Monarch has made an excellent Use of Cardinal Mazarine's Lessons For that same Prelate being both Crafty and Cunning and somewhat of a Cheat besides fail d not frequently to lay before his Prince the Example of Alexander VI. who notwithstanding his being the Vicar of Christ never forbore to falsify his Word when he found there was a necessity for it tho' never any man promis'd things with more solemn Oaths and his Deceit prov'd successful to him Nor was Ferdinand King of Castile and Aragon beholding for his Grandeur to any thing so much as to his Breach of Faith The Emperour Charles V. was always wont to swear By the Faith of a Man of Honour when he had a Design to act contrary to what he promis'd This Mazarine maintain'd as a Maxim never to be contradicted and that it behov'd a Soveraign to observe this Rule if ever he design'd Grandeur and Puissance never to stick to or govern himself according to the establish'd Laws of a Monarchy when they agreed not with his present Interest and the Politicks requisite to enlarge his Power because the same Laws that were made in former Ages were good and wholesom at that time but could not always so continue As much as to say that a King may break and trample over the Fundamental Lawâ— of a Realm when they concur not with his Ambition and his Inclination to plunder his Neighbours and ruin his Subjects For this reason it is that for some Years since we have seen Lewis XIV practise all these Maxims with a vehement Swing but with little Circumspection consulting neither the Laws of his Kingdom nor the Prerogatives of other Princes However observing this Rule never to threaten before-hand but to execute his Design at the same time that he set forth his Manifesto that his Adversary might have no time or leisure to oppose his Torrent Moreover Men judge of the Inclinations of Princes by the Ministers and Great Personages that are in favour near their Persons and the Deceas'd Prince of Orange William the First was wont to say in his time with great Reason and upon solid Grounds That a True Judgment might be given of the Natural Disposition of Philip II. King of Spain by the Cruelties which the Duke of Alva his Chief Minister committed without fear of punishment in the Low-Countries If it may be lawful to say the same thing of Lewis XIV What Sentiment ought we to have of that Prince If we look narrowly into the Inclinations and Proceedings of the Ministers that have serv'd him all the whole time of his Reign to begin from Mazarine till this very time we shall find 'em to have been all Birds of Prey and most Cruel and Insatiable Blood suckers of the People Cardinal Richlieu was the First who laid the Foundations of this Policy now practis'd by the Court of France For that same Minister abusing the Simplicity of Lewis XIII made himself absolute Master in the Kingdom He was naturally Violent nor could he endure any Companion all People must submit to Him He Exil'd and Imprison'd he cunningly got rid of the Baron d'Ancre of Monsieur de Thou and Cinqmarc chose rather to establish the Security of his Person and his Fortune by Rigour and Violence then to hazard either by Clemency or by too much Complacency with those that were belov'd by the King and so he triumph'd over all even over the Protestant Party which was very numerous in France and which he endeavour'd to oppress by all manner of ways against the Edicts of Pacification and ruin'd 'em all by ruining Rochell which that he might the better bring to pass he deceiv'd the English and Hollanders who in good Policy were bound to have ventur'd all to have preserv'd that Important Place which was another State within the State it self and was a kind of Sanctuary and Place of Retreat for all the Malecontents of the Court. And it may be said that the Loss of that City was the Source of all the Calamities that befell Charles the I. King of England For France not only rais'd the Tempest in the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland sent Money into England to Kindle the Fire and feed the Civil War but encourag'd Oliver to lay hands upon the Person of the King in hopes at that time to bring down the Power of that Formidable Monarchy by Sea as is easie to judge by the Entertainment which the Court of France gave to the Princes of the Royal Family of England in that Conjuncture Moreover after what a Treacherous manner did France act with the Old Duke of Lorrain that 〈◊〉 might have an Advantage to usurp his Country For Cardinal Richlieu under pretence of Friendship drew him to Lion where Lewis the XIII then lay with a Powerful Army under a false pretence that it believ'd him to come and pay his Respects to that Monarch Thither the Prince suspecting nothing but honest and fair dealing repair'd and was receiv'd at first with Extraordinary Honour and Civility not only by the King and the Cardinal but by all the Grandees of the Court who were order'd to treat him Splendidly But that was but the Bait to draw him on for when the poor Duke laden with the Honours of the Court and satisfi'd with his Kind Reception was about to return home he was stopp'd by the Cardinal's Order nor could he procure his Release but by delivering back into the hands of France a great part of his Territories which afterwards occasion'd the loss of all the rest under pretence that the Prince was an active stirring Soldier and devoted to the House of Austria But indeed because the Policy of the Court of France could not brook so near her a Soveraign Prince whose Territories were a Goad in her sides and might serve for an Inlet into France out of Germany Now in regard it is the Policy of a Minister of State to the end he may be lamented and desir'd after his Death to justifie his Conduct in the Eyes of the People Richlieu was willing to have for his Successour a Minister that should out do him and finish what he had begun therefore he recommended Cardinal Mazarine an Italian by Birth and of â—ean Extraction naturally covetous and deceitful 〈◊〉 whatever he undertook covering himself with the Foxes Skin the better to deceive others and play his own part not caring for whatever People said of him nor what Mischief was laid to his charge so he could bring about his Grand Design which was to get Money so that all the whole time of his Ministry he was call'd The Horsleech of the People By good luck he came to his Ministry during the Regency of a Credulous Queen and a Young King whom he Christen'd that he might acquire to himself the more Respect and Veneration It was easie for him both to imprint in the mind of this Young Prince and instill into him Precepts according to his own Humour which were to
