are too often accompanied I am not ignorant of the frequent Mischiefs wrought in the World by factious Pretences of Religion but were not Religion the most justifiable Cause it would not be made the most specious Pretence And your Majesty has already shewn too interested a Sense of Religion to doubt the just Effects of it on one whose Practices have I hope never given the World cause to censure his real Conviction of it or his backwardness to perform what his Honour and Conscience prompt him to How then can I longer disguise my just Concern for that Religion in which I have been so happily educated which my Judgment truly convinceth me to be the Best and for the Support of which I am so highly interested in my Native Country And is not England now by the most endearing Tye become so Whilst the restless Spirits of the Enemies of the Reformed Religion back'd by the cruel Zeal and prevailing Power of France justly alarm and unite all the Protestant Princes of Christendom and engage them in so vast an Expence for the Support of it Can I act so degenerous and mean a Part to deny my Concurrence to such worthy Endeavours for the disabusing your Majesty by the Re-inforcement of those Laws and Re-establishment of that Government on which alone depends the Well-being of your Majesty and of the Protestant Religion in Europe This Sir is that irresistible and only Cause that could come in Competition with my Duty and Obligation to your Majesty and be able to fear me from you whilst the same affectionate Desire of serving You continues in me Could I secure your Person â— by the hazard of my Life I should think it could not be better employed And would to God these your distracted Kingdoms might yet receive that satisfactory Compliance from your Majesty in all their justifiable Pretensions as might upon the only sure Foundation that of the Love and Interest of your Subjects establish your Government and as strongly unite the Hearts of all your Subjects to You as is that of c. The Lord Churchill left a Letter to the same purpose which runs thus SIR SInce Men are seldom suspected of Sincerity when they act contrary to their Interests and tho' my dutiful Behaviour to Your Majesty in the worst of Times for which I acknowledge my poor Services much over-paid may not be sufficient to incline You to a charitable Interpretation of my Actions yet I hope the great Advantage I enjoy under Your Majesty which I can never expect in any other Change of Government may reasonably convince Your Majesty and the World that I am acted by an higher Principle when I offer that Violence to my Inclination and Interest as to desert Your Majesty at a Time when Your Affairs seem to challenge the strictest Obedience from all Your Subjects much more from one who lies under the greatest Personal Obligations imaginable to Your Majesty This SIR could proceed from nothing but the inviolable Dictates of my Conscience and a necessary Concern for my Religion which no good Man can oppose and with which I am instructed nothing ought to come in Competition Heaven knows with what Partiality my dutiful Opinion of Your Majesty hath hitherto represented those unhappy Designs which Inconsiderate and Self-Interested Men have framed against Your Majesty's true Interest and the Protestant Religion But as I can no longer join with such to give a Pretence by Conquest to bring them to effect so I will always with the hazard of my Life and Fortune so much Your Majesty's due endeavour to preserve Your Royal Person and Lawful Rights with all the tender Concern and dutigâ—l Respect that becomes c. Upon this the Army retreated to Reading and the King very disconsolate returned on the 26th in the Evening to London from whence the Princess Ann of Denmark his second Daughter was gone privately the Night before and if she had not left a Letter behind her to shew the reason of her Retreat the King 's own Guards had in all probability torn all the Popish Party to pieces upon a surmize that they had made her away The Letter she left for the Queen was as follows MADAM I Beg Your Pardon if am so deeply affected with the surprizing News of the Prince's being gone as not to be able to see You but to leave this Paper to express my humble Duty to the King and Your Self and to let You know that I am gone to absent my self to avoid the King's Displeasure which I am not able to bear either against the Prince or my self And I shall stay at so great a Distance as not to return before I hear the happy News of a Reconcilement And as I am confident the Prince did not leave the King with any other Design than to use all possible Means for His Preservation so I hope You will do me the Justice to believe that I am not capable of following him for any other End Never was any one in such an unhappy Condition so divided between Duty and Affection to a Father and an Husband and therefore I know not what to do but to follow one to preserve the other I see the general Falling off of the Nobility and Gentry who avow to have no other End than to prevail with the King to secure their Religion which they saw so much in danger by the violent Counsels of the Priests who to promote their own Religion did not care to what Dangers they exposed the King I am fully persuaded that the Prince of Orange designs the King's Safety and Preservation and hope all Things may be composed without more Blood-shed by the Calling of a Parliament God grant a happy End to these Troubles that the King's Reign may be prosperous and that I may shortly meet You in perfect Peace and Safety Till when let me beg you to continue the same favourable Opinion that You have hitherto had of c. The first thing done upon the King's Return was the turning Sir Edward Hales out from being Lieutenant of the Tower and then to order Writs to be issued out for the sitting of a Parliament the 15th of Jan. but that was too late and the Nation was now in such a Ferment that neither this pace nor a Proclamation of the 30th of Nov. requiring the Elections to be done in a fair and legal manner signified any thing so that the King now began to provide for his Family and first he sent away the Prince of Wales to Portsmouth but my Lord Dartmouth would not suffer him to be carried into France yet the Queen soon after found a way to convey him her self and divers others thither And indeed it was high time for Scotland now was as much alarmed as England and some of the Nobility and Gentry were sent up with a Petition for a free Parliament all the North of England was secured for the Prince Newcastle receiving the Lord Lumâ—ey and declaring
of what Condition soever they be who shall refuse to assist Us and in Obedience to the Laws to execute vigorously what we required of them and suffer themselves at this juncture to be cajoled or terrified out of their Duty we will esteem them the most Criminal and Infamous Men Betrayers of their Religion the Laws and their Native Country and shall not fail to treat them accordingly resolving to expect and require at their Hands the Life of every single Protestant that shall perish and every House that shall be burnt and destroyed by Treachery and Cowardize Given under Our Hand and Seal at Our Head-Quarters at Sherburn Castle the 28th of Novemb. 1688. WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange By His Highness's Special Command C. HUYGENS. This was the boldest Attempt that ever was made by a private Person for it 's certain the Prince knew nothing of it disowned it as soon as he heard thereof but it did him good Service and I have been told that Captain B. boldly carry'd it to my Lord Mayor and charged him with the Execution of it But before this the Marquess of Hallifax my Lord Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin had been sent by the King and Council to treat with the Prince of Orange and to adjust the Preliminaries in order to the holding of a Parliament who Decemb. 8. sent these Proposals to him Proposals sent by the King to the Prince of Orange then at Windsor SIR THE King commanded us to acquaint you That he observeth all the Differences and Causes of Complaint alledged by your Highness seem to be referred to a Free Parliament His Majesty as he hath already declared was resolved before this to call one but thought that in the present state of Affairs it was advisable to defer it till Things were more composed Yet seeing that his People still continue to desire it He hath put forth His Proclamation in order to it and hath issued his Writs for the Calling of it And to prevent any Cause of Interruption in it he will consent to every thing that can be reasonably required for the Security of all those that come to it His Majesty hath therefore sent us to attend your Highness for the adjusting of all Matters that shall be agreed to be necessary to the Freedom of Elections and the Security of Sitting and is ready to enter immediately into a Treaty in order to it His Majesty proposeth That in the mean time the respective Armies may be returned within such Limits and at such distance from London as may prevent the Apprehensions that the Parliament may be in any kind disturbed being desirous that the Meeting may be no longer delayed than it must be by the usual and necessary Forms Hungerford December 8. 1688. Hallifax Nottingham Godolphin To this His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange returned this Answer VVE with the Advice of the Lords and Gentlemen Assembled with Vs have in Answer made these following Proposals I. That all Papists and such Persons as are not qualified by Law be disarmed disbanded and removed from all Employments Civil and Military II. That all Proclamations that reflect upon Vs or at any that have come to Vs be recalled And that if any Persons for having assisted Vs have been Committed that they be forthwith set at Liberty III. That for the Security and Safety of the City of London the Custody and Government of the Tower be immediately put into the Hands of the said City IV. That if His Majesty should think fit to be in London during the Sitting of the Parliament that We may be there also with an equal number of our Guards And if His Majesty shall be pleased to be in any Place from London whatever Distance He thinks fit that We may be at the same Distance and that the respective Armies be from London Forty Miles and that no further Forces be brought into the Kingdom V. And that for the Security of the City of London and their Trade Tilbury-Fort be put into the hands of the City VI. That a sufficient part of the Publick Revenue be assigned Vs for the Support and Maintenance of our Troops until the siting of a Free Parliament VII That to prevent the Landing of the French or other Foâ—eign Troops Portsmouth may be put into such Hands as by His Majesty and Vs shall be agreed on The King was so far from being pleased with this Answer that he resolved to withdraw from London as he did privately aboard a little Smack but he and his Company were seized by the Inhabitants of Fevershâ—m and somewhat roughly handled before they came to be known whence the King came to Rochester but before this he gave the E. of Feversham Directions by Letter to disband the Army Which Letter was to this effect My Lord THings being come to that Extremity that I have been forced to send away the Queen and my Son the Prince of Wales that they might not fall into the Enemy's Hands which they must have done if they had staid I am obliged to do the same thing in hopes it will please God out of his Infinite Mercy to this unhappy Nation to touch their Hearts again with true Loyalty and Honour If I could have relied on all my Troops I might not have been put to the Extremity I now am in and would at least have had one Blow for it But though I know there are many valiant and brave Men among you both Officers and Soldiers yet you know that both you and several of the General Officers and Soldiers and Men of the Army told me It was no ways advisable for me to venture my self at their Head or to think to fight the Prince of Orange with them And now there remains only for me to thank you and all those both Officers and Soldiers who have stuck to me and been truly Loyal I hope you will still retain the same Fidelity to me And though I do not expect you should expose your selves by resisting a Foreign Army and a poisoned Nation yet I hope your former Principles are so inrooted in you that you will keep your selves free from Associations and such pernicious things Time presseth so that I can add no more JAMES Rex The Earl of Feversham presently after the Receipt of this Letter disbanded 4000 Men which was all the Army he had then with him and under his Command After which he sent this Letter to the Prince of Orange SIR HAving received this Morning a Letter from His Majesty with the Vnfortunate News of his Resolution to go out of England I thought my self obliged being at the Head of his Army and having received his Orders to make no Opposition against any Body to let Your Highness know it with the Advice of the Officers here so soon as was possible to hinder the Effusion of Blood I have ordered already to that purpose all the Troops that are under my Command which shall be the last
Lawful Sovereign King James the Queen and Prince of Wales and Restore him and his Posterity to this Throne again for the Peace and Prosperity of this Nation which is impossible to prosper till the Government is settled upon a right Foot And now O God I do with all Humble Devotion Commâ—â—â— my Soul into thy Hands the great Maker and Preserver of Meâ— and Lover of Souls beseeching thee That it may be always 〈◊〉 and precious in thy Sight through the Merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ Amen J. FENWICK But to leave this ungrateful Subject the Parliament besides the passing of the usual Land-Tax made an Act â—o Granting to His Majesty several Duties upon Parchment Papâ— and Vellum to encourage the Bringing of Plate and Hammer'â— Mony into the Mint to be Coined As there was also another Act To encourage the Bringing in of Wrought Plate to be Coineâ— There was also Divers Impositions upon Goods and Merchandizâ—â— continued The Deficiencies of Funds made good The Capâ—â— Stock of the Bank of England enlarged And For Raising the Publick Credit Besides which there were Impositions laid upon Leather and Malt A farther Subsidy of Tonnage and Pounâ—age granted and an Act made For Licensing Hawkers 〈◊〉 Pediars But before these Things were compleated in England the Preliminaries of the Peace were agreed on in Holland and signed the 10th of February And they are these that foâ—â—low I. THE French King doth consent and agree that the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen shall be the Basis and Foundation of the Negotiation of the General Peace to be made with all the Allies II. That the City of Strasburgh be restored to the Empire in the State it was when taken by His Majesty III. That the City of Luxemburgh shall be restored to the King of Spain in the Condition it is now But here you are to observe that France made an Offer to the Allies by way of Equivalent for the said Cities IV. The Towns of Mons and Charleroy shall be given up in the Condition they are at present V. That those Places in Catalonia which are in the French King's Hands and which he hath taken since the Peace of Nimeguen shall be restored in the same State as they were taken VI. That the Town and Castle of Dinant shall be given up to the Bishop and Prince of Liege in the State they were taken VII That all the Re-unions which have been made since the Treaty of Nimeguen shall be void VIII Lorrain shall be restored according to the Conditions of the said Treaty But here it was agreed That in case the Concessions made in respect to Lorrain did not please this Article should be referred to the General Treaty with Promises that greater Offers should then be made and that it should be the first Point treated on in the Negotiation It was also farther agreed That upon the Conclusion of the Peace the Most Christian King should acknowledge the Prince of Orange for King of Great Britain without any manner of Difficulty Restriction Condition or Reserve That as for other Princes whether in the Confederacy or not their Pretensions should be reserved to the General Negotiation under the Mediation of the King of Sweden IX The Dutchy of Duux-Ponts to be restored to the King of Sweden with all its Dependancies X. Philipsburgh to be restored to the Bishop of Spire XI The Fort of Kehl and other Fortifications made on the Rhine to be rased XII As also Fort Louis and Hunninghen XIII That Trarbach and Mont-Royal should be given up but first dismantled upon Condition they should never be fortified again XIV The French King agreed to give up to the Elector Palatin not only all the Electorate but also the Dutchies of Simmeren and Lauthern with the Earldom of Shanheim as also all other Places whereof he had been dispossessed to this present Time XV. That Madam the Dutchess of Orleans was to do nothing upon Account of her Pretensions Via Facti but might bring her Action according to the Law in relation to the Electors XVI That the Castle and County of Veldens be restored to their lawful Owner XVII Bisweiler to the Count of Hanau XVIII The Seigniories of March Marmosy and Dagstein and the Counties of Louningue and Dagsbourgh should be delivered up to the Count of Overstein XIX That the Seigniories of Salms and Valkenstein should be given up to the Prince of Salms or to their Proprietors seeing that the same is still in question XX. The Seigniories of Latzensteim and Altheim to their Proprietors XXI Otweiler to the House of Nassau XXII That the City and County of Mompelgard Harcourt Blainont and Chatelette should be put into the Possession of the House of Wirtemburgh XXIII That Germersheim should be also given up to the Elector Palatin notwithstanding any former Treaties to the contrary XXIV That Stadeck and Landsbergue be given to the Count of Veldentz XXV That the Principality of Orange be given up to its Sovereign But for all this some of the Ministers of the Allies after having consulted their Masters hereupon Declared That as to what concerned the first Article they fully agreed to it But for Strasburg they further insisted it should be restored with its Fortifications and Dependances and that no equivalent should be accepted for it They accepted of the Third Fourth and Fifth Articles only they insisted that not only the City but the County of Luxemburg and that of Chinay should be given up As they did that the City and Castle of Dinant should be yielded together with the Dutchy of Bovillion in the same state they were They Declared themselves satisfied as to the Seventh Article touching the Re-unions but not so with the agreement made about Lorrain which they would have restored to the Duke its Sovereign without any manner of restriction In pursuance to the said Preliminaries and Reswick as the Place of Treaty being after many Difficulties and Scruples fully agreed to by all parties concerned The Conferences began about the 9th of May and were not carried on to any considerable length before there was a work of another Nature done in the Field Where the French as having made a Peace with Savoy as we have told you last Year and as being their last Effort were very powerful this Year especially in Flanders and Catalonia In the first whereof they had still the advantage over the Confederates from the remoteness of the German Troops and the slowness of their march and who hardly came into the Camp this Year â—ill the French had done their work in the Reduction of Aeth which tho' it gave some farther Reputation to their Arms and Cause yet it came far short of the Boasts they had made all the Spring of attacking a no less considerable place than Namur But their grand design upon 〈◊〉 His Majesty by his great Prudence Courage and Celerity utterly Disappointed so that their intentions to become sole Masters of the Peace and
â—o unskilful in Government as the Name they gave them did import 'T is indeed not to be doubted but that the Division made of the Empire by Theodosius between his Two Sons Arcadius and Honorius into the Eastern and Western did very much precipitate the Ruine of it For tho' the former for many Ages after made a Shift to keep up yet it came infinitely short of the Ancient Roman Empire for Power and Splendour and was so harassed by degrees with the Insults of the Neighbouring Nations and diminished by the Conquests of the Bulgarians over one part of it by the Saracens subduing Palestine Syria Egypt and Cilicia by the City of Trebesond and the Neighbouring Countries withdrawing themselves from under the Obedience of it and chusing an Emperor of their own as Greece set up divers petty Princes to govern the different Parts of itâ— That the poor Remains thereof was not only swallowed up at length by the Turks but most of the said conquer'd or revolted Divisions to other very great Acquisitions of their own made both before and after fell under their Dominion also which made them for a Time more formidable in Power than any other single Dominion known to us in those Parts of the World But the Fate of the West Part of that divided Empire came on a pace the same becoming a Prey to the Germans and Goths who about this time came in prodigious Numbers to change their poor Habitations for the pleasant and fertile Provinces of the Romans Britain became a Prey to the Saxons Spain fell to the Share of the West-Goths The Goths Burgundians and Franks made bold with dividing France between them Rhoetia and Noricum were conquered by the Suevians A great part of Pannonia and Illiricum fell into the Hands of the Huns The Vandals fixed their Habitations in Africa And one part of the Goths set up a Kingdom in Italy and did not think Rome once Mistress of the World and the common Mother and Habitation of Mankind a fitting Place for their Kings to reside in The Empire being thus mangled and rent into so many different Pieces the next Thing according to the Course of a corrupted and vain World these Invaders went upon after some tolerable Settlement in their respective Acquisitions was to incroach upon their Neighbours and to endeavour to introduce such a Dominion again upon the Earth as might in Imitation of that glorious Empire which all of them in their several Turns had given an Helping-hand to overthrow over-top all others and merit the Name of a Supream and Universal One But there have hitherto in the Course of Divine Providence such Rubs been laid in the Way of this Design that it could never be accomplish'd tho' divers Princes have attempted it with the greatest Application and some seeming Probability of Success As Islands are not so liable to be invaded as those Kingdoms and States that lie upon the Continent So neither are they on the other hand so proper to make Conquests of others and to enlarge their Territories And if Great Britain has come in any respect short of other Countries in this Particular this is a sufficient Reason for it But there were other Causes and Considerations which we shall a little consider before we go any farther Tho' tho Saxons made an entire Conquest of the best and fruitfullest Part of Britain yet neither the most Northern Parts of the Island possessed by the Picts and Scots nor the Southern known since by the Name of Cornwall much less the ancient Habitation of the Britains wrongfully called Wales could they subdue in a long time nor the first indeed at all entirely Add to this That the Saxons themselves had no less than Seven Dynasties or petty Kingdoms amongst them known all together by the Heptarchy which took them up from their first Landing under Hengist by Alliances and the Power of their Arms not much less than 400 Years to unite them into one Monarchy which happen'd under K. Egbert about the Year 800. But tho' this Conjunction of Seven into One was very considerable and that now some grand Efforts might have been made for reducing the remaining Parts of the Island under one Head the Danes now a very Potent and Sea-faring People in the very same King's Reign invaded Britain Between whom and the English there were continual Wars for the Space of 240 Years and the former so far prevailed that Three of their Kings reigned successively over England for 26 Years when the Government returned again into the Hands of the English But it was so weak and feeble that in a short time it fell into the Hands of Will surnamed the Conqueror and his Normans in whose Son 's Reign Henry I. by Name the Dukedom of Normandy was annexed to the Crown of England This so considerable Accession of Strength upon the Continent came yet short of a Compensation for the still remaining Disjunction of Scotland and Wales from the rest of Britain which the succeeding Kings little minded to effect For tho' Henry II. was the greatest King at this time in our Western World as being besides K. of England and Duke of Normandy by Inheritance Duke of Anjou and by Marriage Duke of Aquitain and Poictou yet he was so far from going through stitch with his intended Conquest of Wales or reducing Scotland that his chief Aim was upon the Conquest of Ireland which tho' a noble Design and in a very great Measure effected yet it was misplaced and should have followed the Reduction of the other two Yet what came to Henry upon the Continent by Right of Inheritance his Son King John and his Grandson Henry III. in a manner totally lost But of all the Kings of England to this Time Edward I. was the only Prince that seemed to have a right Notion of Extending his Dominions and therefore he never gave over till what by fair and foul Means with an Intermixture of Policy he entirely united Wales to the Kingdom of England and made in a manner by the same Methods a perfect Conquest of Scotland which nothing humanely speaking but the Weakness of his Successor obstructed the Consummation of So that henceforward all the Thoughts of our Warlike Kings were the Recovery of that Right they alledged to have to the Kingdom of France whose Conquests there if they had been as wisely secured as they were valiantly made had added a much greater Glory to the English Name than our Annals would otherwise admit of But that which our Kings would not or could not add to their Dominions by Conquest within the Island it self I mean the Scotch Kingdom which always obstructed the Progress of their Arms upon the Continent at length fell in of it self in the Course of Succession So that England Scotland and Ireland were in the Person of King James I. united under one Head In the mean time one of our Neighbour-Nations was arrived to that Pitch of Greatness and another of them in
Designs he proceeded now to shew how Absolute he would be in them and therefore on the 4th of May he passed an Order in Council that his Declaration of Indulgence should be Read in all Churches and Chappels throughout England and Wales in Time of Divine Service and that all the Bishops in their respective Diocesses should take Care to have the same accordingly performed There is no question to be made but they understood the King's Meaning well enough and that under a Shadow of Favour to be intended hereby to Protestant Dissenters all the Good imaginable was meant to the Roman Catholicks and that whatever was intended by it there was no Good meant to them nor their Church and therefore it was their Business to ward off the Blow which 7 of them endeavoured to do in an humble Petition to the King wherein their Reasons were set forth why they could not comply with the Order of Council But they were so cautious in the Matter that after it was drawn up they would let no other see it before it was presented And the same was as also the King's Answer to this Effect TO THE KING'S Most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble PETITION of William Archbishop of Canterbury and divers of the Suffragan Bishops of that Province now present with him in behalf of themselves and others of their absent Brethren and of the Inferior Clergy of their respective Diocesses Humbly Sheweth THAT the great Aversness they find in themselves to the Distributing and Publishing in all their Churches Your Majesty's late Declaration for Liberty of Conscience proceeds neither from any Want of Duty and Obedience to Your Majesty our holy Mother the Church of England being both in her Principles and in her constant Practice unquestionably Loyal and having to her great Honour been more than once publickly acknowledged to be so by Your Gracious Majesty nor yet from any Want of Tenderness to Dissenters in relation to whom we are willing to come to such a Temper as shall be thought fit when the Matter shall be considered and settled in Parliament and Convocation But among many other Considerations from this especially Because that Declaration is founded upon such a Dispencing Power as hath been often declared Illegal in Parliament and particularly in the Years 1662 and 1672 and in the Beginning of Your Majesty's Reign and is a Matter of so great Moment and Consequence to the whole Nation both in Church and State that Your Petitioners cannot in Prudence Honour or Conscience so far make themselves Parties to it as the Distribution of it all over the Nation and the solemn Publication of it once and again even in GOD's House and in the Time of His Divine Service must amount to in common and unreasonable Construction Your Petitioners therefore most humbly and earnestly beseech Your Majesty that You will be pleased not to insist upon their Distributing and Reading Your Majesty's said Declaration And Your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray c. Will. Cant. Will. Asaph Fr. Ely Jo. Cicestr Tho. Bathon Wellen. Tho. Peterburgen Jonath Bristol His MAJESTY'S ANSWER I Have heard of this before but did not believe it I did not expect this from the Church of England especially from some of you If I change my Mind ye shall hear from me If not I expect my Command shall be obeyed But how unpleasing soever the Petition might be to the King which is sufficiently evinced by his Answer and what Revenge soever he might ruminate within himself to take upon the Bishops for it the Chancellor though he thought his Ecclâ—siastical Commission big enough to suspend the Bishop of London and the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge and to expel the Master and Fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford yet is seems he did not believe it sufficient to suspend these Bishop And therefore it was said he advised the King to Try them upon an Information of High-Treason at the King 's Beneh-Bar In order to this they were committed Prisoner to the Tower and that on the Day before I think the Legendary Birth of the Prince of Wales who came to Town on Sunday Morning the 10th of June that they might not have the Opportunity as it was the Place at least of some of them to be present thereat and make any Inspection into that pious Fraud But though the Nation was mightily alarm'd at their Commitment and more particularly with the Time and Circumstance of it and that this Discontent might have been read in the Faces of almost all Men â—â—ve Romanists yet the Court unconcerned held on their Pace and accordingly the Bishops were Tryed in Trinity Term following at the King 's Beneh-Bar upon an Information of High-Misdemeanor as aforesaid for their Petition to the King But how secure soever the King and his Chancellor thought themselves of the Judges and though Sir Robert Wright who was Chief Justice and Sir Richard Allibone a known Papist were Two of them yet they were not all of a Piece for Mr. Justice Powell both learnedly and stoutly defended the Cause of the Bishops And though I believe the Jury of themselves upon considering the Merit of the Cause were sufficiently disposed to acquit them as they did accordingly yet surely if they had done otherwise I question whether all the King's Guards could have secured them from the Fury of the People who were not a little chafed with these Proceedings and wrought such Seeds of Discontent in the Minds of most Men that afterwards broke forth with a Witness And though it is not to be doubted but the Great Men of our Nation began before this to look about them and to have a watchful Eye upon every Motion of the Court yet this awaken'd them to purpose to seek for a Remedy against the impending Evil by such Methods and from such Persons as were most interested to divert the Course of them But of this we shall more particularly speak hereafter the Course of our History leading us 〈◊〉 to the Prosecution of Foreign Affairs and Campaigns 〈◊〉 ready to begin And first we shall again begin with Hungary We left off last Year with the Surrender of Agria a most pleasing Piece of News to the Imperial Court as was that of the Fortress of Mâ—ngaâ—z early this Spring no less grateful to it Famine and no other Reason was the Occasion of the Surrender of this Place as well as the preceding one The Fortress had been held out by the Princess Ragotzi Count Tecâ—eley's Lady in a manner ever since the Beginning of the War But now dire Necessity constrained that Noble Lady to surrender both it and her self into the Emperor's Hands as it appear'd evidently by her saying when the Capitulation was brought from Count Caraffa to be signed by her Must I Sign my Husband's Death For I am perswaded that as soon as the Turks come to know I have abandoned this Place they will take off his Head The Terms of
again to their Ancient Prescriptions and Charters And more particularly that the Ancient Charter of the Great and Famous City of London shall again be in Force And that the Writs for the Members of Parliament shall be Addressed to the proper Officers according to Law and Custom That also none be suffered to chuse or to be chosen Members of Parliament but such as are qualified by Law And that the Members of Parliament being thus chosen they shall meet and sit in full Freedom that so the Two Houses may concur in the preparing such Laws as they upon full and free Debate shall judge necessary and convenient both for the Confirming and Executing the Law concerning the Test and such others Laws as are necessary for the Security and Maintenance of the Protestant Religion as likewise for making such Laws as may Establish a good Agreement between the Church of England and all Protestant Dissenters as also for the Covering and Securing of all such who live peaceably under the Government as becomes good Subjects from all Persecution upon the Account of their Religion even Papists themselves not excepted and for the doing of all other things which the Two Houses of Parliament shall find necessary for the Peace Honour and Safety of the Nation so that there may be no more Danger of the Nation 's falling at any time hereafter under Arbitrary Government To this Parliament we will refer the Enquiry into the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales and of all things relating to it and to the Right of Succession XXII And We for our part will concur in every thing that may procure the Peace and Happiness of the Nation which a Free and Lawful Parliament shal determine since we have nothing before our Eyes in this our Undertaking but the Preservation of the Protestant Religion the Covering of all Men from Persecution for their Consciences and the Securing the whole Nation the Free Enjoyment of all their Laws Rights and Liberties under a just and legal Government XXIII This is the Design that We have proposed to our selves in appearing upon this Occasion in Arms in the Conduct of which we will keep the Forces under our Command under all the Strictness of Martial Discipline and take special Care That the People of the Countries through which we must march shal not suffer by their Means and as soon as the State of the Nation will admit of it we promise That we will send back all those Foreign Forces that we have brought along with us XXIV We do therefore hope That all People will judge rightly of us and approve of these our Proceedings But we chiefly rely on the Blessing of God for the Success of this our Undertaking in which we place our whole and only Confidence XXV We do in the last place invite and require all Persons whatsoever all the â—eers of the Realm both Spiritual and Temporal all Lords-Lieutenants Deputy-Lieutenants and all Gentlemen Citizens and other Commons of all Ranks to come and assist Us in order to the Executing of this our Design against all such as shall endeavour to oppose us that so we may prevent all those Miseries which must needs follow upon the Nations being kept under Arbitrary Government and Slavery And that all the Violences and Disorders which have overturned the whole Constitution of the English Government may be fully redressed in a Free and Legal Parliament XXVI And we do likewise resolve That as soon as the Nation is brought to a state of Quiet we will take care that a Parliament shall be called in Scotland for Restoring the Ancient Constitution of that Kingdom and for bringing the Matters of Religion to such a Settlement that the People may live easie and happy and for putting an end to all the unjust Violences that have been in a Course of so many Years committed there We will also study to bring the Kingdom of Ireland to such a State that the Settlement there may be Religiously observed and that the Protestant and British Interest there may be secured And we will endeavour by all possible means to procure such an Establishment in all the Three Kingdoms that they may all live in a happy Union and Correspondence together and that the Protestant Religion and the Peace Honour and Happiness of those NATIONS may be Established upon Lasting Foundations Given under Our Hand and Seal at Our Court in the Hague the 10th Day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1688. WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange By His Highness's Special Command C. HUYGENS. To this Declaration the Prince upon further Information of things thought fit to add another to this purpose AFter we had Prepared and Printed this Our Declaration we have understood that the Subverters of the Religion and Laws of these Kingdoms hearing of our Preparations to assist the People against them have began to retract some of the Arbitrary and Despotick Power that they had assumed and to vacate some of their unjust Judgments and Decrees The Sense of their Guilt and the Distrust of their Force have induced them to offer to the City of London some seeming Relief from their great Oppressions hoping thereby to quiet the People and to divert them from demanding a Re-establishment of their Religion and Laws under the shelter of our Arms They do also give out That we do intend to Conquer and Enslave the Nation and therefore it is we have thought fit to add a few Words to our Declaration VVe are confident That no Persons can have such hard Thoughts of us as to imagine we have any other Design in this our Undertaking than to procure a Settlement of the Religion and of the Liberties and Properties of the Subjects upon so sure a Foundation that there may be no Danger of the Nation 's Relapsing into the like Miseries at any time hereafter And as the Forces we have brought along with us are utterly disproportioned to that Wicked Design of Conquering the Nation if we were capable of intending it so the great Numbers of the Principal Nobility and Gentry that are Men of Eminent Quality and Estates and Persons of known Integrity and Zeal both for the Religion and Government of ENGLAND many of them being also distinguished by their Constant Fidelity to the Crown who do both accompany us in this Expedition and have earnestly sollicited us to it will cover us from all such Malicious Insinuations For it is not to be imagined that either those who have invited us or those who are already come to assist us can join in a wicked Attempt of Conquest to make void their own Lawful Titles to their Honours Estates and Interests We are also confident That all Men see how little Weight there is to be laid on all Promises and Engagements that can be now made since there has been so little regard had in the time past to the most solemn Promises And as that imperfect Redress that is now offer'd is a plain
for a free Parliament and the Protestant Religion York was in the hands of the associated Lords The Garison of Hull seized the Lord Langdale then Governor a Papist and the Lord Montgomery and disarmed some Popish Forces newly sent thither and then declared as New Castle had done Bristol was seized by the Earl of Shrewsbury and Sir John Guise Plymouth had long before submitted to the Prince of Orange and in short the Popish party was become so contemptible in London that on Thursday Dec. 6th there was an Hue and Cry after Father Petre publickly cried and sold in the Streets of London but this was not the worst neither for about the same time came out this following Declaration in the Name of the Prince of Orange By His Highness WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange A Third Declaration VVE have in the Course of our Life more particularly by the apparent Hazards both by Sea and Land to which we have so lately exposed our Person given to the whole World so high and undoubted Proofs of our fervent Zeal for the Protestant Religion that we are fully confident no true English Man and good Protestant can entertain the least Suspicion of our firm Resolution rather to spend our dearest Blood and perish in the Attempt than not to carry on the blessed and glorious Design which by the Favour of Heaven we have so successfully begun to rescue England Scotland and Ireland from Popery and Slavery and in a Free Parliament to Establish the Religion the Laws and the Liberties of these Kingdoms on such a sure and lasting Foundation that it shall not be in the Power of any Prince for the future to introduce Popery and Tyranny Towards the more easie compassing this great Design we have not been hitherto deceived in the just Expectation we had of the Concurrence of the Nobility Gentry and People of England with us for the Security of their Religion and the Restitution of the Laws and the Re-establishment of their Liberties and Properties Great Numbers of all Ranks and Qualities having joined themselves to us and others at great distances from us have taken up Arms and declared for us And which we cannot but particularly mention in that Army which was raised to be the Instrument of Slavery and Popery many by the special Providence of God both Officers and common Soldiers have been touched with such a feeling Sense of Religion and Honour and of true Affection to their Native Country that they have already deserted the illegal Service they were engaged in and have come over to Us and have given us full Assurance from the rest of the Army That they will certainly follow this Example as soon as with our Army we shall approach near enough to receive them without hazard of being prevented or betray'd To which end and that we may the sooner execute this just and necessary Design we are engaged in for the Publick Safety and Deliverance of these Nations We are resolved with all possible Diligence to advance forward that a Free Parliament may be forthwith called and such Preliminaries adjusted with the King and all things first settled upon such a Foot according to Law as may give us and the whole Nation just Reason to believe the King is disposed to make such necessary Condescension on his part as will give entire Satisfaction and Security to all and make both King and People once more Happy And that we may effect all this in the way most agreeable to our Designs if it be possible without the Effusion of any Blood except of those execurable Criminals who have justly forfeited their Lives for betraying the Religion and subverting the Lawes of their Native Country We do think fit to declare That as we will offer no Violence to any but in our own necessary Defence so we will not suffer any Injury to be done to the Person even of any Papist provided he be found in such Place and Condition and Circumstances at the Laws require So we are resolved and do declare That all People who shall be found in open Arms or with Arms in their Houses or about their Persons or in any Office Civil or Military upon any pretence whatsoever contrary to the known Laws of the Land shall be treated by Us and our Forces not as Soldiers and Gentlemen but as Robbers Free-Booters and Banditti they shall be incapable of Quarter and entirely delivered up to the Discretion of our Soldiers And we do further declare That all Persons who shall be found any ways aiding or assisting to them or shall march under their Command or shall join with or submit to them in the Discharge or Execution of their illegal Commission or Authority shall be looked upon as Partakers of their Crimes Enemies to the Laws and to their Country And whereas we are certainly informed That great numbers of Armed Papists have of late resorted to London and Westminster and Parts adjacent where they remain as we have reason to suspect not so much for their own Security as out of a wicked and barbarous Design to make some desperate Attempt upon the said Cities and the Inhabitants by Fire or a sudden Massacre or both or else to be the more ready to join themselves to a Body of French Troops designed if it be possible to land in England procured of the French King by the Interest and Power of the Jesuits in pursuance of the Engagements which at the Instigation of that pestilent Society his most Christian Majesty with one of his Neighbouring Princes of the same Communion has entred into for the utter Extirpation of the Protestant Religion out of Europe Though we hope we have taken suck effectual Care to prevent the onâ— and secure the other that by God's Assistance we cannot doubt but we shall defeat all their wicked Enterprises and Designs We cannot however forbear out of our great and tender Concern we have to preserve the People of England and particularly those great and populous Cities from the cruel Rage and blood Revenge of the Papists to require and expect from all the Lords Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace Lord-Mayors Mayors Sheriffs and other Magistrates and Officers Civil and Military of all Counties Cities and Towns in England especially of the County of Middlesex and Cities of London and Westminster and Parts adjacent that they do immediately disarm and secure as by Law they may and ought within their respective Counties Cities and Jurisdictions all Papists whatsover as Persons at all times but now especially most dangerous to the Peace and Safety of the Government that so not only all Power of doing Mischief may be taken from them but that the Laws which are the greatest and best Security may resume their Force and be strictly executed And we do hereby likewise declare That we will protect and defend all those who shall not be afraid to do their Duty in Obedience to these Laws And that for those Magistrates and others
way towards the introducing the Popish Religion into the Nation they took especial care to prevent the like for the future by Enacting in concurrence with the Royal Authority That the Kings and Queens of England should be obliged at their coming to the Crown to take the Test in the first Parliament that should be called at the beginning of their Reign and in the Bill of Succession added a Clause That if any King or Queen of England should embrace the Roman Catholick Religion or Marry with a Roman Catholick Prince or Princess their Subjects should be absolved from their Oaths of Allegiance They also annull'd the pretended Parliament in Ireland and also ordained That all those who should take up Arms against the King after the 24th of Feb. or should hold Correspondence with his Enemies should be guilty of high Treason And granted the King 2 Shillings in the Pound upon Land with the necessary Clauses and Restrictions and appropriated Part of the Mony for Payment of the Seamen and setting out the Fleet. After this being prorogued to the 12th of Apr. they were by Proclamation dissolved upon the 6th of Febr. and the King by the same Proclamation called a Parliament to meet on the 30th of March to whom he delivered himself to this Effect That being resolved to omit nothing on his Part that might contribute to the Peace and Prosperity of the Nation and to that end believing his Presence absolutely necessary in Ireland for the Reducing of that Kingdom he had called them together to desire their Assistance that he might be in a Capacity to carry on the War there with Speed and Vigour To which purpose he desired them to hasten the settling of the Revenues of the Crown and that he might have a Fund in the mean time settled upon the Credit whereof he might raise Mony for the present Exigences of the Nation Then he recommended to them the passing of an Act of Oblivion such as he had ordered to be drawn up for the preventing the loss of time usually spent in Deliberations of that kind and wherein but few were excepted that his Subjects might see he had no other Intentions but such as were conformable to the Laws of the Land and to leave those without Excuse that should go about to disturb the Government in his Absence And lastly recommended to them the Vnion with Scotland and then informed them That he intended during his Absence to leave the Administration of the Government in the Hands of the Queen and desired them to prepare an Act to that Purpose concluding with an earnest Desire that they would be as speedy in the Dispatch of Business as possibly they could in regard his Expedition into Ireland would not admit of any long Session The Parliament went roundly to work upon this Speech of the King 's yet so that it took up some time before they could bring all their Matters to bear But at length the Act of Oblivion after many Difficulties removed and so long desired by the King was approved and past so was another for putting the Administration of the Government into the Queen's Hands not only during the King's Absence in Ireland but when-ever his Affairs should call him out of the Kingdom They also found out Ways to raise the Subsidies that were granted settled the Revenues and divers Persons did in the mean time advance Money for the King 's present Occasions and that nothing might happen to the Prejudice of the Government while the King was absent the Deputy-Lieutenants of the Counties were authorized to raise the Militia in case of necessity and all Roman Catholicks ordered to repair to their places of Abode and not to stir above 5 Miles from thence without leave and all that held any Imployment in the State tho' never so inconsiderable to swear Fidelity to the King and Queen Thus Matters being brought to a good Conclusion his Majesty after returning them his Thanks Prorogued them to the 17th of June and then hasted for Ireland where he arrived on the 14th of the same Month and where at present we shall leave him and see what was doing nearer home The Rebels in Scotland under the Command of Colonel Cannon tho' not otherwise considerable for their Strength then by the unaccessible Places they possess'd in the Highlands yet continued still in a Body and took their Opportunity to make frequent Incursions into the Low-lands to plunder and spoil more like a Company of Banditti than Regular Troops over whom the Government there however kept a vigilant Eye and detected some Correspondence held between them and other Persons in Edenburg and elsewhere who before pretended to be Friends but it ended in the close Confinement of them Yet notwithstanding all this they could not prevent them from receiving some Succour from without For King James notwithstanding the Delay of the French Succours which did not arrive in Ireland before the 4th of March yet built so very much upon them that tho' he had neither Ammunition nor Provision to spare he caused in the mean time two Frigats to be rigged up at Dublin laden with Cloaths Arms and Ammunition and sent them away to his Friends in Scotland having besides on Board them Colonel Buchan Colonel Wauhup and about 40 Commission-Officers more who had all the good Luck to get safe into the Isle of Mull. With this Reinforcement they were so incouraged that sometime after that they adventured to the number of 1500 to march as far as Strathspag in the County of Murray which Sir Thomas Levingstone no sooner understood and being unwilling to give them any Opportunity for a farther Accession of Strength in being joyned with other Malecontents but he took along with him 800 Foot 6 Troops of Dragoons and 2 Troops of Horse and fell upon them so suddenly that the Horse and Dragoons entring their Camp put them into such an immediate Confusion that they betook themselves to flight leaving between 4 and 500 of their Number slain upon the Spot an 100 taken Prisoners and among them 4 Captains 3 Lieutenants and 2 Ensigns nor had any of them escaped had not a thick Mist fell in the height of the Execution This was no sooner done but Sir Thomas advanced to the Castle of Lethirgdey commanded by Colonel Buchan's Nephew and having lodged a Mine under it quickly brought the Garrison to surrender at Discretion Neither was Major Ferguson less successful in the Isle of Mull where he landed and destroy'd several Places belonging to the Enemy forcing them to desert the Castle of Dewart and betake themselves to the Hills Nor yet was the Blow given them by the Scotch Parliament of less Importance for besides their Passing an Act to restore the Presbyterian Ministers that were thrust from their Churches since the 1st of Jan. 1661. they made another declaring all those Rebels that were actually in Arms against the King and Queen But notwithstanding the ill Success of the Jacobites in
