fixing his Memoirs which having fram'd as he pleas'd himself returns again to Court swell'd with the presumption of an Eminent Service not doubting what he brought could be ill received Now the Contents of those Memoirs are the pretensions which we have since seen break out and at this day make such a rattle all Europe over The Marquis of Louvois State-Secretary at Wars who has a very great Interest in that Kingdom whom Mr. Solicitor presented his Memoirs to could not at sight of them forbear laughing for tho 't was his Business more then any Bodies to disturb the Peace which turned not to that account time of War might do perceiving little in them that would hold Water was not so willing to expose his Master upon a light occasion who when he had mind to be making of a War wanted not variety of specious pretexts He would needs know tho of the Solicitor whence he had fisht all those Discoveries Mr. Solicitor General seeing him so hard of belief draws out of his Pocket another Schedule which contain'd the Dates of all the true and false deeds from out of which he had collected the Instrument he before had given in as Mr. Solicitor proposed to himself the making of a great fortune from the success of that Affair he so closely ply'd Mr. De Louvois with the Scheme of so many useful things that at last prevail'd with that Minister to promise when at better leisure the full perusal of his Memoir and thereon to return his Answer The Answer to Mr. Solicitor prov'd more in his Favour then off hand the first Reception had given him reason to expect Mr. De Louvois directs him to pursue his undertaking and after the Institution of a judicial Court for the Examining of such pretensions which the King of France might have to several Territories and Principalities Mr. Solicitor for his pains was nominated of that Court Judge in chief which is no more than setting the concern'd party in the Cause upon the Bench. I know not if I have exspatiated a little too far upon the subject but I thought it an incumbent upon me to report here the Original causes of the Miseries which afflict us and ready now to involve so many States in trouble and confusion We revert then to where we left which as I take it was the King of France not caring greatly for his Swedish Alliance Summons that Crown to do him Fealty and Homage for the Dukedome of Deux-ponts The King of Swede being a young Prince brave and inferior to none in Resolution and courage thought the Chimerical pretention very strange but not willing to fall out with France upon a frivolous Matter his Ambassador had Instructions to shew that King the injustice done him That the Dukedom of Deux-ponts had ever been a Sovereign State and that they who had it acknowledg'd Fealty and Homage for it to no Man living except they meant for a Fealty and Homage the usual investures they were obliged to take at the hands of the Emperor These Reasons the Court of France approv'd not of proceeding on still in her unjust demands of a Homage and after a canvas past of pro and con between the Ambassadors and Ministers the new Court of Justice pronounces roundly decree of Re-union and that Dutchy to be annex't to the Crown of France unless within such a set time the King of Swede acknowledged for the same his Fealty and Homage Now that the World might see it was not from any covet of our Neighbours goods that Decree of Metz aris'd the King freely offer'd the Investure of that Dukedom to the Duke Adolphus Uncle to the King of Swede in case the King his Nephew conform'd not to the Tenure of the Decree which to be sure he was not like to do Whilst Duke Adolphus halted between the hopes of getting that Dukedom and fear of disobliging the King his Nephew the King of France sends in the interim the Prince Palatine of Birkenfield a Prince of the Palatine Family to keep that Dutchy in the Name of Duke Alfonsus his near Kinsman promising in case that Duke accepted of it not upon the conditions proposed him he himself should be then immediately invested the Prince of Birkenfield having return'd his thanks for the Kings good will towards him and having done him Fealty and Homage for the the Dukedom in name of Duke Alphonsus he repair'd accordingly to the Execution of his Commission I shall be silent here in reflecting upon the Extravagancys of this way of proceeding A Reader does not so much care to have the point decided to his hand 't is limiting his Fancy and by reasoning first upon the subject but giving Laws to his Faith in what he should believe And indeed 't is as much as is requisite for the Relator to tell of things as they nakedly are and for the Reader to judge as he thinks good But to close the small digression not unseasonable to the profession of Writers the King of Swede had no sooner heard what had been transacted in France but upon it immediately deserted the Alliance he had embrac't during the late Wars at the hazard of his whole Country and peril of his Life having exposed himself the first Man in Person in Three or Four several Battels for the sake and interest of that Crown expecting another kind of usage for his pains from France then that he met with Denmark and Brandenburg no sooner well assur'd what side the King of Swede would take but both strike up with France which had engaged to furnish the King of Denmark both with Ships and Men for the recovery not only of some Provinces which the Father of this King of Swede had taken from the Dane but likewise for that of Lubeck upon which City by vertue of some imaginary Titles Denmark of long hand had great Designs Brandenburg did promise to himself too a beneficial Alliance insomuch as these Three Potentates united but to the breeding a disturbance in the Northern Peace France having thus made sure of these two leaning Staffs by Vertue of the like Decrees