THE MOST Christian Turk Or a VIEW of the LIFE and Bloody REIGN OF LEWIS XIV Present King of FRANCE CONTAINING An Account of his Monstrous Birth the Transactions that happened during his Minority under Cardinal Mazarine afterwards his own unjust Enterprizes in War and Peace as Breach of Leagues Oaths c. the blasphemous Titles given him his Love-Intrigues his Confederacy with the Turk to Invade Christendom the cruel Persecution of his Protestant Subjects his Conniving with Pirates his unjustly Invading the Empire c. laying all Waste before him with Fire and Sword his Quarrels with the Pope and Genoieze his Treachery against England Scotland and Ireland the Engagements of the Confederate Princes against him with all the Battles Sieges and Sea Fights that have happened of Consequence to this Time LONDON Printed for Henry Rhodes near Brideâ—an End in Fleetstreet 1690. Behold the Christians Scourge by fortune hurâ— Like Damn'd Pandoras Aoâ—â— to plague the worâ— No Leagues nor oath's bind this Leviathan With fire and Sword he madly rushes on LICENSED â—ecemb 6th 1689. THE PREFACE THE Reader at first View may suppose this History to be written by some prejudiced hand and therefore it may Savour of too much Partiality but if he more deliberately consult the Actions of this Monarch and the Reflexions the Calmest Spirits of Europe and even his own Subjects have made upon them we hope the Censure may pass over us For there be few who allow him not the Epithet of Troubler of the Peace of Europe in which least Part of the Earth he has caused more Blood to be shed since his mounting the Throne of France than many Ages before had seen and made so many Towns and Villages sink in Fire that no barbarous Nation dares venture to reckon with him on that score Nero was a Heathen and yet we have him painted in the blackest shape for setting Fire to Rome and Persecuting the Christians What then could have been expected from those Historians had they been to set forth the Actions of Lewis XIV who is styled The Most Christian King who has not only Destroyed one Town or City but laid whole Countries and Provinces Waste with Fire and Sword Persecuted and Destroyed a Million of Christians and joined with Infidels to bring Destruction even upon Christendom it self and as he Phrases it Scorning to be a Slave to his Word has counted the most sacred Leagues and Oaths as Trifles to be made and broken at pleasure or things only framed to serve his purpose and no longer durable than his Interest requires Therefore we hope the Candid Reader will not impute iâ— too great a Boldness in a Historian of these times to lay down in a brief buâ— compact Series undeniable Truths thaâ— have attended his Birth and Reign A VIEW of the LIFE and ACTIONS OF LEWIS XIV The present King of France c. NOT doubting but many are unacquainted with the Life and Actions of Lewis XIV of France especially as to sundry Periods and Particulars we have undertaken to compile what has materially happened relating to that Prince who has for many Years but especially of late made such a noise and bluster in the World to the damage and disturbance of all Christendom and has as it were fatted himself with Christian Blood After a tedious War between France and Spain which began in the Reign of Henry IV. and continued by Truces and Intervals in the Reign of Lewis XIII nothing was thought more Expedient to put a stop to the Progress of those Miseries that equally afflicted both Kingdoms than a Match and both Parties agreeing a Marriage was made between Lewis XIII styled by some The Just and Anne of Austria the Infanta of Spain But although they were both in the Flower of Youth they deceived for a long time the Expectation of the world living together in mutual Society Twenty-three Years without any Appearance of the Queen 's ever being with Child Insomuch that France and all Europe suspected one or both of them Defective or Stiril but at the end of these Years when all were out of hopes a Crotchet came into the Queen's Head supposed to be put into it by Cardinal Mazarine who Ruled all at Court To go in Procession barefooted to the Chapel of the Virgin Mary near Paris whom the Papists hold for a very Lucina to demand of her a Son and Heir to the Crown of France And indeed when a Man sends his Wife abroad to ask for a Child 't is but just she should bring one home with her if she can get it But to the purpose As if this as a Miracle was to be ascribed to the Blessed Virgin and an Effect of the Answer of the Queen's Prayers according to the time of Childing the Queen was brought to bed of a Son in September in the Year One thousand six hundred thirty and eight And that the Miracle might be increased or the better to hush some Scruples and Doubts in Court the Parliament of Paris welcomed him into the World with the Salutation of Dieu donne or Given of God conceiving a Birth as indeed all Europe did though perhaps in another sense to be Miraculous after so many Years passing over without any Child and the Father at that time being Indisposed c. Some things were whispered abroad at the Birth of this Prince and although Mazarine laboured to still them yet notwithstanding several of the Blood-Royal who had promised themselves great Advantages upon the Death of Lewis XIII who appeared to them very Infirm as well in Body as Mind could not forbear speaking aloud And as a presage of Cruelty as it happened to our King Richard III. of England and others who have delighted in Blood This Prince contrary to the Rules of Nature was born with long and sharp Teeth which made many of the Grandees of France look upon so unusual an Accident as the fore-runner of ill Luck to the World and upon that consideration Monsieur Bassampeire a very Judicious Man and a great Favourite of the Father wrote to the Bishop of Greenoble in these Words My Lord IN my last I gave you the good News of the Queen's being brought safe to Bed of a Dauphin All that I tell you at present is that her Majesty Recovers every Day and the Child is strong and lusty and seems to promise a long Life There is one thing of him much taken notice of by some That his Gums have Teeth pointing out already and there is scarce a Woman that can suffer him to suckle He sucks so eagerly that he brings Blood with his Milk and upon this account he has had two Nurses changed already I pray God this may not be an ill Omen to France We need Princes of a healing and mild Temper Corrosives not agreeing with the good of this Monarchy The Prince is to be named Lewis Dieu donne Given of God as his Majesty was pleased yesterday to declare in Council I
am My Lord Your very humble Servant Bassampeire This Letter is found in the Cologne Edition of Mareschal Bassampeire's Memoirs page 134. in French But to return Lewis XIII made great Joy for the Birth of this Son and all France shined with Fires of Triumph And no sooner was he Christened but he was Inaugurated into his Principality as Dauphin of France and had given him his Officers and Attendents the chief of which were his Governess a Lady of a Masculine Spirit and Hardovine de Perefexi who since obtained to be Bishop of Rhodes and after that Archbishop of Paris This Man served in the nature of his Tutor being very cunning and politick Whilst Lewis XIV lay in the Cradle as we may term it nothing of Weight or Moment can be expected But scarce was he capable of distinguishing Right from Wrong before the Sceptre of France dropp'd into his Hand For Lewis XIII declining more and more at the End of Four Years and a few Months after the Birth of this Son left the Stage of this World to sleep with his Ancestors He was the Eldest Son of Henry IV. of the House of Bourbon to whom the House of Valois had given Place by the Death of Henry III. who was slain by one Clement a Jocobine Monk with a Consecrated Dagger in his Tent when surrounded by his Army His Mother was Mary de Medicis of the House of Medici of Florence The King before his Death published a Declaration bearing Date April 12. 