Majesty as a faithful Prince of the Empire II. That he will never Act hut in Conjunction with his Imperial Majesty or some other of the Allies III. That he will always employ his Forces against France or its Adherents On the other Part the Abbot Grimani in the Name of His Imperial Majesty and the Empire promises I. That his Imperial Majesty will not enter into any Truce or Treaty of Peace with France without his Royal Highness's being therein comprised II. That the Emperour will so manage Matters that the Governour of Milan shall always employ his Forces to preserve the Dominions of his Royal Highness As likewise That the Spanish Fleet shall endeavour to secure the Town and County of Nice III. That his Imperial Majesty will forthwith send 6000 of his best Troops to be join'd with those of his Royal Highness and which his said Imperial Majesty engages to maintain without expecting they should have their Winter-Quarters in Piedmont IV. That his Imperial Majesty will use all his Endeavours to cause the Vaudois French Refugies and the 8000 Men which the Marquess of Borgomainero Embassador from Spain had promis'd should go to Piedmont should join the Troops of his Royal Highness the Emperor and Governor of Milan consenting he might make use of 'em at his pleasure V. That the Emperor and his Allies would endeavour to repossess his Royal Highness either by Force or Treaty of Pignerol without any Pretence upon Montferrat for so doing his Imperial Majesty being willing to renounce all Title thereunto the ancient Treaties notwithstanding VI. And lastly His Imperial Majesty will pretend no Right to any Conquest on that fide of France but gives full liberty to his Royal Highness and the Governour of Milan to agree between 'em about it This Treaty was Sign'd the Fourth of June 1690 and the Abbot Grimani promis'd to get it Ratifi'd from Vienna in a Month. We may observe by the first Article That his Royal Highness promises and agrees by a solemn Oath not to enter into any Treaty either of Peace or Truce with the Most Christian King without the Emperor 's Conlent but to remain always under a good Correspondence with his Imperial Majesty as a faithful Prince of the Empire But where is now the Performance of this solemn Promise What is become of all these serious Engagements which ought to have been so Sacred and Inviolable Have not they been lately dispens'd with by an unheard-of Baseness It must be acknowledg'd that by this Conduct his Royal Highness has unpardonably affronted the Emperor abus'd the most Serene Allies and moreover been the greatest of Enemies to himself by sacrificing both his Dominions and his Liberty to the deceitful Promises of France by which means he will not fail to incur the severest Indignation of so many Potent Princes he has betray'd and from whom he has receiv'd so many repeated Obligations By the second Article his Royal Highness promises to act altogether in Conjunction with the Emperor and the other Allies But we can be confident here by convincing Proofs which we shall make appear more at large hereafter that his Royal Highness has had several secret Intelligences with Frame throughout the whole Course of this War and that he has been so far from acting in conjunction with the most Serene Allies according to his solemn Promise that he has all along under-hand favour'd the Enterprizes of the French King and therein his Conduct has been the more faulty as he has always endeavour'd to approve his Sincerity and Good-will by his Envoys and other Ministers but which we are now sensible had no other Aim than to get out of us the Drift of our Designs which he forthwith sent to France This has been the Occasion in a great measure that the Arms of the most Serene Allies have made so little Progress in Flanders Germany and elsewhere because the French King being inform'd of all our Proceedings took his Measures and made his Advances accordingly insomuch that his Forces were almost always superiour in Number to ours which baffl'd our Designs either to Besiege any Place or give Battel And if the glorious Undertaking of the Siege of Namur succeded so well we may ascribe it chiefly to the Duke of Savoy's knowing nothing of it being manag'd wholly by the King of England with so great Circumspection and Prudence that that Action alone deceiv'd the Vigilance of France The Conduce of his Royal Highness during these late Years has been so little conformable to an honest Meaning that in full Congress many Ministers of the Allies have been oblig'd to reproach his Envoy Monsieur de la Tour That his Master did not proceed according to Justice But this Envoy being a Man of Parts and able to defend his Prince's Proceedings had always an Excuse ready at hand so that whilst he fed the Court of England and die other Allies with his Master 's mighty Projects his Royal Highness by a secret Correspondence did his Business with France and moreover drain'd great Sums of Money from both Parties Understanding Men daily observ'd That this Credulity of ours would be no small Obstacle to a General Peace which we nevertheless pretend to force France to a Compliance with But the End has shewn that the Italians are better Proficients in the Art of Deceiving than others and that sooner or later we always repent placing too much Confidence in those People The third Article provides That his Royal Highness shall always employ his Forces against France or its Adherents together with those of the Allies But this Article will appear to have been no less violated on the Part of his Royal Highness than the former For those that Commanded the Auxiliary Troops in Italy being Men of nice Discernment and distinguish'd Merit having made it their Business to pry into the Conduct and Proceedings of this Prince have been Eye-witnesses of all his Intelligences with Monsieur Catinat and have acquainted us That his Royal Highness was so far from acting in Conjunction with the most Serene Allies that he apparently made it his Business to spare his own Troops and to expose those of the Confederates to the greateft Dangers For in one Battel his Royal Highness's Generals having private Intelligence with the French delay'd till they were ready to pour down upon the Imperialists and Protestants with their superior Numbers whilst the Savoyards only look'd on or else betaking themselves to flight abandon'd the English Troops to the Mercy of their Enemies The like Practice has been generally observ'd in all the Skirmishes or Battels in Italy insomuch that by these fatal Treacherries several brave and experienc'd Generals of the Allies have been inhumanely butcher'd without Savoy's taking any care to remedy an Abuse that was the ruine of those that were only capable to make head against Frame and secure his Royal Highness s Dominions After having spoken of the Engagements the Duke of Savoy had with the Emperor and which ought
MEMOIRES OF THE Transactions IN SAVOY During This WAR WHEREIN The Duke of SAVOY's Foul Play with the ALLIES and His Secret Correspondence with the French King are fully detected and demonstrated by Authentick Proofs and Undeniable Matter of Fact WITH Remarks upon the Separate Treaty of Savoy with France and the Present Posture of Affairs with Relation to a General Peace Fas mihi Sabbaudi scelerata resolvere jura Fas odisse virum atque omnia ferre sub auras Made English from the Original LONDON Printed for M. Gilliflower W. Freeman M. Wotton J. Waltho and R. Parker 1697. TO THE Right Honourable Charles Lord Spencer My Lord AMbition the darling Infirmity of all Mankind but more especially of Writers has naturally put me upon this bold Attempt of addressing this little Piece to Your Lordship to the end that whatever the Performance is my Aim at least might be Commendable This Motive has brought upon Your Lordship a Trouble which will undoubtedly be follow'd by many others yet still it is my peculiar Happiness of which I am not a little proud to be the First that pay an early Tribute to Blooming Vertue Nevertheless to check my Vanity it is also my Misfortune that not having wherewithal of my own Growth I am forc'd to tender the Product of a Foreign Country Translators are as it were the Nurses of anothers Issue and like Them generally contract from their Care a sort of Habitual Tenderness next to Natural Yet even this almost Invincible Prejudice can't so far prevail upon me as to make me presume to give any Character of our Author to Your Lordship who are so much Superiour to me in Things of this High Importance Those that move in my low Sphere are too remote to judge of Objects elevated so high above us For Matters of the State have as great a Paralax to our View as those of the Heavens My Lord You being Heir Apparent as well to the Wisdom and Vertues as Estate and Honour of the Ablest Statesman in Europe are better situated for such Discoveries and herein Nature has been kinder to Your Lordship than Fortune tho' both have not been a little Indulgent Dignities and Wealth are seldom Companions to good Sense But we find them all happily reconcil'd in Your Lordship tho' at the same time we cannot but allow the Preeminence to Your Judgment This My Lord entitles You to judge of this Author's Reflections and the Advantages You have of a nearer Inspection into the secret Springs and Movements of the Affairs he treats of enable Your Lordship either to