French Intrigues OR THE HISTORY OF THEIR Delusory Promises SINCE THE Pyrenaean Treaty Printed in French at Cologne and now made English LONDON Printed for W. Hensman at the King's-Head in Westminster-Hall and Tho. Fox at the White-Hart over against St. Dunstan's-Church in Fleetstreet and at the Angel in Westminster-Hall 1685. The Publisher of the French Edition to the Reader TWo things courteous Reader I have to tell thee The one that this Book was really made by a French-man and so that they would be to blame who should attribute it to any Stranger whose Inclinations are biass'd against France Hereof I was willing to advertise thee to hinder thee from believing that Passion guided the Author's Pen. It was rather as he protested to me through a design to render himself knowing in the History of the Times that he traced the Relations which I give to the Publick The other thing I have to tell thee and which I desire thee to take in good part is That I find my self indispensably obliged to declare unto my Country the Intrigues of her Neighbours to make her change her Master or at least to give her another Face by depriving her of her Liberty This appears so natural that I believe none can think strange of my Enterprize I will tell thee further altho it be of no great importance to thee that I have received what I here give thee from the Author 's own hand who made some abode in this Town hoping to get himself advanced in the Troops which his Electoral Highness is raising for the defence of the Empire But seeing great Difficulties raised against him as there are elsewhere against others who would shelter themselves from the Storm he grew weary of attending and bidding me adieu delivered me his Manuscript in exchange for some Books I give it thee as I received it without either adding or diminishing Those that shall take the pains to read it will see how the French neglect nothing to put themselves in credit in all the Courts in Europe and that it is not Holland alone which they endeavour to amuse by Delusory Promises so to carry without any opposition what remains for them to take in the Low-Countries and perhaps to pass further if they meet with no Obstacle THE HISTORY OF Deluding Promises SINCE THE Pyrenaean Treaty IT is not unknown to any that there have for a long time been two Powers in Europe under the shelter of which the other States lived in repose and assurance We know also that these two Powers are France and Spain who likewise received succour from the other States to the end that these two Crowns might continue as it were in an equal poize so necessary for the good of all the rest Neither of them therefore was suffered to aggrandize it self to the prejudice of the other So that if Spain formed any Enterprise all the neighbouring Princes presently declared in favour of France if also France would make any Conquests the same Princes failed not to oppose it And thus they diminished the Power of that Crown which began to be suspected by them It was by this wise Policy that the Affairs of France were re-established after the taking of Francis the First For the King of England who had an Army ready imbarqu'd to make a descent into that Kingdom fill'd with desolation and terror by the Captivity of its Monarch was the first to propose a League against Charles the Fifth and all the Princes of Italy entring thereinto they obliged the Emperor to make a Peace and release his Prisoner who had been carried from Pisqueton to Madrid upon Conditions far less advantagious than those he had promised himself after his Victory By the same wise Policy it was that the Princes of Germany suffered the French without any opposition to keep Mets Thoul and Verdun which they had seized on by surprize For altho they had reason to be very apprehensive of this Nation which is but too much addicted to usurp upon its Neighbours yet since it was at that time sufficiently embarassed to defend it self against the House of Austria they thought rather of making it their Support against that House which for a long time aspired after an Universal Monarchy than of fearing lest it should become one day so powerful that it would it self have a design to oppress them This Conduct lasted as long as the Spaniards were in a flourishing condition Wherefore the same Princes at least a great part of them saw also with pleasure the Strength of France augmented by the taking of Rochel which often served no less for an Asylum to Male-contents than for a Rampart to those of the Reformed Religion But since those of the Religion abused it as we may say by making it a Retreat for the Factious GOD would punish them to teach them another time that Things Divine are not to be mix'd with Prophane In the mean time the Mareschal de Bassompiere who saw farther than many others had a Saying witty enough thereupon For being one day drinking jovially with some of his Friends a time when Men ordinarily discover the greatest Secrets of their Heart he told them very seriously he believed they would be Fools enough to take Rochel Which I impute not to any design he had of making an Insurrection but to his Foresight that the taking thereof would be of as ill consequence to the Neighbours of France as it was fatal to those of the Reformed Religion In effect we may say that this was the first Step whereby the Kings of France mounted to that supreme Grandeur which makes them at this day dreaded by all Europe We may also say that the greatest Fault which ever the Hollanders committed in their Politicks was that they did not at that time assist those of their Communion who might at this day do the like for them But assuredly they considered it as a Rebellious Town and believed not that it was lawful according to the modern practice to prefer ones Interest before whatever is most sacred However it were People being very far from believing that ever France could be so powerful as to think of encroaching upon the Liberty of its Neighbours they with delight beheld the Care that the Cardinal de Richelieu took to pull down the Crown of Spain and they were even vext that the Conspiracies which were continually framed against him and which every moment sprang up afresh like the Heads of Hydra often hindred him from succeeding in his Designs It was for the same reason that all the Princes instead of opposing the secret Intrigues whereby this Minister endeavoured to take the Crown of Portugal from the King of Spain who had seized it from the House of Braganza were on the contrary very glad that this Affair went happily on I have read in a very curious Manuscript that all the Princes of Italy furnisht him with Money for that purpose and that the Affair being terminated according to
make them feel her resentment The Occasion or to say better the Pretext was soon found As there is nothing suffered to be printed in France without License some French-men who were not perhaps over-well satisfied with the Government or who it may be had received some particular discontent published certain diffamatory Libels against the King and his Ministers which bearing on their Title-page the Name of Amsterdam as the place of their Impression the King took great Offence thereat as if it were not usual to put upon a Book the Name of a Printer that knows nothing of it There appeared also sometime after a Print wherein the King was represented upon a Horse without Bit or Bridle with this Inscription He knows not whither he goes Insinuating thereby that it was to no purpose for him to make so many Reviews that he might surprize one or other since he would every where find resistance But of all which at that time appeared for I mention not here the hundredth part there was not any thing better invented or more to the purpose than a certain Medal on the one side whereof was represented Monsieur van Beuningen who had the greatest share in managing the forementioned Treaty of the Triple-League and on the reverse Joshua staying the course of the Sun with these Latin Words In conspectu meo stetit Sol. Now we must know that the Sun was the French King's Device and that those who had invented this Medal meant thereby that even as Joshua had stayed the Course of the Sun for to defeat the Philistins so Monsieur van Beuningen who was called Joshua stayed the Course of the King that was upon the point to destroy the Flemings This Medal no sooner appeared abroad but France highly menaced those who had made it and since she accused the Hollanders thereof they thought it became them to shew the whole World that they were not capable of such Actions Wherefore they gave in charge to their Ambassador to disabuse the King and his Ministers but to take his time so fitly for the doing it that it might not be believed they were induced to make this Excuse through the fear of their Menaces In the mean time to say the Truth this Medal was never either invented or made in Holland I have heard say that it was made at Rome and was the Invention of the Italians who being if we may so say plunged over Head and Ears in Repose and Delights know not oftentimes what to apply themselves unto unless it be to speak ill of their Neighbour Others impute it to some discontented French-man who had perhaps been frustrated in his desires or otherwise ill treated However it was this I well know that there is not so much as one Person in all Holland who will grant that it was made in their Country which yet if it were so they would easily acknowledg since they are not over-guilty of concealing what they do The Treaty of Peace whereof I ere-while spake was still in being but withal it was plainly seen that in the Estate wherein things were it could not long continue France who was sensible of her own Power daily as we may say provoked every one with her Bravadoes and there was none but the King of England whom she managed because she knew he was strong at Sea and would be a great Succour to those in whose favour he should declare himself The Hollanders who knew all the Steps which France made towards him endeavoured on their side to keep up the good Intelligence which was between the two Nations tho not with their ancient submissiveness as believing it no less the Interest of the English to hold a good Correspondence with them than it