Territories and one whose Flatterers style Invincible though the contrary has often appeared And according to the opinion of Politicians and those Experienced in war had that vast Army of the Confederates been unanimous and vigourously pushed on they might by entering the very Heart of France have reduced the Greatness of Lewis and have made their own Terms Sed divide et Impera The Peace as is already said being concluded with Holland at Nimeguen about the latter End of the Year 1678 was soon followed by his Imperial Majesty But before either of these were concluded it will not be amiss to shew the plausible pretences of Lewis XIV to the former in a Letter in Answer to a Letter to the States General presented him by their Ambassador the Heer Vain Beverning in these Words Most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates WE have with much Pleasure understood as by the Letter you writ us so by the Assurances which the Heer Van Beverning your Extraordinary Ambassador hath in your Name given us the Dispositions in which you profess your selves to be at Peace We cannot better let you know how firm and sincere our Intentions are to procure so great and so general a Good for Europe than by a Writing which we have Commanded to be put into his Hands You will see the new Facilities we offer to put you in a State to bring your Allies to consent to the Conditions which we cannot doubt but you will judge Equitable And having nothing farther to add thereunto we only assure you of the Satisfaction we shall have of giving you back with the Peace our old and real Friendship and in entering with you into the strongest and most capable Engagements for securing ever your Liberty which we have more amply explained our self upon to the Heer Van Beverning whose Conduct and Person hath been very acceptable to us There remains only That we pray God to have you most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates in his holy Keeping Given in our Camp at Wetteren the First Day of June 1678. Your good Friend Ally and Confederate LOVIS Underneath Signed Arnauld The Matter to which Lewis XIV refers them to is a Memorial delivered to the aforesaid Ambassador by his Order in these following Words THE King hath with Pleasure seen as by a Letter from the States General so by the Assurances which they have given him by the Heer Van Beverning their Extraordinary Ambassador that their Intentions to a general Peace correspond with the Desires his Majesty hath always had to procure the same and that they are ready to accept the Conditions that his Majesty hath offered them by his Ambassadors and Plenepotentiaries at Nimeguen But at the same time the Heer Van Beverning hath made known to him the Sentiments of the said States General he hath in their Names pray'd that his Majesty would grant a Cessation of Arms for six Weeks and hath represented to him that they had need of that time to Communicate with their Allies and obtain their Consent for the concluding so great a Work The Condition in which his Majesty's Arms are at present and the favourable Opportunity that would be lost in deferring their Acting would not permit him to consent to this Proposal if the desire of giving Peace to Europe did not much more prevail with him than that of enlarging his Frontiers by new Conquests It is upon this Consideration of contributing to the publick Repose that he will agree at the desire of the said States General to a Cessation of Arms for Six Weeks such a one as was stipulated between France and Spain Anno 1668. But for as much as it would not be just if the Enemies of his Majesty should let the time pass fruitlesly and that instead of its serving to Advance the Peace they should make Advantage of it to avoid the Effect of his Majesty's Arms that he should have lost the advantageous Conjuncture that is at present in his Hands His Majesty desires of the said States General that they do promise him that in case during the Time of Cessation of Arms they cannot bring their Allies to accept the Conditions he hath offered that they will not assist them directly or indirectly against him or his Allies during the whole Course of the War In Exchange his Majesty will in such Case renew to them the same Engagements which he hath taken with them by his Letter of the Eighteenth of the last Month as well as what concerns these same Conditions which he will be always ready to agree to As for the security of the Places in the Spanish Netherlands his Majesty hath thought fit to make known unto the States General by this Memorial which he hath appointed to be delivered to the Heer Van Beverning the sincerity of his Intentions for a Peace And to give yet a greater Testimony thereof he doth Command the Duke of Luxemburg General of his Army to go and expect their Answer during this Month in the Neighbourhood of Brussels with