my self a Member of the Church of England I must take this Opportunity and I do it for God's Glory to apply my self to you that are Royalists of that Church of the same Faith and Principles with my self and I beg of you for God's sake and the Love of your Souls to be very constant and serious in all Religious Offices and holy Duties of Divine Worship and Service which I have too much neglected as I own to my great Sorrow Let no Excuse no Dangers prevent or hinder you in these most necessary and serious Matters and be I beseech you very careful and circumspect in all your Actions Behaviour and Conversation as I earnestly exhorted all that came to me I have I thank God a great deal of Satisfaction in my present Sufferings and have found it so ever since I have been under them And blessed be God it doth continually increase upon me And I do now lay down my Life with all Chearfulness and Resignation in sure and certain Hope of a Resurrection to Eternal Life through our Lord Jesus Christ through whose Merits alone I hope for the Pardon of my Sins and the Salvation of my Soul And so O Lord into thy Hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth And I do heartily and humbly beseech thee Almighty God and my most Gracious â—ather to forgive and bless this sinful Nation deliver it from the Guilt of Rebellion Blood and Perjury 〈◊〉 is now on all sides more than ever and from all those other heinous Sins which cry aloud Preserve and bless this Church Comfort our distressed King Restore him to his Right and his mislead Subjects to their Allegiance Bless also his Royal Consort our Gracious Queen Mary his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales That he may grow in Stature and in Favour with God and Man Support and Strengthen all those that suffer in any kind for a good Cause give them Patience under all their Afflictions and a happy Deliverance out of them Forgive all mine Enemies Pardon my former Neglect and remissness in Religious Worship and Holy Duties and all the Sins I have been guilty of to this very moment Consider my Contrition accept my Tears And now Thou art pleased to take me hence take me into thy Favour and grant that my Soul may be without Spot presented unto Thee through the Merits of thy Most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen John Freind Sir WILLIAM PERKYNS's Paper IT hath not been my Custom to use many Words and I shall not be long upon this Occasion having Business of much greater Consequence to employ my Thoughts upon I thank God I am now in a full disposition to Charity and therefore shall make no Complaints either of the Hardships of my Tryal or any other Rigours put upon me However one Circumstance I think my self oblig'd to mention it was Sworn against me by Mr. Porter That I had own'd to him that I had Seen and Read a Commission from the King to Levy War upon the Person of the Prince of Orange Now I must declare That the Tenour of the King's Commission which I saw was General and directed to all his Loving Subjects to Raise and Levy War against the Prince of Orange and his Adherents and to seize all Forts Castles c. which I suppose may be a customary Form of giving Authority to make War but I must confess I am not much acquainted with Matters of that Nature But as for any Commission particularly levelled against the Person of the Prince of Orange I neither saw nor heard of any such It 's true I was privy to the Design upon the Prince but was not to act in it and I am fully satisfied that very few or none knew of it but those who undertook to do it I freely acknowledge and think it for my Honour to say That I was entirely in the Interest of the King being always firmly persuaded of the Justice of his Cause and looked upon it as my Duty both as a Subject and an Englishman to Assist him in the Recovery of his Throne which I believed him to be deprived of contrary to all Right and Justice taking the Laws and Constitution of my Country for my Guide As for my Religion I die in the Communion of the Church of England in which I was Educated And as I freely forgive all the World so who-ever I may any ways have Injured I heartily ask them Pardon April 13. 1696. William Perkyns Here the Bigottry of these poor and wretched Men cannot but be admired and pitied that they should justifie their Treasons to the last Gasp which hot-headed Charnock did not think fit to do But this can be attributed to nothing else save the blind Zeal and rebellious Principles of those Clergy-men that were with them and who fairly if they had had their Desert should have been hang'd for Administring Absolution to them without any precedent Confession in direct Opposition to the Laws of that Church whereof they would be thought Members which thereupon was condemned by 14 Bishops being all that were then in London and assented to by all the rest that were Absent It 's well they liv'd under so mild a Government though they were unworthy of it had they been guilty in the late Reigns of any that had come near the pitch of their Crime they had infallibly swung for it when Julian Johnson was so severely Whipped and barbarously Used for his honest Address to the English Soldiery and Seamen The other 3 that followed viz. Cranborn Rookwood and Lowick all confessed the Crime though in a different manner but the 2 latter who were Roman Catholicks somewhat more modestly than the former tho' a pretended Protestant who called it a righteous Cause for which he suffer'd The Papers they deliver'd were these Major LOWICK's Paper In the Name of the most Holy Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen IN the first place I die in the Religion I was Baptized viz. Roman Catholick and humbly beg the Prayers of all Good People for a happy Resurrection and of all Catholicks for the Good of my Soul As for being ingag'd in this for which I die it was never so positive that I had a Horse from the beginning to the very last nor never see any allotted me or the two Men I was to provide as was sworn against me at my Tryal nor had I any on that Account nor was I at any of their Meetings when they settled any such thing And as for any Order of Commission from King James I never see any since I came last into England which is now above 5 Years and I am confident none that knows King James will believe he would give any such Order Indeed I must confess I believe King James was a coming to assert his own Right and I should if on Shore have done any thing in my Power to have assisted him and in order to
enters into the Confederacy c. 387 c. His Articles with the Emp. 389 c. with the King of Spain 390 c. invades the Dauphinate 472. His Sickness and recovery 473 c. His Letter to the States of Holland 533. Makes a separate Peace 563. His Envoy's Harangue to the late King James 574 c. Saxony the Elector of his death 96. Another General of the Confederates on the Rhine dies 457. Another's death 507. Fights the Turks 577. Chosen King of Poland 594. His Letter to the Polish Republick 638. His Declaration to his Saxon Subjects 639 c. Schultz General successful in Vpper Hungary 160. Defeats Count Teckley ibid. Schomberg Duke of lands in Ireland 324. Scinta a Battle there 215. Scio taken by the Venetians 506. quitted 536. Scotland an Insurrection there 77. Covenanters murder the Archb. of St. Andrews ib. Their Proclamations 78. Proposals to Monmouth ib. are routed 79. Segedin besieg'd by the Imperialists 214. surrendred 215. Serasquier his Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 189. Shaftsbury the Earl of committed to the Tower 111. Sidney Mr. his Embassy into Holland and for what 83. His Memorial to the States 84. Makes a defensive League with 'em 86. Sidney Col. his Trial 124. Execution and Papers to the Sheriff 125 c. Sign besieged by the Venetians and taken by storm 220. Besieg'd by the Turks and relieved by the Venetians 238. Skelton Mr. discovers the Pr. of Orange's Intention 258. Solyman made Em. of the Turks 238. Spaniards sign the Peace with France 41. Their Ambassador resents the States Answer about Maestricht 70. Prevail in Catalonia 531 c. Staremberg Count Governour of Vienna prepares for its Defence 135. His Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 139. His other Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 141 c. States General their answer to the French King's Letter 20. displease the Confederates ib. Order their Embassador to sign the Peace 21. Exclaimed against by the Northern Confederates 38. their Answer to the Elector of Brandenburgh's demands 68. To the Spaniards for Maestricht 69. A Letter from an unknown hand to them 83. Their resolution as to the Invasion of England 283. Steenkirk the Battle there 462 c. Stetin taken by the Brandenburghers 12. Strasburg how possest by the French 112. Sunderland Earl of his Letter to a Friend 264 c. Syclos taken by the Imperialists 213. T. TAlbot Col. disbands the Protestant Army in Ireland 182 c. Tartars attack the Germans Baggage 133. ravage Poland 415. Teckley Count makes himself P. of Transilvania 409. Themeswaer besieg'd by the Imperialists 576. Tyrconnel Earl of made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 223. His Proceedings ibid. dies at Limmerick 434. Toleration of Religion to Papists in Scotland 205. in England 223. Tour the President de la his Speech to King VVilliam 407. Transilvania revolts from the Emperor 233. reduced 234. Truce signed between France Denmark and Brandenburg 63. expired 64. between France and Spain c. for 20 Years 150 c. Turks advance to Austria 132. waste the Frontiers of Hungary and Austria 134. besiege Vienna 135. beaten from before Vienna 145 c. routed at Barkan 147. beaten at Gran 187. routed at Scinta 215. beaten at Chialafa by the Venetians 216. defeated at Navarino 217. Reasons of their not succeeding against the Germans 504. Turkey the Revolution there 253 c. V. VAlentia besieg'd by the French and Savoyards 575. Vallona besieg'd by the Venetians 418. deserted by the Turks 419. Vaudemont Prince his gallant Retreat 515. Vaudois persecuted 397. rout the French 356. Venetians make Incursions into the Turkish Territories 162. take the Isle of Narenta c. 164. possess themselves of the whole Province of Mayna 195. rout the Turks 241. their Letter to the new Doge and Instructions 255 c. beat the Turks at Sea 419. defeat the Turks at Argos 537. beat the Turks by Sea 580. Verace discovers the P. of Orange's Designs upon England 258. Vicegrade besieged and taken by the Imperialists 154. taken by the Turks 187. Vienna in great Consternation 133. besieged by the Turks 135. a Journal of the Siege 136 c. it siege continued 142 c. relieved 145. Villeroy Marshal de his Letter to the Governour of Brussels 521. fails to relieve Namur 529. Virovitz taken by the Imperialists 159. Vrgel taken by the French 448. W. VVAisen surrendred to the Imperialists 155. Walcour the Action there 329. Waterford surrendred to the English 377. Weesell a Conference there between the Allies 10. Wheeler Sir Francis cast away in a Storm 492. Whitchal burnt 673 c. Widin surrendred to the Imperialists 354. surrendred to the Turks 411. William III. King his Speech to the Parliament 358. lands in Ireland 366. wounded 368. Victorious over the Irish Army at the Boyn 370 c. his Proceedings in Ireland 378 c. goes for England 383. his Speech to the Congress 421. his Speech to the Parliament 457 c. his Speech to the Parliament 491. signs several Bills 493 his Letter to Prince Vaudemont 514 c. his Speech to the Parliament 538 c his Speech in Parliament concerning the Assassination 550. another Speech to the Parliament 582 c. his Speech at the Conclusion of the Peace 670 c. another Speech 674. goes for Holland 675. Y. YOrk Duke of withdraws to Flanders 75. returns 81. sent High Commissioner into Scotland ib. his cruelty to the Earl of Argyle 111. Z. ZEnta the great Battle there 633. FINIS July 1676. Maestricht besieg'd by the Prince of Orange Siege raised Philipsburg surrender'd to the Imperial Army The Demands of the several Princes Valenciennes besieg'd The Battle of Mount-Cassel The Fr. K.'s Letter to K. C. 11. Ghent besieg'd and taken K. Charles II. tempted with Moncy by France The States Answer The Confederates angry with the States The Dutch order their Embassadors to Sign the Peace The Peace obstructed The Treaty of Alliance between England and Holland Du Cross's Message The Peace between France and Holland Signed The Battle of Mons. Mr. Hyde's Memorial to the States Prince of Orange's Censure of the English Court. Articles against Mons Beverning The Conferences renewed Rugen taken Denmark and Brandenburg's Remonstrance to the Imperial Embassadors The Imperial and French Embassadors agree to Sign the Peace The Abstract of the Imperial Articles of Peace The Elector of Brandenburg's Demands of the States The Spaniards demand Maestricht of the Dutch The States Answer The Spaniard rejoinâ— The Spanish Ambassador resents it Popish Plot discovered Godfrey murdered K. Charles II's Letter to the Duke of York K. Charles II chooses a new Council Insurrection in Scotland The Scotch Rebels Proclamation Their Second Proclamation They make Proposals to the Duke of Monmouth The Duke of Monmouth fights and routs the Covenanters The Story of the black Box. K. Charles II. disclaims any Marriage with the Duke of Monmouth's Mother K. Charles II. sick and the Consequence of it Duke of Monmouth
and other Proceedings of the Parliamentsf The Affairs of Scotland The Jacobites Plot. The Irisâ— Affairs Col. Woolsâ—ey routs the Irish Charlemont Castl blocked up Charlemont surrendred K. William landed in Ireland K. William wounded The Battle of the Boyne L. G. Hambletâ—n hâ—s Character at the Boyne D. Schâ—mberg's Character and Age. The late K. James 〈◊〉 for Fraâ—â—â—e 〈…〉 Athlone besieged in vain by L. G. Dâ—uglass Waterford surrendred The Kings Proceedings in Ireland The Army march to 〈◊〉 2. The first siege of Limerick The English Train surprized by the Irish Thâ— Siege raised and the King goes for England 〈◊〉 besieged and 〈◊〉 Coâ—k surrendred Kingsale beâ—sieg'd Surrendred The Duke of Savoy enters into the Confederacy and the manner of it The Treaty between the Emperour and the Dâ—ke of Saâ—oy The Treaty between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy The Campagne in Flanders The Battle of Flerus Arch-duke Joseph chosen King of the Romans The death of the D. of Lorrain The Campaign in Germany The Insurrection of the Catalins The Freâ—ch prevail in Catalâ—nia The French repulsed at Carignan The Vaudoâ—â— roâ—t the French Caâ—ours taken by Catinat The Battel of Salusses Suza besieged and taken by the French Canisia surrenâ—red Nissa and Widin besieged by the Turks Teckely possesses himself of Transilvania and routs Heuster Nissa surrendred Widin surrendred Belgrade besieged by the Turks The Turks take Belgrade by storm Esseck besieged by the Turks in vain P. of Baden reduced Transâ—lvania and expels Tekeley The King of Poland tempted to make Peace with the Turks The Tartars harrass Poland The Poles unactive in the Prosecucution of the War Neapli di Malvasia besieged by the Venetians and taken Vallona besieged by the Venetians Vallona deserted by the Turks The Venetians beat the Turks at Sea Attempts made by France for a Peace with the Emperor The Remarkables of this Year The Congress at the Hague The King's Speech to the Congress The Resolution of the Congress Nice besiâ—ged and taken The siege of Mons. Mons surrendred The War in Ireland Baltymore surrendred to the English The English Town of Athlone taken The English pass the Shannon The Irish Town of Athlone taken The Battle of Aghrim Galloway surrendered Limerick besieged K. James's Letter to the Irish The Irish War ended Our Sea-Affairs noted The Campaâ—gâ— in Flanders The Campaign in Catalonia The Campaign on the Upper Rhine Carmagnolae besieged and taken Coni besieged Coni relieved Carmagnola retaken Montmelian Fortress surrendred The Battle of Saâ—ankemen Duke of Croy succesfull in Sclavonia Great Waradin blockaded The King of Poland's Campaign Pope Alexander VIII his Death Monsieur Louvois Death The Elector of Saxony's Death Parliament meets Parliament adjourned Conspiracy in England Admiral Russel's Letter The French Fleet beaten K. James's Letter to the French King Namur surrendred The Battle of Steenkirk The English Forces imbark English Forces 〈◊〉 in Flanders The Campaign on 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Rhine The Siege of Reinfâ—ld The Duke of Savoy invades the Daupbinate and his Progress The Duke of Savoy's Sâ—ckness The Duke recovers Great Waradin besieged Great Waradia surrendered Câ—nea besieged by the 〈◊〉 The Siâ—ge rais'd The Pâ—â—es do little Mr. Boyle's Death Earthquake in Jamaca and England Ninth Electorate The Proceedings of the English Parliament The Smyrna Fleet attach'd ' by the French The Campaign in Flander's Huy taken by the French The Battle of Landen Charleroy besieged and surrendred to the French Roses taken Heidelburg taken and destroyed by the French The Dauphine inclined to attack the Prince of Baden A Letter from Turin to the States General of the United Provinces about the Battle of Marsiglia Belgrade besieg'd by the Imperialists The Siege rais'd The King his Speech to the Parliament The Proceedings of the English Parliament Sir Francis Wheeler lost Acts of Parliament signed Admiral Russell with the Fleet â—ails for Spain The death of the Prince of Liege and Choice of another The Campaign in Flanders Diep and Havâ—e de Grace Bombâ—rdâ—d by the English The Confederates and French in motion towards Flanders The French King his Letter to the Army Huy besieged by the Confederates and taken The French Progress in Catalonia The French Fleet confined to Thoulon The Campagne in Germany The Campagne in Savoy The Affairs of Poland The death of the Elector of Saxony The death of Queen Mary The English Parliament's Proceedings Th◠〈…〉 Flanders Namur Besieg'd by the Confederates 〈◊〉 Fortifications P. Vaudemont's gallant Retreat The King his Letter to Prince Vaudemont The Siege of Namur continued to the Surrender of the Town The Maritime Towns of France Bombarded by the English Dixmude and Deinse Surrendred to the French Brussells Bombarded Villeroy fails to relieve Namur The Fort and Castle of Namur surrendred The Campaign on the Rhine inconsiderable Casall besieged and taken by the Confederates Sultan Ackmet's Death Sultan Mustapha takes Lippa and Titull A Letter concerning the Defeat of General Veteranâ— Scio quited by the Venetians The Battle of Magâ—s Parliament Dissolv'd and another call'd The King's Speech The death of the Elector of Mentz An Act to remedy the ill state of the COin The Assassination discoverâ—d The King's Speech to the Parliament The Parliaments Pâ—ocâ—â—dings there upon The Confederates buru the French Magazine at Givet The Bombing of Calais St. Martins c. The Fight between the French and Spaniards 〈◊〉 Cataâ—onia The Campaign in Germany The separate Peace of Savoy and the Management of it The Envoy of Savoy's Harange to the late K. James Valentia Beâ—ieged by the French and Savoyards The Articles of Neutrality for Italy Themeswaer Besiegâ—d by the Imperialists and quitted The â—attle between the Imperialists and the Turks Liberachi brought over to the Venetian◠〈◊〉 Dulcigno Besieged by the Venetians The Seâ—ge raised Tâ—e Venetians Beat tâ—e Tuâ—ks by Sâ—a The death of the King of Poland The Czar of Moscovy routs the Turks by Sea and takes Asoph The Substance of the King his Speech to the Parliament The death of the Qu. Mother of Spain The Parliaments Proceedings The Preliminary Articles The Treaty at Reswick Aeth taken by the French The Spanish Aâ—bassaâ— râ—present thâ—ir 〈◊〉 The Elector of Saxony chosen King of Poland Alterations about the Basis of the present Treaty Other Altercations about the Bâ—sis of the present Treaty An Extraordinary Congress held The Lord Portland and the Mareschal de Boufflers their Interview and the Consequence thereof The Peace signed between England Spain Holland and France The Articles of Peace between England and France Mr. Ponti's Expedition Takes Carthagena Descryes and Escapes Admiral Neville * A Jurisdiction three Leagues in Compass Eberenburg â—aken by the Germans And a Cessation of Arms. The Battle of Zenta * Is the XLVI †Is the L. * Is the LI. * It is the XLVI The Parliament Addâ—ess the King Whitehall burâ—t Parliament proceedings King's Speech Parl. dissolved another called K goes for Holland The Affairâ— of Spain Articles of Alliance between France and Sweden Overtâ—res of Peace with the Turks The troubled Affairs of Poland The Proposals of the Rocosche The Nuâ—cio his Mediation Brings the Primate to submit The Primare's Speech to the King The Troubles of Lituania A Fight in Lithuania The Czar's Travel 's A Fight between the Poles and Tartars Elbing invested by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Electors Letter to Elbing The Articles of Eâ—bing Sapieha defeated The Lithuanian Troubles appeased The death of the Duke of Courland The death of the Duke of Hanover The Dukes of Holstein and Lorrain married Conference of Peace with the Turks Altercations between the Venetians and Turks
so growing a Posture that such a Tripple Conjunction seemed only seasonable upon this Account in that the same tended to our Safety But by what Methods these our Neighbouring-Nations have attained to that Greatness it will be necessary to enquire into And first we shall begin with Spain which upon the Declension of the Roman Empire fell into the Share of the West-Goths and other barbarous Nations who for a Time laboured under the same Inconveniencies of a divided Dominion as the Saxons did in Britain But towards the Year 586 their Empire was arrived to the highest Pitch of Greatness as comprehending not only the Neighbouring-Provinces of France and part of Mauritania in Africa but also all Spain except a small Part possessed yet by the Romans who held not that long neither From thence the Gothick Empire declined apace and all fell into the Hands of the Saracens But their Affairs began to revive again about the Year 726 and one Pelagius who was said to have been descended from the Race of the Gothick Kings prevailed mightily both against the Moors and Saracens as divers of his Successors did also However these turmoiled Times gave Original to several Kingdoms within the Boundaries of Spain For besides the Kingdom of Oviedo or Leon which were all one in Effect there arose also others as those of Navarre Arragon and Castile But all these Kingdoms which also professed Christianity were united in the Person of Sanctus Major II. whereby an Opportunity was given the Christians to root out the Moors now divided amongst themselves and to restore Spain to its ancient State yet Sanctus tho' otherwise a brave Prince had no more Wit than to divide them amongst his Sons and gave each of them the Title of King These not being able to confine themselves to their respective Proportions made War upon one another with various Success as it gave the Moors also some Advantage in their Proceedings till in a manner all was united again under Alphonso VIII who play'd the same Trick of dividing Castile Leon and Gallicia between his 3 Sons so that they and their Successors had so much to do with the Moors within Spain and such mutual Jealousies of one another that they could be able to do little any where else under the Notion of Conquest Things were at length brought to such a pass that Spain to say nothing of Portugal and the Kingdom of the Moors in Granada was reduced into Two Kingdoms only to wit Arragon and Castile and these again were united by the Marriage of Ferdinand the Son of John II. King of Arragon whom his Father had declared King of Sicily to Isabella Sister to Henry IV. King of Castile By this Conjunction Spain became mighty Powerful And Ferdinand after he had set his Affairs in Order began now to entertain great Thoughts And well knowing it would be in vain to undertake any Thing Abroad while he had a powerful Enemy within the Body of Spain it self at his Door he undertook an Expedition against the Moors of Granada which cost him so much Time and Expence to conquer being no less than 10 Years engaged in the Work that he could perhaps have sat down contented herewith at least for a time had not something else fallen in his way But Ferdinand by aiming to make sure of his Conquest deprived his Country in some succeeding time of the Benefit of it for he thereupon banished no less than 170000 Families of Jews and Moors out of Spain and thereby dispoiled his Country not only of vast Riches but a great Number of Inhabitants wherein consists the Power and Support of a Nation But whatever Designs Ferdinand might after a little breathing Time have concerted to have undertaken Abroad now he was freed from the Evil that had hitherto diverted him from any Foreign Expedition the French who now found themselves under the same Circumstances as being rid of the English that had stuck so long and so close upon the Skirts of them as not to be able to move elsewhere thought to be before-hand with Ferdinand in the Reduction of the Kingdom of Naples which the other notwithstanding they gave him up Rousillion in order at least to let them proceed unmolested being not able to brook it came to an open Rupture And after divers Conflicts Ferdinand carried the Day and with it the Kingdom of Naples to which if we add the Discovery of America and the rich Mines there about this time and the Kingdom of Navarre which Ferdinand possest himself of upon the Pope's Excommunicating John d' Albret King of that Country at the other's Instigation we shall find this Monarchy grown to a prodigious Grandeur In this State Ferdinand left it to his Grandson Charles who being as well elected Emperor of Germany as he was Hereditary King of Spain and withal a very active Prince Tho' he did very great Things whilst he held the Rains of Government yet it may still seem a Wonder he had not done much more This was indeed an Age fruitful for several brave Princes and here I cannot but admire the Wisdom of God that this Charles V. who was so vastly Potent should have for his Cotemporaries a Harry VIII in England a Francis I. in France and a Solyman the Magnificent in Turky who were all Men of great Souls as well as Power and especially the last of them not inferior to Charles upon any account However such was the Conjuncture that Charles to his vast Dominions added still more by routing Francis and taking him Prisoner and thereby bringing him to make a Surrender of the Dutchy of Burgundy to renounce the Sovereignty over Artois and Flanders and to quit all his Pretences upon Naples and Milan which last the French had for some time been in Possession of But Francis having got his Liberty disclaimed the Agreement and this occasioned a new War which ended in Francis his being forced to confirm the Main of the said Treaty and left Charles at Liberty to add to the Conquests his Grand-father Ferdinand had made in Africa of Bugia and Tripolis that of Tunis and Goletta to which if we add the Sovereignty of Vtrecht of the Provinces of Over Issel Geldren Zutphen Groninghen c. consigned about this Time into his Hands it must still be allowed a mighty Accession of Strength to that vast Empire Wherefore to compleat as he thought his great Work of attaining to an Universal Monarchy in these Western Parts he cunningly lays aside the Contest about the Divorce between Henry VIII King of England and his Aunt Katharine and entred into a League with the said King of invading France the Emperor by the Way of Champaigne and the King thro' Picardy to compleat the Conquest of that Noble Country In order to which the Emperor advanced as far as Espernay which occasioned such a Terror and Confusion in Paris that the Citizens were for leaving the City if the King by his Presence had not incouraged them
to stay Tho' the Emperor as believing himself much stronger thought to delude Henry of his projected Proportion the other grew too cunning for him for being in expectation that Henry would have advanced and so both of them hem in the French Army on each side he sent him Word He would not stir from Bologn and Monstreville till he had made himself Master of them which made Charles recoyl and clap up a Peace then he turned all his Thoughts upon the Reduction of the Protestants and with them the Liberty of Germany wherein tho' he went a great length yet he was at last so baffled by Maurice Elector of Saxony at Inspruck that he was glad to make a Peace with them also So that now being diffident of ever attaining his Ends and wearied with the Toils of Empire and the Infirmity of his Body he resigned up the Empire to his Brother Ferdinando who having been before chosen King of the Romans would not consent it should come to his Son Philip This Philip had at the same time all his Father 's Hereditary Dominions put into his Hands and being a Prince as Politick as Powerful and withal Married to Mary Queen of England had it not been for his Father's Error in dividing the Power of the Austrian Family by separating the Imperial Crown from the Spanish Monarchy I cannot see if we speak after the Manner of Men what could have hindred this Philip II. from attaining to the Dominion of Europe in a short time But besides this other Accidents quickly intervened and as Politick as this Prince seemed to be those very Methods he took to attain still to his desired Ends of Supream Sovereignty by introducing the Inquisition and an Arbitrary Power into the Netherlands and his Attempts to reduce the Kingdom of England under his Power proved to be the very Things that ruined his Empire and gave Rise to that State that for a long time gave an helping hand to bring Spain low but since the Peace of Munster in 1648. has proved the greatest Support of that Remainder of the Monarchy still continuing in the Netherlands against her growing Neighbours of any in the World We might here assign other Reasons for the Cadency of Spain as the bloody Inquisition the Depopulating of the Country by the Discovery of the West-Indies c. But waving this at present we shall enquire a little distinctly into the French Proceedings upon the said Account and take in somewhat of other Nations as they occur to our Purpose before we come to draw the whole into a Conclusion The Ancient Gallia which was of every extensive Bounds but subdivided into divers petty Kingdoms or Dynasties as indeed the State of the Infant World seemed every-where to be so fell under the Yoak of the Roman Empire under the Conduct of Julius Caesar and continued under the said Dominion till that vast Monarchy began to totter and then was one of first of those Countries that felt the Rage of those barbarous Nations the Goths and Huns but most of all the Franks out of Germany who about the Year 424 beginning to break in upon it did by degrees make themselves Masters of the greatest part of it and withal changed the old Name of Gaul into that of France The first Race of their Kings were valiant and brave Princes but some of them being too much taken up with the prevalent Humour of those Times made such a Division of the Kingdom as they had Number of Sons to govern them But being united again this Merovingian Family now at length strangely degenerating from their ancient Valour gave way to the Rise of the Carolovinian Race in the Person of Pepin and was so called from the Famous Charles Martel Mayor of the Palace in the last King's Reign and Father to this Pepin who proved a Warlike Prince and did great Feats in Italy against the Lombards He was succeeded by his Son Charles surnamed the Great who extended the French Monarchy beyond the Bounds even of the ancient Gallia For he made himself in a Manner Lord of all Italy by the entire Conquest he made of the Kingdom of the Lombards and overcame the Saxons and subdued Germany beat the Sclavonians Danes and Huns routed the Saracens and reduced Spain as far as the River Iberus under his Obedience and at Rome was proclaimed Emperor of the West And in Truth he was the greatest Prince that ever was in this Part of the World since the Dissolution of the Roman Empire and had his Successors been as Wise and Valiant as he and pursued the Steps he took I cannot see any Thing that could have hindred them in the Revolution of a few Years from erecting an Empire as extensive and formidable as that of old Rome it self But Charles his Successors falling into the Error of their Predecessors disjoined the Empire of Germany from the Kingdom of France and part of their Dominions being invaded and possest by the Normans and the Royal Authority decaying by degrees this Race also being enfeebled with Age tho' they were not yet 240 Years old made way for Hugh Capet to ascend the Throne This Man thinking to make amends for the Badness of his Title by the Goodness of his Concessions to the Nobles of his Kingdom that had been very Instrumental in his Advancement remitted a great many of the Ancient Royal Prerogatives and gave them the Titles of Dukes and Earls of the Provinces they govern'd upon Condition they should acknowledge themselves his Vassals but yet not to be obliged to depend absolutely upon his Commands Hence arose besides the Dutchy of Normandy on which also depended that of Britany the Dutchies of Burgundy Aquitain and Gascoigny the Earldoms of Flanders Champaign and Thoulouse to which if we add that the Counties of Vienna Provence Savoy and Dauphine belonged to the Kingdom of Arelate which was part of the German Empire we shall find the French Monarchy reduced from those most extensive Bounds it had in the Days of Charlemaign to a very narrow Compass and to reunite those again has been mainly the Struggle and Endeavour of the succeeding Kings of France About some of which they had a long and terrible Contest with the English which yet the French effected in a great measure by the Time of the Reign of our K. Henry VII when Charles VIII married Anne Inheritrix of the Dutchy of Britany tho' she had been solemnly married before to Maximilian K. of the Romans and afterwards Emperor And the Suffering of this to be accomplish'd was a foul Blot in K. H's Politicks and lesned very much the Reputation he had gained of being a Prince of great Wisdom and Foresight But though France thus strengthned her Vital Parts by the Acquisition of Britany which she took Care to retain even by the Marriage of Charles's Successor Lewis XII to this Ann of Bretaigne his Relict in Expectation of Issue though without Success and that notwithstanding this Francis I. Lewis's
about the latter End of Sept. surrendred up to the Imperial Army for want of Provisions having been blocked up and besieged from the Beginning of June And this indeed happened as much against the common Opinion and Expectation as the contrary Event did in the Siege of Maestricht The Affairs of Denmark and Brandenburg prospered all this while against Sweden who was in Alliance with France and that with much Advantage in most of the Sieges and Encounters that passed between them this Summer and the first part of the succeeding Winter So that the Swedes seemed to be losing apace all that they had been so long in Possession of in Germany But the Imperial Forces tho' joined with those of the several Princes upon the Vpper Rhine had for all that made but little Progress in their designed Conquests there and were forc'd to seek their old Winter-Quarters upon the German side of the River which was no less a true and indisputed Decision of the small Success of this Campagne than it was a powerful Motive to incline some of the Confederates to think more seriously of a Peace and particularly the Dutch who began now to grow very impatient after it especially in that they found France would make no great Difficulty in granting them any thing in Contest between them seeing they privately made Offers by their Emissaries especially at Amsterdam of such a Reglement of Commerce as they themselves could wish for the Restitution of Maestricht and all the Satisfaction imaginable to the Prince of Orange that he could pretend to upon the account of his Losses and their Seisure in the Course of this War year 1677 To return therefore to the Business of the Peace It was about the middle of Feb. 1677. N. S. before the Assembly was compleatly formed the King of England's single Mediation by all Parties accepted and that of the Pope's finally rejected the several Acts signed put into the Hands of the Mediators and by them exchanged among the several Parties And all these Preliminaries of the Treaty being thus dispatch'd the respective Embassadors did also by Agreement put into the same Hands their several Propositions or Pretensions which on the Emperor's part were That the King and Kingdom of France should restore to him and to the Empire and to all his Allies whatever they had taken from them during the Course of this present War make Reparation for all the Damages they had suffered and that a Peace should be established upon the best and surest Grounds that could be devised France in theirs seemed to demand little of the Empire only they said That the King having desired nothing more passionately than the Religious Observation of the Treaties of Westphalia his Majesty would gladly see Germany a second time owe the Re-establishment of its Repose to the Observation of the same Treaties and for that Effect he demanded they might be fully and entirely re-established The Spaniards insisted upon the Restitution of all the Places they had lost and Reparation for all the Damages they had sustained from France since the Year 1665 whether by Sea or Land by demolishing burning or otherwise and that the French King should give compleat Satisfaction to all the Confederates and by three different Articles demanded the same thing of the Swedes Whereas France on the other side said That their King being contrary to Justice and the Obligation of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle attack'd by the Catholick King his Majesty had reason to pretend that in respect to that Crown all things should remain in the Condition the Fortune of War had put them without Prejudice to the King 's Rights which were to continue still in full Force and Power The Danes insisted That France should give them compleat Satisfaction and reimburse all the Charges of the War and by Four Articles required of the Swedes That betwixt the Two Kings and Two Kingdoms all Things should be restored in the same State they were in before the War that was ended between the Two Nations by the Treaties of Westphalia That the Treaties of Rochilde and Copenhagen should be abolished That all the Provinces which had been dismembred from Denmark and Norway should be restored to the Danes That all that the Swedes possess'd in the Empire should be taken from them That Wismar and the Isle of Rugen should remain in the Possession of the Danes And that for the Security of his Danish Majesty and his Kingdoms they might be allowed to put Garrisons into all the strong Places of Sweden that lay upon the Frontiers of the Two Kingdoms But France on her side proposed That seeing the King had not declared War against the King of Denmark but that his Danish Majesty running contrary to the Treaty of Copenhagen made in the Year 1660 for Performance whereof the King was Guarrantee had attack'd Sweden his most Christian Majesty was willing to desist from all Hostilities on his part provided that the foresaid Treaty and those of Westphalia were re-established As to what concerned France and the States-General tho' in truth Things were as good as agreed between them before the latter demanded that Maestricht Dalen Fangumont with all the Dependancies of the first should be restored to them A Reglement of Commerce with a Renunciation of all Pretensions each Party might have upon the other And as for the greater Damages they had sustained and whereof they might demand Reparation they were willing for the publick Tranquility to sacrifice them all provided Satisfaction might be given to their Allies To this were added Sixteen Articles concerning a full Satisfaction to be made the Prince of Orange in regard to what depended on the Crown of France and particularly the Restauration of the Fortifications of the City of Orange that were ruined in the Year 1660 and of the Castle demolished in 1663 the Rights of Toll upon Salt and other Commodities as well upon the Rhosne as through the Principality of Orange the Prerogative of Coining Money of Laick Patronage for Nomination to the Bishoprick together with the Exemptions Priviledges and other Immunities granted to the Inhabitants of the said Principality and particularly by Lewis XIII And as for Sweden they required no more but that the future Treaty might contain some Regulations for obviating the frequent Inconveniencies that happened concerning Commerce between the Two Nations To which France on her part answered That seeing the Union that had always been between the Crown of France and the States was only interrupted upon account of some Causes of Discontent which were easie in the present Posture of things to be removed and for the future prevented His Majesty was very ready to restore the States to his former Amity and to hearken favourably to all Propositions that might be made to him on their part both in respect to their Demands of Restitution Treaty of Commerce and the Re-establishment of the Prince of Orange tho' the French Embassadors occasionally opposed
whose Cause the whole Body of the Allies interested themselves in so far as to press for an Answer to his Pretensions delivered in by President Canon But the French finding now that their former Exception of his wanting a Minister at the Congress would not do raised another to stave off the foresaid Instances and declared They could give no Answer about Lorrain till the Bishop of Strasburg's Agents were received by the Allies Upon this the Emperor made an invincible Difficulty declaring He would never treat with a Vassal of his own and in these Conferences about Lorrain the French Embassadors began to insinuate to the Mediators That their Master never intended that Matter to be treated as a Principal but only as an Accessary to the Treaty As they did also shew themselves positive in having full Satisfaction and Restitution made to the Swedes before they would conclude the Peace It was believed since it was much discoursed of that there was a new Alliance entred into between those two Crowns at Paris and that it was by Concert between them that this Attenite was given by the Swedes to the Congress Neither was there any Decisive Action in the course of the rest of this Campagne which was ended in Flanders by a successless Attempt made by the Prince of Orange to surprize Charleroy And if on the German side the French thought they had the Advantage by taking of Fribourg in Octob. this Year by a Feint of the Mareschal de Crequi before the Duke of Lorrain could come up to relieve it the City of Stetin's falling into the Hands of the Duke of Brandenburg this same Month after a most vigorous Resistance of its Garrison left the Scales even as they were before between the two Leagues The Campagne being ended as aforesaid the Prince of Orange who had long desired to take a Tour into England and had to that purpose the June before sent Monsieur Bentink over to make way with the King for such a Journey who at length granted him leave tho' with great Indifferency and Difficulty enough did upon the 9th of Octob. Land at Harwich and rid Post from thence to New-Market where the Court then was and where he industriously declined to enter upon any Conferences about the Peace or War as being resolved first to see the Young Princess which made the King to humour him leave that place sooner by some Days than he designed The Prince upon his Arrival in Town had no sooner set sight on that Incomparable Princess our late Sovereign Lady but he was so pleased with her Person and all those Signs of such an Humour as had been before described unto him that he immediately made his Suit both to the King and Duke which was very well received and assented to but upon Condition That the Terms of the Peace abroad might be first agreed on between them which after many Contestations on both sides the Prince would ne'er agree to saying The World would believe he had made that Match for himself at their Costâ— and that he would never sacrifice his Honour to his Love He grew at last to be so sullen upon the matter that he desired a Friend to tell the King That he designed to stay but two Days longer in England if things continued still on the same Foot That it repented him he had ever come over And that the King must choose how they were to live hereafter for he was sure it must be either like the greatest Friends or the greatest Enemies This so wrought upon the King who at the same time expressed the great Opinion he had of the Prince's Honesty that he ordered Sir William Temple the Messenger to go immediately to carry hâ—m the News That he should have his Wife Accordingly the Match was declared that Evening at the Committee before any other in Court knew any thing of it The Marriage was no sooner consummated but they very quickly fell into Debate upon the Terms of the Peace and had various Discourses of the Ambition of France the Necessity of a good Frontier to Flanders and it was at last agreed upon these Terms That all should be restored by France to the Emperor and Empire that had been taken in the War the Dutchy of Lorrain to that Duke and all on both sides between France and Holland and to Spain the Towns of Aeth Oudenard Courtray Tournay Conde Valenciennes St. Gillaine and Bince That the Prince should endeavour to procure the Consent of Spain and the King that of France To this Purpose he was to dispatch away a Person immediately over with the Proposition who should be instructed to enter into no Reasonings upon it but demand a positive Answer in Two Days and then forthwith return and my Lord Duras a Favourite of the Duke's was at last the Person pitched upon and sent But he after the Delivery of his Message was prevailed with to stay longer than his time and after all came away without any positive Answer From which manner of Procedure we may discover foul Prevarication somewhere and so the Business came to be drawn out into so many Messages and Returns from France that at last it dwindled into nothing especially after the Departure of the Prince for Holland who had spirited the Vigour of the whole Resolution which Departure happened to be with his Princess on the 21st of Nov. However the News of the Match had got to Nimeguen some time before and if the Confederates did before this begin to hope more than ever that it would not be long before England declared in their Favours they made no doubt of it now But it had quite another Effect in Holland especially at Amsterdam where the French Emissaries found the Secret of raising Jealousies of the Measures taken between the King and Prince upon this new Alliance as dangerous to the Liberty of their Country and to make it there believed that by the Match the King and Duke had wholly brought over the Prince into their Interest and Sentiments whereas the Prince went indeed away possess'd of having drawn them into his tho' they were all equally mistaken But how different soever their Apprehensions abroad might be of Things the King in England quite receded from his Engagements to the Prince of entring into the War with all the Confederates in case of no direct and immediate Answer from France upon the Terms of the Peace and contented himself to send Mr. Thynne over into Holland with a Draught of an Alliance to be made with the Dutch in order to force France and Spain into a Compliance with the Propositions agreed on year 1678 and to consign the same into the Hands of Mr. Hyde then at the Hague which was done and the Treaty Signed on the 16th of Jan. tho' not without great Difficulties and much Dissatisfaction on the part of the Prince of Orange who was yet covered in it by the private Consent of the Spanish Minister there in behalf of his