1643 by Virtue of which he appointed the Queen as Regent during the Minority of his Son as likewise Governess of the Kingdom and the Duke of Orleance was made her Lieutenant The Chief of the Council were the Prince of Conde and Cardinal Mazarine the latter swaying all with the Queen Monsieur Seguire Chancellor of France Monsieur Bauthlier and Monsieur Chauvigny And the Conduct of the Army on Foot was given to the Duke of Enguin afterward Prince of Conde So that Lewis XIII giving up the Ghost on the Fourteenth of May 1643. this Order prevented the Contests that would have happened in the Court about Priority However a Calm did not ensue for the King was no sooner in his Grave but Discontents that in respect to him seemed stifled broke out both People and Grandees being dissatisfied with the Cardinal's management of Affairs and too great Influence upon the Queen who Acted all by his Advice and he being an Italian proceeded to impose an Italian Government in many things which were highly disgusted So that they proclaimed their displeasures at the Head of an Army with the Noise of Trumpets Drums and the thundering of Cannon c. of which the Spaniards taking the Advantage endeavoured to enlarge their Dominions in the Low Countries where Don Francisco de Melo the Vice-Roy besieged Rocroy but his Army was beaten off by the Duke of Enguin General of the French Forces and a considerable Defeat given them which happened six days after Lews XIV came to the Throne And to flush him with this Success the Colours taken were spread before him at Paris and several Applauses of Triumph made And to say true this Victory proved a Check to Spain and gave the French Army an Opportunity to enter into their Territories and take several Towns and Fortresses as Maubeuge Borlemont Aimmerikt Binch and Thionville with others Yet the small Castle of Cirke stopped the Course of the French who before rolled on like a Torrent to the endangering of all Flanders But they had not the like Success in Germany fore there the Mareschal de Guâ—briant General of the French Forces was slain and his Army worsted with the loss of a great many brave Men which drew off Enguin from Flanders But however the War ceased not for the War with Spain engaged most of the Princes of Europe in the Quarrel The Trumpets carried the Noise of War round the Borders of Savoy as likewise in Italy Navar Catalonia Germany Alsatia Flanders and other Places Nor were the Seas free from Blood for the Duke of Breze being Admiral for the French in the Straights he twice engaged the Spanish Fleet. Nor did this War end without Rivers of Blood Burnings Plunderings and great Devastations and then the Misery it had occasioned in Europe moved the Princes to send their Plenepotentiaries to Munster to compose the Differences and agree a general Peace For the Countries were so wasted and Impoverished in many Places that more died by Famine than the Sword so that Lewis XIV began early to build his aspiring Greatness upon Ruine and Desolation which threatned the World with a turbulent Prince To this Treaty which was absolutely necessary for the preventing an universal Famine the Queen Regent of France sent the Count d' Avaux and Monsieur Servien to manage the Interest of France and the Duke of Longueville soon after followed them So that after many Debates and the Interposition of the uninterested Princes on the Twenty fourth of October 1648. a Peace was concluded and the Monarchs of Europe agreed to lay down their Arms that Plenty might be restored by Peace And this had been done sooner had not the French according to their accustomed Manner even in the midst of a Treaty when others depending upon the publick Faith thought themselves secure surprized several Places and suddenly brought their Arms into Germany Lorrain Flanders Catalonia and Italy at once as they did early in the Spring 1645. which so exasperated the Spaniards that they requited it before the Peace was concluded by setting upon the French Fleet over against Naples putting it to Flight with the loss of a great many Men and some Vessels the Admiral being killed with a Cannon Bullet and the Mareschal de Gassion a great General of France as he laid Siege to Lens was wounded and being carried to Arras there died and the Spaniards recovered many considerable Towns in Flanders and other Places as Fuens Courtray and Lens and the French Army suffered very much However the Peace held not in France for the Prince of Conde with divers others of the First Quality being grieved that Mazarine once a poor Priest and of mean Birth should play the King of France making his young Pupil Lewis XIV do what he pleased Impoverishing likewise the Kingdom by sending vast Treasures into Italy to enrich his poor Kindred insomuch that his Father who had never seen such Summs before imagined it rained Gold in France These things I say and the Insolence of that proud Priest made them take up Arms to Reform Abuses in the Government publishing their Manifesto's to justifie their Proceedings and remove the Cardinal from the Young King So that the great City of Paris declared for them resolving to defend their Interest to the utmost as did many other Towns Insomuch that the Crown was visibly at Stake nor could the Cardinal's Policy have saved it had not the Courage and prudent Conduct of the Mareschal de Turin put a stop
to the Progress of their Arms whereby he became a great Instrument of keeping Lewis the Great in his Throne who else had by this time been Little and Insignificant But in what manner he requited him the Sequel will demonstrate The Prince of Conde after much Blood-shed in an intestine War retreated into Flanders with divers of his Party who would not leave him and there was set at the Head of the Spanish Forces Whereupon Hostilities ensued and the Spaniards recovered a great many of the Towns that had been taken from them So that where Force could not prevail Insinuation and Flattery took place and at last the Prince was gained upon to return Home as did the Dukes of Conti and Longueville being highly Caressed and a Pardon was published to all that had been in the Civil War and Lewis who hitherto had acted nothing memorable in his own Person being arrived at the Thirteenth Year of his Age Anno 1651 he was declared to be of sufficient Years to take upon him the Government and to act in Person which Declaration was approved by the Parliament of Paris and Proclaimed throughout the Kingdom Yet the War continued with Spain and many Battels were fought and Towns lost and won things being carried on with various Success So that the King that he might say he had been on Horse-back got up at the Head of his Troops to shew himself to the People which did indeed give a little hopes to those that were ready to revolt that things might go better than they had done But how they were mistaken will appear in its proper place In the Year 1654 great Preparations were made to Crown Lewis King of France and Navar and on the Fourth of June the Court arrived at Rhemes and was received by about Two thousand of the Citizens on Horseback about a League from that place to which was made a Guard of about Five thousand of the Inhabitants in Arms and the Suburbs were crouded with the Soldiery At the Entry were divers Triumphal Arches beautified with golded Lilies and many flattering Devices the Streets being hung with Tapestry and other Ornaments And upon his approach the Cannons were thundred off and volleys of small Shot discharged and the Aldermen of the City taking him for some petty Deity fell on their Knees and in that posture presented him the Silver Keys of the Town And Cardinal Mazarine being at the Church of Nostrodame with the Clergy the King alighted there The Bishop of Soissons officiated in the stead of the Archbishop of Rhemes who was a little before dead the Bishop of Caesaria being his Coadjutor The Bishops of Noyon and Beauvais attended in their Pontificals the first making an Oration in which he gave the King many flattering Epithets scarce due to mortal Man However knowing that Air of Vanity possessed his Mind that makes him value himself much upon his own Praises nothing was omitted that a Court-parasite could industriously produce Then the Archdeacon did the like and the Deacon gave him a Missal to kiss who kneeled down upon two Velvet Cushions placed on a Foot-cloath under a Canopy of State and from thence he went unto the Choire to assist at the Te Deum and the Vespers were performed in Musick The Vespers over he went to the Archbishop's Palace which was prepared to receive him and the next day the Coronation was Solemnized with great Pomp the Queen-Mother of England and the Dukes of York and Gloucester being present And there he was annointed with the Holy Oil which the Priest makes the ignorant People believe was miraculously sent from Heaven on purpose to annoint their Kings that they may be the more Dreaded and Reverenced And now this spruce young Monsieur being on the Throne began to make some Figure in the World though he still acted by others Heads and Advice And to give the World a proof of French Fidelity he clapp'd up a Peace contrary to all Mens Expectation with Oliver Cromwell the English Protector at the time when King Charles II. with his two Brothers were at the French Court and had been promised not only Protection but also aid to regain the usurped Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. Nor was this all but he proceeded more treacherously with his near Kinsmen for in the Treaty amongst other things there was an Article to Banish them France and its Territories Of which King Charles having private Notice and finding it fruitless to complain where the Royal engagement was so little regarded to avoid a ceremonious Expulsion with generous disdain he turned his Back upon that ungrateful Court and with his faithful Followers as Prince Rupert and other Nobles he retired into Germany and was there received with all imaginable Joy and found amongst Strangers that Reception without any promise or word given which his Cousin of France had so generously promised and afterward so basely denied But his Brothers the Dukes of York and Gloucester stayed behind the first having a Command in the Army under Mareschâ—l de Turin against the Spaniards But that weighed nothing for the League being made he was ordered to be Packing Nay it went so far that a Message was sent to their Mother though Daughter to Henry the Great of France to be gone but she sent Word That she knew her Right to be in France