Orders not to Attack any Place during that time In this we may observe no small piece of French Policy not so much desiring the Peace of Europe which has never been the aim of this Ambitious Prince as during the time of this Truce to draw his Army farther into Flanders which soon after proved almost the Ruine of many delicious places in that fruitful Country when Peace was in the highest Prospect And these Flatteries served only to render those he treated with somewhat more secure whilst he made his own Markets And indeed by these and such like Artifices he gained upon the Belief and good Intention of the Confederates more than by open sincerity he thought convenient to do For Lewis XIV having earnestly sued for Peace though under a Reserve or Mask of Disguise which was not then sufficiently looked through all the Princes and States of Christendom supposed they should remain at rest and those Countries that were at the brink of Ruine by being the Seats of a tedious War began to rejoice thinking the French King in good earnest and that he would after so much Waste and Desolation by Firing Plundering Quartering Exactions Contributions Slaughters and making the Fields white with the Bones of the Slain whilst the Rivers were discoloured and run red to the Sea with Christian Blood take pity on the languishing Estate of Europe there being a powerful Enemy in the East viz. the Ottoman Emperor But instead of Sincerity all proved but outside and formal For France rather coveted time to breath a little than to give over And Lewis who so often pretends to make War for the Glory of his Arms that he might with less trouble Invade the Netherlands secretly Negotiated with Teckely to Invade with an Army such as he could gather in the Turkish Territories the Emperor 's Hereditary Countries in Hungary c. furnishing him with Money and folliciting by his Ambassadors at Constantinople with Gifts Presents
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
and promise of Diversion on the other-side to break the Truce And all this under the glorious Title of the most Christian King and Eldest Son of the Church which even barbarous Nations have detested in a time of Peace And yet such have been the Humours of this King's Flatterers that they have more and more blown up his Ambition by comparing him to the Sun as to the Star of Stars from whence all other Kings and Potentates receive their Lustre with many other Attributes as if they intended to set him up for an Idol for all the World to fall down before And of these we shall give the Reader a touch because those Parasites strive by glorious Epithets to make him appear white and shining almost if not altogether to a height of Blasphemy whom all unprejudiced and unbiassed Men behold cloathed with Oppression and Cruelty and dying his Scarlet Robes yet deeper in innocent Blood Amongst other things attributed to him passing over what is mentioned as to the placing his Name on the Jesuits College instead of that of Jesus we find these that follow which may be said to exceed what the Heathens have ascribed to those they foolishly Worshiped for Gods viz. 1. Lowis the Great born for the Glory of France and Happiness of his People in whom there lives an admirable Argument of Divine Wisdom and Fortitude that alone is sufficient to convince Atheists c. 2. Lewis the Great a King indeed since he Reigns not only over his Subjects but his own Passions being Invincible and strongly and sweetly overcoming all things who just as a God by one single Act of his Will subjects all things to his supream Power c. 3. Lewis the Great strong in Zeal for Justice a powerful and most just Rewarder of all good Actions the severe Punisher of Duels Blasphemy and all Iniquity the true Imitator of God who is so Good to repay by way of Recompence what he promises by way of Mercy 4. Lewis the Great according to God's own Heart annointed with his own Holy Oil whom in a particular manner God commanded his Holy Angels to preserve in all his Ways and whence the Existence of Angels is deduceable c. 5. Lewis the Great meditating only on eternal Things and knowing that the gaining the World with the Loss of the Soul profiteth nothing and therefore seeking of God the alone Happiness which God of his Goodness has called Man to 6. Lewis the Great Intent upon the Extirpation of publick Sin and the Encrease of Integrity of Manners and Virtue and for that Effect giving most sure Laws through the Inspiration of God the Supream Law giver by whom Kings Reign c. 7. Lewis the Great the Prodigy of the Grace of God and of so thankful a Mind towards him on that Account being Careful to Exalt that Grace has commanded all the Faculties of his Kingdom to explain that Grace conform to the Edicts of the Popes c. 8. Lewis the Great the Eldest Son of the Church who has restored to their See the Bishops that had