was theirs to live in amity with the English Things were in this condition when there arose a Difference between that Republick and England upon the Subject of Commerce The Republick endeavoured speedily and amicably to terminate this Affair but the King of England who was highly sensible of some former Indignities of theirs being incessantly sollicited by France to declare War against them was so resolute to make his own Terms in this Treaty that the Republick thought fit to have recourse to France whose Interest it was not to suffer the King of England to become so powerful France for some time amused their Ambassador as if she had a design to make a League with them but as what she did was only to have time to gain the King of England whose Friendship she courted at an high rate she had no sooner perfected her Treaty with him but she began clearly to manifest her Intentions Besides I might here say That the Hollanders were somewhat deficient in their Conduct towards the King of England with whom matters might have been accommodated notwithstanding his great Pretensions But since I know that the sole Obstacle herein was Mr. de Witt Pensionary of Holland who had a great influence on that Commonwealth I should be to blame should I cast upon many what was the Fault of one alone For in fine it was none but he that hindred the terminating the Difference with the King of England who was willing to remit many things in favour of the Prince of Orange for whom he demanded some Establishment but de Witt 's Jealousy of this Prince was so great that he preferr'd his own particular Interests before the common Utility Not but that he was a Man of great Wit and who foresaw well enough vvhatever might be the Consequence of an Affair but he had his Heart too much envenomed against the House of Orange vvhereunto I shall attribute all the Infelicities vvhich soon after befell that Republick In the mean time I will not say here as many others have done that this was an Effect of the Intelligence he had with the French For let none believe that to make my Court to the Living I will dig up the Dead and make their Process Believe not I say that I will assert a thing which I know not and whereof it is necessary I should be very well assured before I speak In effect a Writer who desires to have the Reputation of an honest Man must be very careful to write nothing whereof he is not exceeding certain Not but that there are very often things related which are somewhat problematical but it is then the Author's duty to let the Reader understand that he is left to the liberty of believing as he shall think fit I say then speaking of Mr. de Witt that altho he were a very wise Man he was nevertheless mightily overseen in not making his Peace with the King of England For to to come a little closer to the matter It behoved him either to satisfy that King in what he required or to be sure of the Alliance with the French that he might not have at the same time these two Powers upon his Back but since instead of having the French for him it was
entangle matters they caused the King to provide a Successor for his Benefice tho it was not his Custom to do it and the Bishop having on his part provided one as it was his Right according to the Usage to do they so far animated the King against the Bishop that he was at the same time proscribed The Pope who was not only jealous to conserve the Rights whereof he was in possession but also to follow the laudable Custom of his Predecessors who have usurped so many that they are at this day equal not to say superior to the greatest Kings believed that his Authority was concerned not to suffer a Bishop to be ill-treated for having done his Duty See then at the same time the Arms of Rome in the Field I mean a great Number of Briefs which are called in this Court Spiritual Arms but than they should not make much progress which they might have done if they found no resistance there was at the same time opposed unto them a like Army that is to say Abundance of Decrees of the Sorbon the most part of the Doctors whereof were ready to do whatever the King would have them like good and faithful Subjects that is without entring into the knowledg of the Cause There were nevertheless some of the most ancient amongst them who having suck'd in the Love of Rome with their Milk refused to sign an Act which had been decreed by the Clergy and which a President accompanied by some Counsellors of the Parliament of Paris brought into the Sorbon to be registred there But since they would not have any there who resisted the King's Will some of them were sent to the Pyrences to keep company with Bears others into the Alps and the rest into the remotest Provinces of the Realm If I would here relate the Consequence of this great Affair I must undertake the making of a great Volume for I should be obliged to shew the Zeal of the French Clergy for the Service of their King and their Rebellion against the Pope Letters of the same Clergy of their inviolable Attachment to the Fortune of Lewis the Great and of their Contempt of Rome Theses maintained in the Sorbon wholly contrary to such as were maintained there before the General of the Jesuits refractory to the Orders of the Pope and submitting to the Orders of the King in fine so great a Disposition in the Clergy and Nobility to shake off the Yoke of Roman Obedience that if the Chancellor of France had not remonstrated to the King That so great a Change could not be made in the State without causing perhaps an Insurrection amongst the People who in matter of Religion are even to Superstition attack d thereunto altho they very often know not any Points of their Belief There was great appearance of the Pope's losing his Annates and whatever else he draws from so great a Kingdom But since the Recital of so many things would engage me to a Subject wholly different from that which I have here proposed to my self I will return to the Jesuits and to follow the Thread of my Discourse in what concerns them will say That as much as they were edified at the Emperor 's short Prayer for the Reasons I have before alledged so much were they mortified at the Resolution he had taken to make War For in fine altho they knew better than any other that it concern'd not only his Interest but also his Glory not to suffer all the Enterprises which France every day made against the Empire yet as they made profession to take always the stronger side it was already some time that they had abandoned the Interests of the House of Austria on which Fortune had begun to turn her back to embrace those of the House of France to which she appeared favourable I will not undertake to relate here all the Contentions they caused in the Emperor's Court to hinder the Effect of the Resolution he had taken altho it would perhaps be a thing curious enough to be known but I shall only say That to retard the March of the Troops which were to join those of the Marquess of Brandenburg who had newly embraced the Defence of the Hollanders they put into his Head that he should no sooner have diffurnished the Frontiers of Hungary but the Turks who had secret Intelligences there would make use of the Opportunity without regarding the Truce which was between the two Empires And the Emperor being but a weak Prince and disposed to take the first Impressions that were given him this thought sank so deep in his mind that altho he were not so ignorant of the Affairs of the World as not to see that the Marquess of Brandenburg could do nothing without him he ceased not to leave his Troops in their Quarters while the Marquess of Brandenburg at the Head of his went to seek Honour and Glory All the Grandees of the Empire at least those that were faithful to the Emperor could not forbear speaking aloud their Sentiments of a Proceeding so extraordinary and so replete with weakness In the mean time as they left no way unattempted to undeceive the Emperor it being believed also that they would do it that wherewith his Eyes were enveloped being so palpable that there was none but he who could have been blinded with it The Jesuits fearing to see all their Designs overthrown changed then their Battery and seeing that the Fear he had conceived of the Turks was likely to be soon dissipated they gave him new Apprehensions of the Forces of Poland adding that he who commands that People would no sooner see the Troops of the Empire busied about the Rhine but he would fall on the Provinces that were most convenient for him were it only by this Diversion to testify unto France his Acknowledgment of the Services she had done him in procuring his Elevation to the Throne They added hereunto the Intelligence which appeared between the French King and the King of Poland the Influence which the Queen of Poland who was a French-Woman had on the King her Husband and in fine the Pranks which the French plaid to make that Crown take Arms against the Empire All these Remonstrances cast the Emperor into new Irresolutions He had just given Order for his Troops to go out of their Quarters but he sent them a Counter-Order before they were gone any great way In the mean time the French having taken the Field and being entred into the Vnited Provinces divided their Forces into three Armies for to encompass the more of the Country The King commanded one the Prince of Conde another and the Viscount de Turenne the last The first was animated by the presence of the King the second by the Reputation of the Prince of Conde and the third by the Confidence they had in the Wisdom of the Viscount de Turenne who was besides one of the greatest Captains of his Time But that which yet
