know their own Interest as do those States â—hould permit Lewis the XIV to â—dvance one Foot of Ground more â—han he is already being but too â—orwards all that Monarchs fair Promises and his kind assurances of Friendship remaining without â—ffect not being able to win them to be deceiv'd And perceiving that his Credit was at an end in those Provinces that all the Propositions of the Count d'Avaux his Ambassador were suspected and that he was still entertain'd with much Circumspection as Lions are fed still pulling the hand back finding himself discover'd and cried down not to lose any more time to flatter and amuse â—â—e said States being not able to accomplish his ends that way he â—esolv'd to ruine them at the same time that King James the II. goâ— on the Throne he knowing weâ— his Genius was satisfied that there wanted nothing but a Golden Apple to amuse him and to follow that itching desire which thaâ— Prince had to render himself Absolute Master over all his Kingdom to alter the Laws and thâ— Religion of it and to feed hiâ—â— before hand with the hopes of thâ—â— Spanish Indies that he might nâ—â— longer find himself oblig'd to Assemble his Parliament who approv'd not of his Proceeding noâ— of that great Alliance he had witâ— France which under what shapâ— soever it was represented to them did always appear hiddeous Dâ—ring all that long Interval anâ— till there were a fair occasion 〈◊〉 perform that great Design thâ— French Emissaries did continuallâ— pour their cold Poison in the English Court which was quaff'd 〈◊〉 in large Draughts by some of thâ— Grandees which they endeavour'd to Digest without noise seeing that at the same time they thus under-hand set forward their Masters Interest others who were not at such a distance provided themselves with an Apple against draught as did many others in all the Courts of Christendom It was in this contagious time so infected with the French Lewis D'Ors that Europe was to tremble and that all honest people that concern'd themselves in the common Cause of the good of Christendom were to shake at the very sight of that weight which was going to crush Europe to pieces seeing that its general loss had immediately follow'd that of the Seventeen United Provinces the Emperor nor the King of Spain not being then able to prevent nor put a stop to that Torrent which had chang'd it self into a Deluge from which not England it self had been Exempted in its time if afterward it would not have danc'd to the French Flutes and obey'd the Orders of its Ambitious Monarch I am willing to make use of these Terms seeing that all those that are Pensioners of France are soâ— but to Execute his Orders and to Work to increase the Grandeuâ— of Lewis the XIV not to oppose his Interests but on the contrary Sacrifice their Honour and their Lives to them so oft as the Good and the Interest of France should require it If ever Lewis the XIV had obtain'd his end and had made himself Master of the Forces of the Seventeen Provinces as he plotted it in his greedy Imagination through the King of England's Means there had then been no ways left for this last to retire though he should perceive his Error as Charles the II. had done and he must either by fair or fouâ— means have gone on with that he had begun through a weak Complacency and then the Most Christian King had rais'd his Voice and Arm at the same time and had spoken in Magisterial Terms to all the Princes of Europe neither had that of England been left for the last but had been oblig'd to submit to the same Fate with all the others as a Reward for all the good Services that he should have render'd him I once again repeat that the Designs of France were not new that long since Lewis the XIV had had them before him even before that James the II. had got on the Throne and during his Brother's Reign he luckily made use of the Dutchess of Orlean's Management who was Sister to both the Kings Charles and James But the First of them who had continually before his Eyes the Tragical end of his Father and who was still very sensible 〈◊〉 the sufferings and troubles of his Exile had much to do to resolve upon it and the Apprehensions which he had of his People did retain him and hindred him from Assisting France in all things as he was solicited to do and he at last did abandon it as we did see by the Peace which he had made with the States of the United Provinces and then he seemingly did relinquish the Interests of his Ally not to Prorogue his Parliament who very plainly did forsee the danger in which the Nation was going to fall had France continued its Progress as it had began in 1672. and the years following After the Peace of Nimeguen the Kings great Design against the United Provinces remain'd as buried during the remnant of King Charles his Reign but he soon rais'd it again for at King James's Ascending the Throne France gather'd new Vigour and beholding there so good a Friend with whom he was tied in Religion and Inclination Lewis the XIV fail'd not to strike the Iron while it was hot and during the Three or Four Years of his Reign the French Emissaries gave divers Assaults and set all Hands to work the French Ambassador Barillon made great Largesses to all those whom he thought propper to do his Master Service the Curtisans tasted of the Cake as well as divers Ministers at Court thus all unanimously did labour to perswade James the II. so soon as he was King to second Lewis the XIV in his Designs divers not knowing them there needed no great Perswasion to attain it because that Prince was already sufficiently inclin'd to it of himself and at that time of all Employs that of Messenger was the most necessary there was nothing seen but such kind of Persons on the Road from London to Paris and from Paris to London till the Treaty was finish'd of which the chief matter and knot of the Business was the ruine and destruction of the United Provinces All the Religious Orders and above all the Jesuits did take a great Interest in that Business and already cried out The Town was their own there was a perpetual motion among them the Ships that cross'd the Seas on both Parties were throng'd with those Zealots and Apostolick Postilions thus were all things in motion for the Good of France and for the Advancement of its Monarchs Designs some through Interest some through Zeal and others through meer Ignorance This Business thus built up with Lime and Stone concluded and resolv'd on betwixt the Two Kings Lewis the XIV the better to compass all things was desirous to strengthen himself towards the North but having lost the friendship of the Sweeds for having fail'd in keeping those Treaties which had formerly pass'd
between the Two Crowns France having no Prospect of patching them up again it took the Party of Denmark though it was nothing near so advantageous to it as was the other To render it capable of employing it on all occasions he sent thither the Count of Roy there to Command with many Officers and Men but after the Siege of Hambourg that General being retir'd the French Party did much diminish besides France could not Unite it self with that Crown in so streight an Alliance as it wish'd for and that it were necessary because of those Measures which Denmark was to keep with the United Provinces on the account of Trade without which it cannot do well neither can it turn it to so good an account with France it having at home all that it could draw from thence so that all that France can at present draw from that Alliance can but at the most come but to a Neutrality provided the Emperor and his Allies will give their consent Lewis the XIV was reckoning upon that when he assur'd James the Second that the King of Denmark would not disturb but on the contrary favour them in case that the Swede should join with their Enemies It was on that Pillow Lewis le Grand did gently lull asleep the King of England together with an imaginary shower of Gold which was to drop from the Spanish Indies But how great soever a Corruption is at Court there are still some good and the soundest part of the Kingdom of England could not relish that streight Union which was betwixt their Prince and France it clearly did see that on its side the design was to Change the Religion to Subvert the Laws Establish an Arbitrary Power and a Despotick Government which tended to the loss of their Liberties and Priviledges and to depend one Day on France which gave them suspicion of every step which the Ambassador Barillon and the Queen did make in that respect but their Zeal did so far transport them that at last the People the Lords the Protestant Clergy open'd their Eyes and thought of delivering themselves and with them all Europe from those shackles which were forging for them and the Heavens granting the Petition of all Christendom and in particular of the English Nation it sent them a Deliverer of whom Providence hath so miraculously seconded the Enterprise so as to prevent them from falling under an hard Bondage and under the Government of a suppos'd Prince a Foundling whose Father and Mother remain still unknown which was to be preferr'd to the Lawful Heirs of the Crown such a black and unheard of Supplanting did oblige the Princess of Orange as the next Heir to the Kingdom to intreat the Prince her Husband to second the just Request of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and of the most sound part of the Kingdom Thus the Prince by an Admirable Conduct and a Divine Dispensation did bring things about according to the Hearts desire of the Nation without effusion of Blood and set Succession in its due and right Channel which was to have been interrupted by the means of that suppos'd Child for the Princess having been Crown'd Queen by Succession and the Prince King by Acknowledgment after the Throne had been declar'd Vacant through King James the Il's Desertion it happen'd very luckily for the Deliverance of Europe which I shall prove in what follows as being the Subject