Master so that the War could not break out but upon France in case of their Refusal And if an imaginary Jealousie in Holland of the Prince's Conduct since his Marriage made them very uneasie among themselves and daily more and more disposed towards a Peace the News that came at this time of the French's taking from them the Island of Tobago with all the Vessels that were in that Port as well as their Ammunition in the Fort there besides the Death of Binks Admiral of Zealand and the utter Ruine of that Colony did no less sensibly affect them But what was a more formidable Blow than all the rest was the vast Progress of the French Army this Spring in the Spanish Netherlands where they carried all before them without any Opposition in whatever they attempted For towards the end of Feb. the French King marching at the Head of his Army and carrying the Queen and Ladies to Metz seemed to threaten either Lutzemburg Namur or Mons But having drawn the Spanish Forces that way all on a sudden and to the no less Surprize of the French themselves than of the Confederates he crossed the Countries and in so much haste that by the 4th of March he sat down before Ghent which by his Orders had been invested the 1st of the same Month and notwithstanding the Besieged cut down their Dikes and drowned part of the Country yet in a few Days both Town and Cittadel too were carried and the Town of Ypre run the same Fate before the end of the Month tho' the Garrison made a gallant Resistance However tho' all the Confederates exaggerated the Importance of these Losses yet they could not excite England to any speedy and open Declaration The Affairs of the Allies being thus so much perplex'd on all hands and the French now elated with so many Prosperities and perhaps fearful least England at length would fall into the Weight of the Confederacy in the Month of Apr. made a publick Declaration of the Terms upon which they were resolved to make the Peace a Copy whereof we have here inserted and is as follows A PROJECT of CONDITIONS of PEACE HIS Majesty's inviolable Fidelity in adhering to his Alliances hath induced him never to listen any Proposals of Peace other than such as shall give a full and perfect Satisfaction to the King of Sweden which likewise having been absolutely promised to his Majesty by the King of Great Britain who was earnest to gain this Point both for him and the States-General he now likewise makes it the first Article that he insists upon and without which he cannot come to any Conclusion upon the rest And because the Interest of the Duke of Gottorp is so united to the King of Sweden that it makes a part of the Treaty of Copenhagen for the Performance of which his Majesty gave his Guarranty to that Crown his Majesty desires that he may now likewise be comprehended within this Treaty upon such Terms as shall be satisfactory to himself As for the Prince and Bishop of Strasbourg the King doth precisely insist upon the Restitution of that Prince and of all his Family to all their Estates Goods Honours and Prerogatives and particularly upon the Restitution of his Brother Prince William of Furstemburg whose Liberty must be provided for by one of the first Articles of the Peace For what concerns the Empire as his Majesty doth still continue in the same Intention which he has expressed for its Peace that he has been troubled to see it disturbed that it was with much Concern of Mind he found himself compelled to carry the War thither So he does yet adhere to those publick Declarations which he has so often made That he will insist only upon the Restoring of the Treaties of Westphalia in all their Points and to have them once more to be the Means of restoring Peace to Germany Which induces him to offer this Alternative to the Emperor either that the Emperor shall restore Philipsburg and have Fribourg restored to him or else keep Philipsburg and let his Majesty continue in the Possession of Fribourg without making any the least Alteration in the other Matters contained in the said Treaties As for what concerns Spain since its Interest appears to be the most considerable in this War and both England Holland and some Estates bordering upon Flanders have further express'd their Desire that that Crown should retain such a Frontier in the Low-Countries as might be able to make that a Bar which they judge is so very important to their Safety his Majesty has been pleased at the Instance of the King of Great Britain to agree to the Means for the Settling of it And upon this Consideration it is as his Majesty declared himself to that Prince that he has offered already and doth yet offer to restore to Spain these following Places viz. Charleroy Limburg and its Appurtenances Binch and the Provostship thereof Aeth and its Chastellany Oudenard and its Chastellany there Courtray and its Chastellany the Verge of Menin only excepted Gand and its Dependances St. Guillain but with its Fortifications rased For so many Places of Importance and which his Majesty has taken so much Care and been at so great Expence to Fortifie he requires in exchange that the King of Spain quit his Right to those Places which his Majesty hath possessed himself of in this last War All Franche Compte The Town of Valenciennes and its Dependances Conde and its Dependances Cambray and Cambresis Air St. Omers and their Dependances The Town of Ypre and its Chastellany The Places of Werwick and Werneton on the River Lis. Bavay and Maubeuge with their Dependances Poperingue Bailleul and Cassel with their Dependances In a Word that he quit his Right to all such Places and Countries as his Majesty hath now in his Possession excepting those before-mentioned which his Majesty is willing to restore to Spain the Town of Charlemont he is willing to give up or in lieu thereof the Town of Dinant and Bouvines upon Condition that he at the Choice of the King of Spain will charge himself that the Bishop of Liege shall quit his Right to Dinant and that the Emperor and Empire shall give their Assent thereunto By this means the Spanish Frontier in the Netherlands would for the future begin from the Sea to the Meuse by Newport Dixmude Courtray Oudenard Aeth Mons Charleroy and Namur As for the Articles which concern the States-General they are so very favourable that they cannot but conclude that his Majesty doth fully purpose to receive them into the former Friendship after the Peace shall be concluded His Majesty is willing to restore them Maestricht and to agree to the Treaty of Commerce in such Form as it was framed at Nimeguen with the Sieur Beverning And to the End his Majesty may give the World the utmost Testimony of his sincere Intentions for the Peace his Majesty notwithstanding any Reason that might
the Ratifications of the Peace with Spain and Holland whether any other of the Allies on each side were included or no And the Negotiation had been managed in that manner till the very Day before the Treaty was to be Signed without any apparent Thoughts of a clear Explanation of the Points when the Marquess de les Balbases having either found or made some occasion of enquiring more particularly into the Intentions of France concerning it bethought himself of an Explanation as to the Time of the Restitution of the said Places And in order thereunto went first to the Dutch Embassadors to sound their Opinions upon that Snbject who made Answer That if the French pretended to delay the Restitution beyond the Exchange of the Ratifications it was a Thing not meant by them And thereupon going immediately to the French Embassadors to give them their Explications which they would send to the States-General by an â—xpress The latter made no Difficulty of declaring That the King their Master being obliged to see an entire Restitution made to the Swedes of all they had lost in the War could not evacuate the Towns in Flanders till those to the Swedes were likewise restored and that this Detention of Places was the only Means to induce the Princes of the North to accept of the Peace without demanding that the same Powers who only accepted the Conditions of the Peace That they might as soon as they could disingage themselves from the Misfortunes of the War should engage any other Means for procuring that Satisfaction The Dutch Embassadors having received the States Answer hereupon did June 25. declare to those of France That they could not Sign the Peace without the King did remit his Pretensions and evacuate the Towns upon the Ratifications of the Treaty But the French Embassadors on the other side were firm and said Their Orders were to insist upon the Satisfaction of the Swedes This strange Procedure of theirs made the States send to Monsieur Van Lewen at London to acquaint the King with it and to know his Resolution upon so momentous a Point who was at first hard to believe it but finding the same confirmed by the French Ambassador he was surprized and angry and thereupon sent Sir William Temple into Holland with a Commission to Sign a Treaty with the States by which they should be obliged to carry on the War and he to enter into it in case France did not consent within a certain Time limited to evacuate the Towns which Treaty after he had once fallen into the Negotiation he concluded happily in the Space of 6 Days and the Particulars whereof because I never saw them yet in English and that they may give some Light to this Affair I shall here insert HAGUE July 26. 1678. AS the States-General of the Vnited Provinces after having declared by their Letters to the most Christian King That they consented to the Conditions of Peace as far as in them lay which he had offered them and that his Catholick Majesty who was also of the same Sentiment was willing on his part so far as it regarded him to embrace the same Treaty and having upon that Head used all the Facility that could be and to that End ordered his Embassadors at Nimeguen to set their Hands to those Conditions so far as it related to them as well as the other Allies who were also willing to be comprehended therein have nevertheless understood with much Concern of Mind that the Ministers of France have opposed the same and refused the Restitution of the Places which belonged to Spain and the States without they would first and for the Satisfaction of Sweden restore also those Places which had been taken from them during the Course of the War This so unexpected a Change having obliged the States to believe That Pretensions so ill grounded were rather an Effect of the Repugnancy that might be in the Plenipotentiaries than the real Intentions of his Majesty who had otherwise explained himself and as the said States did besides inform his Majesty of Great Britain of the Essential Point that obstructed that important Negotiation praying him to support so just a Cause and to endeavour to obtain of his most Christian Majesty all that might remove the Obstacles which retarded that Work And adding withal That if his Endeavours should prove fruitless in so just a Work he would be pleased to protect and assist them with all his Forces and that his Majesty did thereupon re-assure them that the Peace was neither just nor feasible upon those Conditions and gave them his Promise That he would defend them if the most Christian King refused it under any Pretence whatsoever Upon that the States gave Orders to their Plenipotentiaries to desire those of France That without making those exorbitant Demands or insisting upon Satisfaction to Sweden they would forthwith conclude and sign the Treaty which they were also ready to do in the Name of the States if his Majesty after the Ratification and Publishing of the Peace would give up unto them all those Places without precending any Restitution to the Swedes of what they had lost since the War With this View and in order to prevent those dangerous Consequences that may arise from such Delay it is agreed between his Britannick Majesty and the States That if their Offices and Endeavours do not surmount these Remora's and if they cannot get the most Christian King to declare before the 11th of Aug. that he will really restore those Places after the Ratification and Publishing of the said Treaty without any further insisting upon these Pretensions of the Swede by a speedy Evacuation of those that ought to be restored by Virtue of that Peace It is then agreed and these Two Powers do agree to declare War against France and to compel her thereto with their joint Forces according to the Conditions stipulated underneath or such as shall be hereafter established between them or with other Princes who shall enter into this Engagement And as his most Christian Majesty hath often declared to his Britannick Majesty as a common Mediator between the Parties in Difference That he would readily embrace a Peace that could be made upon reasonable Terms yet his good Offices and Hopes have not been able to produce the Fruits wished for through the new Pretensions that have been continually raised His said Majesty and the States-General assembled July 26. 1678. believing and being perswaded that Repose cannot be given to Christendom if the Princes who are in War should accept of those Conditions and if as to what concerns Spain and France the latter do not render to the other Charleroy Aeth Audenard Courtray Tournay Conde Valenciennes St. Gistain Binch the Dutchy of Limbourg c. with their Bailywicks Chatellines Governments Provostships Appurtenances and Dependances so as to restore them and put them into the Hands of Spain And as for what concerns the Emperor the Empire and its
Princes that France shall give up to them all that she has taken from them at present and that the rest remain as it was before the War That Lorrain be restored to the Duke of that Name in the State it is in now or if that cannot be done in the State it was when seized by France his Majesty and the States mutually and really obliging themselves to the Observation of this Point I. His said Majesty and the Lords the States-General promise to do their utmost and if it may be to use all sorts of Means to constrain the most Christian King to give Satisfaction in these Terms without being at Liberty to make a Peace with him if he do not give his Consent to them or to some others as shall be agreed on between his Majesty and the States according to the Success of the War II. His Majesty and the States-General do engage themselves further for the obliging France to consent to these Conditions or to such as the Princes concerned shall find convenient and in short for bringing of that Crown to comply with it that his Majesty shall furnish One Third more by Sea and a Third less by Land in the Low-Countries than the Lords the States all by a Provisionary Way till it be otherwise provided by the Allies III. It is also stipulated That if his Majesty of Great Britain and the most Christian King make War upon one another one of the Confederates cannot separate from the other by any particular Treaty without that other's Consent IV. But if the Negotiation of the Peace which is held at Nimeguen comes to be broke up and that the Parties should agree upon any other Place to treat of it or of a Truce that cannot be done without the Consent or Agreement of the other Allies and without at the same time one of the Parties in the Confederacy procure also to the other the necessary Pasports to pass freely and without Danger to the Place appointed for the Treaty where he ought also to communicate to him all that passeth in that Negotiation And in the mean time they shall not have Power to consent to any Peace or Truâ—e but according to the Conditions stipulated by the 1st Article or such other as they shall agree upon and without his Aâ—y be re-established in the full and entire Possession of all the Lands Towns Places and Immunities which he enjoyed at the Signing of this Treaty in Europe if it be not otherwise agreed on between his Majesty and the States V. But if the Peace in Hand terminate happily between the most Christian King on the one Hand and his Catholick Majesty and the States General on the other whether by the Propositions which France hath made her self or by such other as they can agree to his Britannick Majesty and the States will not only be Guarrantee in the best and surest Form that may be but also its free for other Kings and neighbouring Princes who shall have any Interest in the Repose of Christendom and the immutable Tranquility of the Low-Countries to be so 'T is with this View that his said Majesty and the States would agree upon the Troops and Means that are necessary to bring the Party who shall violate the Peace to make Satisfaction for the Damages he shall do another any manner of way VI. These Articles and the full Contents of them are to be Signed and Ratified within 3 Weeks or sooner if it may be and the Ratifications exchanged at the same time Given at the Hague the 26 th of July 1678. Signed W. Van Henkelom de Van Wiugaerden Fagel D. Van Heyden Van Leewen J. de Maregnault Jean Baron de Reed A. ter Borght Temple After the Treaty had been thus concluded and signified to France all the Artifice that could be was used on that side to elude it by drawing the matter into a Treaty or at least a greater length which had succeeded so well in England that they offered to treat upon it at St. Quintin then at Ghent where the French King himself proposed to meet such Embassadors as the Dutch should send into either of them Towns But the States were stanch not to recede from their late Treaty and continued in that Mood till about 5 Days before the Expiration of the time then came one De Cross from England with a Packet for Sir William Temple commanding him to go forth with to Nimeguen and there to endeavour from the King to perswade the Swedish Embassadors to let the French know That for the Repose of Christendom they did not any longer desire the French King to insist upon the Detention of the Towns and consequently hinder the Peace upon the sole Regard and Interest of the Crown of Sweden and to assure them that after the Conclusion of the Peace the King would employ all his Endeavours that the Towns and Countries which their Master had lost in the War should be restored unto them How this Dispatch of Du Cross was gained was never known but 't is sufficient to believe that France had the greatest Hand in it since 't was transacted all one Morning in Portsmouth's Apartment by the intervention and pursuit of Barillon the French Embassador Yet for all this when Sir William Temple arrived at Nimeguen which was but 3 Days before the Expiration of the Term fix'd by the late Treaty between our King and the States either for the French to evacuate the Towns or for carrying on the War conjointly against France there was but little Disposition that the Peace would be Signed but rather the quite contrary appeared by the Stiffness shewed on both sides to adhere firmly to their respective Demands And the Dutch Embassadors remained peremptory That there could be no Deputation for the securing of the future Satisfaction of Sweden as the French demanded before the Term expired and no other Remedy upon that but that the War must go on With this View and Expectation all the Parties seemed to be when the fatal Day came wherein either a suddain Peace or a long and bloody War was to be reckoned on in Christendom on the Morning whereof Monsieur Boreel who had been sent from Amsterdam to the Dutch Embassadors at Nimeguen went to the French Embassadors and after some Conference with them they immediately went to those of Holland and declared they had received Orders from their Master to consent to the Evacuation of the Towns and thereupon to Sign the Peace but that it must be done that Morning At this the Dutch seemed to be surprized but immediately entred into a Conference with them thereupon which lasted for 5 Hours and ended in an Agreement upon all Points both of Peace and Commerce between France and Holland It was certainly thought the French Embassadors had received no Power to Sign the Peace and 't was said Sir William Temple himself did advise those of Holland to press them to it out of a real Belief as well as the
all the Sentiments of Respect for his Majesty and of Acknowledgment for the Obligations and considerable Advantages which they have received from his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors it is at last come to pass that these good Dispositions seconded by the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most mighty Prince the King of Great Britain who during these troublesom Times wherein all Christendom has been in War hath not ceased by his Counsels and good Advertisements to contribute to the Publick Weal and Repose induced as well his most Christian Majesty and the States-General as also all other the Princes and Potentates that are concerned in the Interest of this present War to consent that the Town of Nimeguen should be made Choice of for the Treaty of Peace to which end his most Christian Majesty named for his Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries the Sieur Comte d'Estrades Mareschal of France and Knight of his Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissi Counsellor in ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur Mesmes Knight Comte d'Avaux Counsellor also in his Councils and the said States-General the Heer Hierosme Van Beverning Baron of Teylingen Curator of the University of Leyden late Counsellor and Treasurer-General of the Vnited-Provinces Heer Van Odyle Cortgene and first Noble and Representative of the Nobility in the States and Council of Zealand and the Heer Willem Van Haren Griedtman Van Bildt Deputies in their Assemblies on the behalf of the States of Holland and Zealand c. Which Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries duly instructed with the good Intentions of their Masters were to repair to the said Town of Nimeguen where after a mutual Communication of their Plenary Powers the Copies whereof are inserted Word for Word at the end of this Treaty it was agreed upon Conditions of Peace and Friendship according to this ensuing Tenour viz. I. There shall be for the future betwixt his most Christian Majesty and his Successors Kings of France and Navar and his Kingdoms on the one part and the Lords the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries on the other part a good firm faithful and inviolable Peace and all Acts of Hostility of what kind soever shall hereafter cease and be forborn betwixt the said King and the said Lords the States-General as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land in all their Kingdoms Countries Lands Provinces and Seigniories and for all their Subjects and Inhabitants of what Quality or Condition soever without exception of Places or Persons II. And if any Prizes are taken on either side in the Baltick-Sea or the North-Sea from Terneuse to the Channel 's Mouth within the space of 4 Weeks or from the said Mouth of the Channel to the Cape of St. Vincent within the space of Six Weeks and further in the Mediterranean-Sea and as far as the Aequinoctial within the space of 10 Weeks and beyond the Line and in all Parts of the World within the space of 8 Months to be computed from the Day on which the Peace shall be published at Paris and at the Hague the said Prizes and the Dammages that shall happen on either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be brought to Account and whatever shall have been taken shall be restor'd with Recompense for the Damages that shall have happened thereby III. There shall be moreover betwixt the said King and the said Lords the States-General and their Subjects and Inhabitants mutually a sincere firm and perpetual Friendship and good Correspondence by Sea and Land in all Things and in all Places within Europe and without and no resenting of the Offences or Damages that have been received either in Time past or by reason of the said Wars IV. And in Virtue of this Friendship and Correspondence as well his Majesty as the said Lords the States-General shall faithfully procure and further the Good and Prosperity of one another by all Support Aid Counsel and real Assistances upon all Occasions and at all Times and shall not consent for the future to any Treaties or Negotiations that may be to one anothers Damage and shall break them off and give notice of them to one another with Care and Sincerity as soon as ever they come to their Knowledge V. They that have had any of their Goods seized and confiscated by reason of the said War their Heirs or Assigns of what Condition or Religion soever shall enjoy such Goods and take them into Possession of their own private Authority and by Virtue of this present Treaty without standing in need to have recourse to Law and that notwithstanding any Appropriations to the Exchequer Engagements Gifts in Writing Sentences Preparatory or Definitive given by Default or Contumacy in the Parties Absence or without their being heard Treaties Accords and Transactions and any Renunciations that may have been made at such Transactions to exclude the right Owners from any part of such Goods and all and every the Goods and Rights which according to this present Treaty shall or ought to be restor'd on either side to the first Proprietors their Heirs and Assigns may be sold by the said Proprietors without obtaining any particular License so to do And likewise the Proprietors of such Rents as shall be settled by the Exchequer in lieu of Goods sold as also of such Rents and Actions as stand on Charge in the Exchequer may respectively dispose of the Propriety thereof by Sale or otherwise as of their other proper Goods VI. And since the Marquisate of Bergenopzome with all the Rights and Revenues thereunto appertaining and generally all the Lands and Goods of Monsieur le Comte d'Avergne Colonel-General of the Light-Horse of France that were under the Power of the said States-General of the Vnited-Provinces have been seized and confiscated by reason of the War to which the present Treaty ought to put an happy End it is agreed That the said Sieur Comte d'Auvergne shall be restored to the Possession of the said Marquisare of Bergenopzome its Appurtenances and Dependances and also to all the Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives that he enjoy'd at the time when the War was declar'd VII Each shall continue seized of and shall actually enjoy the Countries Towns Places Lands Islands and Seignories within Europe and without which they now hold and possess without being disturb'd or molested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever VIII But his most Christian Majesty willing to give back to the Lords the States-General his Principal Friendship and to give them a singular Proof thereof upon this Occasion will immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications put them into Possession of the Town of Maestricht with the Comte of Vronof and the Comtez and Countries of â—auquemond Aalhem and Rolleduc beyond the Maes together with the Villages of Redemption Banc d' St. Servais and whatever is belonging to the said Town IX The said Lords the States-General promise That whatever
concerns the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and such as profess it enjoying their Goods shall be re-established and maintained in the said Town of Maestricht and its Dependances in the same State and in such Manner as was regulated by the Capitulation made in the Year 1632 and that such as shall have been endowed with any Ecclesiastical Goods Canons Places Parsonages Provostships and other Benefices shall continue settled in them and enjoy them without any Contradiction X. His Majesty restoring to the said Lords the States-General the Town of Maestricht and Countries thereunto belonging may yet take and carry away all the Artillery Powder Bullets Provisions and other Warlike Ammunition that shall be found there at the time of â—ts Restitution and they that his Majesty shall have appointed for this Purpose may if they please make use of the Boats and Carriages of the Country for 2 Months time and shall have free Passage by Water and Land for the Carrying away the said Ammunition And the Governours Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the said Town shall give them all the Facilities they can for the Carriage and Conduct of the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers Soldiers Men of War and others that shall leave the said Place may take thence and carry away all their movable Goods but it shall not be lawful for them to exact any Thing from the Inhabitants of the Town of Maestricht or its Neighbourhood nor to do any hurt to their Houses or carry away any Thing belonging to the said Inhabitants XI All Prisoners of War on both sides shall be delivered without Distinction or Exception and without paying any Ransom XII The raising of Contributions demanded by the Governour of the Town of Maestricht of the Countries subjected shall continue for all that shall become due till the Ratification of the present Treaty and such Arrears as shall remain shall be paid within 3 Months after that at convenient times for which a valuable Caution shall be given in some Town within his Majesty's Dominion XIII The said Lords the States-General have and do promise not only to maintain a perfect Neutrality without being at Liberty to assist directly or indirectly the Enemies of France or its Allies but also to guarrant all such Engagements as Spain shall enter into by the Treaty that is to be betwixt their most Christian and Catholick Majesties and especially that whereby the Catholick King shall be held to the same Neutrality XIV If through Inadvertence or otherwise there happen any want of due Observance of this present Treaty or other Inconvenience relating thereunto on the Part of his said Majesty or of the Lords the States-General and their Successors this Peace and Alliance shall remain in full Force notwithstanding so as no Breach of Friendship or of good Correspondence shall ensue thereupon but such Contraventions shall be speedily repaired if they shall be occasioned by any particular Subjects Faults those Subjects only shall be punished XV. And for the better securing Commerce and Friendship hereafter between the Subjects of the said King and those of the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries it is agreed and accorded that in case there shall be in time to come any Interruption of Friendship or that a Breach shall happen between the Crown of France and the said Lords the States-General of the said Vnited-Provinces which God forbid then 6 Months after such Breach shall always be allowed to the Subjects of both Parties to retire with their Effects and transport them whithersoever they think fit which also they shall be permitted to do as likewise to sell or transport their Goods and Movables with all Freedom so as no Hindrance shall be given to them nor any Proceedings to seize their Effects much less to secure their Persons XVI As for the Pretences and Interests that concern the Prince of Orange upon which there has been a separate Treaty and Agreement by an Act this Day Signed the said Writing and all the Contents of it shall be effectual and shall be confirmed fulfilled and executed according to the Form and Tenour thereof neither more nor less than if all its Points in general and every one in particular were Word for Word inserted into this present Treaty XVII And as his Majesty and the Lords the States-General acknowledge the powerful Offices that the King of Great Britain has incessantly employ'd by his Counsels and good Advertisements for the publick Weal and Repose so it is agreed on both sides that his said Majesty of Great Britain and his Kingdoms be comprehended by Name within this present Treaty according to the best Form that may be XVIII Within this present Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall be comprehended on the part of the said most Christian King the King of Sweden the Duke of Holstein the Bishop of Strasburg and Prince William of Furstemburg as interested in the present War And there shall likewise be comprehended if they will themselves the Prince and Crown of Portugal the Duke and Seigniory of Venice the Duke of Savoy the Thirteen Cantons of the Ligue-Switzers and their Allies the Elector of Bavaria Duke John Frederick of Brunswick Hanover and all Kings Potentates Princes and States Towns and particular Persons to whom his most Christian Majesty shall grant at their Request to be comprehended within this Treaty on his part XIX And on the part of the Lords the States-General the King of Spain and all other their Allies that within 6 Weeks to be computed from the Exchange of the Ratifications shall declare their acceptance of the Peace and also the Thirteen laudable Cantons of the Ligue-Switzers and their Allies and Confederates the Town of Embden and moreover all Kings Princes and States Towns and particular Persons to whom they shall grant at their Request to be comprehended on their part XX. The said King and the said Lords the States-General do consent that the King of Great Britain as Mediator and all other Potentates and Princes that shall be willing to enter into the like Engagement may give his Majesty and the said States-General their Promise and tie themselves to guarrant the Performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXI This present Treaty shall be Ratified and Approved by the said King and the said Lords the States-General and each Parties Letters of Ratification shall be deliver'd in proper due Form within the Term of 6 Weeks or sooner if it may be reckoning from the Day of Signing In Witness whereof We the aforesaid Ambassadors of his Majesty and of the Lords the States-General by Virtue of their respective Powers have on their behalfs Signed these Presents with our ordinary Seals and have set our Coats of Arms to the same At Nimeguen Aug. 10. in the year of our Lord 1678. Le Ma' D'Estrates Colbert De Mesmes H. Beverning W. van Nassaw W. Haren WE liking well the aforesaid Treaty of Peace in all and every the
Points and Articles therein contained and declared have for our Selves our Heirs Successors Kingdoms Countries Lands Lordships and Subjects accepted approved ratified and confirmed and do accept approve ratifie and confirm the same and do promise upon the Word and Faith of a King to keep and observe the whole inviolably without ever acting to the Contrary directly or indirectly in any sort or kind whatsoever and thereto we oblige and mortgage all and every our Goods that are or shall be In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with our own Hand and have made our Seal to be set thereto Given at St. Germain en Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The ARTICLE concerning the Prince of Orange AS in pursuance of the War which for some Years has happened betwixt the most Christian King and the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries his Majesty caused to be seized all Things belonging to the Prince of Orange as well the Principality of Orange as other his Lands and Seignories lying in France and granted the Revenues thereof to Monsieur the Comte d' Auvergne who enjoys the same at present and since by the Grace of God a Peace is settled by the Treaty this Day concluded and so all the angry Effects of War ought to cease his Majesty hath promised to the said Prince and doth promise by this separate Act that immediately after the Ratifications exchanged his Majesty will take off the said Seisure and cause the said Prince to be restored to the Possession of the said Principality and of the Lands which belong to him in France Franche Comte Charleroy Flanders and other Countries depending upon his Majesty's Rule and to all his Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives in such Estate and Manner as he enjoyed the same till he was dispossess'd by reason of the present War Nimeguen Aug. 10. in the Year of our Lord 1678. Marshal D'Estrades Colbert De Mesmes H. Beverning W. de Nassaw W. Haren WE well liking the separate Article aforesaid in all and and every Point thereof have by these Presents Signed with our Hand allowed approved and ratified and do allow approve and ratifie the same promising upon the Faith and Word of a King to fulfil observe and cause to be observed the same truly and faithfully without suffering any Thing to be acted directly or indirectly to the Contrary thereof for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with Our Hand and have caused Our Seal to be put therto Given at St. Germain in Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The Day after the Signing of this Peace came over the Ratification of the late Treaty between the King and States with Orders to Sir Will. Temple to proceed forthwith to see the Exchange of them which he did accordingly tho' after the Counter-pace made by the Dispatch sent by De Cross and the Consequences of it the same seemed now as unnecessary as it had been at first unresolved at the English Court and unexpected by the Dutch who many of them now were as unsatisfied with the Peace and especially with the Precipitation of Monsieur Beverning to Sign it upon the sudden Offer of the French Ministers to evacuate the Towns and before he had acquainted the States with it and received new Orders thereupon as the generality of that Nation were weary of the War but the Thing was done and after some Contestation the City of Amsterdam declaring her Approbation of it the rest of the Provinces came soon to acquiesce also in the same But while these Matters were transacted in the Cabinet there was a Work of another nature undertaken in the Field Mons had been straitly Blocked up for some time by the French Army under the Command of the Duke of Luxemburg who was so confident of the good Posture he was in that he sent the Mareschal d' Estrades one of the French Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen word He was so Posted that if he had but 10000 Men and the Prince of Orange 40000 yet he was sure he could not be Forced whereas he took his Army to be stronger than that of the Prince But the Prince for all that and in spight of many Disadvantages from an Army drawn so suddenly together so hasty a March as that of the Dutch and Posts taken with so much Force and Fortified with so much Industry did upon Sunday the 17th of Aug. in the Morning Decampt with his own and the Confederate Armies from Soignes marched towards Roches and from thence resolved to advance towards the Enemy whose Right Wing was Posted at the Abby of St. Dennis and the Left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage of Situation that they were almost thought unaccessible for besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them and that by narrow Paths About 12 the Cannon began to play upon St. Dennis and the Prince went to Dinner in the open Field just as the Duke of Monmouth arrived in the Camp when Dinner was ended the Battalions under the direction of Count Waldeck began to act on the side of the Abby and about 3 in the Afternoon made their Attack the Prince himself being there present and that with extraordinary Bravery all the Regiments of his Left Wing seconding one another in excellent Order In the mean time the Spanish Troops under the Command of the Duke de Villa Hermosa acted on the side of Chasteau being assisted by the Prince's Guards who had the Van and the English and Scots Troops Commanded by the brave Earl of Ossory The Action lasted from 3 in the Afternoon till 9 at Night during which the Prince rid toward Chasteau where the Dispute was likewise very sharp the Guards behaving themselves with extraordinary Vigour and the Earl of Ossory with his Troops doing Wonders The Prince himself was Ingaged among the foremost of the French who on such an occasion were not well to be distinguished from the Confederate Troops and Monsieur Overkirk shot a French Commander who attackt his Highness At last after a great Slaughter on both sides the Confederates remained Masters of St. Dennis Abby having thought fit to quit the Post at Chasteau by reason of the great difficulty they found to second their Attacks on that side The Duke of Luxemburg finding how things went on his side thought fit to Retire in the Night leaving his Dead many Wounded his Tents c. behind him and the Prince next Morning went to view the Camp the Enemy had Abandoned taking up his Quarters at the Abby of St. Dennis where the Duke of Luxemburg had had his the Day before But Advice of Signing of the Peace coming to the Prince next Morning from the States hindred the prosecution of this Advantage which
obtain not such Security When the Prince of Orange was made acquainted with this Procedure of England by Mr. Hyde who went on purpose to Hounslerdike to do it he was no sooner withdrawn but the Prince lift up his Hands two or three times and said to Sir William Temple then present Was ever any Thing so Hot and so Cold as this Court of yours Will the King that is so often at Sea ever learn a Word that I shall never forget since my last Passage When in a great Storm the Captain was crying out to the Man at the Helm all Night Steddy Steddy Steddy If this Dispatch had come 20 Days ago it would have changed the Face of all Things in Christendom and the War might have been carried on till France had Yielded to the Treaty of the Pyrenees and left the World in Quiet for the rest of our Lives but it is my Opinion as it comes now it will have no Effect And indeed the Event proved answerable to the Prince's Judgment It s true all Appearances for the present seemed very different from both the Proceedings of the Dutch and Spaniards too whereof many of the Deputies of the former appear'd so ill satisfied with their Embassadors having Signed the Peace that they inclined to the King's Proposals and framed severral Articles against Monsieur Beverning's Proceedings the five Principal whereof were these First That in the Preface the French King seemed to be the Protector of the States Secondly That the Neutrality to which the States-General were engaged by that Treaty was indefinite and by consequence might be extended beyond the present War Thirdly That he had exceeded his Commission in having obliged the States to warrant the Neutrality of Spain Fourthly That he had omitted an Article of Amnesty and Oblivion which ought mutually to be stipulated in all Treaties of Peace And Lastly That he had forgot to mention the Barrier which the French King granted to Spain in Consideration and for the Security of the States-General As for the Embassadors of the latter notwithstanding the French after several Debates and Conferences did demit in their Pretentions yet they raised new Scruples about the Castellany of Aeth and other Things their Confederates upon the Continent and the daily Transportation of English Forces into Flanders heightning their Stiffness as well as the Expectation they had of the States going on again with the War upon this new Turn of Things But after Matters had continued for about 3 Weeks in this uncertain State France thought the Conjuncture of too much Importance to let it hover so long and therefore first dispatch a Courier to their Embassadors at Nimeguen with leave to satisfie the States as to those Clauses in their Treaty wherein they seem'd justly to except against Beverning's Conduct And therefore to cover the Credit of that Minister who had been so affectionate an Instrument in the Progress of it and so gradually softning their Rigour as to the remaining Points contested by the Spaniards they at last dispatch'd a Courier who brought Letters to Nimeguen on the 8th of Sept. impowering their Embassadors to remit all the Differences that obstructed or retarded the Conclusion of the Treaty between that Crown and Spain to the Determination and Arbitrage of the States themselves which was a piece of Confidence towards them on the part of France that several Towns and Provinces proceeded with a general Concurrence to their Ratifications that they might lie ready in their Embassador's Hands to be exchanged when the Treaty with Spain was Signed which was done on the 17th at the Dutch Embassadors House and wherein Sir Lionel Jenkins the Kings Mediator had no part and so the Designs of the Court of England were once more Eluded and Mr. Hyde had the Mortification to return re infecta This Treaty with Spain is very long and for that Reason I had Thoughts once to leave it quite out but considering the Treatise would have been imperfect without it and that a much better Estimate may be made by it of the present Posture of the Spanish Affairs upon the late Peace than otherwise could be done I have altered my Mind and given my Reader the Particulars The TREATY of PEACE betwixt France and Spain Concluded at Nimeguen Sept. 17. 1678. IN the Name of God the Creator and of the most Holy Trinity To all present and to come be it known That whereas during the Course of the War that arose some Years since betwixt the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God most Christian King of France and Navar and his Allies on the one part and the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Charles II by the Grace of God Catholick King of Spain and his Allies on the other part their Majesties have desired nothing more vehemently than to see it end in a good Peace And whereas the same desire to put a Stop as far as in them lay to the Ruine of so many Provinces the Tears of so much People and the shedding so much Christian Blood hath induced them to comply with the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince the King of Great Britain to send their Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to the Town of Nimeguen So it is come to pass through an Effect of the Divine Goodness that hath been pleased to make use of the intire Confidence that their Majesties have always reposed in the Mediation of the said King of Great Britain that at length the said Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to wit on the behalf of his most Christian Majesty the Sieur Count D' Estrades Marshal of France and Knight of his Majesty's Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissy Councellor in Ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur De Mesmes Knight Count De Avaux Councellor also in his Majesty's Councils and on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty the Sieur Don Pablo Spinola Doria Marquess de les Balbases Duke of Sesto Lord of Gminossa Casalnosetta and Ponteucrone Councellor in his Council of State and chief Protonotary in his Council of Italy Don Gaspard de Tebes and Cordova Tello Guzman Count de Venazuza Marquess de la Fuente Lord of Lerena of the House of Arrucas of the Isles of Guadalupa and Matalione Perpetual Master de la Victoire Perpetual Major and Recorder of the Town of Sevil Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Imperial Majesty one of his chief Council of War and General of his Artillery Don Pedro Ronquillo Knight of the Order of Alcantara Councellor in his Council of Castile and of the Indies and Don John Baptisse Christin Knight Councellor in the high Council of Flanders near to his said Catholick Majesty's Person and one of his Council of State and of his Privy-Council in the Low-Countries by Virtue of Letters and Commissions which they have communicated to one another and the Copies whereof
are Word for Word inserted at the End of this Treaty have come to an Agreement and Conclusion upon mutual Condition of Peace and Friendship in manner following viz. I. It is Covenanted and Agreed that from henceforth there shall be a good firm and lasting Peace Confederation and perpetual Alliance and Friendship between the Most Christian and Catholick King their Children born to be born their Heirs Successors and Inheritors their Kingdoms Estates Countries and Subjects so that they shall love one another as good Brethren procuring with all their might one another's Good Honour and Reputation and faithfully preventing as far as they shall be able one another's Damage II. In pursuance of this good Re-union the Cessation of all manner of Hostilities agreed on and Signed the 19th Day of Aug. of this present Year shall continue according to the Tenour thereof betwixt the said Kings their Subjects and Vassals as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land and generally in all places where the War is carried on by their Majesties Arms as well between their Troops and Armies as between the Garrisons of their several places and if any Contravention shall have happened to be committed contrary to the said Cessation by taking of any Place or Places whether by Attack or Surprize or by private Intelligence nay though Prisoners shall have been taken or other Acts of Hostility committed through some accident that could not be foreseen or by such Persons as could not foresee it contrary to the said Cessation of Hostilities such Contravention shall faithfully be repaired on both sides without delay or difficulty by restoring to the full whatever shall have been taken and delivering the Prisoners without Ransom or paying of Charges in such way that all things be restored in such manner to the same condition they were in on the said 19th Day of Aug. when the said Cessation was agreed and Signed the Tenour whereof shall be observed till the Day of the Exchange of the Ratification of this present Treaty III. All Causes of enmity or misunderstanding shall remain for ever extinct and abolished and whatever hath happened or been done by reason of the present War or during the same shall be put into perpetual oblivion so as for the future no inquiry shall be made into the same on either side directly or indirectly by Law or otherwise under any pretence whatsoever nor may their Majesties or their Subjects Servants and Adherents on either side express any manner of resentment of whatever offences may have been committed against them or dammages received by them during the present War IV. In contemplation of the Peace the Most Christian King immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications of this present Treaty shall put into the Catholick King 's Power the Place and Fortress of Charleroy the Town of Binche the Town and Fortresses of Aeth Oudernard and Courtray with their Provostships and Castellanies Appurtenances and Dependancies in the same manner as his Catholick Majesty possess'd them before the War of the Year 1667. All which Towns and Places the Catholick King yielded to the said Most Christian King at the Treaty Signed at Aix la Chappelle the 2d of May 1668. from which this present Treaty doth expresly derogate for so much as relates to the said Towns and Places their Appurtenances and Dependances In pursuance whereof the said Catholick King shall take Possession of the same and enjoy them to him and his Successors fully and peaceably excepting the Verge of Menin and the Town of Conde which tho' heretofore pretended to by the Most Christian King to be a Member of the Castellany of Aeth shall nevertheless remain to the Crown of France together with all its Dependances by Virtue of this present Treaty as shall be said hereafter V. The said Most Christian King obligeth himself and promiseth to put likewise into the Hands of the said Catholick King immâ—diately upon the said Exchange of the Ratifications the City and Dutchy of Limburg together with all its Dependances the Country of Ontremeuse the City and Cittadel of Ghent with all its Dependances likewise the Fort of Rodenbus and the County of Waes the Town and Place of Leuve in Brabant together with its Dependances the Town and Place of St. Ghilain whose Fortifications nevertheless shall be rased and the â—own of Pucierda in Catalonia in the Condition it now is with their Countries Places Castles Forts Lands Lordships Demesns Bailiffwicks Appurtenances Dependances and Annexations without reserving or detaining any thing therein to be possessed by his Catholick Majesty and his Successors in the same manner he enjoyed them before the present War VI. The said Places Towns and Places of Charleroy Binch Aeth Oudernard and Courtray their Bailifwicks Castellanies Governments Provostships Territories Demesns Lordships Appurtenances and Dependances and all thereunto annexed by what Name soever called with all the Men Vassals Subjects Towns Boroughs Villages Hamlets Forests Rivers Champain Countries and all other things whatsoever thereunto belonging shall remain by Virtue of this present Treaty of Peace to his Catholick Majesty his Heirs Successors and Assigns irrecoverably and for ever together with the same Rights of Sovereignty Propriety Regalities Guardianship and Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogatives and Preheminencies over the Bishopricks Cathedral Churches and Abbies Priories Dignities Curacies and all other Benefices whatsoever situate within the said Countries Places and Bailiffwicks so yielded up to whatsoever Abbies the said Priories do appertain and belong and all other Rights that heretofore belonged to the Most Christian King though not particularly here expressed so as his Catholick Majesty shall not be troubled or molested for the future by any means whatsoever in Right or in Deed by the said Most Christian King his Successors or any Princes of his Family or by any other or upon any Pretence or Occasion that may happen in the said Sovereignty Propriety Jurisdiction Appeal Possession and Enjoyment of all the said Countries Towns Places Castles Lands and Lordships Provostships Demesnes Castellanies and Bailiffwicks together with all the Places and other Things thereon depending And to this end the said Most Christian King as well for himself as for his Heirs Successors and Assigns doth renounce quit-claim yield and transfer as his said Plenipotentiaries in his Name by this present irrevocable Treaty of Peace have renounced quit-claimed yielded and transferred perpetually and for ever in favour and to the behoof of the said Catholick King his Heirs Successors and Assigns all the Rights Actions and Pretensions Rights of Regality Patronage Guardianship Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogatives and Preheminences over the Bishopricks Cathedral-Churches and all other Benefices whatsoever situate within the said Places and Bailiffwicks so yielded up to whatsoever Abbies the said Priories did appertain and belong and generally without any reservation or with-holding all other Rights whatsoever that the said Most Christian King his Heirs and Successors have and challenge or may have and challenge for any Cause or Reason