When Madam Royal had saluted the King the King repaid her Visit and went to see Madamoiselle de Savoy whom he found before her Looking-glass as she was putting on her Hoods She had exceeding fair Hair and appeared to the King very handsom in this posture insomuch that having seen her again afterwards as he was susceptible enough of the Impressions of Beauty he insensibly forgat Madam de Colonna and began to love Madamoiselle de Savoy In the mean time the Spaniards knowing that the Alliance with Savoy might be soon clapt up if they did not speedily take care to prevent it and that this might perhaps prove an Obstacle to the Peace which they desired at least as much as Cardinal Mazarine could do they dispatch'd away Pimentel to Lions who arrived there incognito and was even a long time there without any Bodies knowing it except the Cardinal to whom he caused it to be told that he was come to consult about the Marriage with the Infanta of Spain which had a long time before been proposed on the part of France but whereunto Spain would not at that time hearken foreseeing well as it has since happened that instead of concluding thereby a sure and durable Peace it would one day prove a Subject of new Differences between the two Crowns The Cardinal knowing his Arrival sent Mr. de Lionne to him for to confer with him about the Propositions he had to make And these two inferior Ministers having squared out a Treaty the King had the civility to acquaint Madamoiselle de Savoy with what passed sincerely confessing to her that he should be obliged for the good of Peace to renounce the hopes of enjoying her wherewith he had flattered himself but in the mean time giving her his Word that in case the Treaty were not concluded he would never marry any but her This Promise in some measure consolated Madamoiselle de Savoy who was in the highest measure afflicted at the coming of Pimentel But whilst she was perhaps making vows for the breaking off the Treaty Heaven disposed otherwise in the matter For Cardinal Mazarine and Don Lovis de Haro meeting in the Isle of Bidassoa otherwise called the Isle of Pheasants concerted between them the things whereon de Lionne and Pimentel could not agree After which the Mareschal de Grammont was sent into Spain in quality of Embassador Extraordinary to espouse the Infanta by Proxy This Ambassy was very superb but it had this in it particular that the Mareschal de Grammont who was a Man of Wit determined to ride Post into Spain with a number of great Lords imagining that this would very well become the Ambassador of a young amorous Prince The King of Spain knowing his resolution to arrive in this Equipage sent the Count de Taxis Postmaster-General of the Kingdom to meet him who furnished him with Post-Horses for himself and all his Train which was composed of fifty Gentlemen of Note besides some other Persons of meaner rank The King of Spain defrayed all his Expences upon the way where there was as much honour done him as if he had been the King of France himself And after he had received as he past through Burgos the Divertisement of the Combat of Bulls he arrived in the Evening at Madrid where they were forced to light Flambeaus to see him make his Entry which made his Train that was very magnificent to appear with the greater lustre The King of Spain sent to receive him at his entrance into the Palace by one of the best qualified Persons of his Court Another came to meet him at the foot of the Stairs and a third at the door of the Guard-Chamber They were all accompanied by the greatest Lords of Spain who being all reassembled in the Guard-Chamber conducted him in the midst of them to his Audience with the King who expected him under a Canopy embroidered with Gold having about him all the Grandees of Spain who had spared no Cost to appear in all their Magnificence to the Eyes of the French As soon as the King saw the Mareschal de Grammont come in he went forward three steps to meet him testifying the Joy he received by his Journey and asking him about the welfare of the King and the Queen-Mother who was his own Sister The Mareschal de Grammont having thanked the King for his Civility declared to him the Subject of his Ambassy after which he went to the Queen to whom having made his Complement he gave to the Infanta who was by her side under the same Canopy a Letter from the King his Master after which he discoursed her always uncovered to shew that he began to speak to his Queen This Ceremony being finished the King of Spain resolved to be himself the Conductor of his Daughter and after he had assured the Mareschal de Grammont that he would be within a little while upon the Frontiers the Mareschal took leave of him and came to give his Master an account of what he had done in Spain Some days after the King of Spain arrived with the Infanta and the two Kings having seen and embraced one another the Infanta was put into the hands of the King of France to whom she had been already married in Spain by Proxy This Alliance made all Europe enjoy a profound Tranquillity for the space of six or seven years except the Republick of Venice which was at Wars with the Turk as was also the Emperor The King of France assisted both the one and the other which gave a great deal of Reputation to his Arms For the French being in the presence of the Turks when they attempted to pass the Raab so vigorously repulsed them that altho they were seconded by the Imperialists they failed not to carry away the principal Glory of that Journey There arose also some little Troubles in Christendom as well between the English and the Vnited Provinces as also between that Republick and Bernard-Galen Bishop of Munster But France demeaned her self so in these two Rencounters as if she had been more desirous to pacify all these Differences than to excite them For altho she took part in the War sometimes with the one sometimes with the other yet she comported her self in such a manner that it could not be said that what she did was with a design of profiting by these Disorders Hitherto there was not any appearance of her Ambition or Insincerity except you will say that she sufficiently manifested it by her under-hand assisting of Portugal to the prejudice of what she had so solemnly promised by the Pyrenaean Treaty In the mean time it being against the Interest of all Europe that the Spaniards should make themselves Masters of that Kingdom there were enough found who excused her Proceeding whether they indeed believed that this was permitted by the Laws of Policy or whether their own Interest made them believe so The first Spark that appeared of her Ambition which is at
they on the contrary that exasperated matters he had no other way but to content the King of England who had many times demanded the Restitution of the Prince of Orange to the Offices which had been enjoyed by his Predecessors with so much Reputation to themselves and Advantage to the Common-wealth Moreover had I undertaken it I could easily here demonstrate That there was nothing so contrary to the Good of the State as the having thus removed the Prince of Orange from the Affairs thereof But since it would occasion the believing of what I will not have believed that what I should do therein would be to captivate the Honour of his good Graces I shall content my self with saying That if Mr. de Witt prevaricated in any thing it was undoubtedly in this But be it how it will the Republick learning from all parts that France and England made terrible preparations for the making War upon her both by Sea and Land did on their side what they believed themselves obliged to do not to be so soon overwhelmed My design is not to engage here in the History of a War so long and tedious as that was for tho I was present at many great Actions which past therein and can speak thereof with as much assurance as another yet since they fought in so many places that one Man cannot have been at them all I should be obliged to report many things upon the Testimony of others which is very often deceitful every one ordinarily adding or diminishing in his Recital according to his particular Passion and sometimes according to the Love he has for his Country I shall not however pass silently over the Things I shall think fit for my purpose which is to shew the Ambition of France and the Maxims she makes use of to bring about her Designs It is very certain that when the two Kings resolved to declare War against the Hollanders that Common-wealth was in no good condition to undergo it whereof I will alledg three principal Reasons The first and strongest was the little Union there was between the principal Persons of the State whereof some blindly followed the Passion of Mr. de Witt and others on the contrary demanded the Re-establishment of the Prince of Orange in all the Offices of his Ancestors Every one knows the Contests which arrived thereupon and that in fine neither of the Parties getting the Advantage the Prince of Orange was chosen Captain-General of the State but with so limited a Power as it was easily to be judged that if Mr. de Witt was not able to obtain his whole desire he had at least obtained a part thereof But what nevertheless shews that his Spirit reigned not so much as it heretofore had done in the Resolutions of State is what pass'd some time after and I am here going to relate He perceiving that the Prince of Orange by his winning Temper obliging Conduct and in fine by so many excellent Qualities as are in his Person daily gain'd new Creatures and that on the contrary his own Credit every day diminished he began to think of sheltring himself from the just Resentment of this Prince I know that he consulted thereupon Mr. de Groot and another Person who yet in my opinion is no great Politician and that they both confirmed him in the Resolution he had already taken to make a Levy of Twelve Thousand Men in the Province of Holland besides the Forces they were to raise in conjunction with the other Provinces His design herein was to be always Master of these Twelve Thousand Men who were never to go out of Garrison and he would not have the Prince of Orange to have any Authority over them wherefore he had already pitch'd upon Mombas for their Commander in an opinion without doubt that he could not chuse a greater Captain to continue in Garrison But the Prince of Orange whom this Enterprise every way concerned but principally in respect of his Office of Captain-General of the State which was thereby struck at so vigorously opposed it that all this great Design vanished away in Smoke The second Reason which should have made the States fear the not having any great Success in this War is That they had scarce any Troops to guard so many strong Places whereof their little Country is composed those they had being moreover raw and unexperienced seeming to have