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
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
first Disturbances amongst those Princes or at least keep 'em in awe and infuse Jealousie into 'em as he has formerly done to the other Princes of Europe his Neighbours thought best after this Baffle to engage the young Duke by another Artifice and that was to propose to him one of his own Daughters in Marriage His most Christian Majesty's Interest was yet so good at the Court of Turin that the Dutchess Dowager and his Royal Highness's Council preferr'd this Proffer of Madamoiselle d'Orleans to others of the Emperour and some Princes of Italy The Fear of enraging so powerful a Monarch as that of France and who might prove so dangerous a Neighbour who had moreover formerly at the Death of his Royal Highness's Father Charles Emanuel the second consented to be his Guardian soon enclin'd the Council of Turin to accept Madamoiselle d'Orleans before either the Princess of Newburgh or Tuscany This was a Marriage therefore where Policy and Fear had a greater share than Inclination and consequently his Royal Highness could not expect but what he has since so often experienc'd to his cost Nevertheless what has already happen'd is nothing in respect of what in all Probability may hereafter befal him It may be his Destiny has reserv'd a Scourge that shall prove fatal both to him his Successours and the general Repose of Italy besides These are the Presages of such as are well vers'd in the Politicks of these times and without any farther penetrating into Futurity for my own part I dare affirm that one of these things must inevitably happen either that France bound its Ambition on this side of Italy or that she become one Day Mistriss of all Savoy The French King's Pretensions to this Dutchy and the present Posture of Affairs encline him naturally to that end and the only shift his Royal Highness seems to have had left was to have persisted in that just War in Conjunction with the most Serene Allies The potent Princes which compose this League have not been wanting to represent often to him by their Ministers his slippery Proceedings whilst he gave ear to the flattering Promises of the common Enemy His Imperial and Catholick Majesty's Envoys were even tir'd with proffering their important Reasons which were so capable to undeceive him but his Royal Highness rather enclin'd to be seduc'd by the Emissaries of France than preserv'd by the wholsome Advice of the Allies the Difference between which being that the Council and Promises of the Confederates were solid and real when those of France were full of nothing but Venom Deceit and Chimera's But to search deeper into the Court of Turin which is without dispute one of the most subtle and politick in in Europe it is asolutely necessary to trace back their first Differences with the French King After which we intend to follow his Royal Highness Step by Step in his Conduct during this War as well in regard to the French King as to the most Serene Allies At the beginning of the Year 1690 the French King having resolv'd to carry the War into Italy the Duke of Fuensalida Governour of Milan with all the diligence imaginable began to raise Troops fill up Magazines and repair his Fortifications to the end that he might be in a Condition to oppose the Progresses of the French who were then marching towards Italy But at the same time what most perplex'd this Governour was the Conduct of the Court of Turin which was a Riddle so obscure that even the most refin'd Politicians were not able to solve it This gave him more Disturbance than all the Preparations of France For on one hand he suspected the D. of Savoy to have underhand made a tripple Alliance with the French King and D. of Modena to joyn their Forces together and fall upon the Milaneze and on the other he observed this Prince so very wavering that he knew not what to think of him For at the same time that he promis'd the French King to stand Neuter he engaged his Word to the Emperour and King of Spain that he would declare on their side The different Dispositions of his Royal Highness at this Juncture and his studi'd Conduct of Affairs might very well augment the Jealousies and Suspicions of the French King who began to fear that this Prince might at length play him an Italian Trick The French therefore who are generally very wary made it their chief Business to observe his Actions closely and having discover'd something that seem'd to bode 'em no good his Most Christian Majesty immediately sent him word That he was not at all satisfi'd with his Neutrality but further requir'd the Citadels of Verceil and Turin for Security of his Promise This haughty Message from the French King did not at all discompose the Duke he was resolv'd upon an even Temper the better to carry on his Designs Therefore he contented himself for the present with only desiring the French King to allow him some Time for an Answer This pacifi'd the angry Monarch for a while hoping thereby to obtain from him an exact Neutrality which was all that he desir'd to the end that the French might the more easily enter Italy and facilitate the Conquest of Milan During this the Emissaries of France at his Royal Highness's Court discover'd another Proceeding which extreamly augmented their Jealousies and that was That the Duke was about to forsake their Interest and engage in that of the Emperour All the World knows his Royal Highness pretends a Right to the Kingdom of Cyprus since Lewis the Third Duke or Savoy married Charlotte Widow of John King of Portugal Daughter of John Son of James Paleologus Emperour of the East who gave for Portion to his said Daughter Charlotte the Kingdom of Cyprus in such manner that this Lewis Duke of Savoy was Crown'd King of Cyprus in presence of John de Lusignan King of Cyprus his Father-in-Law From thence the Dukes of Savoy have the Title of Royal Highness and bear an Arch'd Crown which the Kings of France or other Princes of Europe have never disputed always giving 'em proportionable Respect the Emperour only excepted who wou'd never yet allow them that Regal Character His Royal Highness considering there was now a favourable Opportunity for him since the Emperour thought fit to engage him by his Ministers to break with France made use of the Occasion to offer a Million of Florins to his Imperial Majesty provided he would acknowledge him King of Cyprus and allow him the same Honours which the King of France and other Princes had always done His Royal Highness further propos'd to his Imperial Majesty That he would buy the Fiefs which he had got in Savoy and the Republick of Genoa which properly belong'd to the Emperour for both which he proffer'd vast Sums of Money not doubting in the least but such Proposals wou'd be hearken'd to at a time especially when the Emperour had so great Occasion for Money to support
no longer Master of either This answer you may imagine was but very little to their liking therefore the Ambassadours thought themselves oblig'd to present a Memorial to his Royal Highness wherein among other things they insinuated that his Predecessors having engag'd their Royal Word to several Sovereigns and particularly the Protestant Cantons their Masters that they wou'd never disturb the Repose and Tranquillity of the Vaudois and that because of their Royal Patents they had granted 'em they humbly conceiv'd his Royal Highness could not dispense with those Engagments without violating his Royal Word and that because these Patents must not be barely look'd upon as Tolerations but rather as perpetual Concessions Irrevocable Sacred and Inviolable The Ambassadours enforced these Reasons by many others which related more needy to the Interest and Politicks of Savoy and which might have been capable to have mov'd him had not the French King oppos'd them by others that tended altogether to introduce Fire Blood and Slaughter into the Dominions of this Prince Understanding Men have all along clearly perceiv'd that the chief Aim of France was to weaken the Duke by ruining the Vaudois who for their Valour were always look'd upon as his right Arm and who tho' with their small Number were able alone to bafflle the Designs of the French King and oppose the Incursions of his Troops Many other Protestant Princes likewise writ to his Royal Highness in Favour of the Vaudois but all without doing any good This most Christian King had gain'd so far upon his Inclinations that even in spite of himself he was forc'd to yield to the Torrent that bore him down before it and which at last carry'd him to a Precipice that foretold no less than the utter Ruin of his Dominions The Swiss Ambassadors having at length demanded a positive Answer his Royal Highness caus'd the Marquess of St. Thomas one of his Ministers for Foreign Affairs to acquaint 'em that he was extremely sorry it was not in his Power to comply with their Master's Request And the French Minister moreover suggested to him to add that provided the last Edict was not already put in Execution he would endeavour to find some Expedient to procure the Vaudois Leave to retire out of his Dominions after that they had disposed of their Possessions We shall pass over in Silence several other Circumstances that relate to this Negotiation it not being my