of this small Book In the first place I lay down for an indisputable Truth That if Lewis the XIV and James the II. had compass'd their Designs and Ends the United Provinces had been entirely lost through the breaking down of their Banks for that way did he design to begin to take away all means from the Inhabitants of ever recovering from that Dissolution in which he design'd to Reduce them after they had made themselves Masters of the Spanish Netherlands after which I cannot perceive how Europe could have prevented falling under the Yoak of the French Dominion having had the King of England for Second and Invading the 17 United Provinces and rendring Tributary in imitation of the Grand Seignior the most remote of those Provinces which he could not conveniently Govern I have already given to observe that the Empire alone could not hinder him by reason of the great number of heads all of different and distinct Interests of those Princes that Compose it On the other hand Spain being not in a Condition to raise Forces sufficient to oppose it nor all of them together capable to resist the rapid motion with which France would invade them after its First Conquests For to represent to us what France can do and what it has been able to do in all times we need but to frame to our selves a right Idea of things from Francis the First to Charles the Fifth we shall easily judge that it has alwaies been dreaded this last was both Emperor and King of Spain together he was Master of the 17 United Provinces while they were entire he had Burgundy and the French County as well as Alsatia he had an absolute power over the Princes of Germany and of Italy This Monarch was without dispute one of the Greatest Princes not only of his Time but of his Age a Great Commander undaunted in all his Enterprises daring Perils and Dangers in which he had frequently been and add to all that his Personal Valour a good Head-Piece and fit for Counsel encouraging his Armies by his Presence having under him the most Experienc'd Captains and the best Generals of his Time and such Armies that had been tried in all parts of Germany Italy and in the Low-Countries besides Fleets on the Mediterranian and on the Ocean With all those Forces his Courage and his Treasures though he had to do but with Francis the First who alone was his Capital Enemy and who was nothing near so powerful as his Successors have been and as Lewis the XIVth is at this time or at least as he has been of late years having no other Revenue but about thirty or thirty five French Millions whereas this present has four times as much Mean time with all this disproportion of Forces and of Wealth this Emperor durst not attack him 'till first he had joyn'd himself with Henry the VIIIth of England and with the most considerable Princes of Italy By this we find that even from that time the Emperoor did highly consider the Kings oâ— England and that if Francis the First King of France had first secur'd Henry the VIIIth's Alliance Charles the Fifth had not dar'd to attack him and with all the advantages that the Emperor had of his side Francis the first stood out against him and without the Misfortune that befell him at the Seige of Pavia where he was made Prisoner he had given work enough to his Enemy I pass from Francis the First to Lewis the XIVth much more powerful in Forces in Treasures and in Demains than his Predecessors
Pontificate either in his own Person â—r in that of his Legates even â—pon the dead Corps of one of â—hem The extinction of the Regalia in France is also a great grieâ— to the Holy See as well as thâ— violence us'd against divers Convents for having address'd themselves to the Pope and taking advice of his Holiness The changing of divers Abbies into Commadâ—ries by the King 's own and pâ—â—per motion is also a Contempâ— which he has aggravated by thâ— forbiddance he has made to thâ— Bishops not to Consult the Holâ— See even in Cases of Consciencâ— and in such businesses as whicâ— concern Religion but the moâ—â— sensible of all was that blow given to the Pope's Authority iâ— the Year 1682. by the Clergy Aâ—sembled at the King's Command that being with the Infallibilitâ—tâ— the finest Flowers of the Tripâ— Crown The Insolent Discourâ—â— held in a Plea by Monsieur Talâ—â— by which he accus'd Pope Innocenâ— the XIth the most worthy thaâ— has for divers years been seaâ—eâ— in St. Peter's Chair of being a Schismatick and a Supporter of Hereticks And this for not having receiv'd Monsiour Lavardin as Ambassa for at Rome who made his Entry into that City in such an offensive and proud manner that no Ambassadours of Obedience durst ever have done the like having caus'd himself to be accompany'd by a small Army rather than a Retinue as if he would have Besieg'd the Vatican And though this Marquess is at full Liberty at Rome the Nuncio Ranucci is detain'd in a place call'd St. Lazarus for fear he should retire from Paris incognito Finally the unjust seizure of the City and County of Avignon threatning besides all this to send some Troops into the Ecclesiastick State to oblige the Pâ—â—e to râ—â—â—â—e the Bull for the abolition of Quarters and that for hsi Confirmation of Prince Joseph Clement of Bavaria to the Archbishoprick of Cologne After so much insulting which the Pope had receiv'd of which one might make a whole Volumâ— either in his own Person his Authority or in the Person of his Legates the Pope has judiciously done to shew his Resentment against Lewis the XIV noâ— to relinquish any of his Rights buâ— maintain the Rank which he haâ— in the Church and in the World by that Spiritual and Temporaâ— Power which God has put into his Hands and in having till now so generously and justly oppos'd himself to all the French Violences by which he has acquir'd a Glory which shall last as long as the World amongst all Parties and his Memory will be Rever'd even after his Death He ought to go on in those right Paths which he has begun and as Common Father Exhort all Catholick Princes to put themselves in a Condition to abate the Pride of the French King as a means to bring him into a way of Salvation To this purpose the Pope ought with all his Power to Assit the Catholick Princes that he may co-operate in so good a Work as his Holiness has done to the Empire against the Turks and to solicite the Switz-Cantons of the same Religion by his Legates to Join themselves to the Emperor and Empire to confirm that Deliverance which Europe begins to enjoy Thus the Pope being restor'd to his former Dignities Veneration and Authority let the King his most devout Son make him some Reparations and Attonements for those Faults he has committed and be so humbled that for the future he may be Wiser and out of Power of doing the like again nor of Insulting over the Popes and Soveraign Pontifs of the Catholick Church and in case the Pope found no amendment in that King nor no likelihood of bringing him back to his Duty he ought while he is busie in a War to lance forth his Excommunications against him and to give his Kingdoms over to the Spoil of his Enemies the male-contented Ecclesiasticks with which his Kingdom is fill'd will reduce him by Reason and will make him repent having ever meddled with the Rights of the Church The Emperor and the Princes of the Empire have more Reason than all the other Powers of Europe to keep the French King in such a condition that he may no more annoy them nor aspire to the Imperial Crown Lewis the XIV has a long time endeavour'd to turn the Empire into the French Family as in the time of Charlemain it being a great step for him to rise to that of all Europe that is the Reason why since Francis the First the French Kings have always cross'd the Emperors Elections But Lewis the Great could find no way to that Conquest but by the total Ruine of the United Provinces to which he could not attain but by the assistance of England thus his Imperial Majesty and all the Princes of the Empire being fully satisfied of this Truth and that nothing but that Revolution which has lately happen'd on the Brittish Throne could cause the rash Designs of the French King to Miscarry The Emperor ought no longer to râ—mâ—in in suspence nor put off to another time those Advanâ—agâ—s which tâ—â— Heavens present to him 〈◊〉 this time to recover all thaâ— France has Usurp'd from him To this purpose his Imperial Majesty should begin by a Truce which he ought without delay to conclude with the Port seeing that they offer it on very honourable and advantageous Conditions and let the Emperor hold as suspicious Persons all such as shall Advise him to the contrary they are Persons that sin either through Ignorance or Malice who understand not the true Interests of the Empire or too much those of France he is not to doubt but that all the Princes of the Empire will concur to the same Design of abasing the Greatness of the French Monarch of which there are but very few Powers in the Empire that have not great cause of complaint and just pretensions to frame and perhaps more to preâ—end to than ever to recover again if France be not kept in a condition of never offending them more of domineering any longer nor of boasting any more that it can give Peace to Europe when ever it pleases This last War by the rupture of a Truce which the French King had sought after with so much earnestness because it confirm'd Luxemburg to him and a part of Flanders during Twenty Years and which he has infring'd without any Cause than his desire to come to the Assistance of the Grand Seignior who was going to ruine by the vast Conquests which the Emperor made on that Insidel His Most Christian Majesty was going hand over head to his Assistance finding himself supported with a close Alliance with James the II. formerly King of Great Britain this Rupture has given new pretensions of War to all the Princes of Germany by the most barbarous and inhumâ—â—e proceedings which the Frenâ—â— Troops have done there and I doubt much whether a just Pâ—rallel could be drawn from the Cruelties and Desolations that this King has caus'd to
