Declaration which the Assembly of the Clergy made in the Year 1682. of their Opinions concerning Ecclesiastical Power at such a Conjuncture too when some of his Predecessours would rather have been banish'd to the Extremities of the Earth then have suffer'd so man New Converts He refus'd his Bulls to several Ecclesiasticks nominated by the King to supply the vacant Churches in his Kingdom The partial Behaviour of our Holy Father in reference to the Archbishoprick of Cologne his Resolute Refusal to acknowledge or give Audience to the King's Ambassadour at that Conjuncture but thundering out Anathema's against him and Interdicting him from St. Lewis's Church in Rome will perpetuate an Example almost Incredible to Posterity of the King's Zeal for Religion and his desire to preserve the Peace of Christendom and of the Pope's proceedings so contrary to the Obligations of the Place which he supplies Wherefore seeing His Holiness stops his Ears to all the King 's most just Complaints we are constrain'd at length to defend our selves and to maintain the Dignity of the Crown and the Repose of the King's Subjects by the Rules of Justice at a time that his majesty does the same with so much glory by the Puissance of his Armes Thereupon the King 's said Advocate-General having first obtain'd the King's permission declares That he is Appellant in the King's behalf and in behalf of all his Subjects to a Universal Council which His Holiness shall be pleas'd to call in due and Canonical Form c. Protesting in the mean time in the Name and by the Express Command of the King that 't is his Intention to remain inviolably devoted to the Holy See as the true Center of the Church's Unity c. And so soon as our Holy Father being better inform'd shall shew the Equity the Sentiments and Partiality of a Judge and common Father his Majesty will pay to his Person the same Filial Respect as he did before and from which nothing but the ill Conduct of his Holiness causes him to abstain After the Court of France had put these unheard-of Affronts upon the Holy See and thus debas'd the Authority of the Sovereign Pontiff instead of making use of those means which the Catholick Church and Councils have put into his Hands to bring back Princes and People to their Christian Duty the Pope out of a peculiar Fund of Charity and Piety contented himself with making appear to all the World the Justice of his Proceedings and the Injustice of the French Court declaring all along that he was perswaded that the Truth of Affairs had never been truly represented to the King of France only that the Artifices and Passions of those who are no Lovers of Peace had infus'd into him an Idea altogether different Otherwise that it was never to be believ'd that the King would have harbour'd in his Mind those Injurious Sentiments contain'd in Cardinal d'Estree's Letter his Holiness having never fail'd to shew himself a true Father to all Catholicks but more particularly to France who upon several Occasions had receiv'd various Testimonies of his Indulgence and Esteem but instead of being repay'd with Grateful Acknowledgement his Holiness had been expos'd to most heinous Injuries and Affronts not only offer'd to his Person but the Holy See by extending the Regale to above half the the Churches in France that are no way subject to it but by the Second General Council of Lion by prescription of almost 400 Years by the Testimonies and Evidences of Edicts of several Kings Decrees of Parliament and Registers of the Chamber of Accounts as also by the Opinion of the most celebrated French Lawyers ought to be exempted from it The Pope loudly complain'd of the Violence done to the Convents of the Carognes and Urbanistes and that only for applying themselves to the Holy See in Opposition to an Invasion of their Privileges and the Canonical Rules of their Orders which imports That Abbots and Superiours ought to be Elective and continue for three Years together In contempt of which the King had introduc'd Abbots of his own Nomination Besides the Rending away of Five Abbies without the consent of the Apostolick See to erect a Commandery and applying to Other uses the Revenues possess'd by several Monks and Nuns according to the Will of the Donours But that which was more enormous was the King's Prohibiting the Bishops to have any Recourse to the Pope according to their Duty and the Custom of all Times to ask his Counsel in matter of Religion as also in reference to what concern'd Prince Clement of Bavaria tho' in granting him the Eligibility for three Churches that were Legally possess'd by the deceas'd Electour of Cologne all Christendom saw that the Pope had no other Aim then the Publick Good For besides the high Value which it behov'd him to have for that Illustrious House the Merits of the Electour his Brother who had so gloriously defended Christendom against the Invasion of the Turks his Holiness had done nothing in that particular but only imitated the Liberality of his Predecessours who conferr'd the like and greater Favours also upon Persons much Inferiour in Birth Age and Merit then Prince Clement and that too at the Request of the Kings of France And for the Bull granted to Prince Clement the Pope could not be accus'd of any Injustice for so doing since that Affair was exactly and seriously examin'd in a Consistorial Congregation at Rome Besides that the King of France had neither any Reason nor Right to intermeddle in that Affair since it was a Business that only related to a German Archbishoprick and an Electour of the Empire which no way concern'd France either directly or indirectly but the Pope only in respect of Apostolick Confirmation and the Emperour as to the Investiture of the Pincipality in admitting him into the Electoral College to which belongs the Right of Electing a new Emperour and which has a very great Sway in managing the Affairs of the whole Empire So that the Pretence for War which France lays hold on from the Proceedings at Cologne is to be imputed to the King's Passion and his own Interest After what past in the Assembly of some Part of the Clergy at Paris where among other things the King caus'd the Regale to be adjudg'd his Right notwithstanding the Appeal of the Bishops of Alets and Pamise to the Pope and the Propositions so injurious to the Apostolick See supported by Royal Edicts enjoyning every Body to receive and publickly profess and teach 'em in such a manner as was never yet practis'd His Holiness had great Reason to refuse his Bulls to the Ecclesiasticks nominated by the King to supply the vacant Bishopricks because they were present at the said Assembly of 1682. and there openly declar'd themselves Enemies of the Apostolick See and for that the Canon Law and the Agreement made with France that the Pope should be judge of the Capacity of the Persons nominated prove moreover