if the King knew not what belonged to his Dignity and that a Daughter of Henry IV. from whom he was descended and held the Crown was not so easily expelled from her Native Country This resolute Answer of the Queen's made Lewis XIV dissemble the Matter and her stay was winked at though not approved Here you may see French Faith to distressed Princes who though never so near Ally'd to that King could obtain Refuge no longer than his Interest moved him to break his Promises And this early beginning has been very much improved as will appear in the Series of this History The League Offensive and Defensive being made with England against Spain Six thousand Men were sent into Flanders who beat the Spaniard and took Dunkirk whilst the French in a manner stood still and looked on For as an Historian of their own truly has it Though France abound with Men it is wont to make use of the Valour of its Neighbours in all Wars against Strangers For it hath continues he been found by Experience That the French are only for the first Onset but cannot abide nor weather so many Discouragements as the English Scots and Switzers can in War Besides their Foot are not to be compared to Strangers therefore they may ascribe their most difficult Conquests to their Money and the Valour of the English Scotch Irish and Switzers According to the Treaty Dunkirk was secured by the English For the crafty Protector not being ignorant of the Falshood of the French Court had given secret Orders to Lockhart who Commanded in Chief immediately upon surrender to enter it and Post his
Men there and even to dispute it with the French if it was not quietly put into their Hands However though Mazarine and his Pupil had a great Mind to this strong and important Place yet at that time they were forced to let it slip through their Fingers as well knowing the Protector had a powerful Army on Foot in England But some time after they found means to Charm it from us with French Gold to the great endamaging of our Shipping which Trade on that Coast In the Year 1656. the French relying upon their own Strength at the remarkable Siege of Valenciennes received a great Overthrow But the English had better Success for whilst the French stood looking on and concluded it utterly impossible Sir Thomas Morgan who Commanded the English Forces Stormed Mardike recovering the Top of the Walls almost before they were expected passing through showers of Bullets and Fire to the Astonishment both of the French and the Besieged and possessed themselves of that strong Fortress and after that they saved it from a Surprize attempted by the Spaniards in the dead of the Night And indeed most of the Towns that were taken during this War may be justly ascribed to the English Valour which Valour peradventure Lewis XIV may one day Experience in the Heart of France as several of his Predecessors have done The Spaniards grown weary of this War the usual way of Accommodation was proposed viz. a Match between the Spanish Infanta and the French King This Match was greatly opposed by Mazarine who concluded if a Peace ensued and the King gave himself up to the Embraces of a Young Wife his Authority would be lessened But the Queen-Mother declared resolutely for it saying That whether he would or no it should be done for that her Son should marry one of her Kinswomen But this had like to have broken off by the Sickness of Lewis which every one concluded would terminate in his Death Whereupon Cardinal Mazarine knowing the many Villainies he had committed in France and the Mischief done by his Evil Council was about to pack up his Awls and trudge for Italy fearing if the King should die he should fall a Sacrifice to the Fury of the Rabble And thereupon he sent a Gentleman to the Mareschal de Turin to know if he might have a safe Retreat in the Army till he could otherways shift for himself But that Protestant General returned him so cold an Answer that he was put out of all Hopes However whilst he was studying what to do the King began to recover and accordingly escaped that Death that threatned him to be the cause of the Death and Ruine of more than a Million of People The King being Recovered Mazarine was sent to Bayon and Don Louis d' Ardo de Gusman came to Saint Sebastians the more commodiously to treat about the Peace being constituted for that end Plenepotentiaries And accordingly it was concluded on sundry Articles to the great Joy of the Frontier-Towns who by Burning Plundering Quartering Soldiers and Contributions were reduced to extream Misery And Lewis sent a Procurator to Don Louis d'Ardo in his Name to Espouse the Infanta and the Marriage was consummated at Fonterabia in the presence of the Court of Spain and the two Kings met in the Isle of Conference situate between both Kingdoms where Mary of Spain was delivered to Lewis of France as his Wife and both Kings solemnly swore to keep and confirm to one another the Treaty of Peace and the Young Queen entered Paris in an open Chariot shining with the Treasure of both the Indias But Card. Mazarine for Grief to see his Purpose crossed as some gave out fell sick and died on the Nineteenth of March 1661. to the Joy of all France to whom he had a long time been a Scourge and instilled that Spirit of Cruelty into Lewis XIV that has since been manifested to the World in Characters of Blood This Cardinal had his first Rise under Richelieu the great â—ardinal of France and from a mean Birth raised himself and his Family to the greatest Dignity France could afford a Subject He was born an Itaelian and by his cunning bore himself up in the Favour of this King and his Father in spight of all the mighty Opponents he met withal For beside the Prince of Conde Duke of Conti and most of the Nobles he stood the Envy of the People in general whom he had sorely vexed by Taxes and Oppressions The Court went into Mourning for him but continued it not long for an occasion of Joy soon after made it vanish The Duke of Orleance falling in Love with the beautiful Daughter of Charles I. of England the Lady Henrietta at the publick Ceremory of that illustrious Marriage the Mourning went off Thus far we have traced this Monarch as we may term it in his Leading-strings For the Cardinal whilst he lived had the absolute Rule of his Mind whatever share he had in his Body and from thence we may hitherto conclude him an Engine that moved by the Dictates of that covetous and ambitious Prelate but for the future we must consider him moving more directly in his own Sphere It is observed of Nero by Suetonius and others That the beginning of his Reign was tolerable and not comparable to those Cruel and Irregular practices that followed and left a Lasting stain upon him to all Posterity Notwithstanding the terrible Name Lewis XIV supposed to have gained in the year 1662 his Ambassador contending with the Spanish Ambassador for Precedency at the Reception of another Ambassador near the Tower was there worsted had several of his Horses and some of his Attendence killed and wounded For the King of England's Council not undertaking to determine in this Matter they were left to dispute it and a Proclamation was put out forbidding any English to meddle in this Matter upon great Penalties so that the Ambassador of Lewis the Great appear'd but very Little being forced to sneak to his Lodging by all the by-Ways he could find though they pretend to claim Precedency of all the Ambassadors of Europe unless at the Court of Vienna where the Lords of Austria bear Rule Yet this made Monsieur to storm and bluster at a strange rate insomuch that the King of Spain being of a quiet disposition and not desirous to involve himself in another War gave him such satisfaction as contented him upon his sending complaints to Madrid preferring the Quiet of his Kingdoms before a Punctilio of Honour Which so puffed up the Frenchman that he had a great Mind to be Quarrelling with England and not well knowing how to begin he pitched upon a peremptory demand of Dunkirk that was then in the Hands of King Charles II. This Demand was looked upon by the French themselves as so Extravagant that they could not imagine the English would hearken to the delivery of a place gained with the loss of the Life 's of so many brave Men and
