was a necessity for France to take off her Mask for that the Spaniards began already to talk of cutting off Montgeorges's Head This apparent Act of Infidelity vvas attended by several others and yet no Neighbouring Puissance interpos'd it's Authority to the end these things might be regulated according to Justice Not but that there vvas Warranty for the Pyrenaean Peace as vvell as there are novv for the Peace of Nimeghen but that they are such vvho after the Conclusion of the Treaty never mind aftervvards the Breaches vvhich are made of it so that there is not one at this time takes any care to send any succour to the Spaniards vvhose Ruine is attempted by so many indirect means On the other side the Spaniards vvhether they are become insensible or vvhich is most probable that they understand their ovvn weakness are contended to see themselves so rudely handl'd vvithout testifying the least Resentment but only by Complaints altogether misbecoming Soveraign Princes especially if not prosecuted vvith effectual Deeds so that others seeing them so patiently svvallovv all Affronts did not think themselves oblig'd to take their Part. Which Weakness of theirs vvas certainly most apparent upon the Occasion of an Accident that hapned in London betvveen Monsieur d'Estrades and Monsieur de Vataville Embassadors of both Crowns For after the Baron of Vataville had got the Precedence before Monsieur d'Estrades upon the Entry of another Embassador Spain did not only disclaim and disavovv the Act but also has for ever stain'd her Reputation by an Ignominious Declaration vvhich I dare not repeat and vvhich I cannot remember without blushing out of my Respect and Love to the Nation However if the thing be call'd to mind we ought to lay the Fault upon those other Potentates that shewed themselves so passionately earnest for the Peace that they never laid to heart the Affront which was offer'd to Spain who seeing her self abandon'd by all the World was forc'd to abate of her wonted Haughtiness Nevertheless the more notable Head-pieces perceiving how proudly France behav'd her self upon that occasion were of opinion that it was necessary to withstand Her Ambition before the further Encrease of her Strength and Power But the Councel of these prudent Politicians was listen'd to by way of Discourse only and the Seizure of Blindness began to be so general that they look'd upon those who discours'd at that rate as Persons that rather sought to disturb than preserve the Peace so necessary for all Europe Nor did they begin to unhoodwink their Eyes till France no longer able to continue quiet resolv'd to carry the War into Flanders under Pretences altogether as Chymerical as those at present But with an Advocate of Paris such a one as they vvere careful to chuse out of the sharpest witted of the Chiurme undertook to beautifie with a specious varnish an Undertaking which a Person of Honesty and Integrity would have been very much troubl'd to perform only he who had serv'd his Apprentiship at the Pettie Bar where for Two Crowns they will defend the wickedest Injustice in the World was of Opinion that being much better feed than so it did not become him to neglect so fare an Opportunity for his Preferment So that Interest prevailing above Truth in a short time there came forth a Manifesto wherein they endeavour'd to maintain that though the King by the Pyrenaean Treaty had renounc'd all manner of Pretences which he might hereafter have to the Low Countries or Netherlands in right of his Wife that Renunciation was invalid because the Parliament had never confirm'd the Articles The same Manifesto endeavour'd further to prove that the Queen had a Right to several Provinces and therefore to give the Manifesto a Title proper to what they went about to make out it was Entitul'd The Rights of the Queen For you must understand that it was the King himself who had hindr'd the Pyrenaean Treaty from being Registred in Parliament to the end that for the future it might serve for a Pretence against what had been sign'd by Himself and the chiefest Nobility of France Which piece of Litigious Craft when it gave occasion to all the World to reflect upon the Small Faith and Sincerity of the French King Men vvere surpriz'd with wonder That so great a Prince who affected the Title of most Christian King should commit such Violences as would make Infidels to blush and took pleasure to recount his Actions that by comparing the one with the other the disadvantage might the better appear on the Kings side The general question was whether a man were not oblig'd to keep his Word which he had so solemnly sworn upon the Gospels confirm'd by so Great and Near an Alliance and where there was nothing omitted to render inviolable by all the most considerable Acts that could be performed And then the question was whether there were any thing that could disoblige a Man from an Oath so solemn to which the General Answer was that it was an Action dreaded by Men and which call'd for the just Vengeance of God And indeed there needs no greater Skill in Theology to understand that Christianity and the Church which is the same Thing sufficiently teaches us that we are to keep our Words not only to a Father-in-Law as this occasion requir'd but also to a Turk There is a notable Example of this in the Person of a French Gentleman of the Family of Anglure from whence there are several who derive their Descent that live in great splendor to this day The particular History of this Family relates that one of their Ancestors being taken in Fight by Soladin Sultan of Egypt was set at Liberty after a long Imprisonment upon condition that he should return himself in Person with the Ransom which the Soladin had laid upon his Head the Gentleman coming home and having sold part of his Estate to make good his Word return'd back to Soladin and told him he had brought his Ransom in Person according to his own Agreement and Conditions and that if he pleas'd to name any Person to receive it he vvould presently tell it out Soladin vvho never thought any more of him but believ'd that since he had let him go he should never see him again vvas so surpriz'd at his Generosity that after he had embrac'd and caress'd him vvith all imaginable Endearment he told him that from thence forward he should have a greater respect for the Christians than ever he had and thereupon he did not only release him of his Ransom but ordered his Treasurer to give him Ten Thousand Franks which vvas a great Sum in those days He further desir'd his Friendship and that alvvays the Eldest of his Family might be called Saladin to the end that if Posterity should be curious to know why they bore a Name so extraordinary among the Christians they might be inform'd at the same time of the Occasion Which Request of Soladin has been observ'd ever
Homage how many others are there who at this day groan under the weight of her Fetters The Prince de la petite Pierre could say something if the unfortunate example of one of his Kinsmen did not oblige Him to silence I could speak of the Prince of Weldens who for having the soul of a Prince and being willing to preserve himself in that high Dignity where Providence has placed him by Birth might starve if his own Subjects had not pity upon him I say that he might starve nor do I aggravate the matter for 't is well known to many others besides my self that because he would not do Homage to France he has been dispossessed of his Territory and lives now in a hired House upon the Alms of his Subjects 'T is as vvell knovvn to vvhat a mean condition his Son is reduced 'T is vvell known I say that his Father not having vvherevvithal to support him that rides up and dovvn upon a sorry Nag vvithout any Train or Attendance like the poorest Gentleman in France being at length constrain'd to put himself into the Service of the States vvho have given him a Foot Company vvhich is all he has to subsist upon at this Day Some perhaps may ask me vvhy the Prince of Weldens carries himself so untractably considering his ovvn vveakness against a Power so absolute vvhy does he not give vvay to the Times as others do and in a Word vvhat difference there is betvveen being a Vassal to the