attain'd her Ends and for the Truth of this we have sufficient Proofs the Testimony of Grandvall at his Death and the authentick Depositions of Dement who is still living to the Shamne and Confusion of France the Remembrance of which will be a lasting Stain to her Honour a Fact which her succeeding Princes will deny as a Reproach to their Posterity and for which Histories only furnish us with the Example of Darius King of Persia who not being able to vanquish his Enemy Alexander in Battel treacherously labour'd to have won the Grecian Soldiers either to kill or betray their Prince And for that it was that the Macedonian Victor upbraided Darius's Embassadors when they came to sue for Peace and to return him Thanks for the Civilities he had shew'd to his Mother his Wife and his two Daughters to which Embassadour the Macedonian Monarch thus began his Answer Tell your Master that Thanks are superfluous among Soldiers that make War one upon another and therefore if I were Civil and Courteous towards his Relations 't was only to satisfie my self and not out of any Affection that I bear to him for 't is not my Humour to insult over the Miserable I never attack Prisoners nor Women I only assail those that I meet with Weapons in their Hands and who are in a Condition to defend themselves So that if he sincerely desir'd Peace I should consider what I had to do but seeing that he still continues by Letters and Money to sollicit my Soldiers to betray me and my Friends to Kill me I am resov'd to pursue him to the uttermost of my Power no longer as an Enemy but as a Poysoner and a Ruffian c. 'T is not to be deny'd but that when any man designs to murther his Enemy 't is because he dreads him with a more then Ordinary Fear and to deprive his more valiant Adversary by such a Cowardly and detestable Action of the Honour of vanquishing him in Battel But such Assassins never come to good End for Darius perish'd miserably being murder'd by his own Subjects and at the same time lost both his Life his Diadem and all the Wealth of Persia But to return to our Subject During the Reign of King James France sent into England whole Legions of Monks and Jesuits under pretence of Propagating the Faith and to screw themselves into the most considerable Families of the Realm under pretence of Religion as also to assist this Unfortunate Prince to observe his Footsteps and dive into his secret Thoughts to the end he might not be able to avoid the Chains which the Court of France had prepar'd for him But now the Emissaries of France have alter'd their Language and whereas at that time they preach'd nothing to the English but Peace and Obedience there now they breath nothing but Fire and Flame Sedition and Murder where e're they come fomenting Rebellion in all parts of the Kingdom and ready once more to fire the City of London if they believ'd the Conflagration would contribute any thing to their wicked Designs The whole Policy and Craft of France is at a great Loss at this Conjuncture to find that all her Machinations against the Life of the King of England at present prosperously Reigning are still disappointed Nor is it less a bitter Choak-Pear to Lewis XIV the Proudest Monarch upon Earth to see himself at last constrain'd to acknowledge his Brittanick Majesty the Lawful Monarch of the Three Kingdoms and sue to him for Peace and all this after he had Vaunted before all the World that he would never lay down his Arms till he had restor'd King James to his Throne not without a prophane and Daring Application of the words of God the Father to the Son Sit thou at my Right hand till I make thy Enemies thy Foot-stool Now after such a Bounce a man would think it should be a trouble to the Court of France to find her self constrain'd to dismiss this poor unfortunate Prince But there will be no such Thing For when Persons that have been profitable to the Court of France become once unserviceable she never scruples to send 'em packing in cold Blood 'T is true that she observes some Measures and lets yee know her Mind at first by Hints and indirect Whispers but if you do not understand her Mute Language and Dumb Signs she fails not to inform your Stupidity with plain and down-right Expressions it being a Maxim of the French Court never to love the Unfortunate But you 'l say what Benefit can accrue to Lewis XIV by keeping King James in France 't is not for the Benefit of his Counsel for he could never give or take any himself nor is it out of any heat of Concupiscence for the Queen of England for he has much handsome and Prettier in his Seraglio of St. Cyr where Madam de Maintenon out of her Pious Care for several Years together has kept in good decorum a numerous Bevie of young handsome Ladies who are as it were so many Victims which she offers to the Divinity of Lewis the Great and though that Monarch had not that Reserve for his little Pleasures the Court is full of Coquetts and the Mothers are such Ninnyhammers as to carry their Daughters thither to try whether or no their good Fortune will advance 'em to the Embraces of that Great Monarch and all this in hopes to raise the drooping condition of their Family Insomuch that I have known some Parents condescend to that point of Panderism as to Lesson their Daughters and instruct 'em what they were to say and do in case the King should happen to take notice of ' em So that most assuredly it would not be no Queen Jemmykin that the Sultan of France would throw his Handkerchief unless it were with that Limitation that Alexander observ'd who refus'd to exercise at the Olymptick Games unless he might have Kings for his Competitors And thus Lewis XIV grown more Great perhaps then formerly would have the World believe that he 'll no longer be a Gamester in the Sports of Love unless he may have Queens for the Objects of his Passion However the King grows old and therefore let us be so favourable to him as to believe that if the Court of France did entertain King James and all his Train at St. Germains 't was not for any Affection the French Monarch bare him but because the English Fugitive who generally feeds upon Chimera's fancy'd Himself and endeavour'd to perswade the Court of France that he had a Great Party in England not only all the Roman Catholicks but all the Fanaticks in the Kingdom That the Quaker Penn who indeed is no other then a Jesuit in Masquerade assur'd him of the Absolute Devotion of that whole Sect to his Party and Service But the Court of France has been well inform'd that all these Assurances were meer Illusions seeing that neither Catholicks nor Quakers are admitted into the Parliament
under the Command of Chatillon the Fruit of which Victory was the taking of Doncheri not far from Sedan And this lucky Beginning of the Duke made the Court of France begin to look about 'em as being afraid lest that petty War should kindle a greater Thereupon the Duke of Brezé was sent the same way with Five and twenty thousand Men and the Cardinal persuaded the King and all the Court to march as far as Rethel But unfortunately for the Duke of Bouillon Lamboy quitted him with all his Men being order'd to march to the relief of Aire which the French had besieg'd So that the Duke finding himself constrain'd to shut himself up within the Walls of Sedan and seeing himself besieg'd began to think of an Accommodation so much the rather because the Count of Soissions who had been the Occasion of the War had shot himself in the head with a Pistol Bullet This was no more then what France desir'd as having at that time a War with Spain several discontented Princes and Lord within the Kingdom who waited only for an Opportunity to rise and the Siege of Aire begun uncertain therefore of Success and having so many Irons in the Fire she durst not venture the besieging of Sedan which they were convinc'd that the Duke would defend with the last drop of his Blood besides that he had Great Men that took his Part at Court as not being willing that Place should fall into the King's hands which upon many Occasions serv'd 'em for a Retiring Place Wherefore being also no less desirous to spite Cardinal Richlieu who was look'd upon as the first Author of that War they persuaded the King who was advanc'd as far as Meziere