that without His generous Influence their best endeavours might possibly be rendered fruitless he could not but intreat His Majesty to continue in His Noble Fervency to animate the Confederates to second their Designs and to teach them to overcome by His Glorious Victories The King having answered him in short but solid terms so much becoming Majesty and so natural to Himself the Envoy retired with the same respect and observing the same Ceremonies as he did at his Entrance not turning his Back till he came out of His Majesty's sight To give you a List of the Persons of Quality Counts Barons Generals and others remarkable by some singular Merits that were at the Hague is more than I and I think any body else can do It seem'd His Majesty's Anti-Chambers at the Hague were made the general Rendezvous of all Illustrious Persons in Europe There was every Day seen some great Foreigner or other who by a brisk and wandering Look by short and frequent Embraces of some well-met Friends discovered that he was but lately arrived and though to ask his Neighbours who he was seemed to be an establisht importunity yet some great Prince or other passing through the Anti-Chamber and the courteous Multitude striving to give way he that was to give the Answer was lost in the Croud and with him the hopes of ever making an exact Catalogue Amongst the Generals there were remarkt two of the Imperial Army General Count Palfy and the Prince of Commercy The latter is a Prince of the House of Lorrain and Nephew to that great Man that was once alas the Terror of the Turks and French the Glory of the Germans and the Hopes and Delight of all the Confederates I think I have said enough to raise in your fancy a high Idea of his Character and indeed it cannot be beyond his merits He is in all respects worthy of that great Name Young and Gallant Generous and Brave and his Soul inhabits a Body answerable to its greatness He is very tall and yet well shap'd he wears his own Hair which as they are large enough to cover his Back and Shoulders so they leave a full view of his graceful Face His Steps are firm and such as those of Pompey when he made the World tremble His Look is strong vigorous and indeed somewhat like that of an Eagle insomuch that they that have the fortune to fight under this brisk General may in their Leader's Face discover the signs of the Imperial Banners As there were Great and Renowned Generals at the Hague so there was a simple Soldier a Soldier of Fortune amongst them that was too remarkable to be past over in silence I went once to dine at a French Ordinary where I found a great Company and amongst them a little Man in a Blue Coat with a large Golden Lace who at the Table was the only Man that entertained the Company He spoke of great Feats and Actions of many Thousands defeated by some few Hundreds of firing and killing of advancing and never retreating and one asking him some news of a certain Collonel of the French Army Him said he I have kill'd with my own Hands and another naming a French Lieutenant Colonel To him said he I gave Quarters I had strange Thoughts of this Man and some of them I confess were not to his advantage When the Company rising and the little Stranger going out of the Room I ask'd my Neighbour who that Terrible Gentleman was that had so little dined and so much spoken and I was surprized to hear him say that it was Monsieur Arnaud the Famous Minister of the Vaudois This was enough to correct the ill Opinion I had of his Discourse and to change it into a great eagerness to get into his Acquaintance and seeing him return into the Room I insensibly engaged him to tell me some Particulars of the surprising Actions of the Vaudois under his Conduct which he did then as I thought with great Reservedness and Modesty I being now perhaps as much pre-possess'd in his Favour as I was before against him After all he telling his Stories without a disguise and without modestly passing over his own Exploits did confirm the Truth of the Character that was given me of the Sincerity and Plainness of the Vaudois Courteous Breeding and a Nice Behaviour being their least quality Indeed future Ages will hardly believe that a simple Minister at the head of a handful of opprest and starved Wretches was not only capable dutifully to oppose the forced Cruelties of their own unwilling and dear Tyrant but to check the Power of Lewis the Fourteenth to defeat great numbers of his best Troops and to maintain his Soldiers his Countrymen his Friends his Brethren his Children his All in the grateful possession of their dear beloved Valleys He was now come to the Hague as Envoy from this wonderful People to prostrate himself at his Majesty's Royal Feet and to implore the continuance of his powerful Protection and assistance in order to make them more capable to fight for and to defend their good and gracious Master And 't is said that His Majesty in consideration of his great Service was pleas'd to make him a Colonel of one of the Regiments he design'd to send to his Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy's assistance And thus much of