for a pardon from one of his Sons And farther That a Monument should be raised in the place where the Affront was done with an Inscription declaring the Cause of its being erected This was performed but it did not satisfie For whilst it was a doing the French fell into the Pope's County Palatine of Avignon drove out the Garrisons and without respect to St. Peter Mother-Church or Father Pope plundered his Patrimony for which the most Christian King highly applauded them But soon after the Queen-Mother of France died and now Lewis XIV began to take his pleasure without Regard to the young Queen Wherefore though it may be looked upon as a digression it may not be amiss to see a few of Lewis the Great 's Intrigues with his Little Mistresses for you must understand his Inclinations have been as well to Love as Glory Since Lewis XIV was Married to Maria Theresa of Austria daughter of Spain the first Mistress though the Queen was charming enough young brisk and lively that he publickly owned was Madam de la Valliere and that she might come up the better to his Humour he made her Duchess of Vaujour And although the Queen grew jealous and the Queen-Mother very much reproved his over-fondness of this Woman yet he little regarded their Reproaches Whereupon they used many devices to draw off his Affections but those not succeeding one Father Anat a Jesuit and at that time his Confessor was prevailed upon to reprove him So that he took upon him boldly to represent to him the Scandal and bad Effects such a loose way of Living occasioned by making an ill Impression upon the Minds of the People and that if he did not Reform he must enjoin him sharper Penance at his next Confession But the most Christian King little satisfied with this Discourse coldly replyed That he thanked him kindly for his good Advice and his past Service but that for the future he would make use of no other Confessor but the Parson of the Parish And so the old Fellow was turned out of Service for his Ill timed Preachment which made the Society of Jesuits curse him for being so scurvy a Politician on such an occasion which he might have Improved to their Advantage But however though this was Cashiered yet others of the Society more cunning and facetious made a shift to creep into the King's Bosome making their own Advantages by embroiling a great part of Europe And the more to flatter his Ambition contrary to the Rules of their Order they took away the Name of Jesus from off the Gates of one of their Colleges in Paris and placed the King's Name instead of it which occasioned this Distich Abstulit hinc Jesum posuitque Insignia Regis Impia Gens Alium non habet Illa Deum They Jesus name have ta'en from their Aboad And plac'd the King's he only is
Naval Preparations were made before it was publickly known to what Intent The Duchess of Orleance dying suddenly and not without Suspicion of evil Practice the Duke by the persuasion of Lewis XIV was Married to the Daughter of the Prince Palatine of the Rhine Upon which Country no doubt and it since has but too plainly appeared he had an Eye In the Year 1672 on the 7th of April the French King's Declaration was put forth prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with the States of the Vnited Provinces And out of a Bravado he marched in person at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men. By which surprizing Invasion he like a Torrent carried all before him So that many looked upon the Low Countries to be lost if no speedy Stop was put to this Progress But it has always been observed that though the first Motions of the French are impetuous yet the least discouragement makes them Recoil They had on a sudden filled with their Troops the Duchy of Cleves the Electorate of Collen the Duchy of Limburg the County of Zutphen Vtreitcht and its Territories with many other places and got into their hands several strong Towns and into this Combination the Bishop of Munster was drawn who took Groll and some other places though not very considerable They passed the Rhine likewise and did considerable damages in such places as were found unprovided Committing great Outrages Which so puffed up Lewis XIV that being returned to Paris he was congratulated with Flatteries and Applauses from all the Societies of the Kingdom And in Imitation of the Heathen Idolaters the Queen caused a Chapel to be built at Roan dedicated to our Lady of Victories The King was styled the invincible Hero though he was always so tender of himself that he neither engaged in any Battel or Skirmish or seldom came within Cannon shot of any place that resisted doing what best suited his Valour which has not overmuch of the Hero in it But indeed the Progress of his Arms had a Recoil for the Provinces being recovered out of the Amaze this sudden Attempt put them into and the Prince of Orange now King of England confirmed in his Patrimonial Offices and honourable Trusts as Stadtholder Admiral and General of the Vnited Provinces he presently took the Field with an Army of 24000 Men recovering several places and causing the French to retire and performing many other Exploits worthy himself and the Glory of his Ancestors But having taken a view of the French King's Affairs hitherto at Land let us cast our Eyes a little upon the Ocean The Fleets being Abroad in May 1672. on the 28th of that Month a sharp Ingagement ensued the then Duke of York commanding as Admiral It continued a long time bloody and doubtful during which many brave Men were lost as the Earl of Sandwich c. who would not leave his Ship though all in Flames till it was too late to succour him His Body was found sloating and afterward honourably buried but we cannot learn that the French did any thing considerable in this Action or that any more than their Reer-Admiral Monsieur de Rabiniere Trees les Bois came up to a close Fight who behaving himself like a man of Courage was slain and afterward honourably Interred at Rochel the rest lying off in a Line and firing at a Distance and many times greatly endamaging the English especially in their Rigging though they perceived only the Blue Squadron Engaged the Red not being able to come up in time So the French stood rather Neuters or Lookers on than any ways concerned in the Battel From this there grew a suspicion that they had Orders to keep from Engaging as much as possible that the two Fleets of England and the Vnited Provinces might batter each other that through their weakness the French King might become strong at Sea which more visibly appeared the following Year 1673. This Year the Valiant Prince Rupert Commanded the English Fleet where the French joining him he made One hundred and twenty Sail of stout Ships The Dutch were Commanded by Du Ruytter and Van Trump so that a sharp Engagement happened But the French no sooner heard the Bullets begin to rattle and saw with what Fury and Violence the Dutch and English Engaged but almost all that Fleet stood away pretending to gain the Weather-gage the which when they had very favourably got they e'en kept it for the Glory of their Master's Arms for they never came up again during the Fight And those few Captains that had so much Sense of Honour as not to follow their Admiral who were but very few had secret Intimation that they were in danger of being hanged when they came into France for not following their Flag or Orders But how they came off has not yet occurred The Prince though he made good the Fight and came off with Honour and Bravery stormed to be thus deserted Whereupon when the French Admiral came on board him to make his Excuse which proved but a very lame one the Prince is reported to look upon him with Indignation and after reproaching him with Baseness told the Monsieur That had he been one of his Master the King of England's Subjects he would have killed him with his own Hand And to let the World see how much the English Valour surpasses that