particularly expressed So that his Most Christian Majesty shall not in time to come be Troubled or Molested by any means whatsoever in Right or in Deed by the said Catholick King or his Successors or any the Princes of his Family or by any other or for any Cause or Pretence with Relation to the said Sovereignty Propriety and Jurisdiction Appeal Possession and Enjoyment of all the said Countries Towns and Places Castles Lands and Lordships Provostships Demesnes Castellanies and Bailiffwicks of the said Places and of all Things whatsoever thereunto belonging And to this end the said Catholick King for himself his Heirs Successors and Assignes doth renounce quit-claim yield up and transfer as his said Plenipotentiaries in his Name by this present irrevocable Treaty of Peace have renounced given up and for ever transferr'd in favour of the Most Christian King his Heirs Successors and Assignes all the Rights Actions Pretensions Rights of Royalty Patronage Guardianship Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogatives and Preheminences over Bishopricks Cathedral Churches and all other Benefices within the compass of the said Places Countries and Baliffwicks yielded up of what Abbies soever the said Priories held Lands and had dependance upon and in general without any reservation or with-holding all other Rights that the said Catholick King his Heirs and Successors have and challenge or may have and challenge for any cause or upon any occasion whatsoever over the said Countries Places Castles Forts Lands Lordships Demesnes Castellanies and Bayliffwicks and over all Places thereunto belonging as aforesaid any Laws Customs or Constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding tho' confirmed by Oath From all which and all derogating Clauses of Derogatories it is expresly derogated by this present Treaty in order to the said Renunciations and Sessions which shall be valid and take place without any derogation from a general Clause by a particular Specification or from a particular by a general one and for ever excluding all Exceptions on what Rights Titles Cause or Pretence soever grounded And the said Catholick King declareth consenteth willeth and intendeth That the Men Vassals and Subjects of the said Countries Towns and Lands yielded to the Crown of France as aforesaid shall be and remain discharged and absolved henceforward and for ever from the Faith Hommage Service and Oath of Allegiance that all and every of them may have taken or made to himself or to the Catholick King 's Predecessors together with all Obedience Subjection and Vassalage that are owing to him by reason thereof it being the Intention of the said Catholick King that the said Faith Hommages and Oaths of Allegiance shall bâ— void and of no force as if they never had been taken or made XIII And whereas his Most Christian Majesty hath declared by the Conditions of Peace which he offered that he was willing to restore the Town of Charlemont or in lieu thereof that of Dinant at his Catholick Majesty's Choice upon Condition that his said Catholick Majesty would charge himself to obtain from the Bishop of Liege the Cession of Dinant and that the Emperor and Empire should consent thereunto his Catholick Majesty has chosen to retain the Town of Charlemont as heretofore and consequently doth oblige himself and promise to obtain from the Lord Bishop and Chapter of Liege an Authentick Cession of the said Town of Dinant and the Emperor and Empire's assent within a Year to be computed from the Day of the Date of the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace which shall be betwixt the Emperor and the Most Christian King And in case his said Catholick Majesty shall not be able to obtain the said Cessions of the Bishop and Chapter of Liege and Emperor and Empire's assent he obligeth himself and promiseth after the Expiration of the said Term to cause the said Town of Charlemont to be put into his Most Christian Majesty's Power for him to enjoy the same in like manner as he shall enjoy all other Places and Countries yielded to the said Most Christian King by the 11th and 12th Articles of this present Treaty XIV And for the Preventing all such Difficulties as the Borders caused in the Execution of the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and the Re-establishing for ever a good Intelligence between the Two Crowns it is agreed That the Lands Boroughs and Villages reduced within the Provostships that are yielded or that belong to his Most Christian Majesty before this present Treaty or are on the other side of the Sambre shall be exchanged for others nearer to the Places for his Catholick Majesty's Convenience And likewise that the Villages of the Verge of Menin situated too near Courtray shall be changed for others nearer for his Most Christian Majesty's Convenience And likewise that such Villages of the Provostship of Mons as are so far up in the Country quitted to his Most Christian Majesty in Hanault that intercept Communication shall be exchanged for others belonging to the Countries quitted to his Most Christian Majesty that are nearer for the Convenience of his Catholick Majesty and generally that all Lands inclosed within Countries yielded or restored to either of the said Kings shall be exchanged for others of equal value provided that such Exchanges can be agreed upon XV. Commissioners shall be deputed on both sides 2 Months after the Publication of the present Treaty who shall assemble where it shall be respectively agreed as well to proceed to make the said Exchanges as to settle the Bounds between such Estates and Lordships as must remain to each of the said Kings in the Low-Countries by Virtue of this present Treaty as also to clear the real Debts lawfully secured by the Lands and Lordships yielded or restored to either of the Two Crowns and to settle how much each shall pay for the future and in general to make an amicable End of all Differences that may arise in the Execution of the present Treaty XVI If any such Difficulties should arise in the Exchanges aforesaid as may hinder their taking Effect no Custom-Houses shall be appointed on either side to perplex one another and to render the Communication more difficult betwixt Places under the same Dominion and such as shall be settled shall exact no Duties but of such Merchandizes as shall be conveyed from one Dominion to another to be consum'd there or to be carried to Places remote XVII The said King's giving back and restoring respectively the Places afore-mentioned may cause to be taken and carried away all manner of Artillery Powder Bullets Arms Provision and other Warlike Ammunitions that shall be found in the said Places at the time of their Restitution and such as they shall appoint for that Purpose may for 2 Months make use of the Waggons and Boats of the Country and shall have a free Passage by Water and Land to carry away the said Ammunitions And the Governours and Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the several Places and Countries shall give them all the Facilities they can
for the Carriage and Conveying away the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers Souldiers and others that shall leave the said Places may take thence and carry away their moveable Goods but without exacting any thing from the Inhabitants of the said Places and of the Plain-Country or endamaging their â—ouses or taking away any Thing whatsoever belonging to the said Inhabitants XVIII The Levying of Contributions demanded on both sides in Countries now subjected thereunto shall continue for all that shall become due to the 16th of Octob. next and the Arrears that shall remain due at the time of the Ratification aforesaid shall be paid within 3 Months after the Expiration of the said Term and no Execution shall issue in the mean time against the Communion indebted provided they give good and solvent Bail of Persons residing in some Town within that King's Dominions to whom such Contributions shall be due XIX It is also agreed that the Most Christian King's Reception of the Profits whereof he is in possession within all the Countries that he gives back and restores to the said Catholick King shall continue to the Day of the actual Restitution of the Places to which such Countries do belong and what shall remain due at the time of the said Restitution shall be truly paid to the Farmers and also that within such time the Proprietors of Woods confiscated within the Dependences of the Places that are to be restored to his Catholick Majesty shall return to the Possession of their Estates and of all the Wood that shall be found upon the Place provided that from the Day of Signing this present Treaty all cutting of Wood shall cease on both sides XX. All Papers Letters and Writings concerning the Countries Lands and Lordships that are yielded and restored to the said Kings by this present Treaty of Peace shall be truly produced and delivered on both sides within 3 Months after the Ratifications of the present Treaty shall have been exchanged in what place soever such Papers and Writings are even those that were taken out of the Cittadel of Gendt and out of the Chamber of Accounts at Liste XXI All Subjects on both sides as well Ecclesiastical as Secular shall be settled in the Enjoyment as well of such Honours Dignities and Benefices as they were provided of before the War as of all and singular their Goods movable and immovable Estates for Life and Mortgages seized and possessed since the said time whether by reason of the War or for siding with the other Party together with all Rights Actions and Inheritances fallen to them even since the War began but not so as to demand or pretend to the mean Profits and Revenues accrued and grown due since the Seizure of such immovable Goods Rents and Benefices and before the Day of the Publication of this present Treaty XXII Nor likewise to such Debts Effects and Movables as shall have been confiscated before that Day so as neither the Creditors of such Debts or Depositaries of such Effects their Heirs nor Assigns may sue for or pretend to recover them Which Reestablishments in manner aforesaid shall be extended in favour of those that have taken the contrary part so as to restore them by means of this present Treaty to the Favour of their King and Sovereign Prince and the Possession of such of their Goods as shall be found in being at the Conclusion and Signing of this present Treaty XXIII And such Re-establishment of the Subjects on both sides according to the Contents of the 21th and 22th Articles shall take Effect notwithstanding any Gifts Grants Declarations Confiscations Forfeitures Sentences preparatory or definitive given for Contumacy in absence of the Parties or without hearing them all which Sentences and Judgments shall be void and of none effect as if they had not been given or pronounced and the Parties at liberty to return to the Countries from whence they departed personally to enjoy their immovable Goods Rents and Revenues or to settle their Aboads elsewhere wehre they will themselves at their own Choice and Election without being under any Constraint in that respect and if they shall chuse rather to live elsewhere they may depute and appoint such unsuspected Persons as they shall think fit for the Disposition and Enjoyment of their Goods Rents and Revenues but not with relation to Benefices requiring Residence which must be served and administred in Person XXIV Such as have been provided on either side of Benefices which were at the Collation Presentation or other Disposition of the said Kings or others whether Ecclesiasticks or Laicks or have Provisions from the Pope of any Benefices within the Obedience of either of the said Kings by whose Consent and Allowance they have enjoyed the same during the War shall continue in the Possession and Enjoyment of such Benefices for their Lives as well and duly thereof provided but without any future Prejudice to the Rights of the lawful Collators who shall enjoy and use the same as they did before the War XXV All Prelates Abbots Priors and other Ecclesiastical Persons that before or during the War have by the said Kings been nominated to Benefices or provided thereof which their Majesties were in Possession of a Power to provide or nominate before the Breach between the two Crowns shall be maintained in the Possession and Enjoyment of such Benefices without Disturbance for any Cause or upon any Pretence whatsoever And also in the free Enjoyment of all such Goods as shall be found to have anciently belonged thereunto and of the Right of Collating to the Benefices thereunto belonging wheresoever such Goods and Benefices are situated Provided always that such Benefices be supplied with Persons able and quality'd according to the Rules observ'd before this War So that hereafter no Administrators shall be sent on either side to govern the said Benefices and receive the Profits thereof which shall not be enjoyed but by Titularies lawfully provided And also all such Places as heretofore acknowledged the Jurisdiction of the said Prelates Abbots and Priors wheresoever situated shall acknowledge the same for the future if their Right appear to have been anciently settled although the said Places should fall out to be within the Extent of the other Princes Dominion or depend upon some Castellanies or Bayliffwicks belonging to the other Party XXVI It is Agreed and Declared That no part of the Pyrenean Treaty is hereby intended to be revoked but what concernâ— Portugal with which the Catholick King is now at Peace nor any part of the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle but for so much as shall be otherwise disposed in this present Treaty by the yielding up of the Places aforesaid so as the Parties shall neither acquire any new Right nor incur any Prejudice to their respective Pretensions to any thing not expresly mentioned in this present Treaty and consequently whatever was stipulated by the Pyrenean Treaty concerning the Interest of the Duke of Savoy and
the Power of the late most Serene Infanta Catherina shall be observed without any hurt or prejudice by this particular Clause to the general Stipulation in this present Article concerning the Performance of the said Pyrenean Treaty and that of Aix la Chappelle XXVII Though their most Christian and Catholick Majesties contribute all their Cares towards the setling a General Peace and that so fair a Way towards it as that of a General Truce gives them Hopes that a Conclusion of whatever may secure the Quiet of Christendom will speedily ensue yet since the said most Christian King doth insist upon it that the Catholick King shall oblige himself not to assist any of the Princes that are now engag'd in War against France and its Allies his Catholick Majesty hath promised and doth promise to observe a perfect Neutrality during the Course of this War without being at Liberty to assist his Allies directly or indirectly against France or its Allies XXVIII And whereas their most Christian and Catholick Majesties do acknowledge the powerful Offices which the King of Great Britain has contributed without intermission by his Counsels and good Advertisements toward the Publick Safety and Repose it is agreed on both sides That his said Majesty of Great Britain and his Kingdoms shall be expresly comprehended in this present Treaty after the best Form that can be XXIX Within this Peace Alliance and Friendship on the part of his most Christian Majesty besides the King of Sweden together with the Duke of Holstein the Bishop of Strusburg and Prince William of Furstemburg as concern'd in the present War shall be comprehended if they please themselves all those that having refused to engage or declare themselves in this present War shall be nominated within 6 Months after the Exchange of the Ratifications XXX And on the one part of his Catholick Majesty shall likewise be comprehended if themselves please all such as having forborn to engage or declare themselves in the present War shall be nominated within 6 Months after the Exchange of the Ratifications and all others that after the said War ended shall likewise be nominated by his said Catholick Majesty XXXI The said most Christian and Catholick Kings do agree That all Potentates and Princes that shall be willing to enter into the like Obligation may give their Majesties their Promises and Engagements of Warranty as to the Execution of whatever is contain'd in this present Treaty XXXII And for the greater Security of this Treaty of Peace and of all the Points and Articles therein contained the said present Treaty shall be published attested and registred in the Court of the Parliament of Paris and in all other Parliaments of the Kingdom of France and in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris And also the said Treaty shall be published attested and registred as well in the Great and other Councils and Chambers of Account of the said Catholick King in the Low-Countries as in the other Councils of the Crowns of Castile and â—â—ragon according to the Form contained in the Pyrenean Treaty of the Year 1659. of which Publications and Enrollment Exemplifications shall be delivered on both sides within 3 Months after the Publication of this present Treaty All which Points and Articles above expressed and the Contents of every of them have been Treated Agreed Passed and Stipulated between the said Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of the said most Christian and Catholick Kings which Plenipotentiaries by Virtue of their Powers the Copies whereof are inserted at the bottom of this present Treaty have promised and do promise under the Obligation of all and every the Goods and Estates present and to come of the Kings their Masters that they shall inviolably be observed and fulfilled and that they will cause them to be ratified firmly and simply without addition of any thing thereunto and to produce the Ratifications thereof by Letters Authentick and Sealed wherein all this present Treaty shall be inserted verbatim within 6 Weeks to be accompted from the Day of the Date of this present Treaty or sooner if possible And the said Plenipotentiaries have promised and do promise in their said Kings Names that after the producing the said Letters of Ratifications the said Most Christian King as soon as possibly he can shall in the Presence of such Person or Persons as the Catholick King shall be pleased to depute swear solemnly upon the Cross the Gospel and Canons of the Mass and upon his Honour fully really and truly to observe and fulfil all the Articles contained in this present Treaty And the like shall be done as soon as possible by the said Catholick King in the Presence of such Person or Persons as the said Most Christian King shall be pleased to depute In witness or all which the said Plenipotentiaries have subscribed this present Treaty with their own Names and have caused their Seals of Arms to be set thereto Nimeguen the 17th of Sept. 1678. Le M. Dâ— Estrades Colbert De Mesmes D' Avaux Pabla Spâ—nola Doria Conde de Benazuza Marquesse de la Fuente Jean Baptiste Christin Thus you see France was left in Possession of the Peace with Holland and Spain and consequently Master of that of the Empire and of the North upon her own Terms and England left to busie it self about that Popish Fire that was breaking out at home the Stream whereof the Court perhaps designed to have diverted by a Foreign War in Conjunction with the Confederates against France on which they were now as eagerly bent as they seemed at any time before indifferent thereunto however of this we shall say nothing at present but prosecute in as concise a manner as we can the remaining Paces that were made together with the interâ—ening Accidents that happened for putting an End to the rest of the War After tâ—e Peace with Spain was Signed and that with Holland Ratified tho' the Embassadors of the Emperor at Nimeguen were sullen and those of Denmark and Brandenburg enraged yet by the Application of the Dutch Embassadors the Conferences were set on foot between them and the French But how enraged soever the Northern Confederates seemed to be they were now more inclined than ever to consent to a Truce tho' to this the Swedes would not absolutely agree For Pomerania they would willingly accept it because they had reason to fear that the great Losses they had there sustained might be followed by more considerable ones but they were not for it in Schomen where their Affairs were in a better Posture by their taking of Christianstadt which at last after much Difficulty they diadâ—made themselves Masters of However the Losses they sustained in Pomerania were of far greater Concern to them than all they pretended to gain elsewhere And notwithstanding the Death of the Bishop of Munster was a Mortification to the Confederates yet Denmark and Brandenburg go on vigorously with their Preparations against the Isle of Rugen and the Elector
he would never Sign the Peace whilst the Affairs of France were in such a Condition as to have it Concluded to the Advantage of that Crown yet it is so far from being any Dishonour to that brave Man that it is the greatest Eulogium that could be given him since he has discovered there in the Affection he had for the publick Tranquility of Europe as well as for the Honour and Safety of his own Native Country I shall not recite the last mentioned Treaty at large but content my self to give an Abstract of it only which follows I. THAT there shall be a firm and lasting Peace between the Empire and France and an Oblivion of all injuries II. That the Peace of Munster be the Basis and Foundation of the present Treaty III. That France renounce all Pretensions to Phillipsburg and the Emperor on his Part was to do the like by Friburg and its Dependances IV. That France was to have a free and easie Passage at all times from Brisac to Friburg and the Provisions for the last Place go unmolested and untaxed V. Commissioners in a Year after the Treaty were to determine what Dobts Friburg was to pay VI. The French King was to restore to the Emperor the Writings found in Friburg at the Time of taking of it but as for such as concerned the Town c. the fore-mentioned Commissioners were to agree upon a Place where to keep them VII That all who were minded to depart from Friburg within a Year after the Ratification of the Treaty might freely do it and either retain or dispose of their Goods at Pleasure VIII Agreed however that Friburg and its Dependences shall be restored to the Emperor for a satisfactory Equivalent IX The Duke of Lorrain to be restored to the Possession of his Dominions in the same State as in 1670 when taken by France X. That Nancy c. be for ever incorporated with France and the Duke to renounce all Right to it XI That for the Conveniency of the French Troops there be 4 Roads of half a League broad marked out by Commissioners for the March of them to their Garrisons in Alsatia Burgundy c. XII That all Villages Lands c. lying within the said Ways do remain to France and no further XIII That the City and Provostship of Longuicer remain forever to France and that the Duke his Heirs c. do lay no Claim thereunto XIV In Compensation for Nancy France was to give up the City of Thoul c. to the Duke with the same Sovereignty over it as France had with a Promise in the next Article of further Satisfaction to the Duke in case that were not a sufficient equivalent XV. The French King did renounce the Right of Presentation of a Bishop of Thoul into the Hands of the Pope to whom the Duke was to apply himself for obtaining it XVI All benefited Persons put in by the King to continue in quiet Possession of their Livings XVII All Proceedings at Law Decrees c. finish'd in the Time of the French King's Possession of Lorrain and Bar to take place XVIII The Charters Deeds c. in the Exchequer of Nancy and Bar to be forthwith restored to the Duke XIX That Prince Egon of Furstemburg his Brother Prince William and Nephew Prince Antony their Officers c. should be restored to their former State Dignities c. and Prince William forthwith upon the Ratification of the Treaty to be set at Liberty XX. All Vassals Subjects c. of either Party to be restored to their Honours Benefices Goods c. as before the War with all Rights fallen to them during it and no notice taken what Party whether of this or that Prince they have taken XXI The Duke of Holstein Gottorp to be comprehended in the present Treaty That each Party shall imploy all their Offices towards terminating the War between Sweden Denmark Brandenburg c. and the French to keep Garrison in Chastelet Hiâ—y Aix la Chapelle c. till the same be accomplished XXII That the Evacuation of Places be within a Month after the Ratification of the Treaty XXIII That the Duke of Bouillon continue in Possession of the Dutchy and Castle of that â—ame and all Differences concerning them to be composed within 3 Months after the Ratification XXIV All Acts of Hostilities to cease within 14 Days after Signing of the Treaty XXV Contributions to be levied till the Ratification and the Arrears paid tho' not forcibly demanded within 4 Months after XXVI What had been stipulated concerning Montferat and the Duke of Savoy in the Treaty of Munster should be more particularly valid here The rest being meer Matter of Form I proceed to shew that the Danish and Brandenburg Embassadors were no sooner informed that all Things were agreed on between the Emperor and France but the very next Day which was the 3d of Feb. that they might not upon any account be wanting to themselves and to omit nothing that might have any semblance if not advantage yet of resentment made their Protestations against it and complained that the Emperor's Embassadors had consented to Matters which so nearly concerned the Princes their Masters that they had not only neglected all their Interests but also that they had given their Enemies Liberty to pursue the War even into the Heart of their own Country That they had Treated about the Rights of all the States of the Empire so far as to abolish some Decrees concerning them without the Knowledge of the Princes who were most interested therein And in a Word they Solemnly insisted against that Separate Peace which ought to be reckoned null and no way prejudicial to their Leagues nor to the Decrees of the Empire And that no Formalities might be omitted which they judged necessary for maintaining the Pretensions of their Masters they did also on the 4th make a Conditional Protestation against the Peace made by the Emperor and France They said That they could the less be perswaded that the Imperial Embassadors could do such a Wrong to the Princes their Masters for that Sweden had been Treated during the War as a State and Member of the Empire guilty of breaking the Publick Peace and in that Notion cited and condemned by the Empire in the usual Form So that in what manner soever the Emperor might reconcile himself to that Crown they had Reason to Protest against the Validity of that Peace and at the same Time for all the Damages their Masters might suffer thereby The same Thing was done by the Ministers and Plenipotentiaries of the Princes of Brunswick-Lunemburg against those two Treaties in the same Terms not knowing perhaps that the Princes their Masters were concluding their particular Peace at Home with France and Sweden whilst they complained so loudly at Nimeguen against that of the Emperor However that of the Emperor and France was Signed the next Day as before noted as was the Peace between the Emperor and
Sweden two Days after The Danish Embassador was so enraged at this Peace that he scrupled not the Day after to express his Discontent publickly at the House of the Mareschal de Estrades saying and several times repeating the same That if the French King pleased he had sufficient Authority to conclude a League with him and to get it ratified by his Danish Majesty who would oblige himself to make War against the Emperor in what Manner and for as long a Time as his most Christian Majesty should desire him But this Heat blowing over and finding there was no reliance upon the Disputes that happened and Doubts that did arise between the Imperial and French Embassadors between the Signing and Ratifying the Treaty so as to hinder the Effect of the latter they began to think of another Way Wherefore M. de Meyeâ—kron the Danish Envoy at the Hague had upon a View and Foresight how Things were like to go some Time since made some distant Overtures to the French Minister there for an Accomodation but now he seemed to quicken his Pace and to appear very willing to have managed a Negotiation with the Count d' Avaux yet the Offers were still so general that they gave but little Ground for a positive Answer at leastwise the French Embassador would have it so And therefore he made Answer in the same Manner as the other French Embassadors had done at Nimeguen that in order to a more favourable Hearing the King of Denmark must begin by releasing the Swedish Soldiers who since the Time they were Shipwrack'd upon the Isle of Barnholm were not only detained Prisoners contrary to the Priviledges of the Passports which they had but likewise exposed to Violence which they daily suffered on Design to make them engage in the Danish Service or at leastwise forsake that of Sweden That the King of Denmark should by so doing purge himself of that Shipwrack which the French King was nevertheless inclined to attribute rather to Chance and the mistake of the Pilots than any premeditated Design but that in the mean time the Inhumane Manner of detaining and using those Forces could not but be thought very strange The Duke of Brandenburg also on his part being willing to neglect nothing that might procure him the desired Satisfaction had sometime since got leave for Mr Meinders his Envoy to go into France to 〈◊〉 what could be done on that side to bring things to an amicable Composure and somewhat in his Favour But finding Matters did not answer his Expectation he now endeavours to imbroil the Affairs of the Empire in the Treaty with France and Sweden by Virtue only of the Conclusion of the Diet at Ratisbon 13th May 1677 The Embassador of Brandenburg produced a Copy of it at Nimeguen with a new Protestation alledging That that Conclusion of the Empire was not conform to the Sense that was put upon it in the 36th Article of the Emperor's Treaty with France and in the 12th of that of the Emperor 's with Sweden and that the Imperial Embassadors were so far from having by that means any sufficient Authority to Treat in the Name of the whole Empire that on the contrary the Emperor himself was thereby required to conclude nothing at Nimeguen without first submitting the same to the Deliberation of the Diet and that the Embassadors of his Imperial Majesty by adding in these Articles That all or any Protestations that might be made in the Empire against that Peace were to be void and of none effect had in so doing committed the greatest Violation and manifestly contravented the Golden Bull the Imperial Capitulations Constitutions of the Empire and the very Treaties of Westphalia on which they now pretended to settle the Peace of the Empire But this did no good neither yet the Disappointment thereof was nothing near so surprizing to the Elector as the French King by his Embassadors declaring on the 24th of Feb. to Sir Lionel Jenkins the English Mediator That if within the Month of March the King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenburg did not give full Satisfaction to Sweden his Majesty should be free then to demand new Conditions which would be That Leipstadt should be restored to the Elector of Cologne and that both those Princes should pay to his Majesty all the Charges of the War and that at a time too when his Arms had been very successful as having just then forced the Swedish Troops to quit Prusia and with Precipitation to retreat into Livonia much harrassed with Sicknesses and long Marches as well as Losses in several Skirmishes with Parties of the Elector's Forces which made the demanded Restitutions for Sweden still the harder to go down with the Elector and his Ally the King of Denmark And partly from these Considerations most of the Powers at Nimeguen and even the Mediators themselves openly declared That the entire Restitution of all that the Swedes had lost during the War would be an insuperable Obstacle to the Peace To this it was further added That it was not to be expected that Sweden would make too much haste to put an end to the War since the 800000 Crowns Subsidy which that King had allowed him by France were better to him than the Revenues of Pomerania and all that he possess'd in Germany and that if the French King did not by his Interest and Authority make the Peace of Sweden that Crown would never make the least Advance towards it especially so long as it was so well supported by the Men and Money of France Insomuch that the Mediator and the Embassadors of all the other Princes who had made Peace perceiving that the Month of March which the French King had set as the longest Delay to the Elector of Brandenburg was drilled on in Debates and Disputes in Writing without any serious Application to the promoting of the Peace They could think of no better Expedient for the present than to procure a Cessation of Arms during all the following Month not doubting but in that time all the Difficulties which obstructed the Conclusion of the General Peace might be removed This Motion was agreed to by the French provided the Embassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg accepted of it without Delay To which they said It was neither the Fault of them nor their Allies that that Truce was not granted at the Time that they Signed the Peace with the Emperor according to the Offers that were then made them But another Circumstance added by the French Embassadors to their Declaration viz. Of the Instances which they said were made to them by the Bishop of Gurk one of the Imperial Embassadors in the Name of the Embassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg for a Suspension of Arms made these two latter think themselves so sensibly touched in their Honour that they took a great deal of Pains to make the contrary appear affirming They had never either desired or rejected the Cessation of Arms but nevertheless that they
might remit nothing that might have any probability of tending to promote the Peace they accepted the Truce upon such Conditions as should on both sides be agreed on At length this Procedure and some little Contests ended in Signing a Treaty of Truce the last Day of March at Nimeguen to continue to the 1st of May. The Truce being thus Signed instead of advancing the Negotiation did on the contrary stop the Course thereof during the whole Time it lasted because the French Embassadors sticking immoveable to their Declarations there was no more to be said so that the two Princes who remained still in the War thought it more adviseable to Negotiate the Peace in France and gave their Envoys Mr. Meinder and Mr. de Mayerkron the last whereof had Orders to go thither from Holland without delay their Instructions accordingly but with as little Success as before either there or any where else so that the French Forces that were in the Country of Cleves and Juliers finding the Truce expired were so forward as not to slip any opportunity and therefore were ready on the 1st of May to pass the Rhine year 1679 over which they had made a Bridge at Ordinghen General Spaen who commanded the Troops of Brandenburg made a shew as if he designed to oppose their Passage with the few Soldiers and Trained-Bands he had with him on the other side of that River But finding the French Army had passed it on flying Bridges above and below Augerarts at the Confluence of the Auger and the Rhine he thought fit to Retreat and the Consequence of that was That that General and the Elector's Embassador procured a Conference with Monsieur Colbert to be held at Santhen a little Town 3 Leagues from Wesel Thither Mr. Blaspiet and General Spaen went as did also M. Colbert the 3d of the same Month the last having ordered Calvo who commanded the French Forces to be also present to the End that according to the Success of the Negotiation he might desist or pursue the Enterprize he had had in View Here it was agreed between them that the Truce should be prolonged for 15 Days more to begin the 4th of the Month which lengthened out the Cessation of Arms till the 19th but upon Condition that Wesel and Leipstadt should be put into the French King's Hands to be kept by him until the Peace betwixt his Majesty and his Allies on the one side and his Electoral Highness on the other should be Signed and Ratified which the Elector was so far from making a Difficulty to grant that he offered even to put Skinkenseance into his Power also as thinking perhaps by this extraordinary piece of Confidence to bring the King to be more easie in the Peace of the North and this not long after he also seconded by a Letter to the said Monarch written in so Excellent a Strain that not being willing to attempt to express the Force of it by way of Abstract I shall give the Reader an exact Copy of it POSTDAM May 16. 1679. My Lord IT is impossible but that your Majesty according to the Great Wisdom wherewith God has endowed you does easily perceive the Moderation and Justice of my Pretensions And it being so that you must offer Violence to that Generosity and Greatness of Soul which is natural to your Majesty in forcing me to Conditions of Peace that are not only injurious to me but ignominious also God who is Just seeing the Righteousness of my Cause hath prospered my Arms with the Conquest of all Pomerania and your Majesty makes me give back the greatest part of it which I put into your Hands that I may preserve the rest which is but a small Matter in respect of what I have gained with the Loss of my Blood and the Ruine of my Subjects Is it not just my Lord that since your Majesty obliges me to part from so great and fair Cities and so much of my Enemies Country you should likewise oblige the Swedes to leave me the rest and that your Majesty having so far concerned your self for the Party that had no Right to demand any thing should concern your self also for him who had Right to keep all but yields the greatest part meerly in Consideration of your Majesty I am informed that your Ministers object to me the Interest of your Glory and Honour and know that that is a powerful Motive to animate a Great Soul to Vndertakings But suffer me to put you in mind That Justice is the Source and Rule of Glory And that I having it on my side it is far greater and more solid Glory to Support a just and moderate Pretension than to favour one that is nothing less And could your Majesty but hear the Discourse of all Europe and weigh it with the Reasons that Interests suggest to you from my Enemies I am confident you would instantly decide in my Favour and so prevent the Judgment of disinterested Posterity Withal my Lord I am very sensible that the Match is too unequal betwixt your Majesty's Forces and mine and that I am unable to resist a King who alone hath carried the Burden of a War against the greatest Powers of Europe and hath with so much Glory and Success gone through with it But can your Majesty find any Advantage in the Ruine of a Prince who is so desirous to serve you and who being preserved may contribute to your Service more than a bare willingness Your Majesty will certainly be the first that will regret my Ruine since you cannot easily find in all the World besides one who is more really and with greater Respect and Zeal than my self Your Majesty's c. But for all this the French King seemed to be inexorable and his Forces began already to spread themselves in the Mark of Brandenburg and fresh Troops with Ammunition and Artillery came daily to Wesel to augment the Army which the Mareschal de Crequi was to command which upon the Expiration of the Truce drew near to the Neighbourhood of Minden beginning to streighten that Place where General Spaen pretended to make a vigorous Resistance Hereupon the Mareschal de Crequi ordered Monsieur Calvo to pass the Weser with a Party of Horse and Foot on a Bridge of Boats which he had caused to be made whilst he himself with a Body of Horse went to cross it at a Ford which with some Difficulty he passed over with an intent to make the Country pay the Contributions he had demanded but finding General Spaen was come out of the Town with a Body of about 3000 Men and some Field-Pieces he attack'd them vigorously and the Dispute was very sharp and ended with the loss of a great many Men on both sides and at last General Spain retired into Minden This was the 20th June 1679. and the last Action that put an end to so great a War and if the Negotiation of the Peace which was Signed at St. Germains the Day before
That the Treaty of Nimeguen did confirm that of Westphalia and consequently that the said Towns ought to be restored to the Enjoyment of the Rights and Priviledges which they stipulated for them That for the 5th and 6th Points they likewise directly contravened the said Treaties That as for the 7th they expected further Information on it As for the 8th they could not imagine what Right the French had to fortifie Schlestadt considering the Promises with relation to those Free Towns For the 9th and 10th That the French had acted notoriously contrary to the Westphalian and Nimeguen Treaties For the 11th That Homburg belonged to the Count of Nassaw as appeared by the Treaty of Osnalbrug That as for what concerned Bitsoh they expected further Information And Lastly They hoped the French King would not prejudice Strasburg in its Rights and Priviledges and particularly in that of fortifying Kiel that was so necessary for its Security But for all these Remonstrances the French were 〈◊〉 far from giving the proposed Satisfaction that they began â—ery Day to enlarge their Limits in Alsatia and set up a new Pretension upon Santerburg belonging to the bishoprick of Spire and Monsieur Verjus the French Minister at Ratisbone spake very big upon the Matter which made Things very uneasie on that side at the present And a Paper that was some time after printed and dispersed in those Parts containing several Conditions offered as was pretended by the French King in case the Dauphine were chosen King of the Romans did not lessen you may be sure the Apprehensions they had of Danger from that Quarter the Contents of which Paper were these that follow That the most Christian King and the Dauphine his Son would make good the Imperial Constitutions That the Dauphine would bear all due Respect to the Emperor That Burgundy Lorrain the Lower and Upper Alâ—ace the Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun with other Lands and Places should be restored to the Empire and the City of Friburg to the Emperor That 60000 Men should be maintained in Hungary to be employed against the Turks without any Charge to the Empire which should only maintain a Body of 16000 Men That all the Places which should be taken in Hungary should be put into the Emperor's Hands That a considerable Fleet should be employed against the Turks towards the Dardanello's That Two Universities should be erected in Germany for the Use of the several Religions there And Lastly That the French King would renounce all Pretensions to the Lands possessed by Charles the Great But what Effect soever these Proposals were like to have upon the Empire in general the Elector Palatine felt the Effects of the French Arms about this time in particular for they attacked the Castle of Falkenberg and after some small Resistance made themselves Masters of it All which with a great many more put together made the Emperor and Empire put forth their Complaints in every Court where there was any hopes of Relief And particularly the Emperor's Minister in Holland represented to the States-General That by Order of His Imperial Majesty he was to acquaint them that the Officers of the most Christian King had already seized a great part of the Territories of the Elector Palatine and it was to be feared they would do the like by the rest of his Countries on Pretence of Dependances and other Rights which they took upon them to search Antiquity for even to the Time of King Dagoberte That the Elector of Trier had already suffered the like Treatment And that other Princes of the Empire were exposed to the same Dangers and particularly the City of Strasburg which being directly contrary to the Peace of Nimeguen the Preservation whereof was not only necessary to the Tranquility of Germany but likewise to the Good of that Republick whose Interest was no less to have a good Barrier towards the Rhine than towards Flanders He therefore desired the said States would effectually employ their good Offices at the French Court to the end those Contraventions might for ever cease and be abolished But whether the States thought it to no purpose to sollicite France on this behalf since after all the Caresses of the French King upon their Motion to him of being easie with Spain in respect to the Title of Duke of Burgandy before-mentioned and in his Saying He should always have a very great Regard to what the States should desire of him they met at last with so little Success and Spain was forced to demit her Right or that they thought others more immediately concerned than themselves they took but little Care of it But Germany was not the only Country that thought her self injured by the French Proceedings since the Peace for the new Pretensions that were set up every Day upon some Place or other in Flanders made them very uneasie on that side also and so much the more because they were not in a Condition to hinder it and right themselves For the French in the Spring of this Year not only possessed themselves of the Abbies 〈◊〉 Thiery and St. Gerard with above 40 Villages in the Province of Namur under Colour of their being Dependances upon Charlemont lately yielded to them but also of the Abby 〈◊〉 Molyn and its Dependancies obliging the Inhabitants 〈◊〉 those Places to swear Fealty to France and threatning them 〈◊〉 case of Refusal with Military Execution And the Princes 〈◊〉 Italy however they might take it had no less Reason to be alarm'd at the Extension of the French Dominions on their side than either Flanders or Germany for now it was after sometime of Treaty that the Duke of Mantua's Ratification concerning the giving up of Cassal into the French Hands foâ— 4000000 of Livres arrived and that their Troops marched to take Possession of the Place This was the State of Things abroad when the Parliament in England met which was upon the 21st of Oct. and to whoâ— the King made a Speech importing That the several Prorogations he had made had been very advantageous to our Neighbours and very useful to him For he had imployed that Time in makinâ— an Alliance with Spain suitable to that which he had a little beforâ— made with the States of the United Provinces and they also 〈◊〉 with Spain consisting of Mutual Obligations of Succour and Defence That he desired Money of them for the Relief of Tangler which had already ebâ—hausted his Purse That he would not have them meddle with the Succession of the Crown in the Right Line but proceed in the Discovery of the Plot and to the Trial of the Lords As for the Alliance with Holland I have already given you an Account of it and indeed it was well managed as well as a good Point gained and deserved more Notice should have been taken of it by the Parliament and perhaps they would have done it another time But as for the other with Spain I can give you no