been banifhed by Hereticks the Enemy of Heresie the Vanquisher of the Turks confiding only in God and burning in Love towards him the Example of Faith Love and Charity c. 9. Lewis the Great a Prince of Peace the Scourge of War having so far layed aside his Majesty that he might Remember the Mercies of Christ c. 10. Lewis the Great destroying all Vice and decreeing Several punishments on the Infringers of Divine and Ecclesiastical Laws In all things he hath demonstrated himself a most obedient Son of the Church 13. To declare the kinds of Sin though hard to some yet not to perfect Christians whose defender Lewis the Great justly to be named the King of Glory Strong and mighty in Battel c. We might recite a number more of this Kind which we find in print Exceeding the boasting Language of the Turks in their denunciation of War or magnifying their Emperor They have not only put them in print no doubt with the Approbation of this King who is not a little Ambitious of his own Praise but the Duke De Fevillade has erected his Effigies Crowned with Rays and Stars as the old Romans used to do their God Jupiter and in another place he is figured driving the Chariot of the Sun with this Motto I shine to All. And indeed this very much Resembles him for Europe has found him a very Phaeton if we consider the almost numberless Towns and Villages he has caused to fall in Flames At other times they call him Homo Immortalis an Immortal Man the same Character the Heathens were wont to give to those they fansied to be deified gathering the Conduct Courage Wisdom c. not only of his Ancestors but of all the Renowned Heroes that ever have been which they will have centre in him who indeed is but Mortalis Homo cum Fistula in Ano notwithstanding all the Flattery of Medals Prints Landskips Inscriptions Statues or as they have in one place made the Figures of Europe Asia Africa and America Kneeling at his feet as if he gave Laws to the whole Earth But how far he answers any of these Characters let us lay aside for a time his Actions and Behaviour towards his Neighbours and look a little into the Interiour parts of his Dominions and there see how he keeps his word and uses his own Subjects by whose Help and faithful Assistence his Ancestors mounted and himself as yet is fixed in the Throne of France King Henry IV. Grandfather to Lewis XIV had for the Many memorable and signal Services done him granted the Protestants the free Exercise of their Religion by an Edict and other Privileges that were granted them by Lewis XIII Father to this King The Edict of King Henry was given at Nantes in April 1598 under the favour of which the Protestants that had escaped the bloody Massacre in the Reign of Charles IX and the Sword of War that had continued for many Years revived as we may term it or multiplied in their Generations But when they thought themselves most secure and every one sat under their Vines of plenty this King by the Instignation of the Jesuits and his own Inclination began to thirst after their wealth as Ahab in another place had done after Naboth's Vineyard And finding whilst this Edict was in force it could not be attempted with the least Colour of Justice he published a Strict Decree to disannul it as likewise the Edict of Nismes given in July 1629. together with all the Concessions granted in them as well as other Declarations Edicts and Arrests of what nature soever forbiding any of the Reformed Religion under great Pains Penalties and Forfeitures to have any publick Worship amongst them as knowing like those who sought to destroy Daniel he could not make them disobey him in any thing Lawful The Bloody Decree being signed by the King at Fountainbleau in October
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
he knew it was done rising up in a fury he suddenly stabbed the Mayor of the City to the Heart with his Dagger which being the Signal to his Guards they fell upon the rest that were in the Chamber and put them to the Sword This being known the French Soldiers over-ran the Streets crying out The City is won and thereupon fell to plundering the Shops and Houses So that this City like the flying-Fish in the Indian Seas whilst it thought to Escape one Mischief fell into another as great if not greater For of this kind of Fish Sailors report that being pursued by the Dolphins and finding it self ready to be devoured by help of its long Fins that serve for Wings it shoots into the Air and flies a great many paces till the Fins grow stiff by dryness and then falls into the Sea but frequently whilst it is flying the Cormorants and other Ravenous Fowl that haunt those Seas catch them and by them they are devoured A Second Instance of Later Date we may mention in Lewis XIII Father to the present King when he designed to seize upon the Dukedom of Lorrain he by the Advice of Cardinal Richlieu sent