of the French and how much Lewis is beholden to it for his Greatness I need instance but one Particular viz. During this War the strong City of Mastreicht was besieged by an Army of about Forty Thousand and the King came as near as he durst venture that his Men might be the better encouraged It was invested on the Sixth of June and there was in it a Garrison of 7 or 8000 Men one Faro a Valiant Man being Governour The besieged made a stout resistence and many were killed on both Sides insomuch that the French began to saint At what time the Heroick Duke of Monmouth who was at the Head of the English in the height of Youthful Valour despising Danger went on to the Assault through Showers of small and great Shot and Commanding in the Trenches though Two or Three Mines were sprung to obstruct his Passage he and the few that followed him charged with such resolution that they carried the Half-Moon contrary to the Expectation of all Men in less than half an Hour though the Shot flew round him as thick as Hail maintaining it till he had delivered it to a French Collonel who was sent to relieve him But no sooner was the Duke and the English retired but the French though strongly possessed not being able to endure the fire of the Besieged quitted it This vexed the Duke to see that a Regiment could not keep when put into their hands what himself and a very few English had got Insomuch that he prepared to regain it which he did with such daring Resolution that accompanied only by Twelve Voluntier-Gentlemen he threw himself over
the Works and Trenches with his Weapon in his Hand and beat out the Defendents gaining the Half-Moon a second time and delivered it Monsieur de la Feuvilade whom then shame more than true Valour compelled to secure it And indeed it is conjectured by many that this strong Place had put a stop to the French Arms had not the English who bore all the brunt of the Siege done things to a wonder so that at last it surrendered upon honourable Conditions on the Thirteenth of June But the French fury like a blazing Comet having by this time spent it self and the Confederate Armies gathering like a black Tempest around them Lewis found that this had been but a kind of a Frolick to make him more known For he was not capable of Garrisoning the Towns he had possessed and keep an Army in the Field which made him spue them up as fast as he had swallowed them withdrawing his Garrisons and Abandoning them to their true Owners which occasioned a Comical Portraicture of Lewis the Great Spewing and Sh ing Towns and Castles However upon leaving those places many of them were dismantled and the Inhabitants obliged to part with almost all they had for their Contribution or Ransom at the discretion of the Soldiers King Charles II. of England by this time grown weary of a War into which he had been unadvisedly drawn and the which without any advantage to England had cost a great deal of Blood and Treasure whilst the French reaped the Profit a Peace was concluded with the States for himself on very honourable Terms So that the English Fleet being laid up the French durst be little at Sea yet at Land the War continued where the French Gold did the greater Service as indeed it has all along had the Luck to do And in this State things continued till the beginning of May 1674. Lewis XIV finding he had ingaged himself too far and that his violent Proceedings had drawn a great many Princes upon him for they found it high time to Confederate against the Disturber of Christendom some Overtures of Peace were made and a Treaty set on Foot in the City of Cologne where divers were assembled in hopes of bringing it to Perfection But upon the Emperor's seizing of the Prince of Furstemburg who worked the French Interest tho' a Subject of the Empire and ought to have done the contrary it greatly disgusted the French King and proved a Remora to this Treaty So that Hostilities continued and the Prince of Conde seized on Navaigne which after a short Siege was delivered up and the King himself laid Siege to Dole which made a stout resistence and killed him a great many Men. But not being timely succoured it at last fell into their Hands These proceedings made the Confederate Armies draw together to oppose them so that on the Fifteenth of June the Duke of Lorrain and the Count of Caprara gave Turin Battel but wanting Foot as having but One Regiment of Foot to Seven thousand Horse and hourly Expecting the Duke of Bournonville who was coming towards them the French on the other hand being Twelve thousand strong notwithstanding a desperate Fight they were forced to retire over the Necker many brave Men being killed and divers taken Prisoners The loss of the slain are held to be equal and had not the Duke wanted Foot the French had been utterly routed For he Charged with such Fury and Resolution at the Head of his Troops as if he had been weary of his Life and expected a Dukedom in another World rather than this Whilst these things passed the Dutch scoured the Seas with their Fleet the French not daring to peep abroad for now they had nothing to fear on the Ocean having made a Peace with the English Whereupon they braved the French in their Harbours and made a Descent on Bell Isle but could make no Advantage on that strong Place But the Dutch Forces at Land took the Grime a very strong Place after a hard Siege And now Lewis XIV betook him to the French Policy of tampering abroad And finding by his Agents that the Inhabitants of Messina in Sicily grew weary of the Spanish Government he encouraged them to Rebel and sent them Succours under the Command of the Duke de Vivone seizing that City and taking an Oath of Fidelity of the Inhabitants But when he had brought them to this Revolt and kept a Garrison there a very considerable Time contrary to the Expection of all Men and out of what Caprice none perhaps but himself knows to this Day he suddenly recalled his Forces leaving so many of the Inhabitants as would not leave all they had to Ship themselves and fly into France where they could rely upon no Succour to the Mercy of the Inraged Spaniards whom they had highly offended by this Revolt Nor had they above four Hours Notice Yet as many as could crowded on Board and afterward lived in Exile not daring to return King Charles II. of England having made a Peace with the States of the Vnited Provinces issued out a Proclamation on the Nineteenth of May 1675. commanding all his Subjects in the French Service as Soldiers since the Treaty of Peace to quit forthwith that Service and return Home and prohibiting any English-men to engage themselves in the like for the future which proved a great Detriment to the Progress of the French Arms as soon after appeared For the Army as not only overthrown but Turin the most Experienced General of France was slain But because this Action was very Memorable we shall not think it amiss to give a brief Account of it On the Eighteenth of July 1675 the Mareschal de Turin commanded out the Regiments of Horse of Campaigne and Orleance with Nine Squadron of Horse under the Command of the Marquess de Rone Mareschal to pass the River Renchau by the Means of Two Bridges he had laid over And being informed That the Imperialists had laid an Ambuscade on the other side he went in person to see if he could discover it from a certain Height near the Bridge When the Imperialists having planted Two small Pieces in a Wood hard by fired one of them without any considerable Execution but the secoud being Charged with Iron or Cartridge-shot put a period to Turin's Life killing likewise the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance and divers others of Quality about him though some Accounts say he was killed with a Cannon Shot However thus ended that great General who had been brought up in War as we may properly term it from his Infancy and seen many Rivers of Blood whose Death gave a great check to the French Affairs and the Army was so much discouraged that it immediately retired in some disorder when being pursued and hotly engaged by Montecuculi the Imperial General between Six and Seven thousand of them were slain and several Colours with some Cannon and Baggage taken the Count de Lorge who Commanded after the