Emperor and a Homager to the King of France For I knovv these are the Discourses generally in the Mouths not only of those that follovv the Interests of France but also of several others who cannot but compassionate the Misfortunes of this Prince and endeavour to help him To this I answer that the Prince of Wildens finding himself reduced to utmost necessity has sought an Accommodation by all-manner of ways but he could never resolve to be a Slave In short when he saw that a great many Princes of his Family had shewed him the way he sent his Son into France who offer'd on his Fathers behalf to do homage to the King provided he would use him like a Prince and suffer him to enjoy the same Rights and Privileges as before the Change of his Affairs But the King laugh'd at his Proposals so that the young Gentleman was forc'd to return as wise as he went Nevertheless if I may reflect upon the present Condition of the German Princes and what it was formerly we may easily see how they abuse themselves that think there is no difference between a Vassal to the Emperor and a Vassal to the King of France But I do ill to say a Vassal to the Emperor for all the Princes of the Empire I mean the Soveraign Princes as the Electors and several other great Houses are rather Members of the Empire not the Emperor's Vassals They are indeed oblig'd to assist the Empire under Forfeiture of their Privileges and Territories but they are not oblig'd to assist the Emperor unless he be first attack'd Let us then conclude that this Word Vassal is not properly applyed to the Princes of Germany who have Soveraign Authority within their own Dominions as much as the Emperor exercises in His own They have the Power of Life and Death they impose Taxes and Subsidies at their pleasure lastly are accountable for their Actions to none but God Let us conclude I say that such Princes as these who enjoy all the Marks of Soveraignty are far different from the Princes of France who except that they stand with their Hats on when the King gives Audience to Embassadors are in nothing else more than other Subjects It may be said in some Sort that they are inferiour to some of the Kings Subjects for the Dukes and Peers take the Precedency of them and that the Princes are oblig'd not to appear at any Ceremony least they should be constrain'd to walk after them Nevertheless if we look back to the beginning of the last Century we shall find that among those Dukes there are some whose Fathers were only Notaries others no more than Merchants in Paris And we know what the Descendants from one of these great Families did not long since to conceal the knowledg of such a mean and ignominious Extraction We know that they caus'd an Epitaph in the Church of St. Innocents to be eras'd instead of which we find another in the Celestins wherein there are as many Falshoods as there were Truths in the other And yet it so falls out that Princes whose Ancestors were in the Number of Soveraign Princes are at this day forc'd to submit to Men of that low and sordid Extraction To which I may add that the Princes of the Blood themselves are glad to court and fawn upon Persons of a much lower and baser Extraction than what I have already mention'd We know the way to rise in France is not to stir from the Anti-chamber of a Great Minister and a Colonel of Horse whose Name I could tell and one whom every Body knows as well as I does not disdain to be a Buffoon to one of the Secretaries of State For which reason he quitted his Regiment for fear least in time of War some other Minion might step into his Honourable Employment 'T is well known also that while Monsieur Colbert sate at Diner the greatest Lords of France sate pumping for a Jest to make him laugh and he that had had the best Success glory'd in his happy Fortune as if it had been he who had defended Vienna against the Turks Lastly 't is well known and yet a thing which a Man would hardly believe that Monsieur the Kings only Brother is oblig'd to have recourse to them when he has any particular Favour to beg of the King and that notwithstanding this Submission he many times is forc'd to go without the Grant of his Petition I could prove by a Thousand Examples what I here alledg but it shall suffice to mention only what happen'd about a year or two since upon the score of a Person whom the Monsieur had a kind desire to put into one of the King's Farms for not being able to obtain what he desir'd of Monsieur Colbert after many and many Entreaties he was forced himself at length to speak to the King To give a little farther proof of the Tyrannies of the Ministers of France and how the lofty Princes are forced to cringe and bow before those Idols there needs no more than to repeat what hapned some few days since to Monsieur the Dauphin he had beg'd of Monsieur Segnaly the Son of Mr. Colbert the Employment of Purser of a Ship for a Son of one of his Domesticks which Monsieur Segnalay having granted Him with great difficulty this same Minister of the last Edition took a Fancy sometime after to displace the Purser pretending him uncapable of the Imployment The Dauphin understanding this told Monsieur Segnaly
that it was his desire the Person might be restor'd and that if he had done amiss it was only for his want of years and that he himself would undertake the Young man should do better for the future Monsieur Segnalay having heard the Prince with that Gravity which he so awkardly affects made answer that the thing was out of his Power and that therefore he must speak to the King But Monsieur the Dauphin not enduring that a Person of his Condition should so unworthily requite the Honour which he did him Schol'd him so severely that he soon humbled his vain-glorious Pride Let us then conclude from hence that it is a great Misfortune for a Prince to be born a Subject of the Crown of France and a great Imprudence in him that is free to put himself under the Yoak Ask the Prince Palatine who is only his Neighbour how he likes his Neighbourhood and I am sure he will tell you there is no difference from being a Subject and a Neighbour If he speaks like a Prince they speak to him like Masters and if he intends that France should let him be at quiet He must submit to all her Demands Let us ask him whether he hath any Subjects that are Faithful to him among so many Subjects as are obedient to him and whether France have not quite debauch'd their Allegiance Lastly let us ask him whether he dares complain though every day he finds one Corner or other of his Territories lopt off from his Subjection and whither they do not tell him on the other side that he is happy to be under the Protection of so great a Potentate Let us now visit the Courts of the other Princes of Germany and see what passes there before we make any Reflection upon the Princes of France What shall we say of the Ecclesiastical Electors of which the one sells his Country by the suggestion of her Emissaries the other suffers her self to be scar'd by her Emissaries the other is so obedient to her Will as if the same Interest actuated in all Yet at the same time let us confess that this is not done without some sort of Violence for who questions the various Tricks and gins that are made use of daily to separate 'em from their real Interests To some they pretend that the most part of their Territories are Dependencies upon the Crown and that if they do not use all means to Captivate the Kings favours he will no longer suffer 'em to enjoy that to which they have no Right at all so that while he deprives them of the true Character of Soveraign which is to be independent in their Authority he endeavours to insinuate the contrary that their dependance upon France is the only way to support their Dominion To others he cries that they have nothing to do but to consider his Power from thence to assure themselves that they have no other hopes but in Him and while he feeds them with these fair Hopes he boys up the People in their Disobedienc to the end the Soveraigns may always standing in need of him to suppress their mutinies It may well be thought that I speak of Liege where France holds her Divan contrary to the Faith of Treaties and where the Dissentions between