to hearken to an Accommodation Thereupon the Cardinal seeing it was not to be avoided offer'd his Mediation to the Duke of Bouillon to the end that the Affair passing through his Hands the Duke might think himself beholding to him for this Kindness though his Design were to ruine the Duke some other way To which purpose he made great Protestations to the Duke who took all for Gold that glister'd and being but a new Catholick believ'd that whatever that same Prelate and Prince of the Church assur'd him was sincere and truly honest But whatever Protestation his Eminency made he had always a Reserve which he kept close in his Breast and the better to cover his Design and shew his Good-Will he would needs enter into a Treaty as a Security for the Duke's Sincerity and a Gauranty on the King's behalf That His Majesty would perform the Agreement to the least tittle of the Stipulation the better to lull the Duke asleep and draw him to the Court. Thereupon the Articles being sign'd on both Sides the Duke went forthwith to pay his Respects to the King at Meziere where he was entertain'd with Court-Holy-Water fair Words and Complements and receiv'd by the King the Cardinal and all the Lords with all the Honours imaginable due to his Dignity the Cardinal also gave him large Demonstrations of Friendship and made him extraordinary Promises on purpose to engage him to have a Confidence in him and make him believe that he had forgot the injurious Manifesto which the Duke had printed against him Yet all this was nothing else but Snare and Decoy For his Eminency told the King in the presence of all the Court That he could not do better then to entrust an Army under the Command of the Duke of Bouillon as one that so well deserv'd the Honour seeing that with a handful of wretched Germans he had beaten the Army of France so that there was nothing which he might not well expect from his Valour and Experience when he should once come to Head the Valour of the French This the Duke took in good earnest and so fell into the Snare and though he had been forewarn'd by the Cardinal's Enemies that the more Affection and Kindness that Minister shew'd the less he was to be trusted yet he was so easily wrought upon as to accept the Command of an Army in Italy and that was the very Place where the Cardinal was desirous to keep him For being in the Post he forgot himself to that degree as during the Sickness or Lewis XIII to give the Duke of Orleance a Letter of Credence to be admitted into Sedan together with the Queen-Mother and the Children of France under pretence of retiring thither after the King's Death to avoid the Oppression of the Cardinal tho' the Count of d'Aubijoux who went to him in Italy promis'd him with great Oaths and Imprecations that he would never deliver the Letter unless there should be an Absolute Necessity But the King escap'd that Sickness and the Cardinal having notice of every thing to the smallest Circumstance gave him an account of every particular and thought it a favourable Opportunityto revenge himself for what was past and to put the Principality of Sedan into the Hand of France without the Effusion of Blood For he seldom separated the Remembrance of an Injury and the desire of Revenge It happen'd at the same time that the Duke of Orleance finding his Brother very infirm and sickly and believing that during the Minority of the Young King when the Cardinal would have all the Power in his hands he should lead but an ill life in the Court of France and seeing himself expos'd to the Resentment of his Adversary he bethought himself of making a League with the Spaniards by the mediation of a Gentleman whose Name was Fourraille whom he sent to Madrid But the Cardinal having got an Inkling of it sent his Secretary Chavigni privately to give the King notice of it and in the mean time he left no Stone unturn'd to discover the Contents of the Treaty that had been concluded at Madrid and he set so many Engines at work that he found a way to get a Copy of it from some Secretary to the Duke of Orleance So soon as he had read it he sent it to the King by the same Chavigni and order'd him to assure his Majesty that the Copy was drawn from the Origninal it self and for this same Piece it was that Cinqmarc and du Thou were apprehended and that the King order'd his Brother the Duke of Orleance to be very narrowly watch'd who finding it Impossible for him to make his Escape out of France took a Resolution to submit himself to the King's Mercy and implore his Pardon and wrote a very submissive Letter to the Cardinal which he sent him by one of his Favourites wherein he set forth his Repentance in very moving Expressions and his desire to be beholding for the Favour of his Reconciliation with the King to his Eminency who willingly embrac'd the Opportunity of gaining the Duke of Orleance's Friendship and of having at his Beck an Instrument to ruine the Duke of Bouillon Thereupon he made the Duke of Orleance's Peace with the King upon Condition that he
should deliver into his hands the Original of the Treaty But the king's Brother protested that he had burn'd the Original and had only kept a Copy sign'd with his own Hand and Counter-sign'd by the Secretary of his Commands by vertue of which Copy both Cinqmarc and de thou were both arraign'd and the Fatal End they came to is well known But to return to the Duke of Bouillon you are to understand that Fontraille who was sent into Spain to conclude the Treaty that he might bring it the sooner to pass and imprint a higher Opinion of the Business in the Court of Madrid would needs insert the Duke of Bouillon's Name in the Treaty without his Knowledge and promis'd that he should not only ratifie it but allow Sedan for a Place of Refuge tho' the Duke never ratify'd the Treaty nor ever caus'd his Name to be inserted but quite the contrary had always oppos'd it when the Duke of Orleance had formerly made some Overtures to him of the same nature However there needed no more to ruine him so that the Cardinal dispatch'd away a Courrier forthwith into Italy with Orders for seizing his Person which was done at Casal by the General Officers who commanded under him from whence he was conducted by a numerous Convoy to the Castle of Pierre-en-Cize And there it was that the Duke first understood That he had been comprehended in the Treaty of Madrid of which the Duke of Orleance had given him a Copy sign'd with his own Hand and that he at the same time had discover'd the Queen's and the Duke's Design to retire to Sedan upon the King's Decease The crafty Cardinal observ'd by this Confession how much he was fear'd and dreaded which serv'd to render him more absolute then ever and impower'd him to revenge himself of his Enemies more loftily and more inexorably For whatever Excuse the Duke of Bouillon could make and tho' it could never be prov'd that he ever sign'd or ratify'd the Treaty or gave any order for the inserting of his Name therein there was no other Choice for him to make but either to lose his Head or his Principality of Sedan Which was no more then what France had sought a long time and for the bringing of which to pass there was no foul Play which the Minister had not put in Practise no Snare that he had not laid to entrap the Innocent The Dutchess of Bouillon having notice of her Husband's Imprisonment and of the danger he was in of his Life sent her Sister in Law to Court to let the Cardinal know that if the Duke were put to death she would deliver Sedan to the Spaniards to which purpose she had