Purpose to enter into Particulars of the Cruelties exercis'd against the Vaudois for which a much larger Volume would not suffice I think my self only oblig'd to give an Account hereof the principal Accidents that have been the Occasion of the Differences between the Duke of Savoy and France from the very Beginning of this War I shall next proceed to examine the Conduct of his Royal Highness since his Rupture as well in regard to the most Serene Allies as France even to the Conclusion of the Treaty lately sign'd by him by which he is once more reconcil'd to a Crown that has promised a great deal but will no doubt perform little or nothing We may affirm freely that this Prince having been a Slave to the French King so many Years and groan'd so long under a Yoke that other Sovereigns now fight to be secur'd from never had a fairer Occasion to release himself than at present which he would have laid hold on had he been but the least sensible of his Interest When a Man makes such Oversights as this he seldom or never recovery and perhaps for above these Hundred Years there may not happen a League so puissant and daring as this There was no other way of withstanding the Greatness of France but by a Union of so many Princes that Crown being too formidable to be oppos'd by a single Force According to common Opinion God Almighty only has reserred this great Power to himself who keeps in his hand the Performances of Princes and who can in an Instant thrust 'em from their Thrones and deprive 'em both of their Authorities and their Force whereof this History every where abounds with convincing Examples This being granted there is no doubt but the League of these moil Serene Princes now in War against France has been rais'd by this Almighty Power to humble the exorbitant Greatness of that Crown and this will the more plainly appear if we consider the Motives that occasion'd it its uninterrupted Continuance for nine Years together remaining always firm and not to be shaken by the Attempts and Artifices which France has all along made use of to weaken confound or divide the Princes which compos'd it Notwithstanding these mighty Efforts and continu'd Dissentions which this most Christian King has endeavour'd to sow in almost all the Courts of Europe they have nevertheless been so far from weakening them that they have rather contributed towards a more firm and lading Alliance which all the Confederates have unanimously resolv'd to carry on except Savoy only who may be justly reproach'd hereafter by all Princes for so base a Compliance with a Monarch that is already above half ruin'd But before we go any farther let us first see what this Prince has freely promis'd to the most Serene Allies and more particularly to the Emperour King of England and United Provinces which are to be consider'd as the chief Actors in the League In order whereunto I shall oblige the Reader with a true Copy of the Treaty that his Royal Highness made with the Emperour and which was presented him by the Abbot Grimani to be sign'd which is as follows HIS Imperial Majesty being sensibly mov'd with the late reiterated Menaces of the French King towards his Royal Highness which so visibly tend to oppress him As likewise considering the Inviolable Friendship his Royal Highness professes for his said Imperial Majesty Also having moreover understood that his most Christian Majesty had caus'd an Army to enter into the Territories of the said Duke to oblige him to give up two of his Chief Fortresses as likewise to furnish him with 2000 Foot and Two Regiments of Dragoons to assist him in an Invasion upon Milan his Imperial Majesty has thought himself oblig'd to succour a Prince that has always approv'd himself an unshaken Well-wisher to the Empire Whereupon he has herewith sent the Sieur Abbot Vincent Grimani with express Orders and full Power to Negotiate Treat and Agree with his said Royal Highness in an Alliance that may as well serve to strengthen his Imperial Majesty's Affairs as to secure those of his Royal Highness against the future Attempts of France And for this purpose his most Serene Highness Victor Amedeus the Second Duke of Savoy and the aforesaid Sieur Abbot Grimani do Article as follows I. His Most Serene Highness obliges himself for the future not to enter into any Treaty of Alliance with the Most Christian King without Consent of the Emperour But to remain always under a good Correspondence with his Imperial
your Dominions which may facilitate a general Peace the first Effects of which will undoubtedly be your Majesty's Re-establishment on your Throne This has been the Occasion Sir of his Royal Highness's withdrawing from the Allies and which he hopes will be thought fully to answer his Promises to your Majesty's Ministers sent to sollicite him in that behalf This he would have perform'd sooner but your Majesty may be inform'd from the most Christian King what Reasons enclin'd him to the contrary These Sir an the sincere Protestations of his Royal Highness which he will endeavour to make appear by his continu'd Prayers for the Prosperity of your Sacred Majesty We may find by this Harangue that his Royal Highness thinks fit to dissemble no longer He has now perform'd his Bargain His Minister the Marquess of Govon has given a true Copy of his Inclinations and no doubt he had the same Sentiments when the subtle de la Tour pronounc'd his study'd Harangue but then you must suppose he had not sufficiently fleec'd the Allies Let us observe therefore there is something exceeding singular in the two different Characters which these Ministers represent One congratulates King William upon his glorious Access to the Throne while the other flatters King James with a Prospect of his Restauration But to shew farther how exceedingly the Duke of Savoy has both slighted and abus'd his Alliance with so many Serene Princes notwithstanding their repeated Kindnesses towards him we must here examine into his Conduct during the whole War in Italy the Particulars of which will be so much the more Authentick as we have all along sufficient Proofs of what we affirm and I am pretty well assured that all who are acquainted with the Court of Turin will be ready to subscribe to what I say 'T is not upon Account of Hatred or Partiality that I undertake herein to undeceive the Publick in an Affair that the President de la Tour took so much Pains to conceal from the Court of England and States General during his Residence at the Hague I know very well that he made it his chief Business to influence the Confederates that whatever Account they might have of his Matter 's partial Proceedings it came altogether from the Malice of certain Jacobites whose end was to render his Royal Highness suspected that they might thereby the better occasion a Disunion which they imagin'd would prove fatal to the League He likewise endeavour'd to prove the most discerning of our Friends to be French Enissariâ—s whilst he play'd his own part under a counterfeit Sincerity fed the Credulity of the Allies with fair hopes and by that means at length he obtain'd whatever he could desire whilst his politick Matter was carrying on his Designs which at last concluded in a Treaty with the French King Nothing sure can be more base than this Practice But let us proceed to Particulars You must know in the first Place that in all the Councils of War held at Turin from the very first Campagn down to the last the Duke of Savoy and his Ministers would never admit any of those of the Allies but whom they thought fit and exclude the best affected such as the Protestant Generals and other wise Officers who might otherwise have been able to baffle their Designs and detect their Treacheries Whence it comes to pass that all the Resolutions taken in those Councils of War have been in favour of the Enemy To this may be added the Antipathy that was all along observable betwixt the Generals of his Royal Highness and those of the Allies witness the repeated Insults and bloody Outrages the Marquesses of Bagnasque and Parella offered to those Officers of the Allies who had best signaliz'd themselves upon every Occasion and this by reason of their so loyally adhering to their Master's Interest who had entrusted 'em with the Command of their Forces Secondly the slow Proceedings of the Court of Turin were partial the Italian Generals never caring to be in the Field till they had given sufficient time to Catinat to rally his Army and receive Recruits which were sent him from several Parts of France Hence it comes that he was always first in Action and possess'd himself of the most advantagious Posts for being superiour in Number and having the Field at liberty he might very easily effect whatever he undertook they never offering to oppose him till he had done his Business or at least was in a fair way to do it I pass by the frequent Intelligences by Spies between the Generals that nothing might be acted but by common Content In the third Place the Care the Court of Turin took to establish Magazines and Markets where the French were permitted to come and buy whatever Subsistence they had occasion for at a time especially when most of their Provinces were reduc'd to the extremest Want and which ought to be look'd upon as a just Scourge sent by God to humble that haughty Power This Want I say