that one may say he was rather in Prison than at Liberty Mean while France being very willing to make sure of the King of Sweden of whom it still had need for all this passed during the War let him know that all it had done was only to oblige him So that this Prince not being able to imagine it had any bad Intentions spoke of sending a Governour into the Dutchy of Deux-Ponts But while that he offered this Government sometimes to the Count of Carlson his Natural Brother in recompence of something he had taken from him sometimes to a Prince of the House of Baden the French King sent thither the Prince Palatine of Berkenfeld and so set the Prince of Baden and Count Carlson a shaking of hands they before beginning to look a little askew upon one another as two Persons are used to do who aspire to one and the same thing The Peace being concluded some time after France having no mind to part so soon with so delicate a Bit would not at first shew its intentions but still contriving a Colour to keep Deux-Ponts it bethought it self of its Right of Dependancy and demanded of the King of Sweden to pay it Fealty and Homage for it This pretention which was wholly new surpriz'd extreamly the King of Sweden but as this Countrey is far distant from his Territories most of his Ministers already concluded that he should wink upon the matter and not fall at variance with France when France which had only started this difficulty that it might not restore what it held caused Duke Adolphus to intervene that so until they were agreed together upon the matter it might still remain in its possession Thus just as it had stripped the old Duke in his Life-time who went to die of vexation far from his own Dominions so does it now despoil two Princes in the very flower and vigour of their Lives For without entring into Discussion to whom this State belongs either to the King of Sweden or to Duke Adolphus it is probable to say that if it cannot keep it for it self it will rather give it to Prince Palatine of Birkenfeld than restore it to either of the two For it would be afraid if it fell into the hands of the King of Sweden of encreasing the power of a Prince who would not easily be won to be its Friend and it might believe the same thing of Duke Adolphus whose true Interests are ever to continue well united with the Head of his Family Now it must needs be no small mortification to the Palatine House to see so great a number of its Princes become Subjects in so short a time For in fine besides that he who shall have the Dutchy of Deux-'Ponts that if in case France does give it to any Body will be obliged to pay it Fealty and Homage how many others are there who groan at this day in their Bonds The Prince of Petites Pierre can say something to this matter if the unhappy example of one of his Relations did not perhaps oblige him to hold his Peace I mean the Prince of Weldens who by having had the Soul of a Prince and resolving to keep himself in the Rank which God had conferred upon him by his Birth would now be reduced to die of hunger if his People had not Pity of him I say reduced to die of hunger you must not imagine I exaggerate for many people know as well as I that upon refusing to render Fealty and Homage to France he was dispossessed of his Dominions where he now lives in a borrowed House and upon the Alms he receives from his Subjects They also know to what the Prince his Son is reduced they know I say that his Father not having the means to give him a Manchet away he trooped upon a little Nag without Servants or Train as might do the least and most inconsiderable Gentleman of France They know farther that he has been too happy in putting himself into the Service of the States of Holland who have given him a Company of Foot which is all he has now to subsist on Some or other will now perhaps ask me why the Prince of Weldens should all alone stickle against an absolute Power Why does he not yield to the time as well as others and in fine what great difference is there between a Vassal of the Emperor and a Vassal of the French King For in short I know that these Discourses are commonly in the mouths not only of those who are in the interests of the Crown of France but also of several Persons who cannot behold the misfortunes of this Prince without Compassion and without seeking a Remedy thereunto to this I will answer that the Prince of Weldens seeing himself reduced to the ultimate necessity he has tried all sort of means of accommodation but could not resolve upon slavery In effect seeing a number of Princes of his Family had shew'd him the way he sent his Son into France who offered the King on his behalf to pay him Fealty and Homage provided he might be treated as a Prince that is to say possess the same Rights and Priviledges as he enjoyed before things changed face But the King made a mock at these Propositions so as that his Son was forced to come back without any effect Mean while if a Body may here be allowed to make some Reflection upon the present state of the Princes of Germany and upon what they were in a while ago it 's no difficult matter to make appear how much those are mistaken who think there 's no difference between being a Vassal of the Emperor and the being a Vassal of the French King. But I am to blame to say Vassal of the Emperor For all the Princes of the Empire I mean Sovereign Princes as Electors and those of certain Houses are indeed members of the Empire but not Vassals of the Emperor True they are obliged to assist the Empire under pain of forfeiting their Priviledges nay their States but they are not obliged to assist the Emperor unless the Empire is attacked Wherefore let 's conclude that the word Vassal does not relate to Princes of Germany who are Sovereigns over their Tributaries as the Emperor may be over his Who have Rights of Life and Death over their Subjects imposing on 'em burdens and Taxes according to their own Fancies and in fine are accountable for their actions only to God alone Let 's I say Conclude that Princes who have thus all the Badges of a Soveraign are very different from the Princes of France who bating that they are covered when the King gives Audience to Ambassadors have nothing above other Subjects Nay and a man may say they are below some certain Subjects that there are for you know the Dukes and Peers take place of them and that the Princes are obliged not to be at any Ceremony that they may not come after ' em Mean while if we