Pincers would he confess who inspired him to doe it but remained obstinate in the midst of the most horrid Tortures which demonstrated that he had been decoyed by such as made him believe the Fact was no less than Meritorious and that Eternal Life was entailed upon him for the Deed. And no boubt Lewis XIV is not fearless notwithstanding his Bravadoes of some such Fate if he should reject them and their Counsels which makes him so far comply with their Maxims as to involve the Nations in Blood and carry Fire and Destruction where-ever his Armies come and make himself the very Phaeton of the World Some will object in their Excuse that Lewis XIV dares not keep his Armies Idle for the Soldiers having been so long trained up in War by a long Ease would grow Luxurious and be apt like the Roman Pretorian Soldiers at every little disaster to Mutiny or if that he should disband them they for the most part being Incapable of any other Imployment than the Sword would infallibly shake his Throne by joining with those his Tyranny has reduced in a manner to Despair However any Reasonable Man might think he might employ them in other matters as fortifying his Inland-Towns and building Piramids to his Glory as the Kings of Egypt did to keep their People from Idleness upon the same Score as most Historians conjecture whose Labour produced those Lasting Monuments whose Aspiring Tops are said to penetrate the Clouds But Lewis XIV is of another Mind he is for building a Structure with the untempered Mortar of Rapin and Violence and Cementing it with Christian Blood wishing no doubt that all who oppose his designs had but one Neck as Heliogabulus did by the People of Rome that himself as a Lasting Monument of his Glory might have the Honour of cutting it off which shews the very Spirit of Jesuit-Counsels Pardon Reader this Digression if it may be so termed in a History of this Nature for where a Man pretends Conscience he is inclined to one side or other and ought to have the Awe of Religion of what persuasion soever he be upon his Mind favouring that party to which he inclines But Lewis XIV is of a contrary Temper having his Hand against all whilst all mens Hands are more justly against him We will not determine what Orders he would give in relation to Turkish Mosques or Mahomets Religion But sure we are in all the Progress wherever his Arms have carried Destruction the Christian Churches of whatsoever persuasion have felt the Marks of his Irreligion and Sacrilege Nay it is affirmed upon credible testimony that when the numerous Host of Infidels over-ran Hungary and the Success was doubtful whether the Loss or Relieving Vienna should hazard or save the Eastern part of the Empire and Prayers were put up almost every where for the Success of the Christians Anno 1683. the Most Christian King 's Intendent at St Omers gave a severe Reprimand to the Bishop for having ordered publick Prayers to be put up and a Fast to be held on that occasion And when this Inundation of Barbarians were entered Christendom carrying Fire and Sword into most of the Emperor 's Herediditary Provinces with Slaughter Bondage and all the Outrages that can be Imagined insomuch that the flaming Towns and Villages seemed but one great scene of Fire and the cries of the miserable People rent the Skies which blushed with the Ascending Heat and Reflexion of Blood even then when all good Men were overwhelmed with Sorrow Lewis XIV brought down his huge Armies on the Front of the Empire to over-awe the Little Princes and keep their Troops for the Defence of their own Territories that they might have no share in the Glory by assisting the Emperor against the Infidels And Monsieur Seppeville was a Spie upon the Emperor's Affairs giving Lewis his Master from time to time an Account of the Progress of the Turks and of their Success and that the League between him and Mahomet IV. Emperor of the Turks might be as much shadowed as it was possible Monsieur Fouchay persuaded him to make a Diversion in the Spanish Netherlands thereby to divert the Forces of the King of Spain from Aiding the Emperor And here under pretence of Dependencies and other Matters frivilous and groundless in the Opinion of the Neighbour-Princes he swep'd away many Towns though even the Turks themselves had they determined impartially could not but have judged it not only Vnchristian like but also unreasonable Or else what could any unbiassed Man conjecture but that the Turks and the French King had combined to share the Empire between them Yet it would not have been so easie to have stopped an Inundation of Barbarians flushed with Victory as Lewis XIV imagined And who can tell but if they had prevailed they might have been by this time in the Heart of France and shewed him play at his own Weapons How unjustly this King took Luxemburgh and other Places in the Netherlands few are ignorant even when it was least suspected any Hostilities would have happened But that great City could not suffice the Ambition of this Prince for he sent his Dragoons Abroad when Spain was altogether unprovided and under Pretence of Dependencies swept away whole Provinces compelling the miserable Villages who had been ruined by a lingering War to part with the small Subsistence they had reserved for the Preservation of Life under pretence of Contribution by which means many of them perished in their Houses and in the Fields when they had eaten all the Unclean Things they could find and those that refused had their Houses fired about their Ears and their persons Tortured to make them confess where they had hid their Treasure or Goods so that some of them died under the Tormentors Hands By which it appears that Lewis XIV shewed his Zeal to the Church in Dragooning as well the Papists as the Protestants and even those of Flanders which above all are accounted the most zealously Devoted to the Romish Superstition and this by way of Surprize whilst the Emperor of Germany and the other Princes his Confederates as has been hinted were acquiring Glory at the point of their Swords For this Monarch cares little for ingaging his Armies it ever having been seen that he has gained little or nothing by the fair dint of the Sword And indeed if we consider how easily many strong Towns have been delivered up to him by Garrisons that were able to defend them the World cannot but conclude false underhand Dealing has been a main Advancement to his Conquests by which Methods his vast Treasures have been frequently shrunk and his Subjects Estates stretched upon the Tenters to recruit them Upon this a French Rhimer descants as it was found in a Billet laid on the King's Dressing Table and Englished thus Thy Grandsire Harry the Name of Great he bore Thy Father Just but thou' art Lewis d'Ore A Lewis d' Ore is a piece of
had an Influence upon hindering the Cardinal of Furstemburgh whom he says he for many Reasons was bound to Influence and Protect from being Invested in the Electorate of Cologne And for this Reason and no other given he declares War against them by Sea and Land commanding his Subjects to fall upon them forbidding Trade or Commerce upon pain of Death and Revokes all Pasports and Safe Conduct c. By this we may see that he bore himself mightily upon the Election of that Cardinal whom not only a great part of the Roman Clergy but the Pope himself looked upon as an Enemy to the Church By which it may appear That the French King's Pretensions to Support him tended only to sinister Ends and hopes by this means to annex that Electorate to the Crown of France Upon this Declaration contrary to the Law of Nations a Guard was set upon the Dutch Ambassador which obliged the States General to do the like upon Monsieur d' Avaux by which means an Exchange was made and either of them permitted to return And now though in the depth of Winter the French were abroad ravaging the Country and although this King had not declared against Spain yet a great Impost was laid on Goods to be brought out of the Spanish Netherlnads But perceiving the Confederate Armies drawing together in great Bodies he caused several of the Towns he had possessed himself of in the Palatinate to be slighted and many Dismantled or Demolished the Souldiers requiring great Summs of the Inhabitants to save them from plundering Yet many after they had paid what was demanded had their Goods taken away and their Persons miserably misused To retaliate in some Measure these Proceedings the Governour of the Spanish Netherlands laid an Impost upon Wines and Brandy of which when the Mareschal complained his Excellency told him He could not but wonder that his Master having done the like on the Goods of that Country he should find any Reason to complain The Emperor moreover commanded the French Envoy to leave Vienna and the Plenepotentiary of Ratisbone Prince Clement of Bavaria refused to see the French Minister sent to Complement him because he denied to give him the Style of Elector and those Canons of the Electorate were commanded to leave him and return to their Dignities on pain of being Dispossessed and of incurring Excommunication Whereupon the Cardinal in a Pet made a new Protestation against the Pope's Proceedings touching the Electorate of Cologne Whilst these things were doing the French Troops quitted Heylbourn after having Plundered it blown up the Gates and part of the Walls carrying with them four Hostages for the payment of Fifty thousand Crowns laid as a Tax They likewise flighted Offemburgh demolished Manheim and burnt Oberadt with the Villages belonging to that City declaring they would burn and destroy all the Places of the Palatinate and Electorate of Mentz except Philipsburgh And indeed the whole Country at a distance seemed in the Night time for some space but one Fire the Villages and Towns every where flaming which shew how little Lewis XIV notwithstanding his specious Pretences regards the Peace and Tranquillity of Europe this way of burning being altogether a Turkish Fashion which is not for his Glory to imitate These Proceedings made the Swisses that were in the French Service in the Electorate of Cologne quit it declaring They could not fight against the Empire and thereupon the Cardinal sent to the French Court for more Assistence to secure Bonne the Cittadel of Liege was