of both being the same and both acting in order to the same Ends. And as the Designs of France are chang'd in respect of the Emperour who is the Chief and Head of the Empire so they may be presum'd to be the same in regard of the Electours who are the Members of it Formerly 't was the Policy of France to caress 'em one after another to dazle 'em with the Grandeur of Lewis the Great and perswade 'em to side with the Interests of that Monarch sparing neither for Promises nor Presents to render 'em inclinable to elect French Coadjutours But afterwards they were clearly convinc'd that this was the Apple of Discord which the King of France threw into the Empire to the End he might swallow 'em up one after another Now therefore let us see what new course he takes to manage the Princes of the Empire They can now no longer be serviceable to him in making the Dauphin King of the Romans in regard they have Check-mated him on that side already So that they have spar'd him a world of Trouble and a great deal of Money which he was wont to throw away by Shovel-fulls upon that Occasion Much less is it to be thought that Lewis has now any Hopes of being Emperour since I am told that the Book entitul'd The just Pretensions of the King to the Empire written by the Sieur Aubri Advocate in the Parliament of Paris serves now to no other use then to wrap up Butter and Cheese in the Chandlers Shops The Ministry of France now labours to separate the Electours and Princes of the Empire from the common cause not by the means of Gold or Silver because he finds 'em incorruptible but by invading their Territories by Fire and Sword as he has done the Palatinate the Dioceses of Cologne Mayence and Treves with a design to enforce 'em to perswade the Emperour to accept of a Separate Peace by which means France will remain the Mistress still of the Greatest part of all her Usurpations To which purpose she makes a dextrous Use of the easie Access which the Monks and Jesuits have to the Persons of the Roman Catholick Princes and to intrude among the Ministers of State every where extolling the King's Catholicity and his great design to have exterminated Heresie had not King James been dethron'd But some have said very well in Answer to those Emissaries that all those forward Acts of seeming Zeal were no other then a sort of Clumsie Trapans that they must go and tell their Stories to Children and Fools for that they were no Strangers to the King of France's Religion There is one thing very Remarkable that Lewis XIV designing the Destruction of the Empire was the occasion of the strengthning it and of underpropping it in some measure with new Supports by adding a Ninth Electour to the Electoral College and more particularly by the Choice which the Emperour and the Electours have made of the Duke of Hanover to supply that Place to the great Grief of the Court of France who with all her wilely Stratagems and false Politicks could not prevent it The Election of a King of the Romans of Prince Clement of Bavaria to the Electorate of Cologne of the Baron of Elderen to the Bishoprick of Liege of the Baron of Plettenberg to that of Munster but more especially the Revolution in England were bitter Morsels for the Most Christian King to swallow and still lie heavy upon his Stomach And whenever France comes once to see the Bottom of her Exchequer there is no question but her Fall will be very great since it was her Money that only upheld her in all the Courts of Christendom that she has plaister'd over all her Usurpations and that she has lull'd several Princes asleep whose real Interest it was to oppose her Silver is a sort of Mettal every where acceptable and the Avarice of the Switzers has spread it self into several Courts according to the saying of Alexander That there was nothing inaccessible to Silver tho' Matchiavell upholds That 't is a hard matter for Steel to keep possession of that which is purchased with Gold Nevertheless we have seen the Contrary both in Germany and Flanders where the King of France bought several Places with good ready Money and has held 'em for several Years But give me leave to add this Reason for it I mean the little good Correspondence at that time between the Princes of the Empire and the Powder of Gold which their Jupiter rain'd among ' em That Monarch not only got great Footing within the Territories of his Neighbours but made his Possession good Witness Strasburg Hunninghen and several other Places upon the Rhine as Mayence and several Fortresses in the Diocess of Cologne if Heaven by a Blow that France little expected had not linked together that Sacred Union in the Empire for the Common defence which all the gilded Politicks of France could never prevent nor her Poyson put a stop to And this is a Truth never to be contradicted that the Sincere Union of the Princes of the Empire preserves 'em from being corrupted and early or late will render 'em Victorious over the Common Enemy and put 'em in a Condition of being able to recover what they have and fix 'em in the Possession of what they hold untouch'd No wonder then that the French destroy and ruine Germany where they come because they find they cannot hold it but must surrender back all their Usurpations tho' by the Havock which they make they are in hopes to weaken the Strength of their Enemies 'T would be but Justice then and what the King of France has no such reason to wonder at that he should be one day constrain'd to repay the Damages for the Spoil which his Armies have committed in pursuance of his Infernal Politicks During the Reign of Philip the II. King of Spain it may be said that France and Spain divided Europe between 'em and that they were truly the Two Scales of a Ballance which the Other Soveraigns endeavour'd to keep in an Equilibrium and sided sometimes with the One sometimes with the Other as their Interest directed 'em in order to keep an Equality of Force for fear of being swallow'd up by the Strongest But since King Philip's time it may be said That Spain has been continually sinking lower and lower that she has been in good part the Prey of France and that had it not been for the Allies the French at this Hour would have been not only Masters of the Low-Countries but of Madrid it self And indeed it may be said that the Duke of Alva lent the first helping Hand to the fall of the Spanish Puissance by his Proclamation concerning the Tenth Penny in the Year 1569. by his Depriving the People of the Liberty of Conscience and the Massacers that succeeded and which was the real Cause of the Revolt of part of the Low-Countries and the Fountain and Original of all
to continue their Trade with France or instead of that to grant Passports to such as shall desire 'em to the end that Sweden and Danemark may be equally concern'd in case the Confederates should take disgust at the Great Number which the Danâ—s give out to all Commers And indeed it is to be said to the Praise of Sweden that that Crown has always acted sincerely with her Confederates and even with France it self at a time when Sweden could not have reap'd any great Advantages by a Correspondence with her and when no less sedulous Endeavours were us'd to have drawn off the Court of Sweden from her France has always courted Sweden to remove the Obstacles that continually lie in her way which is the Reason of that Infidelity of the French who break with their Allies at all times when the Humour takes 'em and well understand that Sweden being so potent and considerable is able to counterpoize Affairs provided she will but concern her self For in that respect she has always observ'd a very prudent Conduct neither does she approve all the Invasions of the French She knows the Truth of what M. Lyonne reports in his Memoirs where he says That there is not any State which is not bound to oppose the Aggrandizement of the Court of France and Sweden abâ—ve all the rest seeing that if the King had taken the Low-Countries he would have taken no further notice of her as believing he had no more Occâ—sion for her This is a solid Expression and to the purpose and ought to make a deep Impression in the minds of those who have prejudice against the Court of Swâ—den either deluded by the Flatteries of the Ministers of France or some base and sordid Interest of their own