our of the danger he is in He has address'd himself to the Elector of Brandenburg the King of Spain and to the Pope but at this present knowing of no better shift and finding that all the Christian Princes do abandon him he has apply'd himself to the Turk And finding that no Christians will any longer confide in him be covers himself with a false Mâ—sk of Hypoceisie he demonstrates to the House of Austria that the Roman Catholick Religion is in danger and that it perishes with him that it has been â—hrough his Care and Zeal so many Conversions have been made in his Kingdom and that he was ready to have done as much in England if there had not been a League made against him But with all these sugar'd words he at the same time Leagues himself with the Enemy of Christendom at that very time he enters the Palatinate and puts all to the Fire and Sword he offers to the Grand Seignior to joyn himself with him on the defensive part and not to lay down his Arms 'till the Sultan has recover'd Hungary At the same time he offers to the Pope that if the Emperor will agree with him he will lend him forty Gallies to aid him to Conquer Constantinople and offers to Re-establish King James in his Kingdoms provided that the Emperor and the Empire will Conclude a Peace with him All these are fair Flowers that conceal a Serpent under them who will certainly sting the hand of him that will but touch them These are the French King's Deceits which he has Inherited from Mazarine to trye whether by such fair Offers he might not break the Union of the Empire But Flanders the Palatinate the Countries of Juliers and of Ments Treves and Colen remain unreprochable Testimonies of his Breaches of Faith and of his Hypocrisie he having nothing less in his thoughts than the Christian Religion For those Offers which his Ambassador Guichardin has made to the Port ought once for all to undeceive all Christendom of that Catholick Faith of which he makes so great a shew But not to rest any longer on the Illusions and Deceitful Offerâ— of France which ought to be suspicious to all the Princes of Europe I say that the Emperor and the Empire ought not to stop in the very beginning of so fair an Opportunity which England offers them nor lay down their Arms 'till they have recover'd Burgundy the French County Alsace but particulary Strasbourg Philipâ—burg Fribourg Brisack and all that France has Usurp'd on that side of Europe Moreover Reseated the Electors Palatine of Mentz Treves and Colen in their Territories and Rights with an entire reparation of all those Wrongs and Damages which he has done them by his Forces and Incendiaries Resign Cardinal Fustenberg into the hands of the Emperor or of the Pope to answer to those things that shall be alledg'd against him and that he is already accus'd of But that which is most just and necessary is to restore the Duke of Lorain to his Dukedom which ought to be restituted in the same Condition that it was in the time of his Predecessors Policy requires that this Dukedom should be separated from France because that would be a means to weaken France It would be to fix a Thorn in its foot thus to Re-establish the Successor of the Ancient Soveraigns to support and uphold it that it might no longer be liable to fall under the Forces of France nor to acquiesce to any Treaty prejudiciable to it nor so much as to have any great Communication with them because that the Duke of Lorain being once restor'd to his Estates neither he nor his Sucessors ought nevermore to trust to the French Kings but ought daily to set before their Eyes with what perfideousness his Predecessor has been Treated Those Great Victories which that Prince has gain'd with such great Success and Glory over the Turks the re-union of Hungary to the Empire which is due to his sole Valour does well deserve that all Christian Princes should Conserve themselves for this Great Heroe Joyn to that the Obligation which his Imperial Majesty has with that Duke by his Mariage with the Queen of Poland It is not to be doubted but that William the IIId King of Great Brittain will Contribute with all his Power to so Just and Laudable an Enterprise even necessary for the quiet of Europe and that his Britanick Majesty will impose it as a Law on Himself to bring it about if he once undertakes it But to Compass this with more ease The Duke of Lorain ought before all things else to propose a Liberty of Conscience in all his Dominion and free Exercise to all Protestants in all the Cities and Borroughs where there are any That will be a means to draw on his side the Assistance of all those of that Religion as well as that of the Allies and of their Subjects in laying aside the Counsels of a Company of Monks which continually beat over and over in divers Catholick Princes Ears to make them act the contrary and to push them forward to a Persecution which will ever prove hurtful to their Persons and Sates The Duke of Lorrain ought not to let slip so fair and so favourable an occasion which perhaps will never offer it self again in all his Life time nor that of his Successors his Interest and that of his Family obliges him to embrace it and to soliciate the King of England as well as the Emperor and those Princes who Compose the Diet of Ratisbone who are already inclin'd to it by the barbarous Proceedings of the French they doubtless will not fall to espouse the Interest of that Prince in consideration of those Services which he has render'd to Christendom and to labour in his Re-establishment as well as in that of others the rather because that Lorrain being in that Duke's Hands will serve as a Bar to the Empire but as I have already said that Prince ought to Labour particularly to bring the Emperor and his Council to grant a Truce to the Grand Seignior without which I cannot see his own Concerns can have any good Success This he ought to consider before sending back the Turks Envoy lest he should slip the Occasion for after that every one will take new Measures The Emperor never had nor never will have a fairer Occasion to entirely Master France than that which at this present he is furnished with by the coming of William the III. to the Crown of England which seems as if God had produc'd that Effect during the time of that great Union of the Princes of the Empire to give an Opportunity to his Imperial Majesty to Subdue France being thereunto excited by the ill Usage they have all receiv'd from the French King and the barbarous Proceeding which he has us'd of late in Germany which has been but a continuation of those Cruelties which his Dragoons have exercis'd in his own Kingdom which
has not only alienated from him the Hearts of his Subjects but has struck an Horror in all Christendom he has depriv'd the Most Christian King of all his Alliances and has reduc'd him to see himself oblig'd to have recourse to the Sworâ— Enemy of Christianity the Turk All these Advantages are found in this present juncture more over Lewis the XIV the borâ— Enemy to the House of Austria is now at Wars with all Christendom If his Imperial Majesty takes not advantage of those Conveniences which the Heavens seem to present him with he ought not to expect any Acknowledgments from France for it nor that the King will think he hath done him a kindness in sparing him for as he has the gift of Usurpation by Inheritance if he can but raise himself up again from that Mortal Wound he has receiv'd he will come as did the Grand Visier after he has if he can disunited and ruin'd the Empire and Encamp his Army before Vienna That Itch has held him a long time and Lewis the XIV has Inherited it from his Predecessors for since the Death of Ferdinando the III. those Kings that have Reign'd in France have always endeavour'd to possess the place of Charlemain and in 1683. His Most Christian Majesty who was very well Instructed of Mahomet the IV's Designs and who had instigated Teckeley to Rebellion did think then that he had obtain'd his Hearts Desires and that he had got the Wind of the Emperor for he thought it impossible but that Vienna should fall under the Power of the Grand Visier's Forces The King had Forty Thousand Men ready on the Borders of Germany in the Design to put himself at the Head of them and to enter into the Empire to have himself Proclaim'd Emperor as the ancient Romans did at the Head of his Army His pretence had been That his Imperial Majesty not being in condition to preserve Christendom he was come to supply his Place and as the Deliverer of Europe free it from the Oppression of the Infidels though he himself had Invited them in and had design'd to put it in Irons To make good the Truth of what I alledge I must say that this Monarch who thought himself assur'd of the taking of the City Vienna by the Turks and himself consequently of the Imperial Crown had already caus'd the Imperial Eagle to be plac'd over his Effigy in his own Coin publickly declaring before his whole Court That the Empire had remain'd already long enough in the House of Austria and that it was high time it should return into his Family The French Mercenary Pens and the French Flatterers had already set forth divers Pieces in that Kingdom which tended to that purpose some â—â—re Intituled The just Pretensions of the King on the Empire others The Decay of the Empire These were the fore-runners of what the King design'd to do that when it should come to pass Europe should not be surpiz'd at it and the Blow not so much selt by the House of Austria It is a Maxim that has been practis'd in France during this Reign when the Council had a design of Oppressing the Subjects by any Imposition or to tread them down by any Declaration the noise of it was spread abroad Six Months before that when the Blow should fall the People might be prepar'd for it and so found not the Evil so great as it really was because it was expected All the French