I now mention'd proceeds in the same way against other Sovereign Princes requiring of them the submission of Fealty and Homage Many who saw themselves not in condition to resist acquiesc'd in all they would demand others shew'd themselves more stubborn but smarted for their standing out by the Quartering and Garisoning their Country forc't by fowl means to do what by fair they had refused But here I must give account what happen'd to the Rinegrave his Authority in the Country being great and his example of influence to others France let him understand he had to comply immediately without a boggle and that after they would replace him again in all his Rights Priviledges The Rinegrave not suspecting the honorable Word of so august a Crown was overjoy'd to be so advantageously distinguisht among so many unfortunate sufferers and having given his Obedience wrought in
not be well more discontented with the Emperor then he then was obliged to restore back all he had made Conquest of without the least shew of the Imperial assistance France therefore proposes an Alliance with him with high Promises of a more Honorable Faith then he had yet found with any of the other at the same time the French Money was not wanting in its Benevolencies to that Court for the acquiring of some confiding Person proper for the backing their design and soothed was that Elector with the assurance of a prop from such a Crown as shak 't besides those of all its Neighbours great things were offer'd him and to say in a word his resolutions in the Matter stagger'd by Thousand of advantageous tempting proffers He did object though against the project of that Alliance his Disputes with Swede at that time siding with the Interest of France as those Disputes have often produc't but ill effects 't is not forreign to our purpose for the Readers better instruction to discourse it in a word or two A certain Marquis of Brandenburg made in former time some agreement with the Duke of Pomerania by which they settled their Dominions respectively upon one another and to their Children after them of both Parties in case any who succeeded of either should happen to decease without Issue of his Body The Entail taking place and the Duke of Pomerania dying without Issue some Two hundred years ago or thereabouts the Marquis of Brandenburg by Virtue of the said Settlement succeeded to the Dutchy of Pomerania remaining the peaceable Possessor thereof till the Great Gustavus took it from him by force of Arms Gustavus or his Successors were confirmed in their possession of that Country by the Treaty of Munster but as the Marquis thereunto consented but with regret and per force a secret certain inckling of having it again has remain'd which so often as the occasion presents him 't is not to be doubted but he makes it his endeavor When France then understood what 't was stuck with the Duke of Brandenburg and hinder'd his engaging in her Interests in favour of him she resolv'd to make a Sacrifice of Swede but previous to it made first sure of the King of Denmark for that Crown then in conjunction with Brandenburg found her self by the projection of that Confederacy of Strength enough in the North not to fear what the rest of its Princes might be undertaking in opposition to the French designs The King of Denmark who had a sample himself like others of the Puissant force of France in the last War rejected not the Alliance but as Brandenburg had before opposed the interferings too of his Interest with that of Swede let France understand it only declin'd Proposals upon that account France was otherwise not over satisfied with Swede for its hovering as one may call it so long about the Matter before it could finally declare it self in the late War that after its declaring had acted nothing answerable to that high Reputation the great Gustavus had gain'd his Nation by the great things he had done that far from managing as formerly that People seem'd to have no great regard of upon several occasions The first token she gave of this was in the pretentions she made appear relating to Homage claim'd for the Dutchy of Deux-ponts of which she was got seized in the War time even in the life of its late Duke upon pretext of keeping it for the King of Swedes Use who was then the presumptive Heir but in effect to keep it for themselves and to make their own uses of it for the Promotion of their Designs And since it here falls out to treat of the Fealty and Homage that Crown lays claim to from so many Sovereign Heads 't will not be improper to relate upon what bottom that Chimera is grounded which at this very time is the coercive cause why the quiet of all Europe is so unhappily disturbed At Metz there is a Sovereign sort of Court of Judicature and a Solicitor General belonging to it who having had commands from the King of France to give in an exact Memoir of all that ever was within the jurisdiction limits and precinct of that Parliament and to remit up the same to Court he presently fills his Paper with several Villages which never had been belonging but withal with their remarks upon them how they had been formerly separatd how they had acknowledged the jurisdiction of other Neighbouring Princes who had been very well satisfied to Usurp that Power The Instrument was drawn with Argument enough and though it might want a foundation did not want for colour and pretext the State Ministers relishing the Draft Mr. Solicitor General is forthwith sent for to Court to help clear some few Scruples which yet remain'd upon their Mind the Solicitor come not only maintain'd what he had before sent up but pleasing of himself with the officious part of useful Man deposes he had found some old Records by which it was to be made out that the Dutchy of Deux-ponts had ever held of the Bishoprick and that