confirm his Truth or convict him of Vnsincerity This was another Reason My Lord why I referr'd him to receive his Doom from Your Lordship either to stand or fall as You approve or disallow From Your Definitive Sentence there can lie no Appeal since Nature Art and Fortune have all conspir'd to qualifie You with Great Parts Learning and Opportunity which render Your Authority unquestionable My own Performance I only submit to Your Lordships Candour and Goodness the rest of Your Noble Qualifications being Enemies to such weak Endeavours Yet I hope Your Lordships Pardon for my Presumption as well as Failings since they only flow from an irresistible Ambition to publish to the World how much I am My Lord Your Lordships most Humble Obedient and Devoted Servant JOHN SAVAGE â—OOKS lately Printed for M. Gillyflower in Westminster-Hall W. Freeman M. Wotton in Fleetstreet J. Waltho in the Temple and R. Parker under the Piazza of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill THE Compleat Horseman Discovering the surest Marks of the Beauty Goodness and Vices of Horses and describing the Signs and Causes of their Diseases and the true Method both of their Preservation and Cure With Reflections upon the Irregular and Preposterous Use of Bleeding and Purging Together with the Art of Shooing and a Description of several Kinds of Shoes adapted to the various Defects of Bad Feet and for the Preservation of those that are Good and the Best Method of Breeding Colts with Directions to be observ'd in Backing 'em and Making their Mouths c. By the Sieur de Solleyfell one of the Heads of the Royal Academy at Paris The Eighth Edition review'd and methodically augmented Done into English and adorn'd with Figures Folio The Compleat Surgeon or The whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method Containing an exact Account of its Principles and several Parts viz. Of the Bones Muscles Tumours Ulcers and Wounds simple and complicated or those by Gun-shot as also of Venereal Diseases the Scurvy Fractures Luxations and all sorts of Chirurgical Operations together with their proper Bandages and Dressings To which is added A Chirurgical Dispensatory shewing the Manner how to prepare all such Medicines as are most necessary for a Surgeon and particularly the Mercurial Panacaea Written in French by M. le Clerc Physician in Ordinary and Privy-Counsellor to the French King and faithfully translated into English The Art of Preserving and Restoring Health Explaining the Nature and Causes of the Distempers that afflict Mankind Also shewing That every Man is or may be his own best Physician To which is added A Treatise of the most Simple and Effectual Remedies for the Diseases of Men and Women Written in French by M. Flamâ—nd M. D. and faithfully translated into English The Roman History from the Building of the City to the perfect Settlement of the Empire by Augustus Caesar Containing the Space of 727 Years Design'd as well for the understanding of the Roman Authors as the Roman Affairs The Second Edition carefully revis'd and much improv'd By Laurence Echard A. M. of Christ's-College in Cambridge A New Voyage to the Levant Containing an Account of the most Remarkable Curiosities in Germany France Italy Malta and Turkey With Historical Observations relating to the Present and Ancient State of those Countries By the Sieur du Mont. Done into English and adorn'd with Figures Now in the Press and will be speedily Publish'd OF Wisdom Three Books Written Originally in French by the Sieur de Charron With an Account of the Author Made English by Mr. Stanhope late Fellow of King's-College in Cambridge from the best Edition corrected and enlarged by the Author a little before his Death A New Journey thro a Vast Countrey lately discover'd extending above Four thousand Miles between New France and New Mexico in America With a Description of the Great Lakes Cataracts Rivers Plants Animals with the Manners Customs and Languages of the several Native Indians and the Advatages of Commerce with those different Nations which are thought to reach to the South Seas The whole illustrated with a Map of the Countrey and Figures and Dedicated to His Majesty King William By M. Hennapin now Resident in Holland MEMOIRES OF THE TRANSACTIONS IN SAVOY WHen a Man seriously considers upon what Motives Victor Amedeus II. Duke of Savoy embrac'd the Interest of the most Serene Allies and entred into a Confederacy with so
Relapse of his Illness by the Small-Pox of which 't is certain he was perfectly well in eight Days intending this suppos'd Indisposition to be an Excuse for his Retreat when he might have taken Grenoble the Capital City of Dauphinè and thence proceeded with his victorious Arms as far as Lyons and at the same time made so considerable a Diversion that it would have been easie for the Allies to have taken some important Place or at least to have enter'd that Kingdom either by way of Flanders the Franche Comte or County of Luxembourg The most considerable Officers in our Army under the Command of Count Schomberg assure us unanimously that this was the only Opportunity to have brought France to reasonable Terms provided the Duke of Savoy had but done his Part. This Campagne would have forc'd the French King to whatever Conditions we could have desir'd and moreover might have produc'd an honourable and lasting Peace He was like to be attack'd then on his weak Side and that Army might have march'd into the very Heart of his Kingdom without his being able to oppose 'em in the least unless he would have expos'd the other Side which would have been but the same thing But we find the Duke of Savoy thought fit to stop their Proceedings by several Policies one of which was by suffering the poor Protestants under the Command of Count Schomberg to perish with Hunger the Remainder of which were forc'd to disperse in search of Sustenance having not seen a morsel of Bread for eight days together Thus we may see that those who have always assur'd us that the Duke of Savoy shuffl'd with the Allies spoke true as we have since found by experience But what is more remarkable is that this Prince notwithstanding the many juggling Parts he has plaid yet pretends to have done the League many considerable Services These his Ministers endeavour to explain by perswading us that their Master 's chief Aim was all along a General Peace But after all has been said I leave to any rational Man to judge if the Allies would do prudently to depend any farther upon such a Mediator But let us proceed to what follows that we may know what they and their Master were able to do had they been but rightly dispos'd We have just now observ'd That his Royal Highness found means to stop the Progress of the Arms of the Allies but we forgot to add how he manag'd his own Troops and those of the Emperour commanded by his Generals who acted all along in Confederacy with Catinat in a Pare repugnant to all the Rules of good Policy and which was extremely exclaim'd against by Mareschal Schomberg but to no purpose This was to lay all in Blood and Ashes and make more Ravage and Havock in less than three Months than the Tartars and Turks do in many Campagns together by their Incursions This Conduct of his was directly contrary to that of Count Schomberg whose Method was to conquer rather by Goodness and Clemency than Rigour and Cruelty by which means he drew to his Army an infinite number of People from all Provinces of France and might have perform'd something very considerable had they not been basely prevented But here the Protestants not being able to conceive the Duke enter'd France out of any kindness to them when they saw him burn their Houses and plunder their Goods by which he reduc'd 'em all to Beggary and Misery soon forsook his Army joyn'd the Militia against him and from Friends became irreconcilable Enemies to the Allies Another Practice of the Duke 's upon the like Occasion broke all the Measures of Monsieur Schomberg which was to march towards the Rhone and approach the Sevenes with design to fortifie himself there all the Winter and by those means kindle an an intestine War which would infallibly have been fatal to France This Affair was concerted with a great deal of Prudence and afterwards put in practise one would think with as much Caution tho' it prov'd quite to the contrary For Monsieur Schomberg having sent several Officers disguis'd like Peasants among the Malecontents got a Promise from 'em That they would rife the first opportunity which Secret he immediately entrusted to the Duke of Savoy who almost as soon reveal'd it to the Court of France so that when it was expected the Protestants should be up in Arms they were all of a sudden clapp'd up and secur'd and this by reason his Royal Highness had sent their Names to the French King Monsieur Chanlais was at the Court of Turin with no other Design than to penetrate into those of the Allies which his Royal Highness communicated to him And when Complaints were made to that Prince for suffering such a suspected Man near him he answer'd That he was sent from the French King to make him Proposals towards an Accommodation which he had always rejected as injurious to his Honour and the sincere desire he ever had to remain strictly united to the most Serene Allies and by this Sham he eluded the just Suspicions that were entertain'd of his foul