the People and their Sovereign make her as absolutely Mistress of the City as if it belonged solely to Her for who is so blind as not to see through her Politicks upon this occasion For being in continual fear least Monsieur of Cologne should at length open his Eyes she resolves to have a Remedy ready against all manner of Accidents And therefore as she maintained the People of Messina in their Rebellion so will she support the Inhabitants of Liege in all their Rebellious Practices should Monsieur of Cologne at any time bethink himself of re-assuming his Lawful Soveraignty For indeed if this were not the Intention of France what could hinder Monsieur Cologne at this day from reducing to Obedience a City which is open on all sides without Fortifications or any Garrison It were then to be wished that he would come again to himself and consider that his Alliance with France has only serv'd to draw upon him the hatred of his People and the utter Ruin of his Country for not to mention the Imperial-Armies who have been Constrained to feed upon his Country we see How he has been treated himself by those in whom he has put all his hopes and confidence Who can be Ignorant of the Horrible Contributions which France has Levied upon his Subjects the General Desolation of his Territory the Sacking and Plundering of his Towns and the Destruction of his Citadels and other Stately Buildings Who can be Ignorant of what Happened at the Hay where the French not contented to have Tyranniz'd o're the Inhabitants threw the Castle to the Ground and ruin'd one of the Noblest Bridges upon the Meuse by which meanes that City finds her self depriv'd of all her chiefest most considerable advantages for having admitted them within her Walls But let us go on to the other Princes of Germany and see whether they have any more reason to boast of the French kindnesses I could Epitomize all at once what I have to say to this point by only declaring what happened but lately to the King of Danemark For as it may be easie for others to judge what they are to expect by the carriage of the French toward their Allies therefore in my opinion that might suffice to prove the Violence of her Proceedings and how she goes about to make her self Mistress of the whole World But in regard there are several that would be glad to see what pretty Courses she takes to bring about her Designs I will give you a short account of her Maxims and Devices There is no Body can be ignorant of the Marriage of the Dauphin with the Dauphiness The great Rephuation which Monsieur of Bavaria and the great Sway which he carries in the Empire as well by reason of the Extent of his Dominions as also by reason of their Situation caus'd him to be courted of all hands during the last War as He who brought a great Accession of Strength to the side for which he should declare The King of France being careful of losing such an Advantage dayly made him a Thousand advantageous Propositions to engage himself in his Interests On the other side the Emperor was no less sedulous to gain him to his Party So that the Duke of Bavaria judging of his Power by the Applications that were made to him resolved to hear both and to fix where he could make his best Markets As for the Emperor he only offered him a League Offensive and Defensive against France whose Ambitious designs he laid before him beleiving that enough to bring him over to the German Interest But Bavaria being in hopes of something more advantageous listened more willingly to the propositions of France which
them before he had seen them I wonder also you said nothing about the Siege of Filleck However I doubt not but that place by this time is in your power Monsieur Jaygel I believe knows by my last Letters that I have several times endeavoured to send him what I promised and let him have what I have received but I always wanted an opportunity When you send any of your People to me order them not to come to my House but at night to the end we may do our business without any bodies knowledge But what I most earnestly desire is that above all things they take care not to follow the Road that goes directly from Tavoravia to Nimirovia For here are several Polish Gentlemen who by the most Serene King of Poland's Order search visit and detain all strangers that pass The safest way in my opinion is that they leave Premislaw and Toreslavia on the right hand and follow the Road that leads to Sandomiria least they be seen to enter Nimirovia where I am surrounded with Spies I recommend the Enclosed to you and desire you to send them according to their Directions by the first opportunity I will take the same care in all things you shall be pleased to command me I am most cordially Sir Your most zealous Servant Du Vernay Boucald Nimirovia Sept. the 22d 1682. The Superscription was thus To the most Illustrious Lord Count Emery Tekeley Lord of Kesmark and Arve General of the Hungarian Army that fights for it's Country THE Audience being ended His Majesty of Poland said he was convinced of the French Correspondence with the Male-Contents He shew'd himself very angry that the thing had been conceal'd from him Next day some of the Chief Officers of his Court had Orders to go and command the Sieur Du Vernay immediately to depart the Kingdom He said he would obey his Majesties Order but that he earnestly desired those Gentlemen to give him some days that he might take the Coach of Transylvania On the other side the Emperor 's Resident used all diligence and with great Success for Monsieur Du Vernay's Letter carrier called Kelemeschi returned to Nimirovia before his departure This Courier came with those whom Tekeley sent to the Sieur Du Vernay with his Letters and those of his great Agent and Confident Jaygel These Couriers were seized and the Letters they had intercepted were partly writ in Cyphers which you will here find interpreted A Letter from Count TECKELEY to Monsieur Du VERNAY SIR I Doubt not but you have made much of Monsieur Valentine Nemessani my Envoy He has always been faithful to me and very true to my Interest The Recommendations you gave him touching the Affairs he communicated with you will without doubt be of great Importance to him with the most Christian King I am beholding to you for all you have done for him and shall acknowledg it as occasion serves It is time I should inform you of the present State of my Affairs After I had taken Cassovia and entred some Forts about it I went with the Visier of Budas's Troops to attack the Famous Fort of Filleck The Inhabitants refused at first to put themselves under my Protection but after a Fortnights Siege they came to beg I would admit them to capitulate I granted them what they asked which was that the Garrison and what other People there was should go out carrying with them as much as they could upon their Backs Then I raised the Fort in sight of the Imperial Army which was hard by in the Mountains As I am now informed it is marched away and having sacked the Town of Vieuxsols and other Places retires very hastily I design to follow the Imperialists and drive them far off to restore my Country to its former Liberty At length the Emperor will be forced to yield by Force what we beg as a Favour Heaven has commiserated my Fortune indeed somewhat late but I also hope it will draw on a greater and more speedy Vengeance Sir I will take care to inform you of all my other Affairs however I desire you always to stand my Friend I am Sir Always ready to serve you EMERY TEKELEY At the Camp before Filleck Sept. 18. 