commanded to be blown up and accordingly performed except one Bastion and its Works and although the Castle of Montjoy Surrendered upon good Articles the Soldiers contrary to Faith given were made Prisoners of War and slighting Huy they blew up the Walls and either destroyed or much defaced all the Places in the Diocese except Chinay which they Garrisoned On the 12th of February 1688. the States of the Empire assembled at Ratisbone having taken into their Consideration the Mischief the French had done contrary to the Truce of Twenty Years concluded at Nimeguen proceeded to give their Resolutions to stand by the Emperor and assist him with all their Forces for the suppressing the Disturber of Christendom setting forth at large their Resentments of his Proceedings Upon this and the like Resolution the French bethought themselves of slighting Heydelburgh and Frankendale and Fortified Mentz Bonne and such other Places as they conceived tenable And now the States of Holland finding the French Men of War and Privateers had taken many of their Merchants and that open Hostilities were begun proceeded to proclaim War against France and accordingly a Declaration of War was published at the Hague and at other Places setting forth That considering the French King had openly broke the Treaties and Peace conluded without any just Reason or manner of cause and had declared War against them on groundless Pretences they find themselves constrained to make a publick Declaration of War against France And towards the Conclusion they strictly command viz. 1. That none of the Inhabitants of this State or any Foreigner residing within their Territories shall Transport any thing to France that is prejudicial to the State 2. That all Counterband Goods that shall be taken going to France shall be declared Prize 3. That good Security shall be given by all Persons carrying any Goods out of these Countries that they are not designed for France 4. That all Ships laden with Counterband Goods that shall be found on the French Coast shall be taken for good Prize 5. That all Ships ought to have lawful Pasports 6. The Men of War not to molest any Ships having such Pasports and not bound with Counterband Goods to the Ports of France 7. That such as shall be offending herein shall be punished with Confiscation of Ship and Goods 8. That the Commanders of the Ships of War shall punctually govern themselves in this matter according to the Treaties made in relation thereto with other Kings Princes and States 9. That the Admiralties shall have the Cognizances of these Offences 10 11 12. The Money arising by such Confiscations shall be disposed of as has been practised in like Cases and as to the Seizures c. Former Placates to be observed 13. None of the Inhabitants of this State shall Insure any French Ships or Goods or others bound to France on Penalty of forfeiting the Summ Insurred The Confederates being early Abroad this Spring the French had not so good Success as the former For the Brandenburgh Forces defeated a great Party of the Garrison of Nuis as likewise gave another Defeat to the Chevalier de Sourdis who came with a strong Party to the Relief of the other killing a great number in the Fight and pursuit gaining a good Booty Upon these Defeats the Castles of Lintz Nuis Zons c. surrendered and the French set Fire to and blew up many places they despaired to keep which so astonished the
Naval Preparations were made before it was publickly known to what Intent The Duchess of Orleance dying suddenly and not without Suspicion of evil Practice the Duke by the persuasion of Lewis XIV was Married to the Daughter of the Prince Palatine of the Rhine Upon which Country no doubt and it since has but too plainly appeared he had an Eye In the Year 1672 on the 7th of April the French King's Declaration was put forth prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with the States of the Vnited Provinces And out of a Bravado he marched in person at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men. By which surprizing Invasion he like a Torrent carried all before him So that many looked upon the Low Countries to be lost if no speedy Stop was put to this Progress But it has always been observed that though the first Motions of the French are impetuous yet the least discouragement makes them Recoil They had on a sudden filled with their Troops the Duchy of Cleves the Electorate of Collen the Duchy of Limburg the County of Zutphen Vtreitcht and its Territories with many other places and got into their hands several strong Towns and into this Combination the Bishop of Munster was drawn who took Groll and some other places though not very considerable They passed the Rhine likewise and did considerable damages in such places as were found unprovided Committing great Outrages Which so puffed up Lewis XIV that being returned to Paris he was congratulated with Flatteries and Applauses from all the Societies of the Kingdom And in Imitation of the Heathen Idolaters the Queen caused a Chapel to be built at Roan dedicated to our Lady of Victories The King was styled the invincible Hero though he was always so tender of himself that he neither engaged in any Battel or Skirmish or seldom came within Cannon shot of any place that resisted doing what best suited his Valour which has not overmuch of the Hero in it But indeed the Progress of his Arms had a Recoil for the Provinces being recovered out of the Amaze this sudden Attempt put them into and the Prince of Orange now King of England confirmed in his Patrimonial Offices and honourable Trusts as Stadtholder Admiral and General of the Vnited Provinces he presently took the Field with an Army of 24000 Men recovering several places and causing the French to retire and performing many other Exploits worthy himself and the Glory of his Ancestors But having taken a view of the French King's Affairs hitherto at Land let us cast our Eyes a little upon the Ocean The Fleets being Abroad in May 1672. on the 28th of that Month a sharp Ingagement ensued the then Duke of York commanding as Admiral It continued a long time bloody and doubtful during which many brave Men were lost as the Earl of Sandwich c. who would not leave his Ship though all in Flames till it was too late to succour him His Body was found sloating and afterward honourably buried but we cannot learn that the French did any thing considerable in this Action or that any more than their Reer-Admiral Monsieur de Rabiniere Trees les Bois came up to a close Fight who behaving himself like a man of Courage was slain and afterward honourably Interred at Rochel the rest lying off in a Line and firing at a Distance and many times greatly endamaging the English especially in their Rigging though they perceived only the Blue Squadron Engaged the Red not being able to come up in time So the French stood rather Neuters or Lookers on than any ways concerned in the Battel From this there grew a suspicion that they had Orders to keep from Engaging as much as possible that the two Fleets of England and the Vnited Provinces might batter each other that through their weakness the French King might become strong at Sea which more visibly appeared the following Year 1673. This Year the Valiant Prince Rupert Commanded the English Fleet where the French joining him he made One hundred and twenty Sail of stout Ships The Dutch were Commanded by Du Ruytter and Van Trump so that a sharp Engagement happened But the French no sooner heard the Bullets begin to rattle and saw with what Fury and Violence the Dutch and English Engaged but almost all that Fleet stood away pretending to gain the Weather-gage the which when they had very favourably got they e'en kept it for the Glory of their Master's Arms for they never came up again during the Fight And those few Captains that had so much Sense of Honour as not to follow their Admiral who were but very few had secret Intimation that they were in danger of being hanged when they came into France for not following their Flag or Orders But how they came off has not yet occurred The Prince though he made good the Fight and came off with Honour and Bravery stormed to be thus deserted Whereupon when the French Admiral came on board him to make his Excuse which proved but a very lame one the Prince is reported to look upon him with Indignation and after reproaching him with Baseness told the Monsieur That had he been one of his Master the King of England's Subjects he would have killed him with his own Hand And to let the World see how much the English Valour surpasses that of the French and how much Lewis is beholden to it for his Greatness I need instance but one Particular viz. During this War the strong City of Mastreicht was besieged by an Army of about Forty Thousand and the King came as near as he durst venture that his Men might be the better encouraged It was invested on the Sixth of June and there was in it a Garrison of 7 or 8000 Men one Faro a Valiant Man being Governour The besieged made a stout resistence and many were killed on both Sides insomuch that the French began to saint At what time the Heroick Duke of Monmouth who was at the Head of the English in the height of Youthful Valour despising Danger went on to the Assault through Showers of small and great Shot and Commanding in the Trenches though Two or Three Mines were sprung to obstruct his Passage he and the few that followed him charged with such resolution that they carried the Half-Moon contrary to the Expectation of all Men in less than half an Hour though the Shot flew round him as thick as Hail maintaining it till he had delivered it to a French Collonel who was sent to relieve him But no sooner was the Duke and the English retired but the French though strongly possessed not being able to endure the fire of the Besieged quitted it This vexed the Duke to see that a Regiment could not keep when put into their hands what himself and a very few English had got Insomuch that he prepared to regain it which he did with such daring Resolution that accompanied only by Twelve Voluntier-Gentlemen he threw himself over