which greatly prevails in the world and leads a world of People astray But certain it is that Sweden has long since sounded the Ambition and Arms of France more especially at the Peace of Osnabrug and if at any time she hearkens to the Ministers of France 't is without doubt because she finds some little pleasure in dreining France and doing her but little Good 'T is also certain and visible that the Ministers of Sweden and Danemark who reside in Foreign Courts and more especially in those of the Confederates are frequently and vigorously assail'd by the Emissaries of the French on purpose to fish out how Squares go among the Confederates and may well retort upon the French Satans the Words of the Lord's Prayer Lead us not into Temptation but deliver from Evil but above all from the Evil Spirits of France that continually environ us For indeed a man ought to be shod with Frost-Nails to preserve himself from falling in such slippery Ground and he that can surmount those Temptations may well be number'd in the Catalogue of Upright Ministers and Faithful to the Interests of his Master Corruption or Bribery is now a General Mischief in the world but never any advanc'd the Price of it so high as the King of France for most certain it is that that one single Expence amounts to above Twenty Millions a Year For it is a Thing past all dispute that France upholds her self more by her Gold then by her Sword 'T is true she is many times put to her Plunges in time of War which dreins her Exchequer and enforces her to advance her Coin by which she gains considerably Formerly instead of enhauncing her Money France made use of another Stratagem which was to coin Louidores rais'd in value but mix'd with a baser Alloy then those that went current in the Kingdom which were distinguish'd by a little Mark quite different from others And some there are in the Court of Danemark who if they durst own the Thing could bring a Cloud of Witnesses to make it out as having experienc'd upon several Occasions the full swing that French Knavery allow'd it self I know likewise that the Thing was murmur'd at but the Cheat pass'd for that time upon promise of doing better the next time Therefore Charles II. King of England who was well acquainted with the Knavery of France when he receiv'd any French Pension which was usually pay'd him in Louidores order'd the Receivers to cut 'em in two pieces to see what Mettal they were made of and then caus'd 'em to be refin'd into Guinea's So natural it is for the Court of France not to leave any Cheat omitted to defraud all those that relie upon her As for Poland in regard it is a Kingdom remote from France it can do her neither any great Good nor any great Harm nor is there much Trade or much Communication between the Two Nations Corn is the Only Merchandize wherein Poland abounds and which it Transports from Dantzick into Foreign Countries But the Kings of Poland may in some measure sometimes be profitable to the Designs of France tho' it were only to molest the Emperour in many occasions that may and frequently do fall out For this Reason the King of France takes Great Care to send an Embassadour with Money to the Dyets upon the Election of a New King or else if they are not marry'd to offer 'em a Princess born in France and 't is very probable that the French Embassadour Beauvais and Cardinal Fourbin who was then at the Dyet in Poland contributed very much to the Election of the Present King for which he has not been ungrateful However he was guilty of two Bold Strokes which tho' they were greatly for his Honour were no way delightful to France The First was the King of Poland's March to the Relief of Vienna which was effectually perform'd with the loss of 60000 Turks to the great Grief of Lewis XIV and contrary to his Expectation and his Wishes And tho' some Remains of Decorum and Honour retain'd the Court of France from openly displaying her Resentment yet the Silence of the French discover'd how much they were vex'd and mortify'd by it at a time when all Europe resounded with loud Acclamations of Joy and Gladness and all the Churches with Thanks givings to Heaven Only the Sorrow of France notoriously display'd it self by her Prohibiting the Bishops of the Conquer'd Cities in the Low-Countries to suffer Te Deums to be sung within their Diocesses The second Blow which his Majesty of Poland gave to the Contrivances of France was the Marriage of Prince James to one of the Princesses of Newburgh Sister to the Empress notwithstanding all the Oppositions of the French Ministers and particularly of the Marquis of Arquin the Queen's Father wherein the Contests grew so high that the King of France order'd one of his Ministers to tell his Majesty of Poland That since he could not hinder the Marriage he would hinder the Prince from being King But in these two Affairs the Polanders were guided by their real Interests which was to bring down and ruine the Turks their sworn Enemy and near Neighbour as also assure to themselves the Amity
and Alliance of the Emperour and the Imperial Protection for the Prince his Son when the Throne should become vacant But if the King of France prov'd unsuccessful in the main he has had his satisfaction in Part. For it is visible that his Intrigues in the Court of Poland have a long time hinder'd his Polish Majesty from being Master of Caminieck for what could else have hinder'd him but the French Louidores more especially seeing the Polanders ever since this War have had only to deal with a beaten baffl'd Enemy whom their Prince had defeated and forc'd to rise from before the Walls of Vienna with Ignominy and a Prodigious Slaughter Nevertheless these Great Advantages produc'd no great Effect tho' the Pope still continu'd his Supplies of Money to carry on the War But the reason is plain for the Pernicious Policy of the Court of France who was resolv'd to march to the Succour of the Turk her dear Confederate wrought so powerfully at the Court of Poland by means of the Queen and Great Presents that the Louidores which tarnish'd the Honour of Poland surmounted the Pope's Piety and his charitable Assistance both together Moreover the King of Poland being naturally Thrifty and rightly judging that the Prince his Son may one day have need of ready Money to hoist him into the Throne had so much power over himself and so much presence of Mind as to keep both the Assistance of Rome and the French Pension His Majesty of Poland who is a wise and an understanding Prince knows also that Money is a good Moveable at a time of Need and by a Knack of Prudence the Criticks may call it Pitiful Mechanick and below himself if they please he provides an Apple against he comes to be adry But if this be the King's Weakness 't is the Strength of the Prince his Son The Policy of France has this particular Gift that it carefully studies the Inclination of Princes the weak sides and where lies the strength of those Courts into which she strives to introduce her self and get to be Mistress of Misrule Thither she sends such Persons as are proper for the Genius of the People either as Publick Ministers or private Spies For Example to send to the Courts of Italy where Gallantry and Courtship abounds such Persons whose Principal Vertue consists in hard Drinking would be an Idle Thing and spoil all No the Court of France is more refin'dly cunning then so she reserves her Lovers of Bacchus's Liquor for the Courts of Germany where the Temper of the Climate induces