1682. The Superscription was To the Most Illustrious Lord Monsieur Du Vernay Boucauld Embassador Extraordinary from the French King A Letter from Monsieur Peter Jaigel Governour of Cossovia To Monsieur Du Vernay SIR LAst Wednesday we took and raised Filleck where above a Thousand Janizaries were slain Afterwards the Visier made all the Hungarians that were present and were under the Prince of Transilvania's Dominion be brought before our Illustrious Count then all the Estates of the Upper Hungary being Assembled Monsieur Tekeley was Proclaimed King and confirmed in that Quality by the Great Turk who sent him from the Port a Hat instead of a Crown with a Standard and Scepter After the Ceremony the Count very modestly refused the Title of King He is satisfyed with that of Prince Regent of Hungary His Titles are Emericus Thokolius Princeps ac partium Regni Hungariae Dominus c. After this Election the Visier gave him the best Troops to pursue at the Head of the Army those of the Imperialists Caprara having deserted the Mountains pillaged the Towns and abandoned the Forts Vigles and Zolian and is at last retir'd and has taken his way towards Threnezin Sir we had done something more but we have not received what you promis'd us and without that supply we are forced to proceed gently in our business Monsieur Nemessani is gone to treat of Affairs at the French King's Court. He needs your Instructions we have order'd him in all things to Act to your Honour We will very suddenly send you an Express I beg of you for God's sake make him up as large a Sum as you can I always remain as I ought SIR Your most obliged Servant Peter Jaigel Gassovia Sept. 22d 1682. The Superscription was To the most Illustrious Lord Monsieur Du Vernay Boucauld Embassador Extraordinary from the French King After the Emperors Resident had the second time produced these Letters and the Days appointed were expired his Majesty of Poland sent word to the Marquiss de Vitry the French Embassador in Poland to cause the Sieur Du Vernay immediately to retire that he was weary of hearing daily of his new Designs FINIS
A BREVIATE OF THE Proceedings OF FRANCE From the PYRENAEAN TREATY to this TIME AS ALSO I. The Speech of Monsieur Zierowsky the Emperor's Embassador to the King of POLAND II. A Memorial presented by the said Embassador to the King of POLAND III. A Letter from Monsieur Du Vernay to Count Tekeley IV. A Letter from Count Tekeley to Monsieur Du Vernay V. A Letter from Monsieur Peter Jaigel Governour of Cassovia to Monsieur Du Vernay Printed at Cologne and Reprinted at London to be sold by Walter Davies in Amen-Corner 1684. TO THE READER THE Author of this Little Discourse was most certainly a French Protestant and One who has been a Sufferer among the Rest in the late Persecution of the Reformed Religion in France 'T is but a small Treatise but it gives the World a large Prospect of the Violencies and Cruelties of the French Government both at home and abroad and the Miseries of those that lye under it's Oppression How far it may have an Influence upon Other Nations or Answer the Author's Expectation who has made it his Business to exhort them to the Recovery of their Liberty wrested from them by Bribery Breach of Leagues and Correspondence with the Turks Themselves to the Destruction of so many Families as have perished in the Desolation of their Country and the Ruin of Christianity it self I know not but certainly to our own it may be of Great Advantage to make the People consider the Felicities they enjoy under a King truly Most Christian a just and peaceable Soveraign and how much more happy they are than their Neighbours and how industriously they go about to bring Themselves into the same Condition by their own needless Discontents and Fiery Dissentions Which certainly they would never do did they but seriously weigh in the same Ballance the Arbitrary Dominion of the French hereafter displayed and the Immunities and Advantages we Enjoy by the Excellent Composure of our Government both in Church and State THE AMBITION OF FRANCE UPON EUROPE IT is no difficult thing to discern the Original of those Miseries under which we labour at this day They who will give themselves the Trouble to reflect upon the Transactions which have been the most remarkable for these Twenty years last past in Europe will agree with me that if we had been so fortunate to have grown wife by our Sufferings we should not have seen our selves reduc'd to those Calamities under which we now groan For in short this is not the first time that France has been known to have broken Leagues tho never so sacred and inviolable Her Ambition has not been able to keep her self reserv'd without appearing in her Colours But we have been either so weak or so blind as never to make a vigorous opposition till it was too late Therefore we can only impute our Misfortunes to our selves and must ingeniously confess that if we suffer at this day the punishment of our Imprudence 't is no more than what we justly deserve In a word to whom ought we to impute the Imbecillity of the Spaniards but to our selves who have so often contributed to reduce them to their present condition Was it not easy for us to see that they supported themselves only by the means of those Cabals that were maintain'd in France against Cardinal Mazarin and that if the Prince of Conde had forsaken their Interest their good Fortune and Reputation had been at an end nevertheless when we observed that we had lost the Assistance of that Prince who was return'd to his Duty by the Pyrenaean Peace and that France to the prejudice of a League so sacredly ratify'd forbore not however not only to foment the Troubles of Portugal but also to send considerable Supplys to their assistance at several times I say when we saw that the Peace was no more than a Cloak for France's Ambition have we not suffer'd the Oppression of our Neighbours without so much as opening our Lips as if True Policy had not taught us that it was time to oppose the Designs of a Nation which would never be contented 'till she had satisfy'd her Ambition by the Conquest of the World Nevertheless with what confidence if I may not call it Impudence did she maintain that she acted nothing but what was conformable to the Peace Did not she likewise insinuate that whatever was done in the behalf of Portugal was done without her Order To which purpose while she covertly sent Supplys of Men and Money into that Kingdom she publish'd her strictest Prohibitions to prevent the Transportation of Arms thither yet underhand encourag'd her Subjects to carry supplys to that Crown as the only means to purchase Esteem and Reputation yet all this while carry'd fair with the Embassador who made loud complaints of these Breaches especially when he saw that the Marquiss of Beauveau had permission to levy a Regiment of Cavalry for the Service of that Crown in the Metropolis of France just under his Nose after he had Articl'd to outward appearance with the Portugal Embassador but in reality with the Court of France After all which proceedings she would needs have it that whatever the Spanish Embassador said was but the effect of his Fancy and Imagination as now at this very time she would make us believe that she has no Design to make a War tho she has eaten up a Country within these few Months to which she has no Right at all and to which she has not the least of Lawful Pretences if Reason and Justice were the Rule of her Actions All this while though we have observ'd all along these Practises of France without the least opposition yet neither do we make any advantage of them at this day that we see our selves just ready to be made the Unfortunate Victims of Her Ambition 'T is true I know there are several who will reply that Succours have been sent to the Spaniards which if it were done we are beholding to the Prince of Orange who having a deeper Fore-sight than others could not suffer us to be overwhelm'd without doing at least what was his Duty to do which is the reason we find him so firmly bent against the Persecutions and Injuries of France which esteems not Vertue but when it agrees with Her Interest But to return to the business I say that France endeavour'd to blear the Eyes of the Spanish Embassador who had in mind however to hunt the wrong Deer when an unexpected Accident made her act with more boldness and forbear any longer to disguise her Thoughts She had treated with Montgeorges who was slain in the late Wars and who was then a Captain in Candale a stout Soldier and one who lov'd War above all things to carry a Supply of Officers and Soldiers into Portugal Now Montgeorges being embark'd with his Company and upon his Voyage into Portugal happen'd to be taken by the Spaniards which were advertis'd of his Departure upon which there
