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
am My Lord Your very humble Servant Bassampeire This Letter is found in the Cologne Edition of Mareschal Bassampeire's Memoirs page 134. in French But to return Lewis XIII made great Joy for the Birth of this Son and all France shined with Fires of Triumph And no sooner was he Christened but he was Inaugurated into his Principality as Dauphin of France and had given him his Officers and Attendents the chief of which were his Governess a Lady of a Masculine Spirit and Hardovine de Perefexi who since obtained to be Bishop of Rhodes and after that Archbishop of Paris This Man served in the nature of his Tutor being very cunning and politick Whilst Lewis XIV lay in the Cradle as we may term it nothing of Weight or Moment can be expected But scarce was he capable of distinguishing Right from Wrong before the Sceptre of France dropp'd into his Hand For Lewis XIII declining more and more at the End of Four Years and a few Months after the Birth of this Son left the Stage of this World to sleep with his Ancestors He was the Eldest Son of Henry IV. of the House of Bourbon to whom the House of Valois had given Place by the Death of Henry III. who was slain by one Clement a Jocobine Monk with a Consecrated Dagger in his Tent when surrounded by his Army His Mother was Mary de Medicis of the House of Medici of Florence The King before his Death published a Declaration bearing Date April 12. 1643 by Virtue of which he appointed the Queen as Regent during the Minority of his Son as likewise Governess of the Kingdom and the Duke of Orleance was made her Lieutenant The Chief of the Council were the Prince of Conde and Cardinal Mazarine the latter swaying all with the Queen Monsieur Seguire Chancellor of France Monsieur Bauthlier and Monsieur Chauvigny And the Conduct of the Army on Foot was given to the Duke of Enguin afterward Prince of Conde So that Lewis XIII giving up the Ghost on the Fourteenth of May 1643. this Order prevented the Contests that would have happened in the Court about Priority However a Calm did not ensue for the King was no sooner in his Grave but Discontents that in respect to him seemed stifled broke out both People and Grandees being dissatisfied with the Cardinal's management of Affairs and too great Influence upon the Queen who Acted all by his Advice and he being an Italian proceeded to impose an Italian Government in many things which were highly disgusted So that they proclaimed their displeasures at the Head of an Army with the Noise of Trumpets Drums and the thundering of Cannon c. of which the Spaniards taking the Advantage endeavoured to enlarge their Dominions in the Low Countries where Don Francisco de Melo the Vice-Roy besieged Rocroy but his Army was beaten off by the Duke of Enguin General of the French Forces and a considerable Defeat given them which happened six days after Lews XIV came to the Throne And to flush him with this Success the Colours taken were spread before him at Paris and several Applauses of Triumph made And to say true this Victory proved a Check to Spain and gave the French Army an Opportunity to enter into their Territories and take several Towns and Fortresses as Maubeuge Borlemont Aimmerikt Binch and Thionville with others Yet the small Castle of Cirke stopped the Course of the French who before rolled on like a Torrent to the endangering of all Flanders But they had not the like Success in Germany fore there the Mareschal de Guâ—briant General of the French Forces was slain and his Army worsted with the loss of a great many brave Men which drew off Enguin from Flanders But however the War ceased not for the War with Spain engaged most of the Princes of Europe in the Quarrel The Trumpets carried the Noise of War round the Borders of Savoy as likewise in Italy Navar Catalonia Germany Alsatia Flanders and other Places Nor were the Seas free from Blood for the Duke of Breze being Admiral for the French in the Straights he twice engaged the Spanish Fleet. Nor did this War end without Rivers of Blood Burnings Plunderings and great Devastations and then the Misery it had occasioned in Europe moved the Princes to send their Plenepotentiaries to Munster to compose the Differences and agree a general Peace For the Countries were so wasted and Impoverished in many Places that more died by Famine than the Sword so that Lewis XIV began early to build his aspiring Greatness upon Ruine and Desolation which threatned the World with a turbulent Prince To this Treaty which was absolutely necessary for the preventing an universal Famine the Queen Regent of France sent the Count d' Avaux and Monsieur Servien to manage the Interest of France and the Duke of Longueville soon after followed them So that after many Debates and the Interposition of the uninterested Princes on the Twenty fourth of October 1648. a Peace was concluded and the Monarchs of Europe agreed to lay down their Arms that Plenty might be restored by Peace And this had been done sooner had not the French according to their accustomed Manner even in the midst of a Treaty when others depending upon the publick Faith thought themselves secure surprized several Places and suddenly brought their Arms into Germany Lorrain Flanders Catalonia and Italy at once as they did early in the Spring 1645. which so exasperated the Spaniards that they requited it before the Peace was concluded by setting upon the French