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
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
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