must necessarily have forc'd the French forthwith to have re-pass'd the Mountains had not his Royal Highness and his Council timely provided for their Relief by causing all sorts of Commodities to be brought from Milan and other parts of Italy to regale their Enemy's Army This was all done in Sight of the Allies and whenever any Complaints were made the Senate of Turin was dumb or answered only by Riddles after the Italian Manner All this while his Royal Highness crowded his Coffers with French Lonid'ors and Mareschal Catinat who knew well his Temper was not at all sparing of ' em The Honour of France and Preservation of an Army which was just then ready to perish gave way for no Parsimony I mention nothing but what is notoriously known and I appeal to the Generals of the most Serene Allies who then commanded in Italy if they have not been Eye-witnesses of all I affirm But let us proceed to other Practises which are no less remarkable than the former In the fifth Place let us observe the Permission that his Royal Highness gave to some Fellows disguised like Peasants and sent incognito by Catinat to subborn and list the Protestant Soldiers of die Regiments of Miremont and Montauban whom they intended to carry off to the French Army to the end that by their Disertion the King of England's Forces might be so much the more weakened and their own augmented This no doubt was with design to favour the French King who if he could but get those Protestant Enemies into his Power thought himself secure of his Project by the Intelligence he all along had with his Royal Highness This Relation is so much the less to be question'd as it was verify'd by the Surprizal of several of these disguis'd Traytors by the Officers of these Regiments who taking 'em in the very Act after having debauch'd above five and twenty Soldiers immediately complain'd of 'em to his Royal Highness who remitting 'em to a Council of
us'd against the Surprizes of an open and declar'd Enemy but 't is a very hard matter to prevent being cheated by a Confederate Prince who proclaims his Friendship and the Sincerity of his Intentions in all the Courts of Europe by his flattering Ministers and who at the bottom is no better than a dissembling Shuffler Honesty is now a days a Cloke for every Body and the greatest Cheats in the World are still industriously careful to be accounted Honest I confess 't is impossible to read any Man's Thoughts But however one might have known by all the Actions of the Duke of Savoy and the repeated Informations that have been given to the Confederates that he kept Intelligence with France Yet at this very time there are some People that can hardly believe it which is much the same thing as if a Man should first shut his Eyes and then maintain that it is Night at Noon-day This pernicious Supineness and Carelesness is now the Cause of the ill Dispositions towards the Conclusion of a General Peace Haughty and ambitious France fancies to have done much by winning over the Duke of Savoy to her Interest She hopes by that to shake the Constancy of the other Princes draw off some of the weakest by the Example of his Royal Highness offering them great Advantages and after she has engag'd these she reckons upon the Division of the Heads of the Confederacy who will at last grow weary of a War that does but exhaust their Riches But we may assure the French Council that they are in a mighty Errour in this Point and that they entertain themselves with empty chimerical Hopes since the Heads of the Confederâ—cy who have supply'd the Duke of Savoy with all the Necessaries for the Diversion he promis'd to make but did not perform are fully resolv'd to take such Measures for the future as never to be cheated again by any of their Allies and besides never to make a Peace with France but upon such Terms as they have agreed amongst themselves And whatever France may imagine they shall not want for Money Two or three Campagns more do not signifie much and then we may see who shall have the better on 't T is enough we are very well inform'd of the Forces of that Crown and what she 's able to do being so exhausted as she is and having left no Stone unturn'd to procure a Peace The only thing the Confederates seem now to be concern'd for is the Perfidiousness of the Duke of Savoy who has most basely betray'd them this they take more to heart than all the imaginary Advantages France expects to draw from it By all this we may safely conclude that when the Duke of Savoy entred into the Alliance he had no other Aim in prospect than to favour the Designs of France under the specious Pretence of some Discontents against that Crown The Mask is now turn'd up and we have evidently discover'd that he has acted in combination with France during all the War of Italy Now these are the Fruits which the French King and Duke of Savoy expected to reap from their secret Intelligence First The Duke of Savoy hop'd to get considerably by emptying the Purses of so many Allies who must have recourse to him to get an easie Passage into France and by that means effect as much in one Campagn as could be perform'd in the Process of a long War The French King likewise thought it no less for his advantage than the Duke his Confederate because this Prince crying out for Help the Confederates would be sure to send him a great number of Auxiliaries with vast Sums of Money to maintain and keep up a Diversion which was look'd upon as the only way to bring France to reasonable Terms and these were as many Enemies from which the French King freed himself in Flanders and Germany while Monsieur de Catinat his General kept them at a Bay with a Handful of Men who had never been able to stand before them had not the Duke of Savoy juggl'd with him The French King cunningly improving the Diversion he oblig'd the Confederates to make in Italy through the Duke of Savoy's means pursu'd his Conquests in Flanders and on the Rhine He won Battels and took strong Places under the Conduct of the Mareschals of Luxemburg and de Lorge to whom he always sent the Choice of his Men whereas he only gave Monsieur Catinat new-rais'd raw Soldiers or Irishmen because he went upon sure grounds and that this was sufficient to entertain a War on that Side Another great Reason prevail'd with the French King which extremely favour'd his Designs towards the Ruine of the other Confederate Princes and which was never found out till the Ill was grown past Remedy This was that the Duke of Savoy declaring himself for the Confederates and at the same time keeping his Intelligence with France the Ministers of the Duke would be still welcome in all the Courts of the Alli'd Princes and that under colour of a Common Concern he would be made privy to all the Secrets and be acquainted with their strong and weak Side which he would discover to the French King 'T is for that reason that the Duke of Savoy sent none but choice Wits and most of them Jesuits as being the most subtle and intriguing to reside with the Confederate Princes Those Ministers have extreamly well discharg'd their Duty for it has been observ'd that every Post the Court of France had certain and precise Informations of all that pass'd in the Congress in the Councils of War and all other Consultations Hence it is that the French King and his Generals were always upon their Guard and whatever the Allies undertook the French expected them behind good Retrenchments provided with all Necessaries to make their Designs miscarry To this also ought to be imputed the inconsiderable Successes of the Bombardments and other Enterprises of the Confederate Fleet upon the French Coasts For the President de la Tour who resided at the Court of England during the Winter never came back but to acquaint the Duke his Master as this did the French King with all the Designs that were to be put in execution the next Campagn There 's still another Reason that has much contributed to induce the Duke of Savoy to play Jack of Both Sides during this War which is That his Dominions being very poor and several of his Subjects forc'd thro' Necessity to beg their Bread in most Countries of Europe he hop'd by the War of Italy to draw with the Auxiliary Troops of the Confederates a great part of their Moneys Which indeed has made his People very rich and fill'd his Coffers so that at this time he may be said to be one of the richest Princes of Christendom in ready Cash This Money was not all got by the Confederates France has also brought in her Share since 't is her Gold only that has dazzl'd this
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