participated of the Nature of the Inhabitants who are so addicted to Trade that they seem now uncapable of any thing else In effect as a Man becomes a Smith by his often working in Iron so is it to be believed that no Man becomes a Souldier if he be not often in occasions of War For this nevertheless there seemed to be a Remedy which was to have recourse to the neighbouring Princes who had good Troops on foot for which they appeared not to have any use but when they would address to them they found these Princes so alarm'd at the Designs of France that not knowing whether she would not turn her Arms upon their Countries they were glad to stand upon their Guards The third Reason and the last at least of those which I intend to alledg is That there was no hope of having any Succour from Princes more remote whereof some were Pensionaries of France and others so weak and timerous that they seemed to be afraid of offending her It was to little purpose for the States to represent to them that their Interests ought to be common against a common Enemy who aspired after an Universal Monarchy they were insensible as I may say Which I do not however find very strange since they are not at present much less tho many of them are in a great measure stript of their Soveraignty The Emperor nevertheless took fire at the Consequences that were at that time remark'd unto him and which we at this day see to be so funest but having spoken but a moment with Father Emerick or some other Jesuit how far was he from being the Man he seemed to be but a minute before They represented it to him as a scruple of Conscience to undertake a War in favour of an Heretical Republick and he so readily fell into all the Snares they laid for him that when he was press'd for an Answer it was plainly seen that 't was no longer the Emperor who spake but the Monks who spake through the Emperor's Mouth Thus whilst the French King at the head of his Army struck a Terror into all that part of Germany which lies near the Rhine did he amuse himself with causing to be sung in his Closet an Air of Devotion being encompass'd by twenty Jesuits who were Judges of the Melody and who never failed to applaud these worthy Employs of an Emperor It was then through their Counsel that he would not give any positive Answer to the Hollanders till he had first consulted Heaven at Marienzel whither he went with unconceivable Superstitions altho
Troops The Peaceable General but when he commanded not in chief he was as enterprising as another what he did being only want of Experience and not of Courage The Oversight at Muiden was the cause that the Marquess de Rochefort was recalled from Vtrecht but as he was one of the Kinsmen and good Friends of Mr. de Louvois he was not the more disesteemed for it at Court the Government of Lorrain being on the contrary given to him Mr. de Luxemburg was sent in his place a Man more known by the Cruelties he committed in Holland than by his great Exploits not that I will deny him to be a very brave Man but he was not much more knowing than Mr. de Rochefort which was always known when he commanded a Body of above ten thousand Men for the rest enterprising and therein very different from him in whose place he came In the mean time we are to know that the Prince of Orange having arrested Mombas on the suspicion he had of his holding Intelligence with the Enemy caused his Process to be made and there was a great appearance that he would be made an Example to others when Mombas whether he was conscious of his own Guilt as is probably believed or that he had heard there is nothing so sweet as Liberty bethought himself of making his Escape by corrupting his Guards The History of his Flight is very agreeable and divertising by reason of many Accidents which arrived therein but since that makes nothing to my purpose I shall only say That having traversed six Leagues always up to the Girdle in Water and sometimes higher he got safe to Vtrecht and thence to Arnhem where was the Prince of Condé who had been wounded at the Passage of the Rhine He saw that Prince at four in the morning stayed with him above two hours and retired from thence to Cologne But let us make here a little reflection and see whether this Interview with all that followed it be not an indubitable Proof of the Intelligence he held with the Enemies If Mombas had been faithful how durst he who just came from bearing Arms against France whereof he was born a Subject put himself into the hands of the Prince of Condé Was there not reason to believe that he would cause him to be arrested and that a Crown which prohibits its Subjects upon pain of Death from serving of Strangers would shew it self much more severe to him who was not only refractory to this Ordinance but had moreover so lately drawn his Sword against it I know well he hath told some that he was seized with this fear and that it was for this reason he did not stay at Vtrecht Mr. de Luxemburg whom he had caused to be told that he was escaped from Nieuerbruk and whose Protection he had demanded having answered that he did not advise him to come into any Place where he had Command because he should be obliged to arrest him But let us examine a little this Article and see whether it be not as they say to cast dust in ones eyes to talk on this manner Mombas makes his Escape to Vtrecht he enters thereinto at open day he traverses the whole Town he goes to lodge as I take it at the Palace-Royal where he used to lodge when the Town did not belong to the French he causes the Duke of Luxemburg to be told that he was escaped he asks his Protection and yet he would have us believe that the Duke of Luxemburg knew not he was there but that having sent him word he should have a care of coming thither he was obliged to go to Arnhem Let us rather say that since it was the Prince of Condé who had been concerned in all things the foregoing Winter Mr. de Luxemburg believing that it still belonged to him to meddle in it was very glad that Mombas should address himself directly to him not but that he himself would have been very willing to have had a part in this Intrigue but because he feared this might offend the Prince in whose good opinion it was his Interest to keep himself But let us prosecute a little this Affair and see whether there be any appearance to say that Mombas was innocent He seeks out the Prince of Conde sends him word by Desroches Captain of his Guards that he should be very glad of the Honour to speak with him and in one word puts himself into his hands whereas he ought to have stood more upon his Guard after the Advertisement he had received from Mr. de Luxemburg In the mean time as if the Prince of Conde had not had the same measures to keep as the Duke of Luxemburg he sees him discourses familiarly with him of all things and after he had promised him his Protection counselled him to retire to Cologne till such time as he could incline the King to pardon him Here I should willingly ask Mombas Whether he be himself so much a Fool as to think others silly enough to give credit to his Words In effect how can it be imagined that the Prince of Conde would not only have seen him but also counselled him to retire to Cologne if he had not done this by agreement with the Court who were very willing not to have it believed that all the happy Success they had in Holland was an Effect of the secret Intelligence they held with Mombas For otherwise in what hazard would the Prince of Conde have put himself who would not have failed to be taxed for having not only seen a Man that was proscribed but having also taught him a Place of Retreat From all this let us conclude that Mombas was truly culpable but let us at the same time add that there were many others so as well as he which gave him the facility of making his Escape from Nieurbruk these other Persons having for that purpose made use of all that was in their power for fear he should accuse them also when he should once see himself upon the Scaffold In the mean time he was not left long at Cologne for since they believed they had done enough to salve the Appearances by divulging that he had been obliged to make his Escape a great way off he was soon called back and had Orders to go to the Duke of Luxemburg Who however testified no great confidence in him He was notwithstanding very assiduous in courting him and offered to do him service even in the most vile and abject things and it was not long of him had they been willing to give but the least credit to what he said that he was not believed to be a Man of great Importance In fine he had not taken so much care before to hide his Treason but that he gloried as much then in making it appear He asked Mr. de Luxemburg to give him two thousand Men to go and attack the Prince of Orange at Nieuerbruk vaunting that he would traverse all
