others the same acknowledgment which as they thought was unavoidable having without so much as hesitating seen the Rinegrave Count perform the like submissions but when the Count on his side expected they should keep their Word with him was told they were not the Masters and that he must make his Applications to the Court thither then must he take a Journey little to the purpose for instead of gaining the thing he made demand of they e'en told him he might go as he came and wonder'd in their Hearts such a petty Fellow as he should be unwilling to hold his Country in Fee of so great a King as was the great King of France A little before such another Answer had been made to the Palatine Elector who sending to the Court of France to complain of his Country being made daily havoc of by the Licentiousness of the French Forces to an infringement of the late Peace the complainer was answer'd when a little Prince like that Elector had the Honour to be Neighbour to so great a King 't was not for such as he to be that nice Short and sweet this hitherto Roses but in conclusion we shall have Thorn and all France still claims on their right of Dependencys and finding Spain weak apparently helpless the County of Alost is demanded of them as an appertenance of the late Conquests Spain troubled at the demand because Oudermond with other Towns and Villages did all belong to the same County let France understand the great Iniquity of her pretended right but whilst this was under debate between the Spanish Embassador and the Ministers they yet made more demands as intricate all out and as perplext as their first The County of Chini had been granted France by the Tenure of the Treaty with all its appertenancies and as those Dependancies had not receiv'd their full Explanation in the wording of the Peace France now become what Spain did use to be to say a wrangler and full of her fetches and quibling tricks alledged the Dependancies of Chini reacht to the very Gates of Luxemburg and therefore requir'd to have possession thereof given them by the Spaniards if not they would give it themselves The Spanish Embassador as very able Man as he was was puzzled at the new quiddity and demanded time to make his Master acquainted the time he ask't was granted him but when expir'd France finding Spain endeavouring to elude its pretensions causes Forces openly to march into the Country of Luxemburg blocks up all the High-ways that lead to the County Town raises Forts round about and tho then in the midst of a profound Peace commits all the acts of an actual Hostility which could possibly be committed in a declar'd War the Governor of Luxemburg sends his Trumpet to the Commander in chief of those Forces to know if France mean'd a Declaration of a War with Spain But he was answer'd they meant no such thing and that they only were about taking possession of what belong'd to them Mean while under the Notion of possession-taking they hindred every thing from coming into the Town of Luxemburg and every thing from going out on 't and if any offer'd to pass their way they sent them back to the Town again pretending they came out as Spies upon their actions and if there came any from the Country such as their Market-people or the like with Provisions to sell in Town as they were us'd to do they sent them back too having first strip't them of all they had to teach them not to come again a second time and if those Country People offer'd to pass them without Provisions were suffer'd to go by after a due Examine of all they had about them but when they would repass home again were drove back into the Town that so the Provisions of the Place might be consumed the sooner When for my part I reflect upon these violent Courses I could not but be extreamly surpriz'd to see England the Mediator and Garanty of the Peace troubled themselves no further in its due execution they saw before their Eyes what pass'd but without the least concern for the visible infraction and as if France had made all sure upon that hand pursued in their constant and daily acts of open Hostility but yet offer'd still to make England the Umpire of their debate which left Spain without all sort of hope for upon one side not having confidence enough in England to trust its Interest in their hands upon t'other knew not what well to say to the King of France so fairly offering to refer the Matter Perplext on both hands Spain resolves to put something to the venture of a chance and seeing the Town of Luxemburg must apparently be lost for want of Provisions sent the Governour of the place private Orders to open a passage by force come what will The Governour who for a long time desir'd no better sallies out at a time when the French least expected him and setting upon one of their Quarters charged them home as they just were upon the point of making head to dispute the passage The French made a great resistance but over-power'd by number being forc't to give way the Governour advancing and joining his convoy which he of long hand held before in a readiness put his relief into the Town Some two hundred of the French were killed in the action and about Eighteen or Twenty of the Spanish but among all these not a Man of note lost nor so much as one Officer France no sooner had the News but thunder'd it against the Spaniards as much indeed to blame they quietly would not endure starving Drew every where presently their Forces down towards the Towns that held for Spain but at the instant of acting with them England hinder'd from further proceeding by making France get full satisfaction in the point from Spain who disown'd not only all the Governor of Luxemburg had done but offering even to discharge him of his Government and in short so supinely weak paid for the Damage in conclusion sustain'd by the French for a certain Sum of Money agreed upon After this delicate Treaty the Blocus of Luxemburg was afresh begun again and the French reinforc't their Quarter and patrol'd the Avenues duly for their greater security of being in haste catcht as they before had been Truly I can't contain from a little digression here and say Posterity will be hardly made believe that in the mid'st of Peace the one side shall be allow'd them to make War but the other shall be punisht because they submit not in every thing their Enemies would impose upon them Howbeit the Luxemburg Garrison being large and the Convoy not sufficient for a long supply began again to feel the same inconveniences it had before The Governour being a brave Man who had much rather have chose to die with his Arms in his Hand then lead out a life so very shameful and so unworthy of