King shall put it into the Hands of his Royal Highness to enjoy it for ever without demanding any thing for the Expences of that Expedition and to secure him in the Possession of it by protecting him against the Arms of the House of Austria VIII That he renounces for ever all the Rights and Claims which he and his Predecessors have had to the Dukedom of Savoy Principality of Piedmont and County of Nice IX That in case the War continue in Italy by the Refusal of the Neutrality the most Christian King will lend him his Forces for the Conquest of Geneva That if the Neutrality be accepted that Expedition shall be reserv'd till after the general Peace His Royal Highness on his Part promises to the French King I. To renounce the Confederacy and join himself for ever with the Crown of France To act unanimously with the Most Christian King in all that can make their Union lasting and their Alliance inviolable for the future II. That he shall never give his Consent to the Restoration of the Vaudois and that he shall repeal all the Edicts by which he had lately granted them the free Exercise of their Religion and their Return to the Valleys III. That he will use his Mediation to bring the Allies to a General Peace Let us examine these Articles and see whether his Royal Highness ought at this time to depend upon the Word of a Monarch who never scrupl'd to violate the Treaties he had concluded with the other Princes of Europe without any Exception We must consider in the first place That when the French King consents to restore Pignerol he does as much as give the Key of his Kingdom on the Side of the Alps to keep to the Duke of Savoy and loses for ever all the Advantages he had by that importent Place upon all the Princes of Italy By that means he leaves the Province of Dauphinê expos'd to the Irruptions of his Enemies and confirms the staggering Liberty of all the Princes beyond the Alps who were before as it were bridled up by Casal and Pignerol To this we may add That by that Restitution he sacrifices all the Resentments which for some late Years have occasion'd the Quarrels he has had with the Court of Rome during the Papacy of Innocent XI with the Republick of Genoa and some other States of Italy If the French King be sincere in the Restitution of Pignerol the Duke of Savoy has all the reason in the World to be satisfied with the Generosity of France and not to grudge all the Complaisance he has had for that Crown And indeed 't is a great matter for his Highness to get so importent a Place as Pignerol Besides the French King does not stay till he be compell'd to it by force of Arms He makes this voluntary Present to his Royal Highness even at a time when his Forces are so much superiour in Italy and that he is in a condition to strip the Duke of all his Territories by the taking of Turin the Capital City of his Dominions 'T is a great matter I say for the Duke of Savoy to get Pignerol But after we have taken a View of what the French King gives to his Highness let 's see what he reserves to himself He consents to the Restitution of Pignerol I grant it but then this is to be at a General Peace and after all its Fortifications are razed to the Ground By these two Reservations the French King plainly shews First That what he aim'd at was to engage the Duke of Savoy to use his utmost Endeavours to hasten a General Peace Secondly That when he restores this Place dismantl'd 't is only with design to re-take it whenever he pleases So that at best the Duke of Savoy is like to enjoy it but for some small time and perhaps Ten Months after the General Peace is concluded the French King will order his Troops to clear the Place To be convinc'd of this we must observe That in all Treaties of Peace the French King never offers to restore any strong Place but on condition of razing the Fortifications which shews his Double-dealing his want of Sincerity and his secret Desire of making himself Master of them as soon as he has gain'd his present Ends which are chiefly to disarm his Enemies while he keeps on foot a numerous Army of well-disciplin'd experience'd Soldiers when the other Princes disband theirs 'T is well-known by experience that France can raise again the Fortifications of a Place in very few Months and that often with little Expence because he not only makes use of his own Soldiers but also of the Inhabitants of the Place and their Money to boot Witness the Fortifications of most of the Fortresses in Flanders which have been built with the vast Sums that he got by Contributions All that the French King provides for his Share are Engineers good Order and Diligence as for Materials and Money the poor Inhabitant is always oblig'd to find them This Consideration makes the French King value so little the Restoration of a strong Place provided its Fortifications be demolish'd without which lie would never consent to it His End therefore in restoring Pignerol was to cast a Mist before the Duke of Savoy's Eyes and decoy him to break all the Engagements he was enter'd into with the Confederates But when he has brought his Designs about he will retake it the more easily because its Fortifications will then be razed which he shall never want either for Money Men or Materials to rebuild Besides what use can the Duke of Savoy make of Pignerol when dismantl'd Will that hinder the French King from having a free Passage to enter his Dominions upon the first Quarrel Or is his Country the more secure by it Not at all Therefore 't is evidently plain that the French has had no other Design than to delude the Duke of Savoy and at the same time lay a Trap for the Confederates the sooner to bring them to treat of a General Peace After all what does the French King give more to that Prince than what he had already offer'd in the first Proposals of Peace he made to the Allies But the Design of the Confederates was to oblige France to surrender Pignerol into the Hands of the Duke of Savoy in the Condition it was at that time and would never hear of its being raz'd Nevertheless his Royal Highness accepts of it as such and thinks it a good Bargain to get it in any Condition the French King is pleas'd to restore it to him But he may judge by this first Step of the Sincerity of the French King's Promises and since that Monarch deludes him in this Article he must expect no better in all the rest Therefore he loses more by abandoning the Confederacy than he gets by entring into a Private Treaty to the prejudice of his own Interest and the Contempt of so many Princes who had
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
of his Dominions It is provided by the sixth Article that in case the Allies do not agree to a Neutrality in Italy the French King and the Duke of Savoy will joyn their Forces together in order to conquer the Milanese And this on the Duke's part is the highest Degree of Treachery imaginable If that Prince had only been contented to forsake the Interest of the most serene Allies and to receive under-hand those Summs of Money that France has remitted to him he might now in some measure excuse himself by publishing to the World that he could not refuse the Advantageous Offers made to him without betraying his own Interest and opposing his good Fortune But his Royal Highness does not confine himself within those Bounds For with one Hand he receives Money of the Confederates and with the other of France and moreover plots and contrives with the common Enemy the Ruin of his best Friends and Allies and makes his Market of their Liberty and his own He puts himself at the Head of the French Forces and in the same Campagn is General of two powerful contrary Armies Was there ever so singular and at the same time so perfidious a Conduct as this is But what can engage this Prince in this foul Play That Question is answer'd in this Article the Hopes of conquering the Milanese The French King tells him by his Ministers what Title he has to that Dutchy which he looks upon as a Dependency from the Crown of France upon the Account of the Marriage of Lowis of Orleans Son to Charles V King of France with Valentina Galeas Daughter to John Galeas Duke of Milan who claim'd the Succession to that Dutchy by the Decease of her two Brothers who left no Issue By this Artifice the French King has cunningly insinuated himself into the Court of Turin and while he entertains the Duke of Savoy with the Chimerical Hopes of conquering the Dutchy of Milan he makes him a Property to his Designs which are the Neutrality in Italy By that means the French King frees himself from a most burdensome and expensive War which perplex'd him more than all the Armies he keeps in Flanders and on the Rhine and gives besides a fatal Blow to the Union of the Confederate Princes This Event on one side raises the Honour and Hopes of the French King and on the other makes the Duke of Savoy's Conduct for ever odious to the Allies There 's no Question but the Ministers of France did give his Royal Highness to understand that the Milanese would infallibly fall a Prey to him because said they there was little Probability of the Allies ever consenting to a Neutrality and by this Decoy they have drawn in this credulous Prince while the Court of France was very well persuaded that the Affairs would turn a contrary way To put still the Change upon him and delude him the better the French King promises him by the seventh Article that after the Reduction of that Dutchy it shall be put into his Highness's Hands by him to be enjoy'd for ever without demanding any thing for the Expences of this Expedition and his most Christian Majesty engages himself besides to protect him in the peaceful Enjoyment of iâ— against the Arms of the House of Austria When a Man seriously reflects upon all the sine Promises of the French King to engage his Royal Highness he will not be much surpriz'd at the small Precaution the Council of Turin have us'd in so important an Affair To hear the French Ministers speak 't was but entring the Milanese to make an entire Conquest of it They reckon