the Inundation which was between Wordes and that Town and would thus surprize him in the Rear whilst Mr. de Luxemburg should on his side attack him in the Front But Mr. de Luxemburg who besides that he believed him no great Captain had not confidence enough in him to give him thus two thousand Men endeavoured to abate his warlike Sallies whereat he so much the more wondred as that they began to take him at the age of five and fifty years Some time after the Prince of Orange resolved to besiege Wordes at the taking whereof the French had in cold Blood kill'd the Bayliff who had advanced to shut the Gates against them This Enterprise was conducted with a great deal of Prudence the Prince of Orange having surprized the Vigilance of the Duke of Luxemburg who had taken the Field to put Troops therein but since the Duke of Luxemburg knew not whether it were not Naerden at which the Prince of Orange aimed because he had taken the way thither he turned towards that Town and whilst he was going thither the Prince of Orange invested Wordes and setled his Quarters there I relate this Affair rather than many others because therein an Adventure befell Mombas which will shew in what esteem he was in the mind of the French as well as of the Hollanders Before the Duke of Luxemburg knew that Wordes was besieged he resolved to succour it altho the thing appeared difficult for two reasons The first because he had but few Men with him the other because the way to go thither was very strait and besides the Hollanders had already retrench'd themselves at the Head thereof In the mean time as he wanted not Boldness he resolved to give something to Fortune For this purpose he detached the Marquess de Genlis Mareschal de Camp to draw together from the Neighbouring Quarters the most Troops he possibly could and having appointed him Time and Place for a Rendezvous he went thither where for a long time he expected the Marquess de Genlis without seeing him come As there needed no great matter to make him swear he took occasion from thence to take into his mouth he Name of GOD of whom he did not often otherwise speak he an hundred times reviled the Marquess de Genlis threatning aloud to ruine him at Court and not daring to accuse him of Cowardise because there were many Persons who would have secretly given him the Lie he accused him of holding Intelligence with the Enemy but in covert and uncertain Words whereunto no-body would answer because they well saw from what Spirit this proceeded In fine when he had vented his Choler in abundance of Injuries and Blasphemies he assembled a little Council of War composed of the Count de Saux the Marquess de Castelnau the Count de Milly the Cadet Scoupe and Mombas This as being capable to be the Geographer of the Country wherein he had lived above twenty Years those as Persons fit not only to give Counsel but also to execute the Counsel they should have given There it was proposed what was to be done whether it were more expedient to pass on further or to retire whereunto the Duke of Luxemburg seemed to incline because Genlis had failed of his Word As this Council was wholly composed of young Men except Mombas they were all of opinion to go on and Mombas conformed himself to their Sentiment because that he would have been alone of his own Whilst these things were doing the Count de la Mark Camp-Master of the Regiment of Picardy who commanded in Wordes dispatch'd a Man to the Duke of Luxemburg with Letters whereby he informed him that the Prince of Orange had already raised two Forts at the Head of the Inundation whereof the one was guarded by the Count de Horne General of the Artillery and the other by Zuilestein General of the Foot And since the Succour must arrive by one of these two ways the Duke of Luxemburg ask'd Mombas With which he thought it would be best dealing whether with the Count de Horne or Zuilestein Mombas glad that he could speak which did not very often befall him told the Duke of Luxemburg that it was his Advice to attack Zuilestein because he would sometimes drink hard and did not stand so much upon his Guard as the Count de Horne might who did not sleep but was always upon the Watch. The Duke of Luxemburg having resolved to follow this Counsel not that he grounded himself upon what Mombas had told him but because it was indifferent to him to attack Horne or Zuilestein march'd his Troops upon the Causey which goes from Vtrecht to Wordes having the Canal of Wordes on the one hand and the Meadows on the other but which wholly resembled a Sea because they had already for some time been all under Water When he was about half a League from the Enemy he made an halt to send to view the Place before he engaged any farther Every one expected that Mombas would ask to go thither as well to give Marks of his Courage as to shew his Zeal to Mr. de Luxemburg but whether he feared that he would not put confidence enough in him to refer himself to what he should say or whether he were not willing to engage himself as a private Souldier he let this Employ be taken by two Sergeants who were named by the Count de Saux and for whose Bravery and Fidelity he answered to Mr. de Luxemburg These Souldiers by favour of the Night advanced within Musket-shot of the Fort of Zuilestein but well knowing that unless they got farther they could not give any certain Account of what was desired to be known they cast themselves into the Inundation one on one side and the other on the other side and making the least Noise they possibly could for fear of being discover'd they remark'd that there was a Mill before the Fort where they had some Retrenchments and had put some Palizadoes that in the Inundation there was an House wherein they had placed some Musquetiers which flanked the Fort that when the Enemies should go to the Attack they might thence kill them many Men In fine that the Fort was of Earth but well palizadoed with a Ditch before and Cannon so that tho they had not much time to put it in condition there was appearance nevertheless that they would make good resistance After the two Sergeants had related what I have just now told you Mr. de Luxemburg foreseeing that they would kill him many Men from the House which was in the midst of the Inundation resolv'd to cause it to be attack'd and also went thither himself to animate the Souldiers by his Presence In the mean time he made a Detachment to march against the Mill and having appointed Men to support it he commanded those that were near him to go into the Inundation to shew the way to the Troops Mombas being one of the first that entred
thence so much Profit as was pretended because instead of advancing into France they would return to the Siege of Treves and thence into their Quarters In effect this was the Pretext that the Duke of Lorrain took saying That it was no point of good Sence to engage themselves so far into a Country and leave behind them so good Places that the Scope of their Union was only to deliver Germany from Slavery which they could no way better do than by driving the French out of a Town which was not only considerable for its Scituation but also for being the ordinary Abode of one of the first Electors of the Empire The News that came a day or two after that the Mareschal de Crequi was got into Treves finished the giving a colour to his Designs He remonstrated to those who were not of his Opinion that the Presence of such a Man was not to be contemned who besides that he perfectly knew the Trade of War was also animated by the Despair of what had befallen him In effect he fought as a true Desperado and if a Captain of Foot named Boisjourdan had not treated secretly with the Besiegers to put the Place into their hands upon certain Conditions whereunto many others also consented either this Mareschal would have been slain upon the Breach or he would have shewn whereof a brave Man is capable when animated by a great Despair But as he was upon the Rampart exciting every one to do his Devoir Boisjourdan had the insolence to tell him That it was in vain for him to animate them to a Defence more rash than reasonable that every one knew what made him act that it was the Despair of having been beaten but that since they were no cause thereof it was for him to draw himself out of it as he could without enveloping them in his Misfortune that the Town was of it self nothing worth that the Walls were besides beaten down by the Cannon the Enemy lodged even in the Ditch and in fine every thing ready to take it by Assault if they had not remedied it in Time and Place that since they well believed that for the Reasons he had touched upon he would never hear speak of Composition they had taken care to do it without him and that he had it in his Pocket that it was his part then to conform to a thing which beside that it was already done was also done with reason Never perhaps has such another Affair been heard of It was indeed very extraordinary to see that a simple Captain of Foot had thus treated of the Surrendry of a Place to the prejudice of a Mareschal of France who was therein and so many other Officers his Superiors The Mareschal de Crequi also finding himself so much the more moved as the thing appeared to him new put his hand to his Sword at the beginning of his Discourse and as he was going to kill him a Souldier who stood Sentinel stopt him by offering to fire upon him This caused the Mareschal de Creqni to leave Boisjourdan and pass his Sword through the Body of the Souldier which done he ran again after Boisjourdan who seeing that he had to deal with so rude a Gamester leapt through the Breach into the Ditch thinking to save himself among the Imperialists by whom being despised as a Man unworthy after what he had done to keep company with honest Persons he would have pass'd into the furthest parts of Germany But being discovered as I take it at Thionville he was conducted from thence to Mets where by Sentence of the Council of War he had his Head struck off a very gentle Punishment for so great a Crime as his In the mean time the Enemy who was at the Gates failed not to take hold of so favourable an Opportunity to make themselves Masters of the Town They entred immediately and the Mareschal de Crequi had scarce time to save himself in the Church which was good enough and where he pretended to make yet some resistance They summoned him there to sign the Composition which Boisjourdan had made for the Confederates would keep to it wherefore they had given Order that there should no Injury be done either to the Garrison or Inhabitants But the Mareschal not willing that so shameful an Affair should be hereafter imputed to him refused to do it but in the mean time agreed with Saveuse Colonel of Horse who had escaped with him after the Defeat and had since followed his Fortune that he should sign the Capitulation to the end that having his Liberty he might go to Court to give an account of his Actions for he was in great disquiet how they would receive there what had since this little while befallen him Saveuse who was intirely devoted to the Mareschal failed not to execute his Orders whilst he on his side endeavoured to obtain an honest Composition but since the Post where he was was not tenable he was obliged to yield upon Discretion These happy Evenements for the Confederates with what befell them also advantagious in Catalonia where the French had been defeated in open Field after they had given a Battel without Order and Discipline ought to have been followed with many other great Successes if the Duke of Lorrain who as I have already said was prepossest with Jealousy had not also prepossest others therewith