Kings Pretensions derive from Charlemain who though King of France was Elected Emperor but Charles being Dead the Electors were in right of Electing another capable to Govern the Empire and to Defend Christendom without being oblig'd or wedded to the Person of the French King But I find without Dispute that the Emperors have much more Right to the Kingdom of France and that it is better grounded than that of the French Kings on the Empire of which the Three Bishopricks of Thoul Metz and Verdun are dependences which France has Usurp'd and to obtain peace and quiet the Emperor has been forc'd to bid them an eternal Farewel All Histories shew us that formerly the Gauls did depend of the Empire and was look'd upon by the Emperors of the West as an Imperial Dependency and feudatory to it in effect the Archbishops of Treves did take upon them the Quality of Imperial Chancellors in that part and Charles the VIII King of all France as he was was not asham'd to take upon him the Quality of Vicar General and Perpetual of the holy Empire Moreover Conrad being come to Paris caus'd himself to be receiv'd there as Superior by King Charles Sir-named the Simple and the Emperor Sigismond in the Reign of Lewis the XI made his Entry in that Capital City with all the Marks of Soveraignty preceded at Noon Day in imitation of the ancient Roman Emporors by a great number of Torches of White Wax Lighted took his Seat in the Presence of the King in the Parliament Created Knights and there it was that he Erected the County of Savoy into a Dutchy and acknowledg'd that Duke as Prince of the Empire The Emperors no more than the Crown of France over lose their Righâ—â— and I think they should have thâ—â— some Prerogatives as such Kings 〈…〉 own themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and oâ—â— never lose any thing â—â—â—â—ate engage nor sell But we are not here to rake 〈…〉 Ashâ—s of the Empire 's anciâ—â—t â—â—â—ghâ—s but only to prevent the French Kingâ— from making â—â—â—y ones and â—â—â—â—wards to possess them seeing that his Generals do publickly declare That they know no other Right but Power and the only pleasure and good-liking of their Monarch of whom they make a God on Earth Viro immortali At this present the French King beholds all Europe in Arâ—â—â— against him and he finds hâ— caâ—â—or well parry that Blow that England's lifted up Arm threatenâ— him with a toral Ruine and because he cannot easily withstand all those Powers that are United against him he endeavours at least if he cannot win them to his Party to divide them from the other by that Neutrality which he proposes to them in design of accomplishing two things if he obtains it The First is to diminish the number of his Enemies and the second that by that means he may gain a free access near â—râ— those separated Powers slatterâ—ng himself with the hopes to draw them afterwards to his Party through advantageous Offers but much sooner if he can but never so little rouse himself up again from that Apoplexy in which he is fallen But the Emperor and his Allies to break his Measures and destroy his Designs ought not to allow of any Neutrality to any Prince State nor City of the Empire but to hinder him if possible from soliciting the Switâ—-Cantons on the contrary to gâ—r them to join to the Empire and if they cannot be prevail'd with so to do oblige them to call borne those Forces which they have in the French
to former Treaties and in case of a refusal by an authentick and general Decree recall their Forces and with those very Troops that are so well Disciplin'd and those they have already go themselves and execute that which France refuses them and pull down those stone Tables which he has set up Besides let the Lords of that Republick consider that the more Souldiers they lend to France the more Men they lose whose hearts are insensibly alienated from their own Country by Death by Offices by Pensions by Mariages and some by the Change of Religion and these last are young Vipers which will one day gnaw their own Mothers bowels I know that the Switzers with divers others have some years since fear'd the Forces which France has to make it self dreaded allways kept in readiness after Peace and after the Truce also which Forces made it to speak with Confidence and required nothing but with threatnings being the only Prince in Europe that did see himself in a Condition to Undertake and to Act before others were in a Condition to Defend themselves which made him to be fear'd by his Neighbours and procur'd him Alliances but particularly that of King James with which he thought himself sufficiently strong to overcome all Europe beginning as I have already said by the United Provinces I doubt not but all these Considerations might have a great influence over the Cantons and oblige the Switzers to grant to France that which perhaps they had not done at any other time but now the storm is blown over the Cause of that Pride with which the King did threaten being vanish'd into smoak the fear ought to cease also and there ought not to remain any consideration capable to retain the Switzers under the Rod of Lewis the XIVth Let them return to their pristine Liberty and to their right Interest Let those Gentlemen know that Kings are Great no longer than they are happy and that they are fear'd no longer than their good fortune lasts I therefore maintain that that Imperiousness with which France was us'd to draw advantages from the Cantons is at an end now that it finds it self over-whelm'd from all sides that all its Alliances on which it founded all its new Usurpations are vanish'd and that at this present he has almost as many Enemies as there are Princes in Europe If they have not yet all declar'd they will not stay long they only wait to see the Dance begin to joyn themselves with the Allies as we have lately seen the Republick of Liege which has scorn'd its threatnings and embrac'd that Party which it apprehended to be the most advantageous and the most necessary for its State Which sufficiently shews the small regard that it had at present for the French King who is no longer in a Condition of doing any great Damage in an open War since England hâ—s turn'd the Muzzle of her Cannons against him and that the Prince on whose Alliance he so strongly built his hopes is no longer in a Condition to do any good or hurt to Europe for in lieu of succouring his Allie he himself stands in need of him he drains France the Calf in time will kill the Cow with drawing her too hard it is a new Charge to Lewis the XIV and that Unfortunate Prince sees himself on the brink of a Precipice which by a special Grace from Heaven he may yet avoid by retiring into some Convent The Laudable Cantons ought to make other Reflections and have other Considerations at present than they formerly had they should too lift up their Eyes towards England and behold Hiâ— Britanick Majesty William the IIId as their Friend and Allie professing the same Religion and who during His Reign will make it a point of Generosity and of Honour to Succour them against all the Assaults of the French King If they declare themselves both through â—â—e Tye of Communion and that of Esteem which that Great Prince has for them even His great and generous Designs ought to serve to make them reâ—urn to their ancient Rights and Liberties cause their aincent Limits â—o be made good again for greater â—ecurity but then they ought not â—o remain quiet all the while with â—heir arms folded but labour with â—ll their power and assist to bring â—bout so great a good and advanâ—ange which the Heavens offers â—hem To that purpose they â—ould Exemplarily punish all those â—ercinary Persons whose hands â—â—d their Honours have been defiled with the French Money Incessantly cause their Forces to return which are in the French Service in case of disobedience declare them Rebels and Confiscate their Means oblige those Fathers who have Children there to call them home on great Mulcts never to admit to any Employ nor Dignity either in Church or State all such as shall contradict these Orders and never cease 'till the Fortresses are demolish'd and Burgundy the French County Alsace and Lorain restor'd to their ancient Masters and Soveraigns that they may be as so many Bulwarks to the Cantons all which they can easily do in this Conjuncture which at this present so favourably offers it self and which they ought not to let slip seeing there is at this present between the Protestant and the Catholick Cantons so good a Harmony and firm Union that the Pope â—s wholly inclin'd to cause those of â—is Party to keep it strictly as a neâ—cessary good for the quiet of Chriâ—tendom and the safety of Europe â—s well as to abate the Pride of France All this will happen in â—eclaring for the Emperor and Empire I come now to Spain formerly â—heir Soveraigns Govern'd from â—ithin their Closets a good part â—f the World but since Philip the â—d its great Power has began to â—ecay and that of the Kings of â—rance to increase at the same time â—hat that of the Catholick Kings â—ecreased I shall not seek after â—e Causes of it because that is beâ—de my Subject I shall only say â—y the by that the Liberty of â—onscience in France has much â—â—ntributed to its Elevation and â—â—at contrary-wise the privation 〈◊〉 it in Spain has caus'd there â—â—eat Evils and the loss of Trade â—hich is the Soul of States and â—â—ngdoms The Marriages which the Kings of Spain have Contracted with France have been so many Levens of Discord and of War which have always prov'd very hurtful to Spain and not to go back any further than to the late Queen who was a French Woman as much by inclination as she was by Birth who by the subtle and dextrous Counsel of the King her Uncle'â— Ambassadors had always some new business to propose to thâ— King her Husband who most tenderly lov'd her By those meanâ— that Princess had acquir'd a greaâ— ascendent over the King's minâ— sometimes prejudicial to the goâ—â— of his Kingdom for whose prospâ—rity she had not all the Considerâ—tion she ought to have had sâ—â— having no Children to Succeed 〈◊〉 it and still in fears