many more considerable Lands by the connivance and contrivance of the several Bishops with their own private Relations had been alienated and dismember'd for that those Bishops being but Tenants for life were well enough content in Estates of easie acquisition to accommodate their respective Families with the conveniencies of Church-Lands The French Ministers savour'd well the Opinion of Mr. Solicitor and order'd him diligently to inspect all publick Registers for what might there be found of New and thereof to forthwith make an Abstract with Care to be afterwards made use of in time place But to avoid a partiality which all should do who undertake a publick Information something there was of what Mr. Solicitor did alledge for many of the Good Bishops to oblige their Kindred had truly let them have some Lands within their particular Donation but in exchange had received other Lands back again in lieu so that those Lands in Justice ought to be restored again which had been given to the Bishops or to what had been alienated and granted by the Bishops to make no pretence But to the thred of my Discourse the Solicitor General was no sooner return'd home again to Metz but fell a searching not only all the public Registers but too of all the old Archives of Churches and Abbeys he could lay his Hand on and as he was provided with Commission from above Express swept them all away without the act of any Witness or making of the least Inventory in the point which he ought not to have done that every Body that way might have the better understood what properly pertain'd to them and that the Jealousie since conceived of the great Antiquity of those Parchments not so very Old as made believe might so have been remov'd so be it Mr. Solicitor was observ'd long closeted close up about
any Man of Courage was for all that necessitated to bear with a Thousand of their Insolencies and insults without the least daring to gainsay For the French who well knew his Instructions and whose Fingers itcht to be doing would frequently come within half a Mile sight of the Town where having trodden down the Corn under their Horses feet made shew of a defying to engage Whil'st this was doing France Treats for Cazal with the Duke of Mantoua which threw not a little Jealousie Italy all over The Emperor too resented it in a high measure for Cazal besides being a Feif of the Empire he was by descent too the presumptive Heir and so doubly intitled as Emperor and the next near Kinsman to the Duke of Mantoua It was not to be expected the King of France would so much lessen himself to be sending to the Emperor to demand investure as was customary to be done for all Feifs of the Empire he was not a Prince to be prescrib'd the conformity of ordinary rules and his uncontrolable power freed him in every thing which indeed Mr. Solicitor General of the Court of Metz of whom I have before spoken did ingenuously confess as much one day to some of his Friends taking freedom to be telling him they did not conceive the strength of his Decrees was of validity sufficient to be binding in the case of so many Sovereign Princes Reply'd he serv'd a Master who had at beck a Hundred pieces of Canon a Hundred thousand Men and a Hundred Millions of Money to put those Decrees in Execution The Taking of Cazal was not the only thing Italy was alarm'd at France whose ambition nothing less then the subjection of the whole World could satisfie began now to grumble too at the Republic of Genoua to have that colour of invading its liberty They of Genoua send their Embassador to France at the same time to excuse themselves in what they could but as France was not without her Reasons I mean good or bad the Excuses of the poor Genoesses were ill received took the occasion to pick a New quarrel in requiring them to make restitution of an Estate formerly of the House of Fieske with the Interest of the whole for an Age before since accrued now as every Body is well satisfied what the case of the House of Fieske is and how they were and for what expell'd Genoua would be here superfluous to mention I shall but say never Demand appear'd more extraordinary then that did not to say never a more unjust and a more unreasonable France would oblige a Gree State to restore to the Heirs and Successors of a Traitor and Estate forfeited and confiscated for its delinquency as if France never had her self confiscated and daily did not confiscate Estates of such as she found faulty and deficient in their duty Mean while though the Matter has not been drove much further 't is not to be imagin'd notwithstanding wholly laid aside 't is a smothering Fire in Ashes which one day will consume all Italy if not prevented by the Hand of Heaven and indeed 't is not to be thought France has quitted therefore the Design of mastering that Common-wealth because she defers the doing it to another time for that the present was of more consequence to be looking to the Conquest of Flanders which hitherto had been so tedious a work and now lay naked and exposed to his ambition through the unfortunate diversion of the Imperial Arms 'T was then ill Policy to draw so many Enemies upon her Hands at once whose Business she the easier might all do the one after the other 'T was an advice worth taking which a grand Politician once gave his Children upon the point of Death caus'd a great many arrows to be laid before them some of which in bundle others lose and bid the Children to try the breaking of those unbound which they easily snap't in two then commanded them to try the other bidding them to break those likewise but that being more then they were able took his occasion from that Instance to admonish them to remain ever in Union with one another if they expected their Enemies should take no hold upon them Now France deals with