already sent to Brussells to sollicit their Approach to the Town But Mademoiselle de Bouillon arriving at the Court of France and understanding that du Thou had been condemn'd for only being privy to and concealing Cinqmarc's Design chang'd her note and was so far from delivering the Dutchesses Menaces to the Cardinal according to her Instructions that she told the Cardinal she had Orders to enter into a Negotiation and to engage for the Life and Liberty of her Brother This was that which the Cardinal expected and therefore without giving her any time to recollect her self the Treaty was concluded That the Dutchess should deliver Sedan to the King of France and that the Duke her Husband should be put into possession of other Lands of equal value in the Kingdom and that at the same time that the French Garrison should enter the Town the Prisoner should be releas'd Thereupon Cardinal Richlieu not being able to go himself sent his Coadjutour in the Ministry who took possession of it and secur'd it to all Intents and Purposes Thus that Important City which had withstood the King fell into his Hands partly through the ill Conduct of the Duke of Bouillon but chiefly through the Snares which the Policy of France laid for him ever since he quitted his Religion and the Service of the States For in good Policy they ought to have preserv'd that City which gave Protection to the Protestant Party The Death of the Cardinal happening in one and the same year the Queen being declar'd Regent and Duke of Orleance Chief of the Council the Duke of Bouillon returrn'd to Court flattering himself with being restor'd to his Dominions considering that his Misfortune did not befall him but for the good Services which he was ready to have done those Two Illustrious Persons that now sate at the Helm of State and who had engag'd him without his Knowledge But when he came to Court he only found a change of the Regency but not of the Ministry which was still cunning and wilely For Mazarine who succeeded Richlieu in the Government out-did his Predecessor He found that the Disciple knew more then the Master that he had a double portion of Avarice and Self-Interest that Italian Knavery had succeeded French Refinedness and that he had no mind to let go the Prey which he already held fast in his Gripes and for which he had labour'd conjoyntly with is Predecessour 'T is true that when the Duke of Bouillon first arriv'd he receiv'd a world of Complements from the Queen the Duke of Orleance and all the Court but when he came to talk of Business all that Courship vanish'd nor could he obtain so much as Audience either of the Queen or the Duke of Orleance till at length by dint of Pressing Importunity he got so much favour that the Abbot de la Riviere a Favourite of Orleance's was appointed to conferr with him about his Pretensions and that meerly to be ridd of him Bouillon therefore seeing he could do no better fell upon the Matter with the Abbot and told him That he was willing to fulfill the Treaty made with Lewis XIII but that the Evacuation the Verification in Parliament and so many other Formalities absolutely requisite would infallibly take up a tedious Space of several Years therefore till all those Ceremonies were at an end that'twas but just that Sedan should be restor'd him to be surrender'd back into the King's Hands so soon as he should be put into Possession of the Equivalents that considering the Present Posture of Affairs he foresaw long Delays and infinite Cavils whereas if Sedan were in his Hands it would be look'd upon as the King's Business no less then the Enlarging of France by the Acquisition of a Soveraignty and a City of great Strength and Importance That if these Reasons would not work upon the Queen nor Monsieur he desir'd the Abbot to lay before 'em that the One or the Other might happen to dye before Things could be brought to that perfection as to be fit to be put in Execution which would inevitably prove the Ruine of his Family and that they were engag'd as well in Honour as in Conscience not to expose him to that Extremity To this he added That tho' the Queen and the Duke
Evil Fortune The Council of France soon after but too late acknowledg'd their Fault and could find no other way to excuse the Blunder but by entring into a War with England Spain and the United Provinces at the same time that they declar'd War against the Emperour and this same mistaken piece of Policy occasion'd that strict and sincere Confederacy which we see at this day between the greatest part of the Christian Princes to preserve themselves from the Invasions of France and Lewis the XIV to wreck his Revenge upon 'em for the sad Fate of K. James his most dear Allye whose Misfortunes were only the Consequences of his having follow'd the Counsels of France and her pernicious Politicks was oblig'd to raise Great Armies and equip a Numerous Fleet to restore K. James to his Throne tho' hitherto he has not been able to accomplish any thing in his Favour but rather has liv'd to see the Disappointment of all the Hopes that flatter'd his first Attempts Whereas if the Ambitious Monarch had turn'd his whole Force against the Empire only and bent all his strength on that side he might have gone a great way into the Empire and have given Mahomet his Dear Friend and Allye a fair Opportunity to recover his Losses But while he labour'd the Re-mounting of two unhors'd Princes he ruin'd both the One and the Other And here it is that we ought to adore the Divine Providence that confounded and strook with a suddain Stupidity the Counsels of France on purpose to dissipate those unjust Designs which her False Politicks had suggested to her no less then the Assailing of all Europe at a Time according to the Proverb Covet all and Lose all There is no question but that France was sensible of her Errour after the Revolution in England for which reason she discharg'd all her Fury upon poor Germany where the French Soldiery exercis'd the utmost Extremities of Cruelty and Barbarism because that Electorate belong'd to the Emperour 's near Relation and Confederate France being thus Embark'd upon this Tempestuous Sea the Prosperity of the Imperial Arms the Revolution in England and the strict League of all the Confederate Princes for the Defence of the Common Cause could not choose but raise prodigious Storms about his Ears and therefore finding there was no repairing the Fault she had committed she was constrain'd to caress and promise the Ottoman Port whatever Succour the Infidels demanded both of Men and Money to oblige the Turks to continue the War With a Design however to deceive and forsake 'em so soon as the Court of France should find it convenient to agree with the Emperour But in regard the French have drawn in the Ottoman Port and blinded with their Presents the Principal Ministers and more especially the Mufti who holds his Dignity for Life 't is almost impossible to open the Eyes of the Grand Sultan who is willing to flatter himself with the Hopes of recovering that part of Hungary which he hast lost So that as long as the French are able to domineer at the Port as they do 't is in vain to send Embassadours thither to make proposals of Peace since it so absolutely behoves the Court Politicks of France to hinder it by all manner of means cost what it will either by Money or Poyson as we have seen 'T is not long since that the French perceiv'd that the Ministers of the Mediatours had made some Progress in the Interim that our Minister was hastning to the Port but their Emissaries