cannot do well without a Trade with Holland it seems that it would be a good piece of Policy to make him expound himself for it would be a breach which his Danish Majesty would make to the Alliances and he would be falling in his Faith in the Treaties to conâ—ent that Officers should be drawn out of the Troops of his Allies besides it seems as if the Affairs of Europe could not permit at this time any Neutrality to any Prince under what pretence soever that being granted Denmark ought to make his Choice and in his Choice to consider well the advantage he draws from the United Provinces the Trade and Profit that results from it to his Subjects and the advantage that the King's Treasure receives by the Entries and Exportations and let them take care not to fall again in the same Consternation in which they were the last year for scarce would the Affairs settle again a second time on the contrary he can draw no Succour from France in the present Condition it is and though it promises to keep it in the possession of Holstein that can be but a Chymerical Promise seeing Lewis the XIVth can no longer preserve his own Provinces nor keep his Cities part of which he undermines through a foresight he has to be oblig'd to abandon them at the approach of so many Enemies Thus ought Denmark Inviolaâ—ly to joyn it self to that whiâ—h is soâ—â—id which is Uniting with the United Provinces have never any thing to unravel which may br ak â—he Alliance nor give occâ—sâ—on to come to a Rupture and follow their Interest as the Shadow follows the Body and generously contemn some pitiful Pension ill pay'd at the best which France â—ffers it is a broken Reed which will hurt his hand and a Will ' o th' Wisp which leads to a Precipice Lâ—t his Danish Majesty but represent to himself the advantage of being free and that a King ought to depend but of God and of his own Sword it is good being in a Condition of making Choice and of following ones true Interest without being tied by Pensionâ— which are but gilded Shackles that are not the lighter for it Sweed which the King of Denmark has continually at his heels and who has no Cause no more than many others of praising Lewis the XIVth not to have any Consideraâ—ion for those Powers that shall Allie themselves with that Monarch who detâ— ns from him the Dutchy of Deux-Pont and considerable Sums of Arrears due to him which he would never pay in spight because his Sweedish Majesty would not continue with him the Alliances which had been Contracted The same will happen to Denmark if they take not care beforehand But when it once finds it self deceiv'd then will it have recourse to the States of the Unired Provinces and to the Emperor but perhaps a little too latâ— mean time it cannot be thought that the Emperor and the Princes of the Empire will look with a quiet temper on the Alliances of the King of Denmark with their commou Enemies nor even that he should remain Neuter for still that is the way to serve him indirectly and to give the People the means to carry into France all the Provision that it will stand in want of their Merchants growing Rich by the Spoll of those that Fight I would gladly see how the King of Denmark would defend himself when his Allie Lewis the XIVth shall ask him for Powder and Salt-peter for his Money which is that he has most need of at present Mean time it is easie to judge that that would be a great prejudice to the Enemies of France and that it would deprive them from a great advantage which it is likely they might obtain by their Enemies want of Ammunitions wherefore in such a favourable juncture the Allies will not endure any thing to their prejudice nor that can impead their Enterprizes It is much better for Denmark immediately to embrace that party as being its true Interest than to deferr doing so 'till France has had a blow The Most Christian King reckons much on the King of Poland his Allie there is betwixt them a very great Commerce of Money and of Letters that is no News every body knows it though one should not make it ones business to prye into it those Messengers which so frequently pass to and fro shews it sufficiently and no body is ignorant that the French Interest is entirely predominant in that Court That King Employs for the most part French Men for his Ministers in the Foreign Courts The Queen is still French in her inclinations and heart as well as by Birth that is a quality which all the Princesses of France carry along with them when they are Married out of the Kingdom they meddle with Affairs and that which she understands not well how to mannage she is inform'd in by Monsieur the Marquess of Bethune her Brother The Grand Seignior has been infinitely oblig'd to him during the late Campaigns and though that War would not produce any great advantage to the King of Poland yet he is for no Truce he has his particular Reasons which he is not oblig'd to tell If that Prince after the deliverance of Vienna had gone forwards with his Victories long since had the important Fortress of Caminieck been in his hands France flatters him with words that are but wind assuring him that it shall be put into his hands by agreement but who knows whether it will in a little time be in a Condition of keeping that promise It is an unhappiness for Christendom that Lewis the XIVth has found so much Credit in that Court and that the French Coin is so well known in those parts It were well for Prince Jacob if the King his Father did cleave more closely to the Emperor than he has done since Vienna and that preferring the General interest of Christendom to that of France he should give his helping hand towards a Truce to prevent by that means Europe from falling into a greater Mischief than it is lately got out of But let us turn our selves towards its Deliverer Though the English are a Nation which is naturally War-like Undaunted and whose Courage frequently runs even to rashness they loving that Liberty in which they are Born yet it may be said that England during the Reign of its two last Kings has Conrributed to the downfal of Europe into Slavery when it could have prevented it with one word through a deceitful hope that it could save it self from ruine either by the Situation of the Country and by its Forces or by the Illusory promises of France All the Princes of Europe have always pris'd very highly the Alliance with England even in the time of the Emperor Charles the Fifth as we have seen before those Kings have held the Ballance in Europe so long as they have not swerv'd from their true interests and that they have not sold their freedom to
seconded as he believ'd by a strict alliance with England having no more to manage nor to fear from the United Provinces I leave to guess what he had and might have done and how far he had push'd on his Ambition I maintain that then the Pope with all Italy the Emperor with the whole Empire and Spain with all the Riches of the Indies had not been of power to hinder him from making himself Master of all Europe There is but England alone then that is Capable to make the most Christian King alter his Designs and that could not happen but by such a lucky Catastrophe and so unexpected as that which has lately happen'd there under the Reign of William the IIId For there was requir'd to be Sitting on the Throne in order to such a Change a Disinterested Prince Zealous of the Glory of God and the good of Christendom Jealous of the Usurpation which Lewis the XIVth had made in Europe Incorruptible Magnanimous a Man of Counsel and Execution understanding well his own Interest and who had been highly provok'd by France that he might not hearken to any accommodation nor yield any thing to the prejudice of his Allies This is what we find entirely in that Prince who has newly Ascended the Brittish Throne wherefore so soon as this Heroe had pass'd over into England and that a happy Success had seconded his Great Designs we have seen Lewis the XIVth become motionless on the sudden as formerly did Atlas at the sight of the Medusa's head which was shew'd him by that Generous Perseus The Foundation on which the French King had built his Grand Design the strict Alliance which he had with James the Second having once given way all the rest of the Fabrick is fallen to the ground and his Castles in the Air have gone into Smoak having no hopes to take any Measures in his Designs with this his present Britanick Majesty who to cut off all his Hopes and stop all his Proceedings has driven out of England all the French Emissaries resolv'd never to hearken any more to them in the Design he has to restore the quiet and tranquility of Christendom and to maintain Europe in that Deliverance which He has lately procur'd to it by his only Elevation to the Throne I prove my Axiome by that which follows When a Town is Besieg'd and that at the approach of its Deliverer its Enemies abandon it and their Designs miscarry they retire and though the Heroe which has caus'd its deliverance be not yet enter'd that Place it is publish'd abroad that the Place is Reliev'd as really it is So Lewis the XIVth having a Design of Conquering Europe to Depose the Lawful Soveraigns thereof and to Sacrifice all Christendom to his Ambition as it is no longer doubted it being a Truth but too well averr'd and known That Usurper has no sooner seen William the IIId Proclaim'd King but that he has abandon'd his Enterprise and chang'd his Design and in lieu of destroying the Powers of Europe has had no other thoughts but of preserving himself and his Kingdom I joyn to the coming of William the IIId to the Crown of England the strict Alliance there is between his Majesty of Great Brittain and the States of the United Provinces as also the Union of the Emperor with all the Princes of the Empire I confess that it has been a great