THE MOST Christian Turk Or a VIEW of the LIFE and Bloody REIGN OF LEWIS XIV Present King of FRANCE CONTAINING An Account of his Monstrous Birth the Transactions that happened during his Minority under Cardinal Mazarine afterwards his own unjust Enterprizes in War and Peace as Breach of Leagues Oaths c. the blasphemous Titles given him his Love-Intrigues his Confederacy with the Turk to Invade Christendom the cruel Persecution of his Protestant Subjects his Conniving with Pirates his unjustly Invading the Empire c. laying all Waste before him with Fire and Sword his Quarrels with the Pope and Genoieze his Treachery against England Scotland and Ireland the Engagements of the Confederate Princes against him with all the Battles Sieges and Sea Fights that have happened of Consequence to this Time LONDON Printed for Henry Rhodes near Brideâ—an End in Fleetstreet 1690. Behold the Christians Scourge by fortune hurâ— Like Damn'd Pandoras Aoâ—â— to plague the worâ— No Leagues nor oath's bind this Leviathan With fire and Sword he madly rushes on LICENSED â—ecemb 6th 1689. THE PREFACE THE Reader at first View may suppose this History to be written by some prejudiced hand and therefore it may Savour of too much Partiality but if he more deliberately consult the Actions of this Monarch and the Reflexions the Calmest Spirits of Europe and even his own Subjects have made upon them we hope the Censure may pass over us For there be few who allow him not the Epithet of Troubler of the Peace of Europe in which least Part of the Earth he has caused more Blood to be shed since his mounting the Throne of France than many Ages before had seen and made so many Towns and Villages sink in Fire that no barbarous Nation dares venture to reckon with him on that score Nero was a Heathen and yet we have him painted in the blackest shape for setting Fire to Rome and Persecuting the Christians What then could have been expected from those Historians had they been to set forth the Actions of Lewis XIV who is styled The Most Christian King who has not only Destroyed one Town or City but laid whole Countries and Provinces Waste with Fire and Sword Persecuted and Destroyed a Million of Christians and joined with Infidels to bring Destruction even upon Christendom it self and as he Phrases it Scorning to be a Slave to his Word has counted the most sacred Leagues and Oaths as Trifles to be made and broken at pleasure or things only framed to serve his purpose and no longer durable than his Interest requires Therefore we hope the Candid Reader will not impute iâ— too great a Boldness in a Historian of these times to lay down in a brief buâ— compact Series undeniable Truths thaâ— have attended his Birth and Reign A VIEW of the LIFE and ACTIONS OF LEWIS XIV The present King of France c. NOT doubting but many are unacquainted with the Life and Actions of Lewis XIV of France especially as to sundry Periods and Particulars we have undertaken to compile what has materially happened relating to that Prince who has for many Years but especially of late made such a noise and bluster in the World to the damage and disturbance of all Christendom and has as it were fatted himself with Christian Blood After a tedious War between France and Spain which began in the Reign of Henry IV. and continued by Truces and Intervals in the Reign of Lewis XIII nothing was thought more Expedient to put a stop to the Progress of those Miseries that equally afflicted both Kingdoms than a Match and both Parties agreeing a Marriage was made between Lewis XIII styled by some The Just and Anne of Austria the Infanta of Spain But although they were both in the Flower of Youth they deceived for a long time the Expectation of the world living together in mutual Society Twenty-three Years without any Appearance of the Queen 's ever being with Child Insomuch that France and all Europe suspected one or both of them Defective or Stiril but at the end of these Years when all were out of hopes a Crotchet came into the Queen's Head supposed to be put into it by Cardinal Mazarine who Ruled all at Court To go in Procession barefooted to the Chapel of the Virgin Mary near Paris whom the Papists hold for a very Lucina to demand of her a Son and Heir to the Crown of France And indeed when a Man sends his Wife abroad to ask for a Child 't is but just she should bring one home with her if she can get it But to the purpose As if this as a Miracle was to be ascribed to the Blessed Virgin and an Effect of the Answer of the Queen's Prayers according to the time of Childing the Queen was brought to bed of a Son in September in the Year One thousand six hundred thirty and eight And that the Miracle might be increased or the better to hush some Scruples and Doubts in Court the Parliament of Paris welcomed him into the World with the Salutation of Dieu donne or Given of God conceiving a Birth as indeed all Europe did though perhaps in another sense to be Miraculous after so many Years passing over without any Child and the Father at that time being Indisposed c. Some things were whispered abroad at the Birth of this Prince and although Mazarine laboured to still them yet notwithstanding several of the Blood-Royal who had promised themselves great Advantages upon the Death of Lewis XIII who appeared to them very Infirm as well in Body as Mind could not forbear speaking aloud And as a presage of Cruelty as it happened to our King Richard III. of England and others who have delighted in Blood This Prince contrary to the Rules of Nature was born with long and sharp Teeth which made many of the Grandees of France look upon so unusual an Accident as the fore-runner of ill Luck to the World and upon that consideration Monsieur Bassampeire a very Judicious Man and a great Favourite of the Father wrote to the Bishop of Greenoble in these Words My Lord IN my last I gave you the good News of the Queen's being brought safe to Bed of a Dauphin All that I tell you at present is that her Majesty Recovers every Day and the Child is strong and lusty and seems to promise a long Life There is one thing of him much taken notice of by some That his Gums have Teeth pointing out already and there is scarce a Woman that can suffer him to suckle He sucks so eagerly that he brings Blood with his Milk and upon this account he has had two Nurses changed already I pray God this may not be an ill Omen to France We need Princes of a healing and mild Temper Corrosives not agreeing with the good of this Monarchy The Prince is to be named Lewis Dieu donne Given of God as his Majesty was pleased yesterday to declare in Council I