Fleet over against Naples putting it to Flight with the loss of a great many Men and some Vessels the Admiral being killed with a Cannon Bullet and the Mareschal de Gassion a great General of France as he laid Siege to Lens was wounded and being carried to Arras there died and the Spaniards recovered many considerable Towns in Flanders and other Places as Fuens Courtray and Lens and the French Army suffered very much However the Peace held not in France for the Prince of Conde with divers others of the First Quality being grieved that Mazarine once a poor Priest and of mean Birth should play the King of France making his young Pupil Lewis XIV do what he pleased Impoverishing likewise the Kingdom by sending vast Treasures into Italy to enrich his poor Kindred insomuch that his Father who had never seen such Summs before imagined it rained Gold in France These things I say and the Insolence of that proud Priest made them take up Arms to Reform Abuses in the Government publishing their Manifesto's to justifie their Proceedings and remove the Cardinal from the Young King So that the great City of Paris declared for them resolving to defend their Interest to the utmost as did many other Towns Insomuch that the Crown was visibly at Stake nor could the Cardinal's Policy have saved it had not the Courage and prudent Conduct of the Mareschal de Turin put a stop
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
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
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
the Works and Trenches with his Weapon in his Hand and beat out the Defendents gaining the Half-Moon a second time and delivered it Monsieur de la Feuvilade whom then shame more than true Valour compelled to secure it And indeed it is conjectured by many that this strong Place had put a stop to the French Arms had not the English who bore all the brunt of the Siege done things to a wonder so that at last it surrendered upon honourable Conditions on the Thirteenth of June But the French fury like a blazing Comet having by this time spent it self and the Confederate Armies gathering like a black Tempest around them Lewis found that this had been but a kind of a Frolick to make him more known For he was not capable of Garrisoning the Towns he had possessed and keep an Army in the Field which made him spue them up as fast as he had swallowed them withdrawing his Garrisons and Abandoning them to their true Owners which occasioned a Comical Portraicture of Lewis the Great Spewing and Sh ing Towns and Castles However upon leaving those places many of them were dismantled and the Inhabitants obliged to part with almost all they had for their Contribution or Ransom at the discretion of the Soldiers King Charles II. of England by this time grown weary of a War into which he had been unadvisedly drawn and the which without any advantage to England had cost a great deal of Blood and Treasure whilst the French reaped the Profit a Peace was concluded with the States for himself on very honourable Terms So that the English Fleet being laid up the French durst be little at Sea yet at Land the War continued where the French Gold did the greater Service as indeed it has all along had the Luck to do And in this State things continued till the beginning of May 1674. Lewis XIV finding he had ingaged himself too far and that his violent Proceedings had drawn a great many Princes upon him for they found it high time to Confederate against the Disturber of Christendom some Overtures of Peace were made and a Treaty set on Foot in the City of Cologne where divers were assembled in hopes of bringing it to Perfection But upon the Emperor's seizing of the Prince of Furstemburg who worked the French Interest tho' a Subject of the Empire and ought to have done the contrary it greatly disgusted the French King and proved a Remora to this Treaty So that Hostilities continued and the Prince of Conde seized on Navaigne which after a short Siege was delivered up and the King himself laid Siege to Dole which made a stout resistence and killed him a great many Men. But not being timely succoured it at last fell into their Hands These proceedings made the Confederate Armies draw together to oppose them so that on the Fifteenth of June the Duke of Lorrain and the Count of Caprara gave Turin Battel but wanting Foot as having but One Regiment of Foot to Seven thousand Horse and hourly Expecting the Duke of Bournonville who was coming towards them the French on the other hand being Twelve thousand strong notwithstanding a desperate Fight they were forced to retire over the Necker many brave Men being killed and divers taken Prisoners The loss of the slain are held to be equal and had not the Duke wanted Foot the French had been utterly routed For he Charged with such Fury and Resolution at the Head of his Troops as if he had been weary of his Life and expected a Dukedom in another World rather than this Whilst these things passed the Dutch scoured the Seas with their Fleet the French not daring to peep abroad for now they had nothing to fear on the Ocean having made a Peace with the English Whereupon they braved the French in their Harbours and made a Descent on Bell Isle but could make no Advantage on that strong Place But the Dutch Forces at Land took the Grime a very strong Place after a hard Siege And now Lewis XIV betook him to the French Policy of tampering abroad And finding by