Business to have freed Europe from the danger which threatned it to have dispers'd in a Moment all the great and pernicious Designs of an Ambitious Prince that on all occasions made no scruple to break his Faith when that Crime agreed with his Ambition and Interest who notwithstanding his Word given to the Contrary back'd with his Oath has neither spar'd the blood nor the ruine of so many Thousands of Christians in the bare Opinion that he ought to do it for his Interest 's sake and to weaken his Enemies having not spar'd even his own Subjects And if we return to the Primary Cause we cannot but believe that the Heavens wearied with so much Injustice with so much Cruelty and enormous Crimes and with so much blood-shed which Cries for Vengeance has at last rais'd William and Mary on the Throne and suggested a good Union amongst the Princes of Christendom to stop the Barbarous Course of Lewis the XIVth But it is not enough to have reduc'd the Lyon that Sack'd Europe to get into his Den his Claw must be pair'd also and his Teeth pull'd out that hereafter he may do no more harm and that his Power may be limited that he may no longer Desolate our Countries that he devour no more the Innocent and that the most Christian Oppress no more the Christians Lewis the XIVth's Policy and Interest in the Condition he is at present reduc'd is to gain time to see whether any Change would not happen in England nor no Contestation in Germany whereâ—ore he offers in all places he can Neutrality that he might find 〈◊〉 those Princes that should not declare themselves some Mediaâ—ors or to speak more properly â—â—tercessors near the Emperor and â—â—e King of England as well as â—ear the United Provinces in the â—â—r he is of a total downfall if â—ngland and the Empire continue 〈◊〉 they have began and as it is to believ'd they will do according 〈◊〉 all appearance if they love â—â—eir quiet their preservation and their own Interests as well as the good of their People I confess that much has been done especially by the King oâ— England to have deliver'd Europâ— at present without drawing his Sword but the future must be thought on and the means muâ—â— be taken from France of any more threatning Europe to set it in right Ballance with the House 〈◊〉 Austria or at least in a Conditioâ— of having need of its Allies anâ— not put an end to this preseâ—â— War which is kindling in all places 'till that be perform'd To succeed the better in it anâ— to animate the more all the Princes of Europe they ought to caâ—â— up what France has Usurped from them the dammage they havâ— receiv'd by it and that whiâ—â— they may receive hereafter aâ—â— never lay down their Arms ' tiâ— they all have had full satisfaction for the more it shall be fore'd tâ— restore the more will its Soveraign be weakned I set in the first Rank the Pope who by all the Catholicks is corsider'd as the head of the Church Christ's Vicar on Eaâ—â—â— St. Peter's Successor the Common Father of all Christians the Dispencer of Celestial Graces and who being consider'd as such ought to be fear'd respected rever'd honour'd and obey'd as to the â—piâ—itual laying aside the Câ—nâ—â—st which is among the Catholicks themselves concerning the Temporal and not withstanding that Lewis the XIVth names himself â—he Eldest Son of the Church and â—he most devout Son of the Sovevaign Pontis what Mortification has not the good Father receiv'd â—rom him since his coming to the
be committed in the Palatinate with those that the Grand Seignior has made in Hungary and though this last place has been for a long time the Seat of War yet at the Retreat of the Infidels they have not committed any thing near the like Extortions nor us'd the same violence that the French have done in those places that they have abandon'd in the Palatinate and in the Country of Juliers and of Cologne and if there were no other cause but this though there are but too many more there would need in my Opinion nothing but the sad spectacle of the French barbarousness to animate all the Princes and Members of Europe to a good and firm Union with the Emperor which will be the only means to preserve themselves and to prevent France from doing the like hereafter Though France is brought low through the opposition of England in all its Designs yet has it not forgot its ancient Maxims which have formerly succeeded so well it will not sail to put into practice all the ways imaginable to corrupt some Member of the Empire and to break that Chain of Unity there is amongst them to endeavour thereby to put a stop to the Success of their Arms as it frequently happens that a broken or rotten Pin disorders a whole Carriage and hinders its March France's Crafts and Deceits being already so well fore-known it is requisite that the Princes of Europe should provide against that plague of Corruption which has so freequently infected divers Courts of Christendom divers are to expect that not only Presents will be offer'd to them as well as Pensions but equivalents also to their Pretensions only to remain Neuter But the Example of the Archbishop of Mentz is yet so fresh before our Eyes that it ought to be a fair Mirror for the Princes of the Empire to Represent to them to the Life the Character of France and of its Soveraign which all that proceeding represents in Lively Colours with the breaches of Faith of that Prince even to those that Side with him If ever any Soveraign did Act against his true Interest and that of the whole Empire it was that Prelate but then again never was Prince worse rewarded nor had greater cause to repent of his Fault by the ill usage he has haâ— in his Estate which had reach'â— to his Person also if he had noâ— shelter'd himself from the Threatâ— of the French Envoy But he is not the only Living and Speaking Example the wholâ— Series of time that has pass'd since the Peace of the Pireneans is but a continued Thread of the falsehood of France So that whoever shall catch at the Golden Bait which the King lays for them will have time to Repent themselves as the Elector of Mentz has done and divers others who have fair'd no better But if by a Fatal Chance it should so happen that some Member of the Empire were so unadvis'd as to be Corrupted by France and separated from that Union which is its true Interest though it is not to be expected now that those Princes are so well enlightned that Person ought to be consider'd as a rotten Member Discarded and Treated as an Enemy though he would remain Neuter on this ground drawn from the Holy Gospel Qui non est pro nobis est contra nos Of Truth the Union of the Empire is of great Importance and I must confess that all its United Forces may be very powerful but they would be much more if the Emperor could resolve to grant a Peace to the Grand Seignior that so having no longer any thing to fear from that Part his Imperial Majesty may have his Hands at liberty against the Second which has been much more formidable and more dangerous than the First and consequently cause all his Forces to Advance towards the Rhine which would produce Two Effects the one that such considerable Armies would increase that Terror in which France is already Secondly it would by that means much better maintain that Union which is already in Europe with their Allies Besides it is a general Rule which the Emperor ought always to observe never to have Two Wars to maintain at the same time especially when he can avoid one of them as it is in his power to do at this present with great Advantage and Glory It is not to be doubted but that the French King does highly dread such a Truce that he will openly and most powerfully Act with the Turk and the King of Poland and that he will have his Emissaries conceal'd at the Court of Vienna that will labour under-hand and on deceitful Pretences to prevent the Imperial Council from concluding any thing with the Turks Envoy at this present at Vienna To be sure he will neither spare Money nor Religion to attain his end therein To the Grand Seignior he Promises to enter into Germany with a Powerful Army to Ransack there as he has done already thereby to draw the Emperors Forces on that side and give the Great Turk the means and leasure to breathe again and to Assemble new Forces to endeavour to regain what he has lost To Teckeley and the Princes of Transilvania Walachia and Moidavia without enquiring of what Religion they are he assures considerable Sums to continue the War begun he has frequenly sent some to the First and if the others would break off with the Emperor and join with the Grand Seignior he would furnish them wherewith to Pay their Forces As for Poland that will perform enough for France if its King will but remain quiet and not attempt any thing as he has done since the two last Campaigns and prevent by great pretensions the Conclusion of a Truce with the Port. Lewis the XIVth has Springs that are sufficiently strong to detain him and to obtain what he pleases of that Crown perswading it that it is not suitable to her Interest to have the Emperor prosper so much c. At the Court of Vienna the French Emissaries Labour through indirect means to perswade the Emperor's Councellors that his Imperial Majesty may with ease maintain the War against the Turk and France and that it concerns his Glory not to slacken in so fair a Course that he ought to go and plant the Cross of Christ on the very Battlements of the Seraglio at Constantinople but such pretences are at great distance from their Masters thoughts for it is very certain that the French King had rather see once more the Crescent on St. Stephen's Church at Vienna than the Cross on St. Sophia at Constantinople Lewis the XIVth at this time is like to a Man in great extremity of danger that is ready to sink he makes Vows and promises all things to get out again and takes hold of all that comes in his way to keep himself some moments longer above water Thus this Monarch has turn'd himself all manner of ways to find out a Mediator that would assist him to get