their God After a long Caressing of this Mistress by whom he had some Children and is said in a great Immergency to play the Man-Midwife to one of them himself and Entertaining her with all the Glory and Gallantry of his Kingdom he grew weary of those Beauties-himself had sullied and searched for those that were fresher Whereupon he cast his Eyes upon Madam Montespan who charmed his Affections a very considerable time which so vexed the former to see her self outed that she went into a Nunnery and there turned Penitent leaving the King to take his full swinge with Montespan who made her Advantage by preferring all her Kindred to places of Honour and Trust Her Brother who would otherways have never deserved it was made Duke and Peer General of the Galleys and a Mareschal of France These Qualifications rendered him of the greatest Quality for a Subject in the Kingdom which caused a pretty Retort when one was comparing this Vivone with Feillade viz. that the last was made Mareschal by the Sword and the first by the Scabbard Yet many were of Opinion that the Kings passion was not so great for Montespan as he pretended for if fame be true one Madam Du Lude a Nun of Lorrain came in with her for a share though privately to save the Credit of that Order which occasioned these following Verses La Valliere of common Race Montespan of Noble was And Du Lude a pious Nun All for Mistresses are Known If you 'd know the Reason why These three his Favourites he creates Our great Prince has a mind to try To Vnite the three Estates But his mind continued wavering for not long after Montespan was laid aside and Madamosel de Fontagne was taken into Favour but she lived not long afterward as being supposed to have received a Dose from her she had rivalled and the Prince of Marsilack who brought her to the King was for finding the Game so well made Chief Huntsman of France To her succeeded Madam de Maintenon who joining with Montespan as a Testimony of their Repentance built the Abby of St. Cry by some called the Seraglio to train up young Women Which occasioned this Epigram Two of fair Venus's Votaries Their Souls with holy Zeal inflam'd Have founded two new Nunneries With the Revenues by their Pleasure gain'd But without Miracle they seem To be in a pitious taking Since that that founded and supporteth them Is now in a continual shaking But to cut off this Digression if it may properly be so termed as to what is consistent to History of this Nature we find that Lewis XIV was not satisfied with having Dunkirk delivered to him but dreading the Growing Greatness of his Protestant Neighbours viz. England and the Vnited Provinces by some extraordinary Contrivance they were set together by the Ears and engaged in an Unhappy War occasioning much bloodshed on either Part whilst France was a looker on But when that Court perceived the Dutch inclined to a Peace as being wearied with an Expensive and hazardous War then and not till then the French put in to assist the States to keep the flame still blazing that so the two most powerful Nations at Sea under Heaven might weaken each other and thereby lay themselves more open and exposed to the Projects of France which has but too apparently been manifested For although in the Year 1666. the French Fleet was abroad yet it was only in a bravado for we could never learn from any hand That that Fleet though the Ships carried many terrible Names as Tempest Lightning Thunder c. effected any thing but rather stood as a looker on whilst the English and Dutch battered each other though at the same time they might have come up the Wind being favourable Nor were the English better served when they were on their part as will hereafter appear So that if there was not as let those believe who are very credulous if they please a design in it for the weakning the Protestant Interest at least we may conclude That this produced nothing as to the Reputation of making War for the Glory of the Arms of Lewis XIV However after several Fights and much Blood-shed though little or none of the French in these Actions upon more deliberate Considerations a Peace was concluded in 1668. Yet in this Interim there are other Remarks than what we have mentioned The French during this Naval War had not the Courage to make any descent upon England or any of the Three Kingdoms but upon our People in the West-Indias their Treachery appeared in a Crimson dye especially in the Island of St. Christophers where the French and English as planters of that Island had lived together in neighbourly Love as every one thought for many years reciprocally and with much satisfaction enjoying the Fruits of their Labour But upon Notice of this War and the iustigation of French Popish Cruelty they fell unawares upon the English and Massacred them without mercy or so much as giving them time to think of a future State seizing upon their Goods and Possessions to the eternal Infamy of the French Nation They likewise seized upon the Islands of Antigo Saint Eustach and Tobago Yet all this while the Court of France pretended they had no Quarrel against the English but what they did was in the defence of their Allies pretending a great Kindness for the Dutch who since have experienced it to their no small Detriment which however may in time be repay'd How the Port at Constantinople and the French Court have hitherto taken equal Measures never observing any Obligation longer than it tended to their Interest we leave the World to judge This was not all the design of Lewis XIV for by embroiling England and Holland he had leisure notwithstanding the Peace solemnly sworn to and concluded with the King of Spain to enter Flanders under Pretence of some Particulars not performed relating to the Contract of Marriage with the Infanta Nor could his Queen persuade him to reason but in May 1667. he entered Flanders with an Army of 30000. Horse and Foot upon which unexpected surprize many of the Garrisons drew off as Armantiers Labassee Conde Bergues S. Guilhain and Furves of which the Mareschal d' Aumont took Possession And the better to secure the Frontiers Lewis commanded Charleroy to be Rebuilt and Fortified Many other Towns of Note were taken being rather got by surprize than by true Valour on the part of the Franch For many of them in this security were unprovided of many things that might have contributed to a longer Defence or secured them from falling into the Hands of the Invader Lille was the only Place that made a resolute Defence for in this place was a Governour of great Repute under whose Command was a Garrison of 4000 Foot and 800 Horse Nor was it gained but by a bloody Siege when the Governour found all hopes of expecting Relief vain through the want of timely Notice
of the French King's Intentions to Invade those Provinces or the unpreparedness of the Court of Spain to send an Army to oppose the Torrent of a French Power advantageously poured into those Countries The Town Surrendered upon Articles on the 28. of August and Lewis who then was in the Army entered into it Notwithstanding the Spaniards during the Siege made some Attempts to Relieve it but their Forces being small they were frustrated In the Year 1668. for the Glory of his Arms Lewis XIV thought of another Enterprize which was to take into his Possession by Force the French Comte which as a kind of a Palatinate or separate Principality had enjoyed many Privileges and Immunities which being altogether unarmed or capable of Defence upon such a Surprize the Inhabitants were forced to send to the King's Deputies to treat of Yielding thereby to prevent the Spoils and Ravage of a Hunger starved Army However in the midst of the Treaty Besanson was possessed by a forced Surrender on the Sixth of February Salines was also Surprized and many other places not being sufficiently Garrisoned or provided with Stores were obliged to their Gates Dole only was capable of making a shew of Resistence but the French Army being numerous and suddenly possessing themselves of the Out-works they were forced to accept of such Terms as were offered by the French King and thereupon they sent him the Keys of the City It may be guessed what little Expectation this Country had of a French Army when in the space of Twelve Days so many strong Places Yeilded that were capable of holding out many Years had they had timely Notice and well provided But it has ever been observable that this King gains most of his Advantages by this way or the force of golden Pistols charged into the Governours Pockets The French King perceiving that the Dutch weary of his Alliance who had done so little for them and pretended so much were inclined to make a Peace and join with the Spaniards and thinking he had gained sufficiently if he could keep what he had got Overtures of Peace where thereupon proposed and Monsieur Colbert was sent to Aix la Chapelle to meet the Ministers of the Mediating