upon it as a thing already done and to dazzle his Royal Highness they â—â—â—tter him with their Protection against the House of Austria they promise to secure him in the Enjoyment of it for ever and over and above all this their Generosity goes so far as to be at all the Changes of this Expedition of which the French King makes a Present to his Royal Highness The French King was ever liberal of fallacious Promises He might as well have promis'd to the Duke of Savoy the Conquest of all Italy as he has done that of the Milanese If his Royal Highness be so credulous as to depend upon his Word he 'll soon be Master of all the Princes beyond the Alps. But time will make it appear that nothing can be more Chimerical than those Projects This as well as the preceding Articles have been kept very secret by the Council of France because they have been look'd upon as the chief Springs to engage the Duke of of Savoy by the Hopes of becoming the greatest Prince of Italy Ambition and a Desire of enlarging ones Power was ever a natural Passion in all Sovereigns and I doubt not but France has done more at the Court of Turin by this Artifice than by all the other Stratagems he has there employ'd Let 's come to the VIIIth Article The most Christian King renounces for ever all the Rights and Pretensions he and his Predecessors had to the Dukedom of Savoy the Principality of Piedmont and County of Nice One can so little depend upon such sort of Renunciations that the Experience of this Age has taught all the Princes of Europe that the French King observes Treaties no longer than they serve his Interest For if after the Ratification is sign'd his Conncil do but suggest to him a new way of extending his Power and Dominions nothing is able to stop him He then only consults his Favourite-Policy and knows no other Rule besides his Ambition to which there 's no prescribing of just Bounds because he is still too powerful The stronger docs ever give Laws to the weaker And since the French King is not yet redue'd by the united Forces of the most powerful Princes in Europe we must necessarily conclude that he has not yet chung'd his Maxims In the Year 1640 there was a Book printed at Madrid and writ by a Spanish Plenipotentiary entituled Successos principales de la Monarchia de l' Espania el Anno 1639. wherein the Author by a kind of Prophetical Spirit said that the French King took the way to arrive at the Empire That his Predecessors had shew'd it him by the taking of Mets Toul and Verdun That Lewis XIII had follow'd them by making himself Master of Alsatia and Lorrain That if Lewis XIV could but take Thionville he would seize upon Luxemberg compleat the Conquest of the Dutchy of Burgundy lay the Palatinate open and without Defence and would make himself absolute in all the Country of Treves and all the ancient Austrasia His Prophecy went still further He added that by the Conquest of Thionville that Monarch would make the three Catholick Electors his Subjects That Spain would lose Flanders the Empire and Cities of Germany their Liberty and the German Princes their Dominions This Prophecy had certainly been accomplish'd had the Confederate Princes any longer delay'd to
will rather beget in them the Resolution of carrying on the War more vigorously than ever Their Interest has no relation with that of the Duke of Savoy and if that Prince has been willing to undo himself and sacrifice his Dominions and Liberty out of a Frolick the Confederate Princes will not make his Conduct the Standard of Theirs They have taken up Arms to make a solid and lasting Peace and will not lay them down upon any other Terms The general Publication of that Peace was follow'd by a Letter directed to the Archbishop of Paris in order to have Te Deum sung as a Thanksgiving wherein the French King gives us a true Idea of the Motives upon which he has acted during this War There the Language and Genius of the Court of France are express'd in their genuine and natural Colours That Piece being already made publick we shall dispense with inserting it here and tho' it deserve to be examin'd at large we will content our selves with making some few particular Reflections upon it and so conclude The Court of France never publishes Pieces of that importance before they are maturely studied and have past the Censure of his most able Ministers In a word This is a Draught in Little of the vast Designs and most secret Thoughts of the French King That Monarch begins with the Motives that have induc'd him to take up Arms which are to defend Religion and Vindicate the Injur'd Majesty of KINGS This Declaration is agreeable to that he made before in all the Manifesto's he publish'd before the Rupture And therefore we may conclude That the Council of France have long before studied the Artifices they now employ to break the Union of the Confederate Princes Those Artifices are so much the more dangerous as they strike at the most sensible Part of Civil Society that is to say Religion and the Majesty of Kings As to the first All Sovereign States are naturally very tender of the Religion they profess the Catholick Princes of their Religion and the Protestant Princes of theirs But to hear the French King speak one would think him the Only Defender of the Roman Catholick Religion and that the Emperour the King of Spain and the other Catholick Princes whose Zeal is unquestionable have abandon'd its Interest If the French King should spread abroad such Discourses in an unknown Country remote from our Continent and among a barbarous People ignorant of the Transactions of Europe for these Fifty Years past especially since the Death of Cardinal Mazarin 't is certain he might impose upon their Credulity But what can be more absurd and extravagant than to publish now all those Impostures before the face of all Christendom to which he has been a Scourge and a Persecutor Witness the Quarrels he had with the Court of Rome under the Pontificate of Innocent XI If that Pious Pope had not oppos'd all the Extravagancies of the Court of France were not we like to see the Church rent and torn by a more cruel and monstrous Schism than ever the Persecutions of the most dreadful Heathen Tyrants have been There 's no need of renewing here the Remembrance of those Ills that have made all Christendom to groan they are too fresh to be forgotten Let us be contented to say That the French King is so unsincere upon that Point that all the Confederate Princes are fully convinc'd that Religion has the least share in his undertaking the present War 'T is well known also that it is upon another Motive that he has supprest the Reform'd Religion in France This last Step ought to be look'd upon as a secret Spring to make himself a surer Way to the Universal Monarchy since we see he has in a manner done more mischief to the Catholick than Protestant Princes This is a dangerous Decoy and a secret Warning to the Catholick Princes who are in Confederacy with the Protestant not to give ear to the Artifices of France whose aim is to disunite them and by that means invade their Dominions and Liberty The Duke of Savoy as we have seen of late has begun to make a Breach in that Alliance The Ministers of France like deceitful Syrens have drawn him into dangerous Snares by their sweet enchanting Voice The fair and specious Pretence of Religion has put all the Courts of Italy in motion and by that means the French King was reconcil'd to the Court of Rome which was before his mortal Enemy He could not have pitch'd upon a surer way to further his Designs than by pretending as he does at this time that he acts out of a Zeal for Religion By that means he casts a Mist before the Eyes of all the Catholick Princes and insinuates himself into all Courts But what will become of the Dominions of so many Sovereigns if once divided from the Alliance of the Protestant Princes Since we now see that their Safety and mutual Preservation wholly depends upon that Alliance We still repeat it here Let not the Duke of Savoy's Example ever shake this sacred Union for this is the only thing the French King aims at and the Hinges upon which all his Designs turn All Princes are for their Share in an Affair that concerns every one in particular and all in general The present War is not upon the account of Religion 'T is only France that says so to impose upon the Confederates and disunite them 'T is plain the French King endeavours to perswade the Catholick Princes that the only Cause which has brought this War upon him is the implacable Hatred of the Protestant Princes against him for persecuting his Protestant Subjects which is both false and ridiculous For if the French King had design'd nothing but the pretended Extirpation of Heresie never had the present War been kindled in Europe because the different Interests of the Protestant Princes were so far from uniting them in a Cause which was so just in it self that they rather seem'd to divide them still the more 'T is therefore to no purpose that the French King makes use of the Cloke of Religion to cover a Conduce which every one knows to have no other than Temporal Motives such as are the Violation of all Treaties the Usurpation of his Neighbours Dominions the Ruin of the House of Austria the Protecting of the Turk his Designs upon England by supporting the late King James his Attempts upon the Princes and States beyond the Alps the Slavery of all Europe and in a word the accomplishing of his grand Master-piece the Universal Monarchy After so many cruel and treacherous Attempts after so many Reasons of Complaint given to the Confederates and after the repeated Experiences they have had of the French King 's Double-dealing and Foul-play how can they now believe he is sincere when he tells us That he had no other Aim than the Defence and Protection of Religion Let 's now pass to the Majesty of Kings of which the