both at Constantinople and Adrianople overturn'd with Money all the Measures that had been taken So that there is nothing but an Insurrection in the Ottoman Empire that can ranverse the Practices and Machinations of France and this is that which the Christians ought to meditate if they desire a Peace between the two Empires and there are ways to bring it about if they would but put 'em in Practice Nor is it to be question'd but that France drives on all the Intrigues imaginable in the Ottoman Court where she is in daily fear least early or late a sudden Truce should be clap'd up between the two Empires by reason of some unexpected Insurrection as I have already said And therefore it is that the Court of France endeavours to supplant her Confederate and to make a Peace with the Emperour and the Empire by restoring several Places which she now holds in Germany because that Lewis XIV and his Ministers see very well that they cannot continue the War so long as the Confederacy continue their Union as hitherto they have done that being alone by himself to bear the Burthen of so many Enemies he stands in need of Numerous Armies to oppose the same Adversaries that environ him on every side in Germany Flanders Brabant Catalogna Navarr and Piemont but above all the Conjoyn'd Fleets of England and Holland that threaten his Coasts and enforce him to an Excessive Expence to guard himself from a Descent his Trade being quite lost his Subjects reduc'd to utmost Misery and his Exchequer decreasing every day through the decay of Trade and the Poverty of the Inhabitants of his Kingdom We must believe that France would fain have a Peace while she thinks she has some Advantage before any Terrible Blow befall her which would enforce Lewis the Great to accept of such a Peace as it would please the Emperour and the Confederates to afford him 'T is no less certain then that his Imperial Majesty together with the Confederates have no more to do then to continue the War a little longer to compass their Ends upon France that can never be able to make Head against 'em for any long time Which is the reason that we find her already beginning to change her Batteries at the same time that she sees her self oblig'd to alter her Designs in respect of the Empire Formerly nothing would serve Lewis the XIV but the Imperial Crown for himself and the Title of King of the Romans for the Dauphin his Son But now no more of that The Grapes are out of his Reach and therefore he cries They are sowre All those vast Designs having fail'd and all his Lofty Enterprizes being come to nothing the Policy that France made use of when the Turks were marching to the Siege of Vienna is now no farther useful the End failing the means must of necessity surcease Formerly France was all for dethroning the Emperour but now 't is well if she can keep the Crown upon her Monarch's own Head in preserving by the force of her Arms what he has usurp'd from his Neighbours Heaven has alter'd the Face of Affairs by the ill success of the Ottoman Armes and thereby confounding the Counsels of France the designs of both being the same and both acting in order to the same Ends. And as the Designs of France are chang'd in respect of the Emperour who is the Chief and Head of the Empire so they may
Provinces But all these ways failing tho' not his good Will and finding he could not be assisted either by Cologne nor England nor by the Bishop of Munster as in the preceding War France could no longer contain her self but under pretence of assisting King James presently declar'd War and fell upon the United Provinces to prevent 'em from aggrandizing themselves by the sincere and strict Union which they were about to make between the King and Queen at present prosperously reigning But in regard that frequently Revenge never considers the Danger to which it exposes it self for the satisfaction of its Rage in like manner the King of France has drawn upon himself all of a sudden the the most numerous and the soundest part of the Puissances of Europe who will never lay down their Arms till he has made those Restitutions which they shall think convenient for the Welfare of Europe there being no other way of Reliance upon the Promises and Faith of the Most Christian King I believe that Lewis XIV spake just according to the Sentiments of his Heart when he happen'd one Day to say That he neither Fear'd nor Lov'd the Hollanders who nevertheless fill'd him full of Jealousies and Fears and often broke his Measures And yet 't is to that warlike Nation that he is at this Day be-holding for his having got the upper-hand of Spain For as France formerly made use of the Hollanders to humble Spain so the Spaniards are now glad of succour of the United Provinces to humble the Pride of France And the Moderation and Flegin of the Hollanders proves very effectual to abate the Fury of the French which only affrights those that fear it and are not acquainted with it In the Year 1672. the United Provinces alone made Head against the Two Potent Kings of France and England were Victorious at Sea and constrain'd the latter to make a Peace and the other su'd for the Peace of Nimeghen Tho' through a remissness Injurious to the Honour of the Parties the Plenipotentiaries out of a Complyance not to be endur'd suffer'd the slipping in of those Words That the King of France being desirous to restore Peace to Europe c. Whereas it was he that begg'd for it and made such Condescentions to the City of Amsterdam that she consented to it so that to speak properly 't was she and not Lewis XIV that restored Peace to Europe But in regard it was made without any great Precautions and without taking any other Guarranty then the Sincerity of a Prince who never had any therefore it lasted but a short while and within the space of Six Years the Peace-Restorer committed several Hostilities took many Cities and Fortresses so that there was need of a new Peace and a Truce follow'd to the end he might retain what he had usurp'd Nor were all these Treaties Mounds sufficiently strong to restrain the impetuous Torrent He breaks through all the Tyes of Sanctity and Religion and falls upon Philipsburgh the loss of which was attended with several other scurvy Inconveniences Now upon what Foundation could the States of the United Provinces treat with a King that observ'd no Rule of common Morality but broke his Faith his Word his Promise even with the Emperor himself Certain barbarous People whom Alexander the Great would have oblig'd to swear Fidelity to him return'd him answer That they never swore any Oaths but gave their Word which they kept inviolably from whence I observe that they were not French The Ministry of the Court of France imagines with it self that Lewis XIV not having usurp'd any thing upon the Republick of the United Provinces during the Peace nor won any Place from her during the War that it would be always an easie thing for their Monarch to make a Peace with her besides that the Hollanders are greatly inclin'd to Peace by reason of their Trade which is much obstructed in time of War neither is it the Interest of a Republick to enlarge her Confines or to add new Provinces to those she has already but to preserve United what already she possesses and to secure her Frontiers the best she can But tho' France may be in the Right as to some Circumstances yet is she deceiv'd in the main For it is not so easie to make a Peace with the Hollanders as the King of France imagines Those People tho' naturally good-natur'd and easie are not readily twice