Play In fine his Highness was so indifferent about the Design of penetrating into the Heart of France that Count Schomberg and the Officers of his Party did openly complain of it But his Highness had a mind to sacrifice is it were out of a Frolick the Interest of the Allies and was well enough pleas'd provided he might follow the Directions of the Court of France that being all the Advantage he aim'd at in this great Expedition since which things always went worse and worse When the Allies entred Dauphine and possest themselves of Guillistre they made there 2500 Irishmen Prisoners What did his Highness do with them He sent them to Piedmont and a great part of them made their escape by the way thro' his own Orders and return'd into France The rest of them were sent to the Blockade before Casal All the World knows what care France had taken to send Provisions into that Place which was reduc'd to great Straits for want of them The Irish being now before Casal and the General that commanded the Blockade being a good Savoyard he suffer'd them to go into the Place according to the secret Orders he had from his Highness so that France got still some Advantage by her seeming Losses At the Surrender of Casal it was articl'd That all the Cannon should be carried away This was put in execution But what did his Highness do with it He remov'd it from Casal to send it to Pignerol Several Pieces of that Artillery having been stopt by the Confederate Troops who saw them file off towards Pignerol his Highness sent presently Orders to let them go and by night those Pieces were carried to a certain Post within three Hours March of Pignerol where the French came to fetch them Moreover the Generals of the Auxiliary Troops knew very well that the Siege of Casal was never undertaken with
Prince and his Ministers But the French King little cares how much he gives so he may compass his Ends and gratifie his Ambition That Monarch express'd his Thoughts very plainly about that Matter For being one day at dinner when News was brought him that the Treaty was at last concluded with the Duke of Savoy he said before all the Company That the Peace of Italy had cost him dear but he was sure a general Peace would make him amends for all the Sums he had disburs'd These Words need neither Explanation nor Comment therefore let 's return to our Subject When the Duke of Savoy declar'd for the Allies against France he hop'd to reap by it an Advantage no less considerable than all the rest since it nearly concerns his Honour and private Interest For since the Death of his Predecessor Charles Emanuel II. he had liv'd an obscure retir'd Life that little became a Sovereign Prince who takes Place among Crown'd Heads altho' his Revenues be in no manner answerable to that high Dignity Therefore it was now high time for him to make himself talk'd of in the World to illustrate his Reign by some great Action and eternize his Memory by some surprizing Event His Temper and Inclinations did naturally lead him to it For to give every one his Due he is a Man of Courage and wants nothing that can make a great Warrior All these Reasons prompted him to take upon him that Part which we have seen him act ever since the beginning of the War By this means he design'd to make his Friendship and Alliance courted by all the Princes in Europe and become as it were the Umpire and Arbitrator of the General Peace Another thing which the Duke of Savoy aim'd at was to lay such great Obligations upon France at a Juncture when she was expos'd to a World of Enemies that had conspir'd her Ruin as would engage the French King not to treat him as a Pety Prince as he did before and to have more Regard and Esteem for him for the future As for the French King besides the Advantages he design'd to draw from his Royal Highness's Secret Alliance which was to bring the Confederates to a General Peace he has still had another Artifice in prospect which neither the Duke nor his Council ever thought of and which will prove fatal to his Dominions and Liberty For by engaging him to side with the Allies and betray them afterwards he draws upon him their irreconcilable Hatred And the Confederates have all the Reason in the World to treat him for the future as an ambidextrous Shuffler and refuse him their Assistance when France after a Peace is concluded shall go to strip him of his Dominions as she did the Duke of Lorrain and several other Princes who had done her almost the like Services It is not the first time that the Dukes of Savoy have lost their Dominions as appears by the Quarrels which Charles Emanuel Grandfather to his Royal Highness had with King Henry III. and Henry IV. of France Henry III. being in War against a powerful League Charles Emanuel did much the same as Victor Amedeus his Successor has done in our Days Me entertain'd great Hopes of enlarging his Fortune if he should improve that Opportunity to declare himself against France and accordingly in the Year 1588 he joyn'd his Arms to those of the Enemies of Henry III. and having formed a powerful Party of which he made himself Chief he entred Provence surpriz'd the Cities of Marseilles and Arles and was so puff'd up with these Successes that he coin'd a Medal to eternize his Memory where he was represented under the Emblem of a Centaurus trampling upon a Crown with this Motto OPPORTUNE Seasonably meaning that he could not have a more seasonable Opportunity to humble France He paid dear for this Bravado for in the Year 1600 Henry IV. having pacify'd the Troubles and Commotions that distracted France and had given Occasion to Charles Emanuel to form great Designs against that Crown resolv'd to be reveng'd of him and having bent the Stress of the War towards Italy made himself Master of the greatest Part of Savoy and Piedmont And to be even with the Duke he coin'd a Medal where he was seen in the Figure of Hercules beating down with his Club the proud Centaurus with this Latin Motto OPPORTUNIUS that is More Seasonably and Successfully After the Conquest of Savoy and Piedmont Henry IV. at the Entreaty of Pope Clement VIII was at last prevail'd upon to be reconcil'd with the distress'd Duke tho' it was the Opinion of all the Politicians of those Times that Henry IV. ought to have kept Savoy and Piedmont both to chastize the inconsiderate Rashness of that Prince and have a free and open Way to enter Italy whenever he pleas'd This is the Advice that Cardinal d'Ossat one of the greatest Statesmen in those Days gave Henry IV. But upon this Occasion that Monarch shew'd more Generosity than Policy and restor'd Charles Emanuel to all his Dominions One might now very well ask Victor Amedeus II. who broke with France in a Conjuncture of time much like that when Charles Emanuel declar'd himself against Henry III. that is when all Europe arm'd against her and attack'd her on the four Corners of the Kingdom One might I say ask that Prince who is now at last reconcil'd with the French King through the Mediation of the Pope and the other Princes of Italy what Security France gives him to put his Dominions out of Danger Will not the French King after a general Peace is concluded have the fairest Opportunity in the World to strip him of them Shall he want Pretences for that Purpose And is not the Duke of Savoy's Conduct at the first Breaking out of the War of Italy a sufficient one since he alone has carried the Fire-brand of War into France by the Irruption into Dauphine All these Proceedings will furnish new Matter of Discord and Division which in time will kindle a greater Fire and revive the old Pretensions of the French King to the Dukedom of Savoy Principality of Piedmont and County of Nice Savoy was annex'd to the Crown of France about twelve hundred Years ago This happen'd in the Reign of King Clovis who got it by way of Conquest from Gundebald King of Burgundy because this Prince had embrac'd the Party of Alaric King of the Goths who wag'd War against France Clovis incens'd against Gundebald turn'd him out of his Dominions and reduc'd him to live on a small Pension the rest of his Life This unfortunate Prince being dead his Dominions fell for ever to the Crown of France by the Decease of Clotildis Sister to Gundebald and Wife to Clovis to whom they belong'd by Legal Right after her Brother's Death So that this Princess dying without Issue they were appropriated to the Crown of France although Savoy had several times been given by way of Appenage to the second and