Princes And accordingly the Articles of Peace between France and Spain were signed on the Sixth of May and made Publick at Paris and Brussels Yet Lewis was not well pleased to be frustrated in his Expectation of swallowing the Spanish Provinces attributing his disappointment to the Dutch who declaring for the Interest of Spain had obliged him to this Peace But his Threats were retarded by another Enterprize It so happened that the Turks with a nurous Army had besieged the City of Candia situate in the Island formerly called Creet belonging to the Venetians So that may of the French Nobility who had prepared their Equipages for the ensuing Compaign and being prevented by the Peace the French King was forced to comply withal went thither and upon their Return gave an account of the place Insomuch that Lewis thinking to have the Honour of relieving that Bulwork of Christendom which had held out a long doubtful and bloody Siege and upon the Event of which the Eyes of all Europe were fixed sent an Army of French men under the Command of the Dukes of Beaufort and Navailles consisting of 10000 Men who without any detriment entered that City which was laid almost in Ruines with the Bombs shot in by the Infidels Whereupon it was concluded in a Council of War that it could be no longer tenable without performing some extraordinary Exploit and after a farther-Consult it was agreed That a vigorous Sally should be made in Order to the raising of the Siege The French indeed were very forward and to give the Duke of Beaufort his Due he behaved himself like a man of good Courage and Conduct The Sally was accordingly made with great Resolution and the Turks at first were beaten out of their Trenches But the Christians possessing themselves of a Magazine of Three hundred Barrels and Sacks of Powder whether by Matches laid on purpose by the Enemy or fired by chance it blew up and destroyed almost one whole Regiment in which it was thought the Duke of Beaufort was killed and buried by the overthrowing of the Earth for his Body was not afterwards found Which terrible thundercrack so dismayed the French-men who were the foremost in the Sally that they retired in great confusion thinking by the Earthquake it made that all the Ground was hollow and charged with Mines So that the Turks Rallying and being reinforced with great Numbers that came pouring from the Hills the Belieged were driven into the City and the French never after that could be persuaded to make any other Sally or so much as to stay for the Defence of the Place although the Governour almost with Tears besought it But the Duke of Novailles who now Commanded in Chief pretending Orders from his Master took Shipping and with those Forces he had left returned to France which was not for the Glory of the King 's Arms. For had they stayed and done what became Soldiers that famous City had undoubtedly been saved which by this Defeat was in a short time after delivered to the Turks with whom Lewis XIV has since had a better Correspondence as will appear in due Place and Order In the year 1669. the Duke of Lorrain grieved that he had so easily parted with his Countries hoping it was not yet too late to retract he required Aid of the Emperor and King of Spain labouring to engage them against France Whereupon Lewis sent the Mareschal de Crequi with an Army of 18000 Men into his Country who dismantled and pulled down the Walls of divers Towns making great Ravagement though he found little or no opposition For only the little Towns of Epinal and Chate made some shew of a Resistence But there being no Army that could promise them Relief they were compelled to surrender and the old Duke to fly his Patrimonial Country and foregoe those vast Promises the French Court had made him The Eyes of all Europe being upon this unfair dealing and greatly Regretting it to keep the Inhabitants quiet he ordered they should be treated with somewhat more Mildness than is usually observed in the French Conquests as they term them though for the most part got by Surprize or Treachery And finding the Hollanders were no way satisfied with his proceedings for he had infringed upon their Commerce he resolved to begin first and having visited and strengthened his Towns in Flanders and upon the Frontiers he by a subtil Negotiation as some Historians will have it of Henrietta Duchess of Orleance who had an Interview with her Royal Brothers at Dover drew the King of England into an Expensive War against the States But whether by the means of that Princess who died upon her return into France or otherwise we determine not However it is certain that great
Death of Turin being wounded and many Persons of Quality killed This was seconded by the Overthrow of the Mareschal de Crequi near Treves For the Confederates having besieged that place which had been surprized by the French the Mareschal came to Succour it but the Besiegers drawing off and giving him Battel his Forces were totally defeated with the loss of Three or Four thousand Men and of all the Baggage and Cannon c. the broken Army scattering and getting into the adjacent Town The Mareschal with sive or six men got into Treves and the Governour being killed took upon him to defend the place but the Besiegers having made Three Breaches so wide that Forty Men a-breast might enter the Officers finding the Ditches likewise filled up and the Storm ready to be made they Capitulated without Crequi who to regain in some measure the Credit he had lost suffered himself to be made a Prisoner of War Binch was likewise taken by the Dutch and many other Advantages gained So that Lewis the Great began to think that he had overstood his Markets and thought it high time to look out for Confederates Whereupon he drew the King of Sweeden into an Alliance with him to divert the War on that side of the King of Denmark and Duke of Brandenburg But the Sweeds had but little Success in his Quarrel as being worsted by Land and Sea and having nothing but the French King's Word for Reparation Insomuch that they were obliged to sit down by the Loss and thereupon Lewis XIV began to tamper with the States of Holland to clap up a Peace without the Consent of their Allies But whilst it was on Foot which made the King grant the larger Terms his Forces under the Duke of Luxemburg were beaten near Mons by the English Dutch and Germans In which Action his present Majesty of England signalized his Valour and Conduct to a wonder and the Duke of Monmouth being a Voluntier in the Army by his Example so animated the English that they let the French see they were capable of turning the Scale of Victory These Bad Successes making Lewis the Great fear he should be reduced to Lewis the Little he made such Offers which were seconded by many Promises and Crafty Insinuations that the States did conclude a peace and had all their Towns except Maestreicht delivered into their possession which made many wonder But those that have weighed the Matter give these Reasons for their making a peace when other Princes their Confederates were in Treaty for that of Nimeguen was still on Foot First They perceived the Ambassadors of their Allies had been several Years in debate at Nimeguen without bringing any thing to Perfection as to the Treaty with France and they had greatly wasted their Treasure in the War and found a peace was necessary to Recruit Secondly Their Trade on which the Provinces mostly depend was greatly obstructed by which means the People were Impoverished Thirdly They were Constrained to take up Moneys on the publick Trust to supply the Charge of the War which being of long Continuance could not but have consumed vast Treasures Fourthly That the Spaniard had not those Forces on foot in the Netherlands that was Expected which might have hindered the French from taking several Towns in Flanders of which without any considerable Opposition they had possessed themselves Fifthly That