Cavalry who seeing Trees all along the Rhine put himself with his Troops among them thinking himself thereby the better sheltered from the Cannon Mean while in went the French into the Rhine one after one and many of them were drown'd being swallow'd up in a Whirl-pool Others seeing this took the advantage on the left and pass'd for all the World like Cows which follow in the tail of one another Wurtz his Cavalry saw them pass without flinching until they perceiv'd some Troopers who now began to come out of the Water and form a Squadron Then they came from under the Trees where they stood but instead of pushing the Enemies that were return'd into the Water they made a halt upon the brink of the River from whence they made their discharge which being at too great a distance was without any effect The little Resolution which the Cavalry shewed gave Courage to the French who would never have dared to have stood their shock if they had but followed them into the Water and not stood gazing and suffer them to strengthen their Squadron with their Companions Wurtz his Cavalry having thus quited their ground the French rallied and waited for their Companions who still pass'd the River for the most part swimming and some by Boat. The Prince of Conde being thus in a Boat with the Duke of Anguien and some great Lords of the Court he caus'd his Boat to turn back towards the Water-side when he perceiv'd the Duke of Longueville had thrown himself into the River and ran the risque of being drowned he took him into his Boat and endeavouring to pass as soon as possible he was no sooner arrived on the other side than that he drew up his Troops in Battel Array in order to attack the Enemies Retrenchments The Hollands Infantry finding themselves weak in sorry Retrenchments and had besides placed all their hopes in the Cavalry by whom they saw themselves abandoned thought less of making Resistance than of demanding the Quarter which the Prince of Conde had offer'd them calling out to them aloud that they should lay down their Arms. Mean while the French still advanc'd without one man so much as making a shot either of their or on the Hollanders side which made the King believe who saw all that pass'd that he should have the Victory without its costing him one drop of blood But the Duke of Longueville having made a Debauch just before he parted from Emmerick advanc'd up to the very brink of the Retrenchment and fired his Pistol whereupon the Hollanders vex'd they had not fired sconer and fancying they had no more hopes of quarter left made their Discharge which being made as it were in the very mouths of the French killed a great many of the most considerable Persons among the Enemies The Duke of Longueville who had begun the noise was killed stone dead the Prince of Conde wounded and many others whom it would be too long to name The French who had been startled at this Discharge being recovered from their fright Rallyed and Attack'd the Retrenchments where they found some Resistance especially at one Barriere where was an Officer whose head was hoary with years but whose old Age had as much Vigour as the most Resolute Youth But being at length overwhelmed with numbers the rest sought their safety from their heels not thinking of asking Quarter which then they thought was to no purpose The French having no more Enemies to fight plundred the Castle of Tolhuys and put all the Isle of Betue under Contribution This was not the only advantage they reaped from the passage of the Rhine the Hollanders who were then afraid the French should come and fall upon them behind abandoned the Issel and retreated to Vtrecht where the Populace would have Sacrificed Mombas to its Resentment whom they accused of what had newly happened The Prince of Orange who knew he deserved Death yet was desirous he should be first questioned and perhaps put on the Rack for a full Discovery of his Treason gave order he should be saved by a back Gate and hid him in Hay to save him from the Peoples Resentment Mean while the King in Person took the City of Doesburg and Mon. Turenne those of Nimmeghen Swoll Deventer Grave Arnheim Skinckenskens the Fort of Crevecceur with a number of other Fortresses Thus did Vtrecht fall into the hands of the French but without their being obliged to lay siege to it For while the King was still before Doesbourg the Burgher-masters brought him the Keys as if they had been afraid of not having a Master soon enough The Marquis of Rochefort who was in favour at Court was sent to be Governour of that Town But as he had not yet much experience in War he failed of seizing Muidem which was abandoned by the taking in of which nevertheless they had made sure of Amsterdam In effect it was easy being Master of Muidem to hinder Ships from going in or out of Amsterdam for they must of necessity pass by Muidem which they would not have dared to have done if the French had been Master of it Thus Amsterdam had been brought to the necessity of coming to render it self up as Vtrecht had already done Not but that if the King had still come and presented himself before the Gates of the City they would have brought him the Keys for every Individual was in that Consternation that they only thought of saving their own Families without otherwise troubling themselves about the interest of their Country Nay and without staying for the Kings sending to summon up the delivery of the Town a Council was held in the City whether they should not go to meet him to desire he would be pleased to take it into his Protection as well as all the Inhabitants and there was a great danger of their coming to this Resolution if two Burger masters whose names ought to be Consecrated to Posterity the one of whom was called Offe and the other Hassenaer had not encouraged the rest to hold firm and rather call the Sea to their succours which had been a safer Remedy for them tho they were brought to the utmost necessity than to receive the French. After the King had taken the City of Doesburg he went to Encamp at Zeist two Leagues from Vtrecht where Ambassadors from the States came to demand Peace of him But as he was too haughty upon the success of his Arms he proposed such disadvantageous Conditions that the Ambassadours were obliged to return home without coming to any Conclusion Mean while when they were arrived at the Hague it was resolved they should go again because that Affairs on the other side were in so lamentable an estate that they thought themselves over happy in that they might receive any manner of Conditions Mean while there was still another difficulty which was that the French King would not come to any Conclusion without calling thereunto the King of England