third Sons till the Emperour Charles the Bald presented Bozon Count of Arles with the ancient Kingdom of Burgundy to which he joyn'd Savoy to be holden for ever by by Fealty and Homage from the Emperour of Germany The Kingom of Arles was of no long Duration and had but four or five Kings the last of which named Rodolphus being dead without Issue Humbert of Morienne who then was Governour of Savoy was vested with it by the Emperour Conradus the Salick He was succeeded by Amedeus his Son from whom is deriv'd the present Family of Savoy which is the more illustrious and ancient because Humbert was descended from the Dukes of Saxony However the Crown of France maintains now-a-days that the vesting of those Dominions had no legal Foundation First because the Empire ought to return hereditarily to the House of France after the Decease of Charles the Burley the last Emperour of the Carlovingian Race upon whom Conradus the Salick had usurp'd it Besides this France produces another Title to Savoy which is that it was annex'd to it a long time before the Erection of the Empire and therefore ought now to be accounted a part of its Demesnes To all these Claims to Savoy France adds still a new one which is deriv'd from Louise of Savoy Mother to Francis I. King of France and Daughter to Philip VII Duke of Savoy who at his Marriage with Margaret of Bourbon had stipulated that their Children should succeed one another in the Dutchy and all its Dependencies Philip had two Children by Margaret viz. Philibert and Louise Philibert being dead Louise his Sister claim'd the Succession but because there was still two Male-Children by a second Marriage viz. Charles and the Duke of Nemours who by the Prerogative of their Sex set up their Title to the Dutchy Louise was postpon'd and Charles made himself Master of Savoy with the Consent of the States of the Country After all these several intestine Quarrels Savoy was again disturbed by the War Francis I. made in Italy This Prince having entred that Dutchy with a formidable Army reduc'd it to his Obedience in a very little time The Conquest of the Principality of Piedmont and County of Nice soon follow'd that of Savoy all which cost Francis I. but one Campagn By this means Charles was entirely dispossess'd of his Dominions and had not one Foot of Ground left him Francis I. and Henry II. his Successor were Masters of them for about twenty four Years that is till the Peace of Chateau in Cambresis was concluded in 1559 whereby King Henry yielded to Spain above 400 Towns and 198 Garison'd Fortresses among which were compris'd all those of Savoy and Piedmont except Turin Viniers Villeneuve Ast Chevas and Pignerol which Charles IX and Henry III. at last restored to the Duke However as it is most certain that the French King never stints his Pretensions nor regards the Treaties made by his Predecessors he will be sure to revive in due time the Title he has to Savoy which is like to be as soon as a general Peace is concluded So that the present Duke of Savoy may be said to be like those that are born to be unhappy For he never moves a Step to favour the Designs of France but he draws towards the Brink of a Precipice Several Reasons engage the French King to set up anew his Title to Savoy as soon as a general Peace is concluded First or all the new Right he gets by the Marriage of the young Dutchess of Savoy the Duke's eldest Daughter with the Duke of Burgundy because in case the Issue Male fail that Princess becomes presumptive Heir of all the Dominions of Victor Amedeus II. her Father And 't is certain the Court of France did much depend upon that although its Ministers have endeavour'd to give another Turn to the Eagerness the French King has shew'd in courting the Duke 'T is a Truth acknowledg'd by all Politicians that the chief way the French King has us'd to enlarge his Dominions has always been by Marriages since he seldom or never concluded a Treaty of Peace but he had a Prince or a Princess of the Blood to bestow upon his Enemies in order to make them subservient to his Designs But as soon as the Deferences and Respects usually paid to new-married People are over France always speaks to another Tune and will have her own at any rate So that the Duke of Savoy may take his Measures accordingly And I will be a false Prophet if the Match he has lately concluded with the Duke of Burgundy do not prove fatal to his Liberty and the Tranquillity of his Dominions The second Reason that will induce the French King to pick a Quarrel with the Duke of Savoy is that he never forgives Injuries that are offer'd him and if he seems now to court and flatter him 't is only to draw him the better to the Trap he lays for him 'T is certain the French King will never pardon his declaring himself against him and taking up Arms to favour the Designs of his Enemies And the first Business of this Monarch's Revenge will be to enslave him All the Submissions his Royal Highness will then use such as to go to France in Person as did the Doge of Genoa some Years ago to express his Sorrow for embracing the Confederacy all these respectful Steps I say will serve but to encrease the Contempt France has for a Prince that can do her no Hurt The third Motive that will engage France not to have any regard for the Duke of Savoy after the Conclusion of a general Peace is the great Passion she ever had to have no other Boundaries than the Alps on the Side of Italy Therefore we ought to look upon the Restitution of the important Place and Fortress of Pignerol as a fallacious Chimera and a Decoy of the French King 's to bring the Duke of Savoy to a Negotiation of Peace well knowing that this Prince being once disarm'd and depriv'd of all the Supplies of the Confederates it will bean easie matter to make him submit to what Terms he pleases So that his Highness's Safety did entirely depend upon the Support of the Confederate Princes Having briefly related the several Claims of the French King to Savoy and the several Motives which will infallibly induce him to revive them as soon as he is rid of all his Enemies we shall now speak to the Wrong his Royal Highness has done the Allies after they have been so kind to him as to share with him the Honour of bringing to reasonable Terms a Monarch who from the beginning of his Reign has meditated the Slavery of all Europe But what makes the Duke of Savoy's Conduct the more inexcusable is that by undoing himself he had a mind to involve all the Confederates in the same Ruin and blast as it were in one Moment ail the Fruits that were to be gathered from nine Campaigns which
have cost the Allied Princes the Blood of their most faithful Subjects and their own Toils and Labours not to mention the vast Treasure that has been spent to maintain and carry on the War The Duke of Savoy's late Conduct in putting himself at the Head of a French Army to hasten the Reduction of Valence which had been follow'd by the entire Conquest of the Milanese is but too plain a Proof of what he aims at and of the secret Correspondence he has had all along with France in order to betray the Allies To which may be added his being so busie in hastening the Emperour and King of Spain to accept of a Neutrality without giving the Negotiaâ—â—â—s Time to consider of and examine so important an Affair so that his only end was to force all the Allies to agree to the general Peace which France courts with so much Impatience and which she had never brought about if it had not been for Duke of Savoy 'T is upon that Account that the French King has had so much regard for the Court of Turin because he had been long acquainted with the Genius and weak Side of his Royal Highness which is to be entirely governed by Interest Therefore we must not wonder if the Gold of France has been more powerful with the Duke of Savoy than the Honour he would have got by standing it out at a Juncture of Affairs which would infallibly have ruin'd France and procur'd great Advantages to all the Confederates not to speak of a solid and lasting Peace that would have ensued I do not doubt but the French King's Intrigues have been favour'd upon this Occasion by the unanimous Concurrence of the Princes of Italy The War in that Country fill'd them with Fears and Jealousies and kept 'em extremely subject by reason of the Contributions they were oblig'd to pay to the Auxiliary Troops This Constraint and the other Disorders which are the inseparable Attendants of War have engag'd 'em to join their Instances with the earnest Endeavours of the French King and all together have undoubtedly much contributed to make the Duke of Savoy take a course so directly opposite to his Interest His Royal Highness's Ministers do openly complain that the Confederates have not perform'd what they promis'd to the Duke their Master That he wanted Men and Money at a time when his Dominions lay expos'd as a Prey to a powerful Army incamp'd at the Gates of Turin with full Resolution to bombard it if the Duke did not presently accept of the French King's Offers That his Highness having consider'd the imminent Danger of losing all in one Moment was forc'd to prefer the Repose and Safety of his People to all the private Advantages he might have got by making a longer Resistance which amount to no more than the Honour of not forsaking a Party whose Interest it was to prolong the War thereby to force the French King to make more advantagious Offers than those he had already made And that in this case his Highness wrongs himself more than the Confederates To this we answer That the Allies are very well inform'd of the true Motives that have prevail'd with his Highness upon this Occasion since all the Intrigue was juggl'd with the French King at our Lady of Loretto's This pious Journy of the Court of Turin was only design'd to draw the Preliminaries of a Treaty which his Highness his Ministers have been so careful of keeping secret from the Allies 'T is well known that his Highness thro' the Mediation of the Pope's Nuntio and some Princes of Italy enter'd into Articles with France and agreed with the French King 's Plenipotentiaries upon all the Steps he was to make to cheat the Confederates According to this Project the French King promis'd to reinforce considerably his Army in