and all the Errors of my past Life and that Thou wilt not lay my secret Sins and Ignorances to my Charge but wilt graciously support me during that small Time of Life now before me and assist me in my last Moments and not leave me then to be disordered by Fear or any other Temptations but make the Light of thy Countenance to shine upon me Thou art my Sun and my Shield and as thou supportest me by thy Grace so I hope thou wilt hereafter Crown me with Glory and receive me into the Fellowship of Angels and Saints in that blessed Inheritance purchased for me by my most merciful Redeemer who is I trust at thy Right Hand preparing a â—lace for me and is ready to receive me into whose Hands I commend my Spirit But though this gallant Man ended his natural Life with a Death in it self ignominious yet his Memory shall always be retained by every good English Man After the Death of these Noble Persons the Remainder of the Game was play'd almost without Rub Bateman the Chyrurgeon Captain Walcot and Rouse followed all for Treason and all of different Complections and where Treason could have no Colour actually to take away the Life of those that were Opponents to Popish Tyranny and Arbitrary Government Misdemeanours were set on foot to take away their Means of Living by Fines from 10000 to 100000 l. for Words against his Royal Highness tho' by Magna Charta a Salvo Contenemento is reserved for Misdemeanors against the King And you may be sure from what has been said before that Jury men could not be missed off and Sheriffs to return them that would effectually do the Work But tho' I do readily confess I have no great Stomach to rake any further into the cursed Designs of our then Court in setting up Conspiracies for the Ruine of the Protestant Religion and our Civil Rights in these Kingdoms yet give me leave to say somewhat for the Reader 's Satisfaction of the Honourable Colonel Sidney who for his noble Extract and Quality was inferior to few but for his excellent Vertues hardly to be match'd by any which last was especially a constant Eye-sore to our Court and therefore he must be hooked Neck and Shoulders into the Conspiracy But though otherwise he was a Person of admirable Parts yet he said not much at his Tryal as believing whatever he should say would signifie nothing with that Judicature whom he thought had already prejudged him and so it was really in effect for as the Learned Mr. Hawles judiciously observed He was meerly talked to Death under the Notion of a Commonwealths-man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges in the Case than they should have been if what he had writ had been done by him in Syriac or Arabick It 's observable the Indictment against him was never presented to the Grand Jury before they came into the Hall and yet they found it immediately and was in substance like the rest For a Conspiracy to Depose the King and stirring up Rebellion and as an Addition for writing a Libel to that Purpose The greatest part of the Evidence as it was in my Lords Russel's Case was only Hear-say nay West whose Evidence was once rejected must be admitted now and that to tell a long Story of what he had heard from one and another Person the rest viz. Rumsey and my Lord Howard's with his Council of 6 were much of the same Stamp only my Lord was very Rhetorical even to Pedantry upon the Matter according to his vain though usual Custom But to clench the Matter there was a Paper found in the Prisoner's Study said to be his Writing the Substance whereof was An Enquiry into the several Forms of Government and Reasons of their Decay together with the Rights of the People Bounds of Sovereignty and Original Power wherein among other Things were these Expressions The King is subject to the Law of God as he is a Man to the People that made him such as a King And wherein there are Examples cited how evil Princes had been sometimes destroyed by a Popular Fury as others had been deposed But where was the Treason of all this Or if it had been so why did they not prove that it was his Hand-writing But in short so far as any Man of impartial Principles and good Sense has heard of them Papers they contained in them a great deal more Learning and rectified Principles than the Chief Justice Jeffreys had Manners when without any Regard to the Noble Family and the Name of the Sidneys he said the Prisoner was born a Trayâ—or It will be too long to run through all the Particulars And therefore I shall and can only gratifie the Reader with something that was his own and that is his last Speech at his Execution upon Tower-Hill Dec. 7. 1683 after I have first premised that King Charles shewed his usual Gratitude to Mr. Sidney now the Right Honourable the Earl of Rumney the Colonel's Brother in cutting him off for so trivial a Crime if it was any for having not long before taken so much Pains to bring the Defensive League about with Holland which his Majesty valued himself so much upon in Parliament to say nothing of his Majesty's many other Obligations to that Noble Family Men Brethren and Fathers Friends Countrymen and Strangers IT may be expected that I should now say some great Matters unto you but the Rigour of the Season and the Inâ—irmities of my Age encreased by a close Imprisonment of above 5 Months doth not permit me Moreover we live in an Age that maketh Truth pass for Treason I dare not say any Thing contrary unto it and the Ears of those that are about me will probably be found too tender to hear it My Tryal and Condemnation doth sufficiently evidence this West Rumsey and Keyling who were brought to prove the Plot said no more of me than that they knew me not And some others equally known unto me had used my Name and that of some others to give a little Reputation unto their Designs The Lord Howard is too infamous by his Life and the many Perjuries not to be denied or rather sworn by himself to deserve mention and being a single Witness would be of no Value though he had been of an unblemish'd Credit or had not seen and confessed that the Crimes committed by him would be pardoned only for committing more and even the Pardon promised could not be obtained till the Drudgery of Swearing was over This being laid aside the whole Matter is reduc'd to the Papers said to be found in my Closet by the King's Officers without any other Proof of their being written by me than what is taken from the Suppositions upon the Similitude of an Hand that is easily counterfeited and which hath been lately declared in the Lady Car's Case to be no lawful Evidence in Criminal Causes But if I had
Truth and even by the Confession of my Opposers for that OLD CAVSE in which I was from my Youth engaged and for which thou hast often and wonderfully declared thy self Yet notwithstanding all these Points gained there was something to be done before it could be be said That the King was a Despotical â—rince and would make his Will his Law For tho' the City of London was now absolutely dependant upon his Majesty in respect of the Magistracy thereof and that the naming of the other Sheriffs of all the Countles and Shires of the Kingdom belonged unto him yet there were many other Cities in England who still chose their own Sheriffs but something must have been done with these before the Constitution of the Parliament could be subverted which seemed to be the only White in the Butt they had been aiming at all this while For you are to note that the House of Commons consists of 513 Members whereof but 92 only are Knights of the Shires so that near 5 Parts in 6 are Burgesses Citizens and Barons of the Cinque-Ports and the generality of the Corporations which send these Members are poor decay'd Places and so not in a Condition as the City of London was to contest their Charters or if they should there were but little hopes to keep them now London had not been able to hold hers Yet it was considered also that it would cost the Court-Agents a great deal of time to bring Quo Warranto's against above 200 Corporations wherefore all Hands were set on work to induce these poor Inhabitants to surrender up their Rights and mighty Rewards proposed unto those who should shew themselves forward and instrumental therein But because Moneys were scarce there were Bargains made wiâ—h Multitudes of them to have Grants of Fairs for the Surrender of their Charters and those who refused must have Quo Warranto's brought against them However before these things were fully put in Execution it was thought necessary to augment the standing Forces in England who were already too many in time of Peace For some Umbrages were taken that Disturbances might arise before they could be brought to Perfection For tho' the Duke had secur'd Scotland and had 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse and a Years Pay to be assisting upon all Occasions and that greater Liberty than ever was given to the Irish yet all this was not thought enough and therefore Tangier part of Queen Catherine's hopeful Portion which cost the King her Husband above 100000 l. a Year the keeping for 20 Years together must now at last the Mould was near finished be utterly demolished and the Garrison brought over which had been a Nursery of Popish Officers and Soldiers and quartered in the most considerable parts of the Kingdom And in this pittiful State we shall leave England and see what mighty Changes have been made in the Face of Things in other Parts of Europe and more particularly in the Kingdom of Hungary where brake out the cruellest War between the Emperor and the Turks and that has been intermixt with such Variety of Actions and Fortune in the long Course of it as I think no Age nor History can parallel the exact Particulars whereof we shall endeavour to give as they shall fall out in due Series of Time and their proper Order But before we enter immediately upon that mighty Affair it will be necessary to premise somewhat in this place how things stood on this side the Empire towards France and in the Netherlands We have said something before concerning the Re-unions pretended to be made by France after the Treaty of Nimeguen But yet to be a little more particular It was not long after the Conclusion of the said Peace that that Crown possessed her self of Homhurg and Bisstel the only two Places remaining to the Duke of Lorain of all his Dutchy However tho' the Duke who had â—ut little Power of his own was forced tamely to submit to it yet it could not be thought that others would be so willing to do it And therefore First Monsieur Ravaux who had searched all the Monuments of the Parliaments of Metz and the Cities thereabouts endeavoured from thence to prove That in time of old all Alsatia Lorain the Counties of Chiney Arlon Vierton St. Armand all the Country of Luxemburg except the City of that Name divers Villages and Seigniories in Germany Flanders Brabant Hegenow and the Country of Liege did really and of just Right belong to the King of France as Dependences upon the three Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun or upon other Places that had been yielded to them by the Treaty of Nimeguen In pursâ—ance hereof they erected in France 2 Tribunals of Justice or Sovereign Courts one at Metz and the other at Brisac by the Name of The Chambers of Re-unions where the Inhabitants and Lords of all the fore-mentioned Places were gravely cited to appear before the Commissioners Judges and Parties to see themselves condemned to make their Submission to the French King and to receive his Orders thereupon and in case of Refusal to be condemned for Default and Contumacy It was under such Pretensions that Strasburg was seized on by that Crown and by the same pretended Reasons Luxemburg had been blocked up in a manner ever since the Peace and that as it were by way of Reprisal because the Spaniards would not yield up to them several Places in Flanders which they laid claim to Which way of Procedure did at length alarm all the Potentates upon the Continent so that the Emperor Swedeland the States of Holland Franconia and several other Free and Imperial Cities entred into a mutual League of Defence which was called The League of Ausburg and to the Glory of the then Prince of Orange it must be said and is what his Enemies have own'd he was the greatest Instrument to bring it about of any in Europe Good God! What shall we think of England all this while But I have told you already our King had other Fish to fry and 't is very remarkable that he was by this time fallen into such an abject State in the Opinion of all the Neighbouring Princes and States that it does not appear they ever sought as much as his Concurrence in or Approbation of this League though otherwise generally speaking England was the only Kingdom that was wont to keep the Scales even between the contending Parties for many Ages together However whether it were out of the Apprehensions of the impending Storm upon Christendom from the Mahometan Quarters or out of a meer Act of Generosity this is certain that as soon as the French King came to know that the Turk was bending all his Forces against the Empire and to that End had ordered his Army to march towards Belgrade not only with a Design to possess himself of all Hungary but even to invade the Neighbouring Provinces he withdrew his Forces from before Luxemburg though almost ready
repulsed And yet the same Night tho' a Prisoner gave the Besieged an Account of the Confusion the Turks were in by reason of the approaching Succours they thought it convenient for all that to make another Signal to the Duke from St. Stephen's Tower and the rather since the Turks seemed still obstinate in carrying on their Attacks which they continued with no very great Advantage till the 11th of Sept. when that same Afternoon they drew all their Forces out of their Camp and marched towards the Calemburg which was a certain Sign to the Besieged that their Succours were marching that way and taking the Advantage of the Night endeavoured to get up the Hill whilst the Christian Armâ— met them in the Descent At that time the Besieged also had the Satisfaction to see the Rockets which were thrown up on the Top of the Hill as a Signal of their Approach and which they expected with so much Impatience The next Day which was the 12th of Sept. after Sun-rising the Christian Army advanced from the upper part of the Calemburg moving slowly in close Order from the Carthusian Monastery and St. Leopold's Chappel and extending it self more and more until they made their way out of the Forest when they closed their Lines and marching towards the Plain left a Space for them that followed and room for themselves to move in their Cannon playing upon the Enemy at several Intervals But the Turks were guilty of a very great Oversight in not securing the Passages of the Wood or other advantageous Posts which the Christians found difficult enough to pass tho' they met with no Opposition but perhaps the former vainly trusted to their Numbers having still an Army of an 120000 fighting Men tho' they had lost near 60000 at the Siege whereas the Christian Army without was not above 80000 and 6000 within the Town who yet did good Service upon this Occasion The Right Wing of the Army was given to the King of Poland for that he had most Horse and that the Country was open on that side the Left to the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Lorrain because they were strongest in the Foot and that the Country was inclosed on that side all along the Danube and the main Body to the Elector of Saxony and Prince Waldeck In this Disposition the Generals that Morning according to Appointment met upon the Hill to give the necessary Orders and were no sooner come together but a Body of 10000 Turks appear'd and advanced towards the Christians whereupon a Battallion was ordered to post themselves in a Vineyard that was on an Hill hard by being supported by 3 other Battallions which made the Turks stop For not enduring the Fire of those Battallions and being all Horse and in a Ground where they could not well attack the Foot they contented themselves to make one Discharge accompanied with an hideous Noise and so retired Whereupon the King of Poland and the other Princes having observed the the Disposition of the Enemy drew the Army into 3 Lines and closed without any Intervals as before mentioned and ordered them to march very slowly towards the Enemy and to stand when the Turks came to Charge them keeping themselves very close and not to fire till the Enemy had made their Discharge which was exactly performed for the Enemy advanced towards them with an horrible Cry as if they meant to break in upon them hoping thereby to make them give way or to put them into Disorder But finding the Christians stood firm and expecting them in a very close Order they durst not push any further but halted and still finding the Christians did not stir but stood expecting them they then made their Discharge and wheeled off Upon this the first Line of the Christians fired and that done the whole Army advanced slowly and so gained Ground upon the Enemy who returning came up as before the Christians thereupon made an Halt and expected them and the Turks having made their Discharge retired again which they repeated several times without adventuring to break in upon the Christians who still gained Ground driving the Turks before them like a Flock of Sheep Being come near the Enemies Camp a Body of Foot and Dragoons were detach'd to attack their Cannon which they made themselves Masters of without any great Opposition the Enemy having but a small Number of Foot to defend them and even their Horse made no great Resistance any where tho' they endeavoured on the side of the Right Wing to Charge the Christians in Flank which the King of Poland mistrusting caused part of the second Line to advance and make a Front on that side and charging the Enemy in Person with the first Line made them give way During the hottest of the Battle the Turks attackt the Town and put the Besieged so to it that Count Staremberg was forced to send to the Duke of Lorain for Assistance whereupon the Duke sent Prince Lewis of Baden with a Body of Horse Foot and Dragoons into the City with whose Help all the Turks that were in the Attack where cut to pieces In short towards Evening the Enemy began to give way and fled being pursued by the Christians beyond their Camp and there they made an Halt the Soldiers upon pain of Death being Commanded not to stir out of their Ranks and the whole Army remained all Night in Battle array as if the Enemy had been still present Next Day the Camp was Plundered half a Company going out at a time while the other half continued at their Arms and when they returned these went out in like manner All the Enemies Baggage Provision Tents 50 Pieces of Cannon 2 Horse-Tails the Grand Seignior's Standard and the Visier's own Horse were taken and most of their Foot cut in pieces being computed at about 15000 the rest having perished during the Siege and the Victory was so much the more glorious to the Christian Arms in that they lost not above a 1000 Men in all and very few Persons of Note the Duke of Croy and some others being wounded and that the Capital of the German Empire was hereby relieved which otherwise must inevitably have fallen into the Hands of the Infidels in less than 48 Hours more having already endured 9 Weeks Siege for want of Provisions and a sufficient Garrison to defend it longer their Number being diminished one half and the Turkish Mines ready to blow up the last Retrenchments they had for its Security And because it is fit the Memory of those Great Men that appeared this Day at the Head of the Christian Army and under whose Conduct this signal Victory was obtained should by all just Means be perpetnated to future Generations they were these that follow The King of Poland the Electors of Saxony and Bavaria the Duke of Lorain Prince Waldeck General of the Empire the 2. Princes of Baden the Prince of Anhalt the Duke of Croy the Prince de Salm the
Margrave of brandenburg Baâ—eith the Landtgrave of Hesse the Prince of Hanover the 2 Princes of Neuburg 4 Princes of the House of Saxony and 3 of Wirtemburg the Prince of Hoenzeller and some others The King of Poland next Day after the Battle and the Elector of Bavaria having visited all the Enemies Works and Approaches and with all Expressions of Kindness having taken leave of the Elector of Saxony and the Duke of Lorain entred the Town the King causing the Visier's Standard to be carried before him as he went attended by a small Retinue of his own Subjects to the Chappel of Loretto to sing Te Deum for this great and memorable Victory after which he was accompanied with his Son Prince Alexander who was cloathed in the German Habit to Count Staremberg's House where with the Elector of Bavaria and many of the Polish Nobility as also Count Statgottz who had been sent as Envoy from the Emperor to the King they were all sumptuously Entertained and the King in the Evening retired from thence to his Tent. The Emperor also on his part was no sooner informed of the good News by a Person sent on Purpose to him from the Duke of Lorain but he hasted to Vienna and arrived there on the 14th where after he had visited the Enemies Works and the Fortifications of the Town he enter'd at the Hungariâ—â— Gate between the Electors of Saxony and Bavaria He went to St. Stephen's Church where Te Deum was sung with a tripple Discharge of the Cannon When the Service of the Church was over Emerius Bishop of Vienna took Occasion to represent to the Emperor how that in 1529 when Solyman the Magnificent came in Person with an Army of 200000 Men to besiege Vienna that then at the Prayer of the Besieged he did forbear to shoot at St. Stephen's Tower as being a very artificial and beautiful Fabrick In acknowledgment of which Favour the Citizens had then by Agreement placed on the Pinacle of the Tower an Half Moon and a Star which are the Turkish Arms and they were yet remaining in the same Place But that the Turks having now in Violation of that Agreement continually fired upon that Tower and done it much Prejudice the Bishop for that Reason humbly prayed his Imperial Majesty to grant him Leave to pull down the Turkish Arms and to erect the Cross instead of it Which with the Emperor's Approbation was immediately effected After this the Emperor had an Interview with the King of Poland at the Head of his Army in his Camp and thanked him for the generous Assistance he had given him and all Christendom upon this great Occasion And the King having returned the Complement the Emperor returned to Vienna and shewed Marks of his Favour to all the Princes and Great Men that had signalized themselves in the Action But the Elector of Saxony after this returning soon Home with his Army occasioned various Interpretations The Polish and Imperial Armles having a little refreshed themselves they resolved to pursue the Victory and to that End passing by Presburg they advanced on the 9th of Oct. towards the Fort of Barkan which covers the Bridge of Granâ— the Imperialists having the Van-Guard Near this Fort there were about 14000 Turks encamped being the best Troops of their remaining Army who being encouraged with the Advantage they had a little before near the said Place over the Poles who were forced to retreat to the Body of the Imperialists not then come up They no sooner saw the Christian Army appear but they advanced with a full Speed and a most hideous Cry briskly charging the Imperialists and endeavouring to break in upon them But the Christians kept themselves very close and firm and vigorously repulsed the Enemy who then turned towards the Poles and made a very fierce Charge upon them they were likewise received by the Poles with great Bravery who being very well seconded by the Imperialists made a great Slaughter of the Enemy who seeing one of their Basha's slain and another taken fled towards Barkan being pursued very close by the Christians who fired upon them with their Cannon which the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorain caused to advance for that Purpose Some of the Enemy got over the Bridge of Gran which happily broke to the Advantage of the Christians others threw themselves into Barkan while several of them were drowned and many taken Prisoners so that of the whole Body there could not above 4000 escape This being done the Imperial Foot and Dragoons advanced and the Regiment of Castelli with some other commanded Troops attacked the Counterscarp of Barkan being led on by the Count de Staremberg and took it with their Swords in their Hands putting all the Turks that were there to the Sword but gave Quarter to 〈◊〉 Janizaries I that were in the place who surrender'd at Discretion They found 20 Pieces of Cannon in that Fortress great Quantities of Ammunition and Provisions with many fine Horses and very rich Furniture This place the Duke thought once to demolish but upon better Consideration he ordered it to be repaired and putta good Garrison into it and on Oct. 20 he passed the Danube with the Imperial Army moving towards Gran the King of Poland at the same time being reinforced with the Lithuanian Troops marched towards Agriâ— The Duke who had been before re-joined by the Elector of Bavarina who was forced to leave the Army after the Battel of Vienna by reason of his Illness with 7000 Foot near Barkan with so considerable a Reinforcement sat down before Gran and having understood by some Prisoners that were taken that the Turks who were posted in the Fort upon St. Thomas's Hâ—ll had Orders as soon as they perceived the Christians approach to attack them to retire into the Cittadel His Highness resolved to intercept them and to that purpose he commanded the Count de Scherffenberg being supported by 2 Regiments of Horse to invest the Hill and take the said Fort which was accordingly performed and of 380 Janizaries that defended the place 180 were killed and the rest made Prisoners Yet before 〈◊〉 the Turks had set fire to the Buildings in that Fort but the Christians saved most of them The Duke of Lorain became in this manner no sooner Master of the Hill but he caused a Battery to be raised upon it which did very much annoy the Turks who abandoned the Town and retired into the Cittadel this made the Christians re-double their Efforts and carry 〈◊〉 their Attack so vigorously thâ— on Oct. 27 which was but the third Day after opening of the Trenches the Turks desired to capitulate which the Duke considering the Season of the Year consented to The Articles being agreed on the Turks â—000 out to the number of 〈◊〉 Janizaries and â—000 of the Inhabitants and were conducted several Miles by an Imperial Convoy in their Way to 〈◊〉 The Conquest of Gran by the Imperial
Arms was so much the more engaging in that besides 18 Pieces of Cannon 400000 Pounds of Powder and good store of Provisions which they found in the place they took it with the â—oss only of 150 Men after it had been 78 Years in the Possession of the Turks Soâ—â— Thoughts there were after the laking in of Gran to march directly and attack Buda but the Season being far advanced it was not judged adviseable tho' perhaps considering the Consternation the Turks were under on every side that important place might have then been easily carried which proved afterwards the Work of two Campaigns Wherefore after the Army had possessed themselves of some other small Places in the Neighbourhood of Gran and elsewhere they went into their Winter Quarters concluding the Actions of this Year on that side as we do also with all others that have happened within the Circumference of it having nothing remarkable to super-add in this place save that great and memorable Frost which began about the latter end of November and lasted for the space of Ten Weeks year 1684 What was left unfinished before in relation to the Prosecution of the pretended Presbytenian Plot was compleated amongst us this Year And where there could be no colourable Pretence to touch Life and Limb they were sure to be even with the pretended Criminals by Imprisonments and exorbitant Fines there being hardly any County in England wherein some were not severely swinged off for Riots when they were indeed legally standing up in Defence of their Charters and Civil Liberties whilst others did as basely betray them And because His Royal Highness should be as absolute again at Sea as he had shewed himself by Land both in England and Scotland His Majesty was pleased to revoke the Commission for High Admiral and to commit it into his good Brother's Hands again who took Care to require him well for it But give me leave to tell you once again that the Tories of this Time did not so much magnifie His Majesty's Conduct and Government as he was diminutively Little in the Esteem of neighbouring Princes I have given you some time since an Hint of the French Pretensions in relation to the Re-anions and am now to acquaint you that notwithstanding the French Complement to the Emperor last Year upon their quitting the Blockade of Luxemburg That it was done that the Christians might take no Umbrage at such a Conjuncture when the Infidels were threatning the Empire with an Invasion Yet the Year was not expired but that in pursuance to the said Pretensions they surprized Courtray and Dixmude Wherewith the Court of Spain was so incensed that they re-called their Ambassodor ordered the French Minister to retire home and seized all the Effects belonging to the French in their Dominions Yet the Dutch States were not so hot upon the Matter and therefore they proposed the King of England's Mediation herein but the Spaniards would by no means hear of it saying There was but too much Reason to suspect that Prince since iâ— did appear he had more closely linked himself with France than ever Hereupon the French King prepared an Army to invade the Spanish Netherlands while he sent another to infest the Spaniards on the side of Catalonia And if Luxemburg by an odd Circumstance of Time or what shall I call it had the good Luck to escape a Siege last Year she shall be sure to have her Share in this and be attacked in Form The Prince of Orange according to his usual Foresight had proposed pretty early to the States the Levying of 16000 Men and to bring all the Troops of the Country into the Field as a Means to give the French some Umbrage and to prevent their proceeding to an open Rupture But he was still opposed in his Designs by the Artifice of the French Ambassador the Count d'Avaux who put in several Memorials to the States upon account of the Conjuncture Insomuch that at last the City of Amsterdam would not consent to the said Levy but absolutely rejected it Which tho' it utterly broke the Prince's Measures yet it did not his Courage for he took the Field tho' to little purpose Because the French who were too quick to let slip the Opportunity brought a great Army before Luxemburg towards the latter end of May. And tho' the Place in the Circumstasnces it was then made a good Resistance it was on the 10th of June surrender'd upon Articles And now France having got what she desired proposed a Truce afresh for 20 Years to which the States did not seem averse So that they made the matter up quickly both for themselves and Spain as they had been wont to do in a manner upon the French Terms Whereof take the following Abstract wherein you will find the King of England's Name mentioned but mostly for Form sake I. THE States General oblige themselves to employ all sorts of good Offices to induce the King of Spain to accept of the Truce for 20 Years proposed by his most Christian Majesty during which all Hostilities shall cease between the said Kings as well by Sea and Land in all their Countries and Dominions II. The most Christian King shall during the said Truce remain possessed of the City of Luxemburg and the Provostry thereof with the 14 or 15 Villages and Hamblets depending thereon and Beaumount and the 3 or 4 Villages that remain on its Dependance Bouvois which has none and Chimay with the 12 or 14 Villages belonging to it III. If within 6 Weeks from the Date of this Convention the Catholick King shall agree unto and in due Form ratifie the Articles contained therein and shall consent to the said Truce of 20 Years upon the Condition proposed the most Christian King so soon as the Ratifications are exchanged shall restore to the Catholick King Courtray and Dixmuyde after having demolish'd the Fortifications with the Dependencies of those Places IV. His most Christian Majesty shall likewise restore to the Catholick King after the Exchange of the Ratifications all the Places he hath promised himself since Aug. 20 1683. except Luxemburg and the other Places mentioned in the Article And for the rest the most Christian and Catholick Kings shall remain in the Possession during the said Truce of what they held at the raising of the Blockade of Luxemburg and no Pretension shall be moved or Re-union made on the one side or the other on Account of Dependencies or any other Pretence whatever V. After the Exchange of the said Ratifications of Spain all Acts of Hostility shall cease and the most Christian King shall withdraw his Troops out of the Countries of the King of Spain wheresoever situated the King of Spain doing the like on his part VI. If any Contest shall happen concerning the time of Possession or the Extent of any Places that are to remain to either side during the said Truce the Determination thereof shall be referred to the
King of Great Britain provided no Complaint shall be received on this Subject three Months after the Exchange of the Spanish Ratifâ—cations VII The Contributions shall be continued on both sides till the Day of the Exchange of the Spanish Ratification and the Arrears then due shall be paid within three Months after and during that time there shall be no Military Execution on that Account provided the Places give good Security to pay the same and if any Difference arise concerning the said Contributions it shall be referred to the Arbitrage of the King of Great Britain VIII The most Christian King obliges himself to cause from this present time all Hostilities to cease in the Low Countries against the Places belonging to the King of Spain and even in the open Country in case the Spaniards do abstain from them IX In case the King of Spain do not accept the said Truce within the said Term of 6 Weeks and cause the Ratifications to be furnished in due Form the States-General do oblige themselves immediately afterwards to withdraw their Troops out of the Spanish Netherlands and not to give the Crown of Spain any Assistance during the present War and do further oblige themselves not to commit any Hostilities against his Majesty or his Allies and his most Christian Majesty likewise obliges himself not to attack or possess with his own Troops or those of his Allies any Place in the Low-Countries and even not to make War in the open Country if the Spaniards do abstain from it X. In case the War shall continue and that his most Christian Majesty shall make any Conquest upon Spain his Majesty promises not to accept any Equivalent in the Spanish Netherlands for the Conquests he shall make elsewhere during the present War and that he will not during the said time possess himself of any Places in the Low-Countries either by Revolt Exchange voluntary Cession or any other way whetever XI His Majesty obliges himself to give a Month longer to the Dyet at Ratisbone to accept the Truce upon the Conditions already offered them XII The King of Great Britain and generally all Princes that are willing to enter into a like Engagement may be Guarantees of this Treaty XIII Nothing shall be innovated in the said Treaty concluded at Nimeguen between his most Christian Majesty and this State XIV This Treaty shall be ratified by his Majesty and the said States within 3 Weeks from the Date thereof At the same time that this Truce was proposed in Holland there was also another put to the Dyet at Ratisbonne importing in a manner the same thing and was accepted of by them the more readily to be sure because of the War the Empire was now deeply engaged in with the Turks In both which we find the Republick of Genoua mentioned but for what Reason it is time we should here mention it being the same as was transmitted from the place it self when the Occasion happened The French Fleet arriving about the 17th of May before that City the Fort on the Mole saluted them with 11 Guns which was answered by the French Admiral with 9 when the Fort a little after saluted the Admiral again with 20 Chambers and 10 Guns which he returned with 7 so that they seemed yet to be in the dark what to think of it Next Morning the Senate sent 6 Deputies on Board the Admiral to complement him and to know the occasion of the Fleet 's coming thither which they knew no doubt well enough before and being returned they reported to the Senate that Monsieur Saignelay had told them the King was very much dissatisfied with the late Conduct of the Republick and that his Demands of them were That they should quit the Protection of Spain That they should join the 4 Gallies they had lately built with those of his Majesty That they would permit the French to have a Magazine of Salt at Savona That they should send 4 Senators on Board to beg his Majesty's Pardon c. The Senate resolved not to grant these Demands and therefore let the French know if they drew not farther off they would look upon them as Enemies But they taking no notice of it the Genoese about 3 in the Afternoon shot towards the Admiral without Bullet and an Hour after the several Forts fired with Shot which made the French Ships and Gallies draw further off But the 〈◊〉 Galliots continued all in a Row to fire one part of the City and began to throw their Bombs into the plate which put the People into a very great Consternation having never heard and much less seen and felt such 〈◊〉 thing before for I think this Action of the French was the first of Bombing any place by Sea before But it did not end here and they themselves have since felt the dire Effects of it On the 21th the Doge's Palace was quite beaten down and the Doge and Senate removed to the Albergho a great Fabrick built by the Publick where the Bombs 〈◊〉 not reach The next Morning being the 22th the French sent ashoar to let the Senate know That they were sorry to â—uine so fine a City and that they would yet give them 24 Hours to agree to the King's Demands Upon this the Great Council was called the 23th early in the Morning who resolved not to submit to the French Demands and this Answer was given them at the Mole the People now beginning to be couragious and with a great Shout crying Vive St. Georgio whereupon the French began again to shoot their Bombs into the Town and they from the Shoar fired upon the Fleet. The Inhabitants upon this occasion removed most of their movable Effects into the neighbouring Villages and to quiet the Rabble there was leave given them to break open all the French men's Houses and Shops which was soon done but it had an ill Consequence For the same Rabble began to rob and plunder what other Houses they pleased Whereupon the Senate gave the Serjeant General of the City leave to hang up whomsoever he should find stealing which after some Examples made of them brought all things quiet again On the 23th at Sun-set the French Ships and Gallies came very near and severely batter'd the Town for 7 Hours together and in the mean time landed 500 Men to the Westward and another Body on the East side of the City but they were so warmly received that they were forced at last to return to their Gallies excepting several they left slain and divers Prisoners behind them But on the 24th the Sea growing high the French Fleet weighed off which the Genoese were not a little glad of For besides the vast Loss they suffered by this Bombardment already they had dreadful Apprehensions of being entirely ruined which made them bethink themselves of giving the King Satisfaction before such another Return and therefore at last they were constrained sore against their Wills to send their Doge
intimate my Mind otherwise I do hereby require all my Vassals any where and all within my several Jurisdictions with their fensible Men within their Command to go to Arms and to join and concur with us according to the said Declaration as they shall be answerable at their Peril and that they obey the particular Orders they shall receive from me from time to time I need not tell the World the Fate of this brave Man it was generally believed at that time that Sir John Cockram who came over with him betrayed him as some Body else was thought to have done by the Duke of Monmouth but however that Matter was in Reality Thus it happened with the Earl that after several Marches and Countermarches his Men were at length lead into a Boggy sort of a Place on Pretence or with Intention to bring him off from the King's Army then upon the Heels of them where they all lost one another dispersed and shifted for themselves The Earl himself being taken by a Country Man and brought to Edenburgh he there suffered for his former unpardonable Crime in requiring Care should be taken for the Protestant Religion and the Explaining the Test conformable thereunto for the Legality of which he had the Hands of most of the Eminent Lawyers about the City He made a very pious End being beheaded at Edenburgh June 30. But this Business of Argyle was but like Thunder afar off to what happened soon after in the West of England K. James was so apprehensive not only before but even after his Ascension to the Throne of the Duke of Monmouth's Designs against him that he used his utmost Endeavours by his Envoy Mr. Skelton in Holland to get him secured and sent into England which Design could not yet he carried so covertly but that the Prince of Orange came to the Knowledge of it who having more Honour and Goodness in him than to suffer an innocent forelorn Man to fall into the Hands of those who had been the Occasion of his Exile and Misery did not only give the Duke Notice of the Plot against him but gave him Money to go privately to Brussels with a farther Assurance that if he would go to the Campaign in Hungary he would maintain him at his own Charge with an Equipage suitable to his Quality But his Fate led him to return again privately from thence into Holland where having concerted his Measures with such Refugiated English as he found there they embarked on 3 small Vessels and about June 12 lan ded at Lyme in Dorsetshire where the Duke in his own and the rest of his Followers Names put out his Declaration which because the State at that time were so far from thinking fit to publish as they were Argyle's that they made it Criminal to read it and used all their Endeavours to smother it we shall here give you Word for Word The DECLARATION of James Duke of Monmouth and the Noblemen Gentlemen and others now in Arms for the Defence and Vindication of the Protestant Religion and the Laws Rights and Priviledges of ENGLAND AS Government was originally instituted by God and this or that Form of it chosen and submitted to by Men for the Peace Happiness and Security of the Governed and not for the private Interest and personal Greatness of those that rule So that Government hath always been esteemed the best where the Supream Magistrates have been invested with all the Power and Prerogatives that might capacitate them not only to preserve the People from Violence and Oppression but to promote their Prosperity and yet where nothing was to belong to them by the Rules of the Constitution that might enable them to injure and oppress them And it hath been the Glory of England above most other Nations that the Prince had all intrusted with him that was necessary either for the advancing the Welfare of the People or for his own Protection in the Discharge of his Office and withal stood so limited and restrained by the Fundamental Terms of the Constitution that without a Violation of his own Oath as well as the Rules and Measures of the Government he could do them no hurt or exercise any Act of Authority but through the Administration of such Hands as stood obnoxious to be punished in case they transgressed So that according to the primitive Frame of the Government the Prerogatives of the Crown and the Privileges of the Subject are so far from justling one another that the Rights reserved unto the People tended to render the King Honourable and Great and the Prerogatives settled on the Prince were in order to the Subjects Protection and Safety But all Humane Things being subject to Perversion as well as Decay it hath been the Fate of the English Government to be often changed and wrested from what it was in the first Settlement and Institution And we are particularly compelled to say that all the Boundaries of the Government have of late been broken and nothing left unattempted for turning our limited Monarchy into an absolute Tyranny For such hath been the Transaction of Affairs within this Nation for several Years last past that though the Protestant Religion and Liberties of the People were fenced and hedged about by as many Laws as the Wisdom of Man could devise for their Preservation against Popery and Arbitrary Power our Religion hath been all along countermined by Popish Counsels and our Privileges ravished from us by Fraud and Violence And more especially the whole Course and Series of the Life of the D. of Y. hath been but one continued Conspiracy against the Reformed Religion and the Rights of the Nation For whoever considers his contriving the burning of London his instigating a Confederacy with France and a War with Holland his fomenting the Popish Plot and encouraging the Murther of Sir Ed. Godfrey to stifle it his charging Treason against Protestants suborning Witnesses to swear the Patriots of our Religion and Liberties out of their Lives his hiring execrable Villains to assassinate the late Earl of Essex and causing those others to be clandestinely cut off in hopes to conceal it his advising and procuring the Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliaments in order to prevent their looking into his Crimes and that he might escape the Justice of the Nation Such can imagine nothing so black and horrid in it self or so ruinous and destructive to Religion and the Kingdom which we may not expect from him The very Tyrannies which he hath exercised since he snatched the Crown from his Brother's Head do leave none under a Possibility of flattering themselves with Hopes of Safety eithor in their Consciencies Persons or Estates For in defiance of all the Laws and Statutes of the Realm made for the Security of the Reformed Protestant Religion he not only began his Reign with a bare-faced A vowing himself of the Romish Religion but call'd in Multitudes of Priests and Jesâ—its for whom the
Gentry and Commons of Scotland are now in Arms upon the like Motives and Inducements that we are and in Prosecution of Ends agreeable with ours we do therefore approve the Justice of their Cause commend their Zeal and Courage expecting their and promising our Assistance for carrying on that glorious Work we are jointly engaged in being obliged for avoiding Tediousness to omit the Recounting many Oppressions under which that Kingdom hath groaned and the giving a Diduction of the several Steps that have been taken for Introducing of Popery and Tyranny We think fit therefore to signifie both to our Countrymen and Foreigners that we intend a larger Testimony and Remonstrance of the Grievances Persecutions Cruelties and Tyrannies we have â—â—late lain under and therein a more full and particular Account of the unparallell'd Crimes of the D. of Y. And we make our Appeal unto GOD and all Protestant Kings Princes States and People concerning the Justice of our Cause and the Necessity we are reduced unto of having our recourse to Arms. And as we do beseech require and adjure all sincere Protestants and true English Men to be assisting to us against the Enemies of the Gospel Rights of the Nation and Liberties of Mankind so we are confident of obtaining the utmost Aid and Succour which they can yield us with their Prayers Persons and Estates for the Dethroning the said Tyrant c. Nor do we doubt being justified countenanced and assisted by all Protestant Kings Princes and Commonwealths who either regard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or their own Interest And above all our Dependance and Trust is upon the Lord of Hosts in whose Name we go forth and to whom we commit our Cause and refer the Decision betwixt us and our Enemies in the Day of Battel Now let us play the Men for our People and for the Cities of our GOD and the Lord do that which seemeth good unto him When the Prince of Orange heard of the Duke's Landing and that he began to gather Strength and was proclaimed King he thought himself so far concerned that he not only dispatched over the 6 English Regiments in the Dutch Pay but also sent away Monsieur Bentink to the King with Orders to acquaint him That tho' he looked upon the Duke of Monmouth to be a Man of no great Parts yet that he had a Warlike Genius and was better skilled in the Military Art than any the King was to employ against him and that therefore if His Majesty pleased he would not only lend him his Troops but come in Person also to Command his Army But the same Thing in effect having been communicated to Skelton at the Hague he was so maliciously bent against the Prince and his Interest that he used such Diligence as to give the King Notice of his Intentions before Bentink could arrive and that with such evil Interpretation upon the Prince's Offer that the King put off Monsieur Bentink with telling him He should acquaint his Master that their common Interests did require the Prince his staying in Holland and further opened his Mind unto him in such Terms as sufficiently discover'd he did not take his Highness's Zeal for his Service to be at that time seasonable However King James did well enough at this time without such Assistance and he was so far favoured in the Course of Providence that the Duke was utterly Routed at Sedgmore soon after taken and ordered to be brought up to London forthwith with no other Design you may be sure than to have his Head chopt off However not to be wanting to himself under such hard Circumstances he thought fit on the 8th of July to write the following Letter to the King from Ringwood SIR YOUR Majesty may think it is the Misfortune I now lie under makes me make this Application to You But I do assure Your Majesty it is the Remorse I now have in me of the Wrong I have done You in several Things and now in taking up Arms against You. For my taking up Arms It never was in my Thoughts since the King died The Prince and Princess of Orange will be Witness for me of the Assurance I gave them That I would never stir against You. But my Misfortune was such as to meet with some Horrid People that made me believe Things of Your Majesty and gave me so many false Arguments that I was fully led away to believe That it was a Shame and a Sin before God not to do it But SIR I will not trouble Your Majesty at present with many Things I could say for my self that I am sure would move Your Compassion The chief End of this Letter being only to beg of You That I may have that Happiness as to speak to Your Majesty For I have that to say to You SIR that I hope may give You a long and happy Reign I am sure SIR when You hear me You will be convinced of the Zeal I have for Your Preservation and how heartily I repent of what I have done I can say no more to Your Majesty now being this Letter must be seen by those that keep me Therefore SIR I shall make an end in begging of Your Majesty to believe so well of me That I would rather die a Thousand Deaths than excuse any Thing I have done if I did not really think my self the most in the Wrong that ever any Man was and had not from the Bottom of my Heart an Abhorrence for those that put me upon it and for the Action it self I hope SIR God Almighty will strike Your Heart with Mercy and Compassion for me as He has done mine with the Abhorrence of what I have done Therefore I hope SIR I may live to shew You how zealous I shall ever be for Your Service and could I say but one Word in this Letter You would be convinced of it but it is of that Consequence that I dare not do it Therefore SIR I do beg of You once more to let me speak to You for then You will be convinced how much I shall ever be Your Majesty's most Humble and Dutiful MONMOUTH What Impressions this or what afterwards the Duke told him in Private might have upon the King's Heart I know not but the Consequence proved he little regarded it by hastening of the Execution which was done the next Day but one after his arrival upon Tower-Hill July 15 unheard by Virtue of an Attainder past upon him in this Parliament A brave but unhappy Man not only in the Manner of his Death but the Education of his Youth whereby he became too much Tainted with the Vices of the then Court where he could learn no better but it was hoped he did not end as he began for he said himself upon the Scaffold and acknowledged it for a Mercy That for 2 Years before he had led a Better and more Reformed Life than ever And here I can't but take Notice of the Manner