of that Crown the then Prince Regent having no more Children The Dutchess of Savoy being Born in France and French in all her Inclinations relishes the Proposal with pleasure Thinking the Quality of a King of Portugal was every whit Equivalent to a Duke of Savoy But as they have a Law in Portugal which Forfeits in a Daughter her right of Succession to the Crown in case of Marriage with a Stranger that Law how to abolish must first be thought of The Cardinal Destrée in Name of his Master undertook the thing France sends then to Portugal to that effect and as she was in a happy post of carrying all before her did in that conjuncture too carry that Affair insomuch as the having of that Law abrogated and the Dukes Marriage with their Infanta finally agreed upon The Grandees of Savoy without whose advice this Business had been determin'd unsatisfied with the Match which ended in a deprivement of their natural Prince and the Subordination of a Governour had their private Cabals to consult the breaking the Neck of the Marriage and stop it from further going on I cannot justly say if they confederated for sake of public good or meerly for their private ends howbeit the Portugal Match far from being of advantage to the Duke one may truly say he was a loser by the Bargain no less then the Princes in general of his Family besides whilst he was to have resided in Portugal who should have succor'd Savoy in case France had had a mind to set up right of Conveniency a right which they endeavor'd equally to establish as well as right of Dependency and for no other Reason indeed was the Prince of Montbelliard drove out of his Country then that it did accommodate the Crown But they heeded little all that could be said against it and still went on their Road where but a glimpse appear'd of probable sucscess Madam the Dutches of Savoy smoakt the drift as well as any but the powerful desire of Sovereign Rule carried it above all other considerations and as Alexander of Farnese Duke of Parma sent off his Mother in former days not to be oblig'd to share with her the Government of the Low-Countries So the Dutchess of Savoy was for packing away her Son that she might remain still the absolute Mistress of that State She knew well enough they would not fail detaining the Duke in Portugal to inure him to the ways and customs of a Nation which one day he was design'd to govern and by the shift secure to her self the Supreme Authority In the mean while discontents amongst the Grandees encreas'd daily and have frequent meetings to advise upon what they had to do could not for all that meet so in private but the Dutchess had Intelligence willing to secure her self from the Designs her Grandees might well have of troubling the Government caused Forces to be fetcht from France in good store to be dispers'd in the Neigbourhood about under a pretence of covering Cazal The Nobility of Savoy though alarm'd at the French assisting thus of the Dutchess gave not over for all that their Intentions of helping their young Duke and having found her out in her Treaty with France into whose hands she had agreed to deliver the most important places of strength in the Country in Pledge of some Loans of Money she had borrow'd of them for the defray of her Son's Marriage were unanimously resolv'd to hazard all than suffer thus a general ruine and as they watch't their opportunity to compass their design the Dutchess her self favour'd them with one which they conceiv'd might serve their turn for having left her Son at Turin contrary to her custom whilst her self stept a Mile or two out of Town the Grandees took that Time to speak to their Duke That he must look upon himself in French hands every where surrounding him as now their Prisoner in a manner that the Dutchess his Mother had sold them his best Towns and would yet be selling what remain'd if not prevented by his great goodness to his People That she sent him to Portugal not to be the Soveraign there but that at home she might be so That in case he met with freedom to his Person there he must at least expect to meet a Master whereas if he vouchsafed to stay with them he should meet with nothing but their entire obedience and dutiful respects that the Portuguises naturally hated Strangers and if they did assent to his marrying their Infanta 't was by constraint and with regret That he might rest assur'd the Prince Regent once dead they would retract again from what they had done and bar him of his Crown as formerly they had done to the King of Spain that it was not easie to foresee what might then become of him for that the French having once seized his Country perhaps might not be in humor to restore it him again These remonstrances startled the young Duke who yet had not Brains ripe enough to apprehend among a great many Truths they represented there was Lies in an equal number he ask't them what best for him to act to shun so many threatning misfortunes They answer'd no other way left then the securing of his Mother the expedient was surprizing but finding they had struck from the first an impression upon the young Prince gave him no time to the recollections of a Natural affection prest him with telling his own safety lay for the future in his own power to resolve for good and all of being a happy or unhappy Duke the remainder of his life as for their parts resolv'd to be the lookers on of what every Day produced no longer had design'd retiring into some other Country where at least they should gain that comfort of Knowing they had no kind of Hand in any thing that would be attempted against his Dignity or Person A few Tears artificially shed or out of compassionate good Nature accomplisht persuading of the Duke calls for Pen and Paper and signs a Warrant immediately for the seizing of his Mother In the mean while before they could get together to take their measures for execution of their Order the Dutchess was return'd into the Town and being arriv'd at her Palais was extremely surprized to find her Son sad and pensive and much beside himself askt what he ail'd conjuring him to tell her but finding him not answering she adds to her entreaties the blandishments of a Mother as she embraced him perceiv'd he wep't and Tears to tricle down his Cheeks which troubled her to the highest degree sell then to a redoublement of muching calls him her own dearest Child falls her self a crying and in the end so softens he confesses to her they had surprized him and that he had signed an Order for the commitment of her Person The Dutchess was her self struck with amaze at the sort of News but having now no time to lose and that every Minut was to her of
progress but let us pass to some other matter this being but trifle in comparison with what I have yet to say The King of Poland had ever been a Friend of France 't was by her means he got the Crown which every foot was sending him presents in token of her Friendship had given him her Order of Holy Ghost and the only Prince she in fine thought well of in Europe besides Now let us see how they came to break with him and at whose Door lies the fault 't is indeed with difficulty I must discover this but out it must being got so far there is no going back The Money sent by France to Teckely was no useless supply he had for it engag'd the Turks to fall upon the Emperor and France having due Intelligence of all that past both of time and place and of the other side preferr'd the carrying on of her Intregues to all other concerns made no Bones of Soliciting the King of Poland at that time to attack the Emperors Country upon his side as the right of conveniency was an attractive sort of right in her Eyes which sway'd with her imagin'd it might do the same with the King of Poland and propos'd to him the Conquest of Silesia where in probability he was not like to meet with any great resistance from the Moment the Ottoman Forces had made their descent into Hungary the King of Poland who is a sharp Prince and who needs no prompters to teach him his Lesson thought it improper to his own Honour