most of the other Princes as the Children by those Arrows not bound together she easily subdues them one after another which in case they were linkt and united as they should be might perhaps be in a posture of reducing her again within the bounds of Reason Indeed what hinders the setting Armies upon foot as well as France and thereby an endeavor used for the resettling of things in that condition again where every one concern'd might find his security It looks as if our Fore-Fathers were much the prudenter People For I remember well after the Battel of Pavie where Charles the Fifth Triumph't over the Affairs and Fortune of Francis the First they wisely consider'd not fit to suffer any more the growth and mightiness of that Power which already was become but too formidable among them and so retrieved again the State of France at that time much more desperate at a lower Ebb then is ours now But 't is not for want of every Bodies knowing what course was taken in the times of our Ancestors but few they be make a true use of what they know But all this while I perceive not my deviation insensibly stealing me from my Subject too far carried off by force of Truth To come then to the point again I shall tell you that whilst Italy took the alarm at the surrender of Cazal another business was then brewing in that Country which might well occasion its further disturbance Savoy as every one knows lies closed up between France on one side and the Provinces of Spain I mean between those Countrys in Italy under Spanish Dominion The Neighbourhood of these two Powers has been Reason enough in all former Ages why the Dukes of Savoy enjoy little quiet For at the same time that either of those two Crowns denounced War upon the other he must of necessity side with one of the two to prevent his Country from being over-run by both as is the general case of all Neuters Now as Savoy turn'd very much the Scale to the side it inclin'd to the two Crowns strove their utmost which should have him of their party that sometimes the Daughters of France sometimes the Infanta's of Spain found Wives of State for that Duke and the need both had of him was still the Mediums of new advantages from either France who knew at what dear rates that Alliance was sometimes to be purchas'd projected a Treaty with him such as for ever should debar him from being Spanish any more The Cardinal Destrée they send to Savoy a Relation of that Dutchess and as she Govern'd all during the Minority of her Son proposes to her a Match between the young Duke and the Infanta of Portugal his Cousin German Heir presumptive
Country to give him the opportunity of placing the other as they saw occasion 't was a thing not unnotic'd the great difficulty occurr'd in the uniting of the German Princes which neither more nor less but just like an Engin of many Springs was brought into motion but with all the pains and trouble in the World It was rational then Enough to fear if once suffered to knock off they were not when one would have them to be got together again the Prince of Orange had represented all this at large in the Assembly of the States General where some he never mist of opposing his Opinion 't was flatly told him there the Charge of the War was not a thing supportable the excess of which had quite already drain'd their Bank and reduced the People to the last degrees of Indigence that a respite of necessity must be given or resolve in a very little to see the utter ruine of the Nation That Prince would have reply'd the respite not at all like to last and France seeking but to sever them from their Allys having once wrought their Ends would again be playing over her Old Pranks within a Year or two But Burgimaster Ofteè of Amsterdam stopt his Mouth in telling the Provinces were indeed consenting with all their Hearts to the carrying on the War if his Highness could but hit the way of doing it without Mony that the Province of Holland would give not a Stiver more towards it or at least the City of Amsterdam would not as whose Representative he was commission'd to speak Now you must know all the Subsidies whatever rais'd upon the Seven Provinces that of Holland furnishes almost the half and of that half more then the two Fifts are paid by the City of Amsterdam That in the Quota of Subsidies if the Province of Holland be reckon'd to pay Fifteen Millions of that Fifteen Seven is near pay'd by that City After Ofteè's having thus declar'd himself there was no likelihood of thinking to continue the War any longer chiefly for that the rest of the Provinces conformed for the most part in Opinion much with that of Holland was easily observable and that though they yet had not explain'd themselves so fully upon the point as Holland had their great inclination to Peace was like their's apparently obvious As the Emperor thoroughly understood at bottom the French intentions drove of a long time at Universal Monarchy at hearing what had past in Holland was much concern'd at the News Yet to divert if possible those Provinces from the resolutions they had taken had it told them he required no more of them the Subsidies they us'd to pay him offering to return them again upon the like occasion the same assistance The Hollanders thank't the Emperor for his good will but could not be induced for that to continue the War adding that seeing his Imperial Majesty as well as the rest of the Allys produced every day some fresh Obstacles or other to the Peace then in Treaty at Nimeguen warn'd him that if he did not think good to conclude the Peace and that very suddenly they should be oblig'd to do it without him what made the Dutch so pressing was that as France laid the conditions of the Treaty very disadvantageous to the rest of the Allys as advantageous and beneficial were the Terms she made for