deluded That Prudence which never forsakes the Counsels of their Soveraigns has seen by the Consequences of the Peace of Nimeghen that there is no trusting to France but that all her Promises and Treaties were only meer Amusements that is to say a sort of Recoiling to fetch the greater Leap he must be a very mean Politician and very dull-sighted who does not percieve that France had a great mind to have made her self Mistress of the United Provinces their Wealth and their Religion those three things so precious and so necessary that the Inhabitants neither can nor ought to lose 'em but with their Lives And therefore as they ventur'd all to purchase those Blessings so they will use their utmost Endeavours to preserve 'em as the most precious Jewels of the Republick For the Hollanders are not like King James who left the care of his Crown to the Count of Lausune while he ran away before the Battel of the Boyne and before his Person was in any evident Danger France knows not as yet the strength of the United Provinces as being ignorant of what she can do if once she be hard put to it Seeing that if they could find the way not only to shake off the Chains of Servitude but to make head for several Years against one of the most Potent and one of the greatest Monarchs of Europe Philip II. and come off with Honour why should the Ministers of France flatter themselves under this Reign that they are able to destroy ' em 'T is only because Men are apt to flatter themselves that they can compass what they desire and generally they never care to be dis-abus'd in regard that Hope supports and in some measure satisfies an ambitious Mind Usually the Court of France is crowded with Flatterers who make no other Prayers then for the Glory of their Monarch and sing no other Hymns then in his Praise all their Opera's sound forth the Grandeur and the Conquests of their new Deity Jupiter-Bourbon They perswade him that he was sent into the World to reign by himself and to subdue all the People of the Earth under his Dominion they have given him the Sirname of Dieu-donné or God's Gift and they make their Oblations to the immortal Man Viro Immortali To which purpose they have erected his Statue in the Piazza of Victory at Paris to the end that all his Subjects should pay the same Homages to his Figure as to his Person Marshal de la Fueillade would needs pay it the first Honours For being
afraid of the Strength of Portugal tho' separated from Spain Quite the contrary Portugal might well make use of France to molest Spain which visibly decreas'd and perhaps will never be in a Condition again to pull that Thorn out of her Foot and to reduce Portugal under her Obedience For after that Revolution which follow'd that of the Low-Countries Spain languish'd away by degrees and Portugal encreas'd both in Strength and Riches and is become so Potent that alone by her self she can make head against Spain which at this day resembles a strong Man consum'd and wasted by Inward Sickness and Distempers and easily overturn'd by the puny strength of a Child The Portuguezes therefore who are good Politicians understanding their own Interest leagu'd themselves with the Greatest Enemies of the Spaniards that is to say the English and French who in a time of necessity might openly declare for 'em if Spain should happen to be in a Condition to attack ' em But now Portugal has no need of Assistance against Spain much rather she ought to fortifie her self against France which in this Reign has look'd with a Covetous Eye upon the Wealth that arrives at Lisbon from the East and and West Indies and I am perswaded that the Court of Portugal is truly convinc'd of it Which was the reason that enduc'd 'em to the no small Vexation of France to seek the Friendship and Alliance of the House of Austria by the Marriage of Don Pedro to the Princess of Nieubrug However the Policy of France that understands without all doubt the Design of the Portuguezes is careful at present to embrace the Friendship of the King of Portugal to the end that during the War she may have the free use of his Ports to fetch Provisions and Necessaries which she can have no where else And we have seen not long since that the French Men of War wanting Seamen and searing to be attack'd by the English and Hollanders supply'd themselves from the Coasts of Portugal So that considering the Need which the French have of the Portuguezes would Don Pedro and his Council make the best of so favourable an Opportunity there is no doubt but the House of Austria would grant him very Advantageous Conditions in case the Portuguezes would joyn with the Confederates and declare War against France And her Interest advises her to it for that if the Dauphin after the death of the Catholick King should get the upper hand in Spain there 's no question to be made but he would revive the Pretensions of Alphonso King of Arragon and Philip II. King of Spain for by the same reason that formerly the Policy of France requir'd her to support Portugal it would be then her Interest to ruine make her self Master of it 'T were well that all the other Courts of Europe would do as France does who foresees things at a Great Distance and continually builds Designs upon a Basis of Probable Futurity and for fear of being deceiv'd usually forms three or four Contrivances which way to bring about one and the same Thing so that 〈◊〉 one fail another may hold This is a Piece of Human Prudence that not only prevents Surprize but shews they way to undertake several Enterprizes which else a Man would never have thought of 'T is a Maxim to be observ'd by all Sovereigns to mistrust even their nearest Allies and so to act as if they were just ready to come to a Rupture more especially they that border upon France that never observes Peace or Treaty any longer then she finds it for her Convenience The City of Paris abounds in Persons full of Curiosity and Invention Among the rest there are a Great Number of old Practitioners who employ their Wits to get Money in searching for Claims and Rights in Old Parchments a good part of which has serv'd to feed the Rats and Mice and to invent and set up Titles so that if they are but largely pay'd they will prove their Benefactors Descent from the Royal Race tho' before that he could hardly reckon a Groom among all his Predecessors These Antiquaries tell yee that Portugal is deriv'd from Poâ—tus Gallorum Thus you you see a Foundation lay'd for the French to pretend that Portugal belongs to France Moreover there are still to be seen among the Archives certain Ancient Registers or if they are not there they can find 'em elsewhere containing the Expences that France was at some Ages since in assisting the Portuguezes against the Moors of Castile and Andalusia in the Reign of King Henry who was of the House of Lorrain and marry'd the Natural Daughter of Alphonfo King of Arragon who gave him an Army to conquer Portugal or Lusitania from the Moors Now there would not need so much were this Affair once brought before the Tribunal of Metz which is the Soveraign and Irrevocable Court of Judicature to determine the Right of the Dependences and Appendences of France However the Germans would have the first Right in regard it was to the assistance of that War-like Nation that Henry was beholding for the Conquest of Lusitania as also of Algarva which is the reason that the Germans enjoy such Privileges all over Portugal But there 's the Mischief of it that if the Case should come to be argu'd before the Despotick Tribunal of Metz between