the several Places beyond the Rhine which nevertheless they very much weaken'd by draining those Garrisons to supply Maestrick In the mean while the King having lain for some time before Charleroy march'd in view of Maestrick and stay'd some Twelve or Fifteen Days before Wise a small Town in the Territory of Liege into which he clapt a Garrison there having received Intelligence from Mombas that all the Towns above the Rhine were slenderly mann'd and almost naked of Defence he pass'd the Meuse at Wise and after he had beaten off certain Troops that were advantageously posted he sate down before Orsoy with a formal Siege The Governor wanted no Courage but in regard the Town was neither strong of it self nor sufficiently Garrisoned he surrendred his Charge the day following The French plunder'd the Town and hang'd up all those of their own Nation that they found in Arms and among the rest one Man that was Threescore and six years of Age who was the chief Canonier in Orsoy From thence the Army marched to Rhineberg which Dossery surrendr'd without striking a stroak For which not long after the Prince of Orange caus'd his Head to be sever'd from his Shoulders Nor did the Governor of Wesel make a Resistance much more to his Honour though the Place was able to have sustained a long Siege who surrendred it to the Prince of Conde after and Entrenchment of two or three days Whose Punishment therefore though not so severe as Dossory's was something like it For the Hangman skimm'd his Sword over his Head but spar'd him his Ignominious Life Buric was at the same time taken by Marshel Turenne After which the Prince of Conde advanc'd into the Country and took in Deudetrom Rees and Emeric with the same Ease that he master'd other Places These Victories though they cost but little Blood gave the King of France the Reputation of a Caesar in his Army For they saw that he might say like Him I came I viewed and vanquished Therefore to uphold the Glory he had won he resolved to pass the Rhine as formerly that Emperor had done but he would pass it after a more Noble and Heroick Manner For Caesar had pass'd it by the means of a Bridge but he was resolv'd to swim it over Two Gentlemen of the Country Neighbors to Tholus whose Names I cannot well remember came to the Prince of Conde at Emeric and offer'd to shew him a Place where he had but an hundred Paces to swim He gladly accepted their Offer which made the French now look upon themselves at the End of their Conquests in regard the Issel stopped their Entrance into the Country not only because of its depth but also by reason the Enemy lay strongly entrench'd on the other side of the River Thereupon the Prince of Conde having highly caresses'd the two Gentlemen and promising them large Reward 's commanded the Count de Guiche to go along with them to try whether or no he might confide in what they had said immediately they carried the Count right against Tholus and throwing themselves first into the Water the Count followed with his Squire while his Party stayed behind by the River side Upon this Tryal finding that the Gentlemen had spoken nothing but what was Truth the Count returned and made his Report to the Prince who sent the King an Account of what had happened adding withal if he pleased to take the Honour of the Enterprize upon himself how easie it would be for him to surprize the Enemy who little mistrusted any such Discovery and minded nothing but to guard the Issel The King eager in the Chase of so much Honour flew to the Prince of Conde's Camp and after he had supped with him marched all night along the Bank of the Rhine and arrived at the Place about half an hour before day In the mean time the Prince of Orange who found more fidelity among the Meaner Sort than among the Nobility being advertized by the Boors who saw the French when they sounded the Depth of the River that the King had some Design on the other side sent thither Mombas with the Cavalry and Infantry Mombas had already forfeited his Honour by keeping Correspondence with the Enemy but tho this Opportunity was no less favourable for him to continue his Treacherous Designs was afraid that for want of being known he might run some hazard in the Conflict bethought himself of writing to the Deputies of the States who attended the Prince of Orange and thereupon sent them a fair Story that there was no Likelyhood that the French had any Design to pass the River and that therefore if they thought good he would put himself into Nimeghen whither it was most probable that the French intended to march He took his Time to send this Letter when the Prince was absent from the Camp with a Detachment so that the Deputies not having the least Mistrust of his Fidelity and believing the Care of Nimeghen to be of greater Consequence sent him Orders to march thither The Prince of Orange returning to the Camp was strangly surprized to hear what Mombas had done and being now confirmed by this last Action of his in some former Suspitions he had of his being a Traitor caused him to be Arrested Which done he commanded Wortz a German whom the Republick had taken into their Services to march with all speed to Tholus with some Companies that were drawn out of the Army Wortz did all he could to hasten his Entrenchments and order'd the Cavalry to advance to the side of the River Whither the King being also arriv'd caused several Pieces of Canon to be brought and levell'd against Wortz's Cavalry who thereupon retired among the Trees that grew by the banks side In the mean time the French threw themselves into the River where they lost abundance of Men who were swallowed up in a Gulf which others observing took the advantage of the left hand and forded over like Cowes one at the Tayl of the other Wortz his Cavalry beheld the Enemy passing the River without so much as giving the least Ground till they saw some of the French Horse that were passed the River begin to Form themselves into a Body And then indeed they presently drew out from among the Trees but they were so far from endeavouring to repel the Enemy who were retired back into the Water that they stopped at the River side from whence they discharged a Volley of Shot but at such a distance as did little or no Execution Which Cowardise of theirs put Life into the French who had they been vigorously pursued into the Water would never have adventured to make head again or to have made a stand till more assistance came to their Relief So that as soon as they found themselves strong enough to march against the Dutch Horse who still kept their Station without moving they marched out of the River with their Swords in their hands and put the
upon the Change of New Masters These Extremities causing the States to break up their Dams gave them leisure to think and consider of their Affairs Whereupon they sent to the Princes of Germany the Propositions of Peace which both Kings had made them thereby to prepossess their minds with what they began already to harbour as touching the Ambition of France They laid before them the sad condition to which they were reduced and that if they delayed their Succour any longer it would be too late when they had a desire to do it That their present Safety was in the Water which could not always secure them That when the Winter came the French would march over the Ice to storm their Walls So that if they could not resist when the Provinces were entire and flourishing there was little likelyhood they should now withstand so potent an Enemy when they were fallen from their ancient Reputation These Remonstrances of which they could not doubt the Truth considering the lamentable Condition of the Republick mov'd the Emperor to pity as also the Marquiss of Brandenburgh and several other Princes of the Empire The Marquiss of Brandenburgh as being the most potent was the first that took the field for their Relief So that the King knowing that he had now to deal with a Prince stout resolute and a try'd Souldier rais'd his Camp from before Zeist and returned toward France But before his departure he resolved to try to make himself Master of Boysleduc which was block'd up upon one side by the Garrison of Creveceur on the other by that of Endoue Bois le duc is a Town seated in the midst of a Marsh but notwithstanding