Spain in his ancient Rights and Dominions and cause France to Restore what it had Usurped from it This Foundation being as firm as it is certain Spain ought to join with those who labour for its rest and quiet by that of all Europe to put in a readiness all its Forces in Catalonia Navarre and above all in the Netherlands where the People must copiously bleed their Purses towards the Entertainment of an Army capable to defend it self against the French Assaults let them consider the barbarousness and inhumanity with which they have Treated those Towns that have submitted to them under good Capitulations and such Conditions as had been made by the Dauphin himself let them make Reflections on the cruelty with which the French King has treated his own Subjects against the promis'd Faith and if after that the humour takes them to submit to the French Yoke it may then be said of them as it is said of certain People that they are born to slavery Let Spain further consider the great pretensions the Dauphin thinks to have on the Netherlands on a material Right notwithstanding all the Oaths and Renunciations which the King his Father made of them at the Pirenean Peace and at the time of his Marriage with the Infanta on the Isâ—â—â—f the Phesants at the foot of the Altar communicating at the greatest and sublimest Mistery that is in the Catholick Church which he has afterwards slighted and if he defers taking Possession of what he pretends to it is not that he renounces it time deprives him of none of his Rights it is only for want of an opportunity which has not yet been favourable enough to him and that his Neighbours the States of the United Provinces are a stumbling block to him and a perpetual Obstacle which he could never so well mannage as he did Jâ—â—es the II. because those Lords know better their Interest than that poor Prince ever did We know that Flanders has always been a â—one to pick for the Frâ—râ—â— Kingâ— and so long as they will find sâ—mething to gnaw on they â—â—ll not think of going to Spâ—in but if they had once made an â—nd of that bit and well digested it if that which employs them on that side was over what would hinder them from pouring all their Forces into Catalenia and Navarr and from entring with a powerful Army into Spain and even March to Madrid wherefore the Spanish Interest is to strongly unite it self at this present with the Empire with England and with the United Provinces to solicite them not to lay down their Arms till they have recover'd Burgundy the French County all the Usurped Cities in Flanders Hainan Namur and Luxembourg without which it will in success of time relapse again into the same Straits as it hath been in the Reigns of Charles the II. and James the II. of Great Britain if once for all it delivers not it self at this present from that danger whence it seems already to revive and recover by the sudden change of Affairs in England Mean time let the Spanish Council be wary not to be deceiv'd by the French Illusions who promises all when troubled and stands in need of help who ruines it self with Promises but restores it self again with performing none of them more abounding in Crafts than in Integrity the danger pass'd a Fig for the Saint let the same Council hold for certain that when ever the French King has any regard for Spain it is a sign he is at the last gasp and that he knows not whither else to go If that Council can be fully perswaded of this Truth it will not fail to advise his Catholick Majesty to make all his Efforts and to send all the Money he can possible to the Governour of the Netherlands to put themselves in a condition to sustain the first fury of the French after which there is nothing more to fear for the Allies will give it so much Diversion even in France it self that its King will no longer think of going to attack others for so soon as the Germans and the Hollanders shall have clear'd the Countries of Colen Juliers and Treves the Governour of the Netherlands shall not want Men as he has already experienc'd by that Succour which has been sent him But the Marquiss of Guastanaga ought not to grow supine upon this he ought to put himself in a condition to help himself he may by that acquire a great deal of Glory in the condition those Provinces which depend of his Government are in above all he ought very well to supply the Town of Namur its Neighbour has Courted it long because it opens to him a fair and large way all along the River Meuse I add to what I have said before concerning the Death of the Queen of Spain that seeing she has left no Successor through her Barrenness to the Crown of Spain so necessary for the good of the Kingdom and for the quiet of Christendom it appear'd as a kind of necessity for the one and the other that the King should forthwith think of entring into a second Marriage with some Princess of a fruitful Family I know that policy to endeavour to recover Portugal would advise to look on that Infanta but the sterility of the Queen of England her Aunt has made the Council of Spain to fear falling into the same accident again if France had had more Princesses to Marry that had been worthy of his Catholick Majesty's Choice as Spain may thank God it had not it had not fail'd to propose them to make up a match in the hopes thereby to have obtain'd a Neutrality because all those Marriages have always produc'd some advantages to France But having nothing to fear that way Spain has been oblig'd to turn towards Germany and to fix in the Family of the Prince Palatin Nienbourg there was still remaining there a beautiful Princess Sister to the Empress and to the Queen of Portugal though elder than this last she had no mind to go to Portugal by some certain foreknowledge she had such a Marriage would have contracted a more strict Allianee betwixt those Powers and Portugal the German Ladies are usually fruitful that Princess comes not from a House whose Interest should make them to desire Barrenness there being therefore nothing to sear on that side there is no question but that the Queen-Mother has us'd all her Power as well as the Empeperor to accomplish it and that on the contrary the French Emissaries have labour'd with all their subtleties to prevent it but their ill fortune has been such that their Credit has been very inconsiderable in those Courts they are like those petty Saints who no longer work Miracles and whose Feasts are over their falsehood is but too well known already all over Europe wherefore now they begin to take their March into the new World to the Kingdoms of China and of Siam where those good People believe that all
Persons are as honest as themselves so that it will not be difficult for the French to impose upon them but as to Europe we are now in a time that no Prince will have any Alliance will France much less with any of its Princesses as Wives seeing there is general complaint of them for having caus'd Disorders in all the States they came to The United Provinces are highly concern'd to keep low the French King to take from him all desires of molesting them nor to go so far towards them as the Conquest of the Netherlands of Spain It was always the aim of Lewis the Great according to the advice of Mounsieur de Sulli formerly Ambassador of France into England in the time of Henry the IV. who gave him to observe that the conjunction of the United Provinces with France was the only means to restore it to its ancient Grandeur and to render it Superior to all the rest of Christendom Formerly the French Kings had their folly fix'd on Italy believing in imitation of the ancient Romans that it was the Gate they were to pass through to attain to the Universal Monarchy but having found that way too Thorny and that Country having frequently been the Church-yard of the French they have grown weary of it and have turn'd themselves towards the Low-Countries where hitherto Lewis the XIV has succeeded better and he had found out a means to continue there his Progress if the Heavens had not prevented it by the change in England I know that the United Provinces had had nothing to fear if the Netherlands of Spain had been in a condition to maintain themselves with their own strength or if the late Kings of England had had the same Sentiments which Queen Elizabeth had and if Charles and James the Seconds had said to Monsieur Barillon that which that Queen said to Monsieur of Sulli That neither France nor England nor any other Prince had any thing to pretend to the Netherlands that she should not suffer that the King his Master should have any thoughts that way Perhaps the Lewis D'Ors were not currant in those Days in that Great Princesses Court as they have since been and that that Princess did better understand her own true Interest than divers Kings who have succeeded her have done But thanks to Heaven those Kings are pass'd and God has at this present seated on the Throne a King who understands very well his Interest and that of the Nation much better than did his Predecessor and who following the Traces of that Great Princess was no sooner got to the Government but he sent back Monsieur Barillon to tell his Master that he had nothing to do in the Netherland end that he would prevent him from any furâ—hâ—r Usurpation in those parts The Elevation of that Great Pâ—â—â—â—e oâ—â— the Throne of England is a fatal Blow to the greatness of Lewis the XIV we must have so much Charity as to confess it but at the same time it produces the Quier and Repose of all Europe it is a Bit clapp'd in the French Kings Mouth which retains him from a running so far as to the United Provinces and that shelters them from all his Insultations and from all his Threatnings and furnishes them at the same time with Mâ—ans to resist him vigorously and to clip his Wings so short that he may not fly any more beyond his just bounds it is a bitter Pill which he is forc'd to swallow and which â—ill make him to disgorge and 