his Agents that the Inhabitants of Messina in Sicily grew weary of the Spanish Government he encouraged them to Rebel and sent them Succours under the Command of the Duke de Vivone seizing that City and taking an Oath of Fidelity of the Inhabitants But when he had brought them to this Revolt and kept a Garrison there a very considerable Time contrary to the Expection of all Men and out of what Caprice none perhaps but himself knows to this Day he suddenly recalled his Forces leaving so many of the Inhabitants as would not leave all they had to Ship themselves and fly into France where they could rely upon no Succour to the Mercy of the Inraged Spaniards whom they had highly offended by this Revolt Nor had they above four Hours Notice Yet as many as could crowded on Board and afterward lived in Exile not daring to return King Charles II. of England having made a Peace with the States of the Vnited Provinces issued out a Proclamation on the Nineteenth of May 1675. commanding all his Subjects in the French Service as Soldiers since the Treaty of Peace to quit forthwith that Service and return Home and prohibiting any English-men to engage themselves in the like for the future which proved a great Detriment to the Progress of the French Arms as soon after appeared For the Army as not only overthrown but Turin the most Experienced General of France was slain But because this Action was very Memorable we shall not think it amiss to give a brief Account of it On the Eighteenth of July 1675 the Mareschal de Turin commanded out the Regiments of Horse of Campaigne and Orleance with Nine Squadron of Horse under the Command of the Marquess de Rone Mareschal to pass the River Renchau by the Means of Two Bridges he had laid over And being informed That the Imperialists had laid an Ambuscade on the other side he went in person to see if he could discover it from a certain Height near the Bridge When the Imperialists having planted Two small Pieces in a Wood hard by fired one of them without any considerable Execution but the secoud being Charged with Iron or Cartridge-shot put a period to Turin's Life killing likewise the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance and divers others of Quality about him though some Accounts say he was killed with a Cannon Shot However thus ended that great General who had been brought up in War as we may properly term it from his Infancy and seen many Rivers of Blood whose Death gave a great check to the French Affairs and the Army was so much discouraged that it immediately retired in some disorder when being pursued and hotly engaged by Montecuculi the Imperial General between Six and Seven thousand of them were slain and several Colours with some Cannon and Baggage taken the Count de Lorge who Commanded after the
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
c. In short is it possible continues he that a man that loves his God his Religion and his Prince could behold with dry Eyes so many Ruines as I saw in the Principality of Orange Hic Seges est ubi Troja fuit For this see the Book of this learned Man Printed at the Hague the last Year Page 61 62. Nor was it only the Buildings that suffered but the People also who for the most part as well Papists as Protestants were plundered of all they had and many of them Dragooned out of their Religion by the same barbarous Methods as were taken with his own Subjects of the Reformed Religion Lewis XIV is seldom without pretences to quarrel with his Neighbours for he has for that purpose and to exalt himself Chief Monarch of Europe set up a Chamber at Metz called the Sovereign Court before which he causes to be Cited Kings and Princes well knowing they will not appear then under pretence their Lands are Dependences or under the Claim of antient Titles or Claims for which himself can give no Reason he causes them to be condemned as forfeited And from this Court where himself is both Judge and Jury he will admit of no Appeal but proceeds to take possession by sending his Troops to quarter there and Leavy great Contributions upon the Inhabitants that so by Impoverishing them as he uses his own Subjects he may the better keep them under And by this means he adjudged part of the King of Sweeden's Terretories and seized on the Countries of the Primes of Montbelliard Pellite Pierre and divers others swallowing up Provinces like the Great Leviathan without making any Account of Rights or Justice though the time peradventure is at hand wherein he will be obliged to disgorge them with Interest His Eye has been indeed a long while up Italy soaring that way towards the Vniversal Monarchy which made him deal underhand with the Duke of Mantua for the strong Garrison of Cassel which serves as an Inlet over the Alps. Nor had Geneva escaped his Bombs had not the Swisse-Cantons fearful of their own Safety declared with much warmth to stand by that Protestant City with all their Forces The Peace being concluded with Spain Lewis XIV finding himself uneasie to be out of Action picks a Quarrel with that Nation about 500000 Crowns he pretended were to be restored for damages done in the West Indias and thereupon sent the Duke's D' Estree and Mortemer with a Squadron of Men of War to block up Cadiz and to take and destroy all such Merchants-ships and Galleys as they light on And indeed they did considerable Mischief against that Maritime Town by casting Bombs and sending Fire-ships into the