all things were restored to them that had been taken away which would have been difficult to have Recovered by other means Sixthly By this Treaty they caused to be rendered up to Spain part of what had been taken during the War Seventhly That the French Ministers assured the States that they would speedily make a Peace with their Allies and that they the States should be Arbitrators of that Peace These are given as Reasons And indeed considering how the Ministers of France pressed it with Eagerness and declared the Extream Passion and Desire the King their Master had to be at peace it might have been thought that he mean'd as he said The King himself during the Negotiation sent them a Letter wherein he styled them His good Friends Allies and Confederates promising wonderful things in the most obliging Flattery But no Words or Promises can bind this Leviathan for Lewis knew well enough what he did by making a Separate Peace considering if he should be brought to Strict Terms with all the Allies he must of Necessity part with Lorrain to the Duke its Rightful Lord and with the Franche Compte of Bourgogne to the King of Spain taken contrary to faith given since the Pyrenean Treaty But by not having the Dutch Army upon his back he sound himself able to deal with the rest and to tire them out by delays And indeed by taking these Measures he constrained the Duke of Brandenburg and the Prince of Zel to restore all they had taken from the Sweed since that King stood for the French Interest King Charles II. of England perceiving Lewis XIV delayed the Treaty to incroach upon Flanders found his Honour touched since he became a Mediator and was to be Guarrantee of the Peace And thereupon sent over five or six Thousand Men to defend the Spanish Netherlands where the French during the Treaty and daily Expectation of Peace were like so many Tartars or wild Arabians Ravaging and destroying the Country but the Terrour of the English put a Check to their Progress Lewis XIV having obtained a Peace with the States of the Vnited Provinces he more and more delayed the Treaty of Nimeguen as not doubting to bring the other Confederates to more Advantageous Terms than otherwise he could have been capable of doing And that which made the French King more urgent for a Separate Peace was that he knew well enough that it could not be Reasonably made with the Allies in Conjunction but that the Country of Lorrain would be required for that Duke and the Franche Compte for the King of Spain or what ever had been snatched from that Crown since the Pyrenean Peace which had been so openly violated by France And therefore he concluded to divide the Allies was to make his own Terms And indeed it so fell out to the great prejudice of the Confederaters Especially Spain and the Empire as in due place will appear And indeed Lewis XIV by this means preserved most of his important Conquests at that time whilst the Elector of Brandenburg and the Prince of Zell found themselves in a Necessity to Restore to Sweden all they had taken or by standing out run the Hazard of a French Army Ravaging their Countries whilst their Allies who had already made peace could not fairly give them any Assistence unless like him with whom they had made the peace they layed no Stress upon Leagues any longer than it tended to their purpose But the Emperor as well as Holland having concluded with France the rest found themselves too weak long to contend with a Monarch of such vast
Another Person they dragged to Mass and because he hung back and cryed out He would never do it they beat him to Death But should we come to particular Persons the Numbers would fill a Volume as large as those of the Martyrs Monsieur de Garrison a Venerable Man who had done great Kindness for the Intendent went to wait upon him in this extremity to intreat his Protection but he like a true Papist who holds no Faith to be kept with Hereticks notwithstanding he offered him all his Goods not only rejected his suit but caused him beyond what he had suffered to be dragged through the Streets and miserably misused as a means to deterr others from Petitioning him This sort of converting was not only used in this City but throughout all the Dominions of the King though in different Methods of studied Cruelty Some they tossed from one Soldier to another kicking buffeting and beating them with Rods three or four Days and Nights together to keep them waking and when at any time they fainted or sunk down then they used them in that manner on the Ground or on Beds and when they had rested roused them again Some they hung up by the Heels and smoaked them with burning wet Straw till they were almost dead Some again they blew up almost to bursting by putting a pair Bellows into their Fundaments They basted the Soles of the Feet of others with Lard and held them to a Fire till almost Roasted One Isaac Favin a Citizen of Negroplisse they hung up by the Armpits a whole Night and pinched off his Flesh with Pincers yet could not prevail to make him abjure These Cruelties and many more were committed not only upon Men but also upon Women and even upon Children that were of any Years The younger Infants were every where taken from their Parents by force and thrust into Monasteries and Nunneries Wives Widows and Virgins were in many Places Ravished and Deflowred Some Children though of very tender Years they kept fasting till they fainted and then brought them before their Parents as imagining they would rather turn than see their Children Perish Many times the Priests would persuade some to Abjure declaring it should be only seemingly to comply with the King's Decree but when they had unadvisedly done that in hopes of some respite then they compelled them to torment their Friends and Relations into an Abjuration the which if they did not in three Days or so much time as was given them the Booted Apostles are sent to them again upon a scruple of their not being thorowly Converted Sometimes they bind the Mothers that give suck to Posts and lay their Infants to perish in their sight unless they will Abjure And when these Dragoons were weary of tormenting and inventing new manner of Torments tired with the patience of the Sufferers and despairing to bring them to their Terms the Officers Rate them and send them back to torture them worse saying The King has Commanded it and it must be done bawling out That the King intends to have but one Religion in his Dominions These are the pleasant Paths by which Lewis XIV invites his Protestant Subjects to enter into the Bosom of Mother-Church exceeding those of the Heathen Emperors for they only killed and made way for the triumphing Martyr to enter into Glory but here they have a lingering Death and by a Series of Torments above what humane Nature is able to bear their Hearts are sometimes forced to give their Tongues the Lye Some Persons they tortured with Engines and put brass Pans or Kettles over the Heads of others and with continual beating upon them made the Party in a manner distracted Those of the better Sort fled to Paris thinking the Dragoons would not come so near the King's Palace But alas there they found no Reâ—uge for a Decree was set forth commanding them to depart the City and retire to their respective Habitations on greater Pains and Penalties Nor did these Monsters of Converters only spightfully misuse their Persons but likewise shewed their Malice upon the poor Cattle as if the King had commanded them to bring the Hogs Cows Sheep and Oxen over to the Church as well as their Owners for some of them they Hoxed and so suffered them for want of Legs to go to perish in the Fields others they killed out-right and suffered to rot on the Ground Some again they drove into Rivers and drowned They cut down the Timber and burnt it destroyed their Vineyards and sold their Houses drew their Fish-ponds and threw their Fish into the Street These Missionaries