the strength of its Scituation the Fortifications are but weak Nevertheless there is a Cittadel on that side next to Holland with two Forts on the other side next Maestricht which however would signifie little did not the Situation render it almost inaccessible The King took up his Head Quarters at Boustel but while he was preparing all things for a seige God who had began to take Holland into His Protection sent such continual Rains for four or five days together so that the Country being Level was immediately all under Water as if the Sluces had been opened The King however hoping for hard Weather stop't at Bockstel for eight or ten days but finding the Weather continue bad he Discamped and returned Home And now the Prince of Orange who after the Death of the Pensionary had the sole Authority of command conferred upon Him seeing the People in some sort of Repose upon the Retreat of the King of France bethought himself of giving them yet further Content by the Punishment of Mombas whose Head they eagerly demanded He had been conveyed from Utrick to Wordes and from Wordes to Nieurburk whether the Dutch Army was retired Thereupon the Prince of Orange call'd a Counsel of War and began to examin the business which appear'd every day more foul than other at length his Conscience not permitting him any rest and giving himself for lost he began to think of making his escape which nevertheless was a difficult thing to do by reason he was very strictly guarded having Sentinels at his Chamber Door and under the Windows of his Lodging While he was musing what course to take one of his Friends brought him a Letter which gave him to understand that he had but three Days to live if he did not find some way to escape For that the Council of War was resolv'd to make him an Example to others and therefore advis'd him to look to himself Mombas finding himself so severely threatned discours'd the same day with one of his Guards who promis'd him for a certain Sum of Money to let him escape out at the Window when he should be put to stand Sentinel at that Post which would fall out the next day Having gone thus far he also sounded a Spanish Officer who was to be upon the Guard the same day at a deep Water to know if he would let him pass that way and get him a Guide ready The Officer no less covetous of Money than the Sentinel agreed for an hundred Pistols to all that Mombas desired The Bargain being thus driven gave the Hundred Pistols to one Villare who served him in the Nature of his Squire and had been an Agent in the business to carry them to the Spaniard but Villare instead of giving them to the Officer ran quite away with them whether it were that he were naturally enclin'd to such kind of Varlet's Tricks or whether his Master were in his Debt and so he thought to pay himself while he had an opportunity however it were Mombas reckning upon his Payment made it his business now to deceive the Watch that guarded him in sight to which purpose He first complained of a great Pain in his Leg upon which he sent for a Chyrurgeon and shewing him his Leg which by reason of a wound he had received was grown bigger than the other He also desired the Prince to send him one of his Chyrurgeons who concluded that his Grief required a large Plaister which they sent him to apply to the place affected upon this pretence he kept his Bed without any Suspition and upon the day appointed he sent for some Tobacco telling the Guards he would smoak a Pipe with them after Supper but pretending of a suddain to be very sick he went to Bed in the Souldiers presence desiring them withal to smoak their Tobacco in the next Chamber because it offended him The Souldiers seeing him in Bed and not dreaming that he had a Design to escape presently withdrew who were no sooner out of the Chamber but Mombas slipt out of his Bed took the Plaister from his Leg and clapt it upon his Eye and leapt out at the Window where the Sentinel stood that had been brib'd as already has been said In this Disguise he got through the Camp without being discover'd but when he came to the Spaniard he was strangely surpriz'd to find that he would not let him pass any farther unless he gave him the Hundred Pistols before-hand which he had promised him By this dispute Mombas presently discovered the Roguery and Treachery of his Man Villaire but there was no retreiving that which was gone and therefore he must now satisfie the Spaniard as well as he could for the Spaniard was resolved he would have his Bargain and Mombas had it not to pay over again In the end being forced to make a Vertue of Necessity he turned his Pockets the inside outermost and offered him all he had about Him But seeing that nothing but the Hundred Pistols would content him Mombas told the Officer that he might do with him as he pleased but if he were the occasion of his being retaken he vowed to discover him in the first place and therefore bid him quickly consider for he had nothing farther to say The Officer terrifyed with these
Threats took what Mombas was able to give him and let him pass with his Guides After this Mombas waded up to the Wast in Water for three Leagues together very often in danger of being drown'd But it was but just that a Traitor who had occasioned the Ruin of a Nation should have his turn of Misery who tho he endured a large Portion of Misfortune and Hardship yet suffered not the half of what he deserved Mombas being thus arrived at Wordes after he had endured an Ocean of Disasters more easie to imagine than to describe took a Room in the Boat that goes from Wordes to Uytrecht but he was no sooner sat down but he perceived that a Woman who sat next him knew him and had told his Name to another Woman that sat next to her Thereupon in a Peck of Troubles he quitted the Boat being resolved to take some other way But not daring to adventure the High road for fear of being known he threw himself into any other guide then his own despair having neither Sous nor Doit to help himself When he came within a quarter of a League of Utrecht he forsook the Water but so bedaub'd with Mud and Dirt that there was no possibility of presenting himself in that condition Thereupon he got leave at the next House to dry his Cloaths and so getting into the Town he went to the Sign of the Palace Royal where he met one of his Nephews by chance who was a Captain in the French Army His Nephew seeing him enter was so far from believing him to be his Uncle that he took him for an Apparition For there had lodged the night before a Person who came from Nieurburgh who had reported it for certain News which he had seen with his own Eyes that Mombas's Head was cut off And this Report was so spread about the City that no body would believe that Mombas was come to Town In the mean while the Duke of Luxembergh who was then chief Governour of Utrech paus'd whether he should admit Mombas into his presence or no For on the one side he knew it might be of advantage to discourse him as who perfectly understood the Country and on the other side he consider'd that it would be no good Policy to give him a kind Reception which would but convince the World of the private Correspondence which he held with the King which latter thoughts prevailing he resolv'd not to see him at all and therefore to those that told it him for great News that Mombas was in Town he made Answer that he did not beleive it adding withal that it could never be that a Man who had born Arms against the King would put himself into his hands Every Body understood what the Duke meant so that all Peoples mouths being clos'd after that there was no more mention made of Mombas than if he never had been As for Mombas himself when he understood that the Duke of Luxembergh would not see him he went to wait upon the Prince of Conde at Arnheim but that Prince being as Politick as the Duke of Luxembergh deny'd to speak with him but in private and that at such an hour when all People else were asleep Thereupon he sent the Captain of his Guards for him about three of the Clock in the Morning to bring him to his Quarters where the Prince received him into his Closet wrapt up in his great Leaguer Cloack There he sold Holland a second time