for the old Duke to come to him at his Town of Lyons who dreading no such Treachery left Nancy the Place of Security and went to Complement the King who was at the head of his Troops and after he had payed him that Homage and respect he conceived was due to him he prepared to return but found himself mistaken for he was Arrested by the Captain of the King's Guards upon frivolous Pretences and Claims and made him deliver up Nancy into which he entered as a Conquerour the surrender of which occasioned the Loss of the whole Duchy Many Instances of the Like Nature even the French Historians give us who make the Actions of their Kings appear as fair and candid as they can But now we come to Lewis XIV The Peace as we have said being made and all Christendom Relying on it and firmly keeping it except the French King he thought this his time to play his Game as thinking he had Charmed the Princes or made them fear the Consequence of a Rupture He soon forgot his Word as appears by the Emperour 's early Complaint against his Proceedings by several Letters and Memorials That contrary to the Peace of Nimeguen 1. He continued his Troops in the Empire 2. Remaining possessed of Places they ought to Evacuate 3. Requiring Contributions 4. Obliging the ten Towns of Alsace to take a new Oath thereby pretending a Sovereignty over them Erecting a new Court of Appeals and forbiding any Addresses to be made to the Imperial Chamber of Spires 5. Requiring an Oath from the Vassals and Nobles of Alsace 6. Setting up Pretentions upon the Vassals of Metz Toul and Verdun as likewise upon other Imperial States and Countries 7. Consiscating the Rents and Revenues of the Chapter of Strasburg 8. Making new Fortifications at Sciestadt and Hunningen 9. Not Restoring Monpelgard 10. The slighting Daxburgh 11. The Taking Hamburgh and Bitseth And other Matters Upon this the Diet of Ratisbone to whom the Complaint was made after some Deliberation came to a Resolution That the proceedings of the French King were directly contrary to the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen that therefore the Emperor shall be prayed by Letter or by Embassie in the Name of himself and the Empire to demand of the Most Christian King Reparation for the same and that in the mean time the French Ministers residing at the Imperial Court and here shall be made acquainted with this Resolution of the Diet and that it shall be represented to them For what concerns the two first Points That the same are directly contrary to the 27th of the Treaty of Nimeguen and the First Second and Fourth Articles of the Instrument afterwards signed by the Ambassadors for the Executing the said Treaty that have been Religiously observed by the Emperor That the Third Point is contrary to the 30th Article of the said Treaty and the 8th Article of the said Instrument That for what concerneth the Fourth Point it is known that the Third Article of the Treaty of Munster says that the Countries of the Vpper and Lower Alsaces and the Lordship of Haguenaw shall be yeilded to France with an Express Exception of the 10 Imperial Towns and their Rights and Privileges and that the French King shall pretend no Superiority over them or require any Oath or Fidelity from them and in pursuance of the Agreement made at Nurenburgh in the Year 1650. Haguenaw Landaw and other Places and other of the said ten Towns more Actually Evacuated by the French without pretending then and several years afterwards to any Sovereignty over the said Towns or requiring any Oath of Fidelity from them That afterwards in 1665. Complaints were made to the Diet of the French setting up new Pretensions whereupon Arbitrators were chosen on the Part of the Empire and of France Amicably to determine the same who were several Years employed in that work which was put to an end by the French possessing themselves of the said Towns even before the War That the Treaty of Nimeguen Confirms that of Westphalia and consequently that the said Towns ought to have restored to them the Rights and Privileges which that stipulates for them That for the Fifth and Sixth Points they likwise directly contervene the said Treaties That as to the Seventh they expect farther Information in it That for the Eighth they cannot Imagine what Right the French have to Fortifie Sclechstadt considering what is abovesaid of those Free Towns For the Ninth and Tenth the French have acted notoriously contrary to the Westphalian and Nimeguen-Treaties For the Eleventh that Hamburgh belongs to ths Count of Nassaw as appears by the Treaty of Osnaburgh That concerning Bitseth they expect farther Information And lastly They hope the King will not prejudice the City of Strasburgh in its Rights or Privileges and particularly in that of fortifying Kiel so necessary for its Security This so Early Breach of the Peace that had been so