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
his Wars against two Puissant Enemies Nevertheless his Imperial Majesty at first refus'd all but his Royal Highness not being a whit discourag'd was resolv'd still to manage France and at the same time to repeat his Requests to the Emperour till he had obtain'd what he so much desir'd This his Negotiation was at length concluded in his favour and the Emperour was willing to yield to the Duke's Demands provided the Million of Florins were paid into the Bank of Venice This Transaction extreamly surpriz'd the French Court insomuch that they conceiv'd a more than ordinary Jealousie that his Royal Highness was entred into a strict Alliance with the House of Austria their Enemy This they thought would soon appear by a Rupture on the Duke's Side which would absolutely break their Measures and exceedingly embroil their Designs on Italy they having propos'd an Amity with his Royal Highness and a Passage thro' his Dominions to be the best Means of dealing with the Milaneze who they knew would never be strong enough to resist 'em unless assisted by the Savoyard The Duke of Savoy who is a great Master in the Art of Hypocrisie made use of all his Cunning after having plaid his own Game to sweeten the French King assuring him by his Minister That he never yet thought of forsaking his most Christian Majesty's Interest nor attempting any thing which might in the least infringe the inviolable Union betwixt ' em But nevertheless these subtle Protestations of his were not capable to dissipate the Jealousies of that Monarch He had already so well observ'd the Conduct of the Court of Turin that he began to treat them as Dissemblers and their Duke as a Cheat who on the one side had plaid on his Most Christian Majesty and on the other on the Emperour Mitchiavel has so well taught his Country-men that we may affirm the Italian Princes are those that understand him best and know how to make the best use of him It would be proper here to give an Account before we proceed any further of an Intrigue concerted some time since between the Emperour and his Royal Highness and discover'd by the French meerly by force of Money which made 'em ever after so very jealous of this Prince's Conduct that upon his least Advances his most Christian Majesty was immediately upon his Guard This is the Relation which must be suppos'd to be the more Authentick as we had it from the best Original In the Year 1687 a little after the famous League of Ausburg the Count B was sent by his Imperial Majesty to the Court of Turin to propose to his Royal Highness a new Negotiation His Most Christian Majesty being soon acquainted with it by his Emissaries immediately writ to his Embassadour resident at that Court about it Pursuant to which his Embassadour endeavour'd all he could to be present at the Audience of this Minister and moreover acquainted the Court of Turin that he absolutely insisted thereupon His Royal Highness believing he could never have a secret Interview with this Minister by reason of the constant Attendance of the French Embassadour resolv'd to comply with the latter but withal determin'd by a secret Intelligence with the Envoy to convert all the Embassy into Ceremonies and Compliments When this was done the Count was exceeding impatient to acquit himself of his true Negotiation and therefore resolv'd to go disguis'd like a Page into the Duke's Chamber where he soon got an Opportunity to present him with a Writing to sign which contain'd some general Propositions and moreover procur'd from him a Promise to be at the Carnival at Venice His Royal Highness resolv'd to be there at the Time appointed but to avoid suspicion gave out That he design'd only to go thither for Diversion when his true Reason was to confer with the Duke of Bavaria and some other Princes about a Consederacy against France Some time after the Count's departure the Duke made known his intended Journey when the French Embassador fearing some Stratagem would needs proffer his Service to wait on his Royal Highness which the Duke endeavour'd to divert by all imaginable Means but finding all fruitless at last consented to his Request the better to prevent any Suspicion that Minister might have of him These Princes being at length met at Venice thought it most proper to treat secretly of the Affairs they came about and for this purpose had procur'd a very fit Person a Monk to go backwards and forwards among them By these Means an Alliance was soon struck up between the Emperour the Dukes of Savoy and Bavaria and some other Sovereign Princes upon the Foot of the Project concerted at Ausburg The Treaty being thus sign'd the Princes took their Leaves of each other and went towards their several Homes after having drank liberally to the Success of an Union they had so luckily engag'd in The Duke of Savoy return'd thro' his Dominions as he came accompanied by the French Embassador who had not so much as quitted him one Moment all the while His Royal Highness you must suppose was not a little tickl'd with the Success of this Expedition which nevertheless was of no long continuance for they had scarce travell'd a League before the French Minister began to reproach him very severely with having contracted a Confederacy with the King his Master's Enemies which the Duke at first absolutely denyd but the Embassador immediately thereupon shewing him a Copy of the Treaty you may imagine he remain'd under the greatest Surprize I don't question but you will be glad to know by what Stratagem this Minister obtain'd a Paper of this Importance Why it was by means of the very Monk we before spoke of for the Embassador having observ'd that Person to go and come often between the Princes thought it but good Policy to sound him and at last so far succeeded that upon paying the promis'd Sum of 200000 Livres he obtain'd a true Copy of the Treaty We may hereby observe That nothing can escape the Knowledge of France since she is willing to give so liberally for her Intelligence These subtle Proceedings of the Duke 's caus'd his Most Christian Majesty ever after to give no great Credit to his Protestations but always to suspect him of inclining to the Emperour's Interest His Most Christian Majesty look'd upon this Treaty of Venice like that of Ausburg to be a trifling Project and no ways capable to oppose his Designs But notwitstanding he reserv'd a Resolution to revenge the Treachery plaid him upon the first Occasion But as the League of Ausburg serv'd for a Foundation to that of Venice so no doubt this Treaty of Venice has been a Ground-plot for the Confederacy which has since been contracted with Savoy To return to my Subject His Most Christian Majesty being but ill satisfied with the Conduce of his Royal Highness thought it high time not to suffer himself to be blinded any longer by his fair Protestations and therefore
without further delay commanded Monsieur Catinat immediately to pass the Mountains with an Army of above 18000 Men. This General posted away before his Army to Turin to learn from the Duke 's own Mouth what was hitherto only transmitted by Ministers the Result of his Resolutions The Approaches of this Army soon alarm'd all the Princes of Italy insomuch that they quickly got together to keep the War out of their own Territories which was like to rage so fiercely in their Neighbourhood or at least to endeavour a Neutrality if they could not obtain an Accommodation between the two Crowns Herein the Great Duke of Tuscany was the most earnest but what engag'd him chiefly was the dangerous Sickness of the Dauphiness hoping that if she dy'd by obliging France in this Mediation he might have an Opportunity to get his Daughter accepted in Marriage by the Dauphin The Duke of Fuensalida fearing lest Mareschal Catinat's arrival at Turin might alter the Dispositions of that Court which had already determin'd to declare in favour of the Emperour thought his surest way was to provide speedily for his Defence in case Affairs might ' happen disadvantageous for the Milaneze He immediately therefore issu'd out Commissions for new Levies writ to the Vice-Roy of Naples Sicily and Sardinia to send him fresh Recruits got ready his Magazins and soon stood upon his Guard expecting Acts of Hostility every Day from the French Before we proceed further it will not be amiss to give a short Account of the Rigours us'd by the Court of France towards his Royal Highness by insisting peremptorily on his driving the Vaudois out of his Dominions for no Reason and which was one of the principal Motives that engag'd the Duke of Savoy to seek after his Liberty by a timely breaking with that Tyrant For whenever it pleas'd this Most Christian King to Command he must unavoidably Obey being no