the People to drink on purpose to steel their Bodies against Cold Weather and there it is that frequently between the Pear and the Cheese they strike the Home-strokes and do their Business when the Wine has warm'd their Courage As for the Court of Poland 't is a Place where neither Courtship nor the Pleasures of the Table are predominant but the Powder of Gold prevails with a witness and indeed not only there but in most part of the Courts of Europe There are few Courtiers and fewer Women so void of Ambition as to be proof against the Attacks of Money I mean that can refuse to embrace his Interests who courts 'em in Showers of Louidores They are such Irresistible Temptations to those that are short of Money as it usually happens in the Court of Poland where Money does not tumble about proportionable to the Expence and where the Courtiers are not so thrifty as the King The French Men and French Women who generally affect a Port answerable to the Grandeur of their Prince many times sacrifice their Fortunes and their Honour to render themselves useful to their Country and such are easily gain'd A Director of Conscience works Miracles upon the Minds of such People and therefore the Policy of France is very Careful to maintain French both Men and Women in the Court of Poland and the Ministers of France are so dextrous as to recommend French Men to serve him with the Character of Publick Ministers in Foreign Courts without any Expence to his Polish Majesty while France takes care to provide 'em a Maintenance and by that means the Court of France is inform'd of all that passes not only in respect of the Affairs of Poland but also of all that comes to the knowledge of the Ministers in those Courts where they reside those Ministers having sold themselves to France and only acting and actuated by the Spirit and Counsel of France their Benefactress As we have seen by Experience at the Hague during the Residence of the Sieur Moreau and of which the Proceedings against Grandval and Demont are authentick Proofs We ought to be convinc'd that France would never have pay'd those Ministers but that she receiv'd some Benefit by 'em more particularly in a time of War when she cannot send Embassadours to Princes in Confederacy against Her For tho' that France has not any publick Minister in the Courts of her Enemies nevertheless we find she is inform'd of every thing that passes there she neglects nothing but makes a dextrous Use of the Weak side of Princes that are willing to listen to her and takes her Advantage of all Opportunities 'T is the chiefest and indeed the Main Policy of France to surprize her Friends as well as her Enemies and therefore they had need be always upon their Guard and always distrustful of whatever France proposes to ' em The Kingdom of Portugal since the loss of the Battel in 1578. was possess'd by the Moors and after that by the Spaniards till the Year 1641. at what time John of Bragansa assisted by France and being the next Heir to the Crown was declar'd King of Portugal after a general Revolt of the Kingdom which not being able any longer to endure the Oppression of the Spaniards shook off their Yoke under the Reign of Philip IV. The Kings of Spain always thought they had an Ample Right to Portugal by vertue of a Donation from the Cardinal of Portugal the lawful Heir of the Crown after the Death of King Sebastian his Brother who dy'd without Issue That Cardinal being unwilling to quit the Priesthood was push'd forward by the Sollicitations of the Jesuits who besieg'd him in such a manner that they never let him rest till he had made a Donation of the Kingdom of Portugal to Philip II. King of Spain which could not be done to the Prejudice of the Lawful Heirs whom the Spaniards contrary to their Politicks suffer'd to live and grow up in Portugal Nor did they lie asleep but lay'd hold of the first Opportunity as has been already said And certain it is that France spurr'd on by her own Interest contributed toward it with all her Power for indeed the Policy of France requiring the pulling down and ruine of Spain she could not take a better Course then to dismember and rend a whole Kingdom from the Spanish Puissance in regard that Spain decreasing in Dominions
Sacrifice every thing to his own Interest Honour Word Alliances Edicts Promises Oaths when all these Vertues were opposite to his Aggrandizement That it behov'd a Prince that would be great to accommodate himself to the Necessity of Affairs that it was sufficient for a Prince to be Vertuous when he could not dispence with being otherwise that it was good and commendable to know what was just and honest but not always expedient to practise it That there were some Vices which no way hinder'd a Prince from Governing well that Solomon was subject to Women yet look'd upon to be the Greatest and Wisest of all Kings for that there is always a Distinction to be made between the Domestick and Publick Life of a Prince his Royal and his Private Vertues Cardinal Mazarine having thus found out the Genius of his Disciple 't was an easie thing for him to imprint in his Mind these New Lectures of Policy which afterwards serv'd for a Basis and Foundation to the Reign of Lewis XIV who togetâ—â—â— with the Queen-Mother out of pure Gratitude deliver'd into the Cardinal's hands the Keys of all the Favours and Honours of his Kingdom upheld him in despite of all the Princes of the Blood and notwithstanding all the earnest Importunities of the Parliament and People underwent all the Dangers of a Civil War for some Years and not being able to live without the Cardinal's Presence the King sent for him twice out of Banishment and receiv'd him with those Honours that were no way due to him even to the going several Leagues to meet him and to express his excessive Joy for his Return by mutual Embraces I shall not here enlarge upon the Authority and Power which that Italian Cardinal had in France 't is sufficient to say That the King during his Minority had all the Deference and Respect for that Prelate which a Son could have for a Father and that it was the Cardinal who only reign'd in France In lieu of which he promis'd the King and Queen That he would make him the Greatest Monarch in Europe In order whereunto he was to do Two things The First was To heap up Treasure and augment his Revenues The Second was To lay aside all Scruples of Conscience when the main Concern was the Aggrandizing his Kingdoms The first Tryal of Skill which the Cardinal made in the behalf of France waâ— during his Nunciature when the Peace was concluded at Chiâ—iascâ— where the crafty wilely Miâ—ister deceiv'd the Pope his Master the Princes of Italâ— and the King of Spain in favour of the French Court and so well Cully'd the Duke of Sâ—â—â—â— that he wrested out of his Hands that Imporâ—â—â—â— Place of Pigneâ—ol to deliver it into the Hands 〈◊〉 which was an Acquisition that all the King's Money and Power could not obtain before though he had had an aking Tooth for it a long time And this same Cheat and cunning piece of Knavery it was though the Court of France paid for it in good Ready-Money that purchas'd him the Good-Will of all the Court of France and the Friendship of Cardinal Richlieu which Mazarine still improv'd and kept tite by Presents which he sent him out of Italy from time to time and so well he understood to inveigle all the rest that he was call'd into France in the Year 1639. where a little time after his arrival the Death of Father