being come he had resolved to make his escape on he sent for Tobacco and told his Keepers he would come and smoke with them after Supper But on a sudden pretending he had no mind to it he went again to Bed before their Eyes and desir'd them they would go smoke in the Antichamber for that the Tobacco incommoded him They having seen him in Bed were far from believing he had any thought of making his escape complied with his desires but Mombas getting immediately out of Bed took the Plaister he had upon his Leg put it upon his Face and leapt out of the Window below which the Guard I mentioned stood Centinel Thus did he traverse the Camp without being known by any Body whether by reason it was duskish and toward night or of the Plaister which disguised him But being come to the Spaniard he was strangely furprized to see that he refused to let him pass unless he first gave him the hundred Pistols he had promised him This Dispute gave him to understand the Roguery of Villate but it being now no time to make reflexion on it his thoughts were wholly set how he should come off from this Affair which nevertheless he saw but little probabilty of effecting For the Spaniard stood flat and plain upon his having his hundred Pistols before he let him pass and Mombas would not give him them not having about him near a hundred In short being at this pinch he was forced to make a vertue of necessity and having turned his Pockets before the Spaniard he offered all he had by him But seeing that would not content him he told him he might do as he pleased but that if he was the Cause of his being retaken as it was not to be doubted he would not fail to accuse him That it became him to consider what he had now to do and that he had nothing more to say to him These Menaces startled the Spaniard and making him recollect himself he took what Mombas was willing to give him and let him troop on with his Guide Mombas entred into the Inundation and went thus three Leagues having the Water up to his middle nay and often in danger of his life But it was very just that a Traitor who was the Cause of the Ruine of a whole State should suffer in his turn and though what he underwent was pretty severe yet was it not so much as he deserved Mombas being thus arrived at Woerden with such Difficulties as are more easie to imagine than describe would have gone into the Boat which goes from Woerden to Vtrecht but when he was in he perceived that a Woman by whom he sate knew him and had named him to another Woman that sate by her And as a Person that has done an ill thing is ever under a Dread and Apprehension he went immediately out of the Boat being resolved to take another way And yet there was no other than that of the Causey because the whole Country was overslowed from Woerden unto Vtrecht But being afraid that some or other might come to know him again upon the High-way he put himself again into the Inundation without any other Guide than his Despair for the Man who had Conducted him to Woerden was trooped off thinking he had no more need of him and besides there was no safety in seeking out another nor having a farthing too to pay him he thought he had no other Course than that of returning into the Inundation Being come within a quarter of a League or thereabouts of Utrecht out went he of the Water but so wet that he could not for shame go to the City in that condition Wherefore he had his Cloaths dryed at the first House he came to and then entring the Town he went to lodge at the Palace Royal where he chanced to meet with one of his Nephews who served in the Troops of France where he was a Captain of Horse But this Nephew seeing him enter far from believing it to be him he took him for a Ghost for the Night before a Man came to the same Inn from Nicurbruk who had told as a certain piece of News and whereof he himself had been an Eye-witness that he had seen him beheaded And this Rumour was so spread about the Town that no body would believe that Mombas was arrived Mean while the Duke of Luxembourg who succeeded in the room of the Marquess of Rochfort at Vtrecht was very much puzled whether or no he should see Mombas For on one side he would have been very glad to have got such useful hints and instructions as he was capable of giving as being perfectly acquainted with the Country yet he judged it not altogether Policy to give him a good Reception for that this would manifest too openly the secret Correspondence that had been kept with him In short being determined not to see him he feign'd in the presence of those who told him as a great piece of News that Mombas was in the City not to give it any Credit adding that sure he would not be so impudent after having born Arms against the King to come again and put himself into his hands They all knowing what the meaning of this was their tongues were husht from that time forwards and there was no more talk of Mombas than if no body had known him For his part when he knew the Duke of Luxembourg would not see him away went he to the Prince of Conde at Arnheim and as that Prince was full as Politick as the Duke of Luxembourg neither would he speak to him but in secret and at an hour when all the world was still asleep Whereupon he sent his Captains of the Guards to fetch him from his Inn at three a Clock in the Morning and Mombas wrapt up in a great Cloak came to him in his Cabinet There did he sell Holland the second time declared the secrets of the State at least those he had been able to know before he had been taken into Custody and after he had informed the Prince of Conde of all he was desirous to know he retired to Cologn there to stay until he had leave to return into France which was another Grimace to deceive the World thinking thereby to take away the suspicions that had been conceived of him Whereupon some time after they let him know he might come to the Duke of Luxembourg and he served for a Guide to that General when he came to take Woerden which the French had abandoned after they had had it once in possession He it was who conducted him before that Place when the Prince of Orange besieged it so as one may say that as much care as before he had taken to conceal his Treason as industrious was he then to blaze it abroad Now tho' all I have now said may seem to be rather the History of the War than a Continuation of my Subject which is to shew the faithlessness of