Thus instead of drawing thence the Advantage which they might have probably hoped for they had the vexation to see that all this turned to Smoke whereas the Enemy dextrously profiting by our Discords made every day new Conquests the Loss whereof in the mean time fell always upon Spain because it was on that side that they made their principal Enterprizes But to finish the beating down of this Crown the Town of Messina chief of the Realm of Sicily revolted against it induced thereto by the terrible Exactions of their Viceroys whose Friends had always hindred the Complaints that People made against them from coming to the Ears of the Sovereign for in fine it is a Custom established amongst the Grandees of Spain to support one another so that whatever becomes thereby of the Preservation of the State it is all considered as nothing at what time their Interest comes in competition with it And this it is which makes that Crown altho it possess so many rich States and Countries of great Extent to be at this day nevertheless poorer than a little Prince who should not possess above the hundredth part of what it possesseth In effect without going any farther what is Holland in comparison of all Spain of the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Sardinia the State of Milan and so many others that I should never have done if I would specify them all In the mean time what doth not Holland at this time do And is it not she that might at this day save all Europe if she would unanimously employ all her Forces But to return to
desired and as was to be wish'd for the Good of Europe they were rather of opinion to continue the War than to do any thing whereof they might for the future repent The Prince of Orange added thereunto That since it was not easy to reassemble when once they should be separated they ought to take good care not to do it without knowing how and upon what terms But the Hollanders who in the Party of the Confederates had the Power which the Jesuits attribute to the Pope that is of binding and loosing said on the contrary That for their part they were weary of the War and as they had not the Keys of the Apostle but the Keys of the Chest my meaning is that they provided for the Appointment they said in two words That they must treat otherwise that they had not wherewithal to furnish out so great Expences This was a determinate Sentence to the greatest part of the Confederates every one thought then only of making his Treaty the most advantagious he could But as this was all that France desired to wit to disunite them she took care only to content the Hollanders in whom consisted all the Strength of the Party To this two things might much contribute the one to restore unto them the Town of Maestricht which they had in vain endeavoured to recover by Arms the other to give them some assurance that the Peace should be durable and not subject to be broken on the first occasion As to the former France did not at all hesitate she promised at first the Restitution of Maestricht which gave the Hollanders more desire than ever to terminate the War for they saw their Frontiers thereby assured as well as their State in its first Splendor For the other she procured the King of England to intervene who promised to be Guarant of the Peace And to give a great Idea of its Duration there were Propositions made in respect of Spain to whom she offered to restore certain Places which were to serve for a Barrier as well to her as to the Hollanders who by this means saw that France removed yet farther from their Neighbourhood which was all they had to desire not loving so dangerous a Neighbour The Hollanders before they accepted of these Conditions did all they could being deceived by Appearances to make them be accepted also by their Allies but seeing that they were obstinate not to do any thing therein they made their Peace apart imagining well as the truth was that this would soon oblige them to speak otherwise In the mean time they sent to the Prince of Orange who was gone towards Mons which the French had a long time block'd up and which was very much straitned to draw back his Troops But whe-this Prince received not their Pacquets time enough or whether he were in despair to see that they had let themselves be deceived by the Artifices of the French he gave them Battel believing perhaps to make the States change their Design by doing some Action of great Eclat This Fight was obstinate enough but after the Prince of Orange had forced the French and gained a notable Advantage over them he caused the Peace to be published rather not to appear disobedient to the Orders of the Republick than for any reason he had to hope for any good from it This Peace was followed by that of the Spaniards the Emperor and the King of Denmark but the Marquess of Brandenburg finding that according as his Accommodation had been proposed it was wholly disadvantagious to him refused to sign it and this Refusal having obliged France to carry her Arms as far as Mindem where there was some Skirmish to hinder the Passage of the River the Marquess of Brandenburg was fain to bend but with little satisfaction to Suedeland on whose behalf the French had nevertheless undertaken this War For tho all the Princes restored her a great part of what they had gotten from her yet since they still kept something she imagined that all that France did for her was nothing in comparison of what she ought to do considering the Perils whereunto she had exposed her self and even the Losses she had suffered for her sake In effect for having been willing at her suscitation to make a Diversion in Germany she had lost the greatest part of her Vessels the Esteem of her Neighbours her Riches her Reputation and in one word was reduced to so bad a Condition that if the War had continued any longer it would have been impossible to say what would become of her Fortune This first Discontent of Suedeland was soon followed by two others whereof one touched her Interest and the other her Honour The first was the Homage which France demanded of her for the Dutchy of Deuxponts by virtue of a Decree of the Royal Chamber of Mets at this day so known and renowned in all Europe The second was the Refusal she made to pay her the Subsidies she owed her of old if she did not first consent to renew the Treaty which was between the two Crowns and was very near expiring When the Hollanders saw that the French King was already preparing to make new Alliances they began on their side to think of securing themselves from his Enterprises For this purpose they proposed a League with the neighbouring Princes whereof the King having knowledg was so offended thereat that tho he would himself have subjected the Suede to what I just now told you he failed not to command the Count d' Avann his Ambassador at the Hague to tell the States That if they prosecuted any further the Treaty they had begun he should take it for an Act of Hostility and should see what he had to do These Menaces were odious to all honest Persons but they were so far from being frighted by them in Holland that on the contrary they made haste to conclude the Treaty and to defend their Liberty by Arms which they resolved also no more to lay down but upon good Terms if the King obliged them to take them up again whereof they were nevertheless in expectation every day till the Siege of Vienna was raised which will perhaps make him think twice upon what he hath to do However it be the Haughtiness wherewith he acted towards Sovereign Powers giving cause to fear every thing from his Ambition Suedeland made also a League with Holland by which they promised one another reciprocal Assistance The King of France seeing that Suedeland had declared against him was interiorly vexed thereat but without letting it be seen he sollicits the King of Denmark and the Marquess of Brandenburg the ancient Enemies of the Suede to enter into League with him wherein he found not much difficulty for these two Princes were so ill contented with the last Peace they were obliged to make that they would not hear speak of allying themselves any more with Princes who had so shamefully as we may say abandoned
which extremely apprehended lest this great Storm should pour down upon her The Pope excited all the Christian Princes to give help against this common Enemy of Christendom but knowing enough the State of the Court of France to believe that there was nothing to be expected from that side he sent a Brief to the King by which he exhorted him that in case his Interests permitted him not to assist the Emperor himself he would at least not hinder other Princes from assisting him And for to give Example to others he sollicited the Court of Rome to contribute with him to the making up a good Sum of Money which he sent to the Emperor as soon as ever he could no longer doubt that it was against him that such extraordinary Preparations were made In the mean time France to make a shew of dealing sincerely with the Grand-Visier caused her Troops to advance to the Frontiers which did not much less astonish the Empire than all the Preparations made against it by the Turk The Diet whereof I spake before thought it expedient seeing the Arms of two such great Princes so ready to trouble the Repose of all Germany to make the King explain his Design and caused his Ambassador to write unto him for that purpose But the King who cared not to declare his thoughts answered That he was not to give account of his Actions to any one but that he would however tell them that it was for them to give him speedy satisfaction upon all his Pretensions otherwise he should take such course as himself thought best In effect not content with having despoiled so many Princes of their Liberty with having invaded Strasburg and the ten Free-Towns contrary to the Faith of Treaties with retaining the Estates of the Princes of Petite Pierre and Waldens without any appearance of Justice and so many other things which would be too long to particularize he would also have the Diet to declare that whatever he had done was according to the Rules of Equity and the Emperor himself must subscribe this Declaration Thus would he establish by the Right of Nations what he had usurped only by