as to that of his Crown to make use of the advice on the contrary he accepts of an Alliance with the Emperor then propos'd him by which they mutually engaged by League Offensive and Defensive to assist each other against the Turk France had no sooner learnt what the King of Poland had done but her former Kindness was immediately chang'd into an irreconcilable hate sends to the Marquis of Vitry her Ambassadour in that Court a Man of Parts and good at an Intregue to employ his skill to set all at work in creating misunderstandings betwixt him and his people and Morstein high Treasurer of Poland who was a Pentioner of France and where he had thoughts to settle himself and where he already had purchas'd great possessions assists Vitry in his design already had they tamper'd with some of the discontented Senators who talk't at no lower rates then the obliging the King of Poland to relinquish the Government For the purpose already cast their Eyes upon a Person they had design'd the Throne to in his stead When as good fortune would have it the King of Poland intercepted a Letter of Morstein's writ in Cyphers he sends for him forthwith and having enquir'd of him the meaning of the Letter and finding he endeavour'd to shift the Truth bid him give the Key Morstein reply'd 't was with his Wite which forc't the King to send for her when she came and found for what the King had sent for her told she had burnt the Key and not being able to get out any better account commanded the Commitment of them both under a strong Guard till he sifted the affair a little more narrowly I shall say no more upon this Chapter every one knows the French Embassador convinc'd of Tampering in the Business a certain Senator out of pure love to his King and Country was bold enough to say in full assembly speaking of Morstan that for attempts of a less nature the Turks had given Two hundred Bastinadoes to an Embassadour of France and 't was his Opinion Mr. De Vitry deserv'd four hundred The King of Poland a sagacious Prince and great Politician would suffer him to say no more for fear the heat he was in might transport him too far hinder'd also the Entry of his Opinion upon their publick Records contenting himself to let Mr. De Vitry know he had strain'd his Character of Embassadour Mr. De Vitry remain'd not long after this in Poland and if ever he have Embassy elsewhere I make no doubt the Princes they fend him to will take due care to watch his Water I have formerly toucht upon some circumstances of Luxemburg but as insensibly I fell to other subjects 't is yet not unseasonable to relate what was the success though to have done things exactly methodical it should have been before handled As the Conquest of Strasburgh and the acquisition of Casal had strangely alarm'd both Emperor and Spaniard had been instant with all their Neigbouring Princes to use their Endeavours for their regaining of them again but as some were feeble in all respects others gain'd by the French they remitted all to the Diet of Franckfort where whole Months were spent in canvasing a Pass-port four or five Months more took up in a debate whether they should speak Latin high Dutch or French that so far from hopes of some Redress that way our Disease became the more incurable These delatories then making the Imperialists and Spain despair of gaining their point by means of the Diet they by concerted Measures march their Forces towards Strasburgh and Casal which the French was then beginning to fortifie which lay almost every where open for that the old works had been thrown down to put new in the room The Emperor Spaniard were but in an ill condition to go through with any thing they undertook But the King of France newly settled in his Conquest of those two places imagining they marcht not their Forces but with some design and might not be without holding some private Intelligence in both the Towns raises the Blocus of Luxemburgh to have Forces in readiness to oppose Now as he was willing to have the thanks of that action sends for the Marquis of Fuentes Embassadour of Spain to tell him that upon the advice he had receiv'd the Turk was falling upon Hungary he thought good to withdraw his Forces from Luxemburg that so the King of Spain might have the greater liberty to assist the Emperor The Marquis of Fuentes who knew well enough what to think of the Business made his Compliment of thanks to his Majesty notwithstanding as an act of great grace and favor but amongst Friends where he could be free would be telling them what was the real cause of so great a change which was in every Bodies mouth already who had but the least smackering in publick Affairs And indeed if I may be allow'd a little to argue the point who is it does not see the art of this management was too too gross to pass upon good Eyes For if true France had such good natur'd and such pious considerations why has she since contradicted them by so many of her actions to the contrary why a correspondence with Teckely why Intregues carried on in Poland why those Alliances with Denmark and Brandenburgh why Princes so warmly ply'd to draw them to her side And in short why those Huffs at the Imperial Diet if they
Romans as 't was a thing he had been instant with them for of a long time they should no sooner have answer'd his desire in that particular the Face of their Empire should soon see chang'd that the Kings Forces lay ready at their Gates for their nearer assistance and would in short retrive the Empire again into that flourishing condition it had ever yet been in under its greatest Emperors Prince William of Furstenburgh Bishop of Strasburgh de voted wholly to the Interests of France who for some Years has been labouring to deliver up his Country was one of those most powerfully endeavor'd to insinuate these kind of things But the aversion the Empire had for the French in general was so great and so universal so far from calling of them into their help would have much sooner call'd in the Turk And indeed the Turk troubles no Body for his Religion sake leaving every one to his Liberty of Conscience keeping strictly to their word where they once give it and provided their Tribute be but paid which you promise them Exact no more no Leeches there preying upon the Blood of the People to be seen as in France swarming under the Name of Partisan or Farmers of the Kings Revenue there no laying of new Taxes upon every sort of thing or when necessity obliges them to lay any are taken off again as the necessity ceases the Souldier is not there ill handled nor the Ministers at every turn threatning to lay them by the heels on the contrary the Sword-Man is in great esteem amongst them and a brave Fellow there is not without his Mark of Distinction In a word they had heard so much of the French Domination and way of Government that they had resolv'd as one Man to stand it out to the last then ever have submitted In vain then did all these good French men take the pains in giving out as I was saying they did The King then seeing he lost his time that way resolv'd upon the employing it somewhere else to better purposes whilst the occasion was opportune his Pretentions to the County of Alost he still kept up and so marches to Flanders side with his Forces proceeds to nominating of his general Officers which he is never accustom'd to do but upon the