Harbour Nor thought they this sufficient but they would have compelled the Dutch Men of War who were at Peace with Spain to assist them and by that Means Involved them in an open Violation of the League For the latter of the Dukes having with him Eight Sail of Men of War and happening to meet two Ships belonging to the States Commanded by Capt. Ewycke and Capt. Mevart he compelled them to Sail with him towards Cadiz However in the Night the former stood away and changed his Course upon which he was followed by the Seiur Belle Isle who being come up with him the next morning â—ired several shot at him whereupon the Dutch Captain returned him a Broad-side and began a sharp Engagement which lasted four Hours but then the Captain being killed with a Cannon shot as likewise a great many of the Men killed and more French Ships appearing in sight they sent on board the French to let them know they would make no longer Resistence This open Violation being highly resented by the Sates General Monsieur D' Avaux the French Ambassador at the Hague put in a dissembling Memorial to excuse it in which he complained That Captain Ewyeke had given the Duke his Word to go with him to Cadiz but changing his Course by Night he gave ground to suspect his Intentions and that the Sieur Belle Isle following him and he finding himself alone with one of his most Christian Majesty's Ships put out his Cannon and came with all the Sail he could upon the French man who sired three shot one after another as a Signal that he should not advance any farther to which the Hollander returned a whole Broad-side of 25 peices of Cannon whereupon the sight began That the Dutch Captain being killed the other Officers sent on board the Sieur D' Belle Isle to let him know that they would make good the Word of their Captain That the Sieur received the Messenger very kindly and after having Lamented the Loss of the Dutch Captain a very brave Man sent him back and gave them time till the Evening to repair their Ship of which the French had not less need having fourteen Men killed and six wounded And so he goes on to salve up the matter by endeavouring to make the Dutch Captain the Aggressor The Damage the French King did the Spaniards at Sea and upon their Coast were received but trivial by the King and therefore contrary to Oath and Promise he caused all the Spaniards Estates and Effects in the New Conquests to be seized so that after some Debates the Court of Spain found it self under a Necessity of complying with his peremptory Demands and thereupon the Marquess de Los Balbaces obliged himself to pay the 500000 Crowns at one entire Payment so soon as the Spanish Plate Fleet arrived and this Agreement was taken by the French as satisfaction yet it proved not so for the Men of War being yet Abroad took after a long and desperate Fight two of their Galleys which Monsieur D' Avaux undertook likewise to excuse by another Memorial to the State viz. That the Sieur Forran that had commanded a Squadron of his Most Christian Majesty's Ships not knowing of the Agreement and Accommodation concluded by the French Ambassadors at Madrid concerning the Five hundred thousand Crowns had met on the Coast of Biscay two Spanish Galleyoons mounted each with Sixty four Guns sailing towards Cadiz and that endeavouring to hinder them from going thither according to his first Orders there ensued a very obstinate Fight between them which lasted a Day and an half when two Ships of the same Squadron coming in and joining with the Sieur Forran the Galleyoons yielded and were carried into Rochell That his Most Christian Majesty having received certain Advice thereof had sent Orders for the discharging the said Galleyoons and had commanded him to tell the States that this Accident should not make any alteration in the Accommodation That the Count Stirum their Admiral being present at the end of the Fight and having answered the Sieur Forran who sent to him to know whether he would assist the Spaniards that he had no Orders to intermeddle with this Disserence and retiring thereupon after he had saluted the French Ships his Most
much already declared in effect by France against England that it is not so properly an Act of Choice as an inevitable Necessity in our own Defence I shall only tell you That as I have ventured my Life and all that is dear to me to rescue this Nation from what it suffered I am still ready to do the same in order to preserve it from all its Enemies And as I do not doubt of such an Assistance from you as shall be suitable to your Advice to me to declare War against a Powerful Enemy so you may relie upon me that no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with Suucceâ—â— shall be diverted by me to any other Use The Confederate Armies by this Time began to draw together which made Lewis XIV hasten his Troops and form Two Armies under the Commands of the Duke of Duras and Mareschal d' Humiers Whereupon the Governour-General of the Spanish Netherlands caused a Declaration of War to be published against France wherein after he had set forth the Cruelty and Injustice of the French King as the others had done he forbids all Commerce c. Upon which Lewis XIV caused his Declaration of War to be proclaimed against Spain at Marseilles viz on the 29th of April and proceeded to fill all the Towns of the Palatinate that were not reduced to Ashes with his Soldiers as foreseeing the Storm that threatned from