Right of Convenience and would have a Treaty to cover his Faith-breaking and Injustice For my part I shall not blame those of the Diet who counselled the Emperor to yield to the Time to accommodate himself with France which in the condition wherein things then were was capable to do him a great deal of Mischief and in fine not to lose the Empire by unseasonable Stiffness because I will believe that what they did was out of a good design But the Emperor all beset as he was with the Emissaries of France was not yet so deprived of his Understanding but that he easily discerned whither such a Step as this tended which by discrediting him in the Empire would have as much raised the Credit of the King of France who desired only to enter thereinto like a Fox but would afterwards have kept himself there like a Lion In effect he no sooner saw the Turks in Hungary but believing them now too far advanced to go back again he retired from his Troops at the Head whereof he had put himself under pretence of a Review to create the greater Jealousy In the mean time he caused the Electors a good part of which were his Friends to be told underhand that they ought to call him to the assistance of the Empire which was in danger of falling down under the Power of the Turk if it were not supported by Forces capable to resist him But on the other side he excited the Grand-Visier to go streight to Vienna without staying either at Raab or Camorra adding That these Places would fall of themselves as soon as ever he should make himself Master of the other which would draw also with it the Ruine of the whole Empire and the Consternation of all the Electors Altho the Grand-Visier distrusted the Sincerity of France of whose Designs he every day learnt something yet he believed however that this Counsel could not be amiss and resolving to follow it after he had terribly wasted the Country he sent Detachments from under his Conduct to block up these two Places so close that their Garrisons might not incommode the Convoys which came to his Army He marched afterwards on the side of the Danube having already pass'd the Raab by Intelligence with the Hungarians to whom the Defence thereof had been committed and came to plant his Camp before Vienna to the great astonishment of Christendom and especially of the Emperor who was obliged to retire to Lintz whither the Jesuits would follow him as faithful Companions of his Fortune In the mean time they not having been able to find Conveniences to depart all the same day some of them were by the People immolated to their just Resentment as they pretended to follow their Fellows They sent them to keep company with the three Hungarian Barons whom they had some time since caused to be put to death through Covetousness of their Estates upon which the inferior People laid the Cause of the War altho it had indeed another Original as I think I have demonstrated In effect besides all that I have already said to shew the Intelligence which the King of France held with the Turk there happened a thing which no longer left any room to doubt it For the Letters of one of her Ministers Secretary were surprized by which all the Intrigue was discovered so that the Emperor having caused him to be arrested was resolved to punish him severely but understanding that France had on her side arrested the Secretary of the Ambassador the Count de Mansfield whom she threatned to treat in the same manner as the Emperor should do the other he durst not push things any farther but was contented with threatning him severely so to discover how far this Intelligence extended Moreover Whether France expected to take great Resolutions upon what should pass at the Siege or whether she were only willing to be the first that should know in what manner it would turn the Marquess de Seppeville her Envoy at the Emperor's Court had Order to dispatch Couriers unto her upon the least Circumstances which nevertheless sufficiently testified that it was something more than Curiosity which made her act There came to her three in one Week and Foreign Ministers learnt nothing but by her means But she continually misrepresented things for at first there ran a Report at Paris that Vienna was already lost which she was above all very desirous to insinuate into the Ministers of other Princes whom without making shew of any thing she caused in the mean time to be sounded to know whereon their Masters would determine in case this News should be found true I could here if I would relate abundance of memorable Actions that past at this Siege whereof I have as good Memoirs as any other but since in matter of
War I never concern my self to speak but of those things where I have been present I shall forbear to do it contenting my self to relate here those which concern my Subject to wit those wherein reigns the Insincerity of France to the end that every one may take heed thereof I am moreover going to surprize abundance of People by saying that her Design was not at first that the Turks should seize on Vienna but let every one believe what he will this shall not hinder me from continuing to speak the Truth making above all things profession to do it without suffering my self to be diverted from it by ought whatever Now to prove my Assertion there needs only to know the Offers she had made and still every day did make to the Emperor to send fifty thousand Men to raise the Siege the Efforts she made with the Electors to incline the Emperor to accept this Succour the secret Reflections she prayed them to make on the State wherein the Empire was and on the Necessity it had to be assisted not only powerfully but also speedily that the Forces of Poland were neither yet assembled nor assembling that besides they were not such Troop as they imagined that it was rather an Arrierban than an Army that the Great Men of the Country were not all so contented as they were said to be with the Alliance which the King of Poland had made with the Emperor and in fine that they would bring so many Obstacles to the Succour which the Emperor thought to draw from thence that they might indeed always talk of it but should never see it come That on the contrary that of France being quite ready would march at the first Command that the French were as good as the Polanders at Handy-Strokes which this occasion required that they had besides more Obedience and Experience two things so necessary for the having an happy Success in their Enterprizes Certainly all these Reasons were specious to him that should not have been prepossest of her Unfaithfulness But since all the Resistance which was made at Vienna was to no other end but not to see the Empire fall into the hands of another it was believed that all these Offers were rather to be rejected than accepted In the mean time they prayed the French King since he had such good Designs that he would remove his Troops from the Frontiers the Jealousy whereof hindred abundance of the Princes of the Empire from sending theirs to the assistance of Vienna But he answered That if they let the Empire be lost through their default he would save it tho against their Wills that he would keep himself always armed and ready to assist them at the first Request they should make him that he gave them his Word he would attempt nothing against the Empire and that his Word ought to suffice them But what reliance could there be upon a Word which had been so often violated as I think I have shewn Upon a Word of the Frailty whereof there were so many Examples and which to excuse it self still sought Pretences to cast upon others the Faults whereof it was it self only guilty Upon a Word in fine which acknowledged no other Law but Force and Violence which would have every thing pass according to its own Will which would have all bend under it Sovereign Princes and those that were not so but which never wanted Pretences to palliate whatever it did were one but never so little in the humor to let ones self be seduced by its delusory Persuasions These Considerations which had obliged the Emperor to refuse so great a Succour obliged also the other Princes to believe that it was neither the Empires Interest nor their own to press the Emperor to accept it Thus every one being in suspense the Grand-Visier made a terrible Ravage in all Austria where he found not any Resistance and tho the French King was not entred into Germany as he had promised he ceased not to make a great Diversion as I just now said no-body daring to send away their Troops for fear those of France should invade what they should find for their convenience Many Persons were thus led away into Captivity by the Infidels who before their besieging Vienna had detached the Tartars to come and make their Courses as far as the Gates of that Town These Barbarians set fire where-ever they passed pillaged the Castle of Laxembourg and after they had carried away all the Goods that were therein cut down also the Trees of the Avenues through despite as it were for not having found therein all the Riches they expected from thence they retired to their Body leaving in all the Places of their Passage Marks of their Barbarity and Cruelty These Beginnings of the Siege of Vienna were happy enough to the Infidels for all Places being yet fill'd with their Cruelties and they having besides gained some Advantages over the Troops of the Duke of Lorrain General of the Emperor's Army the Garrison the greatest part whereof was composed of that Army seemed apprehensive of coming to Blows with them This exceedingly troubled the Governour the Count de Starenberg who had resolved to keep the Town for the Emperor or at least to lose his Life upon the Breach but he having found the means to rid them of all Fear yet more through his own Example than through any thing he could say to them things soon changed their Face and as much as the Imperialists were before apprehensive of the Turks so much did the Turks then begin to be apprehensive of the Imperialists who had daily some Advantage in every Sally The Grand-Visier was not however rebutted but thought it strange that France having promised him to make a puissant Diversion should content her self only to look on without keeping her Word He complained thereof to Tekely with whom he held Communication by Letters and Tekely to Bohan who was France's Correspondent with him Bohan failed not on his side to make his Complaint to Mr. de Seppeville to whom he sentword That the Grand-Visier uncertain of the Sieges Success might perhaps come to an Agreement with the Imperialists that it was for him to foresee the Prejudice which such a Treaty might bring to the Crown and to apply the Remedy he should judg convenient but for his own part he thought there was no other choice but either to keep their Word or by not keeping it to resolve upon a Quarrel with the Grand-Visier France having knowledg of these things by a Courier which the Marquess de Seppeville dispatched to her and which arrived at Fontainbleau on Sunday the 29th of August found her self very much embarassed how to make her Politicks agree with so pressing a Demand It was not many days since she had given her Word not to attack the Empire and considering that if she should so soon break it without any cause or even so much as pretence she should not only draw upon