disclosing all the secrets of that Republick or at least as much as he knew before he was Arrested and after he had informed the Prince of as much as he desired to know he retired to Collogne in expectance there of a Promission to return into France which was one of the wry Faces he was to make in hopes to wipe off the suspicions which he already lay under Sometime after he had intimation given him that he might go and attend the Duke of Luxemburgh who made use of him in the taking of Wordes which the French quitted after they had been only once Masters of it He it was also that brought the Duke before this place when the Prince of Orange beseig'd it so that he seemed now as desirous to make his Treacherie publick as he was before careful to conceal it Now though all this that I have said may seem to be rather a History of the War then a keeping close to my Subject which is to set forth the falshood of France however I beleive it not so remote from the matter neither since it serves so well to recal to Memory the Idea's of so many Treacheries and Breaches of Faith In a word though it cannot be denied but that the French are sufficiently couragious yet we may say that she rather chooses to joyn Subtlety and Slight to Strength without which she could never prove so Successful in all her Enterprizes though we must needs say at the same time that another great Reason of Her Prosperity is this that Money costs Her little or nothing for to come now from War to Peace let us examine how she brought to pass a separation of the Allies and whether that Metal did not stand her in more stead then all the Rhetorick of her Ministers One of the great Obstacles of the Peace was the great difficulty of Reconciling the Interests of the Crown of Sweden from the Interests of those Princes who had any thing to do with it As for the Crown of Sweden its chiefest Interest was this that as it was engaged in a War only for the Service of France that France should therefore cause Restitution to be made of all those Places which either the King of Denmark the Princes of Brandenburgh or of the House of Brunswick had taken from it On the other side it was the Interest of those Princes not to hear talk of Peace unless they might preserve all their Conquests or at least a good part of them The difficulty then was to reconcile these opposite Interests now you shall see what it was that put this Affair into a fair way and made it not so impossible as it seem'd to be It hapned one day at a Collation that was given by one of the Three French Ministers who understood the Court Secret a Dish of Olives was set upon the Table which the Swedish Embassador tasting and liking very well the French Embassador promis'd to send him a Barril which his Secretary soon after carry'd him The Swedish Minister was not a little surpris'd to see the Secretary of the Embassie become a Porter of Olives but presently recollecting himself he took the Barril in his hand and finding it somewhat ponderous he asked the Secretary what was in the Barril The Secretary made Answer that his Excellency would see when he open'd it and withal desired him to open it himself and not to let any body see him when he open'd it Then the Swedish Embassador knew what it meant and so
having dismissed the Secretary he open'd the Barril which was crammed to the bottom with Golden Lewisses among which he found a little Note wherein these words were contain'd If You intend that we should send you more Olives you must let Us have a Peace Now you will ask me how a thing that was carry'd so secretly on the Minister of France's part as on the Minister of Swedens should come to my knowledge to which I answer how do so many secrets transacted in the Cabinet Councel come to be known but I must tell ye more then this that France happening afterwards to be at variance with Sweden took no great care to conceal a secret since it was of no Importance to her to keep it private Rather she was glad of an opportuny to Divulge it on purpose to raise Jealousies and Mistrusts among the Chief Grandees of Sweden where the story is in every bodies Mouth insomuch that the Rupture between the two Crowns is attributed to it In a word though the Homage which the King of France demanded of the King of Sweden for the Dukedom of Deux Ponts were a thing which that Young Prince took very unkindly yet the more nimble Politicians beleive that it would not have been a sufficient cause of a Rupture had not the King of Sweden been exasperated before by the Disadvantageous Peace which France had caused him to condescend to of which it will not be from the purpose to speak a word or two in regard that while I was at Paris I met with few of the French who did not maintain that Sweden vvas extremely obliged to France since she vvould not endure to hear of any Treaty till all vvas restored that had been conquered from Sweden But they vvere Ignorant that in lieu the Swede vvas constrained to deliver up to the Duke of Brandenburgh several places in Pomerania in the Dutchie of Bremen several places to the King of Denmark and several other places in the Bishoprick of Venden to the Princes of the House of Brunswick But now I am speaking of Sweden I will tell ye how the Dutchy of Deux Ponts came to be taken for Her and under what pretence the last Duke was a Healthy Person and like to live long when France who lik'd the Country very well as lying fit for Her projected how to get possession of it having not yet bethought her self of the Knack of Dependency under pretence of which she has since invaded so many Provinces Now you must understand that the Duke having no Children the Dukedom after his Death fell to the House of Swedland though not immediately to the King of Swedland in regard that Duke Adolphus pretended to exclude him as being the next in propinquity of Blood to the present Possessor On the other side the King of Sweden pretended that the Dukedom should descend to Him as being the Son of the Eldest House which seemed a very likely pretence For though in several parts of Germany the Custom is such that the next of Kin to the Deceased succeeds to his Estate yet in the Electoral Families especially the Palatine which was then in dispute the Usuage is quite otherwise However it were the King of France who was willing to make the Proverb good That while two are in dispute for the Possession there comes a third and carries away the Prize sent a considerable force to make himself Master of the Dutchy of Deux Ponts under pretence nevertheless to preserve it for the King of Sweden in whose favour he had decided the difference against Duke Adolph The Duke of Deux Ponts who was still living was nothing surprized that the French had entred his Country as having often been subject to their violences but he wondred not a little when he understood that they came to claim the Succession especially finding himself so likely to live and having no desire to die so soon Nevertheless the French having taken Possession of the place of his Residence he saw not only his Country reduced to slavery but himself a kind of Prisoner for in regard the French could not choose but think that a Prince of such a Noble and Illustrious Birth would not easily condescend to live under Tutelage fearing least that he would call the Emperor to his Assistance they watched him so narrowly that he might well be lookt upon rather as a Prisoner then a Freeman However France who was desirous to make sure of the King of Sweden of whom she then stood in need for all this happened during the War gave him to understand that what she had done was only in kindness to Him so that the Swede not dreaming but that France meant as she said began to talk of sending a Governour into the Dutchy but while he offered the Government sometimes to the Count of Carlson his natural Brother in lieu of something that he had taken from Him and sometimes to a Prince of the House of Baden the King of France sent thither the Prince Palatine of Berkenfield and reconciled the Prince of Baden and the Count of Carlson who began to look with an evil aspect one upon another as it is the Custom of two Persons that aspire both to one Command The Peace ensuing soon after France who