Joseph the Capuchin became the Life of Maâ—arine This Capuchin was he who serv'd Cardinal Richlieu in all his Intrigues both within and without the Kingdom and who was sent into England during the Reign of Charles I. to sow Division and raise a Civil War which cost that Nation Rivers of Blood So that the Capuchin had good reason to say at his return out of England That he had set Fire to those Sparkles which would kindle such a Flame as would not easily be extinguish'd in Acknowledgment of which the Court of France promis'd to get him a Cardinal's Cap to cover his Bald Pace But he was not so happy as to see himself clad in Purple Deaâ—â—â— seizing him in the Habit of a Saint of a Franciscan After which the Court of France bent all her Sollicitations in favour of Maâ—arine To which Cardinal Richlieu was the more willing to give his Consent as being glad to see himself succeeded in the Ministry by a Person of no less Rank then he was who though he were inferiour to him in Birth yet was his Equal in Dignity Both Princes of the Church yet not without some secret Jealousies between ' em But the King and Queen favour'd him in Consideration of the Business of Pignerol and his declar'd Devotion for the Interests of France so that he was advanc'd to the Purple toward the End of the Year 1641. Immediately after his Promotion he went to take Possession of the Principality of Sedan which the two Cardinals had wrested from the House of Bouillon by Violence forasmuch as that Principality border'd too near upon France and also durst make Head against it but at a time when France was not so powerful as now it is 'T is true that the Duke of Bouillon Frederick Maurice who was then Sovereign of the Place had very much contributed to the loss of it by changing his Religion upon his marrying the Countess of Berghe For being at that time Governor of Maestricht and in the Service of the States of the United Provinces whose Protection warranted his Territories from all Assaults of France yet finding himself no longer acceptable to the Prince of Orange his near Kinsman nor to the States themselves he desir'd leave to lay down his Commission and retire to Sedan there to lead a private and quiet Life and wholly to employ himself within his Principality to the Propagation of the Roman Religion which he had embrac'd in which Employment he made some Progress during some Years After which he met with Business much more considerable by reason of the Refuge which he gave to the Count of Soissons one of the Princes of the Blood and who was retir'd in discontent from the Court of France by reason of some Quarrel with Cardinal Richlieu and this Count was follow'd by the Duke of Guise Now the Duke of Bouillon thought to have avoided all Occasion of Trouble by giving notice to the Court of France of the Retreat of those two Princes but the Cardinal a subtle and crafty Politician seeing he could not hinder it persuaded the King to approve what he had done till an Opportunity of Revenge presented it self as it appear'd not long after by the King 's taking the Field in order to besiege the City of Sedan Nor had the Duke at that time any other way to preserve himself but by clapping up a League in all haste with the Emperor and Spain by which they were to assist him against France with Seven thousand Men and Two hundred thousand Crowns in Ready-Money But the Emperor only perform'd his
Promise and sent him some Forces under the Conduct of General d'Amboi Nevertheless the Germans together with about Four thousand Men which the Duke of Bouillon had rais'd at his Charges defeated the French Army under the Command of Chatillon the Fruit of which Victory was the Taking of Doncheri not far from Sedan And this lucky Beginning of the Duke made the Court of France begin to look about 'em as being afraid lest that petty War should kindle a greater Thereupon the Duke of Brezé was sent the same way with Five and twenty thousand Men and the Cardinal persuaded the King and all the Court to march as far as Rethel But unfortunately for the Duke of Bouillon Lamboy quitted him with all his Men being order'd to march to the Relief of Aire which the French had besieg'd So that the Duke finding himself constrain'd to shut himself up within the Walls of Sedan and seeing himself besieg'd began to think of an Accommodation so much the rather because the Count of Soissons who had been the Occasion of the War had shot himself in the Head with a Pistol Bullet This was no more then what France desir'd as having at that time a War with Spain several discontented Princes and Lords within the Kingdom who waited only for an Opportunity to rise and the Siege of Aire begun uncertain therefore of Success and having so many Irons in the Fire she durst not venture the besieging of Sedan which they were convinc'd that the Duke would defend with the last drop of his Blood besides that he had Great Men that took his Part at Court as not being willing that Place should fall into the King's Hands which upon many Occasions serv'd 'em for a Retiring Place Wherefore being also no less desirous to spite Cardinal Richlieu who was look'd upon as the first Author of that War they persuaded the King who was advanc'd as far as Meziere to hearken to an Accommodation Thereupon the Cardinal seeing it was not to be avoided offer'd his Mediation to the Duke of Bouillon to the end that the Affair passing through his Hands the Duke might think himself beholding to him for this Kindness though his Design were to ruine the Duke some other way To which purpose he made great Protestations to the Duke who took all for Gold that glister'd and being but a new Catholick believ'd that whatever that same Prelate and Prince of the Church assur'd him was sincere and truly honest But whatever Protestation his Eminency made he had always a Reserve which he kept close in his Breast and the better to cover his Design and shew his Good-Will he would needs enter into a Treaty as a Security for the Duke's Sincerity and a Gauranty on the King's behalf That His Majesty would perform the Agreement to the least Tittle of the Stipulation the better to lull the Duke asleep and draw him to the Court. Thereupon the Articles being sign'd on both Sides the Duke went forthwith to pay his Respects to the King at Meziere where he was entertain'd with Court-Holy-Water fair Words and Complements and receiv'd by the King the Cardinal and all the Lords with all the Honours imaginable due to his Dignity The Cardinal also gave him large Demonstrations of Friendship and made him extraordinary Promises on purpose to engage him to have a Confidence in him and make him believe that he had forgot the injurious Manifesto which the Duke had printed against him Yet all this was nothing else but Snare and Decoy For his Eminency told the King in the presence of all the Court That he could not do better then to entrust an Army under the Command of the Duke of Bouillon as one that so well deserv'd the Honour seeing that with a handful of wretched Germans he had beaten the Army of France so that there was nothing which he might not well expect from his Valour and Experience when he should once come to Head the Valour of the French This the Duke took in good earnest and so fell into the Snare and though he had been forewarn'd by the Cardinal's Enemies that the more Affection and Kindness that Minister shew'd the less he was to be trusted yet he was so easily wrought upon as to accept the Command of an Army in