Holland for MastrÃcht they offer'd to restore the only remaining place of all their Conquests upon that State since the first of the War so that though once reduced within an Inch of their Destruction entire they were now in prospect of a re-establishment by Vertue of the Peace to the same it ever had in times of its greatest Prosperity Something too there was over and above that caress't their Courage in the proposed Treaty as they saw the King of France made it his business to distinguish them from the other Allys they thence imagin'd they should retrieve their lost reputation amongst other Nations who formerly held their Forces in such good Opinion and should yet think very well of them seeing they were able to make their party good and to defend themselves against a prevailing Power so very formidable To say the Truth 't is wonderfully strange and worthy without doubt of the admiration of Posterity for ever that a little Nook of Land as one may say and Handful of People has not been only able to withstand such mighty Armies but likewise in condition to afford succour to her Neighbours 'T will be subject of surprize enough to them who shall succeed us to read in History that Hollanders Spaniards â—rreconcilable Enemies should be the People who have sav'd the Provinces to the King of Spain nor the Spaniards heretofore so inveterate against â—â—e Hollanders to find no where a more firm support nor a more ready assistance then that they receiv'd at hands of their most Ancient Enemies That by a fetch of Fortune so very strange the Spaniards must have been ruin'd had those of Holland never revolted from the Spanish subjection should there come to find their safety where they ever reckon'd on as their certain Destruction One may well enough say the Hollanders have twice scap't a scowring by their freeing of themselves from the Tyranny of the Spaniards for had they still continued under that Dominion the whole Seventeen Provinces had equally been lost And indeed there needs no stress of Politicks to discover the safety and well being of the United Provinces is meerly to be own'd to the prudent conduct of those who were at Helm as a peculiar reward in store from Heaven for what their Fore-Fathers had endured for their Religion's sake But to resume my Discourse the Hollanders suffering themselves to be thus over-reach't by all those glossy appearances signed cheerfully to the Peace apart seeing their Allys remain'd obstinate in pursuing of the War contrary to their Opinion I shall neither say in doing so they did well or ill one may judge enough of it by what since has happen'd The Emperor however and Spaniard finding their strongest recourse had thus abandon'd them accepted of the Peace on their side too and in like manner abandon'd the Duke of Brandenburg who could not be brought to admit of Conditions offer'd him so very prejudicial France then direct'd her Arms that way and as that Elector was not of himself to resist alone did what seem'd good in her Eyes in Treaty with that Prince with this comfort at the least what he was forc't to by France was with his Sword in his Hand and that his last action did not derogate from a Thousand others wherein he had during the War so worthily behav'd himself The Peace being then so happily finisht to the content of France as it rather had suspended then relinquisht its design of Universal Monarchy began now to manage those Princes she saw divided where there was ground to hope she might do it to effect The Duke of Brandenburg could
of that Crown the then Prince Regent having no more Children The Dutchess of Savoy being Born in France and French in all her Inclinations relishes the Proposal with pleasure Thinking the Quality of a King of Portugal was every whit Equivalent to a Duke of Savoy But as they have a Law in Portugal which Forfeits in a Daughter her right of Succession to the Crown in case of Marriage with a Stranger that Law how to abolish must first be thought of The Cardinal Destrée in Name of his Master undertook the thing France sends then to Portugal to that effect and as she was in a happy post of carrying all before her did in that conjuncture too carry that Affair insomuch as the having of that Law abrogated and the Dukes Marriage with their Infanta finally agreed upon The Grandees of Savoy without whose advice this Business had been determin'd unsatisfied with the Match which ended in a deprivement of their natural Prince and the Subordination of a Governour had their private Cabals to consult the breaking the Neck of the Marriage and stop it from further going on I cannot justly say if they confederated for sake of public good or meerly for their private ends howbeit the Portugal Match far from being of advantage to the Duke one may truly say he was a loser by the Bargain no less then the Princes in general of his Family besides whilst he was to have resided in Portugal who should have succor'd Savoy in case France had had a mind to set up right of Conveniency a right which they endeavor'd equally to establish as well as right of Dependency and for no other Reason indeed was the Prince of Montbelliard drove out of his Country then that it did accommodate the Crown But they heeded little all that could be said against it and still went on their Road where but a glimpse appear'd of probable sucscess Madam the Dutches of Savoy smoakt the drift as well as any but the powerful desire of Sovereign Rule carried it above all other considerations and as Alexander of Farnese Duke of Parma sent off his Mother in former days not to be oblig'd to share with her the Government of the Low-Countries So the Dutchess of Savoy was for packing away her Son that she might remain still the absolute Mistress of that State She knew well enough they would not fail detaining the Duke in