Italy to give Orders to Monsieur Catinat to be early in the Field and prevent thereby the Arrival of the Auxiliary Troops which the Emperour and the other Confederate Princes sent to his Assistance That Monsieur Catinat should go and incamp before the Gates of Turin threatning to bombard that capital City and lay it in Ashes in less than 24 Hours unless his Highness prevented the impending Storm by a speedy Reconciliation with the French King upon the Terms he offer'd him That by this means his Highness would be excus'd and his Conduct seem less suspicious and blameable to the Allies It was no hard matter for the Generals that commanded the Auxiliary Troops of the Confederates in Italy to penetrate into the Designs of the Court of Turin by reason of the little Care his Highness took of making himself Master of such Posts as might have made Monsieur Catinat's Designs miscarry On the contrary one might have read his secret Joy in his Face For he knew very well that there was nothing to be fear'd from the great Preparations of the French Yet the better to colour his Play he caused all the Ladies and the Lords unfit for War to go out of Turin On the other side it was given out in the French Army that they only waited for the heavy Cannon and Bomb-Waggons from Pignerol But this Artillery and Ammunition was still coming and that Slowness so unusual with the French especially in important Expeditions is an undeniable Proof that the Court of Turin juggl'd and acted in Combination with France to baffle the Confederates In the mean time the French King's Emissaries went to and fro from the Court of Turin to Monsieur Catinat and all that to put the Change upon the Confederates and cover the foul Play and Treachery of his Royal Highness We should never have dons if we did relate all the Artifices that have been used to carry on this important Negotiation which was look'd upon by France as the great Wheel that is to set all the Springs going a towards a general Peace Let 's now come to the private Treaty his Royal Highness has lately concluded By that Treaty the French King promises him I. The Restitution of the important Fortress of Pignerol upon condition that its Fortifications shall be razed at a general Peace II. To give him four Millions of Livres in ready Mony to be paid on the same Day the Treaty is ratified III. The Restitution of Nice Montmelian and other Places conquer'd upon his Royal Highness by the Arms of the most Christian King from the beginning of the War to this present time IV. To match the young Dutchess of Savoy his eldest Daughter with his Highness the Duke of Burgundy V. That the Princess shall have Honours paid her as Dutchess of Burgundy and in that Quality shall take place at the Court of France of the Princesses of the Blood VI. That upon the Confederates refusing a Neutrality in Italy his most Christian Majesty engages to join his Forces to those of his Royal Highness towards the Conquest of the Milanese VII That after the Reduction of that Dutchy the most Christian
never hearken'd to a Peace without procuring to him the Restitution of all his Places with new Advantages which would have secur'd for ever his Repose and Liberty render'd his Condition more Honourable and justifi'd his Conduct Let 's come to the Second Article The French King promises to pay Four Millions of Livres upon the Ratification of the Treaty 'T is likely the French King will be as good as his Word as to those Four Millions let Money be never so scarce in France as well as elsewhere since this great Negotiation could never have been brought about without the Ready The Reason of it is that the Duke of Savoy is certainly the most covetous Prince in Europe and that 's the weak Side by which the Ministers of France have crept into his Favour and have been so much consider'd at the Court of Turin Thro' the means of their Louidors they have been made privy to the most secret Consultations and Resolves of the Cabinet-Council and have at last brought things to that pass they are now at The French King little matters what he spends provided he bring his Designs about The first Rule of his Politicks is to stick at no Cost to triumph over his Enemies and therefore he has been willing enough to part with those Four Millions 'T is Money he has lent upon Usury of which he expects a Cent. per Cent. Interest But it is now the Confederates Part to take their Measures accordingly and look to their Private Interests The French King as we said before explain'd himself openly upon that Matter and did not stick to say That a General Peace will make him amends for the Charges he has been at for the Peace of Italy But if nothing but Money could satisfie the Duke of Savoy and engage him to be true to the Confederacy I wonder he or his Ministers did not give a Hint of it to the Allies for I am sure they would have given him Satisfaction in an Affair which was of so great consequence to them and have attempted any thing that had appear'd possible to give him more than ever France designs or promis'd to give To this the French King's Partisans will answer That it was a very difficult matter for the Confederates to pay so great a Sum to the Duke since there still remains Four Millions five hundred thousand Livres due to him To which I reply That these Arrears had long since been paid had not his Highness's Conduct given sufficient Reasons to suspect his juggling with France The King of England has had several Informations of his Foul-play a long while ago and if he did not take notice of it 't is because it was hop'd he might by amicable Means be kept from a Design that will certainly be his Ruine By the third Article the French King promises to restore to the Duke of Savoy Nice Montmelian and in general all the Places conquer'd during this War which Restitution is the least thing he could have expelled at a General Peace But those that have had a watchful Eye over his Highness's Conduct do assure us that Nice was yielded up to the French by his Orders and that the Governour of that Place the better to cover his Foul-play found a way to blow up the Magazin and spread at the same time a Report That this was effected by the French Bombs whereas it was nothing but the result of his Treachery and of the secret Intelligence betwixt the French King and his Royal Highness The Reduction of the important Fortress of Montmelian was owing to the same Destiny as that of Nice and the French had never made themselves Masters of it but for the secret Orders his Highness gave to the Marquess of Bagnasque its Governour The vigorous Resistance of Coni deceiv'd both his Highness and the French and it must be wholly ascrib'd to the Bravery of Monsieur Julien and the French Protestants who defended the Place 'T is well known that his Highness to be reveng'd of it instead of recompensing the Merit of so many gallant Men who signaliz'd themselves in the Defence of that Place did by an unheard-of Barbarity keep them from the Preferments that fell to them of Course which enrag'd Monsieur Julien and some other Officers to that degree that they quitted his Highness's Service and went over to that of France The French King presently made Monsieur Julien a Lieutenant-General and advanc'd the other Officers proportionably to their Merit By what follow'd it is plain that his Highness's Design in abusing those Officers was only to be rid of them because they were look'd upon at the Court of Turin as an Obstacle that broke all the Measures the Duke of Savoy had taken with the French King One may see by all these Proceedings how careful the Duke was to please the French King in all things and to act in combination with him to impose upon the Allies This Conduct has constantly been observ'd in Italy during all the Campagns from the beginning of the War to this present time Therefore the small Progress of the Confederate Forces is not to be wonder'd at since the only thing his Royal Highness aim'd at was to amuse them and favour the Designs of France by this Diversion There 's all the Justice in the World for the French King to restore all the Places he has taken from the Duke of Savoy since he did deposite them in trust into his Hands till there was a Peace The French King now keeps his Promise and so far his Highness has reason to be satisfi'd The Affairs have succeeded according to the Projects they had concerted together and the French King is mightily oblig'd to the Duke for playing his part so well But Time will shew whether his Highness ought always to have the same Thoughts of the French King's Honesty who has made him a Property upon this Occasion just as he formerly did Cardinal Furstemberg to compass his grand Designs which are now a Riddle to the Court of Turin but which will be accomplish'd when the general Peace is concluded To this we may add that his Highness ought not to have been in such haste to conclude a private Treaty with France upon Consideration of the Advantages he gets by it The most serene Allies would have procur'd to him the Restitution of all his Places and France had already offer'd it to them So that his Highness would have made a more Honourable Treaty and contributed besides to the Conclusion of a solid and lasting general Peace both for him and all the Confederates whereas by his late Proceedings he raises the Hopes of the common Enemy violates his Promise and the Oaths he had sworn to the Allies Let us now proceed to the Marriage of the young Princess of Savoy with the Duke of Burgundy This Match has dazzl'd the Duke of Savoy and his Ministers and ought to be look'd upon as the greatest Artifice of the Council of France to