Italy and that was the very Place where the Cardinal was desirous to keep him For being in that Post he forgot himself to that degree as during the Sickness of Lewis XIII to give the Duke of Orleance a Letter of Credence to be admitted into Sedan together with the Queen-Mother and the Children of France under pretence of retiring thither after the King's Death to avoid the Oppression of the Cardinal tho' the Count of d'Aubijoux who went to him in Italy promis'd him with great Oaths and Imprecations that he would never deliver the Letter unless there should be an Absolute Necessity But the King escap'd that Sickness and the Cardinal having notice of every thing to the smallest Circumstance gave him an account of every particular and thought it a favourable Opportunity to revenge himself for what was past and to put the Principality of Sedan into the Hands of France without the Effusion of Blood For he seldom separated the Remembrance of an Injury and the desire of Revenge It happen'd at the same time that the Duke of Orleance finding his Brother very Infirm and sickly and believing that during the Minority of the Young King when the Cardinal would have all the Power in his hands he should lead but an ill life in the Court of France and seeing himself expos'd to the Resentment of his Adversary he bethought himself of making a League with the Spaniards by the mediation of a Gentleman whose Name was Fourraille whom he sent to Madrid But the Cardinal having got an Inkling of it sent his Secretary Chavigni privately to give the King notice of it and in the mean time he left no Stone unturn'd to discover the Contents of the Treaty that had been concluded at Madrid and he set so many Engines at work that he found a way to get a Copy of it from some Secretary to the Duke of Orleance So soon as he had read it he sent it to the King by the same Chavigni and order'd him to assure his Majesty that the Copy was drawn from the Original it self and for this same Piece it was that Cinqmarc and du Thou were apprehended and that the King order'd his Brother the Duke of Orleance to be very narrowly watch'd who finding it Impossible for him to make his Escape out of France took a Resolution to submit himself to the King's Mercy and implore his Pardon and wrote a very submissive Letter to the Cardinal which he sent him by one of his Favourites wherein he set forth his Repentance in very moving Expressions and his desire to be beholding for the Favour of his Reconciliation with the King to his Eminency who willingly embrac'd the
countermine the Policy of France to supplicate their Monarch to appoint his Successour in his Life-time to the end he may be bred up in the Court of Madrid and be ready to oppose the Invasions of France after the King's decease But more especially to beg of the Emperour to put a speedy End to the Turkish War that he may have his Hands at Liberty to be assisting to Spain at a time of need 'T is also an Affair of Great Importance and most Essential toward the Preservation of the Remainder of the Low-Countries and not to relie as the Council of Spain does upon her Neighbours which is the reason that they neglect to send the True Succour which it would behove 'em to send in time into those Provinces which were within a Fingers Breadth of being utterly lost during King James's Reign And indeed there happen so many Changes and Revolutions in the World that a well advis'd Monarch ought never to relie upon the Forces of Other Princes but his own While the Provinces of the Spanish Low-Countries were govern'd by Interested Vice-Roys who preferr'd their own private Concerns before the Preservation of the Provinces with which they were entrusted we still found that France seiz'd upon City after City and is now in Possession of whole Provinces and it may be said that a better thought never came into her Head then when she abandon'd the Conquest of Italy where she Exhausted her Men and Money to turn her Forces upon Flanders where all Appearances seem'd more easie since she saw well that Governours were sent thither only to enrich themselves among whom the Greatest Part minded more the getting of a Million into their Purses then the preservation of the Best City in the Low-Countries To avoid which Mischief there is a necessity of having a Prince for Governour whose particular Interest it is to preserve 'em who will march at the Head of his Army lay out the Subsidies of the People in defraying the Necessary Expences of the People and take care for the Timely Returns of Money for that the Low-Countries can never subsist without an Army well pay'd We have met with all these Advantages in the Person of his Electoral Highness the Duke of Bavaria and it may be said without flattery That the Choice which his Catholick Majesty made of that Prince for the Government of the Low-Countries was one of the best and most important Hits of State that Spain has been for some time guilty of T was such a Blow to France as broke all the Measures she had taken during the Government of Gastanaga nor could Lewis XIV ward off this Blow which the King of England gave him without ever giving him warning to guard himself 'T is a thing no less observable then wonderful That the Council of Spain having no more then this little Corner of the Earth to guard should neglect it as They do seeing that good Policy requires that Spain should drein herself rather then part with it were it for nothing else but to serve her as an Amuzement to the Arms of France as we have found it to have been in all the last and present Wars and the Counterguard that keeps the most Christian King from Marching to the very Walls of Madrid it self The reason of this Carelessness may well be thought to be the Popular Errour of the Inhabitants of Flanders and Brabant who tell the Hollanders when they upbraid 'em with their Remissness as to their own Preservation 'T is you that ought to defend us for the sake of your own Interest And indeed there is some reason for this Opinion But the chief reason proceeds from the Avarice of the Spanish Ministers who shroud themselves under this Mistake which serves 'em to heap up Wealth while the King their Sovereign is engag'd on every side to preserve himself The Policy of France together with her Louid'ors works now the same Effect with the which formerly Philip II. wrought by virtue of his Doublon's For I have heard say That ev'n in Time of Peace there was not any Place in the Low-Countries where Lewis XIV had not his Creatures and his Cabals ready to declare themselves in Time and Place and when an Opportunity requir'd And certain it is That if this were not the whole which was then said 't is a good part of the Truth For having beheld what we have seen in our days in reference to that impregnable City of Luxemburgh and the Acquisition of the whole Province that follow'd we ought to be convinc'd that that same Place of so great moment was not obtain'd by the Bravery and Courage only of the French There is no better way then to disappoint those Treacheries then by often changing the Garrisons and sometimes the Governors themselves but above all things to Pay well and Punish without Exception when there is the least Fault committed The Low-Countries are at present like an Insolvent House that must be re-settl'd by good Oeconomy and by affording the Inhabitants the Means of being able to contribute towards it The Low-Countries have a long time been the Mark at which the Court of France has