in the first Place Secondly How unwarily it was it drawn for though it was to be thought every one understood the Design of the Commission was to introduce a Roman Hierarchy which assumes a Power over the Temporal in order to the Spiritual Good yet that Commission granted the Temporal Power viz. The Lord Chancellor and any other two viz. Lord Treasurer President or Lord Chief Justice a Power of Excommunication which is a pure Spiritual Act. This Commission thus granted and opened the first Lightning of it fell upon the Bishop of London whose pretended Crime was That by Virtue of the King's Letter he did not suspend Dr. Sharp then Dean of Norwich now Archbishop of York for Preaching a Sermon in his Parish-Church of St. Giles against the Frauds and Corruptions of the Church of Rome by a Power as Arbitrary as that by which the Commissioners acted But though the Romanists might be sufficiently incensed against the Bishop for his Non-compliance herein the King had another Cause of Offence with his Lordship for when the Lords in the last Parliament had Voted an Address of Thanks to the King as I have already noted for his Speech the Bishop moved in his own and his Brethren's Name that the House might debate the King's Speech which as it was extraordinary and unusual in the House so it was no less surprizing to the King and Court who now dreaded the Lords would concur with the Commons in their Address and construed this Pace to be a Piece of Presumption in the Bishop for which in due time he should be sure to be remembred and so indeed it happened For notwithstanding the Bishops just Plea before the Commissioners in his own Defence and that Jefferies the Mouth of them had in a manner nothing else to say but Must not the King be obeyed Must not the King be obeyed As if a Man was bound to hang himself if the King commanded it yet they suspended him ab Officio where we leave him at present and proceed to shew you the further Effects of this goodly Commission when there was the least Opportunity to put it in Execution You must know the Presidentship of Magdalen College in Oxford falling vacant about this time and the Fellows fearing a Mandamus would be imposed upon them for some Person or other not qualified by their Statutes and whom by their Oaths they could not submit to chose Dr. Hough a Person every way qualified for their President which was no sooner done but the King sent them a Peremptory Mandamus to make choice of the Bishop of Oxford for their President who as being not qualified by their Statutes they rejected and in an humble Answer excused themselves as being otherwise obliged as well by their Oaths as Statutes with which the King was so Angry and used such Expressions upon the Occasion as were never perhaps before used by a Prince But finding his harsh Language could not frighten the Fellows out of their Duty he sent his Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Affairs among them to turn them out of their Fellowships to which they had as much Right as any other Man to his Estate But the good Commissioners were so far from boggling at this that they yet went further and by a new strain of Tyranny never practised but by Absolute Tyrants made the Fellows uncapable of any other Ecclesiastical Preferments and a Seminary of Jesuits and Popish Priests were introduced into their rooms as much to the Subvertion of the Established Church as the Statutes of the College While Things were thus carried on with an high Hand by Virtue of this extraordinary Commission you cannot think they were more moderate in the Administration of ordinary Justice in the Westminster Courts you know how severely Oats was treated for discovering the Popish Plot. Now comes Thomas Dangerfield's Turn for his discovering of the Meal-Tub-Plot but with a worse-Fate For this Man having in King Charles his Time in his Depositions before the Parliament revealed that he was imploy'd by the Popish Party and chiefly by the Lords in the Tower and the Countess of Powis to kill the King and that he was incouraged and promised Impunity and Reward and part of it given him by the D. of York for that End he was now prosecuted upon a Scandalum Magnatum and as Juries went found guilty and had the same Sentence of Whipping with Oats But in his return from Tyburn towards Newgate after his Whipping he was run into the Eye with a Tuck at the end of a Cane by one Robert Francis a Red-hot Papist of which with the Agony of the Whipping he soon after died But his Body was so swoln and martyred with his Whipping that it was a Question whether he died of that or of the Wound in his Eye for which Francis however was justly Hanged the King thinking it would appear to be too base a Partiality to pardon him for so foul a Fact Much about the same time Mr. Sam. Johnson commonly known by the Name of Julian Johnson because of his being the Author of a Book so called was Sentenced by the Court of King's Bench Sir Edward Herbert being Lord Chief Justice to stand 3 times in the Pillory and to be Whipped from Newgate to Tyburn which was severely Executed without any regard to his Gown he being a Clergy-man for making this humble and hearty Address to all the English Protestants in the Army which the King had raised GENTLEMEN NExt to the Duty which we owe to God which ought to be the principal Care of Men of your Profession especially because you carry your Lives in your Hands and often look Death in the Face the second Thing that deserves your Consideration is the Service of your Native Country wherein you drew the first Breath and breathed a free English Air Now I would desire you to consider how well you comply with these Two main Points by engaging in this present Service Is it in the Name of God and for his Service that you have joined your selves with Papists which will indeed fight for the Mass-book but burn the Bible and who seek to extirpate the Protestant Religion with your Swords because they cannot do it with their own and will you be aiding and assisting to set up Mass-houses to erect the Popish Kingdom of Darkness and Desolation amongst us and to train up all our Children in Popery How can you do these Things and yet call your selves Protestants And then what Service can be done your Country by being under the Command of French and Irish Papists and by bringing the Nation under a Foreign Yoak Will you help them to make a forcible Entry into the Houses of your Country-men under the Name of Quartering directly contrary to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right Will you be aiding and assisting to all the Murders and Outrages which they shall commit by their void Commissions which were declared illegal and sufficiently
Capitulated And now the General finding the Winter Season advancing and his Forces much diminished by the many Detachments he had been obliged to make to Garrison so many conquered Places he was constrained to lay aside the further Prosecution of his good Fortune till he had received new Supplies of Men and other Necessaries from Venice which we leave him at present in expectation of Thus we have seen two of the Tripple Confederacy acting their Parts with equal Glory and Advantage to themselves in Conformity to their Stipulations Now we are to see what was done by the Third Ally the Polander who made great Preparations this Season to bombard Caminiec which they executed for 2 Days together viz. The Last of Aug. and 1st of Sep. under the Command of Prince James His Majesty of Poland's â—â—ldest Son being accompanied by 2. Generals Some Days before it was resolved on in the King's Council That the Forces should march towards that Fortress and that not having been able to block it up so as to famish it they should at least use their utmost Endeavours to lay it desolate by a great Number of Bombs and Mortaâ—s Prince James after having received these Orders marched that way and myested the Place just as if he had a Design to lay a formar Siege to it He found the Basha encamp'd without it and hindâ—ing the Approaches by continual firing by which means 25 or 30 Polanders were killed upon the Spot Nevertheless Prince James caused the Town to be batter'd as we said with the Cannon and at the same time a World of Bombs were thrown into it one of which set fiâ—e to the Basha's Hoâ—se The Basha being acquainted with this and that some Officers had ordered several People to go to extinguish the Fire tho' they were appointed to attend other Business he made Answer That he had a great deaâ— more to lose than a World of others who could not be assisted while they were employ'd at his House That they should only save his Stable and that he was not concerned for the rest In the mean while he sent to entreat Prince James to let him know where were his Quarters and that he would hinder any firing that way The Prince sent him back Word That he was obliged to him for his Civility but that he had no fixed Quarters and that he was every-where as he judged necessary And indeed in going and coming from one side to the other there came a Cannon-Bullet that made its first bound so near him that it covered him all over with Dust He seemed not in any wise concerned tho' this was his Tryal of Skill which wonderfully pleased the Poles that were near his Person He gave further Instances of his Courage upon a Sally the Turks made a Moment after and he had been the first to have made Head against them if he had not been withheld The Turks presently made an Onset upon the advanced Guard and likewise caused a Squadron to buckle that came to its Succour But a fresh Body of Polanders making up they retreated in good Order the Poles were hindred from pursuing them far by some Pieces of Cannon charged with Chain-shot In the mean while the Serasquier who had some time before put Succours into the Place and who was still hovering thereabouts to observe their Motions had no sooner Notice of what had passed but that he sent for a Body of Tartars that were at some distance to come and join him immediately This News being come to the King of Poland's Ears who was advanced towards the Neister to assist the Prince his Son in case of Need he sent him Order to draw off his Troops from before Cammiec and to come and join him Prince James having hereupon informed the Two Generals of the King his Father's Pleasure he gave a Discharge of all his Cannon by way of Farewel and having drawn them off placed himself in their Rear The Basha of Caminiec detach'd some Squadrons after him but they contented themselves with giving certain Tokens of Contempt and Derision at the late Enterprize But for all this formal Bustle the Damage done was inconsiderable insomuch that some turn'd the Action into a handsome Ridicule by saying That the Bombs of the Christians had a secret Vnderstanding with those of the Infidels and so did them no harm Having done with the Poles it might be expected I should say something of the Muscovites but you are to note their time of Action is not come yet 'T is true they took the Field with a very numerous Army but returned Home without doing any more than threaten the Tartars and whose General Galtizen to cover his own Credit charged the Fault of all the Miscarriages of the Champaign upon Samuclowitz General of the Loyal Cossacks as being guilty of holding Correspondence with the Tartars and whom for that Reason or at least Pretence together with his Son he took into Custody confiscated their Estates and had them both carried Prisoners to Moscow and I do not remember to have ever heard of them afterwards This Year was fatal to divers learned Persons particularly to Father Rapin a most celebrated Critick and a Person very â—amed in the Commonwealth of Learning to our great Mr. Waller the most Famous Poet of the Age to Mr. Francis Turretin of Geneva a most Eminent Professor in Divinity and to divers others of different Faculties and Quality year 1688 Now we are come to a Year of Wonders wherein happened such Changes and Revolutions in the Face of Things within the Confines of our European World as can hardly be parallell'd in any Age whatever since the Dissolution of the Roman Empire A mighty Monarch thrust from his Throne A cruel War began in all the Parts almost of Europe And a Way â—haâ—hed out in the Course of the All-wise Providence of God for the Rise of a Prince who otherwise than as to his Personal Merits was not so considerable in Power so far as not only to attain to the Possession of 3 Crowns but to become the Head of the most Serene Allies not only in the Management of the War but in the Prosecution and Accomplishment of the Peace that ensued with equal Glory to himself as Advantage to his Confederates and it s reasonably hoped will prove most of all so to his own Subjects But to be a little more Particular we shall begin with England first before we enter upon new Accidents that happened Abroad and the Operations of the various Campaigns when we shall return to see how far and in what manner they have affected our Nations with whose Aâ—fair we shall conclude as well as begin the Year I need not repeat what the Transactions of the last were amongst us nor how far the Dispensing Power was then carried on I shall therefore now proceed and shew that as the King thought he had then laid a sufficient Foundation tho' it proved but a very Sandy one for his
Doge who shall have 500 Ducats a Month and Entertainment and shall act and do as the Doge may do receiving his Revenues defraying his Charges and reserving what shall be due to him till he returns But as if Fortune had been now glutted in heaping up of her favours upon Morosini by adding to the many Victories and Conquests he had made the highest Dignity his Country could confer upon him he did nothing that was memorable this Campaign having been beyond most Mens expectations extreamly baffled in the Enterprize he undertook upon Negropont nor indeed ever after this comparatively to the great feats he had done in the preceding part of his life So that besides the taking of Chir in Dalmatia by General Cornare about the beginning of Sept. and that small Victory which the Albanians who had now put themselves under the protection of the Republick got over some thousands of Turks Commanded by the Basha of Scutari and their taking the Town of Maduna thereupon there was nothing else of any great consideration that fell out on that side And as for Poland he that can find any thing extraordinary there for the breaking up of the Diet held at Grod now this Year in Confusion and the Incursion of the Turks into the Province of Pocusia I do not take to be such let him do it and I shall pass on to somewhat of greater Moment Now it may be remembred in what uncertain state and imminent danger we left both the Civil and Religious Rights of Britain there were some concurring causes that made those of Europe appear to be little less so France by the Interval of the Peace was grown wonderfully potent and if the Altercations between the Imperial and French Ministers about the later's Fortifying of Traerback foreboded no good to the Empire the Death of the Elector of Cologn which hapned June 2d this year manifestly tended to an open Rupture The two Candidates for the Electorate were young Prince Clement of Bavaria the Elector's Brother of that Name whose interest was supported by Germany and the Cardinal de Fustemburg whose pretentions were backed by the Crown of France But though the former made a shift to carry it and that his Election was confirmed afterwards by the Pope who was at no good terms with France at this time yet the French K. concerned himself so far in the matter as to make it an occasion to begin the cruellest War that ever happn'd in this part of the world this was seconded with a Manifesto from the French K which indeed in the right course of things should have been first setting forth the Justice of his cause But I hope the world is still at liberty to believe as little of it as they please However it cost Germany this Season besides the incredible sums paid for Contribution no less than the loss of the Fortress of Phillipsbourg taken by the Dauphine in Person Manheim Spire Mentz Creusenack Baccarack Heidelburg and several other places as far as Hailbron besides Bonn secured by the Cardinal de Furstemburg towards the beginning of the dispute about the Election But before all this happened and even soon after the foresaid Elector's Death there was an interview and even a long Conference held at Minden in Westphaliâ— between the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg the Landâ—grave of Hesse Cassell the Princes of the House of Lunemburg and the P. of Orange under pretence of the Affair of Cologn as it was in part but much more about concerting methods to divert the Storm hanging over our British Isle without disjoynting of which from the French interest and securing of its Religion and Liberties there was but little likelihood of preserving the rest of Europe and confining France to the Bounds set unto it by former Stipulations and Treaties The Consequence of this Interview was the making mighty Preparations in Holland both by Sea and Land without any visible Appearance who they designed to make War upon And tho' it was said the Heer Van Citters the States Ambassador at London assured the King England had nothing to fear from it and did insinuate that France had much more Reason to be allarm'd than he the Design was penetrated into another way Mr. Skelton while Ambassador in Holland had gained some Glimmering of it by the Interception of some Letters to a certain Person in the Family of the Princess of Orange But being soon after sent in the same Quality to France he got a much clearer Light thereof from one Verace a Genevese by Birth The Story whereof is such as deserves a more particular Recital This same Person had been formerly Captain of the Guard to the Prince of Orange but happening to kill a Man in a Duel he was put out of his Master's Favour However Mr. Skelton found a Way by the Interest of the Earl of Clarendon who had bred up his Son my Lord Cornbury at Geneva and was obliged to Verace for many Services he had done him there to make his Peace again The Genevese being thus re-established in his Master's Favour he had a greater Share of it than ever and was more particularly intimate with Monsieur Bentink the Prince's Favourite I could never learn how he put himself out a second time But so it was that he withdrew and was upon his Journey to Geneva when upon the Noise of the Preparations in Holland he writ to Mr. Skelton then at Paris that he had something to communicate to the King his Master that concerned nothing less than his Crown and to let him know a Son-in-Law whom he was not mistrustful enough of But for the rest he would not explicate the Secret to any other than the King himself if he were pleased to send him Orders to come and wait upon him Upon this Mr. Skelton writ several Letters to England but did not receive an Answer suitable to the Occasion which made both himself and the French Court much concerned at it Yet when they had in a manner entirely acquiesced and left the King to take his own Measures since he seemed to reject theirs and the Assistances offered him it hapned one Day that Monsieur de Croissi being in Discourse with Mr. Skelton and interrogating of him concerning the then State of Things in England the other answered He had nothing more to do in the Matter and durst not inter meddle any farther But added That he believed if the Most Christian King would order his Ambassador to declare to the States the Part he took in the Affairs of the King his Master and to threaten to attack them in case they attempted any thing against him that he would quickly put a Stop to them and break the Measures of the Prince of Orange thereupon c. Monsieur de Croissi took the Proposal presently and he no sooner acquainted the King with it but he sent Orders to the Count d' Avaux to acquaint the States-General with his Mind And this occasioned
President and Fellows of St. Mary Magdalen College in Oxford IV. That your Majesty will graciously be pleased to set aside all Licenses or Faculties already granted by which any persons of the Romish Communion may pretend to be enabled to teach Publick Schools and that no such be granted for the future V. That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to desist from the Exercise of such a Dispensing Power as hath of late been used and to permit that Point to be freely and calmly debated and argued and finally setled in Parliament VI. That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to inhibit the four Foreign Bishops who stile themselves Vicars Apostolical from further invading the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction which is by Law vested in the Bishops of this Church VII That your Majesty will be pleased graciously to fill the vacant Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Promotions within your Gift both in England and Ireland with men of Learning and Piety and in particular which I must own to be my pecular boldness for 't is done without the privity of my Brethren That you will be graciously pleased forthwith to fill the Archiepiscopal Chair of York which has so long stood empty and upon which a whole Province depends with some very worthy Person For which pardon me Sir if I am bold to say you have now here before you a very fair Choice VIII That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to supersede all further Prosecution of Quo Warranto's against Corporations and to restore to them their ancient Charters Priviledges and Franchises as we hear God hath put into your Majesties Heart to do for the City of London which we intended to have made otherwise one of our principal Requests IX That if it please your Majesty Writs may be issued out with convenient speed for the calling of a free and regular Parliament in which the Church of England may be secured according to the Acts of Unformity Provision may be made for a due Liberty of Conscience and for securing the Liberties and Properties of all your Subjects and a mutual Confidence and good Vnderstanding may be established between your Majesty and all your People X. Above all That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to permit your Bishops to offer you such Motives and Arguments as we trust may by God's Grace be effectual to perswade your Majesty to return to the Communion of the Church of England into whose most holy Catholick Faith you were baptized and in which you were educated and to which it is our daily earnest Prayer to God that you may be re-united These Sir are the humble Advices which out of Conscience of the Duty we owe to God to your Majesty and to our Country We think fit at this time to offer to your Majesty as suitable to the present State of your Affairs and most conducing to your Service and so to leave them to your Princely Consideration And we heartily beseech Almighty God in whose hand the Hearts of all Kings are so to dispose and govern yours that in all your Thoughts Words and Works you may ever seek his Honour and Glory and study to preserve the People committed to your Charge in Wealth Peace and Godliness to your own both temporal and eternal Happiness Amen We do heartily concur H. London P. Winchester VV. Asaph W. Cant. Fran. Ely Jo. Cicestr Tho. Roffen Tho. Bath VVells Tho. Petriburg And because the King would seemingly remove all Jealousies from the Church of England he on the 5th of Oct. declared that he would dissolve the Commission for Ecclesiacal Causes and gave Directions to the Lord Chancellor accordingly to cause the same to be forthwith done But at the same it was not declared to be illegal which was the only Way to give Satisfaction in respect of it And because Magdalen College in Oxford was no less aggrieved with the High Commission than the Bishops themselves were the King after having Oct. 12th declared his Resolution to preserve the Church of England in all its Rights and Immunities did as an Evidence of it signifie his Pleasure to the Bishop of Winchester as Visitor of the said College to settle the College Regularly and Statutably Who accordingly on the 16th caused a Citation to be fixed on the College Gate to re-call Dr. Hough and the former Fellows of that Society by the 2d of Nov. following and the Bishop went down accordingly to re-instate them and was received with abundance of Joy But pray mind the Temper of this King For an Account coming that very Post that the Dutch Fleet had suffered very much in a Storm on the 16th of the same Month. N. S. and that they would hardly be able to sail till the Spring the Bishop was re-called to London and the Restitution deferred Yet soon after that false News being contradicted the Affection to the Church revived and so the Business of the College was effected on the 24th of the said Month. About this time the Queen-Dowager and others that attended at the Queen's Delivery as also the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and divers Peers of the Land were ordered to attend to hear what the former could say concerning the Birth of the pretended Prince of WALES But now all Men's Tongues were let loose against the Government And my Lord Sunderland's being dismissed from his Office of prime Minister and Secretary of State made a mighty Noise That my Lord is a person of vast ability is a matter not to be doubted and that how various soever the reports then since have been concerning the cause of his being laid aside I think it 's good manners for us to listen to the account he was pleased to give himself in his Letter of March 23d 1689. which will fall pertinently in this place The Earl of Sunderland's Letter to a Friend in London published March 23d 1689. TO comply with what you desire I will explain some things which we talked of before I left England I have been in a Station of a great noise without Power or Advantage whilst I was in it and to my Ruin now I am out of it I know I cannot Justifie my self by saying though it is true that I thought to have prevented much Mischief for when I found that I could not I ought to have quitted the Service Neither is it an Excuse that I have got none of those things which usually engage men in publick Affairs My Quality is the same it ever was and my Estate much worse even ruin'd tho' I was born to a very considerable one which I am ashamed to have spoiled though not so much as if I had encreased it by indirect Means But to go on to what you expect The Pretence to a Dispensing Power being not only the first thing which was much disliked since the Death of the late King but the Foundation of all the rest I ought to begin with that which I had so little to do with that I
a height as had not been seen They dispersed Libels of me every day told the King that I betrayed him that I ruined him by perswading him to make such shameful Condescentions but most of all by hindring the securing the chief of the disaffected Nobility and Gentry which was proposed as a certain way to break all the Prince's Measures and by advising His Majesty to call a Free-Parliament and to depend upon that rather than upon Foreign Assistance It is true I did give him those Counsels which were called weak to the last Moment he suffered me in his Service then I was accused of holding Correspondence with the Prince and it was every where said amongst them That no better could be expected from a Man so related as I was to the Bedford and Leicester Families and so allied to Duke Hamilton and the Marquess of Halifax After this Accusations of High Treason were brought against me which with some other Reasons relating to Affairs Abroad drew the King's Displeasure upon me so as to turn me out of all without any Consideration and yet I thought I escaped well expecting nothing less than the loss of my Head as my Lord Middleton can tell and I believe none about the Court thought otherwise nor had it been otherwise if my Disgrace had been deferred a day longer all things being prepared for it I was put out the 27th of October the Roman Catholicks having been two Months working the King up to it without Intermission besides the several Attacks they had made upon me before and the unusal Assistance they obtained to do what they thought so necessary for the carrying on their Affairs of which they never had greater hope than at that time as may be remembred by any who were then at London But you desired I would say something to you of Ireland which I will do in very few Words but exactly true My Lord Tyrconnell has been so absolute there that I never had the Credit to make an Ensign er keep one in nor to preserve some of my Friends for whom I was much concern'd from the last Oppression and Injustice tho' I endeavoured it to the utmost of my Power But yet with Care and Diligence being upon the place and he absent I diverted the Calling a Parliament there which was designed to alter the Acts of Settlement Chief Justice Nugent and Baron Rice were sent over with a Draught of an Act for that purpose furnished with all the pressing Arguments could be thought on to persuade the King and I was offered forty thousand pounds for my Concurrence which I told to the King and shewed him at the same time the Injustice of what was proposed to him and the prejudice it would be to that Country with so good success that he resolved not to think of it that Year and perhaps never This I was help'd in by some Friends particularly my Lord Godolphin who knows it to be true and so do the Judges before named and several others I cannot omit saying something of France there having been so much talk of a League between the two Kings I do protest I never knew of any and if there were such a thing it was carried on by other sort of Men last Summer Indeed French Ships were offered to joyn with our Fleet and they were refused since the noise of the Prince's Design more Ships were offered and it was agreed how they should be commanded if ever desired I opposed to Death the accepting of them as well as any Assistance of Men and can say most truly that I was the Principal Means of hindring both by the help of some Lords with whom I consulted every day and they with me to prevent what we thought would be of great prejudice if not ruinous to the Nation If the Report is true of Men Ships and Money intended lately for England out of France it was agreed upon since I was out of Business or without my Knowledge if it had been otherwise I believe no Body thinks my Disgrace would have happened My greatest Misfortune has been to be thought the Promoter of those Things I opposed and detested whilst some I could name have been the Inventors and Contrivers of what they have had the Art to lay upon others and I was often foolishly willing to bear what my Master would have done tho' I used all possible Endeavours against it I lie under many other Misfortunes and Afflictions extream heavy but I hope they have brought me to reflect on the occasion of them the loose negligent unthinking Life I have hitherto led having been perpetually hurried away from all good Thoughts by Pleasure Idleness the Vanity of the Court or by Business I hope I say that I shall overcome all the Disorders my former Life had brought upon me and that I shall spend the remaining part of it in Begging of Almighty God that he will please either to put an end to my Sufferings or to give me Strength to bear them one of which he will certainly grant to such as rely on him which I hope I do with the Submission that becomes a good Christian I would enlarge on this Subject but that I fear you might think something else to be the reason of it besides a true Sense of my Faults and that obliges me to restrain my self at present I believe you will repent in having engaged me to give you this Account but I cannot the doing of what you desire of me What followed next were various Reports concerning the loss the Dutch Fleet had sustained in a Storm which to amuse us was heightned in their own Prints and about the same time a Parcel of the Prince of Orange's Declarations being intercepted in London when that Expression came to be read That the Prince was most earnestly invited hither by divers of the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal and by many Gentlemen and others the King sent for some of the Bishops and required a Paper under their Hands in Abhorrence of the Prince's intended Invasion But they refused to do it as contrary to their Privilege of Peerage and their Profession in promoting War against a Prince so nearly allyed to the Crown and earnestly desired that might be left to a Free Parliament at which the King parted from them with great Indignation The Wind had been now for almost 3 Weeks perpetually West during which time the common Question every Morning was Have we a Protestant Wind yet And a Seaman was observed to curse the Dragon on Bow-Steeple for turning his Head where his Tail should be But in the latter end of Oct. the Wind came Easterly to the great Sorrow of the Roman Catholicks and the Joy of the rest of the Nation And when almost all Men expected the Invasion would have fallen in the North and nothing talked of but Burlington-Bay as a Landing-Place on the 3d of Nov. between 10 and 11 a Clock the Dutch Fleet was discovered about Half-Seas over
these our good Intentions that they have endeavoured to alienate the King more and more from us as if we had designed to disturb the Quiet and Happiness of the Kingdom XVIII The last and great Remedy for all these Evils is the Calling of a Parliament for securing the Nation against those evil Practices of those wicked Counsellors but this could not be yet compassed nor can be easily brought about For those Men apprehending that a Lawful Parliament being once Assembled they would be brought to an Account for all their open Violations of Law and for their Plots and Conspiracies against the Protestant Religion and the Lives and Liberties of the Subjects they have endeavoured under the specious Pretence of Liberty of Conscience first to sow Divisions among Protestants between those of the Church of England and Dissenters The Design being laid to engage Protestants that are equally concerned to preserve themselves from Popish Oppression into Mutual Quarrellings that so by these some Advantages may be given to them to bring about their Designs and that both in the Election of Members of Parliament and afterwards in the Parliament it self For they see well that if all Protestants could enter into a good understanding one with another and concur together in the preserving of their Religion it would not be possible for them to compass their wicked Ends. They have also required all Persons in the several Counties of England that either were in any Employment or were in any considerable Esteem to declare before-hand that they would concur in the Repeal of the Penal Laws and that they would give their Voices in the Elections to Parliament only for such as would concur in it Such as would not thus preingage themselves were turn'd out of all Employments and others who entred into those Engagements were put in their Places many of them being Papists And contrary to the Charters and Priviledges of those Boroughs that have a Right to send Burgesses to Parliament they have ordered such Regulations to be made as they thought fit and necessary for assuring themselves of all the Members that are to be chosen by those Corporations and by this means they hope to avoid that Punishment which they have deserved tho' it is apparent that all Acts made by Popish Magistrates are null and void of themselves So that no Parliament can be Lawful for which the Elections and Returns are made by Popish Magistrates Sheriffs and Mayors of Towns and therefore as long as the Authority and Magistracy is in such Hands it is not possible to have any Lawful Parliament And tho' according to the Constitution of the English Government and Immemorial Custom all Elections of Parliament-Men ought to be made with an entire Liberty without any sort of Force or the requiring the Electors to chuse such Persons as shall be named to them and the Persons thus freely Elected ought to give their Opinions freely upon all Matters that are brought before them having the Good of the Nation ever before their Eyes and following in all things the Dictates of their Conscience yet now the People of England cannot expect a Remedy from a Free Parliament Legally Called and Chosen But they may perhaps see one Called in which all Elections will be carried by Fraud or Force and which will be composed of such Persons of whom those evil Counsellors hold themselves well assured in which all things will be carried on according to their Direction and Interest without any regard to the Good or Happiness of the Nation Which may appear evidently from this That the same Persons tried the Members of the last Parliament to gain them to consent to the Repeal of the Test and Penal Laws and procured that Parliament to be dissolved when they found that they could not neither by Promises nor Threatnings prevail with the Members to comply with their wicked Design XIX But to Crown all there are great and violent Presumptions inducing us to believe that those Evil Counsellors in order to the carrying on their ill Designs and to the gaining to themselves the more time for the effecting of them for the Encouragement of their Complices and for the discouraging of all good Subjects have publish'd That the Queen hath brought forth a Son tho' there have appeared both during the Queen's pretended Bigness and in the manner in which the Birth was managed so many just and visible Grounds of Suspicion that not only we our selves but all the Good Subjects of this Kingdom do vehemently suspect That the pretended Prince of Wales was not born by the Queen And it was notoriously known to all the World that many both doubted of the Queen's Bigness and of the Birth of the Child and yet there was not any one thing done to satisfie them or put an end to their Doubts XX. And since Our dearest and most entirely Beloved Consort the Princess and likewise We Our Selves have so great an Interest in this Matter and such a Right as all the World knows to the Succession to the Crown Since all the English did in the Year 1672. when the States General of the Vnited Provinces were invaded with a most unjust War use their utmost Endeavours to put an end to that War and that in Opposition to those who were then in the Government and by their so doing they run the hazard of losing both the Favour of the Court and their Employments And since the English Nation has ever testified a most particular Affection and Esteem both to our dearest Consort the Princess and to Our selves We cannot excuse our selves from espousing their Interest in a Matter of such High Consequence And for contributing all that lies in us for the maintaining both of the Protestant Religion and of the Laws and Liberties of those Kingdoms and for the Securing to them the continual Enjoyment of all their just Rights To the doing of which We are most earnestly sollicited by a great many Lords both Sipiritual and Temporal and by many Gentlemen and other Subjects of all Ranks XXI Therefore it is That We have thought fit to go over to England and to carry over with us a Force sufficient by the Blessing of God to defend us from the Violence of those Evil Counsellors And We being desirous that our Intentions in this might be rightly understood have for this end prepared this Declaration in which as We have hitherto given a True Account of the Reasons inducing us to it so we now think fit to declare That this our Expedition is intended for no other Design but to have a Free and Lawful Parliament Assembled as soon as it is possible and that in order to this all the late Charters by which the Elections of Burgesses are limitted contrary to the Ancient Custom shall be considered as null and of no Force And likewise all Magistrates who have been unjustly turned out shall forthwith resume their former Employments as well as all the Boroughs of England shall return
Confession of those Violences of the Government that we have set forth so the Defectiveness of it is no less apparent For they lay down nothing which they may not take up at pleasure and they reserve entire and not so much as mentioned their Claims and Pretences to an Arbitrary and Despotick Power which has been the Root of all their Oppression and of the Total Subversion of the Government And it is plain That there can be no Redress no Remedy offered but in Parliament by a Declaration of the Rights of the Subjects that have been invaded and not by any pretended Acts of Grace to which the Extremity of their Affairs has driven them Therefore it is that we have thought fit to declare That we will Refer all to a Free Assembly of this NATION in a Lawful Parliament Given under Our Hand and Seal at Our Court in the Hague the 24th Day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1688. WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange By His Highness's Special Command C. HUYGENS. At the same time an Extract of the States-General's Resolution was privately Printed at London wherein among other Reasons why they had intrusted the Prince of Orange with such a Fleet and Army is this which follows THE King of France hath upon several Occasions shewed himself dissatisfied with this State which gave Cause to fear and apprehend that in case the King of Great Britain should happen to compass within his Kingdom and obtain an Absolute Power over his People that then both Kings out of the Interest of State and Hatred and Zeal against the Protestant Religion would endeavour to bring this State to confusion and if possible quite to subject it There was also Printed about the same Juncture this Letter of the Prince of Orange to the Officers of the Army Gentlemen and Friends WE have given you so full and so true an Account of Our Intentions in this Expedition in Our Declaration that as We can add nothing to it so We are sure you can desire nothing more of Us. We are come to preserve your Religion and to Restore and Establish your Liberties and Properties And therefore We cannot suffer Our Selves to doubt but that all true English Men will come and concur with Us in Our Desire to Secure these Nations from Popery and Slavery You must all plainly see That you are only made use of as Instruments to enslave the Nation and ruine the Protestant Religion and when that is done you may judge what ye your selves ought to expect both from the Cashiering all the Protestant and English Officers and Soldiers in Ireland and by the Irish Soldiers being brought over to be put in your Places and of which you have seen so fresh an Instance that We need not put you in mind of it You know how many of your Fellow-Officers have been used for their standing firm to the Protestant Religion and to the Laws of England And you cannot flatter your selves so far as to expect to be better used if those who have broke their Word so often should by your Means be brought out of those Streights to which they are at present reduced We hope likewise that ye will not suffer your selves to be abused by a false Notion of Honour but that you will in the first place consider what you owe to Almighty God and your Religion to your Country to your Selves to your Posterity which you as Men of Honour ought to prefer to all private Considerations and Engagements whatsoever We do therefore expect That you will consider the Honour that is now set before you of being the Instruments of Serving your Country and Securing your Religion and We shall ever remember the Service you shall do Us upon this Occasion and will promise you that We shall place such particular Marks of Our Favour on every one of you as your Behaviour at this time shall deserve of Us and the Nation in which We shall make a great Distinction of those that shall come seasonably to join their Arms with Ours And you shall find Us to be your Well-wishing and assured Friend W. H. P. O. This Letter was spread under-hand over the whole Kingdom and read by all sorts of Men and the Reason of it being undeniable it had a great Force on the Spirits of the Soldiery so that those who did not presently comply with it yet resolved they would never strike one stroke in this Quarrel till they had a Parliament to secure the Religion Laws and Liberties of England Which the Court on the other side had resolved should not be granted till the Prince of Orange with his Army was expelled out of the Nation and till all those that had submitted to him which were not many then were reduced into their Power to be treated as they thought fit In the mean time the Fleet came about from the Buoy in the Nâ—re to Portsmouth under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth where it arrived on Saturday the 17th of November and on the Monday following the KING entred Salisbury which was then the Head Quarters of the whole Army But on the 16th of the aforesaid Month the Lord Delamere having received certain Intelligence of the Landing of the Prince of Orange in the West and seeing the Irish throng over in Arms under pretence of Assisting the King but in reality to enslave us at Home as they had already reduced our Country-Men in Ireland to the lowest Degree of Danger and Impuissance that they have at any time been in since the Conquest of Ireland in the Reign of King Henry II. He thereupon Assembled Fifty Horse-Men and at the Head of them marched to Manchester and the next Day he went to Bodon-Downes his Forces being then 150 strong declaring his Design was To join with the Prince of Orange This small Party of Men by degrees drew in all the North and could never be suppressed Now before His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange left Exeter there was an Association drawn up and signed by all the Lords and Gentlemen that were with him the Date of which I cannot assign but the Words thereof are as follow VVE whose Names are hereunto subscribed who have now joined with the Prince of Orange for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and for the maintaining the Antient Government and the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland do engage to Almighty God to His Highness the Prince of Orange and to one another to stick firm to this Cause and to one another in Defence of it and never to depart from it until our Religion Laws and Liberties are so far secured to us in a Free Parliament that we shall be no more in danger of falling into Popery and Slavery And whereas we are engaged in this Common Cause under the Protection of the Prince of Orange by which means his Person may be exposed to Danger and to the cursed Attempts of Papists and other Bloody Men we do therefore solemnly