bring that Prince to a separate Peace And indeed it is much for a Prince of his Degree to have his Daughter married to the Duke of Burgundy the first Son of France and presumptive Heir to the Crown not to mention the Heroical Virtues that shine in that young Prince to the Admiration of all the Court. According to the general Course of human Life this young Duke is like to sit one Day on the Throne Nay perhaps the Crown is reserv'd for him preferable to the Dolphin his Father and therefore his Highness may reasonably flatter himself to see his Daughter Queen of France And here we must acknowledge the French King's Council to be compos'd of most wise and judicious Politicians and admire how fortunate that Monarch is in all his Undertakings and how skilful and subtle his Ministers are in bringing about their Negotiations The Restitution of the Places taken from the Duke of Savoy was too little to engage that Prince And on the other hand the French King could not without his Assistance make a Breach to the Union of the Confederate Princes and thereby compass his Aim which is a general Peace Now what could they have offer'd him that looks more glorious more fair and more alluring than this Match Nothing in the World Several Millions of Money and the other Advantages the French King proposed to the Duke had been ineffectual and nothing less than this Alliance was ever able to induce him to sacrifice the solemn Engagements he had with the most serene Allies France was ever happy in her Alliances and 't is to the Matches of the Princes and Princesses of the Blood into the House of Austria and some other Princely Families of Europe that she owes that supreme Degree of Grandeur and Power at which we see her arriv'd in our Days And on the contrary 't is by those Matches that Spain is now in a declining Condition This being first laid as a Principle there 's no question but that the same Considerations have prevail'd with the French King to propose a Marriage between the Duke of Burgundy and his Highness's Daughter For over and above the private Advantages he hopes to get by it towards a general Peace he has still further Designs unknown to the Court of Turin which are undoubtedly to lay the Foundations of several new Pretensions and Claims to the Dominions of his Royal Highness which will be set up in due season in case the Duke should die without Issue Male. It is his Highness's Ministers Part to frame their Measures accordingly and if they be at present French by Inclination they may very well be so one Day by Duty 'T is to no purpose to alledge that the Court of Turin has obviated that Inconvenience by causing the Duke of Burgundy to renounce the Succession to the Duke of Savoy's Dominions in case of no Issue Male. The Experience of what pass'd betwixt the French King and the late King of Spain on the Account of the Marriage of Maria Theresa does fully evince by the Quarrels that have kindled the present War how little one may depend upon such Renunciations The Kings of France seldom keep their Word after the Ratification of a Treaty since we see the present French King has broke all the Oaths he made at his Marriage 'T is upon that score that all the Princes of Europe have at this time undertook a War to protect the Crown of Spain in her lawful Rights against the Attempts Usurpations and double Dealing of the French King and does not the Duke of Savoy expose himself by this Match to the same Quarrels and the Danger of losing his Dominions What could Spain do in the weak Condition she is now in without the Support of the Confederate Princes Had she not been stript by this time of the best part of her Dominions And when France shall attack the Duke of Savoy upon the same Account will that Prince be able to resist him with his own Forces Must he not then call the most serene Allies to his Assistance whose Interest he now basely forsakes in contempt of that Alliance he had so earnestly courted I am perswaded that if the Court of Turin had duly consider'd the sad Consequences that may attend the Marriage of the young Princess of Savoy his Royal Highness would not have been in such haste to consent to it since in all probability this Match will cost him dear and be fatal to his Liberty and the Repose of his Subjects But rather he would have made it his Business to entertain the friendly Engagements he was in with the Allies upon Consideration of their powerful Protection upon which he might have depended for present and future Advantages In fine the French King to make this Alliance look the more glorious and glittering to the Court of Turin order'd the Honours due to a Dutchess of Burgundy to be paid to the Princess of Savoy at her Arrival at the Court of France Yet before he went so far he caus'd the Book of the Ceremonies of the Crown to be turn'd over And as it was found that the Daughter of Maximilian the Emperour had the Honours of Dolphiness paid her in France under the Reign of Lewis XI tho' she never had been such because the ceremonial Book says in explicit Terms that those Honours were not paid to her as Daughter to the Emperour but as Dolphiness design'd And so the Case being the same the French King resolv'd to look upon the Princess of Savoy as his Grand-daughter and order'd that at her Arrival at the Bridge of Beauvoisin she should be receiv'd as such and that none but the Dutchess of Lude should have the Privilege of sitting before her We see by all this what mighty care the French King has taken to have this Marriage lik'd at the Court of Turin The Princess of Savoy is far from being handsome But the Duke of Burgundy is an accomplish'd Prince Assoon as the March was agreed upon they presented that Princess's Picture to the Duke asking him how he did like her She 's handsome enough to give a Peace to Italy return'd agreeably that young Prince The French King and all the Court did extremely commend this witty and judicious Repartee which by the by was a tart Jest upon all the Artifices which France has us'd to draw off the Duke of Savoy from the Confederacy and engage him to make a separate Peace 'T would be an endless Work nicely to examine the secret Springs which the French Council have set a going at the Courts of Rome and of all the other Princes of Italy to bring this Negotiation about There are no Tricks no Fetches that they have not employ'd not to mention the vast Summs they have given to corrupt his Royal Highness's Favourite Ministers who by their shameful Avarice have at last prevailed with him to consent to an Alliance that will make him a Slave for ever and cost him the infallible Loss
put a Stop to the Designs of the French King However we may say that 't is by the Violation of Treaties that he has laid the Foundation of that overgrown Power which one might justly call the Tyrant of Europe and which has an absolute Sway in almost all Courts After so many living Examples and repeated Experience of the small Credit that can be given to the French King's Word we may safely conclude that his late Renunciation to the Dominions of his Royal Highness will not be of long Continuance The ninth Article whereby the French King engages and promises to assist the Duke of Savoy in order to reduce the City of Geneva was never made publick through Reasons of State and Policy as well as several others which have secretly been agreed upon by the French King and the Duke of Savoy Time will clear this great Mystery However it is certain that France for these many Years past has meditated the Ruin of that City The Protestant Religion which is profess'd there is the chief Reason of these two Princes Hatred against it Besides the good Successes the French King has had in extinguishing the Reform'd Religion in France give him the Hopes to bring it under his Subjection after a general Peace is concluded This grand Design had by this time been accomplish'd had he not fear'd a Rupture with the Switzers who have declar'd themselves Protectors of it He has already but too many Enemies upon his Back and therefore it is convenient for him to dissemble and temporize till he has decided the Quarrels he has with the Allied Princes In the mean time he has taken all the necessary Measures for that Purpose and the French Resident at Geneva is an ill Omen to the Safety and Liberty of that Republick since he only lives there to know their weak and strong Sides and observe all that passes which he presently acquaints his Master withal But when all is done perhaps the French King promises more to the Duke than he is able to perform 'T is not the first time he has been out in his Projects The Face of Affairs does often change in a moment and a small Disappointment may make his Designs miscarry But let us suppose that the French will make himself Master of Geneva what Security can his Royal Highness have that he will put it into his Hands and punctually perform all his Promises I do not know any Body would take upon him that Guarranty The French King's Honesty in those sort of Matters is now become so slippery and suspicious that it is more likely he would keep that