aim'd Upon the least Dispute or Pretence of a Quarrel with the Court of Spain in she pours with all her Fury upon the Low-Countries like an impetuous Torrent plunders burns and never retreats without some considerable Loppings which she dismembers from the Body of the Tree Which nevertheless is not a Mischief never to be remedy'd since the Sea it self is many times restrain'd by Causeys and Mounds though it be an Element a thousand times more to be fear'd then the Policy and Pride of Lewis XIV And this is that which the Duke of Bavaria and the rest of his Brave Confederates must do to stop and curb the rapid Inundations of France They must look upon the French Monarch as one that thunders in all his Forces and his Fury upon those Places where he is sure to find but little Resistance and from such Victories as those he reaps his greatest Honour I confess that a Prince who is violent and a Usurper is happy so long as Fortune goes hand in hand with his Natural Humour But in regard she grows weary for the most part of always carrying one Man upon her Back we also find that the same Prince becomes unprosperous when Fortune changes her Mind or rather when there is an Opposition made against him And therefore if we may build upon outward Appearances and if there be any thing of Prognostication in the Presentiments of Wise and Judicious Men the Low-Countries may well hope by the Blessing of Heaven the prudent Conduct of their Great and Sage Governor and Leader and the sincere Intentions of the Confederates to be soon deliver'd from the Yoke and Barbarity of France and enjoy the Fat of a fruitful Soil that has so long fed so many Thousands of Foreigners both Men and Beasts From the Low-Countries I cross over into
England where I find that the Revolution which happen'd in the Year 1689. affords a large Field and ample Matter to supply my Discourse The Court of France not only cry'd The Town 's our's but Europe's my own so soon as she beheld James II. upon the Throne of Great Britain I shall not here enlarge upon the Accident that set him in the Throne But certain it is that France and He had long and passionately waited for the happy Minute for that according to their Saying between 'em Charles II. was a meer Slugg and had neither vigour nor courage to put in Execution the Projects that France was a Brewing But far from that Charles II. wanted neither Policy nor Ingenuity and might have gone to his Grave with the Character of Prudent and Vertuous but for his scandalous Inclinations for Women However it may be assuredly said That the Match to which he was in a manner driven against his own Consent made him disgust Matrimony and threw him into a Vein of wanton Courtship 'T is true 't was a Weakness in him too apparent for his Honour but France and his Brother the Duke of York knew how to make their Advantage of it And therefore the Joy of Lewis XIVth's Court was not to be conceiv'd so soon as both He and his Adherents understood the Death of that good Prince and the Elevation of James II. to the Throne the Jesuits rejoyc'd in particular and never was such Posting backwards and forwards between Versailles and London as after the King of England's Death came to be publickly known at the French Court And there was some reason for it for that then it was that the French Council began to take terrible Resolutions in order to the putting in Execution a Design that France had kept conceal'd in her Breast for many Years before She began with the Revocation of the Edict of Nants a Thing which she durst not meddle with so long as King Charles was alive though that Prince in his heart was none of the Devoutest Religionaries but a Politician much more and one who observ'd his Measures by reason of his Parliament that was well inform'd that England was the Garrantee of that Edict But so soon as James II. became sole Master in England the Court of France gave her self her full swinge and push'd on her Design upon Europe might and main because that then there was no longer any fear of England which was the only Puissance that could either disappoint or advance her Enterpâ—â—â—â— And this was a Truth at all times so well know◠〈◊〉 the Kings of England that Hen. VIII made a Meâ—â—â— of Gold upon which was engrav'd a Hand stretâ—â—ing it self out of a Cloud and holding a Pair of Scaâ—â—â— that were equally poiz'd with this Motto Mâ— Friendship turns the Beam But in King James's Time it was not Engâ—â—â—â— turn'd the Scale but France while England like 〈◊〉 Ox ignorant of his own Strength tamely surrender'd her Neck to the Golden Yoke of Lewiâ— XIV Formerly the Policy of France sent to the Court of England Lovely French Nymphs to cultivate the Hearts of the English Lords and of the Monarch himself But during King James's Reign another sort of Vermin were made use of and Monks and Jesuits were sent in Shoals that like so many Caterpillers and Locusts devour'd the Country and who had already dispers'd themselves over all the Kingdom and had made themselves Masters of the King and his Privy-Council to the great grief of all his good Subjects What a Heart-breaking must it needs be to the sounder Party at Court to see a Father Peters Chief in the Privy-Council pearch'd upon one of the highest Dignities in the Kingdom slighting and domineering over the Lords and Peers of the Realm as having got the Soveraign Authority into his Hands and for that the King and the Queen a Princess transported altogether by her Passion suffer'd themselves to be deluded and govern'd by this Tartuff of a Hypocrite and he over-rul'd by Father La Chaise who had all his Orders from the Court of France By which it may be easie to judge in what Condition France was at that time what Devils haunted both 〈◊〉 Court and the Kingdom trampl'd o're the â—â—â—ks of the King 's best Subjects and were just â—â—â—osing the People to the Rage of Queen Mary's â—â—ign who allow'd her Subjects no other Choice 〈◊〉 of the Mass or the Faggot â—â—ey who seriously consider the Policy of France 〈◊〉 respect of England during the Reign of King â—ames the II. will find the Game but very ill play'd â—eeing that in so short a time it gave an occasion to â— Revolution so dangerous to France But so it happen'd because that Lewis XIV not foreseeing the Consequences after he had once given a loose Liberty to the Monks and Jesuits was no longer Master of the Affair and those Vermin pusht on King James with so much precipitancy that he being desirous to do too much at once they ranvers'd at the same time all the Designs of France and cast him headlong from the Throne into an Abyss from whence he will never be able to rise again so long as he lives nor will all the Power of France nor the detestable Wealth and Politicks of the Jesuits be able to restore him again If the Court of France were so excessive in their Rejoycing upon the Coronation of King James we may assure our selves that they were no less drown'd in Tears of Grief and Rage upon his Abandoning the Crown And then it was that all the best Head-pieces both Jesuits and Courtiers met together which way to apply some proper Remedies to a Blow so fatal and so unlookt for and then it was that Lewis XIV acknowledg'd his Error in following the Marquis of Louvois's Counsel which was to attack Philipsburgh instead of Maestritcht and give the Prince of Orange an Opportunity to pass un-disturb'd into England But that which deceiv'd France was an Army oâ— Forty thousand Men which King James had a-foot of which a great part were Irish and a Fleet of Forty Men of War riding out at Sea which indeed was a Force sufficient both by Sea and Land to have resisted so small a number as attended the Prince into England But it may be said that that same great Body was a meer Monster all Arms but no Head and whose Veins were fill'd with Water only instead of Blood And if France had bethought her self to have sounded in the first Place the Heart of King James she would have found there more of Cowardice then Courage and without question she would have march'd her Troops to the Lower instead of sendâ—ng them to the Upper Rhine But by this we see that there is a certain Destiny which all the Wisdom all the Force and Industry of mortal Man cannot escape But now the Constitution of the Court of England being chang'd by the Alteration of the Government there was a necessity for the