those Great and Illustrious Foreigners that were at the Hague I should now say something of His Majesties Court and those great Persons that did compose it if I were to write to any other Nation but the English They know them too well by reason of their great Birth Wealth and Merits to need to be told that they made a great Figure at the Hague and to name Norfolk Ormond Devonshire Dorset Nottingham Monmouth c. is to write an Elogy of the English Nobility And I do not question but some ingenious German or other will oblige his Countrey by writing about so great and splendid a Subject and the rather since I have seen many of them renowned for their Parts and Learning to be very industrious and inquisitive about the Particulars of these Noble Persons and it is from one of them that I had this following List The Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England Knight of the Garter The Duke of Ormond Captain of a Troop of Guards Knight of the Garter The Duke of Schomberg Colonel of the First Regiment of the Guards The Earl of Nottingham His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State The Earl of Devonshire Lord Steward of His Majestiés Houshold Knight of the Garter The Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold The Earl of Portland Groom of the Stool The Earl of Monmouth Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber The Earl of Scarborough Captain of a Troop of Guards The Earl of Essex The Earl of Warwick The Bishop of London Mr. Wharton Comptroler of His Majesty's Houshold Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Ceremonies Monsieur Overkerke Master of
in this Expedition brave Grafton fell and if the Prince who in the same quality served in the Troops Commanded by his Brother did escape the danger he may thank his kinder Destiny for it He did all that could be expected from one that neglecting the advantages he enjoys by an Honour derived from his Ancestors desires to render himself Illustrious by his own Merits He was constantly in the Trenches no Assault given but he was amongst the most advanc'd and He made Prisoner with his own Hands the late Governor of Kingsale's Brother who offering a considerable Sum for his Ransom he gave him to one of the Commanding Officers reserving only for himself the Honour and Consciousnes of that Action He was now come from Ireland to wait on His Majesty at the Hague and I having had the Honour to be known by him some years ago at Paris I waited on him to hear if he was resolved to part he with a smiling Countenance despising the Danger told me That he would make use of the first opportunity to be as soon in Holland as was possible That he had already sent his Baggage on Board the Pacquet-boat and that he would immediately follow I thinking by my self Caesarem Vehet without any more ado resolved to follow him Most of the Passengers stay'd behind and wise they were for having scarce made four Miles in five hours time and suffered all the torments an excessive Cold a terrible Storm and an enraged Sea can cause men to suffer we were forced to return into the Harbour where we lay till February the third We had that day Full Moon and by its influence Mariners commonly expect some change of Weather The Sun rose indeed very bright the Sea was less rough but the Wind was still contrary We set Sail however in hopes to get over with the Tide which we did in three days time We had no sooner lost the sight of the British Coast but we espied a French Privateer that was making up towards us I could not find that any body in our Boat was in the least concern'd at it The Cannons were immediately charged with Bullets Arms distributed and all things made ready for a Fight but the Monsieur being come near enough to distinguish the Pacquet-boat away he went without leaving us the least sign of his good breeding There are but Three Pacquet-Boats that are employed to entertain a correspondency with the Continent they are all extraordinory Sailers and their Equipage in reference to their bigness is very considerable Ours was mounted by Sixteen pieces of Cannon and Fourty Mariners and though Their Majesties pay for Fifty yet some invincible accident or other will happen that excuses some from doing their Duty and the want of half-a-score does not break the square The Captain of our Vine had indeed no outward appearance of that current name that by a meaner Courtesy of the English for want of better acquaintance is thrown away upon every Red-Coat though never so scandalous his look with reverence to his Sword be it said was not much bigger than that of a lusty Countrey Farmer but in times of Danger that 's to say of Blows he had and did still discover so jolly an ignorance of the Peril and so hearty a negligence of his Ease that we could not but admire the simplicity of his Courage The French King was some months ago at a great loss to get intelligence of our designs William the third according to his own opinion was le meilleur homme de Cabinet That 's to say a Prince that knows how to chuse such Ministers that besides their unquestioned experience in State Affairs