neck of a War and in fine making all ready to enter upon the Country But just upon the point of putting his design in execution God was pleas'd to take out of this World the Queen his Wife one of the best Princesses upon Earth after a sickness of two or three Days Her Disease appear'd not visibly dangerous and was but a swelling which kindly enough inclin'd to suppuration but the Doctors instead of letting Nature have her Course which was e'en ready to throw off the malignity as I was saying having through Ignorance let her Blood contrary to the Opinion of Mr. Fagon her chief Physician it struck in again to the Heart and kill'd her So soon as the Queen's condition was perceiv'd Dangerous the King had notice who came presently to her Chamber and seem'd most extremly sensible threw himself upon her Bed with the Tears in his Eyes speaking to her in Spanish but the Queens Eyes now setting in Head and Death approaching died in his Arms without being able to answer They had an Hour or two before given Emetick Wine but had not strength enough to bear it that instead of doing her good serv'd only but to shorten her time they forc't the King away from her who lay taking on like wild in her Arms and the Queen they left upon the Bed of State till the next Day then put her into a Coffin of Lead placing instead of the Body a waxen Image made in resemblance which for Nine days together was serv'd up as if yet alive or rather as if it was the Queen her self She was afterwards carried to St. Dennis the ordinary Burying place of the Kings of France with a Magnificence truly Royal Sixteen thousand Flambeauxs Six hundred poor People clad in Black besides the Servants of her own Family and those of all the Princes and Princesses of the Blood Royal an infinite of other Persons of the first quality with an endless train of Coaches Her Heart had been carried some days before to Val-de grace and placed in the Nuns Quire right against the Chappel where is kept that of the Queen Mother Two or three days before the Queen dy'd there happen'd a thing of an odd Nature enough That Princess who was extremely addicted to her Religion having call'd for an Almanack to her Bed-side to see when such a Holy-day would fall to which she had a particular Devotion perceiv'd the Composer of the Almanack in his Predictions upon the Month July foretold the withdrawing of a Prince and Death of some great Lady who would be much regretted and as the Prince of Condy's leaving the Court shew'd perfectly he had hit extreme right She turns her self to Madam La Marshalle de Humiers Lady of her Bed-chamber who stood at her Beds-head and askt if 't was not she they meant The particular of this I had from Madam La Marshalle d' Humiers her self and since have had the curiosity to view the Almanack where those very two things are litterally to be found However the grief of the King slopt his Flanders expedition retir'd immediately to St. Clou his Brothers the Duke of Orleance's Country House from thence to Fountain-bleau where in vain they strive to divert him as the Queen took great pleasure in that place made him often call to mind his Queen tears are frequent in his Eyes and nothing but length of time can make him forget her Notwithstanding they give out he persists still in his great designs the Truth of which we shall soon Know with a little patience But for me I think God sent him that affliction to move him and that in a little time he not only will leave Europe in Peace but by joining his Arms with the Christians will force the Turk to leave the Empire in quiet which we ought all to wish FINIS THis Book was given to the Bookseller the Fifteenth of August by which 't is to be seen the Author must be well enough acquainted with the Business of Alost the manifesto in Relation to it being to come out upon the Saturday and her Majesty dying but the day before c.
Country to give him the opportunity of placing the other as they saw occasion 't was a thing not unnotic'd the great difficulty occurr'd in the uniting of the German Princes which neither more nor less but just like an Engin of many Springs was brought into motion but with all the pains and trouble in the World It was rational then Enough to fear if once suffered to knock off they were not when one would have them to be got together again the Prince of Orange had represented all this at large in the Assembly of the States General where some he never mist of opposing his Opinion 't was flatly told him there the Charge of the War was not a thing supportable the excess of which had quite already drain'd their Bank and reduced the People to the last degrees of Indigence that a respite of necessity must be given or resolve in a very little to see the utter ruine of the Nation That Prince would have reply'd the respite not at all like to last and France seeking but to sever them from their Allys having once wrought their Ends would again be playing over her Old Pranks within a Year or two But Burgimaster Ofteè of Amsterdam stopt his Mouth in telling the Provinces were indeed consenting with all their Hearts to the carrying on the War if his Highness could but hit the way of doing it without Mony that the Province of Holland would give not a Stiver more towards it or at least the City of Amsterdam would not as whose Representative he was commission'd to speak Now you must know all the Subsidies whatever rais'd upon the Seven Provinces that of Holland furnishes almost the half and of that half more then the two Fifts are paid by the City of Amsterdam That in the Quota of Subsidies if the Province of Holland be reckon'd to pay Fifteen Millions of that Fifteen Seven is near pay'd by that City After Ofteè's having thus declar'd himself there was no likelihood of thinking to continue the War any longer chiefly for that the rest of the Provinces conformed for the most part in Opinion much with that of Holland was easily observable and that though they yet had not explain'd themselves so fully upon the point as Holland had their great inclination to Peace was like their's apparently obvious As the Emperor thoroughly understood at bottom the French intentions drove of a long time at Universal Monarchy at hearing what had past in Holland was much concern'd at the News Yet to divert if possible those Provinces from the resolutions they had taken had it told them he required no more of them the Subsidies they us'd to pay him offering to return them again upon the like occasion the same assistance The Hollanders thank't the Emperor for his good will but could not be induced for that to continue the War adding that seeing his Imperial Majesty as well as the rest of the Allys produced every day some fresh Obstacles or other to the Peace then in Treaty at Nimeguen warn'd him that if he did not think good to conclude the Peace and that very suddenly they should be oblig'd to do it without him what made the Dutch so pressing was that as France laid the conditions of the Treaty very disadvantageous to the rest of the Allys as advantageous and beneficial were the Terms she made for Holland for MastrÃcht they offer'd to restore the only remaining place of all their Conquests upon that State since the first of the War so that though once reduced within an Inch of their Destruction entire they were now in prospect of a re-establishment by Vertue of the Peace