would look back but to the beginning of the last Age we should find that among those Dukes there are those whose Fathers were Notaries at Paris and other Merchants It 's well known what the Descendants of one of those two Houses have done not long since to suppress the knowledge of so low and so shameful an Extraction It 's well known I say that they have caused an Epitaph in the Church of St. Innocent to be taken away and that instead of it you see one now in the Celestins wherein there are as many Lies as there are Truths in the other Nevertheless 't is to men of this Extraction that Princes who only reckon Sovereigns among their Ancestors are obliged to give place at this day But what say I 't is to men of much more lower and of a much more vile Extraction whom the Princes of the Blood are compelled to make their Court to It 's well known that what makes a mans fortune now in France is not to budge out of the Anti-chamber of a Minister and a Colonel of Horse whom I could name and every one knows as well as I does not disdain to be the Buffoon of one of the Secretaries of State. For which reason he has parted with his Regiment for fear that when he was in War another should rob him of so noble an Employment It 's also well known that while Mr. Colbert's at Dinner the greatest Lords study some quaint saying or other to make him laugh and he that has had the luckiest hit that way knocks off as well satisfied with his person as if he had been the man who defended Vienna against the Turks In fine it 's well known which nevertheless People can hardly comprehend that Monsieur the Kings only Brother is obliged to have recourse to them for the obtaining any Boon or Favour nay and after he has had recourse too he has not always what he demands I could prove it if I would by a thousand examples what I dare here alledge but I shall content my self with saying that what happened a year or two ago upon the account of a man who was very desirous to come into the Farming the Kings Customs is a sufficient testimony Not being able to obtain it after having told Mr. Colbert again and again he was obliged to speak to the King thereof If there was any need to enhance upon all this to shew in what consideration are the Ministers of France and the fawnings and stoopings which the Princes are forced to cajole them with I need only relate what happen'd a while ago to the Dauphin He had asked of Mr. de Seignelay the Son of one of the late Mr. Colbert a Clarks place in a Ship for the Son of the Officers of his Houshold and Mr. de Seignelay having granted it him with some difficulty a while after a fancy took this Minister of a new Impression to revoke the Clark under the pretext he was uncapable of his Office. The Dauphin being informed of this told Mr. de Seignelay that he should be very glad he were re-established and that if he had failed in any thing it was only out of Youth that he would stand his surety that he should do better for the future and that he should have no more occasion for reproach Mr. de Seignelay after having listned to this Prince with that gravity he of late so impertinently affects told him that he was not Master of the thing but that he would speak of it to the King. Upon this the Dauphin not being able to endure that a man of his stamp should receive so unworthily the honour he did him rebuked him with such nipping words as humbled his Pride Let 's from hence Conclude that it 's a great misfortune for a Prince to be born the Subject of the Crown of France and a great imprudence in him who is not so to entertain any thoughts of yoking himself in such a Servitude Let 's but ask the Prince Palatine who is only a Neighbour how he likes the Neighbourhood and I am sure he will tell us there is little difference between his Subjects and his Neighbour If he pretends to speak as a Prince they speak to him at the same time as Master and if he would have France leave her at Quiet he must too submit himself to all its wills Let 's also ask him whether he has now any faithful Subjects left him among so many Subjects who obey him and whether France has not debauch'd them all Finally let 's ask him if he dare so much as complain tho he daily sees his Territories so Harass'd and whether he be not on the contrary told That he is still too happy in being under the Protection of so great a King. Let 's proceed on I beseech you into the Courts of other Princes of Germany and let 's see what passes there before we make any Reflection on the Princes of France What shall we say of the Ecclesiastical Electors the one of whom sells his Country for glittering ready Cash through the suggestions of French Emissaries the other suffers himself to be daunted by its Emissaries Menaces and the other follows so its passions that one would say the same Interest Spirited them both But let 's also say at the same time that all this is not sufficient without violence For who doubts of all the Tricks it has play'd and the Cabals it has set on foot and are now daily working to detach them from their true Interests Some are told that most of their States are Dependencies on the Crown and that if they do not make it their business to Court its favour they will not long enjoy a thing which does not appertain to them Thus while they are fleec'd of the true Character of a Soveraign which is of being Independant of any body they endeavour to insinuate to them on the contrary that their Dependency on France is the only thing which can make them Reign Others are bid to consider the power it has to judge whether thus have any thing to hope but by its means and while they are they fed with fair hopes their People are encourag'd in Disobedience that Soveraigns may still have need of its succours to repress them nay and would not say that all Wheels are thus set awork to appropriate the more easily a State wherein each Plays the Master while he who has nothing to do with it has already there got one Foot and will set the other too when he pleases by reason of the Fortresses that are suffered to be demolished Any man may easily guess I now mean Liege where France already holds Dinant contrary to the Faith of Treaties and where the Discord of the People with their Soveraign renders it as much the Mistress as if this State belonged to it For who is so blind as not to perceive the Policy in this Occasion As it was ever afraid that Mr. de Cologn would clear up