Portugal to inure him to the ways and customs of a Nation which one day he was design'd to govern and by the shift secure to her self the Supreme Authority In the mean while discontents amongst the Grandees encreas'd daily and have frequent meetings to advise upon what they had to do could not for all that meet so in private but the Dutchess had Intelligence willing to secure her self from the Designs her Grandees might well have of troubling the Government caused Forces to be fetcht from France in good store to be dispers'd in the Neigbourhood about under a pretence of covering Cazal The Nobility of Savoy though alarm'd at the French assisting thus of the Dutchess gave not over for all that their Intentions of helping their young Duke and having found her out in her Treaty with France into whose hands she had agreed to deliver the most important places of strength in the Country in Pledge of some Loans of Money she had borrow'd of them for the defray of her Son's Marriage were unanimously resolv'd to hazard all than suffer thus a general ruine and as they watch't their opportunity to compass their design the Dutchess her self favour'd them with one which they conceiv'd might serve their turn for having left her Son at Turin contrary to her custom whilst her self stept a Mile or two out of Town the Grandees took that Time to speak to their Duke That he must look upon himself in French hands every where surrounding him as now their Prisoner in a manner that the Dutchess his Mother had sold them his best Towns and would yet be selling what remain'd if not prevented by his great goodness to his People That she sent him to Portugal not to be the Soveraign there but that at home she might be so That in case he met with freedom to his Person there he must at least expect to meet a Master whereas if he vouchsafed to stay with them he should meet with nothing but their entire obedience and dutiful respects that the Portuguises naturally hated Strangers and if they did assent to his marrying their Infanta 't was by constraint and with regret That he might rest assur'd the Prince Regent once dead they would retract again from what they had done and bar him of his Crown as formerly they had done to the King of Spain that it was not easie to foresee what might then become of him for that the French having once seized his Country perhaps might not be in humor to restore it him again These remonstrances startled the young Duke who yet had not Brains ripe enough to apprehend among a great many Truths they represented there was Lies in an equal number he ask't them what best for him to act to shun so many threatning misfortunes They answer'd no other way left then the securing of his Mother the expedient was surprizing but finding they had struck from the first an impression upon the young Prince gave him no time to the recollections of a Natural affection prest him with telling his own safety lay for the future in his own power to resolve for good and all of being a happy or unhappy Duke the remainder of his life as for their parts resolv'd to be the lookers on of what every Day produced no longer had design'd retiring into some other Country where at least they should gain that comfort of Knowing they had no kind of Hand in any thing that would be attempted against his Dignity or Person A few Tears artificially shed or out of compassionate good Nature accomplisht persuading of the Duke calls for Pen and Paper and signs a Warrant immediately for the seizing of his Mother In the mean while before they could get together to take their measures for execution of their Order the Dutchess was return'd into the Town and being arriv'd at her Palais was extremely surprized to find her Son sad and pensive and much beside himself askt what he ail'd conjuring him to tell her but finding him not answering she adds to her entreaties the blandishments of a Mother as she embraced him perceiv'd he wep't and Tears to tricle down his Cheeks which troubled her to the highest degree sell then to a redoublement of muching calls him her own dearest Child falls her self a crying and in the end so softens he confesses to her they had surprized him and that he had signed an Order for the commitment of her Person The Dutchess was her self struck with amaze at the sort of News but having now no time to lose and that every Minut was to her of
highest consequence sent for those about her immediately she could most confide in doubles the Palace Guards and causes those to be seiz'd in fine who had resolv'd her ruine makes her manifesto those very Persons were intended to take away the young Duke and carry him to Spain which is more then I can say they meant not knowing whether true or not or whether only a Sham to render them the more odious to the People Be it as 't will the Dutchess having once retriev'd her self from so very great a danger order'd the French Forces to March into the Town thereby to shew she trusted more to them then to those of the Country A certain Print for all this remain'd with the young Duke of what had been remonstrated insomuch that though his Equipage was gone already before to Portugal and himself soon to follow after he talk't no more of the Voyage And as still some body there was in place about him who privately cherisht the suspicion they had rais'd broke him clean off order'd his Family to return their ways home again to the unspeakable satisfaction of his whole People France only remain'd much mortifid promising already to it self the conjunction of Savoy to that Kingdom and to enchase it amongst the fairest Flowers of the Crown The dissatisfaction conceiv'd lay not long hid the Count of Soisson who in case of decease of the young Duke was Heir presumptive to the Dukedom of Savoy after the Death of Prince Carignan his Uncle was then