long laboured for by the Princes of Christendom much displeased them and filled many with Detestation observing that Lewis XIV went beyond the Bounds of the Decree of the Council of Constance which says That no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks but he neither regards his Faith with those the Romans unchristianly term so nor with Roman Catholicks However having a mind to secure what he had belonging to the Empire or Princes dependent as appears by the Resolution of the Diet in his detaining some and imposing on others contrary to the Articles agreed on he sought to bring the States of the Vnited Provinces into an Offensive and Defensive Alliance against which all the Provinces but Groningen and Friesland Excepted who did not so long and their Resolutions were publish'd declaring They intended to keep inviolably the Peace and Esteem they had for his
Church and the next day the Election of Prince Clement was proclaimed Upon this dispute the French Troops began to move nearer The Cardinal took possession of the Palace and both parties sent to the Pope to be confirmed and approved in the Election However the Election of Liege coming on the Cardinal departed to Bonne and from thence to Liege in hopes to be elected there But the French Gold it seems had not a sufficient Opperation For here he fared worfe than before for the Baron of Elderen Great Dean of the Cathedral was chosen in the 17 of August Bishop and Prince of Liege having 20 Voices and the Cardinal but 18. And after the Election had been proclaimed he was accompanied by the Prince of Neuburg Great Master of the Tutonick Order to his Palace where he received the Complements of the Chief of the Country So that the Cardinal sinding himself deceived retired to Bonne and proceeded to strengthen himself in that Place privately drawing in some French Troops that were advanced in order thereto And Lewis XIV fretting to see his Projects prosper no better prepared for Hostility ordering a new Leavy 10000 Foot and 6000 Horse to be speedily raised giving out Commissions for that purpose making a great many new General Officers as Lieutenant Generaâ—â—â— Mareschals de Camp and Brigadiers of Horse and Foot commanding the Gendarms and Light-horse to form a Camp at Acheres and the Mareschal d'Humiers was sent to Flanders to form an Army of 25 Men near Mabeuge How this agrees with the Memorial of his Ambassador we make the Reader judge Upon notice that the Pope had declared in favour of Prince Clement of Bavaria the French Ministers at Cologne pressed that City to a Neutrality offering it if they would take no more Troops in But they were too wary to trust to such Pretences when they could expect nothing more than to be suddenly invested Whereupon they permitted the Mareschal to advance on the 11 of September with 2600 Foot and 100 Dragoons of the Circle of Westphalia So that having left part of these Forces that made the Garrison 5000 strong and viewed the Fortifications he returned to Wesle About this time we had Notice that the Dutch Fleet was about to set Sail for England which made Monsieur Albeville the French Ambassador at the Hague set forth by a Memorial amongst other things how desirous his Master was to observe the Peace of Nimegnen when at that time his Armies had entered the Palatinate under pretence of securing the Right and Pretensions of the Duchess of Orleance and General Monclar Invested Philipshuâ—â— in which Count Maximilian of Staremourg was Governour with a Garison of 3000 Men and Keyserlanter after two Assaults was taken and Oppenheim Altzheim and Worms were compelled to receive French Garrisons They made themselves Masters likewise of Neustadt Spires and many other Places and put the Countries of Wertemburg Franconia and Suabia under Contribution and that the Dauphin might partake herein he was sent to the Camp before Philipsburg which Place was defended with much Bravery a great number of the French and many of note were killed in the Attacks and vigorous Sallies of the besieged Yet whilst the Siege went on the French found an opportunity to surprize and Garrison Treeves and Mayence and put the Counties of Hanau Darmstadt Solms and the adjacent Countries under Contribution They likewise seized on Heidelburg and on the 29 of October aster all that could be expected of a small Garrison against a powerful Army and despairing of Relief Philipsburg was surrendered upon very Advantageous Articles viz. That the Garrison which then consisted not of above 1800 Men should march out with Arms and Baggage Drums beating and Colours flying and four Pieces of Cannon the Garrison to be Conducted to Ulme Nor had it been so easily taken had not the Governour been disabled from giving necessary Orders by a dangerous Sickness Nor were the Articles any better observed that what has been usual with the French or as some