his Eyes it thought fit to have a remedy against what may happen and just as it maintained the Messanezes in their disobedience so it fosters the people of Liege in their enterprises If Mr. de Cologn would but once make reflection that he ought to be their Soveraign For in fine if this was not its intention what should now hinder Mr. de Cologn from reducing a Town which is open on all sides without Succours and without Garrisons Wherefore if he would be pleased a little to consider with himself and mind that the alliance of that Crown has only served to procure him the hate of his People and the entire ruine of his Country without speaking of the Armies of the Empire which after this have been obliged not to spare him let us see how he himself has been treated by those in whom he places all his hopes Who but knows the horrible Contributions which France has raised upon his Subjects the Desolation of the Countrey the Plunder of Towns and to say all in a word the Destruction of Cities and other Edifices Who knows not what passed at Huy where not satisfied with having Tyrannized over the Inhabitants it has moreover pulled down the Castles and destroyed one of the finest Bridges there was upon the Meuse so that now that City is frustrated of its greatest conveniency by having received him within its Walls But let 's pass on to the other Princes of Germany and see whether they have any more reason to be contented with its Proceedings I might abridge with one dash what I have to say upon this Subject if I would but only relate what has lately befain the King of Denmark For as it would be easie to judge by the Treatment its Ally receives from it the Treatment which all others may expect methinks that this should be sufficient to insinuate its violence and how it pretends to Lord it over all the World. But as there are many who are willing to have specified what way it is the French Court takes to bring about its Designs I mean here to give a taste of its maxims and its enterprizes The whole World knows how the Dauphins match with the Dauphiness was made The consideration the Duke of Bavaria was in in the Empire not only upon the account of the largeness of his Dominions but also from their Scituation was the reason he was courted by all Parties during the last War as being able to give a great weight to that in favour of whom he should declare This the French King was sensible of and therefore made him daily offers of a thousand advantageous conditions if he would engage in his Interests The Emperor on his side forgetting nothing that might win him so as that the Duke of Bavaria judging of his Credit by the Caresses he received resolved to hearken to both Parties but to engage only with that with whom he should find his so doing would turn to best account In regard of the Emperor he only offered him an Offensive and Defensive League against France whose Ambition he laid open to him thinking it would be sufficient to render his Interests Common but as the Duke of Bavaria expected something more advantageous he listned the more willingly to the propositions of France which they endeavoured to render to him the most agreeable that was possible In effect they joyned to a World of Politick Reasons which might formerly be good but which were nothing worth now magnificent presents which care was taken to renew from time to time And as Princes as well as others do pretty often suffer themselves to be tempted with those lures he was every day more and more disposed to make an Alliance with France The Dutchess of Bavaria for whom the French King had formerly some thoughts of Marriage and who had been vex'd that it had not been brought about thinking she might place her Daughter on the Throne which she her self had miss'd of possessing push'd the Elector of Bavaria on to this Alliance but advis'd him at the same time to secure the Establishment of their Daughter who could not hope for any more advantageous Match in all Europe The Ministers of France quickly discovered what pass'd in the Cabinet of M. de Bavaria and thinking they should the better insinuate themselves into his Favour if without waiting that he should prevent them upon this point of Marriage they should first make to him the Proposal of it They declared to him they had Order from the King their Master to break the Matter to him and said the same thing to the Dutchess of Bavaria which fill'd her full of joy After this the Ministers of the Emperor were no longer listned to in any manner and there was no other talk than of the future Alliance which was upon the Foundation fo the Treaty which then was making between France and Bavaria by which the Duke of Bavaria promis'd to remain Neuter which was all that France demanded For as the Duke of Bavaria was powerfully Armed and that he had resolved to observe the Neutrality as long as the War should last France conjectured as it was also true that it would create an Umbrage in the Emperor and that this Arming would almost produce the same effect as if M. de Bavaria acted openly and indeed the issue shew'd that these Conjectures were not ill grounded But without amusing my self with relating what were the consequences of this matter which all the World knows as well as I I shall say that this Alliance having subsisted until the Treaty of Nimmeghen the Marriage of the Dauphin with Mademoiselle of Bavaria was Consummated presently after seeing principally there was no other Princess to be Married in Europe nor any better Family nor who had Nobler Quality Besides France thought by this means it had made sure of the House of Bavaria but the Duke and Dutchess of Bavaria being dead a little before and their Dominions falling into the hands of a Young though a more Sagacious Prince if the saying so may be allowable than were his Father and his Mother as France perceived that he was not so wedded to its interests as they had been sought to tie him by some new Alliance Now as there is nothing more taking with a Young Prince than Beauty especially when it is built upon and seconded with extraordinary Merit the Ministers of France so ordered the matter that those Pentioners they had about his Person should often Discourse him about Mademoiselle de Blois the King 's Natural Daughter who appearing accomplish'd at a very tender Age promis'd to become in time one of the most charming Persons in the World. The Elector of Bavaria finding himself alittle toucht with what was told him every day or perhaps spurr'd on with the curiosity of knowing whether Reputation did not make any addition to the Beauty of this Young Princess made known that he should not be sorry to see her Picture But the thing