in love with a private Damosel in France call'd Madamoseille de Beauais all the Relations had thitherto opposed the thing in fear of his design to marry her the King himself had signifi'd as much and that he ought to think of bestowing himself some other way but being thus disoblig'd by the Grandees of Savoy he suffer'd Count Soisson to do what he had most mind to to humble him and that Count did do what his passion persuaded This what past in Piemont let us now go see a little what a doing in Germany France for a long time had a Months mind to the City of Strasburgh it had defeated them a number of its measures during the late War and France had so well felt the importance of that place to resolve upon the having it cost it ne're so much To speak of having it by force lookt a little difficult and to do that a War must be openly declar'd and the adjacent Princes round about would have engag'd in her defence The easier way then seem'd the getting it by trick A Resident they kept at Strasburgh in Character more of Spy then public Minister whose Business was to observe all that past he had given the King often times account no good was to be done till those Burgemasters of the Town in present station were out of place when new came to be made had by that time gain'd a great many of the Votes got Persons elected to the Magistracy affection'd to the Interests of France ready fitted to make sale of their Country for a piece of Money with these after that he strikes a Bargain for the delivery of the Town upon the first occasion and they for their Reward to have each a Hundred Thousand Crowns a Man The Market being thus set these Traytors give the Town to consider the great Burthens of their Debt they stood charg'd with occasion'd by her vast Expences incurr'd in the late War and that now in time of Peace they should reduce the Garison which was too numerous That the King of France whom they had the most cause to fear had his whole thoughts took up towards Italy whither he had drawn the best part of all his Forces and that before he could march them back again they should have time enough to implore the assistance of their Neighbours whose proper concern in their preservation was too great not to afford them aid happen what would they had the Winter before to look about them which was now at hand That the King was great way distant from them as indeed he was and Summer then near spent there was no manner of likelihood he durst undertake any thing actually that season by the means save a good Sum of Money in their Purses that when Spring time came they then should see what other measures were fittest to be taken The advice took with the People who were all for the sparing point and for all the ablest men amongst them could formally oppose what the People once would have of necessity to be there was no withstanding one part of the Garison must then be dismist and which was remarkable of those the Forces of the Eldest standing But as the King of France lay perdue but for the occasion took Journey forthwith from Fountain-bleau at the same time caus'd his Men to draw down with expedition and invests the City at a time they imagin'd him in the midst of his Kingdom Some playing with the Cannon there was upon both sides to take off all suspicion off Intelligence which hinder'd not but those of Strasburgh well enough understood themselves betray'd And tho they now understood so with the latest they yet entertain'd thoughts of making a Defence But a rable of People hired at the same time by the French Resident or it may be as well by the Burgemasters themselves came flocking to the Town-house crying out for a surrender of the Town which otherwise would be suddenly consum'd by the Fire of the Booms and by the red hot Bullets The Burgemasters soon listn'd to that demand cause beat a Parly set up the White Colours for token of a general readiness to capitulate and in a word to say all yields up the Town I do not condemn France for an act of this importance since not of humor to matter much her Faith in point of Treaty but what I am most scandal'd at to have the Face to colour it with a shew of Justice The Emperor indeed having sent Count Mansfeld to complain of the Breach of Peace was answer'd that they much wonder'd the Emperor would concern himself where he had not to do that it was but lawful for the King to reduce a rebellious City That Strasburgh as the Capital of Alsace did belong to him by Vertue of the Munster Treaty and if he did not lay hold on 't sooner 't was because he had more pressing work in Hand But any would but answer me if that City had been granted him as pretended why entertain'd he there his public Ministers so long time why did he in the last War treat with her in Order to her remaining Neuter and why so often complaining of her not remaining so But all that France can say upon the subject is indeed not so much as worth an answer so I proceed to her Enterprizes elsewhere The taking of Strasburgh open'd the Eyes of a great many German Princes lull'd for a long time like England in a profound