had no mind to part with so toothsom a Morsel bethought her self of the Right of Dependency and demanded Homage and Fealty from the King of Sweden This pretention altogether new extremely surprized the Swedish King but in regard the Dutchy lies at a great distance from his Dominions the chiefest part of his Ministers concluded to let it pass and not to quarrel with France at what time France who had laid this Rub in the way only because she would not restore what she had got into her Clutches caused Duke Adolph to interpose himself to the end that according as they had agreed among themselves she might remain always in the Possession And thus as she had despoiled the Old Duke in his life time who ended his days for sorrow remote from his own Territories so she scruples not to keep from their Rights to other Princes still alive and live like And it is very probable that without considering whether the claim belong to the King of Sweden or Duke Adolph that she will rather choose to surrender it to the Palatine of Birkenfield then to either of the other two as being loath it should fall into the Hands of the King of Sweden for fear of enlarging the Power of a Prince whose Friendship she has so little reason to hope and having the same reason to be jealous of Duke Adolph whose Interest it is to keep firmly united to the Head of his own Family Moreover it cannot but be a great trouble to the Palatine House to see such a number of Princes become subject to France For besides that the Person upon whom France shall be pleased to confer the Dutchie of Deux Ponts will be obliged to do her
and the King of Danemark I know nothing that could beget a greater Aversion to France then her behaviour towards them For if we look upon the manner how she came to intrude her self into their Confidence we shall find that she has left no Tricks unplaid to bring it to pass but after she had got her Ends there was no sort of Severity and Cruelty which she did not exercise to their Dammage The Propositions are well known which were made by the Count de Roy upon his Arrival in the North. 'T is well known I say that he demanded of the King of Danemark in the name of the King his Master that he might have a share in the Disbursement of the Money which he received from Him adding withal that the Money was wasted to little purpose He demanded also little less of the Duke of Brandenburgh yet fearing to provoke those Princes jealous of their Honours by such kind of harsh Complements he kept his Pensioners or else certain Frenchmen still at their Elbows to mollifie and sweeten those severe Pieces of Courtship so that those Princes being detain'd as I may say between hope and fear knew not what to resolve upon But let us admire the Politicks of that Crown which draws it's Advantages from all things even from those things that seem to be contrary and prejudicial to it's Interest Every one knows how Monsieur de Bricquant was prosecuted who after he had been a long time in the Bastile for being stedfast to his Principles was at length forced to fly his Country having nothing more to hope from his serving France where he had nevertheless spent all his youthful years but so soon as France understood that he was gone to Brandenburgh and that he was received by the Elector her Malice was not only appeased of a suddain but she would needs Recommend him to that Prince not immediately as from her self for that would have been suspicious but indirectly by the means of her Generals so that this same Recommendation accompanied with the merit of the Person got him in a short time a Regiment of Horse with the Government of Wesel and of this Person it is that she makes use but cunningly and slily to obtain her desires For tho he does not appear to be entrusted with the secret but that on the contrary he still complains of his sufferings and hard usage in France he knows how to give the blow when Opportunity serves a Blow so much the more dangerous as coming from a kind and unsuspected Hand Boisdavid who was constrained to fly France where he was a Brigadier and Colonel of Foot for having duell'd Monsieur d'Aubijoux understood the way to regain her Favour by managing her Interests in the Court of Zell where he was advantageously preferr'd so that nothing there pass'd of which Monsieur de Louvois was not advertis'd from time to time And that which was most extraordinary was this that though there be no Mercy for those who are accus'd of the same Crime that he was he forbears not to make a Journey sometimes to Paris whether it be upon his own occasions or which is most likely to confer with Monsieur de St. Povange about such things as he dares not commit to Writing All the Courts of the other Princes are in the same manner stuft either with bannish'd or Malecontented French But at the same time those Princes give 'em Entertainment if it may not be said that they receive Serpents into their Bosoms at least we may say that they are to be very wary how they easily trust 'em with their Secrets For besides that the Genius of the French Nation carrys them to insinuate themselves into all manner of business they rarely forget their Fidelity to their Prince so that it is a great piece of Imprudence to confide in their Actions Having thus discoursed of the Misfortunes daily attending those Princes who are Neighbours to France or that are in any sort of Amity with Her let us now see in what a Condition they are who are envellop'd by her in her Claims of Dependencies I will say nothing of the Prince of Petite Pierre or of Weldens of whom we have spoken sufficiently already but I will mention something of the Prince of Baden who no sooner came to be in the number of Her Subjects but he was constrained to give a large Pension to his Wife who left him a long time since with a resolution never to Cohabit with him any more He might shew himself ready as he did to take her home again but there was no regard had to Reasons and the first thing imposed upon him was to ascertain Her a revenue where he could not come to Finger it I pass over in silence the Tyranny which She Exercises over other Princes of less repute for since the Princes of the Sovereign Families are no otherwise spared then as I have related there is no likelihood that the rest should fare any better It would be tedious to recount what they daily suffer from those Petty Tyrants who of great Ministers Lacquies becoming Commissaries and Commissary Intendants assume to themselves a Soveraign Authority Nor are they contented to deprive these Princes of their Honour but of their Estates How many suits do they commence against them for the Decision of Limits and several other slight occasions insomuch that those Princes who but lately had the Power of Life and Death over their Subjects are now forced to go and answer their suits at the Bar and frequently loose their Causes For it is a Maxim of France to support the Vassals against their Lords well knowing that as long as they have the People of their side the Princes and Gentry are not to be feared at all who can do little without the People so that Her Interest sweys Her beyond all manner of Justice provided she can thereby Establish her Dominion or rather her absolute Tyranny If we pass from hence to her usage of the meaner Gentry how many may we find ruin'd by their Garrisons For she does not stop at ordinary Forms to establish her Dominion though it be the Law to seize the Lands only of those that refuse Homage and Fealty how many has she nevertheless imprisoned to the end that by detaining at the same time both their Persons and their Estates necessity may constrain them to an absolute Subjection to her Pleasure But the Consummation of her Tyranny and Injustice was her severity to the Baron de L'Evenop a Gentleman of quality and of a Family that once honoured Sweden with a Queen For after France had received his Fealty and Homage she dispossessed him of his demeans no person being able to say for what reason nor could she ever give any her self but her own covetous thirst after other Peoples Estates There is no Prince in Europe who has not had a taste of her violences who though they are sufficiently powerful to repress her Insolence yet