having been told to those who were still faithful to him and who were jealous of his Glory they represented to him too strongly the Gin that was laid for his Youth that this Prince recollecting with himself was asham'd of what perhaps he had only done out of Curiosity Mean while there came from France several Pourtraicts of Mademoiselle de Blois but the Ministers of that Crown perceiving the scandal of her Birth destroy'd all the impressions which her Beauty might make abandoned the Design of this Match of which they had before conceived some hopes Upon this they proposed another Marriage to the Duke of Bavaria and which was indeed more suitable being of Mademoiselle Sister of the Queen of Spain and Daughter to the Duke of Orleans But those same Ministers of his who had been able to make him disrelish the former found the means to disswade him too from this representing to him that all this was but a Snare to divert him from the Alliance of the Emperor whose Daughter he might be in hopes of Marrying which was not only a much more advantageous thing for him but also necessary to his interest Wherefore that it became him to open his Eyes once for all upon the Designs of France which only tended to the Ruin of the Emperor and of all the Empire That true it was that it fed him from time to time with fine imaginations as the having him chosen King of the Romans but that at the bottom his Design was only to disunite the Princes from one another that when the Election came to be she might take for her self what she then so willingly offered to others That it was not for his interest to desire a Neighbourhood so fatal to all those who had the misfortune to be his Neighbours that this was no slander and that there needed no more than to consider their condition to make others dread falling into the like circumstances These wise Councils produced all the impression that could be expected in the mind of a Prince who loves Glory and flies Oppression But as this was in no wise palatable to the Ministers of France they wore so outrag'd at the refusal which the Duke made of a Match with Mademoiselle that they had the insolence to say That tho' the Elector had Married Mademoiselle de Blois he would not have been dishonoured That there were as great Princes as He who world perhaps demand her in Marringe and yet not obtain her And that the King was sufficiently puissant to revenge himself one day for the Contempt that was made of his Alliance These heights gave the Duke of Bavaria to understand how at first that Crown introduced it self by gentleness and would afterwards establish it self by force But this Procedure serving only to divert him the more from this Alliance he treated immediately with the Emperor with whom one might say he would find both more safety and more Glory Nor has the Duke of Saxony had more reason to commend the Conduct of France who seeing that he stood wedded as well as the Duke of Bavaria to his true interest without suffering himself to be cajoled with all their Promises has rais'd him Enemies both at Home and among his Neighbours it being well known how many Tricks and Arrifices it has us'd to set him at Variance with the Princes of his own Family and which not being able to bring about it has had recourse to Neighbouring Princes who have given it some jealousie which the Emperor however has very wisely dissipated As concerning the Marquiss of Brandenburgh and the King of Denmark I know nothing which can afford more aversion for that Crown than its Conduct to those Princes For if we consider after what manner it introduced it self into their Considence we shall find it set all manner of Engines a going to bring it about but after having attained to what it desired there is no manner of hardship but what it has made 'em suffer Every Man knows the Proposals the Court de Roy made at his arrival in the North. They know I say that he demanded of the King of Denmark on the behalf of the King his Master that he should share in the Disposal of the Subsidies which he received from him adding they were unprofitably dissipated The same thing almost was said to the Elector of Brandenburgh But to hinder such like Complements from exciting the resentment of those Princes who ought to be jealous of their Honour they keep buzzing about them either Pentioners or French themselves who mollifie things insomuch that those Princes being kept as I may say between fear and hope know not what to determine But let 's here admire the Policy of that Crown which knows how to draw its advantages from all things even from those which would seem to be contrary to it The Persecution which it made Mr. Brickman suffer is sufficiently blaz'd in the World for he after having been a long while in the Bastile for having shewn his steddiness was moreover obliged to leave his Country saying there was nothing more to hope for him in the Service of France where he had nevertheless consumed his Youth But as soon as France knew he was gone into Brandenburgh and that he had been kindly received by the Elector on a sudden its Hatred was not only appeas'd but it would needs too Recommend him to that Prince not by it self indeed because that would have been suspicious but by its Generals insomuch that this Recommendation joyned to the Merits of his Person obtained him in a short time a Regiment of Horse with the Government of Wesel And he it is it now makes use of but slily to work out its Intentions For though he does not seem trusted with its Secrets and that on the contrary he is always speaking some Resentments of what he has suffer'd from France he knows how to give the Blow upon occasion but a Blow too much the more dangerous in that it is not thought to depart from an affectionate hand Bois David who was obliged to fly France where he was a Brigadeer and Collonel of Foot for having fought a Duel with Mr. d' Aubijoux has also regain'd its Favour by acting for its Interests at the Court of Zell where he is setled to advantage there occurring nothing there but whereof Mr. d' Louvois is informed and what appears the more extraordinary is that though there be no more remission for those who are accused of the same Crime as his is yet he goes sometimes to Paris whether it be to settle his own Affairs or as is more probable to Confer with Mr. de St. Bovange upon what he would not dare to trust in Letters All the Courts of other Princes are thus cramm'd with Banish'd or Discontented French-men But at the same time that these Princes receive them if a Man may not say they receive Serpents into their Bosom one may say at least they ought to be very