consent not to her pretensions I know before hand what answer I shall have I know nothing less will be allow'd neither in regard to Teckely nor to the King of Poland that to what concerns the rest will be answer'd it was the Master-piece of a Politick King vers'd in King-craft and the Arts of Government to be making sometimes such sort of Alliances which have their use not so much in order to the support of War abroad amongst his Neighbours as to hinder his Neighbours from carrying the War home to his own door I do know as I said the unthinking part of Mankind may be put upon in disowning of the one and in giving some kind of gloss to palliate the other but I would a little fain know if they can answer this too which I am now about saying France was willing to raise the Blocus of Luxemburg a whole year before the Turks came down upon Hungary and when effectually they came with a Vengeance he frames a Camp in Alsatia to hold the Emperor in play makes another in Flanders to oblige Spain to be upon her Guard a Camp upon the River Soare he orders to frighten the Electors and in fine has another Camp drawn upon the Saonne to keep the rest of Europe in a Jealousie France would shew to the World she becomes less rapacious upon the considerations of the great misfortunes that hung now over the Head of Christendom and when those misfortunes are actually befallen her it then Thunders Threats and Rants and lets the Diet be roundly told he onely will give but such certain short day to grant her injust pretentions in and if not then granted would do her self that right by force of Arms And to be doing as well as saying presents with a great Army upon the Frontier ready at a mouthfull to swallow several of the Spainish Provinces War indeed they can't be said to make but make altogether as much mischief by their hindring those Princes which she just dreaded as she did the Turk from employing their Forces in favour of the Emperor The Emperor indeed himself obliged to leave his to guard the Rhine whilst a Company of Infidels invades his Dominions ravages to the very Heart of his Country and carries off for Slaves a hundred Thousand Souls burns his Palaces lays waste the Country round and in conclusion claps Siege to Vienna his Capital City and place of Residence But I perceive not all this while that having but now documented others I insensibly fall into the same Error my self I would have them avoid I fall off arguing the point as if every one could not do it as well without me let us have done then with these kind of entertainments and go on to our Examine of other places whether France aspiring to the Universal Monarchy be Truth or Fiction or rather let us see if she already usurps not upon the right of Sovereigns as if she actually were the Mistress of the World Let us see what she is about with her Mines in all the Courts of Europe not that I pretend to say Policy is a thing forbidden amongst Princes but that her meaning may no more be doubted of every one can tell what an Errand she sent the Republic of Genoua whose Coat she fain would pick a hole in sends word she will not have her put her Gally's out lest they should come to joyn with those of Spain if otherwise should take it for an act of Hostility and should use her accordingly as an Enemy declared The Hollanders just so dealt with about a Month or two since upon the intent they had of sending some new Ships to the King of Swede So that over those two Common-wealths where she hath nothing to do she already Lords it as absolute Sovereign she will not suffer Free States who have bought their Liberty with the Price of their Blood shall think to make Alliances and succour their Allies and they that call themselves the eldest Sons of the Church can yet suffer an Alliance with her most mortal Enemy But then let us see how she deals with those that leave her Interest and those it self who are mean spirited enough to adhere to her let us look a little upon the different Springs she sets at work to bring her matters about what says she not of the Duke of Bavaria for deserting the side and his so very generously embracing that of the Emperor what does she not at Leige where she makes it her Business to soment the Rebellion of that People against their lawful Prince that so the Prince not able to master them may not with the assistance of other Princes be in a post to make a Barrier of that City and stop her passage that way into the Territories of other States What does she not act at Cullen where the Inhabitants are all banding one against t'other and cutting one anothers Throats whilst the Enemy is at their Gates ready to devour What not at Hamburgh and Lubec where Intregues apparent as the Sun are carrying on to the ruine both of their Liberty and Country What leave they undone in the Courts of the Lunebourg Princes where People banisht France are most in Credit but banisht after such a fashion as to return again into that Kingdom when they will and privately to see and discourse the Ministers Indeed what is she not brewing in the Emperors Court it self where she foments Jealousies among the chief where she opens the very Cabinet Counsels with her Silver Key where not one resolution can be taken but she gets notice of at the same time Some may say I discourse but of these affairs conjecturally I shall most willingly leave them to their own thoughts after saying what I have in answer After the routing the Marshal of Crequi at the Seige of Treves France lay open to the prevailing side there then stood no more Forces in their way and had they been so minded might well have carried the Terror of their Arms into the Heart of the Country The French were much afraid they would and begun to pack their most valuable goods within the wall'd Towns when Mr. De Louvois told a certain Person with whom I had particular acquaintance during the time I was in France and whom I have it from that the Enemy would act no farther that Campagne and were then upon their drawing off I willingly would ask now if this was news one could reasonably well credit in the then present posture of Affairs if one ought not to be supernaturally gifted if one needed not a spirit of Revelation to be believing the contrary to what every one else had reason to believe But what will not a Man do as a certain old Author has remark't who devotes his whole thought to become rich To that very effect have the Suisses took the Bridle in their Mouths by the Fort of Huninghen and made sale both of Liberty and Country a Counsellor of their State might