to the same it ever had in times of its greatest Prosperity Something too there was over and above that caress't their Courage in the proposed Treaty as they saw the King of France made it his business to distinguish them from the other Allys they thence imagin'd they should retrieve their lost reputation amongst other Nations who formerly held their Forces in such good Opinion and should yet think very well of them seeing they were able to make their party good and to defend themselves against a prevailing Power so very formidable To say the Truth 't is wonderfully strange and worthy without doubt of the admiration of Posterity for ever that a little Nook of Land as one may say and Handful of People has not been only able to withstand such mighty Armies but likewise in condition to afford succour to her Neighbours 'T will be subject of surprize enough to them who shall succeed us to read in History that Hollanders Spaniards â—rreconcilable Enemies should be the People who have sav'd the Provinces to the King of Spain nor the Spaniards heretofore so inveterate against â—â—e Hollanders to find no where a more firm support nor a more ready assistance then that they receiv'd at hands of their most Ancient Enemies That by a fetch of Fortune so very strange the Spaniards must have been ruin'd had those of Holland never revolted from the Spanish subjection should there come to find their safety where they ever reckon'd on as their certain Destruction One may well enough say the Hollanders have twice scap't a scowring by their freeing of themselves from the Tyranny of the Spaniards for had they still continued under that Dominion the whole Seventeen Provinces had equally been lost And indeed there needs no stress of Politicks to discover the safety and well being of the United Provinces is meerly to be own'd to the prudent conduct of those who were at Helm as a peculiar reward in store from Heaven for what their Fore-Fathers had endured for their Religion's sake But to resume my Discourse the Hollanders suffering themselves to be thus over-reach't by all those glossy appearances signed cheerfully to the Peace apart seeing their Allys remain'd obstinate in pursuing of the War contrary to their Opinion I shall neither say in doing so they did well or ill one may judge enough of it by what since has happen'd The Emperor however and Spaniard finding their strongest recourse had thus abandon'd them accepted of the Peace on their side too and in like manner abandon'd the Duke of Brandenburg who could not be brought to admit of Conditions offer'd him so very prejudicial France then direct'd her Arms that way and as that Elector was not of himself to resist alone did what seem'd good in her Eyes in Treaty with that Prince with this comfort at the least what he was forc't to by France was with his Sword in his Hand and that his last action did not derogate from a Thousand others wherein he had during the War so worthily behav'd himself The Peace being then so happily finisht to the content of France as it rather had suspended then relinquisht its design of Universal Monarchy began now to manage those Princes she saw divided where there was ground to hope she might do it to effect The Duke of Brandenburg could
highest consequence sent for those about her immediately she could most confide in doubles the Palace Guards and causes those to be seiz'd in fine who had resolv'd her ruine makes her manifesto those very Persons were intended to take away the young Duke and carry him to Spain which is more then I can say they meant not knowing whether true or not or whether only a Sham to render them the more odious to the People Be it as 't will the Dutchess having once retriev'd her self from so very great a danger order'd the French Forces to March into the Town thereby to shew she trusted more to them then to those of the Country A certain Print for all this remain'd with the young Duke of what had been remonstrated insomuch that though his Equipage was gone already before to Portugal and himself soon to follow after he talk't no more of the Voyage And as still some body there was in place about him who privately cherisht the suspicion they had rais'd broke him clean off order'd his Family to return their ways home again to the unspeakable satisfaction of his whole People France only remain'd much mortifid promising already to it self the conjunction of Savoy to that Kingdom and to enchase it amongst the fairest Flowers of the Crown The dissatisfaction conceiv'd lay not long hid the Count of Soisson who in case of decease of the young Duke was Heir presumptive to the Dukedom of Savoy after the Death of Prince Carignan his Uncle was then in love with a private Damosel in France call'd Madamoseille de Beauais all the Relations had thitherto opposed the thing in fear of his design to marry her the King himself had signifi'd as much and that he ought to think of bestowing himself some other way but being thus disoblig'd by the Grandees of Savoy he suffer'd Count Soisson to do what he had most mind to to humble him and that Count did do what his passion persuaded This what past in Piemont let us now go see a little what a doing in Germany France for a long time had a Months mind to the City of Strasburgh it had defeated them a number of its measures during the late War and France had so well felt the importance of that place to resolve upon the having it cost it ne're so much To speak of having it by force lookt a little difficult and to do that a War must be openly declar'd and the adjacent Princes round about would have engag'd in her defence The easier way then seem'd the getting it by trick A Resident they kept at Strasburgh in Character more of Spy then public Minister whose Business was to observe all that past he had given the King often times account no good was to be done till those Burgemasters of the Town in present station were out of place when new came to be made had by that time gain'd a great many of the Votes got Persons elected to the Magistracy affection'd to the Interests of France ready fitted to make sale of their Country for a piece of Money with these after that he strikes a Bargain for the delivery of the Town upon the first occasion and they for their Reward to have each a Hundred Thousand Crowns a Man The Market being thus set these Traytors give the Town to consider the great Burthens of their Debt they stood charg'd with occasion'd by her vast Expences incurr'd in the late War and that now in time of Peace they should reduce the Garison which was too numerous That the King of France whom they had the most cause to fear had his whole thoughts took up towards Italy whither he had drawn the best part of all his Forces and that before he could march them back again they should have time enough to implore the assistance of their Neighbours whose proper concern in their preservation was too great not to afford them aid happen what would they had the Winter before to look about them which was now at hand That the King was great way distant from them as indeed he was and Summer then near spent there was no manner of likelihood he durst undertake any thing actually that season by the means save a good Sum of Money in their Purses that when Spring time came they then should see what other measures were fittest to be taken The advice took with