so many Quarters of Europe and that such Protestants as were willing to avoid his cruel Usage and Extortions might have Encouragement to leave the Kingdom of France their Majesties of Great Britain put forth a Proclamation bearing Date the 25th of April for the Encouraging the French Protestants to Transport themselves into this Kingdom another Prohibiting the Importation of all Sorts of Manufactures and Commodities whatsoever of the Growth Production or Manufacture of France And on the 7th of May a Declaration of War was Signed and afterwards Published setting forth The perfidious Dealing of the French King as well in Europe as in Africa against the Subjects of England c. And whilst these things were doing News came from the Coast of Ireland that the English Admiral with a Squadron of the King of Britains Ships had engaged and worsted Forty four Sail of the French being double the number of the English as they were attempting to land Men and Arms in that Kingdom And to shew the French a farther Proof of our Naval Courage the None-Such a small Fourth Rate Frigat oâ— 36 Guns meeting off of Guernsey with two French Men of War one of 30 Guns and 120 Men the other of 16 Guns 6 Pettereroes and 120 Men who were bound with about Twenty small Merchant Ships under their Convoy to Newfoundland the English Man of War engaged them but in the beginning of the Fight the Captain was killed with the Master and Cook and the Carpenter wounded upon which there being no Lieutenant on Board the Boatswain took upon him the Command of the Ship and continued the Fight with that Bravery that after a sharp Engagement of three Hours he took both the French Men of War and brought them into Plymouth During these Transactions Rhinburgh that had been Garrisoned with French Troops by Cardinal Furstemburgh surrendered to the Confederates and Keyserwaert was blocked up The French continued to fortifie Mentz pulling dowâ— Streets of Building for their better conveniencâ— on that Occasion Yet so far either Passion oâ— Fear had wrought in Lewis XIV that he was taken on the 30th of May with an extraordinary Fiâ— of an Ague which held him for nine or ten Hours which made him fly to his old Refuge of taking the Jesuits Powder as well as their Counsels thâ— latter having ever been fatal to Christendom And as if the French King had wanted Torcheâ— or Bonefires for Joy of his Recovery his Troops not satisfied with the Execrable Barbarities they had committed in the Palatinate and other Places proceeded in the later end of May to lay in Asheâ— the famous Towns of Oppenheim Worms and Spire in the latter whereof the Imperial-Chamber had a long time been kept not leaving so much as a House standing But a party of the Garrison of Bonne attempting to do the like to the Village of Hauff the Country People took Arms and falling upon them killed about sixty of their Number putting the rest to flight and likewise several Parties of French Foragers and such as were sent to make Incursions into the Countries that neighboured on their Garrison were frequently defeated And now the Most Christian King finding himself hard beset sought to cajole the Algerine Pirates to make a Peace with him and fall upon the Confederates Merchants at Sea although they had a little before so sensibly affronted him as to shoot off his Consul c. and notwithstanding any Proposal they would not hearken to any Treaty unless he would redeem the French Captives to the Number of 800 which he had demanded without any Ransom And when his Agent perceived this would not take he proposed a Truce but that likewise was rejected by the Algerines On the Ninth of June the Marquess Choiseul passed the Rhine at Hunningen with 4000 French Horse and Dragoons and entered the Country of Durlach declaring That he came only to Forage promising not to molest any that should remain quiet in their Houses which the Country People relying on thought they had nothing to fear but they quickly found the little regard the French have to their Word For no sooner had they posted themselves in the Places they designed but the Country was given up to the Discretion of the Soldiers who committed the most outrageous Insolencies and Violencies that can be imagined So that many of the poor People being plundered of all they had and their persons abused were driven before the Soldiers like Sheep or Oxon towards Friburgh and Brisac A few indeed escaped to the Black Forrest where several of them perished for Want whilst the French were cutting up their Corn and destroying the whole Country During these Proceedings Lewis XIV caused his Declaration of War against England and Scotland to be published at Paris viz. on the 28th of June commanding his Fleet to put again to Sea proposing great things to his Advantage But as yet his Expections have been frustrated The Town of Keyserwaert being formally Besieged and closely pressed by the Brandenburgh Forces the Duke being before it in person on the 25th of June Monsieur Marcognet the Governour Capitulated upon Notice the German Soldiers in Garrison were inclined to make Conditions for themselves without him and a Parly being beat the Capitulation was Signed the next Morning by which it was agreed That one of the Gates should be immediately delivered up that the French Officers and Soldiers should march out the Day following with Arms and Baggage c. and be Conducted to Luxemburgh but that the Germans should be at Liberty to go