they had laid Siege had given such a terrour unto all Germany that all the Princes thought themselves already lost he would not March on not out of any effect of Moderation nor much less out of an effect of Christianity but that he might not lose himself in the Opinion of all the Princes of Germany for he imagined that lying under those woful Circumstances they would suddenly be obliged to have recourse to him and already reckoning upon the Empire he would not pour upon it Desolation and Terror and this was the cause that he now rather attacks Spain than the Empire For he still hopes that if the Turks once seize on Vienna that none but he will be able to oppose such mighty Forces as if the Princes of the Empire would not rather chuse if it was a forc'd Putt to render themselves Tributaries of the Turk than to submit to his Slavery And indeed without speaking further of his Tyranny which is incomparably harder to support than that of the Pagans is it not probable to say Consciences will not be always Tyranniz'd over and that each Man will be allow'd to serve his God There you will hear no talk of Edicts which decree the Destruction of Churches nor of Troops which serve for Executioners to those who assemble upon their Ruins to sing there the Praises of the Almighty But if it is easie at least as I imagine to create an abhorrence of the French Government it is not so easie to teach the means to avoid it seeing principally as I have said all Princes seem to conspire with it to bring Europe into Slavery For in fine is it not a thing worthy both of pity and anger to see that in a time wherein there ought to be a general Union against so formidable a Power they still strive to give it new Forces for what do those think of who have lately Elected the Elector of Cologn or rather say Bishop of Strasburgh for the Bishop of Munster do they not know that both those Princes are entirely devoted to France and tho' the Elector of Cologn should come to rub and open his Eyes yet the Bishop of Strasburg has so great an ascendant over him as that he would still oblige him to continue in his error Do they not know that tho' the Elector of Cologn only loves Peace the Bishop of Strasburgh only loves War do they not know that it was only by the means of the late Archbishop of Cologn and by the perswasion of the Bishop of Strasburgh that France carried its formidable Arms into the United Provinces and who then now augment the power of their Heirs who already shew but too much passion to shackle Europe They have the same Name the same Inclination the same Design with the Deceas'd It is their same Blood and their same Spirit We have seen into what a hideous Precipice the Deceas'd had thought to have tumbled all Germany and yet as if people had quite forgot what has but newly happened they give the Nephews the means to execute the things which the Vncle had only the will to do The one has already deliver'd the Capital City of his Bishoprick into the hands of the French and the other will have them still deliver the rest of Germany which is already put into great Captivity by this Treason They are willing in a word to find the hands of Holland by the Neighbourhood of a new Enemy and so fetter by this means the rest of Europe which has no other hopes than in that State. But let 's put a period to a Discourse which besides can operate no good effects since all People do not love to be so plainly told their Truths And indeed as much as France may be vex'd that I have here discovered its Maximes and its Policy so will the others bear me an illwill for having rebuk'd 'em of blindness and weakness mean while I still cannot forbear saying to the venture of all that these may think that it is rendring themselves the Accomplices of all the Enterprises which France shall undertake if they do not put an end to the Differences which for this long while have so divided them For what else can a body say we see the one is preparing to invade Lubeck another Pomerania others are contriving how to oppose these Designs when on another side a much more formidable Power meditates the reducing them all under its Obedience They will not suffer that one Neighbour should become more powerful than the other but make no reflection that an Enemy reproaches who not contented with having enlarged his Dominions with great Conquests will not content himself with remaining their Neighbour It is for all the world in this just as what is pleasantly said by the Author of a certain Lampoon which stole abroad about five or six months ago upon the state of Europe at this day for when he comes to speak of the Vnited Provinces he makes them say they will not suffer the Prince of Orange to Reign over them and he answers them that they are blind and fools since they are afraid of being bitten by the Dog and do not see the Wolf which is just ready to devour them In effect all those Princes of the North perceive that the King of Denmark would willingly joyn Hamburgh and Lubeck to his Crown but they do not perceive that France will quickly joyn to its Dominions both those two Cities and their Dominions too unless they unite together to prevent it They see that the Marquiss of Brandenburg has a design of invading Pomerania from which he thinks he was without reason excluded but they do not see that while they oppose his augmenting his Power another augments his to that degree that they all run a risque of being suddenly oppress'd Wherefore what remedy is there to all these Mischiefs unless that of forgetting the old Quarrels to entertain a new one But first those fordid Spirits ought to be banished from Councils who after having insinuated themselves into the favour of Princes in reward play 'em daily a thousand and a thousand Treasons None but the Ancient Servants ought to be heard I mean those whose fidelity has been so often tryed we should be blame worthy to suspect them for in the Age we live all People ought to be distrusted principally since we daily see but too much Corruption For in fine Would not Strasburgh still subsist if it had had only in its bosom Persons stock'd with Fidelity But let 's admire I beseech you the difference there is between the Service which France reaps from its Subjects which are in the Service of other States the Service which other States reap from their Subjects which are in the Service of France I have already shew'd how one Bois David one Brugmaie both banish'd and both proscrib'd as they are yet serve for Spies to their Country in the Courts of the Marquiss of Brandenburg and the Duke of