the People who were all for the sparing point and for all the ablest men amongst them could formally oppose what the People once would have of necessity to be there was no withstanding one part of the Garison must then be dismist and which was remarkable of those the Forces of the Eldest standing But as the King of France lay perdue but for the occasion took Journey forthwith from Fountain-bleau at the same time caus'd his Men to draw down with expedition and invests the City at a time they imagin'd him in the midst of his Kingdom Some playing with the Cannon there was upon both sides to take off all suspicion off Intelligence which hinder'd not but those of Strasburgh well enough understood themselves betray'd And tho they now understood so with the latest they yet entertain'd thoughts of making a Defence But a rable of People hired at the same time by the French Resident or it may be as well by the Burgemasters themselves came flocking to the Town-house crying out for a surrender of the Town which otherwise would be suddenly consum'd by the Fire of the Booms and by the red hot Bullets The Burgemasters soon listn'd to that demand cause beat a Parly set up the White Colours for token of a general readiness to capitulate and in a word to say all yields up the Town I do not condemn France for an act of this importance since not of humor to matter much her Faith in point of Treaty but what I am most scandal'd at to have the Face to colour it with a shew of Justice The Emperor indeed having sent Count Mansfeld to complain of the Breach of Peace was answer'd that they much wonder'd the Emperor would concern himself where he had not to do that it was but lawful for the King to reduce a rebellious City That Strasburgh as the Capital of Alsace did belong to him by Vertue of the Munster Treaty and if he did not lay hold on 't sooner 't was because he had more pressing work in Hand But any would but answer me if that City had been granted him as pretended why entertain'd he there his public Ministers so long time why did he in the last War treat with her in Order to her remaining Neuter and why so often complaining of her not remaining so But all that France can say upon the subject is indeed not so much as worth an answer so I proceed to her Enterprizes elsewhere The taking of Strasburgh open'd the Eyes of a great many German Princes lull'd for a long time like England in a profound
that King nothing more could shew how extremely they were deceived who said he aimed so much at having his Son chose King of the Romans so far was he from designing that he should ever arrive at the Empire that 't was his Business to give it rather an absolute overthrow and so began first with the Electors that for the future such a thing as Emperor might be no more in Nature The Emperor the Princes of the Empire the Spaniards and in fine all those of the Cordial Allies saw but too plain the tendency of all these Designs but it seems such was the Fate of Europe whilst they lost whole years in deliberating about triffles France brings them under in the mean while and prepares their Chains whose weight is known by none but by those they load For in fine her own Ancient Subjects and those very Men who daily spend themselves to the last drop of their Blood in assisting them to compass their intentions meet with the same sort of Treatment is mett to others and to begin with those who serve in their Armies must be understood are all obliged to make a profuse Expence till their all be whole run out when she Knows they have nothing left them they pick a Fob-quarrel as one may call it are after all glad to take to an Hospital for the final recompence of Service 'T is for that end has she truly built and that a most sumptuous one but which stands them not in no great matter of keeping having laid hold on certain Lands which the particular Devotion of some People had given towards the relief of Lepers and converted to the use of that Hospital but as those Rents suffice not for the maintenance or at least will have it so supposed she detains in her Hands a certain Sum from both of the pay of Souldier and Officer and that way makes them purchase their Places beforehand which each is very well pleased to do for that they are satisfied thither they all must come and lay their Bones And those out of her Service have not a much better time on 't for though not oblig'd to so great an Expence as others are they squeese them to little by little till they have squeezed out the last of what they have And though they have continu'd some time in Peace they have diminisht nothing of their Taxes so that their King is the only Gainer by the War all besides losers The Franch County he has added to his Provinces with a great many more several Conquests which have very much augmented his Revenue which by his several new impositions he has greatly added to readier to lay more on then to suppress the Old Now if they who serve and who serve him not have so much to suffer there yet remains another sort of People in that State who certainly are yet much more to be pittied I mean those of the Reform'd Religion who must endure on all sort of outragious violences for tho they do not outright put them to death by the Hands of a Hangman as they are daily made to perish by little and little their death is but the crueller in that it is the more languishing and have for all that never given but Eminent proofs of their Fidelity and Allegiance and though when Henry the Fourth came to the Crown did he desert them it came not into their Thoughts to do as much by him which at that time had wholly ruin'd his Affairs some time they did remain quiet and enjoy'd the benefit of their Edicts but just it was they who were the great disturbers of Europe should too disturb a company of poor unhappy wretches excluded for ever from all Marks of Honour and places of trust have this however to comfort themselves that for their Religion 't is that they suffer Amongst the many of all sorts France thus undoes whether within or without the Kingdom the Prince of Orange was the only as one may say that nos'd them And though his power was no more then what the Common-wealth of Holland were pleased to limit him his great Heart was not so bounded and was incomparably greater then his Fortune he never gave over remonstrating to some that rather they should choose to perish then submit to Power so terribly dangerous to other some the absolute necessity of arming against her many things that Prince had retrencht himself to raise a Fund for the subsistance of some well deserving Officers which that State at making of the Peace had reform'd that so through necessity of Bread they might not be oblig'd to seek Employment elsewhere and when he had occasion for them might know where to find them France which knew she had in him an Enemy she most of all fear'd resolv'd he should feel in his Personal concerns a touch of her Resentment not to say of her Injustice his Principality of Orange lies between Languedoc and Avignon which as Sovereign of he had enjoy'd he and his Predecessors from the time it past out of the House of Chalon into that of Nassaw But that King who was for suffering no Sovereign in France nor in Europe neither besides himself had the Town of Orange dismantled and the Prince of Orange left without any reparation what