better than a Tributary to his Pleasure Every body knows his Royal Highness cou'd not easily have been wrought upon to banish such faithful Subjects as the Vaudois who had so often signalliz'd their Zeal and Courage for both him and his Predecessors But this Most Christian King having form'd his Design to extirpate the Reform'd Religion not only out of France but also where-ever else he could prevail corrupted so the Inclinations of this Prince and his Ministers that his Royal Highness all of a sudden became a Persecutor in spite of his natural Disposition to the contrary As soon therefore as this pernicious Practice was begun at Turin you might there perceive the same cruel Spirit and Politicks reign as in France and his Royal Highness whatever natural aversion he had for such Barbarities was forc'd to yield to the French Example without so much as enquiring whether his Proceedings were just or not The Vaudois had enjoy'd an uninterrupted Exercise of their Religion ever since the War with the Genoese and were never persecuted under the Reign of Charles Emanuel the Second nor the Regency of the Dutchess Dowager even till the Year 1685 which made them hope they might still have the same Liberty under the present Reign of Victor Amedeus II. and the rather because they had done him considerable Services against the Mondovite Rebels which he suppress'd meerly by their Assistance in the Year 1684. All these Considerations enclin'd his Royal Highness to write 'em a very obliging Letter but the Machinations of the French King who had resolv'd to destroy 'em were so successful at the Court of Turin that he obtain'd whatever he pleas'd his Royal Highness not daring to refuse one in whose Power it was to force him to obey The first Proceedings therefore of the French Ministers were to require That the Governor of the Vallies should publish an Edict to forbid all Strangers inhabiting there This came out about the end of the end of the Year 1685 and was as a Fore-runner to all the Cruelties that were afterwards there practis'd But here we may excuse his Royal Highness thus far that he only consented by a base Condescension to have his Subjects butcher'd by a Power that consults only his heat of Revenge and Ambition to rule Paramount in all the Courts of Europe After the Expiration of the Edict of Nantes the Council of France who vow'd the Destruction of the Vaudois together with the Hugonots made fresh Motions to the Duke of Savoy to publish a second Edict against them which they obtain'd the 31th of January 1686 and by which the Exercise of their Religion was forbid under Penalty of their Lives Confiscation of their Goods Demolishing of their Temples and Banishment of their Preachers And moreover their Children were to be Baptiz'd and brought up in the Catholick Religion at the peril of their Father's being otherwise sent to the Gallies The Vaudois hereupon presented four subsequent Petitions to his Royal Highness humbly praying to have this Edict revok'd but all to no purpose for they were likely to be redress'd only by Delays They could not in the least imagine what should induce the Duke of Savoy to treat 'em after so barbarous a manner never mistrusting the Influence of the French Minister because they thought themselves secure of his Most Christian Majesty's Protection he having before declar'd himself Garrantee of the Patents granted 'em in the Years 1655 and 1664 which he not only procur'd from his Royal Highness in their favour but also sent a formidable Army into Piedmont to see 'em perform'd The Noise these Inhumane Practices made in the World mov'd the Protestant Swiss-Cantons to dispatch their Deputies to his Royal Highness endeavouring to disengage this Prince from his persisting in the Ruine of the Vaudois These Ministers set forth from Basle in the Year 1686 at the beginning of the Month of March when being arriv'd at Turin and having obtain'd Audience of his Royal Highness they insinuated That the Protestant Cantons their Masters were extremely concern'd for the cruel Treatment of his Royal Highness's faithful Subjects the Vaudois and that as well in regard of the Ties of Friendship between them and Conformity in Religion with them as in respect of the Liberty of Conscience granted 'em by his Royal Highness in the Years 1655 and 1664 which was altogether the Product of their Mediation and therefore as they humbly conceiv'd the Violation of it must be in prejudice of his Royal Highness's Word and Honour Whatever solid Arguments these Embassadors could use to undeceive his Royal Highness and encline him to revoke his Bloody Edict were still prevented by the Artifices of France so that they might well have expected this Answer only That the Duke of Savoy was so strictly engag'd to the Most Christian King that it was not in his power to comply with their Request nay tho' his natural Temper was the most averse in the World from persecuting his most faithful Subjects yet that of France having got the Ascendant both over him and his Council he was
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
go before and make as if they design'd for Casal but to come to meet them at Verceil by some by-way or other The Marquess Daix being deluded by this Artifice went Post to Casal with design to prevail with the Governor of that Place to arrest them there In the mean time the Marquess of Montauban and the Baron of Bearn having desir'd Colonel Beetsleer to follow them repair'd to the Borough of Verceil the Place of Assignation They arriv'd there seven days before and staid till seven days after the time appointed by Monsieur Bagnasque But that General broke his Promise and never came to the Place Messieurs de Montaubon and de Bearn entred an Act of their Appearance and Stay and took Certificates of the Parson and Magistrates of the Place and seeing all their Endeavours were eluded by the Cowardise of Monsieur de Bagnasque the Marquess of Montauban resolv'd at last to go for Holland and the Baron of Bearn to return to Turin with design to fight Bagnasque where-ever he could meet him and revenge the Contempt and Breach of his Promise It is to be observed by the By That if Messieurs de Montauban and de Bearn had been arrested at Milan by the Marquess Daix Bagnasque to secure his Honour had resolv'd to go to the appointed Place whilst his Relations would have given out in Turin That Messieurs de Montauban and de Bearn were Cowards who had broke the Appointment At last Bagnasque's Friends considering that the General was not safe and that the Baron of Bearn who had stopt him in his own Coach in the middle of Turin would sooner or later surprise him a third time thought it convenient to use all means to make away with so dangerous an Enemy and for that purpose they gave Two hundred Pistols to Ten or Twelve Soldiers to murder him Some of these villanous Wretches having communicated their detestable Design to some of their Comerades of the Regiment of Montauban these gave Information of it to their Officers who presently notified it to the Baron of Bearn The Hatred and Resentment of Bagnasque did not stop here The Marquesses of Pianese Caral Tane and Perella all four related to that General had several Conferences upon that Affair The Safety of Bagnasque's Person who besides the great Places he had both in the Army and at Court was also his Royal Highness's Favourite was so dear to them that they us'd all their Endeavours with his Royal Highness to get an Order to put Bagnasque under arrest both to make his Family easie and break the Designs of the Baron of Bearn who would have attack'd him where-ever he could have met him His Royal Highness espous'd the Quarrel of his General so warmly that he prevail'd with my Lord Galloway to deprive the Baron of all his Employments notwithstanding the Remonstrances of Monsieur Lilemarais who wrote to his Lordship that Maters could not be carried to that extremity without doing him the greatest Injustice in the World since the Baron of Bearn was acknowledg'd by all the Army to be a brave Officer who always had discharg'd his Duty with Honour and who besides that was distinguish'd by his Quality as being extracted from one of the noblest Families in France But all this was to no purpose for Bagnasque's Cowardise and the great Interest he had at Court still prevail'd upon all other Considerations However his Royal Highness being satisfied of the Valour and Merit of the Baron of Bearn resolv'd at last to desire my Lord Galloway to make him advantageous Offers from him upon condition that he would renounce the Marquess of Montauban's Interest and forget what had past between him and General Bagnasque The Baron of Bearn answer'd That he acted not in this Affair out of any private Interest but only because the Honour of the King of England was at stake since General Bagnasque had abus'd his Troops and their Commander the Marquess of Montauban and that for his part he had rather sacrifice all his Employments than abandon his Friend's Cause My Lord Galloway order'd him by his Royal Highness's Command to be under Arrest and told him That the present Juncture of Affairs exacted from him that Complaisance for his Royal Highness The Baron of Bearn protested against the Injustice done him and put himself under the Protection of the Confederate Princes Monsieur de