will have it by the Turks This strong Hold being in their Hands they soon possessed themselves of almost all the Towns and Villages upon the Rhine relating to the Palatinate committing great Spoil and many Outrages They took Frankendale and Manheim entering the Electâ—â—ate of Câ—lâ—gâ—e and demanding Two hundred thousand Crowns of the Country of Juliâ—rs to be paid in Eight Days upon pain of Military Execution and the like Contributions from the Country of Liege which put the poor People who had so often been ruined by the War into the greatest Surprize imaginable These Proceedings obliged the Marquess of Baden the Emperor's Plenepotentiary and Principal Commissioner at the Diet of Ratisbone to represent to them the State of Affairs in the following manner viz. That he doubts not but that the Envoys Counsellors and Deputies of the Electorate Princes and States of the Empire are fully satisfied and informed in what manner the Crown of France besides the former Acts of Hostility has lately for want of Succour taken the Fortress of Philipsburgh and afterwards in a Hostile manner attack'd and besieged the remaining Places of the Palatinate to wit Manheim Fredricksburgh Frankendale as likewise the Fortress of Coblets in the Electorate of Tryger as likewise made Incursions into the Circles of Suabia and Franconia That since the said Crown does every day carry the Fire of the War farther into the Empire having already possessed it self of almost the four Electorates on the Rhine by Force and of other Lordships and Towns so that the whole Empire is in danger to be intirely Desolate And since that the extream Necessity to which things are now reduced plainly shews That the Deliberations of the Diet upon the Grievances complained of and the Assistences demanded are no longer to be waited for it ought with all speed to be taken into deliberation in the Colleges of the Empire to declare without any delay these Irruptions to be a War against the Empire and to resist the Hostilities of France with their whole and united Force and that accordingly his Imperial Majesty out of the paternal Care he has for the Empire had commanded him to inform and assure the Diet that he will not be wanting on his part to contribute thereunto all that is possible for him to do Lewis XIV having thus openly Violated the Treaty and being no longer able to dissemble the Matter proceeded to thunder out his Denunciation of War against the States General of the Vnited Provinces which for the better understanding of Matters and to what he mainly pretends we have thought fit to take notice of Lewis XIV in his Declaration of War against the States General published at Paris in December 1688. after he has set forth That he has done strange things to give Peace to Europe he comes to the main Point that most of all grieves him viz. That the States drawing their Army together under the Command of Prince Waldeck
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
which of these Turks they ought most to fear Though Lewis XIV out of a seeming pretence for the House of Austria had made an offer to assist the Emperor but this was only shadow as appeared afterwards by his violent falling upon the Spanish Netherlands whereby the Forces of the King of Spain were hindered from Assisting in the common Cause And although most of the Princes of Europe used their Interest with him though all Christendom in a manner lay at stake nothing would prevail till he perceived the Turks could not effect what they purposed For in the Year 1683 they were totally Routed and beat off from the Siege of Vienna the principal City of Austria when it was at the last Crisis and could have held out but a few days longer It is no wonder that the Jesuits who on all Hands are detested and accounted the Incendiaries of Christendom by the moderate Roman Cotholicks have so great an Influence in France since Father Maimburgh and Father La Chese have had so great an Influence over Lewis XIV to whose fiery Spirit they labour to add Fuel and plunge him into Cruelty without Remorse or distinguishing Protestants from Roman Catholicks And these were the blessed pair that laid the Foundation of the Misery of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion by persuading him That by Rooting the Protestants out of his Kingdom he would render himself greater than his Ancestors who were never able to accomplish that matter and that if he could bring it to pass it would render his Name Immortal in the Roman Kalendar And no doubt as many Instances affirm these Locusts who seek to devour every thing that is pleasant have had as great an Influence in the Ruine of the Neighbouring Roman Catholicks For from the Wideness of his Conquests they could not but promise to themselves great Advantage where they have so great an Influence over the Conqueror as to have his very