complaint soever at that time he made of it to the King never so Instant But the King stopt not there in relation to his Affairs for having resolv'd to strip him absolutely of that Sovereignty he makes the Dutchess of Nemours put in who by colour of some foolish and idle pretences had the Prince cited at Law to their Courts of Judicature where not giving his appearance the Principality of Orange was adjudg'd her no body can no more than I tell upon what bottom that Decree could ground For if by Vertue of some pretended old Entail from the House of Chalon to which they will say the Predecessors of the Prince of Orange did not comply with as it is easie to give proof sufficient to the contrary 't is not without a likelihood of Truth to say that tho Madam de Nemours could make out the Title her time was laps'd in point of claim for that by the Laws of that Kingdom such at least as I have seen them in case of Custom the prescription of Thirty years Possession was sufficient to quiet a Title and that the Prince of Orange I mean the Prince and his Predecessors together have enjoy'd for above a Hundred and fifty years But whether this be so or not it hinder'd not but Madam de Nemours obtain'd her Decree which tho has for all that been since revok't in the mean while the Prince has sent Mr. Hemsius to Paris to shew the King the wrong done him The States General upon their part have particularly recommended that Affair to their Embassadour in France but hitherto ineffectually and tho 't is now six Months that Mr. Hemsius is working at it it yet appears not to have made any
consent not to her pretensions I know before hand what answer I shall have I know nothing less will be allow'd neither in regard to Teckely nor to the King of Poland that to what concerns the rest will be answer'd it was the Master-piece of a Politick King vers'd in King-craft and the Arts of Government to be making sometimes such sort of Alliances which have their use not so much in order to the support of War abroad amongst his Neighbours as to hinder his Neighbours from carrying the War home to his own door I do know as I said the unthinking part of Mankind may be put upon in disowning of the one and in giving some kind of gloss to palliate the other but I would a little fain know if they can answer this too which I am now about saying France was willing to raise the Blocus of Luxemburg a whole year before the Turks came down upon Hungary and when effectually they came with a Vengeance he frames a Camp in Alsatia to hold the Emperor in play makes another in Flanders to oblige Spain to be upon her Guard a Camp upon the River Soare he orders to frighten the Electors and in fine has another Camp drawn upon the Saonne to keep the rest of Europe in a Jealousie France would shew to the World she becomes less rapacious upon the considerations of the great misfortunes that hung now over the Head of Christendom and when those misfortunes are actually befallen her it then Thunders Threats and Rants and lets the Diet be roundly told he onely will give but such certain short day to grant her injust pretentions in and if not then granted would do her self that right by force of Arms And to be doing as well as saying presents with a great Army upon the Frontier ready at a mouthfull to swallow several of the Spainish Provinces War indeed they can't be said to make but make altogether as much mischief by their hindring those Princes which she just dreaded as she did the Turk from employing their Forces in favour of the Emperor The Emperor indeed himself obliged to leave his to guard the Rhine whilst a Company of Infidels invades his Dominions ravages to the very Heart of his Country and carries off for Slaves a hundred Thousand Souls burns his Palaces lays waste the Country round and in conclusion claps Siege to Vienna his Capital City and place of Residence But I perceive not all this while that having but now documented others I insensibly fall into the same Error my self I would have them avoid I fall off arguing the point as if every one could not do it as well without me let us have done then with these kind of entertainments and go on to our Examine of other places whether France aspiring to the Universal Monarchy be Truth or Fiction or rather let us see if she already usurps not upon the right of Sovereigns as if she actually were the Mistress of the World Let us see what she is about with her Mines in all the Courts of Europe not that I pretend to say Policy is a thing forbidden amongst Princes but that her meaning may no more be doubted of every one can tell what an Errand she sent the Republic of Genoua whose Coat she fain would pick a hole in sends word she will not have her put her Gally's out lest they should come to joyn with those of Spain if otherwise should take it for an act of Hostility and should use her accordingly as an Enemy declared The Hollanders just so dealt with about a Month or two since upon the intent they had of sending some new Ships to the King of Swede So that over those two Common-wealths where she hath nothing to do she already Lords it as absolute Sovereign she will not suffer Free States who have bought their Liberty with the Price of their Blood shall think to make Alliances and succour their Allies and they that call themselves the eldest Sons of the Church can yet suffer an Alliance with her most mortal Enemy But then let us see how she deals with those that leave her Interest and those it self who are mean spirited enough to adhere to her let us look a little upon the different Springs she sets at work to bring her matters about what says she not of the Duke of Bavaria for deserting the side and his so very generously embracing that of the Emperor what does she not at Leige where she makes it her Business to soment the Rebellion of that People against their lawful Prince that so the Prince not able to master them may not with the assistance of other Princes be in a post to make a Barrier of that City and stop her passage that way into the Territories of other States What does she not act at Cullen where the Inhabitants are all banding one against t'other and cutting one anothers Throats whilst the Enemy is at their Gates ready to devour What not at Hamburgh and Lubec where Intregues apparent as the Sun are carrying on to the ruine both of their Liberty and Country What leave they undone in the Courts of the Lunebourg Princes where People banisht France are most in Credit but banisht after such a fashion as to return again into that Kingdom when they will and privately to see and discourse the Ministers Indeed what is she not brewing in the Emperors Court it self where she foments Jealousies among the chief where she opens the very Cabinet Counsels with her Silver Key where not one resolution can be taken but she gets notice of at the same time Some may say I discourse but of these affairs conjecturally I shall most willingly leave them to their own thoughts after saying what I have in answer After the routing the Marshal of Crequi at the Seige of Treves France lay open to the prevailing side there then stood no more Forces in their way and had they been so minded might well have carried the Terror of their Arms into the Heart of the Country The French were much afraid they would and begun to pack their most valuable goods within the wall'd Towns when Mr. De Louvois told a certain Person with whom I had particular acquaintance during the time I was in France and whom I have it from that the Enemy would act no farther that Campagne and were then upon their drawing off I willingly would ask now if this was news one could reasonably well credit in the then present posture of Affairs if one ought not to be supernaturally gifted if one needed not a spirit of Revelation to be believing the contrary to what every one else had reason to believe But what will not a Man do as a certain old Author has remark't who devotes his whole thought to become rich To that very effect have the Suisses took the Bridle in their Mouths by the Fort of Huninghen and made sale both of Liberty and Country a Counsellor of their State might