have the Pistoleproof Talent of Keeping Counsel Some little remains of the late-coyned Plate of his Kingdom were promis'd to such Privateers as would attempt to render themselves Masters of one of our Pacquet-Boats and consequently of one of our Mails Three of the boldest of them allured by the gain offered their Service They had the good luck to attack our Captain who considering the odds immediately threw the Mail overboard and defended himself afterwards with so much Vigour and Conduct that with the loss of one Man only and one Wounded on his side he Killed numbers of the Enemy who valuing themselves upon having escap'd so unciviliz'd an Antagonist brought the French King no other News but what was writ in Bloody Characters upon their own harass'd Carcasses The 5th We came within the sight of the Coasts of Zealand and towards Night to an Anchor The 6th we Weighed Anchor about Two a Clock in the morning advancing by favour of the Moon and the Tide Being awakened by the Noise of our Crew I went upon the Deck and looking round about me I fancied we were near the Coasts of Greenland or Nova-Zembla I did not see but swimming Mountains of Ice striking by intervals with such violence against our Boat that some weaker Brothers of our Company were not a little apprehensive of a far greater Night than that which equally divides the year in those unfortunate Climates The Captain ordered several Guns to be discharged to inform the Inhabitants of Helvetsluys of our Danger and a little time after we spy'd a Sail that coming to our assistance took us on her Board and brought us safely into the Habour The Prince of Wirtemberg my Lord John Hamilton the Young Marquess de la Barre and I with some other Gentlemen went to the next Inn where we found some little Refreshments the Countrey could afford and how little soever the reputation of a Turf-Fire in England be yet I am sure we found it very comfortable From Helversluys we went to the Brill from thence to Masdandslays being about three hours a crossing the Maese by reason of the Ice that was floating upon it and through which we were forc'd to make our way and towards Night we arrived at Rotterdam Walking through one of the finest Streets of that City I saw some little Remains of a House belonging to the Heer Nifelt the chief Magistrate of that Place that was some time ago raz'd to the Ground by the Multitude upon this occasion One being made Ensign of the Militia of the City was accompanied by some of his Friends carrying some Galons of Rhinish to the Guard-House in order to treat the rest of the Officers according to the Custom of that Place Some Officers of the Custom-House meeting them in the Street offered to seize the Wine under pretence that they had not paid the Excise and tho they were told that it was upon an occasion that excus'd them from paying it yet a quarrel arose in which one of the Officers of the Customs lost his Life They did not fail to secure one of the Company and though the Crime could not be positively fasten'd on him yet the Scout which is the Name of the Chief Magistrate sentenc'd him to have his Head cut off which was done accordingly The man had a good Reputation
and if by the Governour 's Appearance one might reasonably judge of the Constitution of the Country he Governs it would be thought to be one of the finest and best proportioned in the World He was very frequently at Court and had several private Conferences with His Majesty and his Electoral Highness of Brandenbourg but by reason of the movements of the French Army in Flanders he parted from the Hague before his Highness the Duke of Zell was arrived Being upon his departure a Gentleman in His Majesty's Name presented him with a Couple of Horses which he received with great Joy and Respect presenting the Gentleman with a Ring of great Value he had drawn from his own Finger They that have not been at the Hague and that know it to go under the Name of a Village will hardly imagine how it could furnish Palaces enough for the Entertainment of so many Great Princes but when they will be informed that besides these Princes there was a considerable number of Foreign Ministers Envoys Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries never before seen at one single Monarch's Court who being the Representatives of their Princes must needs make a Figure answerable to the Grandeur of that Name They will easily fancy that under the humble Name of a Village Hague must needs have an Air of a Capital nay of the once Capital City of the World The ordinary Ministers that reside at the Hague are Count de Berka Envoy Extraordinary from the Emperor The Chevalier Crampricht The Emperor 's Resident The Sieur Lenth Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Denmark Count Oxenstierne Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Sueden The Sieur Moreau the King of Poland's Minister The Sieur Meyers from Mentz The Sieur Champagne from Tryer. The Sieur Solemacher from Collogne The Sieur Prillmeyer and Baron Baumgarten from Bavaria The Sieur Smettau and the Sieur Diest from Brandenburgh The Sieur Zigel from the