Order they shall receive from Feversham This was directly a clear and full Abdication or Desertion of the Army which unavoidably necessitated them to submit to the Prince of Orange they having no Body to lead or head them against him And it is not conceivable how they could avoid entring into an Association or Oath of Allegiance to the Prince now the King had left them without exposing themselves by resisting a Foreign Army and a poisoned Nation For neither would the Nation continue long without a Prince nor would any Person who should have succeeded in that Capacity have suffered them to live within his Government without giving him Security by Oath for their Submission and Loyaly to him So that the whole Design of this Letter seems to be the Sowing Division in the Nation that when he left us we might not unite or settle our selves under the other but be divided by our Principles that so we might the more easily reduce us again into the State we are in when the Prince first designed his Expedition against England The King being gone as above-said Decem. 11. in the Morning the Principal Officers of the Army about the Town thereupon met about 10 a Clock at Whitehal and sent an Express to the Prince of Orange to acquaint him with the Departure of the King and to assure him that they would assist the Lord Mayor to keep the City quiet till his Highness came and made the Souldiery to enter into his Service Much about the same time the Lords Spiritual and Temporal about the Town came to Guildhal and sending for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen made the following Declartion The Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster Aâ—â—â—mbled at Guild Hall the 14th of December 1688. VVE doubt not but the World believes that in this great and dangerous Conjuncture we are heartily and zealously concerned for the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land and the Liberties and Properties of the Subject And we did reasonably hope that the King having issued out his Proclamation and Writs for a Free Parliament we might have rested secure under the Expectation of that Meeting But His Majesty having withdrawn himself and as we apprehend in order to his Departurâ— out of this Kingdom by the pernicious Counsels of Persons ill affected to our Nation and Roligion we cannot without being wanting to our Duty be silent under those Calamities wherein the Popish Counsels which so long prevailed have miserably involved these Realms We do therefore unanimously resolve to apply our selves to his Highness the Prince of Orange who with so great Kindness to these Kingdoms so vast Expence and so much Hazard hath undertaken by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament to rescue us with as little effusion of Christian Blood as possible from the eminent Dangers of Popery and Slavery And we do hereby declare That we will with our utmost Endeavours assist his Highness in the obtaining such a Parliament with all speed wherein our Laws our Liberties and Properties may be secured the Church of England in particular with a due Liberty to Protestant Dissenters and in general the Protestant Religion and Interest over the whole World may be supported and encouraged to the Glory of God the Happiness of the Established Government in these Kingdoms and the Advantage of all Princes and States in Christendom that may be herein concerned In the mean time we will endeavour to preserve as much as in us lies the Peace and Security of these great and popalous Cities of London and Westminster and the parts adjacent by taking care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests who are in or about the same And if there be any thing more to be performed by Us for promoting his Highnes's Generous Intentions for the Publick Good we shall be ready to do it as occasion requires Signed W. Cant. T. Ebor. Pembrook Dorset Mulgrave Thanet Carlisle Craven Ailesbury Burlington Sussex Berkeley Rochester Newport Weymouth P. Winchester W. Asaph F. Ely Thoâ— Roffen Tho. Petriburg P. Wharton North and Gray Chandois Montague T. Jermâ—n Vaughan Carbery Culpeper Crewe Osulston Whereas His Majesty hath privately this Morning withdrawn himself we the Lords Spiritual and Temporal whose Names are hereunto Subscribed being Assembled in Guild-Hall in London having agreed upon and signed a Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster Assembled at Guildhall the 11th of Decemb. 1688. do desire the Right Honourable the Earl of Pembrook the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Ely and the Right Honourable the Lord Culpeper forthwith to attend His Highness the Prince of ORANGE with the said Declaration and at the same time to acquaint his Highness with what we have further done at this Meeting Dated at Guild-Hall Decemb. 11. 1688. The same Day the Lieutenancy of London signed this following Address to the Prince of Orange at Guild-Hall and sent it by Sir Robert Clayton Kt. Sir Will. Russel Sir Basil Firebrace Kts. and Charles Duncomb Esq May it please your Highness VVE can never sufficiently express the deep Sense we have conceived and shall ever retain in our Hearts that your Highness has exposed your Person to so many Dangers by Sea and Land for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom without such unparalleled Undertaking we must probably have suffered all the Miseries that Popery and Slavery could have brought upon us We have been greatly concerned that before this Time we had not any reasonable Opportunity to give Your Highness and the World a Real Testimony That it has been our firm Resolution to venture all that is dear to us to attain those Glorious Ends which your Highness has proposed for Restoring and Settling these Distracted Nations We therefore now unanimously present to your Highness our Just and Due Acknowledgments for that happy Relief you have brought to us and that we may not be wanting in this present Conjuncture we have put our selves into such a posture that by the Blessing of GOD we may be capable to prevent all ill Designs and to preserve this City in Peace and Safety till your Highness's happy Arrival We therefore humbly desire that your Highness will please to repair to this City with what convenient speed you can for the perfecting the Great Work which your Highness has so happily begun to the general Joy and Satisfaction of us all The Prince of Orange in the mean time finding the Kings Troops now without Head to commit many Disorders put forth the following Declaration By the Prince of Orange A Declaration VVHereas We are informed That divers Regiments Troops and Companies have been incouraged to disperse themselves in an Vnusual and Vnwarrantable Manner whereby the Publick Peace is very much disturbed We have thought fit hereby
to require all Colonels and Commanders in Chief of such Regiments Troops and Companies by Beat of Drum or otherwise to call together the several Officers and Soldiers belonging to their respective Regiments Troops and Companies in such Places as they shall find most convenient for their Rendezvous and there to keep them in good Order and Discipline And We do likewise direct and require all such Officers and Soldiers forthwith to repair to such Place as shall be appointed for that purpose by the Respective Colonels or Commanders in Chief whereof speedy Notice is to be given unto Vs for our further Orders Given at Our Court at Henly Decemb. 13. 1688. Prince of ORANGE From Henly he advanced by easie Marches towards London being invited thither as already noted by diverse Noblemen and Citizens as the King was also by some Lords to return which he did on Sunday the 16th in the Evening a Sett of Boys following him through the Streets and made some Huzza's while the rest of the People silently looked on But before the King's Return the Privy Council and Peers met and made this Order on the 14th VVE the Peers of this Realm Assembled with some of the Lords of the Privy Council do hereby require all Irish Officers and Soldiers to repair forthwith to the respective Bodies to which they do or did lately belong and do hereby declare that behaving themselves peaceably they shall have Subsistence pay'd them till they shall be otherwise provided for or imployed And the said Officers and Soldiers are to deliver up their Arms to some of the Officers of the Ordnance who are to deposite the same in the Stores in the Tower of London And We do require and command all Justices of the Peace Constables and other Officers whom it may concern that they apprehend and seize all such Soldiers as shall not repair to their respective Bodies and that they be dealt with as Vagabonds Given at the Council Chamber at Whitehal the Fourteenth of Decemb. 1688. Tho. Ebor. Hallifax Dorset Carlisle Craven Nottingham Rochester N. Duresine P. VVinchester North and Gray J. Trevor J. Titus It was high time to put out this Order for on Thursday Dec. 13. about Three in the Morning there was a terrible Allarm That the Irish in a desperate Rage were approaching London putting Man Woman and Child to the Sword which made the People all rise placing Lights in their Windows from top to bottom and every Man guarding his own Door with his Musquet charged with Powder and Ball and all the Traindbands of the City were in Arms so that there was nothing heard but Shooting and Beating of Drums all Night And what is very strange this Allarm spread it self over the face of the whole Kingdom and all that were able to carry Arms vowed the Defence of their Lives Laws Religion and Liberties and stood resolved to destroy all the Irish and Papists in England in case any Injury were offered them but few Papists suffered in their Persons only their Houses were generally rifled under a pretence of searching for Arms and Ammunition The Prince who was now at VVindsor had sent M. Zulestein to the King to desire him to continue at Rochester but missing him the King came to VVhitehal and from thence sent the Lord Feversham with a Letter to the Prince to VVindsor to invite him to St. James's with what number of Troops he should think convenient to bring along with him But the Prince referring the Consideration of the Subject-Matter of the Letter to the Peers about him they concluded that the shortness of the Time could admit of no better Expedient that the King might be desired to remove with a reasonable Distance from London and Ham an House belonging to the Dutchess of Lauderdale was pitch'd upon and a Note or Paper dâ—rawn up to that purpose which was ordered to be delivered after the Prince's Guards were in Possession of the Posts about VVhitehall the Substance whereof was as follows WE desire you the Lord Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Delamere to tell the King That it is thought convenient for the great Quiet of the City and the great Safety of his Person that he do remove to Ham where he shall be attended by his Guards who will be ready to preserve him from any Disturbance Given at VVindsor the Seventeenth Day of December 1688. VV. Prince de Orange The Guards who were commanded by Count Solmes made it 10 a Clock at Night before they could reach London And the Kings Guards then on Duty not being very forward to dislodge it was Twelve before the Lords could deliver the said Paper of which they first sent this Account to Secretary Middleton My Lord THere is a Message to be delivered to his Majesty from the Prince which is of so great Importance that we who are charged with it desire we may be immediately admitted and therefore desire to know where we may find your Lordship that you may introduce My Lord c. Hallifax Shrewsbury Delamere He accordingly presently introduced them the King being by that time in Bed where they made an Apology for coming at so unseasonable a Time and delivering him the Paper the King read it and said He would comply with it Upon this the Lords humbly desired he would remove so early as to be at Ham by Noon to prevent Meeting the Prince in his Way to London where he was to come the same Day His Majesty readily agreed to this too and asked whether he might not appoint what Servants should attend him To which the Lords replied That it was left to him to give Order in that as he pleased and so they took their Leave of him When they were gone as far as the Privy-Chamber the King sent for them again and told them he had forgot to acquaint them with his Resolutions before the Message came to send my Lord Godolphin next Morning to the Prince to propose his going back to Rochester he finding by the Message M. Zulestein was charged with the Prince had no Mind he should be at London and therefore he now desired he might rather return to Rochester than go to any other place The Lords replied That they would immediately send an Account to the Prince of what His Majesty desired and they did not doubt of such an Answer as would be to his Satisfaction Accordingly they sent to him who was then at Sion-House and before 8 next Morning there came a Letter from M. Bentink by the Prince's Order agreeing to the King's Proposals of going to Rochester Hereupon he went the Guards being made ready and Boats prepared that Night to Gravesend in his own Barge attended by the Earl of Arran and some few others The same Day being Dec. 18. about Three in the Afternoon His Highness the Prince of Orange came to St. James's attended by Monsieur Schomberg and a great Number of the Nobility and Gentry and was entertained with
that no interruption may be given to an happy and lasting Settlement The dangerous Condition of the Protestants in Ireland requiring a large and speedy succour and the present state of things abroad oblige me to tell you that next to the danger of Vnseasonable Divisions amongst our selves nothing can be so fatal as too great a delay in your Consultations The States by whom I have been enabled to rescue this Nation may suddenly feel the ill Effects of it both by being too long deprived of the Service of their Troops which are now here and of your early Assistance against a powerful Enemy who hath declared a War against them And as England is by Treaty already engaged to help them upon such Exigencies so I am consident that their chearful Concurrence to preserve this Kingdom with so much hazard to themselves will meet with all the Returns of Friendship and Assistance which may be expected from you as Protestants and English Men when ever their Condition shall require it Given at St. James's the 22d Day of January 1688. Will. H. P. d' Orange Their first Act was an Address of Thanks to the Prince of Orange for what he had successfully undertaken for the Nation a desire he should continue the Administration of Publick Affairs and take particular Care of the Affairs of Ireland with a promise on their part to dispatch the Affairs that lay under their Consideration with utmost Application to which having received a very kind Answer on the Prince his part both Houses immediately fell to their Work and after 8 days the Commons past the following Vote Resolv'd That King James II. having endeavour'd to subvert the Constitution of this Kingdom by breaking the Original Contract between King and People and by the Advice of Jesuits and other wicked Persons having violated the Fundamental Laws and having withdrawn himself out of this Kingdom hath abdicated the Government and that the Throne is thereby vacant The Declaration of the Commons being sent up to the Lords for their Concurrence that House entered into a Debate upon it and so far agreed with it that they had only by way of amendment put in the word Deserted instead of Abdicated and left out and that the Throne is thereby vacant and sent a Message to the Commons to acquaint them therewith But they were so far from approving of what the Lords had done that they proceeded to give their Reasons against the Amendment alledging that they could not allow the word Deserted instead of Abdicated which their House had made choice of because it did not fully express the Conclusion necessarily inferred from the Premises viz. That K. James II. had endeavoured to subvert the Constitutions of the Kingdom as before in the former part of the Declaration to which their Lordships had agreed seeing Deserted only respected withdrawing whereas Abdicated did respect the whole Neither were the Commons better pleased with the Lords for leaving out the last words And that the Throne is thereby vacant and the Commons did so much the more insist upon it because that if they should admit of the Lord's Amedment that the King had only deserted the Government yet even thence it would follow that the Throne was vacant as to King James II. deserting the Government being in true Construction deserting the Throne Besides the Commons did conceive there was no necessity to prove to their Lordships or any other that the Throne was vacant since the Lords themselves both before and after their meeting in the said Convention had addrest the Prince of Orange to take upon him the Administration of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and had appointed a Day of publick Thanksgiving to be observed throughout the Kingdom by all which the Commons understood it was their Lordships Opinion that the Throne was vacant and that they signified so much thereby to the People of England To which they added that it was from those who were upon the Throne of England where there was any fault that the People of England ought to receive Protection and to whom for that Cause they owed the Allegiance of Subjects but there being none then from whom they expected Regal Protection and to whom for that cause they owed the Allegiance of Subjects the Commons conceived the Throne vacant The Issue of these Reasons was a Conference held on Feb. 5. between the two Houses who appointed Managers accordingly The Lords insisted hard upon their Amendments and some of them run so far upon the Debate that they did in a manner seem to recede from the Premises which their House had allowed of viz. That the King had endeavoured to subvert the Constitutions of the Kingdom as before but the Commons stood stoutly to their Declaration and to the forementioned Reasons added a great many fine things to back the Argument which 't were pity to curtail any way and I have not room to insert the whole but in conclusion the Conference ended in appearance with less likelihood of Agreement than when it first began Yet though there was some further struggle made in the upper House for the Interest of the late King at length it was by Majority of Voices Feb 7th agreed to by the Lords to send a Message to the Commons that they had agreed to the Vote sent them up Jan. 25th touching which they had had a free Conference the Day before without any alteration So that the next thing that came under Consideration was the form of Government to be establish'd I do not remember that a Commonwealth was mentioned to be set up at all in either House though Father Orleans is pleased to say so in his History of the Revolutions of England the two main things then to be considered was whether to set up a Regency or to continue a Regal Dignity in a new Subject But the former of the two being well known to be attended with many publick Evils it was at last concluded for the latter and that in Favour of the Prince of Orange our Deliverer and her Royal Princess who was immediate Heiress In pursuance of this a Declaration was drawn up in order to such an Establishment as that the Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom might not again be in danger and for vindicating and asserting the Ancient Rights and Liberties of the People in these Words VVHereas the late King James the Second by the Assistance of divers evil Counsellors Judges and Ministers employ'd by him did endeavour to subject and extirpate the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom By assuming and exercising a Power of dispensing with and suspending of Laws and the execution of Laws without Consent of a Parliament By committing and prosecuting divers worthy Prelates for humbly petitioning to be excus'd from concurring to the said assum'd Power By issuing and causing to be executed a Commission under the Great Seal for erecting a Court call'd The Court of Commission for
Ecclesiastical Affairs By levying Money for and to the use of the Crown by pretence of Prerogative for other time and in other manner than the same was granted by Parliament By raising and keeping a standing Army within the Kingdom in time of Peace without Consent of Parliament and Quartering Soldiers contrary to Law By causing several good Subjects being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when Papists were both arm'd and employ'd contrary to Law By violating the Freedom of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament By Prosecution in the Court of King's-Bench for Matters and Causes cognizable only in Parliament and by divers other Arbitrary and Illegal Courses And whereas of late Years partial corrupt and unqualified Persons have been returned and served on Juries in Trials and particularly divers Jurors in Trials for High-Treason which were not Freeholders And excessive Bail hath been required of Persons committed in Criminal Cases to elude the Benefit of the Laws made for the Liberty of the Subject And excessive Fines have been imposed And illegal and cruel Punishments inflicted And several Grants and Promises made of Fines and Forfeitures before any Conviction or Judgment against the Persons upon whom the same were to be levied All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known Laws and Statutes and Freedom of this Realm And whereas the late King James the Second having abdicated the Government and the Throne being thereby vacant His Highness the Prince of Orange whom it hath pleased Almighty God to make the Glorious Instrument of delivering this Kingdom from Popery and Arbitrary Power did by the Advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and divers principal Persons of the Commons cause Letters to be written to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants and other Letters to the several Counties Cities Vniversities Buâ—â—oughs and Cinque-Ports for the chusing of such Persons to represent them as were of right to be sent to Parliament to meet and sit at Westminster Jan. 22d 1688. in order to such an Establishment as that their Religion Laws and Liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted upon which Letters Elections have been accordingly made And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons pursuant to their respective Letters and Elections being now assembled in a full and free Representation of this Nation taking into their most serious Consideration the best means for attaining the Ends aforesaid do in the first place as their Ancestors in like Cases have usually done for the vindicating their Ancient Rights and Liberties declare That the pretended Power of suspending Laws or the execution of Laws by Regal Authority without Consent of Parliament is illegal That the pretended Power of dispensing Laws or the executing of Laws by Regal Authority as it hath been assumed and exercised of late is illegal That the Commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes and all other Commissions and Courts of the like Nature are illegal and pernitious That levying of Money to or for the use of the Crown by pretence of Prerogative without Grant of Parliament for longer time or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted is illegal That it is the Right of the Subjects to petition the King and all Commitments and Prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal That the raising and keeping a standing Army within the Kingdom in time of Peace unless it be by Consent of Parliament is against Law That the Subjects being Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Condition and as allowed by Law That the Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free That the Freedom of Speech or Debates and Proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any Court or Place out of Parliament That excessive Bail ought not to be requir'd nor excessive Fines imposed nor cruel and unusual Punishments inflicted That Jurors ought to be duly impannell'd and return'd and Jurors which pass upon Men in Trials for High-Treason ought to be Freeholders That all Grants and Promises of Fines and Forfeitures of particular Persons before Conviction are illegal and void And that for Redress of all Grievances and for the amending strengthening and preserving of the Laws Parliaments ought to be held frequently And they do claim demand and insist upon all and singular the Premises as their undoubted Rights and Liberties and that no Declarations Judgments Doings or Proceedings to the prejudice of the People in any of the said Premises ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter into Consequence or Example To which demand of their Rights they are particularly encouraged by the Declaration of his Highness the Prince of Orange as being the only means for obtaining a full Redress and Remedy therein Having therefore an intire Confidence that his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the Deliverance so far advanced by him and will still preserve them from the violation of their Rights which they have here asserted and from all other Attempts upon their Religion Rights and Liberties The said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster do resolve That WILLIAM and MARY Prince and Princess of Orange be and be declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to them the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and the Life of the Surviâ—or of them and that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Princess and for default of such Issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange And the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons do pray the said Prince and Princess of Orange to accept the same accordingly And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law instead of them and that the said Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be abrogated I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be Faithful and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help me God I A. B. Do Swear That I do from my Heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do declare That no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power
very obstinate Fight which lasted till night But though Mackay lost the Field and retreated that night to Sterling after having lost a great many Men yet the Death of Dundee who was slain in this Battel did more than compensate the other's Loss seeing he was the Life of that Party who dwindled away ever after and were worsted every where and particularly once and again at St. Johnstown in the last Conflict of which the single Regiment of the Earl of Angus under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Cleeland gave so entire a Defeat to their whole Power which amounted to near 4000 Men that they never appeared in any considerable Body ever after and many of the Chief of them thereupon made their submission though this hapned with the Death of that brave Lieutenant Colonel who if it had pleased God deserved a better Fate But how prosperous soever King William's Affairs went in Britain where still there were a little rascally Conspiracies against him they did not do so in Ireland for there Tirconnel was setting all things in order to secure that Kingdom for the late King with whom Hambleton a profest Papist who by a fatal Mistake was sent over from England to induce him to lay down the Sword traiterously joined in and so the Opportunity for the present was lost and an advantage given to the late King to endeavour that way to regain the rest of his lost Dominions since he was like to receive little Assistance from any other Prince save what the French King might do For the Emperor to whom he wrote his Complaint and whose Assistance he craved was so far from complying with his Desires that though he pittied his Condition yet he reprimanded him for his Folly as you may see by his Letter to him upon the Occasion which was to this purpose The Emperor of Germany's Account of K. James's Misgovernment in joining with the K. of France the common Enemy of Christendom in his Letter to K. James LEOPOLD c. WE have received your Majesties Letter dated from St. Germains the 6th of February last by the Earl of Carlingford the Envoy in our Court by whom we have understood the Condition your Majesty is reduced to and that you being deserted after the landing of the Prince of Orange by your Army and even by the Domestick Servants and by those you most confided in and almost by all your Subjects you have been forced by a sudden flight to provide for your own safety and to seek shelter and protection in France lastly that you desire Assistance from us for the recovering your Kingdoms We do assure your Majesty that assoon as we heard of this severe Turn of Affairs we were moved at it not only with the common sense of humanity but with much deep impressions suitable to the sincere Affection which we have always born to you and we were heartily sorry that at last that was come to pass which though we hoped for better things yet our own sad thoughts had suggested to us would ensue If your Majesty had rather given credit to the friendly Remonstrances that were made you by our late Envoy the Count De Kaunitz in our Name than the deceitful Insinuations of the French whose chief aim was by fomenting continual Divisions between you and your People to gain thereby an opportunity to insult the more securely over the rest of Christendom and if your Majesty had put a stop by Force and Authority to their many infractions of the Peace of which by the Treaty at Nimeguen you are made the Guarantee and to that end entred into Consultations with us and such others as have the like just Sentiments in this matter we are verily perswaded that by these means you should have in a great measure quieted the minds of the People who were so much exasperated through their aversion to our Religion and the publick Peace had been as well preserved in your Kingdoms as here in the Roman Empire but now we refer it even to your Majesty to judge what condition we can be in to afford you any assistance who being not only engaged in a War with the Turks but finding our selves at the same time unjustly and barbarously attack'd by the French contrary to and against the Faith of Treaties they then knowing themselves secure of England and this ought not to be concealed that the greatest Injuries which have been done to our Religion have flowed from no other than from the French themselves who not only esteem'd it lawful for them to make perfidious Vows with the sworn Enemies of the Holy Cross tending to the Destruction both of us and the whole Christian World in order to the checking our endeavours which were undertaken for the Glory of God and to stop those Successes which it hath pleased the Almighty God to give us hitherto but further have heaped one Treachery upon another even within the Empire it self The Cities of the Empire which were surrendred upon Articles signed by the Dauphin himself have been exhausted by excessive Impositions and after their being exhausted have been plundered after plundering have been burned and raced the Palaces of Princes who in all times and even in the most destructive Wars have been preserved are now burnt to the ground the Churches are robb'd and such as submitted themselves to them are in a most barbarous manner carried away as Slaves In short it is become a Diversion unto them to commit all manner of Insolence and Cruelty in many places but chiefly in Catholick Countries exceeding the Cruelties of the Turks themselves who having imposed an absolute necessity upon us to secure our selves and the holy Roman Empire by the best means we can think on and that no less against them than against the Turks we promise our selves from your Justice readily to assent to this that it ought not to be imputed to us if we endeavour to procure by a just War that security to our selves which we could not hitherto obtain by so many Treaties and that in order to the obtaining thereof we take measures for our mutual Defence of Preservation with all those who are equally concerned in the same Design with us It remains that we should beg of God that he would direct all things to his Glory and that he would grant your Majesty true and solid Comforts under this your great Calamity We embrace you with the tender affection of a Brother At Vienna the 9th of April 1689. But though his Imperial Majesty declined to give him any helping hand and that other Catholick Princes in imitation of his Example made it no difficulty to do so too yet he was so elated with an Opinion of the Bravery and Fidelity of the Irish that he embark'd at Brest and landed in that Kingdom March 12th with about 1800 Auxiliary French This pace of the French besides the English Nation 's desire the King's Obligations to his Allies and many other weighty Reasons brought
so indeed it proved For our Forces now lying so near them and two Detachments being kept there against their Wills made every thing so very scarce that they were reduced to great straits And no hopes of relief appearing the Governour upon the 12th of May having leave from the Officer commanding without and a Guard for them sent a Lieutenant Collonel and a Captain with Terms of Surrender to the Duke which with some Alterations were agreed to For the Duke had an Account that the Place was very strong and therefore he chose rather to give them Terms than to spend much time about it since there were greater matters in agitation The Articles were no sooner signed and a Truce published but the General sent Robert Alloway Esq Commissary of the Train to take an account of the Stores in the Garrison which marched out at the time appointed and then drew up before the Gate 4 Companies of Collonel Babington's marched in and most of the English Regiments thereabouts were drawn up as the Irish march'd along towards Armagh and being all well clothed and armed it made the Irish a little out of Countenance to see it who were otherwise which made the Collonel of the Brandenburg Regiment seem very much concerned that he should go to Fight against such Scoundrels as the Irish seemed to be The General himself went that Morning from Legacory to see the Castle of Charlemont and after the Irish had march'd about half a Mile from it they drew up in 2 Battalions about 400 Men in each and there stood till the General came to see them Old Teague was mounted upon an old ston'd Horse and he very lame with the Scratches Spavin Ring-bones and other Infirmities but withal so vitious that he would fall a kicking and squeeling if any Body came near him Teague himself had a great Bunch upon his Back a plain red Coat an old weather-beaten Wig hanging down at full length a little narrow white Beaver cocked up a yellow Cravat-string but all of one side his Boots with 1000 Wrinles in them and though it was a very hot Day yet he had a great Muff hanging before him and to Crown all was almost tipsie with Brandy Thus mounted and equipp'd he drew near the Duke with a Complement but his Horse would not allow him to make it a long one for he fell to work preâ—ently and the Duke had scarce time to make him a â—civil return but smiled afterwards and said Teague's Horse was very mad and himself very drunk The General then view'd the Irish Battalions who all both Officers and Soldiers after they had made him a great many Legs stared upon him as if they knew not whether he was a Man or some other strange Creature For the Irish were generally wont to ask one another What is that sham-bear that all this talk is of The Duke seeing so many Women and Children among them ask'd the reason of keeping such a Number in the Garrison which no doubt destroy'd their Provisions He was answered that the Irish were naturally very hospitable and that they all fared alike But the greatest reason was the Soldiers would not stay in the Garrison without their Wives and Mistresses The Duke reply'd there was more Love than Policy in it and in a little while return'd to the Castle Where my Author says himself saw in Teague's own Room several Papers and among the rest a Copy of a Letter writ formerly by some Persons about King James giving an Account of the State of the Garrison and withall a very true relation of the English proceedings in several things which was an Argument they did not want intelligence Among others there were two Priests in the Garrison and there happened a very pleasant Adventure between one of them and a Dragoon of Collonel Heaford's Regiment as they were guarding the Irish towards Armagh For falling into Discourse about Religion at last they fixed upon a Topick and what should it be but Transubstantiation The Dragoon being a pleasant witty Fellow drolled upon the Priest and put him so to it that he had little to say for himself upon which he grew so angry that he struck the Dragoon who being not used tamely to submit to Blows it came to a Combat and he thrash'd his Fatherhood very severely Upon this complaint being made to Teague as he sat at Dinner with the English Officers at Armagh all that he said was That he was very glad on 't What the Deel had he to do to dispute Religion with a Dragoon Thus matters stood in Ireland when the King went over who landed as you have been told before at Carrigfergus on the 14th of June being attended by Prince George the Duke of Ormond Earâ—s of Oxford Scarborough and Manchester the honourable Mr. Boyl and many other Persons of Quality and went in Duke Schomberg's Coach to Belfast that Evening and next Day being Sunday Dr. Royce preached before him on Heb. 6. 11. Through Faith they subdued Kingdoms and some days after he went to Lisburn and dined with the General The King from thence passed to Hilsburough where he set out an Order on the 20th forbidding the pressing of Horses from the Country People But finding things did not go on so fast as he desired he exprest some dissatisfaction saying He did not come there to let Grass grow under his Feet and he made his words good For the whole Army now received Orders to march into the Field and encamped at a Place called Loughbritland where the King arrived on the 22d having given Orders before his coming for removing the Camp from the S. side to the N. W. of the Town that he might take a view of the Regiments as they march'd and though the Weather was very dry and windy and the Dust exceeding troublesome Yet the King was no sooner come up but he was within the Throng of them and afterwards view'd every Regiment very Critically which pleased the Soldiers mightily and every one was ready to give all possible Demonstration of their Courage and Duty From hence they march'd to Newry and on the 27th to Dundalk where the whole Army English Dutch Danes Germans and French joyned making in all 36000 Men as well provided in all respects for the Number of Men as any Kingdom of the World ever had one and from whence they marched to Ardee which the Enemy had abandoned The King being ever upon Action and observing the Country as he rid along said It was worth fighting for and on the last Day of June understanding that all the Irish Army were passed over the Boyne the Night before he ordered the whole Army to move in 3 lines toward that River which was about 3 Miles distant from them The Enemy being near our advanced Guards of Horse commanded by Sir John Lanier made their approaches very regularly and by 9 they had got within 2 Miles of Drogheda The King was in the Front of them who observing
Commalin Castle-Durmont and so beyond Carlow from whence he sent forward a Party of Horse under the Command of the Duke of Ormond to take Possession of Kill-kenny and so to secure the Protestants and other Inhabitants of the adjacent Countries from being plundered by the Enemy for by this time some of them begun to look behind them and to return to take along what they had not Time nor Conveniency to carry of at first From Carlow the Army passed on to Kells thence to Loughland-bridge and so to Bennet's Bridge 3 Miles to the N. E. of Killkenny and upon the 19th of July His Majesty dined with the Duke of Ormond at his Castle of Killkenny which had the good Luck to have been preserved by Count Lauzun with all the Goods and Furniture and left in a good Condition not without the Cellar well stored with what they had not time to drink at their going off Munday the 21st the Army encamped at Carruck from whence Major General Kirk with his own Regiment and Colonel Brewers as also a Party of Horse were sent towards Waterford more Forces designing to follow When he came before the Place he sent to summon the Town by a Trumpet who at first refused to surrender there being 2 Regiments then in Garrison However their Refusal was in such civil Terms that their Inclinations were easily understood for soon after they sent out to know what Terms they might have which were the same with Drogâ—eda But not liking those they proposed some of their own which were rejected and the heavy Cannon drawn down that way and some more Forces ordered to march When the Irish understood this they agreed to march out with Arms and Baggage on the 25th and were conducted to Mallow The Fort Dunâ—annon a strong and regular Place and well fortified with Guns was also surrendred into his Majesty's Hands upon the same Terms with Waterford which last place was view'd by the King the day it was given up who took great care that no Persons should be disturbed in their Houses or Goods and here the Lord Dovâ—t was admitted into a more particular Protection from his Majesty as having formerly applied himself when the King was at Hillsborough by Major General Kirk's means to desire a Pass for himself and Family to Flanders July the 27th the King left the Camp at Carrick and went towards Dublin in order for England which occasioned various Speculations and some fears that the Affairs of this Kingdom were in no pleasing Posture He left the Command of the Army to Count Solms lay that Night at Carlow and upon some Advice from England exprest himself doubtful whether to go over or return to the Army However he went on to Chappell Izard and spent there some time to hear divers Complaints and redress several Grievances He publish'd a second Declaration to confirm the former and ordered a weekly Fast But having a further Account from England that several wicked Designs were discovered and prevented the loss at Sea not so considerable and that the French had only burnt one small Village in the West of England and so gone off again he resolved to retuâ—â— to the Army which he did on the 22d of Aug. at Golden-bridge and by the 27th â—eached Carrigallis where Lieutenant General Douglas joined him next day and on which in the Morning early my Lord Portland and Brigadeer Stewart were sent towards Limerick with 700 Horse and Foot who advanced within Cannon-shot of the Town with little Opposition from the Enemy and before whose return the King himself accompanied by the Prince my Lord Overkirk Lieutenant General 〈◊〉 and divers other great Officers with about 300 Horse went very near the Town and drove in a Party of the Enemy's Horse who made a shew of opposing them On the 9th the whole Army made its approach in excellent Order For no sooner had the Pioneers cut the Hedges that were in the way but the Men advanced which made the Enemy draw backwards till they came to a narrow Pass between a Bogs within half a Mile of the Town which was not above 150 Yards and this full of Hedges and other Incumbrances Herein however there were Lanes that led to the Town the middlemost being the broadest where stood the Irish Horse To the right and left of which the Hedges were lined all with â—â—â—squeteers of whom the English Foot were now got within less than 200 Yards The detacht Party of Foot was upon the Advance towards the Center The Horse a little to the right of them the Danes to the left And the blew Dutch with several English Regiments upon the right And all this in such Decorum that though the Hedges were very thick and troublesome yet the Front kept all in a Line except the advanced Party who went always some distance before Whilst these things were going on thus the King ordered 2 Field-pieces to be planted towards the left where they could bear upon the Enemy's Horse and fired from thence with so good Success that the Enemy soon quitted that Post And it is very remarkable our English Foot were so little concerned that tho' they knew the Enemy to be in the next Hedges yet whilst the Pioneers were at work they would sit down and ask one another whether they thought they should have any Bread that day for they began to want their Breakfasts tho' some few of them went into the other World for it while the Danes to the left stood with all the Care and Circumspection in the World and some of them observing the Posture of our Men and hearing what they said they thought they had no mind to fight But they were quickly convinced to the contrary for the Hedges were no sooner down and one Front advancing in a narrow Field and that the Irish fired a whole Volley upon them from the neighbouring Hedges but some of the English cried out aloud Ah you Toads are you there We will be with you presently and so they ran without any more ado along the Field directly towards the Hedges where the Irish were planted who thereupon quitted one Hedge after another So as that the Danes advancing on the left and the blew Dutch with the English on the right and the Horse coming on in the Center the Irish in less than half an hour after the Volley were driven under their very Walls and not a dozen Men lost on our side in all the Action which if the Irish had managed their business well would have cost us a great many more But as soon as they got under their Walls they plyed our Forces with their great Guns that killed several as they marched in which the whole Army did before 5 in the Afternoon and most of them incamp'd within Cannon-short Orders were given forthwith to draw 4 Field-pieces to Cromwell alias Iâ—eton's Fort to play upon the Town and Out-works The Danes according to their Post encamped to the left where
they found an old Fort built by their Ancestors which they were very proud of and from thence they fired 3 or 4 Field-pieces upon the Irish that lay intrenched between them and the Town As soon as the Army was posted the King ordered a Trumpet to be sent with a Summons to the Town where as was understood since a great many of the Garrison were for Capitulating But Monsieur Boisâ—leau the Governours the Duke of Berwick and Colonel Sarsfiâ—â—d opposed it with a great deal of heat saying There were great Divisions and Insurrections in England that the Dauphin was landed there with 50000 Men and that the Prince of Orange would quickly be obliged to withdraw his Forces thither Hereupon Monsieur Boiselau sent the Trumpeter back with a Letter directed to Sir Robert Southwelâ— Secretary of State for he would not as 't is supposed send directly to the King because of avoiding to give him the Title of Majesty importing That he was surprized at the Summons and that he thought the best way to gain the Prince of Orange ' s good Opinion was by a vigorous Defence of the Town which his Master had entrusted him withal And so the Cannon plaid on from both sides and next Morning early which was Aug. 13th the King sent 8 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and 3 Regiments of Foot over the River which they passed though it was very rapid and dangerous and some of them encamped beyond the Ford the rest was ordered thus The King's Camp was on the Right in the 2d Line next him the Horse-guards and blew Duâ—ch then some English and Duâ—ch Regiments then the French and Danes and behind all the Horse tho' after some time they encamped rather conveniently than regularly Neither were the Irish idle but they fell to build Forts between the Besiegers and the Irish Town one to the Sâ—â—gate and the other towards the 〈◊〉 which proved serviceable to them But not so much a disadvantage to us as the surprizing of the Train that was upon the Road to join the Army It was reported a French-man and one of the Gunners ran away the Day before from the Army and got into Limerick and gave the Enemy an account where the English Train lay as also of those Guns and other things that were coming up where the King's Tent stood and divers other things that might be material for them to know and therefore they plaid very briskly upon the Train as also towards the King's Tent which he was prevailed with at last to remove but this was not all For though on Munday one Manus O Brian a substantial Country Gentleman came to the Camp and gave notice that Sarsfield with a Body of Horse had passed the River in the Night and designed something extraordinary yet he was so far from being taken notice of at first that most People looked upon what he said as a Dream and though a great Officer called him aside as though he designed to have some more particular information yet his main business was to interrogate him concerning a Prey of Cattle in such a Place which the Gentleman complained of afterward saying He was sorry to see General Officers mind Cattle more than the King's Honour But after he had met with some acquaintance he was brought to the King who to prevent the worst gave orders that 500 Horse-should be made ready and march to meet the Guns But where-ever the fault lay it was certainly 1 or 2 in the Morning before the Party marched which they did very softly till after they saw a great light in the Air and heard a strange rumbling Noise which some conjectured to be the Train blown up as it really was For our Train having on Munday marched beyond Cullen to a little old ruinous Castle called Ballenedy not 7 Miles from the Camp Sarsfield lurked all that day in the Mountains and having notice where and how our Men lay he had those that guided him through By-ways to the very spot where he fell in among them before they were aware and cut several of them to pieces with a great many of the Waggoners and some Country People that were carrying Provisions to the Camp The Officer commanding in chief when he saw how it was commanded to sound to Horse but those that endeavoured to fetch them up were killed as they went out or else saw it was too late to return The Officers and others made what resistance they could but they were every Man at length obliged to shift for themselves so that there were in all about 60 Persons killed but it did not end here For the Irish got up what Horses they could meet withall belonging either to the Troops or Train some broke the Boats and others drew all the Carriages and Waggons with the Bread Ammunition and as many of the Guns as they could get in so short a time into one heap they filled the Guns with Powder and put their Mouths into the Ground that they might thereby certainly split What they could pick up in an hurry they took away with them and then laid a Train to the rest which being fired at their going off blew up all with an astonishing Noise but for all that 2 of the Guns received no damage The Irish took no Prisoners on this occasion only a Lieutenant of Colonel Earl's being sick in a House hard-by was stript and brought to Sarsfield who used him very civilly and told him if he had not succeeded in that Enterprize he would have gone for France The party of Horse that was sent from the Camp came up after the business was over in sight of the Enemy's Rear But wheeling towards the left to endeavour to intercept the Enemy's Passage over the Shannon they unhappily went another way The News of this Adventure was very unwelcome in the Camp and even the very private Men shewed their concern at it However the Siege went on and the Trenches were opened the 17th and a Battery raised below the Fort to the Right of the Trenches which dismounted some of the Enemy's Cannon and the day following his Majesty himself was in great danger For while the Enemy fired very thick he rid softly up towards Cromwell's Port and as his Horse was directly entring the Gap he was staid by a Gentleman who came to speak to him when in the veâ—â— moment there struck a 24 Pounder in the very Place which would have struck the King and his Horse too to pieces if his usual good Angel had not defended him It struck the Dust all about him however though he took little notice of it but alighting came and laid himself down on the Fort among all the Dust It will be an endless thing to trace every particular of the Attacks and Defences and therefore I shall only observe that on Wednesday the 27th of Aug. after a Breach had been made nigh St. John's Gate over the black Battery of about 12 Yards in length and