Conscience in their keeping and dispose We have not of late heard that any like Father Ante have reproved him for Exorbitancy of Lust or other Vices but rather encouraged him therein that they might reap the profit at the Price of his Eternal State And of this we may give some hints as we find it in a Letter that has of late been frequently Printed and held to be Authentick sent from La Chese Confessor to the French King to Father Edmund Petre late Great Almoner to King James II. though fatal in his Counsels to the repose of that unfortunate Prince Wherein amongst other matters undertaking to give the Jesuit directions to put forward affairs by his Counsels Interest and Power with King James and others great at Court he thus proceeds Most Reverend Father TO satisfie the desire I have to show you by my Letter the Choice you ought to make of such persons fit to stir up c. I will in few words since you desire it inform you of the Genius of the people of our Court of their inclinations and of them we make use of that by a Parallel you make between them and your English you make use of you may know them Therefore I shall begin with the Chief I mean our Great Monarch It is certain he is naturally Good and loves not to doe Evil unless desired to doe it This being so I may say he never would have undertaken the Conversion of his Subjects without the Clergy of France and without our Society's Correspondence abroad He is a Prince Inlightned who very well observes what we put him upon is contrary to his Interest and that nothing is more opposite to his great Designs and his Glory he aiming to be the Terrour of all Europe The vast number of Malecontents he has caused in his Kingdom forces him in time of Peace to keep up three times more Forces than his Ancestors did in the greatest Domestick and Foreign Wars which cannot be done without prodigious Expence The Peoples Fears also begin to lessen as to his aspiring to an Vniversal Monarchy and they may assure themselves he has left those Thoughts nothing being more opposite to his designs than the method we enjoin him His Candour Bounty and Toleration to the Hereticks would undoubtedly have opened the door of the Low Countries Palatinate and other States of the Rhine and even of Switzerland whereas things are at present so altered that we see the Hollanders at present free from any fear of Danger the Switzers and City of Geneva resolved to lose the last drop of their Blood in their defence Beside some Diversions we may expect from the Empire In case we cannot hinder a Peace with the Turks Sir His Majesty's Brother is always the same I mean he takes no notice of what passes at Court It has sometimes happened the King's Brothers have acted so as to be noted in the State But this we are sure will never do any thing to stain the Glory of his Submission and Obedience and is willing to lend a helping hand for the Destruction of the Hereticks by the Instance he makes to his Majesty who now has promised him to cause his Troops to enter the Palatinate the next Month. The Dauphin is passionately given up to Hunting and little regards the Conversion of Souls and therefore we do not care to Consult him how or which way the Hereticks shall be destroyed He openly laughs at us and slights all the Designs of which the King his Father makes great Account The Letter goes on to Characterize the Dauphiness in her witty Humour and Hatred to the Protestants as likewise Monsieur Lovois the Archbishop of Paris and others who labour to Agrandize Lewis XIV by following the Methods of the Society of Jesuits who have always been held the Foxes with Fire-Brands at their Tails who have laboured to promote Violence War and Bloodshed in all Places where they come Henry IV. Banished them France and demolished their Houses for setting one of their Pupils to kill him in his Presence-chamber amidst his Nobles because he would not hearken to their Counsels but detested their pernicious Ways Yet knowing them to be Sycophants fraught with Malice and Revenge after he had frustrated many of their Attempts that great Prince who had faced Death in all its Shapes fearing their wicked Purposes thought fit to make fair Weather with them and to recall them which being opposed by a Lord of his Council who alledged how pernicious they were in all Kingdoms States and Governments the King passionately broke out into this Expression viz. Secure me my Life then And indeed this King who had remained safe in forty Battels found his Death as has been said in the midst of his Capital City amongst his Friends and Guards Nor could the Obstinacy of the Assassinate and Paricide denote any thing else but that he was set on by these Men. For Raviliack the bloody Actor neither sought to fly nor excuse the Fact nor when his Flesh was plucked off with hot
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