〈◊〉 re-establish those bounds which 〈◊〉 had remov'd during his Neighbours weaknesses in a profound â—nd universal Peace The United Provinces as well 〈◊〉 divers other States find themâ—â—lves deliver'd now from that danâ—er that threatned them and it 〈◊〉 now their turn to speak aloud â—nding themselves assisted by so â—owerful an Allie as England they â—â—ay demand the Restitution of all â—â—e Places of the Spanish Netherâ—â—nds which have been taken from â—â—em since the Peace of the Piâ—â—eans because those places serve 〈◊〉 preserve them and as bars that 〈◊〉 a large Territory betwixt them â—nd so dangerous a Prince besides â—hat the damage they have suâ—â—ain'd in their Trade is very conderable and gives them cause of â—reat pretensions France has supâ—lanted and deceiv'd them in diâ—ers occasions and it has endeavour'd to lull them asleep especially in the last place by the Count d' Avaux its Ambassador through vain promises which Father Limojou the French King's Almoner call'd Illusory and in which there was no sincerity nor good Faith as we have seen in all his Proceedings after the Peace of Nimeguen and that it has been but a continual Usurpation That this King might the longer and with more safety enjoy those Places that he had Usurped aâ—â— Truce was patch'd up for Twenty Years during a full Peace which he likewise broke in few Years after After he had Fortified those Conquer'd Places made his Alliance with James the II. and destroy'd by an unheard of Cruelty which is natural to him the Protestants in his own Kingdom as he assureâ— by his Declaration of the revocation of the Edict of Nants that he had made that Truce but in order to destroy them notwithstanding all the Protestations to the contrary which the Count d'Avaux had made to obtain it and to deceive with more ease in the opinion that after he had made an end with those Protestants whom he accus'd of having Dutch Hearts and Intelligences with them 't was to that end that â—he seisure tended which was made of all the Books and Papers belonging to their Consistories â—hroughout the whole Kingdom â—o know the Sums they had sent â—nto Holland during the War â—nd seconded by the King of Engâ—and then Reigning he should â—ver-run the United Provinces and leave for a time those of the Spaâ—iards considering them always he only ones that could cross his Designs and hinder him from â—aking his great Conquests over â—urope But now Fortune has â—urn'd her back to him and by the event we find that he has not cast up right and that his Most Christian Majesty had not reckon'd on the Elevation of the Prince of Orange to the Crown of England by that fall of his Ally who has broken all his Measures and destroy'd his Alliances open'd aâ— way to the Sâ—ares to attack him in his own Hold and to reduce him to Guard his own Kingdom no longer to think but to defend himself it is no longer now thâ— time of the Peace of Nimeguâ—â— which was made up on its consideration but through the Treacherâ— of France as the baseness witâ— which it has observ'd it as weâ—â— as the Treatises of Trade shew 〈◊〉 sufficiently and that the Kiâ—â— had quite another aim than thâ— States-General had propos'd 〈◊〉 themselves at the conclusion 〈◊〉 that Peace and afterwards of the Truce Seeing that the King hâ— violated all Trading and declaâ—â— War to the United Provinces on â—he frivolous pretence and
France Henry the VIIIth did compare Spain and France to the two boles of a pair of Scales that that side weigh'd it down on which he lean'd He spoke justly fâ—r the Monarchs of that Kingdom being well united with their Parliaments may stile themselves the Arbitrators of Christendom It is not without reason then that France has flatter'd them during the two Reigns that have preceded this and Lewis the XIVth thought himself at the top of all his Deâ—â—gns when he did see James the â—â—d on the Throne making open pâ—ofession of the Roman-Catholick Beligion perhaps with a little more passion than became a King but that was the weak side by which the French King would catch him and detain him in his Bonds for that Prince ever subtle and crafty did hit him on that side on which he was most sensible to 〈◊〉 prejudice of his Honour and against the inclination of the Nation and the Parliaments expectations Mean time Lewis the XIVth had so well manag'd his Allie that it may be said he already Triumph'd over him and that through all his Managements Intreagues and Lewis D'Ors he was become Master of King James his Fortune by the subtlety of his Ministers who lull'd him asleep on specious Offers of Sixty Millions and of 60000 Men to support him against his Enemies and even against his own People if they would have resisted and set themselves free France little caring for the evil consequences that this Commerce could not but produce so it did its own Business and render'd that Prince odious to his Allies and to his Neighbours as well as to his own Subjects who began to feel the smart of a pernicious Council either in their Liberties Laws or Religion and seeing themselves press'd down by a Tirannical Authority and Despotick Power of an obseded and gained King by France and wholly devoted to its Interests the English have found themselves constrain'd to prevent their falling into the same Predicament their Neighbours were in to have recourse to their Liberator that in being themselves deliver'd they might deliveâ—â— all Europe also from that slavery in which it wâ—â— going to fall and to that puâ—â—ose â—â—er the Throne to the Prince oâ— Orange and to the Princess his Spouse as the lawful Heirs to the Three Kingdoms and God having granted the Nations Vows and Petition he has so well conducted that Great Prince's Enterprise that it may be said he has led him by the Hand and seated him on that Throne that was designed for him without any effusion of Blood This Miracle we have seen but our Off-springs will scarce believe it it is an happy and more than happy change seeing that it will render a calm and quiet to all Christendom and that he restores to Europe its Liberty It was William the III. that Providence had design'd through the Assistance of the States of thâ— Uâ—â—ted Provinces to be the glorious Instrument of so great a Work capable to cause once more the dumb Son of Crâ—ssus to speak if he were yet living But in the place of that Prince Europe that was become in a manner Dumb through those great Evils that it suffer'd before-hand has set up the Standard of Liberty and of Deliverance Since that Prince and Princess of Orange have been Seated on the Throne all Christendom begins as it were to revive again Catholicks and Protestants all raise up their Heads against their Oppressor as when a Tree is fallen every body runs to take their share of the Bows But to accomplish the Work Two Things are requir'd First a good and firm League amongst the Christian Princes who have under-gone and who still fear to fall under the French Kings Usurpation should he get off of this present danger so that nothing may be able to dissolve that Union and that no private Interest nor Eldership should prevail over the general Good and that he who shall separate from that Union so necessary to Christendom should be look'd upon as a Perturbator and a common Enemy and set in the number of the Turks and the French to be set upon as a Deserter and Traitor to the general Good of Europe That Neutrality have no Place in Christendom that he who is not for us is against us Assuredly that League being so well Cemented all the offers of France nor the satisfaction that it might give to some of the Pretenders nor being able to break the Union it is most certain that all will bow to the Allies that they shall enter Drums beating and Colours flying into their Enemies Country where they ought by all means to take up their Winter Quarters the next Season to prevent Lewis the XIV's Forces from entring into the Country of the Allies as he designs and to give him at Home so much Business that he may not go seek for some elsewhere For if they enter not into France but that the Allies content themselves with taking some Places which he has formerly seiz'd on with a design to amuser them to get time as Mentz Bonn Keiserwaert and others that are about his Kingdom that would be doing nothing at all seeing the King has still his end and that he holds those Places but to busie the Allies during this first Campaign either to tire them or to drain them through length of time or to Alienate some That is Lewis the XIV's chief end and the best Advice that he could take in such a pressing juncture in which he finds himself at present But if that for his good and for the ill of Europe he can break down the Dike though the Breach be never so small he will drown all Christendom and the last evil would be worse than the first To avoid this mischief no Prince of the League ought to suffer any French Emissary in his Territories they ought to be Banish'd as Infected Persons and not Pardon the very first that shall be found not sparing even the Church Men those are flying Plagues who like stinking flesh Flies infect all places they light on it is a dangerous Seed which is to be rooted quite up The Allies ought not to be concern'd at the great number of Men there is in France they are young Vipers that will eat a Passage through their Mothers Belly to get at Liberty Not the Tenth Part of that great People have cause to be contented and the most sound part waits but for its Deliverance on what Side soever and it may be said that Lewis the XIV is not better belov'd in his Kingdom than James the 〈◊〉 was in his It is certain that when the Prince of Lorrain shall appear before his own Subjects they will receive him with the same Joy that the English have receiv'd the Prince of Orange I say the same of Burgundy and of the French County and of divers other People who wait but for the happy Moment of their Liberty The Second thing to be done is a powerful Fleet which the King of