Conquest for himself than resign it to the Duke Let us therefore conclude That this Article is just as those that went before that is imaginary and chimerical The French King will never want for colourable Pretences to call back his Word and keep his Promises to the Duke no farther than he has a mind to Thus having examin'd the Treaty of Peace concluded betwixt the French King and Victor Amedeus II. Duke of Savoy let 's now consider the Consequences of that Peace And first let us begin with its solemn Publication at Paris on the Tenth of September 1696. BE it known to all That a good firm stable and solid Peace with an entire and sincere Friendship and Reconciliation has been made and agreed upon between the Most High Most Excellent and Most Mighty Prince LEWIS by the Grace of God of FRANCE and NAVARRE King our Sovereign Lord and the Most High and Mighty Prince VICTOR AMEDEUS the Second Duke of SAVOY their Vassals Subjects and Servants in all their Kingdoms Dominions Countries Lands and Lordships of their Obedience That the said Peace is general betwixt them and their said Vassals and Subjects and that by vertue of the same it is lawful for them to go and come to return and sojourn in all the Places of the said Kingdoms Dominions and Countries to Trade and Merchandise hold Correspondence and Communication one with another in all manner of Freedom and Security as well by Land as by Sea and on Rivers and other Waters on this side and that side the Mountains and in the same manner as it has and ought to have been done in time of good sincere and amicable Peace such as it has pleased the Divine Goodness to grant unto the said Lords Kings and Dukes of Savoy their People and Subjects Which to maintain and entertain it is most expresly forbidden to all Persons by what Quality or Title soever dignified or distinguish'd to undertake attempt or innovate any thing to it contrary or pâ—judicial upon pain of being severely punish'd as Infringers of Peace and Disturbers if the Publick Repose Given at Oar Court at Versailles the Eighth day of September 1696. Signed LEWIS And a little lower Phelypeaux c. This Peace as you see was publish'd at Paris with all the Pomp and Solemnity that usually attend those great Events in which France has a more than ordinary Concern And there 's no doubt but she has affected to shew an uncommon Magnificence in this thereby to dazle the Confederate Princes and make the Success of a Negotiation which she looks upon as the Foundation of a General Peace sound high in all the Courts of Europe The French King's Policy is good enough as to that matter He loses nothing by crying up and proclaiming whatever he does and undertakes but often draws a great deal of Good from a false Shew and so turns both his good and bad Successes to his own advantage According to this Maxim it is observable That during this War when he has lost a Battel or a Town or suffer'd any other Damage he has caus'd Publick Rejoycings to be made and order'd his Generals and Governours of Towns to discharge their Artillery as if he had won a signal Victory over his Enemies This Conduct tho' a little unsincere has brought great Advantages to him First By that means he has dazzl'd his Subjects and kept them in Obedience by flattering them with imaginary Successes and has receiv'd from them at the same time all the necessary Subsidies to answer the vast Charges of a burdensom War Secondly He thereby has confirm'd the staggering Fidelity of the Conquer'd Nations In fine He has rais'd the drooping Spirits of the Soldiers that fought under his Generals and has as we say set a good Face on a bad Game Witness the extravagant Rejoicings made at Paris after the Battel of the Boyne upon the false Report of the Death of the King of England those that were made after the loss of a Fight at Sea and generally in all the Rencounters where the French King's Arms were worsted But we may freely say That all the Parade and Ostentation of the Court of France upon the score of the Peace of Italy will be so far from making any Impression upon the most Serene Allies to engage them to agree the sooner to a General Peace that it
French King declares himself Defender and Protector For these Nine Years past says that Monarch he maintains the War against a Conspiracy of all Europe Upon what account To defend Religion and Vindicate the Majesty of Kings Nothing can be more Great more Glorious and more Noble than such a Design That Monarch employs all his Forces exhausts his Treasures and sacrifices his People and Subjects and all this to vindicate the Majesty of Kings We must confess the French King's Zeal to be very great his Projects magnanimous and pious in a word worthy of the First Monarch of Christendom King James is to be accounted Happy for being under the Protection of France provided this Protection be Sincere and the French King do not play foul upon this Occasion as he has done heretofore in several Quarrels betwixt Christian Princes He has often been seen to espouse the Interest of the one by forsaking the Party of the other for whom he had declar'd himself and do such Work as has ruin'd both in the Conclusion So that in all Quarrels he alone has got something by them He never keeps such a stir and takes so much pains for nothing and whenever he does any great Service 't is always upon condition that the private Advantages he shall draw from it will be proportionable to his Labour According to this Principle if the French King could make a Peace with the Allies upon such easie Terms as he desires the Majesty of Kings which he pretends to vindicate would soon be forgotten I had almost said sacrific'd for what will he not do when his Interest lies at stake Nothing can be more singular than the Zeal and Ardour the French King pretends for King James's Interest All the World are inform'd how the pernicious Counsels of France have been the Cause of the Misfortunes and Fall of that Prince 'T is France that has rais'd him to the Throne by secret and underhand Practices unknown to most People to this very day and it may be said That France has made him lose his Crown by putting him upon such violent Methods as have render'd him odious to his Subjects whose Ruin he had contriv'd if God Almighty had not snatch'd them from the impending Danger by a miraculous Revolution The French King's Zeal and Generality deserve to be commended He endeavours to restore a Prince he has been the Ruin of and this he calls Vindicating the Majesty of Kings for which he sacrifices the Majesty of all other Monarchs in Christendom Who can be so credulous as to think his Conduct sincere upon this Occasion And is it possible the French King can strain those fine Sentiments of Commiseration for an unfortunate Prince so high as not to scruple to declare War against all Europe to vindicate that pretended Majesty of Kings We may rather say that he has quite another thing in Prospect and that he only uses the Majesty of Kings as a Pretence to colour a bad Cause further his grand Designs weaken the Confederacy by the Ruine of the Forces of the Crown of England and weary the Allies by the Tediousness of the War still keeping his old Maxims and Inclinations which would soon revive more fierce than ever if he could clap up a bad Peace with the Confederate Princes Those are the true Motives that prevail with the French King to vindicate the pretended Majesty of Kings which he makes sound so high in all the Courts of Christendom 'T is upon that Account that he defiles himself with all manner of Crimes Wicked Attempts Plots Treacheries and Murders are nothing to him If by this means the French King pretends to vindicate the Majesty of Kings he must own his Cause to be very bad and that the Upshot of all the Honour that will accrue to him upon this score will be no more than a monstrous Parallel of what has been practised by those Heathen Princes that have been the Execration of their Age. This Conduct ought to make all Christendom to tremble since the Court of France is so far from disowning it that they rather seem to authorize it openly by the villanous Assassins they send over to England If this be the way whereby the French King endeavours to arrive at a general Peace we must confess that it will cost dear to all Europe and that all Honesty is banish'd from the World The French King having acquainted the World with the Motives that made him undertake the present War exalts the Progresses wherewith God Almighty has bless'd his Designs and prosper'd his Enterprizes To hear him speak his Arms have always been triumphant and victorious and all the Advantages the Allies have had during this war are to be counted for nothing and France alone has all the Honour of it We do not wonder at this Haughtiness We know well enough this is the Language of the Court of France That Crown is so used to those Expressions that unless she be entirely pull'd down and stripped of her best Possessions she never will own her Losses and perhaps then too she will still keep up her Pride Glory must at any rate go before all her Enterprizes The French Nation alone knows now-a-days how to command and make war and all other Nations are ignorant and fit for nothing but to obey her proud Domination Yet for all this the Confederates carried the very first Campagn three important Fortresses on the Rhine These Conquests were