her self the Reproaches of all Europe but should also for ever lose the Confidence of the Electors whom she managed with a great deal of care she took a Resolution which seemed to her capable to satisfy both the one and the other Party that is to say Not to attack the Empire directly for fear of losing her Reputation with the Electors but to carry her Arms into Flanders which ought in some sort to satisfy the Grand-Visier because this War had so great a Concatenation with all the neighbouring Powers that it would soon put a good part of Europe in combustion In the mean time it befell her as it ordinarily doth those who will please two Persons at a time that is that she neither pleased the Grand-Visier nor the Electors For these whom the King had endeavoured to persuade as he had done also all Europe that his rising up from before Luxemburg whereof I ere-while spake was because of the Descent of the Turks into Hungary thought it strange that this Reason which was then so remote from Danger should no longer subsist now when the Danger was so near The Grand-Visier on the other side did not like that all these great Promises terminated in making Spoil amongst People Allies indeed of the Empire but yet so remote from it whereas he desired that all these Hostilities should have been committed in the Center thereof But France who cared little for the Ends of either of them provided she might attain her own let them say what they pleased flattering her self that in respect of the Turks she had sufficiently satisfied the Engagement she had with them by attacking Flanders which makes part of Low-Germany and for what concerns the Electors they had no reason to complain because she had kept her self within her Promise which was only not to attack the Emperor or Princes of the Empire She believed moreover that this Proceeding of hers terrifying Spain and her Allies in regard of the present Conjuncture they would all conspire as diligently as they possibly could to cause the Town of Luxemburg to be given her for fear she should make greater Conquests whereof they were apprehensive in the Conditions wherein things were and the Arms of the most part of the neighbouring Princes being employed as they were either in combating the Turk or only observing him In the mean time the Hollanders whom it greatly concerned not to suffer this Crown to make thus every day new Attempts upon Flanders the Loss whereof drew along that of their Provinces assembled amongst themselves to see what Remedy they might bring thereunto To which they were moreover every day excited by Mr. de Fuen-Maior Envoy of Spain who spake so plainly of the King his Master's Inability to defend that Country that he ingenuously confest unto them that it could no longer be preserved without their Assistance Many of the Hollanders concluded at first upon War and they were without doubt the most illuminated but others Lovers of Repose and besides more attached to Commerce having made use of the Pretence of the present Conjunctures for to render them apprehensive of breaking Peace with so powerful a Crown said that their Opinion was to bring Matters to an Accommodation This Diversity of Opinions delayed their Resolution for ten or twelve days during which they every day endeavoured to open the Eyes of those that were blinded hoping besides that Vienna would be relieved which would perhaps have drawn their Minds to do that which was convenient for the Glory and Interest of the State But this News not coming and they receiving on the contrary from day to day advice that the Grand-Visier was obstinate to continue the Siege caused his Camp to be wonderfully fortified and in fine prepared himself to fight the Relief if any came the States no longer expected that time to resolve but the well-intention'd having made the others at last to take Resolutions worthy of their Courage they determined to succour poor afflicted Flanders by sending her eight thousand Men to put in her Places and making a far greater Number to march if Necessity required it This Resolution being taken they sent Order to the Officers to leave their Garrisons and march towards the Frontiers and the Troops which were to pass into Flanders pass'd thither and the others entred into those Places of Brabant which belonged to the Hollanders as being more exposed to the Enterprizes of France which they knew not yet whether to treat as a Friend or an Enemy for she caused every day the States to be told by her Ambassador that her design was not to break with any one but to cause Justice to be done her concerning the County of Alost which she pretended to be of the Dependencies of what had been granted her by the Treaty of Nimeguen In the mean time they still expected with impatience the Success of the Succour which was preparing for Vienna and France her self also expected the same for to take openly her Resolutions upon what should arrive there but at last after a long expectation they learnt that this Success was as glorious as the Christians could desire the Grand-Visier's Infantry being totally routed their Cavalry very much endammaged all their Cannon and Baggage lost in fine the Place succoured with a thousand other remarkable Circumstances which it would be too long to particularize This great News which was confirmed by a Courier whom the Prince de Waldeck dispatcht expresly to the Prince of Orange put at first all the Officers of War who desired only matter to employ their Valour into unimaginable Transports of Joy Every one figured to himself all Europe reunited against France they represented to themselves with pleasure so many Outrages revenged so many Attempts happily executed so many unfortunate Princes reestablisht in their Estates and in fine every one in particular built himself a Fortune according to the Grandeur of his Courage when all of a sudden they fell from a great Hope to a just Apprehension that this great Success would bring rather Peace than War Those who were of this Sentiment alledged for their Reasons That Peace not being yet made with the Turk none would refuse to treat if France departed from her Pretensions which it was to be presumed she would do in the Fear she ought to have lest this Peace being made all Europe should fall upon her that one Mark of her having been always willing to reserve to her self this Back-door is that she had not yet attempted any thing altho it were near a Month since she entred into Flanders that the Hollanders who were as it were the Soul of all the Party would not have War unless they were obliged thereunto by indispensible Necessity and that they should no sooner see an Opportunity of being able to continue in repose but they would embrace it with pleasure that the others could do nothing without them and that in one word the common Interest of Christendom set aside it had been more advantagious for them that Vienna had been taken than relieved These Reasons were indeed strong but there were opposed unto them others which were no less strong For hereunto it was answered That altho Peace were not yet made with the Turk there was nevertheless all reason to believe that it would incessantly be made it having been the Policy of the Turks to treat as soon as ever they were once beaten That if the French had not yet attempted any thing it was not so much to expect what would arrive from Vienna as to leave some impression of their Moderation pretending thereby that Vienna being taken the Empire whereof they aimed to make themselves Masters would call them in to its Assistance which would facilitate the means of their accomplishing their Designs That now they were fallen from all these Pretensions there was nothing more left them but to assert their Claim by Arms which they were too glorious not to do That the Hollanders of whose Courage they seemed willing to enter into distrust had reason to complain that after having alone as they had done embraced the Defence of Flanders they should be thought to be such slender Politicians as not to lay hold of an Occasion which was so favourable to them to make a Crown whose Neighbourhood they ought so much to apprehend to give up what he had swallowed That in fine they were too wise and too illuminated not to see that altho France should even incline to some Peace it would be only a daubed-up Peace such as have been those she has made these fifteen or twenty Years It remains now to examine which of these two seemed to have the greater Reason but methinks it is not very difficult to conclude in behalf of the latter For altho there be nothing to be added to their Reasons I shall say however that the Spaniards who would easily have yielded to any Conditions of Peace in case Vienna had been taken will now grow stiff since they hope to be supported by Germany which on her side will be very glad after she shall have made Peace with the Turk to free her self from the French Domination However it be the Victory which the Christians have gained cannot but have good Effects for whether we have Peace or War we ought to hope for an happy Issue and that one way or other we shall find means to mortify a Crown which begins a little too much to mis-understand it self FINIS