exceeding the Barbarity of Tartars were attended by a multitude of Rascally Friars and Priests to take Confessions and Abjurations as likewise by a Bishop before whom they were to be Examined And when those that through Torments and being tired out had Abjured were at Mass they had Spies set upon them and if it appeared that they did it not sincerely then they were thrown back into their former Misery And although these Loyal People as the King himself confessed them to be would have left all they had and forsaken the Country yet that was forbid them on strict Penalties as even Death or perpetual Imprisonment The Ports were strictly watch'd and Ships on pain of Forfeiture forbidden to take them in yet through Providence many escaped into England Holland Germany c. and found Succour and Shelter Their Ministers only found the Favour to be Banished but to leave behind them their Wives Children and Relations Nay they hardly escaped sending to the Gallies for such are the Vnchristian Ways of the Most Christian King that he will have it a Crime in his Country for Men to be Learned and Vertuous So by this means a Million of Families were ruined and many Thousands perished through Want Torture and in Prisons for all the Gaols of the Provinces were filled with these distressed People Nor did their Malice and Cruelty stop here for although the Ministers had Liberty to go into Banishment under the hardest of Conditions yet the King's Ministers on the Frontiers frequently stopped them under frivolous pretences till the time given them to depart was expired and then charged them with breaking the Orders in not departing within the limited time and that they must go to the Gallies by which means they stripped them of all that little they had left and well they thought it if they so escaped to wander in strange Lands and relie upon Providence which indeed did almost every where plentifully provide for them The Elector of Brandenburgh put out a Declaration in Favour of them inviting and encouraging as many as would or could Escape to take up their Habitations in his Territories commanding all his Subjects to Comfort Harbour Cherish and Entertain them and gave Order to his Ministers to see it carefully observed in all his Cities and Towns throughout his Dominions The like in effect was observed in England Holland and other
French Gold Coin by which we may understand that the Poet such as he was insinuated That he gained more by his Gold than by Valour or Vertue The King was surprized at this and dissembled the Affront seemed to praise the Author and promise if he would discover himself not only to give him a pardon but reward him But it seems he had more wit than to trust himself in the Lyon's Paws upon such slender Security Yet not to give over his Poetical Whimsey there was soon after found in the same Place a Distich in English thus Lewis the thing cannot be known I writ it when I was alone Hitherto we have endeavoured to shew the World the State of Affairs relating to France since the coming of Lewis XIV to the Crown who has in all Parts answered the Prodigie of his Birth living as we may term it in a perpetual Tempest of War to the Scourge of Christendom Few Kingdoms or Estates there are that can boast themselves exempted from the Damage received by the Calamities that have frequently happened on that Occasion Nay where his own Power has not reached so effectually that of others has been imployed not to mention his engaging the Northern Crowns of Denmark and Sweden though Protestant Kingdom in a tedious and expensive War but even soliciting the Pirates of Argier and Tripoly to Invade the Traffick of the Christians by hindring Navigation and taking their Ships offering them his Ports lying advantageous for the purpose and as it were cajolling Nests of Thieves and the Off-scum of Mankind with whom it is not for the Glory of so great a Monarch as Lewis XIV would be thought to be to have any Converse withall But we see Ambition will stoop low when it hopes to soar aloft Lewis XIV when he committed these Outrages and disturbed the Repose of Christendom had little regard to his Oath and the Credit of his Ambassadors who concluded the Peace at Nimeguen nor of the Honour of the King of England Charles II. who was Guarrantee of that Peace nor were the States of the Vnited Provinces less abused who had so great a hand in bringing that memorable Treaty to pass wherein the Ministers of all the Princes of Christendom were concerned and at which place most of them were in Person But to give a farther Light into this Matter take the following Proclamation of Peace published by the States BE it known to all Persons that to the Honour and Praise of God the Lord Almighty to the Welfare and Furtherance of the Common Good of these Vnited Netherlands in General and the good Inhabitants thereof in Particular a good sure faithful and lasting Peace was made at Nimeguen the Tenth Day of August in this present Year 1678. betwen the King of France on the one side and the States General of the Vnited Netherlands on the other and that the Ratification on both sides were exchanged in due Form at Nimeguen aforesaid on the Twentieth of this Instant September And that in pursuance thereof all Acts of Hostility and Enmity as well at Sea and in fresh Water as at Land in all Cities and Places under their Respective Dominions without Exceptions as likewise between their Subjects and Inhabitants of what Condition soever they be must cease and determine after the respective Terms hereafter mentioned to wit after four Weeks to reckon from this Day the publication of the Peace hath been made in the Hague that is after the 26th of October next in the East and North Seas from the Ness in Norway to the Lands End of the Chanel and after Six Weeks that is after the 9th of November next from the said Lands End in the Chanel to the Cape St. Vincent and after Ten Weeks that is after the 7th of December from Cape St. Vincent to the Line and lastly after Eight Months that is after the 28th of May 1679. in all Places of the World Wherefore all and every one as well Subjects and Inhabitants of the several Provinces of the Netherlands as those that are under their High and Mighty Dominion and Obedience are expresly Charged and Commanded inviolably to Maintain the Peace pursuant to the said Treaty and not to Act in the least contrary thereunto on pain of being punished as Disturbers of the Publick Peace without Favour or Connivance Done in the Assembly of the States General in the Hague September 22th 1678. This may sufficiently demonstrate the good and honest Intentions of the States General who could not think but the Word of a King and the Most Christian King as Lewis the Great styles himself would continue Sacred and Inviolable But alass his Ambition and Interest weigh down his Words and Oaths and in Conclusion it appeared that he only did it to bind up their Hands whilst that he might the more securely prey upon the Spanish Netherlands a Country the most pleasant and fruitful in Europe and for which many of his Predecessors have heartily longed but never undertook the Methods he has observed to bring it under his Subjection However this Great Monarch has failed in his Expectation and has frequently been baffled when his numerous Armies have thought themselves most sure Yet by the way we may Mark out a peice of French Treachery though of an Elder date by which we may see it is in a Manner the very Genius of the Nation though more superabundant in Lewis XIV It so happened in the Year of our Lord 1551. that the Protestants in Germany being greatly oppressed by the Emperour Charles I. Henry II. King of France pretending to compassionate them sent Monmorency the Constable with four thousand Horse and Foot as it were to Relieve them who demanded with many Insinuations and Promises of Protection a Passage through the City of Metz a City under Protestant Government The People in hopes to be delivered from the Ravages the Imperial Soldiers committed in their Territories joyfully consented and in Gratitude spread Tables in the Streets ready furnished with Provision for the Soldiers to eat as they Marced through bringing Barrels of Wine and other Liquors to Accommodate them the Magistrates waiting upon the Constable with all Imaginable demonstrations of Kindness and Respect who seeing his time feigned to be troubled with a sudden Fit of the Gout and other Indispositions and thereupon intreated the Magistrates that he might have the opportunity of a Place of Retirement for some time and that he not knowing what might befal him in the Wars or by that Sickness was desirous to make his Will The Good-meaning Magistrates were highly satisfied with the Favour he would doe them and began to contend which of them should have the Honour of entertaining him But their Joy was soon turned into Mourning for when the Magistrates and most of the Gentry were assembled in his Chamber whilst the Scrivener was making his Will to which they were to be Witnesses he gave private Orders for seizing the Gates And as soon as