his Power to call himself Master from the Pyrenaeans to the Alps. But the Tragical End of Hen. IV. put a stop to that Enterprize However it did not quench the greedy Thirst of the Court of France which was rather encreas'd then abated as we have seen by what was aim'd at by the Match with Portugal which Heaven prevented by a Kind of Miracle his Royal Highness having already taken leave of his Estates The Court of France has always so narrowly watch'd the Duke that she thought it impossible for him to escape her Trains or to withdraw himself from the King's Pleasure who had so near a Relation at the Court of Turin that he had Intelligence of every thing which was acted there and of every Petty Resolution that was taken and the main Business was to hold the Duke under the King 's Ferula but above all from holding any Correspondence with the House of Austria And for proof of the Truth of this it may be remember'd that the Duke of Savoy could not go for his Diversion to Venice with his Electoral Highness of Bavaria but he was follow'd and watch'd by the Envoy of France who was then at his Court and who knew so well to work and undermine with his Louidores that he was inform'd of all that past at that Interview Which gave the First Occasion that Kindl'd the Fire of the War at present between France and Savoy And tho' there be a great Disproportion between the two Contenders nevertheless the Duke gives no small disturbance and trouble to the Court of France whether it be by the Alliances which the Duke has enter'd into or by the Constitution of the Italian Climate which has always cost France a world of Men as having been always call'd the Church-yard for the French and notwithstanding the inequality of Puissance the King has been constrain'd to keep up a numerous and chargeable Army on that side to which he is oblig'd to send at vast Expences out of the Dauphinate and Provence his Ammunition and Provision for their Subsistance Moreover France never imagin'd that the Duke of Savoy could or durst have undertaken any thing against her For which reason the Policy of France ne'er thought it worth while to fortifie her Frontiers on that side to prevent in time of War the Savoyards from entring into Provence and the Dauphinate Nor was ever the King more surpriz'd or madder then when he heard that the Confederates had got footing in those two Provinces So that had it not been for the Accident that befell his Royal Highness and the unhappy Consequences of his confiding too much in the Jesuits of Ambrune which was in part the Cause of the Return of his Army certain it is that the Duke had enter'd Victorious into Grenoble The Dread of his March reach'd not only to Lion but as far as Paris A good part of the Inhabitants of the Dauphinate and Provence had already quitted their Country but the Greatest part impatiently waited for the Conqueror's coming to deliver them out of their Misery and break their Chains but they were frustrated in their Hopes for the Reasons above mention'd The Court of France always flatter'd her self till now that if she restor'd to the Duke of Savoy some Town that she had taken from him that he would be glad to renew his Alliance with her Nay she believ'd it an Honour which he would sue for but she found her self deceiv'd For she met with a Haughty and undaunted Prince who would not listen to any Proposals that tended to disunite him from his Confederates and besides knowing France too well his Royal Highness was absolutely convinc'd that there was no relying upon the Promises and Word of a King much less upon the Faith of his Ministers who glory in deceiving those with whom they have to deal if any Benefit redounds from thence to France The Court of France had her Aim and her Prospects in her Offers which she made last to the Duke of Savoy and it was the Strife of her Policy to bring him off from the Confederates and to have render'd him liable to their Ill Opinion who would doubtless have abandon'd him and thereby have left France at her Liberty to have invaded his Country For should France resign to the Duke all the Places she had taken from him but keep Pignerol and Casal in his Hands that were still no more then lying always between the Hammer and the Anvil His Royal Highness therefore having drawn his Sword against France that continually oppress'd him it behoves him never to sheath it again till he has procur'd his full Freedom and secur'd himself from future Dangers seeing he may well expect to be sincerely succour'd by the Confederates who never will forsake him but always stick by him as hitherto they have done So much the rather because they may be able in case the Catholick King dyes without Issue to seat him in a better Station to which he has already Great Pretensions by the Marriage of Charles Emanuel in the Year 1561. with Katherine Infanta of Spain the Daughter of Philip II. So that by the Addition of Piemont to Milanois he may take upon him the Name and Title of King of Lombardy Which is an Advantage he can never attain to if he depart from the Interests of the House of Austria to embrace the Promises of France which early or late will deceive him 'T is never to be thought that France will ever mend or that she will act for the future with more Fidelity then hitherto she has done To trust to her would be for a Man to put a willing Cheat upon himself The Blackmoor can never change his Skin nor the Leopard alter his Spots So France can never help her Usurping upon her Neighbours Ambition is an inveterate Disease that has seiz'd her never to be Cured but by the Prosperity of the Confederates I know very well that they flatter his Highness with a Match between the Duke of Burgundy the Dauphin's Eldest Son and who in his Turn may wear the Diadem of France with one of the Young Princesses of Savoy but this is still to cast Oyl into the Fire and give France a New Handle to lay hold on who is ready enough to grasp all Advantages without giving her an Opportunity These are Baits which the Emissaries of France throw about at a venture to try whether they will take or no. If not however it fails not to make some Impression in the Breasts of the Ladies who being Members of the Frail Sex easily fall into the Snare and willingly feed themselves with worldly Honours never considering what they will cost 'em nor the Dangers that attend ' em The Antipathy between the Danes and Swedes whether it proceeds from any Hatred of the two Nations one of another or from Interest of Trade by reason that the Dominions of Both Kings lie so close together has in some measure parallel'd 'em with France