Zell I have shew'd I say what reason these Princes have to suspect their Fidelity But let us now see how much on the contrary the Fidelity of Hasfield who is born the Subject of the King of Sweden ought to be suspected to the King his Master His Birth is so well known in the World that it would be superfluous to speak of it here unless that I had a mind to say that being born of a French Father and Mother it is not to be wonder'd that he inherits and fosters their inclinations Yet this may be objected to him that after his Family had been rais'd from nothing if I may say so by the benefits of the Crown of Sweden and that he was born in that Kingdom all the other Obligations ought to be effaced insomuch that what was a Virtue in his Father is a Crime in him And indeed who can think without having a contempt of his Person that while France carries it so sparkishly towards the King his Master he still conspires with it to bring all Germany into Slavery Was it not him who took so many Voyages to Strasburgh when it was more easie for him than others to negotiate by reason of the Language of the Country which is familiar to him as also for that he was there the less suspected Is it not he who is daily hatching Cabals in Sweden where he knows the Great Men are discontented by reason of the vast Estates which the King has taken from them because they were rather Profusions than Liberalities made by the Kings Predecessors I only take to Witness the great Men of that Kingdom and whether it be not true that in a Debauch where seven or eight were present one of the Company told the other that if Hasfields Counsel was followed they should set up a Teckely among them that is to say a Head of the Male-Contents But I pass many other things o're in silence be it as it will there 's no saying but that France does well reward the services that one does it Besides his receiving good Pensions from thence and great Presents it advances all his Family while it ne're thinks of the best Families of the Kingdom which ne'retheless do not a little want it He has two Brothers one of whom is suddenly to be a Bishop the other an Abbot the King having promised it him and never failing in his word unless we except what he and his Ministers call Word of State. There are still two others one of whom is at Hambourg upon the account of the French King a worthy Brother of Mr. Hasfield that is to say just as ready as he to sell Germany if the thing was in his power and the other remains in Sueden and he it is that gives notice of all occurences in that Kingdom Now all these noble Blades Sons of Mr. Bidal that famous Bankrupt whom Boileau has not fail'd to glance upon in his Satyrs but now he is obliged by an express order from Court to raze it out when he puts his Works again to the Press For Mr. Hasfield doing such mighty feats to render his name worthy of immortality it is but justice there should not remain so many Monuments of his Infamy Wherefore the means to prevent all these abuses is to follow the Example which France does now it self set the world For it not only Confiscates all the Estates of its Subjects who go into the Service of other States but it also forbids 'em to serve under pain of Corporal punishment Mean while if we see it has indulgence for some we can only infer from thence what I have noted namely that those Persons serve for its Spyes about the Princes by whom they are employ'd which is but too true Let us hence Conclude that so long as there is no Care taken to remedy these abuses it is impossible we should be successful in our measures but that on the contrary France will have all the advantages it can desire For can it be expected we should happily accomplish an Enterprize whereof France had long had notice before we went about to put it in execution Moreover let 's add to this that it is not yet sufficient that a Prince should distrust his Ministers or change them he must be his own Minister and know that tho' there be one person in his Council proof against temptation there will be a thousand that will stoop to the lure In effect let him but make reflection that hiring out himself very commonly as at this day is but too frequently practised to him that gives most his Ministers may well do the same thing and the rather for that they want more than he does the money which is offered them There remains something to be said touching the remedy that ought to be applied to so many mischiefs wherewith we find our selves overwhelmed at this day But as I can only offer what several persons have said before me I rather choose to be silent than to repeat so many useless matters and besides for the most part more speculative than real For when I make reflection upon what I have read in so many passages and heard spoken in so many places that all Protestants ought to unite together in Default of Catholicks to oppose their Common ruine ought not we to Conclude that it is much more easie to reason after this manner than to see the effect of that Argumentation For how can they expect that the Protestants all alone should undertake a war against France while the Catholicks are daily upon the Catch to surprize ' em We see at this day a fair Example of their Intention by which it is easie for us to judge of the Confidence we may put therein I mean the usage the Protestants meet with in Silesia and the other Neighbouring Provinces at a time when they themselves are under Desolation and stand in full need of our Assistance But they had rather all the Empire should Perish than slacken their Cruelties in the least The House of Austria does not see that the Authors of all these Councels I mean the Jesuits only give it them out of Interest It is still willing to Sacrifice to them the rest of the Empire whereof it has already Sacrificed to them a good part Mean while let it not be imagined that all I here say proceeds from any natural aversion against them upon the account of my Religion I protest before God that I hate no body and that I would not impute to them any of our mischiefs if I did not see that all worthy People even of their own Religion love 'em no more than I do The World is sufficiently acquainted with their strange avidity to have the Estates of those four Hungarian Lords whom the Emperor caused to be beheaded to Comply rather with their pressing Instances than for any Crime which was in them at least unless you will say it is a Crime to be zealous for ones Religion But as all I can here say would be to as little purpose as what so many other Persons have said before me the best I can do is to make an end and own that our mischiefs are at such a period as well as those of all Germany that none but God can save us FINIS