Persons and Libertines the Veneration which people ought to have for the Power of the Church than the Ill use which it's Ministers may make of it the King 's said Attorney General declares that he is Appealing as indeed he appeals by the present Act from the Abusive use that is made of it in the said Bull and Ordinance not to our Holy Father Pope Innocent XI so as has been practised by some of his Predecessors When that they had the True Ideas of their Power that their years allow them to act of themselves there might be hopes that in time they might be brought to know the Justice and Truth of the Complaints that were brought before them And that neither the preventions in favour of their Country or the Partialities of those they honour'd with their trust did prevail over the obligations which the Quality of Common Father of all Christians does Impose Protesting to carry on this his said Appeal upon this grievance and upon others which he reserves to represent to the first General Council that shall be held as the Tribunal truly Sovereign and Infallible of the Church to which it's Visible Head must Submit as well as it 's other Members and therein to further amongst other things a Regulation that shall prevent the Imploying so Holy an Authority in uses so far from those for which it was consided in the Church in the Person of Sr Peter This may make the Pope be mindful that God having separated the two Powers of the Priesthood and of the Empire the Pope cannot make use of the Authority of the First for the Rights that depend on the Second that is according to Temporal Laws he ought to possess those Large Territories which his Predecessors have received from the Liberality of Temporal Princes and particularly from that of our King 's And in short he would consider upon a Truth which a Great Archbishop in France wrote to one of his Predecessors that a Prelate who Excommunicates a Christian contrary to the Rules and for Rights of a Kingdom of the Earth may in such an occasion lose the Power of binding and unbinding which his Character gives him but he cannot deprive of Eternal Life him to whom he does this Injustice if his Sins do not render him unworthy of the Mercy of God This Act was signed on the 22d of January 1688. We hope the Reader will pardon us the tediousness of this Matter when by it he may perceive how little Zealous Lewis XIV is for the Church of Rome when he thus violently affronts his Father the Pope its Visible Head only about a place of shelter for Thieves Murtherers and such like Villains when at the same time he will not allow his pious Subjects of the Reformed Religion whose Loyalty himself has owned and whose Estates have been always ready to furnish his Wars to have any shelter or aboad in his large Dominions though they have all along appeared the very sinews of his Kingdom and held with a strong Hand and open Purses the Crown he wears on his Head However the Pope would not yield to Revoke the Bull but the Franchises remained Null the Pope publickly declaring Lewis XIV the apparent Enemy of Christendom and the only Person that influenced the Turks to break the Truce and with an Inundation of Barbarians to Invade the Empire We have several times had Advice That the Ambassador of France has been Abused in the Divan at Constantinople being not only denied the Sofra but beaten by the Command of the Grand Vizier for throwing up his Cushion that chanced to fall upon the said Vizier as he was going out And although himself has placed and held his Stool upon the Sofra it has been removed nay he has had of late an Ambassador Imprisoned there whose Liberty was not gained without 100 Purses of Money And whilst all Europe was wondering what Measures this Great Monarch would take to revenge the Affront alas the Business was tamely clapped up the Ambassador was recalled and another sent in his stead and as good Friends as ever though the Kingdom of France at the same time Reaps no extraordinary Benefit in the Turks Dominion But those that have more narrowly pried into this Affair give their Opinion That these Affronts were agreed on to cast a Mist before the Eyes of the Christian Princes so that they might not see the underhand-dealings that were carried on between the Most Christian and Mahomitan Turk For this way of misusing the Ambassador was indeed looked upon by most as tending to a Breach and a Rupture was daily expected But it seems the Most Christian King delights most in shedding Christian Blood and his Zeal for Religion is manifested in Burning and Blowing up Churches of all Christian Persuasions as well those of the Roman Catholicks as the Protestants Let us look now a little back and we shall find Count Teckely in Hungary destroying with Fire and Sword raising Troops with French Gold and though a Protestant secretly encouraged to Invade the Empire by the French Emissaries with Promise of greater Assistance But proving too weak of himself to oppose the Armies that were drawn that way the Turks broke the Truce at the Instigation of France as will more largely appear when we come to insert the Emperor's Declaration of War with France And under that Advantage the Imperial Troops being drawn off Lewis XIV very Piously Besieged and took the City of Strasburg a Free Imperial Town when hardly any Body expected any Hostility His pretence was to restore the Bishop which that Protestant City refused to admit with his Popish Trnmpery The Articles of Surrender were very advantageous to the Citizens as a promise of their Religion Liberties and any thing they desired But the French gaining Possession soon barred them of a great part delivering many over to the Mercy of the enraged Bishop who never was any Favourer of the Protestants and likewise restored Popery building a Cittadel or Castle for the better curbing the Citizens many of whom finding themselves so hardly dealt with at first and fearing worse secretly withdrew with what Substance they could to other Cities remote whereupon the Effects they left were seized a strict Charge was given to have an Eye upon the Inhabitants and such as they suspected going off were Imprisoned and all the small Towns and Villages were taken in as Dependences and constrained to pay great Contributions and such as could not or refused were threatned with Military Execution A great Army also of the King 's lay hovering on the West Frontiers of the Empire whilst Cara Mustapha the Grand Vizier was coming down on the East like a Deluge with about Two hundred thousand Turks and Tartars who burnt and destroyed all before them For by this time Mahomet IV. had proclaimed War against the Emperor and detained the Count de Caprara his Ambassador All Princes of the Empire upon the sudden Allarm were in doubt and suspence
which of these Turks they ought most to fear Though Lewis XIV out of a seeming pretence for the House of Austria had made an offer to assist the Emperor but this was only shadow as appeared afterwards by his violent falling upon the Spanish Netherlands whereby the Forces of the King of Spain were hindered from Assisting in the common Cause And although most of the Princes of Europe used their Interest with him though all Christendom in a manner lay at stake nothing would prevail till he perceived the Turks could not effect what they purposed For in the Year 1683 they were totally Routed and beat off from the Siege of Vienna the principal City of Austria when it was at the last Crisis and could have held out but a few days longer It is no wonder that the Jesuits who on all Hands are detested and accounted the Incendiaries of Christendom by the moderate Roman Cotholicks have so great an Influence in France since Father Maimburgh and Father La Chese have had so great an Influence over Lewis XIV to whose fiery Spirit they labour to add Fuel and plunge him into Cruelty without Remorse or distinguishing Protestants from Roman Catholicks And these were the blessed pair that laid the Foundation of the Misery of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion by persuading him That by Rooting the Protestants out of his Kingdom he would render himself greater than his Ancestors who were never able to accomplish that matter and that if he could bring it to pass it would render his Name Immortal in the Roman Kalendar And no doubt as many Instances affirm these Locusts who seek to devour every thing that is pleasant have had as great an Influence in