Varennes General of the Troops of Brandenburgh Monsieur Vander-Meer Minister of the States and several other Men of Note being now concern'd in this Affair my Lord Galloway prevail'd with his Highness to have the Baron of Bearn releas'd from his Confinement Thus being at liberty he at last left Turin and went into Holland to give His Majesty of Great Britain an Account of all that had past in this Affair Before his departure his Highness desir'd my Lord Galloway to offer him a Regiment if he would go and serve the Venetians and upon his refusal he offer'd him Money and Letters of Recommendation to the King of England He answer'd That he return'd his Royal Highness Thanks for the Offers made him upon so hard Terms That if my Lord Galloway was pleas'd to give him Letters for his Britannick Majesty he would gladly accept of them but as for those of his Highness he had no occasion for them and that the only Favour he expected from him was to order the Payment of the Arrears due to him The Duke of Savoy seeing that all these Offers were not able to shake his Resolution or make him betray his Honour spoke no more about that Affair Only my Lord Galloway and Monsieur Vander-Meer gave him Letters the first for the King and the other for the States of the United Provinces You have in this short History a faithful Picture of the Ministers of the Court of Savoy of the Genius and Inclinations of his Highness's Generals and in fine of the shuffling Conduct of that Prince with respect to the Troops of the Allies We say nothing here but what is notoriously known and if we would recount all the Treacheries we have seen with our own Eyes we should swell up this Discourse to a great Volume However we would have the World know that it was not for want of his Highness's Endeavours if all the Confederate Troops were not sacrific'd to the French and that nothing but the Prudence and Wisdom of the Generals that commanded them has sav'd them from his premeditated Designs of destroying them After that I leave to the Confederates to judge whether at this time they ought to look upon the Duke of Savoy as a well-affected Prince who never had ought but the Interest of the Confederacy in prospect as his Ministers are pleas'd to insinuate it or as a sworn and irreconcileable Enemy the more dangerous in that he has been acquainted with all that pass'd in the Closet of the Confederate Princes both to serve his own Ends and those of the Common Enemy Cautions may be
many August Princes whose only Aim is the Repose of Christendom and Security of Europe he will be under the greatest Surprise imaginable to hear that His Royal Highness without any regard to an Alliance solemnly sworn before the Abbot Grimani the Emperor's Minister should all of a sudden take off the Mask and forsake a Party which had sacrific'd but too much for his Support This Conduct of his can have no other Cause than the pernicicious Counsels of his Cabinet-Ministers who having been under-hand corrupted by the Artifices and vast Sums of Money of the French Court have undoubtedly occasion'd all these Proceedings so very opposite to his true Interest Those that are best acquainted with his Royal Highness differ something in his Character They all agree he is a Man of Sense and Wit Active Generous and Brave But some add he is exceedingly Covetous which is plain enough by his scraping up above Twenty Millions during this War But who are those that have so well advis'd his Highness Is not the Count of Bens President of the Council of War one of ' em And that as he is a great Time-server full of Design and Dissimulation One whose more peculiar Character is to be a downright Courtier since he will freely offer his Service and shew great Kindness to his Visitors but seldom or never obliges any * After this manner he behav'd himself towards the English Ministers when they visited him whilst at the same time he made a more hearty Welcome to the Emissaries of France He will wait upon People out of his very Doors with the greatest Civility imaginable which might very well gain him the Repute of a most officious and obliging Person did not his Hypocrisie glare thro' his Courtesie and detect the Malignity of his Intentions After this refin'd Courtier comes the Prince of Carignan his Royal Highness's Uncle who troubles himself but little with Affairs of State choosing rather to live like a Stoick than Politician his Genius confining him wholly to a supine Neglect of all Business and Publick Affairs Next comes the Chevalier Tane the Duke's Favourite who understands the Art of Dissimulation and Flattery so perfectly well that he easily distinguishes himself to be a Jesuite of some standing This Person has a great Ascendant over his Royal Highness insomuch that whatever he says or does cannot fail to meet with Applause In a word he is the Apollo of Turin and his Decisions are listned to as Oracles After him is the Marquess of St. Thomas Chief Minister for Foreign Affairs This Person is employ'd in all Negotiations abroad and that by reason of his Experience formerly acquir'd by defending his Matter against the Princes of Italy his Neighbours He is very proper to improve his Duke's Interests and also Sincere and Honest as far as the Italian Politicks will give him leave except that he often promises but seldom keeps his Word To all these choice Ministers of his Royal Highness's Cabinet we must yet add Two more exceedingly considerable and who are as it were the Soul that informs the whole Body These are her Royal Highness the Dutchess and the Marquess of Bagnasque General of the Duke's Forces Every body knows the Dutchess to be Daughter to the Duke of Orleans Brother of the French King and therefore her Inclinations must reasonably be suppos'd to correspond with her Birth This is to speak all in a word so that I have reckon'd up more than sufficient to form a good Council Women have naturally the Gift of Pleasing and Perswading they are generally subtle and dissembling Wherefore in this Assembly we may ascribe to her Royal Highness all the Qualities of Medusa's Head which were to render motionless or metamorphose into Monsters such as oppos'd the Deliberations in favour of France To this Stateswoman we must moreover associate the Dutchess Dowager his Royal Highness's Mother who has never yet approv'd her self so truly French as upon this Occasion However perhaps rich Presents and dazling Louidors have blinded her and caus'd her to alter her Opinion with her Condition But be the Occasion what it will 't is certain she had nosmall share in inclining the Balance tho' whether to her own Advantage or not may come hereafter to be question'd France could never have fail'd to succeed since it so prudently made use of Women's Wit which generally bears the Bell against all Opposers Two such Female Presidents were not enough for this Council a third of the other Sex must be added to 'em a Man who was bold and of Authority sufficient to put their Resolves in execution For this Work none was thought so proper as the Marquess of Bagnasque to whose Honour it may be said that he acquitted himself like a brave Captain and consequently deserved both Praises and Applauses of all the Court Nevertheless none stuck so close to him as the the Protestants and English Troops tho' at the same time he exposed 'em by his secret Intelligences with Mareschal Catinat to a more bloody and cruel Massacre than that of St. Bartholomew Time that clears all things will discover the rest and I shall reserve a farther Illustration of it to the Sequel of this Work For the present I will only add that this Marquess is very considerable at the Court of Turin on account of his great Employments which have acquir'd him an Authority that makes him look'd upon as the sole Arbiter both of the Good and Ill there practised He is his Royal Highnesses chief Favourite General of his Armies a Knight Great Master of the Ordnance and heretofore Governour of Montmellian now of Coni. Moreover he has had the Fortune to have all his Orders well executed by his Lieutenant-Generals the Marquesses of Casaly Pianese Tane and Parella all who have been faithful Abettors in favour of the French Court and receiv'd Pensions and Bribes accordingly Thus his Royal Highness must needs have been well serv'd by Ministers that have made it their chief Aim to advance the Interest and Glory of France After having thus given a small Sketch of his Royal Highness's chief Favourites it would not be amiss to say something of his several Ministers that have been sent to the most Serene Allies throughout the whole Course of this War which to perform accurately I shall content my self only with affirming that the President de la Tour Envoy to his Britannick Majesty as also to the States General and likewise the Count of Turin Envoy to his Electoral Highness of Bavaria are both Jesuits as well as the other Misters employ'd to the rest of the Confederates But here we must except Monsieur Perier Resident at the Emperour's Court who is indeed the Son of a Banker He has purchas'd a great many fair Possessions in Transylvania and France has supply'd him with 400000 Pistoles for that purpose But you may very well imagine she did not do it for nothing he no doubt was serviceable to her in his turn
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