follow'd by a Victory won at Wallcour by the Defeat of the best of French Kings Troops Altho' this Fight was not general the Advantages the Allies had in it gain'd them as much Honour as ever the French got in the Battels they won under the Conduct of the Mareschal of Luxemburg And during this Campagn the Confederate Arms were triumphant wherever they fought The Irruption into Dauphine under the Conduct of the Duke of Savoy and the Sea-Fight that was fought betwixt the French and Confederate Fleet do also deserve to be reckon'd among the Advantages got by the Confederates The Siege of Namur where France had the Shame to see the Triumph of the Arms of the Allies is too memorable to be pass'd over in Silence This only Conquest eclipses all the Victories of wich the French King now brags with so much Pride since his united Forces were not able to prevent it and that in spite of the Presence of a Mareschal of France who got into the Place supported by an Army within and another without as numerous as ever France had Since I say all these Precautions have had no other Effect than to hasten the taking of that Fortress and heighten the Honour of the Allies If after all these Advantages the French King gives it out that he always was superiour it must be confess'd that he makes Fools of all the Nations of Europe who have been Spectators of 'em and affronts besides the Honour of so many generous and brave Princes who have signaliz'd themselves in ' em All those prosperous Successes that have waited on my Arms says the French King have been the more grateful to me as that I flatter'd my self they might conduce to a Peace The Allies do freely own that France has been prosperous in her Undertakings but they hope also that they have a Right to have the Advantages they got over that Crown taken notice of and they cannot hear without a just Resentment those Discourses which the French publish to the World to rob them of the Honour they have gain'd in this War at the Expence of their Blood and Loss of their best Subjects and bravest Generals All these Considerations ought to engage the Council of France to speak another Language Altho' the Duke of Savoy have deserted 'em their Union will not be the less inviolable for it and France has no great reason to boast so much of her Superiority A cross Accident is able to make her lose all the Advantages she pretends to draw from the Peace of Italy Therefore she ought to have more Regard for the Allies than she has hitherto express'd and by a just Condescension prevent the dubious Fortune of War and hasten the Conclusion of an honourable and lasting Peace FINIS
After this we must not wonder if this Prince's Affairs have been so well manag'd He could not have pitch'd upon fitter Persons for his Service nor more proper to bring his Designs about which nevertheless he has all along endeavour'd to conceal from his first pretended Rupture with France But before we come to Particulars of his Highness's Conduce in this War towards the most Serene Allies let us look into the Causes of his Grievances which oblig'd him to declare against a Crown he was ty'd to by a kind of Gordian Knot and which France upon Conclusion of the Peace represented by Fire-works as an Emblem to denote to the Allies that their Conjunction was easie to be dissolv'd when the Duke of Savoy was once withdrawn We have already made known the Conditions or rather Inclinations of this Duke's Favourites and we are willing to discharge his Highness and lay the Blame wholly upon those Ministers Therefore let us dive into his most inmost Recesses and have so much Charity for him as to believe his Designs were always just and that he had all the reason in the World to break with France to deliver himself from a Slavery he had so long undergone The Occasion of his Royal Highness's Engaging against this Crown must then be supposed to be too free himself from a Yoke that was intolerable His Neighbours the French reduc'd him to that Condition that he scarce durst rule in his own Palace but depended so absolutely on that Monarch that he was even like a Vassal to his Lord insomuch that upon his least Advances France was presently upon the Catch to pry into his Conduct tho' he never meant 'em the least harm Fatal Law which always imposes the greatest Respect and Submission upon the Weak Nay this Prince's strict Alliance with that Kingdom by his Marriage with Madamoiselle d Orleans did but subject him the more to a Power which exacts Obedience from all This Affinity which he no doubt foresaw to be fatal to him his Court being always crowded with French which were as so many Spies set over him to inform their Master of whatever pass'd in his Councils influenc'd him at last with the severest Discontent and filled him full of secret Alarms and Fears that he might one Day be robb'd of his Dukedom in like manner as the Duke of Lorrain had been We should never have done if we intended to recount the several Insults made him by the French King even from his Minority to this Rupture whereby we may perceive what desperate Hazards Princes run that match into the Royal Family of France If his Royal Highness had thought fit to have listen'd to the Advice of the Emperour and some Princes of Italy his Neighbours and faithful Friends who counsel'd him to marry one of the Princesses of the House of Newbourg no doubt he had play'd his Game better and follow'd his Interest surer When on the contrary he now lies under the greatest Constraint to be turn'd and manag'd at the Pleasure of France and to do whatever that Imperious Crown thinks fit to command The Alliances of the Princes of the House of Austria with France have cost 'em so dear that their greatest Possessions are now in danger of devolving to that Crown and which has been the Occasion of the first Sparks that have kindl'd this War in Europe If therefore his Royal Highness had pleas'd to benefit himself by these Examples as many other Princes have done he would never have consented to this Marriage and thereupon might the better have secur'd his Quiet ascertain'd the Succession of his Dominions to his rightful Heirs might have maintain'd a Neutrality and procur'd a strict Alliance with his Imperial Majesty to whom he has had much greater Obligations than to the French King Moreover what sufficient Reasons had not his Royal Highness to distrust the Councils of France after their Designs to out him of his Throne by filling his Head with Chimerical Thoughts of the Crown of Portugal The French King had manag'd this Intrigue so secretly and his Ministers carried it on with such Dexterity that they had persuaded the King of Portugal to bestow his Daughter in Marriage on this young Prince And his Royal Highness was so far assur'd of the Sincerity of their Intentions that he had freely consented to it they having first insinuated to him that the K. of Portugal being incapable of having more Children his Crown by such means must infallibly descend to him Hereupon it was advis'd necessary for this Duke to go to that Kingdom abandon his own Dominions and reside so far distant in Expectation of Don Pedro's Death that he might be in a more immediate Readiness to ascend his Throne Whilst this politick Crown fed the Court of Turin with these vain Hopes it was intended the French King should seize upon his Dominions of Savoy and unite 'em to his own This Negotiation was so far advanc'd that his Royal Highnesse's Equipage was set forth and got as far as Grenoble when the Dutchess Dowager his Mother influenc'd by the chief Lords of the Court who all perceiv'd clearly the Designs of France to deprive this Prince of his Dukedom did all she could to prevent so fatal a Miscarriage Nevertheless all her Endeavours would have signified nothing had not his Subjects with Tears in their Eyes run in Crowds about his Palace earnestly imploring their lawful Sovereign not to leave ' em His Royal Highness at length gave way to their importunate Entreaties and suffer'd himself to be won by their just Prayers Whereupon this Grand Negotiation which had almost drain'd the Coffers of France fell to the Ground on a sudden and was never resum'd after His most Christian Majesty having been thus baffl'd in his Designs upon Savoy dissembl'd his Resentments for some time till at length he acquainted the Court of Turin by one of his Ministers that he was extremely sorry that a Proposal to advance his Royal Highness to the Throne of Portugal should be so vigorously oppos'd But since the Dutchess his Mother and preposterous Love of his Subjects had prevail'd against his Endeavours he was resolv'd for his part to thank Don Pedro by his Ambassador for his kind Compliance with his Request and leave the Duke to do as he thought fit And moreover that if he had but in the least imagin'd that his Negotiation would not have been accepted he would never have troubl'd his Head about it It has always been the Custom of France to enlarge its Dominions more by Policy than Force and which has been partly owing to Money and partly to the Address of its Ministers This has been a Secret unknown to other Courts of Europe or perhaps rather abhorr'd by ' em But whatever it be the French King finding it impossible to prevail so far against his Highness by reason of the Situation of his Country as to get any Entrance into Italy to the end that he might strike in with the