the Ruine of the Neighbouring Roman Catholicks For from the Wideness of his Conquests they could not but promise to themselves great Advantage where they have so great an Influence over the Conqueror as to have his very Conscience in their keeping and dispose We have not of late heard that any like Father Ante have reproved him for Exorbitancy of Lust or other Vices but rather encouraged him therein that they might reap the profit at the Price of his Eternal State And of this we may give some hints as we find it in a Letter that has of late been frequently Printed and held to be Authentick sent from La Chese Confessor to the French King to Father Edmund Petre late Great Almoner to King James II. though fatal in his Counsels to the repose of that unfortunate Prince Wherein amongst other matters undertaking to give the Jesuit directions to put forward affairs by his Counsels Interest and Power with King James and others great at Court he thus proceeds Most Reverend Father TO satisfie the desire I have to show you by my Letter the Choice you ought to make of such persons fit to stir up c. I will in few words since you desire it inform you of the Genius of the people of our Court of their inclinations and of them we make use of that by a Parallel you make between them and your English you make use of you may know them Therefore I shall begin with the Chief I mean our Great Monarch It is certain he is naturally Good and loves not to doe Evil unless desired to doe it This being so I may say he never would have undertaken the Conversion of his Subjects without the Clergy of France and without our Society's Correspondence abroad He is a Prince Inlightned who very well observes what we put him upon is contrary to his Interest and that nothing is more opposite to his great Designs and his Glory he aiming to be the Terrour of all Europe The vast number of Malecontents he has caused in his Kingdom forces him in time of Peace to keep up three times more Forces than his Ancestors did in the greatest Domestick and Foreign Wars which cannot be done without prodigious Expence The Peoples Fears also begin to lessen as to his aspiring to an Vniversal Monarchy and they may assure themselves he has left those Thoughts nothing being more opposite to his designs than the method we enjoin him His Candour Bounty and Toleration to the Hereticks would undoubtedly have opened the door of the Low Countries Palatinate and other States of the Rhine and even of Switzerland whereas things are at present so altered that we see the Hollanders at present free from any fear of Danger the Switzers and City of Geneva resolved to lose the last drop of their Blood in their defence Beside some Diversions we may expect from the Empire In case we cannot hinder a Peace with the Turks Sir His Majesty's Brother is always the same I mean he takes no notice of what passes at Court It has sometimes happened the King's Brothers have acted so as to be noted in the State But this we are sure will never do any thing to stain the Glory of his Submission and Obedience and is willing to lend a helping hand for the Destruction of the Hereticks by the Instance he makes to his Majesty who now has promised him to cause his Troops to enter the Palatinate the next Month. The Dauphin is passionately given up to Hunting and little regards the Conversion of Souls and therefore we do not care to Consult him how or which way the Hereticks shall be destroyed He openly laughs at us and slights all the Designs of which the King his Father makes great Account The Letter goes on to Characterize the Dauphiness in her witty Humour and Hatred to the Protestants as likewise Monsieur Lovois the Archbishop of Paris and others who labour to Agrandize Lewis XIV by following the Methods of the Society of Jesuits who have always been held the Foxes with Fire-Brands at their Tails who have laboured to promote Violence War and Bloodshed in all Places where they come Henry IV. Banished them France and demolished their Houses for setting one of their Pupils to kill him in his Presence-chamber amidst his Nobles because he would not hearken to their Counsels but detested their pernicious Ways Yet knowing them to be Sycophants fraught with Malice and Revenge after he had frustrated many of their Attempts that great Prince who had faced Death in all its Shapes fearing their wicked Purposes thought fit to make fair Weather with them and to recall them which being opposed by a Lord of his Council who alledged how pernicious they were in all Kingdoms States and Governments the King passionately broke out into this Expression viz. Secure me my Life then And indeed this King who had remained safe in forty Battels found his Death as has been said in the midst of his Capital City amongst his Friends and Guards Nor could the Obstinacy of the Assassinate and Paricide denote any thing else but that he was set on by these Men. For Raviliack the bloody Actor neither sought to fly nor excuse the Fact nor when his Flesh was plucked off with hot
Majesty's Friendship but could not enter into any such Alliance as he required However he persisted to encroach upon the Empire suffering his Troops that should have been withdrawn to quarter at discretion eating up that little the Inhabitants had left them to subsist withal winking at the many Complaints that were made and proving deaf to the Cries of the People This occasioned the King of England to complain by his Ambassadors but this prevailed little or nothing till he found a Defensive Alliance was carrying on against him and then under pretence of Winter Quarter he drew off some of his Troops Let us look a little back upon the Proceeding of Lewis le Grand in the Principality of Orange a place of Sovereign Right for some Ages belonging to the Illustrious House of Nassaw and the Inheritance of his present Majesty of Great Britain This Principality and City of Orange is very advantageously Situate exceeding fruitful and for the most part Inhabited by Protestants These Considerations made the French King Long to be Master of it for he seldom troubles himself to War on the Alps or in cold barren Countries Whereupon during the Minority of the Prince without the least Title or just Pretence to warrant his Actions he sent an Army to take Possession of it in the Year 1660. exercising a great deal of Cruelty and Inhumanities upon the Subjects contrary to the Law of Arms and of Nations demolishing the Bastions and strong Fortifications thereby purposing to himself if he should be obliged by the Princes who looked upon him as an Intruder and an Oppressor to relinquish it he might with more Ease repossess himself of it as he saw occasion Nay so far extended his Malice that he not only ruined the Cittadel but caused the Magnificent Monuments of Prince Maurice's Greatness to be laid in Ruines And indeed in the Year 1665. he was obliged to Relinquish that Principality and the Sieur Zuilychem to take Possession of it for his Master When in April that year as a presage of the Prince's good Fortune and future Greatness a Crown of Light darting Rays appeared over the City of Orange hanging as it were in the Air over the Palace or place of State appointed for his Reception to Consolate his distressed Subjects who for five years had groaned under the Tyranny of France But their Tranquillity lasted no longer than the Year 1673 for then the French King supposing to make his Arms the Terrour of Europe that so he might at pleasure become the great Arbitre of Peace and War he on a sudden and very unexpectedly entered it with his Troops And although after by an express Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen the Principality of Orange was restored and the King of England was Guarrantee of that Peace yet the unwearied Incroachments of the French Troops of Provence and the Intrigues of the Popish Bishop of Orange rendered daily the Subjects of the Principality more uneasie till in the Year 1682. Lewis XIV in a time of full Peace as well with the States as Confederate Princes commanded a powerful Army to take possession of it without any manner of colour or pretext but the Turkish Motto viz. Sic Volo sic Jubeo stat pro Ratione Voluntas This I will this I command My Will it does for Reason stand And thereby his booted Missionaries or Dragoons acted inhumane Barbarities on the Inhabitants unparallel'd in any Reign but his own And here for an Essay of his insupportable Vanity or rather of a Kindness unusual amongst Princes and derogatory to Majesty it self we must not omit That in a Breve in Favour of the late Prince of Conde as Administrator of the Duke of Long aville Lewis XIV had the foolish Confidence to treat his present Majesty of Great Britain with the Title of Messire William Count of Nassaw living at Amsterdam in Holland as if thereby he had entailed upon himself the Principality of Orange which at that time was the Supream Title of King William As for the Actings of the French King in this Principality we shall give you a brief Account in the words of Monsieur â—e Chambrun viz. The dismal Cruelties says he acted upon my unhappy Country and the City of Orange so famous by the Greatness of its Princes is at this day nought but a dismal Heap where one cannot enter without treading upon its