remonstrate his Heart out in full assembly the Interest those People had to be early in their opposition to a power who in her ambitious thoughts devour'd Europe the Pensioners of France soon stops his Mouth and as they struck the greatest stroke with that Common-wealth must submit to what they pleas'd to do That way 't was that Nation suffer'd without opposing the Franch County to be seized by France from whence it might have hoped the speedy assistance of a Neighbour I speak not of a great many more things happen'd of the same batch in the time of the late Wars will seem too superannuated and too trifling For in fine who is' t but right well knows that to be the opening Key the French have with unlockt the Gates of so many Towns every one can tell 't is with that Instrument she renders all undertakings to her prejudice Abortive and did retard the Seige of Phillipsburgh but 't were too much work to say here how very useful their Coin has been in their regard and how very prejudicial to the World besides And yet can't hold from speaking of a late passage happen'd in Denmark to shew she is no such squanderer neither of her Mony as one would well imagine Denmark becoming Pensioner to France or say rather took Her Money to act as France would have her Mr. Colbert through whose hands the Mony went design'd for that Court having fancy to try how the Dane would take it to have his Pension retrench't caus'd write to that effect to the French Embassadour in Denmark by the Hand of Mr. Colbert De Croissy his Brother whose Province 't is to take care of Forreign Affairs the Embassadour having receiv'd his Instructions went immediately to wait upon the King of Denmark surprized in the highest Nature at the proceeding told him he had no answer to return but should give the King of France one by the hands of his own Envoy then in Court and at the same time send Directions to his Envoy to speak to the King in the Business and to let him know how ill he took it at his hands The King told the Envoy of Denmark that he understood not what 't was he spoke to him about that his Embassad our had acted without order that 't was never his thought neither to add nor diminish any thing in the Treaty he had made with the King his Master and should call home his Embassadour to teach him undertaking thus things of his own Head so the poor Embassadour was Sacrificed just like the Governor of Luxemburg disown'd by the Spaniards as before related France too disowns her Embassadour to preserve Amity with the Crown of Denmark It now remains to inspect the cause why France so potent in her Arms and knowing how disunited and divided were all her Neighbours has for all that been so long without engaging To this a reason is given with much facility nor is there in it much of puzzle The private Alliance she had made with the Turks was the String to her Bow she most trusted to but that Alliance could not be expected should produce the wish't effect of a sudden for the Truce then a foot between the Emperor and the Port expired but in the Year 1682. and had a mind it should expire first before any thing was to be undertaken was not over sure whether the Turks whose Faith in that affair could not be well relied on would effectually declare against the Emperor or whether would accept those very advantagious Terms propos'd by the Imperialists ont'other hand she was upon the fortifying of a world of places where much time was requisite to finish the works and was against the Rules of common Policy not to enter upon a War till she had seen those places in some probable Perfection and thitherto truly one might do her that right she had let slip no favourable occasion but on the contrary had been imprudently done to act otherwise And indeed to shew clearly her Design was to draw her men into the Field from the very critical Minut The Turks began the dance with theirs that no sooner had advice they had fall'n upon Hungary but the King parts froms Versailles to head their Army at the same time a Detachment had already been drawn of those encamp't upon the Saone with orders for their March towards the Frontier and nothing now in Mouths of the French but the beseiging of Cullen or Philipsburgh when all of a sudden a very extraordinary piece of news alter'd the resolutions of that Prince he had heard the Hungarians had abandon'd the pass at Raab and that the Turks without the least of stopping at Raab or Comorra as was pretended they would have stopt at advance on with an innumerable vast Army towards Vienna which they had determin'd to beseige Now France was well enough satisfi'd the Turks should make Diversion but sorry they should make themselves Master of the Empire which he now look't on as his proper Patrimony France trusted to their beseiging Raab and Comorra places of great strength both by Art and Nature and that they would spend both their time and pains before they gain'd their point in the interim made sure of doing his own Business and to oblige the Electors seeing themselves on all hands so surrounded with Enemies to condescend to what she pleas'd her self Hoped after the reinforcing his own with the Forces of the Empire to march them straight up to the Turk force him to a Battel or to retire home again Noble designs of a great Prince and brim full of Ambition But learning as I said the Turks had laid Seige to Vienna was oblig'd to take new measures To that effect he found it was no more to his purpose to set upon the Empire which another was about taking the possession of by the taking of a single Town For as that was the only place of Defence it was possible for him indeed to have caus'd a great deal of desolation and terror of his side but was the wrong way to settle in the Throne France then chose rather at a distance to take her prospect of what might be the event of the Seige of Vienna and send her Creatures about still representing to all the Princes of the Empire how the Emperor was but a weak Prince fitter to hold beads then a Scepter and to fit in a Cloister by much then at Helm That the Empire was Tottering and even now ready to fall under his conduct that henceforth they would need rather a stout vigorous Prince which with a Thousand good qualities besides understood perfectly well that of Leading of an Army That if the Turks come once to get Vienna they ought all to expect no better then absolute destruction That their true and only means to be secured from so imminent a mischief was to implore the aid of the King of France who would soon listen to it provided they elected the Dauphin King of the