the Germans and France that Court would never do the Germans Justice As for the Switzers they are compos'd of Thirteen Cantons which are as it were so many Separate Provinces free and independent one from another These Cantons having withdrawn themselves from their Subjection to the Emperour by reason of the hard usage which they suffer'd under the German Governours bethought themselves of a Democratick Government which they have upheld till this present time after they had sustain'd several tedious Wars and fought a great number of Battels always Victorious protected by Heaven and by that means becoming so powerful as to be sought to by the Emperour and the Neighbouring Princes They very rarely sent Embassadours to the Potentates their Confederates unless it were to renew an Alliance or upon some Extraordinary Occasion However the same Princes have generally their Ministers residing among them but more-especially France whose Embassadour keeps his Station at Soleurre tho' it be one of the meanest Cantons and that Berne be one of the most powerful and the largest for which we shall give the Reason in due Place Any Prince who desires the Assembling of a Dyet in Switzerland must request it by his Embassadour or Minister there residing but he must pay for it and therefore they never refuse it to those that desire the Meeting which would not else be summon'd and consequently there would be no notice taken of the Business there intended to be propos'd This same Coldness natural to the Switzers makes me believe that that Nation cares not so much for the Friendship of their Confederates as for their Money However it
be this must be agreed in their behalf that they are not only faithful to what they promise but stout upon all occasions as we may see by fourteen Battels which they fouth with the Emperour Fâ—â—derick and three others which they won from Charles the Bold the last Duke of Burgundy and all the Brave Atchievements which they per orm'd in Italy as well for as against France under the Reign of Charles the VIII Lewis XII and Francis I. And for that reason it is that since that time the Greatest Potentates of Europe have always sought their Friendship and their Alliance and that the French have caress'd 'em with a great deal of Artifice and Money not so much out of any Kindness which the French have for the Switzers or for the need which they have of their Men in time of Peace but for fear least the Cantons should enter into a Solemn Engagement with the House of Austria For which reason France is careful to stipulate in all the Treaties which she renews with the Cantons that they shall not send above such a number of Men to any other Foreign Princes and those only for the Guards of their Bodies The Embassadour of France has made choice of Soleurre for the Place of his Abode because the Inhabitants of that Canton are all zealous Roman Catholicks who pin their Faith with great Submission upon the Sincerity of their Curate and the Embassadour resides here to shew the Particular Honour which his Master has for the Roman Catholick Cantons above the Evangelick and that the Monks and Priests may have free Access to him who bear a great Sway among the Catholicks Moreover the little Summs of Money which the Embassadour scatters among the Chief of 'em procure him Creatures that still will be inclin'd to the Interests of France and readily stoop to the Lure And by this means it was that the French got leave to build the Fortress of Huninghen which as long as it stands will be a Hook in the Noses of the Inhabitants of Bale to lead 'em which way the Policy of France shall judge most convenient for her purposes Nor is it long since the Governour of that Fortress made an Essay whether the Cannon of that Place would reach as far as the City that he might take his Measures accordingly For whatsoever Protestations of Friendship France at present makes to the Cantons Lewis the XIV had rather be their Soveraign then their Confederate that Monarch has a long time cast a Covetous Eye upon Bale and Geneva and had e're this been Master of 'em had not other Considerations kept him within Bounds and were he once Master of those Barricado's of Switzerland the rest would soon be expos'd to the Misfortune of lying fit for his Convenience He is a Fox but he has Lyon's Claws and he makes use of his Head to deceive the Catholick Cantons under the Specious Pretence of Propagating Catholicity but he reserves his Paws for the Protestant Cantons There is no question but that among the Switzers among whom there are some who have travell'd and seen the World there are to be found several Persons sufficiently quick-sighted Politick and such as understand how Things are carry'd 'T is not long since a Difference happen'd in the Canton of Glaris which France first kindl'd and fomented to the utmost of her Power but Innocent the XI quickly stifl'd it by his Wisdom and Piety I am convinc'd that those Persons are deeply sensible of the Affronts which France puts upon 'em from time to time and with what Scorn she treats their Embassadours the last of which were forc'd to return without being able to procure Audience of the King after sedulous Applications to Colbert Croisy Secretary of State for the Foreign Affairs But the more prudent sort of Switzers you 'll say would fain have the Lyon chain'd and his Claws par'd before they fall upon him To which I Answer That the Switzers may contribute very much toward the Chaining of the Lyon as furious as he seems to be and yet not openly declare themselves neither by demanding the dismantling of Huninghen and for want of so doing by recalling their Men out of France which compose the greatest part of the French Infantry and are the only Combatants well seconded by the Cavalry upon which the French depend for all their Success The King of France is now Convinc'd of the Value of the Switzers and so has been ever since Louvois's Ministry Formerly they were not well belov'd at Court nay they were contemn'd but since the Alteration of the Face of Affairs they are at present consider'd for the Benefit which France receives from 'em like Twins that are ty'd together and must dye together I must confess that the Establishment of the Swiss Regiments is worth some Money to that Nation and discharges the Country of abundance of idle lazy People but I 'll maintain it that the French Service is the Plague and Destruction of vast numbers of Young Men of Good Protestant Families that ruine themselves by the Debaucheries of Wine and Women which always terminates in a Revolt against their Religion and their Country Which would never happen if they serv'd the Protestant Princes The Court of France knows well that she cannot fasten an Officer of Quality to her Interests with a stronger Tye so as to make him absolutely forget his own Country then by the Change of his Religion And therefore she Labours underhand by means of the Women and Monks and those Snares take Effect with the greatest part that are attack'd by those Vermin as was seen by the Example of the Two Stoupa's Not to reckon the more Inferiour Sort all the Swiss Officers and Soldiers as well those that serve in France as those that are sent to the Mines in Sweden I look upon 'em equally lost both to their Families and their Country for they never return again unless they make their Escapes by some sort of Stratagem but it may be said that the Pleasure and Voluptuousness of France is so great that they are pleas'd with their Misfortune There they are bred and there they dye to make room for other New Commers who are Tempted thither like Young Pigeons with the smell of Roasted Dogs France has had no place from whence to supply her self during this War but the Swiss Cantons Some Seamen she may get indeed from the North but for Land-Soldiers of necessity it behoves her to caress and embrace the Helvetian Body without whose Assistance the French would never be able to bring such Numerous Armies into the Field And the Switzers are the Only Persons upon which the King of France may depend so long as he keeps his Word with 'em and that he pays 'em what he contracts for and what he promises Nor will they stand to the Losses of his enhauncing and re-inhauncing his Money They must have their Money pay'd according to the old value set down and agreed