Ruines She is at this day a doleful Monument of Cruelty and Injustice I cannot persuade my self that the Ruines of Troy or Carthage were more terrible than these I have mentioned since to one that beholds them at a distance they appear the Habitations of Ostriches and Owls If Posterity shall enquire the cause of this horrid Desolation as certainly it must the Account that shall be given of them will no doubt tend to the dishonour of France History will not forget to hand down to succeeding Ages the heroick Vertues of our Prince when she comes to relate the Ruine of his Territories and Desolation of his Subjects and when they shall understand that the Justice the Sincerity the Valour and indefatigable Care of maintaining the Liberty of Europe were the only Motives that induced the French King thus to treat an Illustrious Prince doubtless they will say This has been the most dismal and most corrupt of all Ages since that which ought to have been the Admiration of the Great Ones of the Earth was the Object of their Aversion and Hatred If this great Prince would have consented to the overturning of the Government of his Country as he was earnestly courted so to doe if he would have taken part with those that aim at the enslaving Europe In a word If he would have betrayed his Country and broken his Faith to his Allies he might have mounted a Throne then offered him But because he loved his Country better than his Interest and preferred his Honour to the richest Advantages and the Liberty of Europe to a Crown it behoved his great Actions should be regarded with Hatred and followed with the unjustest of Treatments But although this Conduct has been blamed in all the Courts of Europe yet nothing has been done to oppose it And I am forced to say 'T is the dishonour of all Europe to have suffered a great Prince to expose so often his Life with the greatest Bravery for its Good and Liberty and at the same time to abandon his Interest with such an unaccountable Neglect England was obliged to protect and assist this Prince not only as being the Guarrantee of the Peace of Nimeguen but from the Principle of Blood and Alliance And indeed what Honour can Accrue to England to see a Sovereignty wrested by unjust violence from a Prince that had Married the Heiress of Three Kingdoms As for me I cannot think of the Desolation of my Country without saying amidst my Tears with Jeremiah How doth the City sit solitary c. Is it nothing to you all you that pass by
of the French King's Intentions to Invade those Provinces or the unpreparedness of the Court of Spain to send an Army to oppose the Torrent of a French Power advantageously poured into those Countries The Town Surrendered upon Articles on the 28. of August and Lewis who then was in the Army entered into it Notwithstanding the Spaniards during the Siege made some Attempts to Relieve it but their Forces being small they were frustrated In the Year 1668. for the Glory of his Arms Lewis XIV thought of another Enterprize which was to take into his Possession by Force the French Comte which as a kind of a Palatinate or separate Principality had enjoyed many Privileges and Immunities which being altogether unarmed or capable of Defence upon such a Surprize the Inhabitants were forced to send to the King's Deputies to treat of Yielding thereby to prevent the Spoils and Ravage of a Hunger starved Army However in the midst of the Treaty Besanson was possessed by a forced Surrender on the Sixth of February Salines was also Surprized and many other places not being sufficiently Garrisoned or provided with Stores were obliged to their Gates Dole only was capable of making a shew of Resistence but the French Army being numerous and suddenly possessing themselves of the Out-works they were forced to accept of such Terms as were offered by the French King and thereupon they sent him the Keys of the City It may be guessed what little Expectation this Country had of a French Army when in the space of Twelve Days so many strong Places Yeilded that were capable of holding out many Years had they had timely Notice and well provided But it has ever been observable that this King gains most of his Advantages by this way or the force of golden Pistols charged into the Governours Pockets The French King perceiving that the Dutch weary of his Alliance who had done so little for them and pretended so much were inclined to make a Peace and join with the Spaniards and thinking he had gained sufficiently if he could keep what he had got Overtures of Peace where thereupon proposed and Monsieur Colbert was sent to Aix la Chapelle to meet the Ministers of the Mediating Princes And accordingly the Articles of Peace between France and Spain were signed on the Sixth of May and made Publick at Paris and Brussels Yet Lewis was not well pleased to be frustrated in his Expectation of swallowing the Spanish Provinces attributing his disappointment to the Dutch who declaring for the Interest of Spain had obliged him to this Peace But his Threats were retarded by another Enterprize It so happened that the Turks with a nurous Army had besieged the City of Candia situate in the Island formerly called Creet belonging to the Venetians So that may of the French Nobility who had prepared their Equipages for the ensuing Compaign and being prevented by the Peace the French King was forced to comply withal went thither and upon their Return gave an account of the place Insomuch that Lewis thinking to have the Honour of relieving that Bulwork of Christendom which had held out a long doubtful and bloody Siege and upon the Event of which the Eyes of all Europe were fixed sent an Army of French men under the Command of the Dukes of Beaufort and Navailles consisting of 10000 Men who without any detriment entered that City which was laid almost in Ruines with the Bombs shot in by the Infidels Whereupon it was concluded in a Council of War that it could be no longer tenable without performing some extraordinary Exploit and after a farther-Consult it was agreed That a vigorous Sally should be made in Order to the raising of the Siege The French indeed were very forward and to give the Duke of Beaufort his Due he behaved himself like a man of good Courage and Conduct The Sally was accordingly made with great Resolution and the Turks at first were beaten out of their Trenches But the Christians possessing themselves of a Magazine of Three hundred Barrels and Sacks of Powder whether by Matches laid on purpose by the Enemy or fired by chance it blew up and destroyed almost one whole Regiment in which it was thought the Duke of Beaufort was killed and buried by the overthrowing of the Earth for his Body was not afterwards found Which terrible thundercrack so dismayed the French-men who were the foremost in the Sally that they retired in great confusion thinking by the Earthquake it made that all the Ground was hollow and charged with Mines So that the Turks Rallying and being reinforced with great Numbers that came pouring from the Hills the Belieged were driven into the City and the French never after that could be persuaded to make any other Sally or so much as to stay for the Defence of the Place although the Governour almost with Tears besought it But the Duke of Novailles who now Commanded in Chief pretending Orders from his Master took Shipping and with those Forces he had left returned to France which was not for the Glory of the King 's Arms. For had they stayed and done what became Soldiers that famous City had undoubtedly been saved which by this Defeat was in a short time after delivered to the Turks with whom Lewis XIV has since had a better Correspondence as will appear in due Place and Order In the year 1669. the Duke of Lorrain grieved that he had so easily parted with his Countries hoping it was not yet too late to retract he required Aid of the Emperor and King of Spain labouring to engage them against France Whereupon Lewis sent the Mareschal de Crequi with an Army of 18000 Men into his Country who dismantled and pulled down the Walls of divers Towns making great Ravagement though he found little or no opposition For only the little Towns of Epinal and Chate made some shew of a Resistence But there being no Army that could promise them Relief they were compelled to surrender and the old Duke to fly his Patrimonial Country and foregoe those vast Promises the French Court had made him The Eyes of all Europe being upon this unfair dealing and greatly Regretting it to keep the Inhabitants quiet he ordered they should be treated with somewhat more Mildness than is usually observed in the French Conquests as they term them though for the most part got by Surprize or Treachery And finding the Hollanders were no way satisfied with his proceedings for he had infringed upon their Commerce he resolved to begin first and having visited and strengthened his Towns in Flanders and upon the Frontiers he by a subtil Negotiation as some Historians will have it of Henrietta Duchess of Orleance who had an Interview with her Royal Brothers at Dover drew the King of England into an Expensive War against the States But whether by the means of that Princess who died upon her return into France or otherwise we determine not However it is certain that great