much already declared in effect by France against England that it is not so properly an Act of Choice as an inevitable Necessity in our own Defence I shall only tell you That as I have ventured my Life and all that is dear to me to rescue this Nation from what it suffered I am still ready to do the same in order to preserve it from all its Enemies And as I do not doubt of such an Assistance from you as shall be suitable to your Advice to me to declare War against a Powerful Enemy so you may relie upon me that no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with Suucceâ—â— shall be diverted by me to any other Use The Confederate Armies by this Time began to draw together which made Lewis XIV hasten his Troops and form Two Armies under the Commands of the Duke of Duras and Mareschal d' Humiers Whereupon the Governour-General of the Spanish Netherlands caused a Declaration of War to be published against France wherein after he had set forth the Cruelty and Injustice of the French King as the others had done he forbids all Commerce c. Upon which Lewis XIV caused his Declaration of War to be proclaimed against Spain at Marseilles viz on the 29th of April and proceeded to fill all the Towns of the Palatinate that were not reduced to Ashes with his Soldiers as foreseeing the Storm that threatned from so many Quarters of Europe and that such Protestants as were willing to avoid his cruel Usage and Extortions might have Encouragement to leave the Kingdom of France their Majesties of Great Britain put forth a Proclamation bearing Date the 25th of April for the Encouraging the French Protestants to Transport themselves into this Kingdom another Prohibiting the Importation of all Sorts of Manufactures and Commodities whatsoever of the Growth Production or Manufacture of France And on the 7th of May a Declaration of War was Signed and afterwards Published setting forth The perfidious Dealing of the French King as well in Europe as in Africa against the Subjects of England c. And whilst these things were doing News came from the Coast of Ireland that the English Admiral with a Squadron of the King of Britains Ships had engaged and worsted Forty four Sail of the French being double the number of the English as they were attempting to land Men and Arms in that Kingdom And to shew the French a farther Proof of our Naval Courage the None-Such a small Fourth Rate Frigat oâ— 36 Guns meeting off of Guernsey with two French Men of War one of 30 Guns and 120 Men the other of 16 Guns 6 Pettereroes and 120 Men who were bound with about Twenty small Merchant Ships under their Convoy to Newfoundland the English Man of War engaged them but in the beginning of the Fight the Captain was killed with the Master and Cook and the Carpenter wounded upon which there being no Lieutenant on Board the Boatswain took upon him the Command of the Ship and continued the Fight with that Bravery that after a sharp Engagement of three Hours he took both the French Men of War and brought them into Plymouth During these Transactions Rhinburgh that had been Garrisoned with French Troops by Cardinal Furstemburgh surrendered to the Confederates and Keyserwaert was blocked up The French continued to fortifie Mentz pulling dowâ— Streets of Building for their better conveniencâ— on that Occasion Yet so far either Passion oâ— Fear had wrought in Lewis XIV that he was taken on the 30th of May with an extraordinary Fiâ— of an Ague which held him for nine or ten Hours which made him fly to his old Refuge of taking the Jesuits Powder as well as their Counsels thâ— latter having ever been fatal to Christendom And as if the French King had wanted Torcheâ— or Bonefires for Joy of his Recovery his Troops not satisfied with the Execrable Barbarities they had committed in the Palatinate and other Places proceeded in the later end of May to lay in Asheâ— the famous Towns of Oppenheim Worms and Spire in the latter whereof the Imperial-Chamber had a long time been kept not leaving so much as a House standing But a party of the Garrison of Bonne attempting to do the like to the Village of Hauff the Country People took Arms and falling upon them killed about sixty of their Number putting the rest to flight and likewise several Parties of French Foragers and such as were sent to make Incursions into the Countries that neighboured on their Garrison were frequently defeated And now the Most Christian King finding himself hard beset sought to cajole the Algerine Pirates to make a Peace with him and fall upon the Confederates Merchants at Sea although they had a little before so sensibly affronted him as to shoot off his Consul c. and notwithstanding any Proposal they would not hearken to any Treaty unless he would redeem the French Captives to the Number of 800 which he had demanded without any Ransom And when his Agent perceived this would not take he proposed a Truce but that likewise was rejected by the Algerines On the Ninth of June the Marquess Choiseul passed the Rhine at Hunningen with 4000 French Horse and Dragoons and entered the Country of Durlach declaring That he came only to Forage promising not to molest any that should remain quiet in their Houses which the Country People relying on thought they had nothing to fear but they quickly found the little regard the French have to their Word For no sooner had they posted themselves in the Places they designed but the Country was given up to the Discretion of the Soldiers who committed the most outrageous Insolencies and Violencies that can be imagined So that many of the poor People being plundered of all they had and their persons abused were driven before the Soldiers like Sheep or Oxon towards Friburgh and Brisac A few indeed escaped to the Black Forrest where several of them perished for Want whilst the French were cutting up their Corn and destroying the whole Country During these Proceedings Lewis XIV caused his Declaration of War against England and Scotland to be published at Paris viz. on the 28th of June commanding his Fleet to put again to Sea proposing great things to his Advantage But as yet his Expections have been frustrated The Town of Keyserwaert being formally Besieged and closely pressed by the Brandenburgh Forces the Duke being before it in person on the 25th of June Monsieur Marcognet the Governour Capitulated upon Notice the German Soldiers in Garrison were inclined to make Conditions for themselves without him and a Parly being beat the Capitulation was Signed the next Morning by which it was agreed That one of the Gates should be immediately delivered up that the French Officers and Soldiers should march out the Day following with Arms and Baggage c. and be Conducted to Luxemburgh but that the Germans should be at Liberty to go