upon in ther Contracts that is to say the Louidores at Eleven Livres and the White Crowns at Sixty Sols For the Switzers are thrifty Husbands and send a good part of their Pay to their Parents in Switzerland where there is no Variation of the Coin admitted Now it being so certain as I have already said that France stands in need of the Switzers in this Conjuncture this is the reason that the French Embassadour residing in Switzerland has Orders not to disgust 'em nor give 'em the least Subject of Complaint but in every Canton to caress all those in particular who have the best Interest and carry the greatest Sway on purpose to prevent 'em from entring into a more strict Alliance with the House of Austria the King of Great Britain and the State of the United Provinces For which reason it was that the French Minister us'd all his Power and Interest to stop the Levies which M. Cox the King of Great Britain's Envoy would have rais'd not long ago But if the Business did not then succeed France is beholding for it to the want of Management in those that understood not the right knack of dealing with the Switzers seeing afterwards others found the way to discover the forward Inclinations of that Nation toward the Confederates by the Levies that were made underhand which is a terrible Blow to France in regard that those new Regiments draw away a Great Number of their fellow Country-men out of the French Service especially the Protestants However we do not find that France dares to make any great noise about it moderating and restraining her Passion till a more propitious Opportunity but in regard the Cantons on the other side may be assur'd that she Barrels it up and that if at present they escape Scot-free yet whenever it lies in her Power France will never forget such heinous Provocations therefore 't is now the Switzers Interests to labour with the rest the humbling France now the Confederates are following her so close at the Heels For the Lower France is brought the more the French will caress the Switzers and seek their Assistance whereas in their Prosperity they slight and domineer over 'em and would utterly subdue 'em were it in the Power of the Court of France that resembles Fire or the Sea which never will acknowledge they have enough But at present the Policy of the Ministers prompts em as the wisest Course to temporize and to oppose whatever is transacted to the Prejudice of France rather by Remonstrances and Presents then by Force and Menaces As for the Turks they have been all along Enemies of Christ and the Christians because the Gospel destroys their Alcaron The Sultan takes upon him the Title of Musulman or Most Faithful as the King of France assumes the Title of Most Christian Yet we know that the Turkish Emperours have establish'd their Dominion by Cruelty only and that their Throne is soder d together with the Blood of a Great Number of Martyrs and an Infinite number of all sorts of People and Nations yet notwithstanding all this the Turk is at present the sole Refuge of France and she embraces him as her only Patron She is enter'd into a strict Alliance with the Ottoman Port furnishes him with Money Cannon and other Warlike Ammunition supplies him with Able and Expert Officers and Engineers to the great damage of the Christians And which was more pernicious the Policy of the Court of France exerted it self to that degree as to persuade the Turk to break the Truce with the Christians two Years before it came to be expir'd meerly to support the Rebellion of the Hungarians who according to the Opinion of the Ministers of France were to contribute toward the Ruine of the Empire and Emperour of the Christians Had the Bishop of Perefixe been living at this time he must have been forc'd to have recanted what he asserted in his History of Henry IV. where he says That the Valour of the French was made choice of by God to support the Christian Religion Seeing that the Court of France labours nothing more earnestly then to destroy the same Religion She never minds whether or no the Turks change the Churches into Mosquees or set up the Standard of Mahomet above the Cross of Christ provided her Monarch satisfie his Ambition and become Master of the Empire Tho' the Turks are People both Barbarous and altogether Infidels nevertheless they observe this Maxim never to abandon those that put themselves under their Protection and to keep their Words and Promises and this is one of the Points of their Law And therefore it is that they acknowledge that all the Misfortunes and Losses which they have sustain'd during this War have proceeded from their Breach of Faith and Truce And this it was which spurr'd 'em on about two Years ago to send their Envoys to Vienna with Offers of Peace to the Emperour Which hotly alarum'd the Court of France but she being Subtle and Crafty took an Occasion to insinuate into the Turks That they might continue the War without any Scruple of Conscience seeing they had offer'd Peace to the Emperour that he had refus'd it and continu'd his Hostilities against them That now the Turks were to look upon the War as purely defensive on their side and the French Embassadour at the Port understood so well by Considerable Presents to gain the Grand Mufti to his side who is the Oracle of the Ottoman Court and consulted in all Cases of Conscience that the Infidel Pontiff embrac'd the Franch Divinity and made it out to the Sultan and the People after the Return of the Envoys that they might continue the War without any scruple and that their Submission to the Christians was a sufficient Expiation for the Crime they had committed Nor is it a difficult thing to persuade the Turks to these Things who naturally hate the Christians and are easily induc'd to undertake their Destruction and so Self-interested as readily to yield to the Temptations of Presents Moreover their Extraordinary Inclination and their Interest to recover Hungary which they have lost persuades 'em without any Reluctancy to embrace the Proposals of the Court of France and to renew the League between 'em from time to time upon the Assurances Promises and Oaths of the French Embassadour that his Master will make no Peace with the Emperour wherein the Turk shall not be comprehended And yet all the World knows how earnestly the Ministers of France sollicit the Confederates to make a Peace without mentioning the Turk in the least and it was an Argument of the French at Rome to spur up the Pope that a Peace would give the Emperour great Advantages and strengthen him to carry on his Conquests to the very Walls of Constantinople for which France would not be a little Sorry But when these Projects of France were made known at the Ottoman Court and that the Grand Visier upbraided the Embassour with