House of Lunenbourg Baron Gortz and the Sieur Kappelhere from Hessen Cassel The Sieur Norf from the Bishop of Munster But those that were sent to His Majesty either to Treat with or to Congratulate Him upon His Success in Ireland and His happy Arrival in Holland were Count Windishgratz Envoy Extrordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Emperor Don Emanuel Colomma the Marquess of Castel-Moncayo and the Count of Piremont Envoys and Plenipotentiaries from his Catholick Majesty Count of Reventlaw Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Denmark The Sieur Haxhausen Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from his Electoral Highness of Saxony The Sieur Dalberg Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Mentz The Baron of Leyen Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Tryer. General Baron Bernsaw Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Cologne The Sieur Heterman Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector Palatin The Sieur Klenk Envoy Extraordináry from the Duke of Hanover Baron Groseck Envoy Extraordinary from the Duke of Brunswig-Wolfenbuttel The Count de Prelat Envoy Extraordinary from the Duke of Savoy The Sieur Gerke Envoy Extraordinary from the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp The Sieur Mean Envoy Extraordinary from the Prince of Liege c. There were besides several Deputies sent to His Majesty by some of the Imperial Cities To speak of each of them in particular to enlarge upon their Characters to relate the manner of their Reception and to Copy their Speeches numerous enough to form a Book of true State-Eloquence altho it would be instructive to young Politicians and besides be very acceptable to those that cannot hear enough of things relating so much to the King's Honour and where their own tender Sentiments of all His Majesty's Designs Reason and Duty inspires them with are unanimously approv'd and confirm'd by the Mouths of so many eminent and able Ministers yet it would be a Theme both of greater skill than I can pretend to and of more time than I have allowed me The usual time of Audience for Foreign Ministers was between Nine and Ten a Clock in the Morning being conducted by Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Ceremonies and they were received with more or less according to the Quality of their Principals The respective Envoys of the Emperor of the Kings Electors of the Empire and of the Princes that have the Honour to be Related to his Majesty were conducted to the publick Audience in Coaches with six and the others in Coaches only with two Horses I shall only give you one instance by which you may judge of the rest Count Windishgratz Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary from his Imperial Majesty had his Audience February the 14th He is one of the greatest and ablest Ministers of the Emperor's Court for having been imployed all his life-time in Foreign Embassies he has acquired himself that prodigious knowledge of the Affairs and Intrigues in Europe that as it is answerable to his great Age so there are none in the World that can pretend to surpass and but few that can reasonably be compared with him It was observed by those that are nice in remarking each particular Circumstances of great Actions that this venerable Politician for all his being used familiarly to entertain Kings and Emperors when he came within the sight of His Majesty discovered so noble a Concern and so opportune an Awfulness in his Face that as it was far from that signal Fear that puts others out of Countenance so it did infinitely express his Respect and Veneration for so Good and so great a Monarch As soon as His Majesty had notice given him that the Imperial Envoy was arrived at Court he came into the Anti-Chamber and being Seated on His Royal Throne his Grace the Duke of Norfolk conducted the Envoy to and my Lord Chamberlain received him at the Door of the Anti-Chamber Being entred he made three deep Bows the first at his entrance the second after he was a little advanced and the third when he was come near to His Majesty Who as often put His Hand to His Hat and having humbly inclined his Body towards His Majesty he to the best of my remembrance told him That he was sent by the Emperor his Master to Congratulate His Majesty on His happy Arrival in Holland that he wanted words to express the great Esteem his Imperial Majesty had for his Heroical Vertues that they were a Subject that entertained his Thoughts at his dearest hours and that in his Opinion as well as of all those that had a true sense of Honour he past for an incomparable Prince That he was infinitely obliged to him for the infatigable Cares His Majesty had and did still take to advance that Just and Glorious Cause in which he himself and all Europe was engaged and though it was matter of great trouble to his Imperial Majesty to see him expose his sacred Life to so many Hazards and Dangers yet since it was evident that His Majesty was lookt upon by all the Consederates as the Sacred Anchor of their Cause and the chief Supporter of their Interest and