and not only so but as it has the most convenient Ports in all that Kingdom and perhaps in the World so there the French King generally landed all his Supplies for that Countrey and was therefore afterwards forced to fetch a great Compass to do it which did not a little impede his Affairs And now we are at leisure to look a little how things have gone on the Continent How considerable soever the weight of the Confederacy seemed already to be it was this year further augmented by the Addition of another Prince who tho' he were in himself as light as a Feather yet the Situation of his Country was such as to make both Parties court him with utmost Application tho' in a different manner and with different Success The Duke of Savoy had all along since the Commencement of the War profess'd to stand Neutral which perhaps did not very well please neither Party concern'd in it tho' the French who one should think had most reason to be content of any first appear'd to be most dissatisfied For not pleas'd to have before put the Duke upon Imprisoning Exiling and destroying his Protestant Subjects the poor Vaudois they declare themselves now not satisfied with the pretended Neutrality which was no other than a meer Chimera and therefore demanded he should put the Cittadels of Verceil and Turin into their Hands for the Security of his Word which were hard Lines However the Duke put as good a meen upon the matter as he could and some time was spent if not gained by the Duke in sending of Couriers to the King upon the Subject and receiving others from him which tho' it did for a while yet a new Accident happened that made the French much more pressing and peremptory for a positive Answer For being inform'd that the Emperor had at last granted what the Duke of Savoy had so long desired that is to say to be acknowledged King of Cyprus and to be address'd to under the Title of His Royal Hâ—ghness which the Emperor had formerly refused upon good Considerations offered him by the Duke they became somewhat more than suspicious of the Duke's Fidelity and his declaring thereupon to the French King by his Minister That he had no design to abandon the Friendship of France or to do any thing contrary to the Treaties that were between that Crown and him were look'd upon as Terms so general and of so comprehensive a Latitute that they would not pass for current Coin in the French Court Wherefore Mounsieur Catinat who was to Command the French Troops on that side did before Summer was well begun pass the Mountains and arrived at Turin leaving an Army of about 18000 Men to rendezvous in the Dauphinate and so to follow him into the Duke's Territories which they soon did and for a time demeaned themselves without committing any Hostility For the Duke himself did not only offer to observe an exact Neutrality and for Security of Performance to furnish the King with 2000 Foot and a 1000 Horse But the Pope's Nuncio at Turin also thrust himself in to Patch up the Accommodation tho' without being able to find any Medium For Catinat not satisfied with any Offers that were made positively demanded Verceil for a place of Arms protesting that he could not listen to any Accord but upon those Conditions And the Duke had as little reason to be pleased with him or his Master upon this Head But tho' it is manifest he had by this time made Choice of his side yet all the Artifice imaginable was used to spin out a little more time because otherwise he would very much endanger his Country since the Spaniards from the Milâ—nese were not in a Condition to succour him And this was attended with new Propositions from France which in substance contained That the King was willing to refer his Concerns to the Pope and Republick of Venice upon Condition the Duke would put Verceil Carmagnole and Suza into the Pope's Hands till the End of the War But the Duke being no longer willing to mince a Matter that was already but too much suspected and must necessarily be known declared That he had now made Choice of his Party and that he was engaged with the Emperor and could not go from his Word However in regard the Alliance which he had made with his Imperial Majesty tended no further than to oppose the unjust Designs of his Most Christian Majesty to defend himself from Oppression and secure the Repose of all Italy If his Majesty would put Cazal and Pignerol into the Hands of the Republick of Venice till the End of the War and that all Differences between them were decided he would lay down his Arms and for some time put into the Pope's Hands one of his Towns as a Pledge for the Observation of his Word But France neither absolutely nor for any time had a mind to hearken to such Conditions and so came to an open Rupture the Consequence whereof was the immediate Liberty of the Vaudois and Incouragement to arm themselves against France the publick avowing of the Duke's Treaties first with the Emperor and afterward with Spain each of which we shall give you the Particulars of partly as being congruous to the Design of our Work but more in relation to what afterward has followed touching the infringements of them and first take that with the Emperor His Imperial Majesty sensibly touched with the re-iterated Menaces with which the King of France for some time since has threatned the Duke of Savoy which visibly tend to his Oppression because of the inviolable Adherence of his Royal Highness to his Imperial Majesty and moreover understanding that his Most Christian Majesty has with an Army invaded the Dominions of the said Duke on purpose to constrain him to surrender into his Hands his two Principal Fortresses and withal to furnish him with 2000 Foot and 2 Regiments of Dragoons to assist him to invade the States of Milan His Imperial Majesty judg'd himself oblig'd to succour a Prince who has always testified his Affection to the Emperor for which Reason he has sent the Sieur Abbot Vincent Grimani with all necessary Orders and full Power to Negotiate Treat and agree with his Royal Highness an Alliance for the Establishment of such things as concern his Imperial Majesty and to procure the Security of his Royal Highness To which end his Serene Highness Victor Amadeus II. Duke of Savoy and the aforesaid Abbot Grimanâ— have concluded the Articles following 1. HIS Royal Highness engages not to enter into any Treaty of Alliance with the Most Christian King without consent of the Emperor but to adhere firmly to the Emperor as a faithful Prince to the Empire 2. That he shall Act by joint Consent with the Emperor and the rest of the Confederate Princes 3. That he shall employ his Forces jointly with those of the Emperor and his Confederates against France and her Adherents
of the River of Limerick to give notice to the Commanders of the English and French Fleets of the present Conjuncture that they may observe the Cessation of Arms accordingly XXVIII THAT for the Security of the Execution of this present Capitulation and of each Article herein contain'd the Besieged shall give the following Hostages And the General shall give XXIX IF before this Capitulation is fully executed there happens any change in the Government or Command of the Army which is now commanded by General Ginckle all those that shall be appointed to command the same shall be obliged to observe and execute what is specified in these Articles or cause it to be executed punctually and shall not act contrary on any Account whatsoever Octob. 91. Baron De Ginckle To say nothing of other things in this Place you see that â—s many of the Irish Army as were willing of themselves to â—e transported into France might freely do it But the General on the 5th of Oct. receiving a Letter from a Lieuâ—enant-Colonel in the Irish Army wherein he complained â—e was imprisoned for denying to go into France he took it â—ery ill and ordered 4 Guns to be carried down immediately and planted upon Bolls-Bridge saying in some Heat He would teach them to play Tricks with him which Sarsfield hearing he came to the English Camp and several sharp Wordâ— passed between the General and him Sarsfield saying aâ— last That he was then in the General 's Power Not so replied the other but you shall go in and do the best you can But at last all things were quiet and the Prisoner enlarged and as many of the Irish as would go were some time after shipped off for France where upon their Arrival they were saluted with a comforting Letter from the late King James directed to Lieutenant-General Sheldon then the Oâ—ficer in Chief with them which was to this Effect JAMES REX HAving been informed of the Capitulation and Surrender 〈◊〉 Limerick and of the other Places which remained to 〈◊〉 in our Kingdom of Ireland and of the Necessities which foâ—â— the Lords Justices and the General Officers of our Forces theâ— unto We will not defer to let you know and the rest of the â—â—â—ficers that come along with you that we are extreamly satisâ— with your and their Conduct and of the Valour of the Soldieâ— during the Siege but most particularly of your and their Decâ—â—ration and Resolution to come and serve where we are And 〈◊〉 assure you and order you to assure both Officers and Soldiers 〈◊〉 are come along with you that we shall never forget this 〈◊〉 Loyalty nor-fail when in a Capacity to give them above othâ—â— particular Marks of our Favour In the mean time you are 〈◊〉 inform them that they are to serve under our Command and 〈◊〉 our Commissions and if we find that a considerable number is 〈◊〉 with the Fleet it will induce us to go personally to see them 〈◊〉 Regiment them Our Brother the King of France hath alreâ—â— given Orders to Cloath them and furnish them with all Necesâ—ries and to give them Quarters of Refreshment So we bid 〈◊〉 heartily farewel Given at our Court at St. Germâ—â— the 27th of November 1691. And thus ended this famous Irish War with so much 〈◊〉 more Glory and Advantage to the English in that the 〈◊〉 were so powerfully supported in it by the French Kiâ—â— who thought it much to his Interest to divert their 〈◊〉 that way whose Ancestors had done such terrible things 〈◊〉 his Country and had sent a good Fleet of Men of War 〈◊〉 Store-Ships to the Relief of this last Town which arriâ—â— in Dingle-Bay but a day or two after the Articles were 〈◊〉 The Scotch Affairs were so inconsiderable this Season thâ— there is nothing worth mentioning from thence neithâ—â— was there any thing extraordinary hapned by Sea tho' the Fleets on each side were very powerful and that one should think the French elated with their last Years Success might have adventured a second Fight now But they knew what they did well enough for they had another-guess Force and Admiral too to deal with now and they had another Game to Play which was to intercept our Turkey Fleet which was exceeding Rich and to that end cruised a long time upon the Irish-Coast But as Providence would have it they had been gone but about 10 days from hovering about Kingsale before the other came having all that time been held back by contrary Winds in their Passage from Cales The English Grand Fleet all this time kept another Course but it was not for want of Zeal or Fidelity in the brave Admiral but of Intelligence Yet as soon as the brave Admiral Russel now Earl of Oxford understood that they were got safe into Kingsale he took all the care imaginable for their being convoy'd safely to their respective Ports whither they were bound and then set sail in quest of the Enemy whom he was inform'd were turn'd to their own Coasts But being come within some Leagues of Brest he understood they lay at Bell-Isle secured in such a manner that it was impossible to attack them and so returned towards the English Shore but met with such tempestuous and stormy Weather that the Coronation a brave Ship and to the best of my Remembrance one or two more Ships of less Consideration were lost and the Admiral himself had much ado to get the rest of the Fleet safe into Harbour where now we leave them and come to see where King William was all the while We have already given you an account of the Congress at the Hague the Progress of the French Arms in the Spring both in Savoy and in Flanders and how the King could not engage them then in the latter and so he went for England where he made no long stay before he returned again into the Netherlands to head the Confederate Army which in Foot was somewhat superiour to that of France but in Horse the latter was stronger But tho' his Majesty did all that Man could do to bring Monsieur Luxemburg to an Engagement by several Marches and Countermarches he made as well as Umbrages he gave him of attacking Maubâ—ge or Mons yet all would not do the other as industriously avoiding fighting and would give no Opportunity for it but upon the greatest Disadvantage so that the King after he had first blown up the Fortifications of Beaumonâ— marched the Army towards Aeth from whence he parted on the 16th of Sept. for Loo leaving the Forces under the Command of Prince Waldeck who continued about the aforesaid Place for some time But moving off about the 17th of Sept. towards Benair Monsieur Luxemburg thought it a good Opportunity to fall upon their Rear with a good Body of Horse and the best in France and continued his design'd March so swiftly that upon the 19th he came up with their Rear-guard as they were marching towards
good Officers but of the Infidels they reckoned no less than 18000 Men to have perished in this Battle and almost all their Officers were killed wounded or taken Prisoners and to compleat this terrible Loss there were found not only the Serasquier and principal Aga of the Janizaries among the slain but even the Grand Visier Cupergli who was the most accomplish'd Person in all the Ottoman Empire And this great Defeat of Mahomet's Followers was so much the more remarkable in that their overthrow has been many Years ago calculated by the Learned Brightman out of the Revelations for the present Year However the Successes that attended this great Victory were not so considerable as might have been expected 't is true General Caprara retook Lippa and the Duke of Croy in Sclavonia after he had possest himself of the Castle of Broda march'd to Grandisca which the Turks abandon'd and fir'd upon his Approach as they had done before by Possega and from thence he went to Bagaros whose Garrison after some small Resistance were made to surrender at Discretion by which means all Sclavonia became entirely reduced under the Emperor's Obedience Yet there was but little Progress made in the Siege of Great Waradin tho' the Imperial Troops attack'd it with much Vigour which after all they were forced to turn into a Blockade With this ended the Campaign in Hungary during which Sir William Hussey the King of England's Embassador at the Ottoman Port was negotiating a Peace between the 2 Empires tho' with but little appearance of Success There being nothing at all either considerable as to the War or otherwise memorable as to the Venetians this Year I shall pass on from them to the Poles whose King at the Head of his Army that were about 20000 strong once more fell into Moldavia with a further design of marching that way into Budziack yet the Poles had not advanced far into the former Country but that they were informed a great Body of Tartars had taken the Field and roam'd about their Camp to snap their Convoys which made the King send Prince Lubomirski Mareschal of the Crown with 1500 Horse to observe their Motions Of this the Tartars having Intelligence they laid an Ambuscase for him which succeeded so well on their part that the Prince found himself quickly invironed on both sides and no possibility of retreating without cutting his way thro' Wherefore he sent to give the King immediate Information of his Condition who judging well there was no time to lose set forwards towards the Tartars with all speed But they retreated so fast that he could but do very little Execution upon them Hereupon the Polish Army advanced to Jassi which the Hospodar had again quitted and who stood still firm to the Turkish Interest for all the King of Poland could do to bring him off of it and of which Place the Poles not only took Possession but also of divers others as Roman Nimick and Novacran and after having provided for the Security of them the King thought it convenient to retreat with the whole Army the Season being too far spent to advance any further so that his principal design which was to fall into Budziack came to just nothing However the Castellan of Chelm after having with a Body of Cossacks routed 4000 Tartars who came to relieve it took the Fortress of Sorock seated upon the Neister and this was all that was done before the Army went into Quarters So that now having run through the Course of the Progress of the several Armies this Season there is nothing more remaining but to observe a few Remarkables this Year On the 1st of February died Alexander VIII Pope of Rome being aged 81 Years after he had sat 15 Months and 21 Days in St. Peter's Chair as they call it being Elected the 16th of October 1689. And after 5 Months and an halfs Dispute Cardinal Pignatelli was on Thursday the 12th of July chosen into his Room being then 76 Years and 4 Months old He took the Name of Innocent XII upon him in remembrance of Innocent XI who had promoted him to the Cardinal Dignity on the 1st of Sept. 1681 and of whose Inclination and Interest he had been a long Observer The 16th of July has been very noted for the Death of Monsieur Louvois chief Minister and Secretary of State in France and tho' without Contradiction one of the ablest Heads in Europe yet the Confederates did not find such an Alteration in the French Politicks upon it as some have expected which clearly shews France is a Country not barren of great Statesmen as well as brave Soldiers to say nothing of his Capacity who is at the head of them all The Death of this great Man was sudden for having dined with the Prince d' Espinoy and Madam de Soubize and found himself ill in the King's Chamber he retired to be let Blood but not finding any ease by bleeding in one Arm and being extremely oppressed he would needs be bled in the other and died at the same time This Year was also fatal to John George Elector of Saxony who having the Command of the Confederate Army upon the Rhine dyed at Tubing on the 22d of Sept. He had by Anna Sophia Daughter of Frederick III. King of Denmark John George IV. that succeeded him who was born on the 17th of Oct. 1668. and Frederick Augustus born on the 12th of May since by the Death of his Brother become Elector of Saxony and now confirmed King of Poland year 1692 Now again in conformity to the method we have all along pursued we shall inspect a little into the Affairs of our own Country in the first place before we look into those abroad In Nov. last Year the Parliament began to sit before whom the King laid the Success of his Arms in the intire Reduction of Ireland hoping it was an earnest of future Successes which their timely Assistance to him might procure to them then he urged to them the necessity of a strong Fleet and lastly recommended to them Dispatch of Business which if neglected an opportunity would be lost which could never be reasonably hoped for again But tho' the Parliament upon this occasion promised the most speedy Supplies that could be yet his Majesty did not think there was hast enough made answerable to his Designs abroad and therefore as early as the 10th of Jan. this Year he was pleased after returning his hearty thanks to the Houses for what they had already done to quicken them in their pace with such cogent Arguments that all Bills were ready for signing by the 5th of March when his Majesty passed several Acts and among others one for raising Mony by a Poll-tax and then having told his Parliament of his Intentions to go beyond Sea the two Houses were given to understand that it was his pleasure they should adjourn to the 12th of April The King in
to my Affairs But howsoever it pleases over-ruling Heaven to dispose of Me and Mine or into whatsoever Recess I may be thrown I can assure your Majesty That I shall always preserve to the last Gasp of my expiring Breath that due Acknowledgment which I still retain of your Favours and constant Friendship Nor can any thing more contribute to my Consolation than to hear as I hope to do when I have wholly quitted your Dominions of the quick Return of all your wonted Triumphs both by Sea and Land over Your Enemies and Mine when my Interest shall be no longer intermixed with yours I am Monsieur my Brother Yours c. JAMES REX While we are now thro' the Blessing of God secure from any Foreign Invasion by the good Success of our Fleet against the French there was a Conspiracy as dangerous and of a much baser Nature contrived abroad by one Granvale a French Officer to assassinate his Majesty's Person who when he came to the Camp at Bethlehem-Abby about the 28th of May was inform'd of the Design and the foresaid Person secured for the present but of this you will hear more by and by when we come to his Tryal In the mean time how unsuccessful soever the French Fleet had been at Sea that King was bent upon keeping up the Reputation of his Arms by Land by making some further Progress this Campaign in the Spanish Netherlands tho' now in a much better state than formerly since the Elector of Bavaria became Governour as he did the beginning of this Year And therefore on the 22d of May he invested Namur a strong Frontier-Garrison in Person before which the Trenches were opened on the 1st of June and tho' upon the News of our Sea-Victory King William caused all the English Artillery to be drawn in his Camp at Bethlehem to the top of an Hill upon the Right of the Army that looked towards Namur and placed the Dutch Artillery upon the same Hill to the Left and that the whole Army was drawn out to express their Joy for the same by a triple Discharge of all the Cannon and small Shot yet it was said the French King took so little notice of it that he should say Here is a mighty pudder indeed about burning 2 or 3 Ships But how light soever he might seem to take it the Consequence shewed it was the unhappiest Blow that befel that Nation in the whole Course of the War who never after durst look our Fleet in the Face and hereby left all their Sea-Coast to be insulted by us as we pleased I shall not enter into the Particulars of the Siege of Namur which was carried on with great Vigour and which King William was no less sollicitous to relieve resolving if possible to fight the Duke of Luxemburg who covered the Siege and who upon Information that the King moved towards the River Mehaign marched that way likewise and upon the 8th of June the two Armies which were very strong and pretty equal as to number the Confederates being reckon'd at 80000 Men came in sight of one another the River remaining between them The Confederates possessed themselves of all the Posts upon the River on their side as the French did of two Villages surrounded with strong Hedges and Thickets on theirs but the Confederates by Planting of Batteries at all their Posts were so far Masters of that River that the French Soldiers could not come for a drop of Water to it And that same Evening the King gave Orders to build Bridges over the Mehaign in order to pass it the next day to attack the Enemy which was so ordered that the whole Army might pass in a Front at the same time but the great Rains that begun that Evening and held on for several days that it broke the Bridges made it unpassable for the Cannon and rendred this glorious Undertaking abortive the Consequence whereof was the Surrender of the Castle of Namur on the 30th of June for the Town had been given up before which considering the Strength and Importance of the Place with the shortness of the Siege made most People believe there was some fellow-feeling in the Case However it were some did then report who pretended to understand the Affairs of the Court of Brussels That the King had desired the Elector of Bavaria to withdraw the Prince of Brabaâ—â—son from his Government of Namur and gave him his Reasons for it and that it was thereupon agreed the Prince should make the Campaign with the Elector And this went on so far that the Prince was at Brussels in order to it But the French threatning to sit down before Namur before the opening of the Campaign on the Elector's side he could not refuse his going to his Government when the Prince desired it lest he should discover the Mistrust he had of him However the Elector at the same time ordered the Count de Thian to accompany him in this Siege and gave him some particular Instructions therein The King's Camp was at Melle when Namur was given up where he formed a Design to surprize Mons and was very near being executed when the Enemy having Information of it took care of their own Preservation From Melle the Army march'd to Genap thence to Notredame de Hall and on the first of August passed the River Senne in several Columns when they were joined by the Hanover Troops to the number of 8000 all fine Men. The French encamped at the same time at Engheim with their Right extended to Steenkirk and where the King resolved to attack them In the Evening Orders were given out for 6 Battalions to be ready to march an hour before day and to parade at the Head of Prince Waldeck's Regiment The Battalions were the 2d of the 1st Regiment of Guards the 1st of Sir Robert Douglass's Col. Fitz-Patrick Col. O Farrel's a Battalion of the Danish Guards and the Queens Orders were likewise given for 17 Men in each Battalion in Churchil's Brigrade to be ready at the Time and Place and to be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Manwayring their business being to make the Ways through the Desiles they were all to receive a Ducat a Head for their Labour and as they were to join with the Van-guard in time of business they carried their Arms with them as well as Hatchets and Spades All this Detachment was to be commanded by the Duke of Wirtemberg as the Van-guard of our Army Orders were likewise given for the whole Army to march very early in the Morning the General to beat at break of Day and the Army to be ready at Sun-rising All these Preparations were in order to attack the French the next day in their own Camp at Enghein who the same Day as we march'd from Gennap to Hall decamp'd from Soignes and made all haste to Enghein lest we should get that Ground from them and thus oblige them to get farther to their own Conquests Luxemburg's Right
more to the same purpose But the German Troops now in Italy were too numerous to give any of the Princes an Opportunity to disturb them had they been so minded and the Duke of Savoy was yet too stanch to go back from his Obligations to his Allies and therefore he appeared to carry on this Campaign with more Vigour and Success than at any time before but the truth on 't was the French were so strong in Germany and Flanders that all they desired to do now in Italy was to defend their Posts which they could not do neither For the Duke having got his Army into the Field and disposed of several Detachments into the Vallies and other places for the better security of the Country he march'd in the Month of July at the Head of 20000 Men into the Dauphinate where after they had pillaged la Roche Chantelouve and some other Villages they made themselves Masters of the Castle and Highlands of Guillestre and some other Passes and from thence moved towards the City of Ambrun which being surrendred upon Articles the Day after having been invested on the 5th of Aug. All the Army crossed the Durance at Guilestre and after a pretty brisk Siege of about 9 Days was surrendred upon Articles There the Duke found 20 Pieces of Cannon and a Quantity of Provisions and the City presently granted to his Highness 40000 Livres Contribution which they borrowed at Grenoble for that purpose besides which his Highness seiz'd upon 60000 Livres in Gold which was the King's Mony in the Hands of the Treasurer of the Troops all the Ambrunois with the Neighbouring Towns and Villages were at the same time put under Contribution From Ambrun the Army marched directly to Gap a City upon the Frontiers of Provence before which Prince Eugine no sooner appeared but it surrendred and became under the same Obligations of Contribution as the other places but tho' the Consternation on that side of France was incredible at this sudden Irruption and that the parts where the Duke's Army came were sufficiently desolated especially by the Germans who are very good at Lextalionis and who to make themselves Satisfaction for the French Hostilities committed in the Palatinate utterly ruined all the places they came near so that upon Computation there was no less than 80 Castles Boroughs Towns and Villages burnt by them yet the Duke's falling sick of the Small Pox and the Division among the Generals hindered the design that had been formed of taking Brianson and Quieras to be put in Execution and so did incapacitate them to keep what had been conquer'd in the Dauphinate However to make the best of a bad Market they plundered the Country destroy'd all the Provisions they could not carry away got what Contributions they could burnt all that refused to contribute except Ambrun whose Fortifications they blew up and took Mony to save the Houses and so put an end to the Campaign alamode de France But it had like to have proved fatal to the Duke for after he was pretty well recovered of the Small Pox he fell into an Ague which so rudely handled him that most Men despaired of his Recovery but at length his Youthful Constitution overcame it Now it 's time we should take a turn into Hungary where it will be found that the Proceedings of this Campaign did not prove answerable to the Success of the last One-should think that after such an overthrow as that of Salankemen the Turks should neither be able to bring any considerable Force into the Field and that the Germans could do no less than take their former Road towards Nissa or Widin that leads to Constantinople but neither of the two hapned tho' the advantage remained still on the Emperors side but it was more owing to good Management than the number of his Army Great Waradin had been block'd up in a manner for some Years but now the Imperial Court considering of what consequence it would be for them to become Masters of that Fortress before the Turks could take the Field resolved to besiege it in form and the brave General Heusler was deputed to command there who arriving before the place about the end of April push'd on the Siege with great Vigour but more especially from the 21st of May to the 30th he threw in an infinite number of Bombs and the said Day sprung a a Mine under the side of the Moat where the Besiegers found also a way to lodge themselves which made the General to send the Aga a theatning Summons if he surrendred not But his Answer was That he resolved to perish in the Defence of the place and that he would be the cause of many others perishing with him with which the General was so incens'd that he gave the Signal for Storming on the 2d of June This made the Besieged hang out a white Flag and beat a Parley and the Articles of Capitulation were agreed on in pursuance to which the Imperialists took possession of the place on the 5th where they found but little Provision but great store of Ammunition with 77 Pieces of Cannon and 4 Mortars This I confess was an important place but fell far short of the taking of Belgrade c. which the Imperialists thought themselves Cock-sure of before the Campaign begun neither was there any more done there save the taking a little place called Pesâ—abera upon the Danube whereby they might hinder Belgrade from being supply'd by Water but this they were forced to quit when the Turkish Army came so that the Prince of Baden made a very unactive Campaign of it And if it was thus in Hurgary it was not much different with the Republick of Venice its true they made a fair Attempt towards the reducing of Câ—nea in the Isle of Candiâ— once more under their Obedience and to that end about the 18th of July they laid Siege to it and that with very promising hopes of Success in the Enterprize and all the News for a time was that the besieged were at a stand and that the Bombs had so ruined the City that it could hold out no longer and that it was impossible to relieve it But in all this they were mightily mistaken for at a time when they least expected it the Basha of Retino with the Turks under his Command entrenched himself upon the rising Ground from whence he not only greatly annoyed the Venetian Army but found a way in little Barks to put Relief into the Town which made such brisk Sallies upon the Christians that in a Council of War it was agreed to raise the Siege and so they imbark'd all the Troops that remained for they had suffered extreamly with some difficulty and sailed away to Napoli di Malvasia This Disappointment together with the Basha of Albania's making a great Incursion into the Venetian Territories by the way of Zettina made the Senate very uneasie and towards the end of the Year
covered the Left of our Body of Foot which upon the Enemies Approach wheeled from the Left to the Right to bring up their Left to the Brook of Beck where 't was cover'd by this Village of Neerlanden The Ground was open between Neerwinden and Neerlanden whereupon his Majesty order'd a Retrenchment to be made in the Night from the one to the other to cover our Body of Foot which indeed was but a slight Breast-work as a Man may judge by the time they had to make it and the number of Men that worked about it viz. 30 Men per Battalion and yet the French were pleased afterwards to magnifie it with the Name of A formidable Retrenchment and what not Now the Remainder of the Body of Foot was drawn up in one Line within the Retrenchment to defend it and the Dragoons upon the Left were ordered to the Village of Dormal to guard that pass upon the Brook of Beck and from thence the Left Wing of Horse reached to Neerlanden where 't was covered by this Brook and from thence turned off to the Right behind the Body of Foot However it were it was reported Luxemburg upon his Viewing of the Camp that Evening should observe some Deficiency in it and say Now he believed Waldeck was dead who was known to be perhaps the best Man for Encamping in the World The King who had been on Horseback till late in the Evening not only to give all the necessary Orders but to see the Execution of them ordered his Coach at last to be brought to the Rear of Stanley's Regiment where he reposed himself about two Hours and early in the Morning sent for Doctor Menard one of his Chaplains into the Coach to pray with him suitable to the Occasion a rare Example and worthy of Imitation by all but especially of Military Men who carry their Lives in their Hands but more is the pitty have usually the least Concern of any for a future State which was no sooner done but all things were disposed for Action It was the 19th day of July this mighty Battel was fought which will be talked of in all future Generations and of which take the following Account By Sun-rising the French were drawn up within Cannon-shot of the Confederates Camp who plaid upon them with their Cannon with good Success and this the French received with admirable Constancy till about 6 they made a Movement to come nearer the King's Retrenchments and about 8 Luxemburg ordered a strong Body of Troops to attack the Villages of Lar or Neerwinden which they did with great Fury and various Success having gained and lost those Posts once and again But at length the Confederates tho' much inferiour in number remained Masters of them And here it was the Duke of Berwick was taken Prisoner But this ill Success of the French upon the Confederates Right did not discourage them from Attacking the Confederates Left Wing at Neerlanden which Post tho' it was not in it self weak yet it was attacked with a great Disproportion of Forces and the Fire was very smart on both sides the French gained and lost the Advantage several times but were at last after two Hours hot Dispute entirely beaten His Majesty's Example and Presence as being there in Person mightily heartning the Confederates to stand stoutly to it and hitherto the Success of the day was manifestly on the Confederates side and the French seemed by their Countenance as if they designed to draw off But Luxemburg having still several Brigades of fresh Men resolved to gain the Village of Neerwinden a second time and to that end attacked it with great Fury and here the Dispute lasted a long time His Majesty doing the Office of a private Soldier as well as a grand Captain at the same time as did also the Elector of Bavaria who distinguished himself upon this Occasion by several Repulses he gave the Enemy And in short nothing but Numbers prevailed over the Confederates who together with the Field of Battel whereon his Majesty staid rallying some Horse till he was almost surrounded lost most of their Cannon and retreated to Lewe unpursued by the French who tho' they gained the Battel yet their Loss was such that they might very well say with Pyrrhus King of Epirus when complimented upon his Success against the Romans That such another Battel would quite Ruin them The King in the Day of Battel shewed himself as he had always done a brave Man and it was only the wonderful Providence of God that preserved one that exposed himself so much as he did who narrowly escaped 3 Musket-shots one through his Perwig which made him deaf for a while another through the Sleeve of his Coat which did no harm and the third carried off the Knot of his Scarf and left a small Contusion on his Side and in short his Majesty this day gained so far the Respect and Admiration of his Enemies that 't was a common Saying among them That they wanted but such a King to make them Masters of Christendom And the Prince of Conti in his intercepted Letter to the Princess his Wife said He saw the King every where present where there was any Action exposing his Person to the greatest Dangers and that surely so much Valour very well deserved the peaceable Possession of the Crown he wore It would be an endless thing to enter into the Dispute about the Loss in this Battel on each side the Confederates indeed thought theirs at first much greater than afterward upon a Review it did appear when they missed not above 5 or 6000 fighting Men killed wounded and taken Prisoners whereas the French would have them to be no less than 20000 and their 's 2000 killed But here the Confederates might justly turn the Tables For it is past all doubt the French had above the number of 2000 Officers killed and wounded and if the Allies did somewhat exaggerate the Loss of the French in computing it at about 18000 yet surely Luxemburg's not pursuing them at all upon the Retreat and his continuing for 15 days together at Waren without making the least Attempt gave a considerable Reputation to what they said But for their Cannon and Mortars the Confederates must be content to own they lost the greatest part of them However the French to give some Reputation to their Assertions in what they said in relation to the Battel did at last resolve to besiege Charleroy which they invested on the 31st of Aug. after they had been reinforced with the Troops from the Sea-Coast and a great Detachment under Boufflers from the Rhine which confirmed still their Loss as aforesaid It is not my purpose to give a Journal of the Siege it 's enough to say That the French with these new Reinforcements attacked the Place with great Fury which was as well defended by the Besieged that tho' they had little or no prospect of Relief yet they gallantly held it out till the 1st
Lordships on the 3d instant That the Infantry of his Royal Highness's Army marched on the 2d from before Pignerol to join the Cavalry which they did the same day at Marsiglia after having blown up the Fort of St. Bridget and set fire at Piscina to all the Bombs and Ammunition which they could not carry away The Army was presently drawn up in Battalia The Marquess de Leganez commanded the Left Wing composed of the King of Spain's Troops as well Horse as Foot and of the Regiments of Commerci Taff and Scrutenbagh commanded by the Prince de Commerci His Royal Highness and under him the Count de Caprara commanded the Right Wing which was covered by the rest of his Imperial Majesty's and his Royal Highness's Cavalry In the Right Wing and the Corps de Battaille was posted the Foot of his said Imperial Majesty of his Majesty of Great Britain and of his Royal Highness The Corps de Battaille was commanded by Prince Eugene of Savoy who had under him the Marquess de la Parelle and the Count de las Torres The Army being disposed in this order march'd on Saturday the 3d into the Neighbourhood of Orbassan from whence we perceived the Enemies Army towards the Hills between Orbassan and Piosasque The Enemy seeing us thus advanced made a shew of moving to us in order of Battel but the Night coming on the two Armies marched off to a greater distance from each other to suffer the Troops to repose themselves At Midnight we sent away all the Baggage and put our selves into a Posture to receive the Enemy who we perceived by the Ground their Army took up were much more numerous than we At break of day the Enemy advanced towards us making use of the Advantage they had in the Ground which was full of Woods and Vineyards They threw some Dragoons into the Village of Piosasque situate upon a Hill to cover their Right Wing and began to play all their Artillery upon our Left Wing which did us some Damage But our Cannon being likewise very well posted and well served did great execution among their Cavalry About half an hour after Eight they fell upon our Left Wing with about 20000 men without firing a Shot having their Bagonets at the end of their Fusils and their Swords in their Hands but they were repulsed and driven back with great vigour They renewed their Attack and took in Front and Flank the Neapolitan and Milaneze Horse who after having courageously withstood the Fury of the Enemy were at last over-powered by their Numbers and pushed upon the German Horse who being thereby put into disorder and being at the same time charged by the little Gendermerie were no longer able to keep their Ground and fell upon the Infantry which was put also into Disorder The second Line being brought on to repulse the Enemy while the first Line rallied the Horse gave way by which means the said second Line not being able to withstand the Efforts of the Enemy was obliged to give ground likewise But while things passed thus in our Left Wing the Enemy were thrice repulsed with great loss by our Corps de Battaille and our Right Wing and we had all along the Advantage on that side until the Enemies Horse which had made our Left Wing give way attack'd our Infantry behind and in Flank who had no longer any Horse to cover them on their Left and were at the same time attack'd by the Enemies Foot Our Troops resisted them with extra-ordinary Courage made their Cavalry give way by the means of our Cannon which was employed to very good purpose and repulsed them with a great Effusion of Blood This Resistance and Effort of our Horse in the Right Wing quite disheartned the Enemy but they being 10000 Men stronger than we and receiving a farther Reinforcement attacked our Troops anew So that being environed by their Cavalry and very much fatigued and without hopes of being succoured by our Horse we were obliged to retire at Four in the Afternoon leaving the place of Battle to the Enemy with 10 or 12 Field-pieces the rest being saved Orders were given for our Troops to rally at Moncalier where in the Evening most of the Foot passed the Po. Last Night and this Day a great many Soldiers came hither the Enemy did not make the least shew of pursuing us All the Troops fought very well and the Action was very sharp on both sides The Troops of his Majesty of Great Britain which were in the Corps de Battaille did particularly distinguish themselves and the Duke of Schomberg who commanded them fought on foot at the head of his own Regiment and would not take any other command The Count de las Torres desired him after the Enemies third Attack to take upon him the Command and cause a Retreat to be made by the Foot of the Corps de Battaille and the Right Wing which had not yet sustained any great damage but the Duke of Schomberg told him That it was necessary first to have his Royal Highness's Order and until it came they would bear the Enemies Fire adding That he found things were gone so far that they must now overcome or die The Valour of the said Duke is to be greatly admired he had the Misfortune to be wounded in the Thigh one of his Serants who waited upon him in his Chamber saved his Life for he seeing the Duke fall run to him and called for Quarter but before he could be heard was killed upon the Spot The Duke at the same time was taken Prisoner but Monsieur Catinat sent him back upon his Parole and he arrived here this Day I had already desired a Trumpet of his Royal Highness who came hither yesterday about 5 in the Evening to go and demand him I cannot yet exactly tell your Lordships how many are killed on our side 'T is thought that the Spanish Troops have sustained the greatest loss The Regiments of his Majesty of Great Britain have likewise suffered very much and there is not a Third of them left Of the Regiment of Schomberg 18 Officers are taken many of which are mortally wounded and of the others proportionably We have yet no News of Collonel Montauban l'Isle Marais Lieutenant-Collonel is taken Prisoner The Baron de Viskoute Lieutenant-Collonel of the Regiment of Schomberg is also taken and wounded De Loches Lieutenant-Collonel is kill'd or taken with several Captains There are 3 or 4 Captains of the Regiment of Miremont killed Collonel Monbrun has 4 dangerous Wounds his Major is killed and his Lieutenant-Collonel is killed or Prisoner Of the Troops of his Royal Highness the Marquiss de la Suse Lieutenant of his Life-Guards is killed the Count de Chalaus Collonel of the Regiment of Mondovi is likewise killed Of the Troops of his Imperial Majesty the Prince de Comerci is wounded in the Shoulder and the Son of the Count de Palfi killed The Enemies loss is at
good View of it and got out again without any Damage tho' warmly fired at by Camaret-Fort they returned and gave the Lord Berkeley an Account of the Posture of the Bay and the Situation of the Castle which was very advantageously placed to defend the Landing-places against any that should attempt to set Footing on Shore Thereupon it was thought convenient that the Monk of 60 Guns and the Diamaten of equal Force should go in for that purpose But the Marquess who had viewed the Place not believing that those two Men of War would be sufficient to cover the Boats at their Landing from the Shot from the Fort nor to assist the Land-Forces at their Landing by playing upon the Enemy who were better prepared and more numerous than was expected and ready to be seconded upon all Occasions with 14 Squadrons of Horse all regular Troops so far as they could discern by their Habit Therefore upon the 8th after a Consultation of the English and Dutch Flags and the General-Officers of the Land-Forces it was resolved That 6 more Men of War should be added to the 2 former viz. the Greenwich of 54 Guns the Charles-Galley of 32 the Shoreham of 32 the Darkenstein of 44 the Wesep of 30 and the Wolf of 30 Guns All which the Marquess undertook to post so as to bear upon the Castle to the best Advantage and to perform those other Services for which they were designed This was a Work of great Labour Difficulty and Danger for no sooner was the Monk come within reach of the Enemy's Mortars but the Enemy began to fling their Bombs at her from Point des Fillettes and the Western Point of Camaret-Bay insomuch that when she came within 3 Quarters of a Mile of the latter one of the Bombs broke just over her and a great piece of it striking through her Poop and two Decks more flew out again into the Water near one of the Stern-Ports and killed 2 of the Marquess's Marine Company and wounded a third who stood close by him on the Poop So soon as she got into the Bay and came up a-brest with the Western Point Camaret-Fort fired thick and threefold at her and she being forced to stand with her Stern right upon it the Shot from thence raked her fore and aft and did her a great deal of Damage More than this after all the Ships were got pretty well into the Bay they were surprized with three Batteries more all firing upon them which they never perceived till they felt their Shot But notwithstanding all these Difficulties the Marquess made a shift to post the 8 Ships in such a manner as gave great Succour to the Land-Forces and did the Enemy considerable Mischief For these Ships so soon as they had dropped their Anchors in the Bay fired continually upon the Enemy and forced the French to run twice out of Camaret-Fort From these Ships it was easie to perceive the Enemy very advantageously entrenched at every place where there was any possibility of Landing and great Numbers of Foot drawn behind the Trenches On the Other side Lieutenant-General Talmash with a small Number of Well-boats went a-shore in a confused manner under a little Rock on the South-side of the small Bay Nor was there any Prosecution of that regular Way of Landing which the Lord Cutts proposed and had been agreed on Here his Lordship excuses himself for not being able to give an Account of what passed close by the Shore and goes on That when he saw the Boats and small Vessels in which the Land-Forces were embarked had made their Retreat from thence excepting such as stuck fast wherein a great many were killed and taken Prisoners and the Signal given to bring off the Ships he applied himself to undergo the greatest Difficulty he had in all the Action for that all their Rigging was cut in pieces and most of their Sails and Yards disabled The Shoreham not so much disabled as the rest got clear out of Danger with little Assistance But it cost the Marquess a world of Labour and hard Venturing to get off the rest but more especially the Charles-Galley and the Monk that was within half her length of dashing against a Rock as having no other Motion but what the Sea and Tow-boats afforded her But at length he being indefatigable in his Labour and undaunted in his Courage performed what he undertook and brought of all clear but the Tesep a small Dutch Man of War of 30 Guns which he found with 12 Foot Water in her Hold and all the Men killed that were left with the Lieutenant but himself a Drummer and one Man more As for the Loss sustained at Sea his Lordship acknowledges 400 Men lost in the 3 English and 4 Dutch Ships under his Command As for the Loss of the Land-Forces he says he was not acquainted with it But the Report was That the Killed Wounded and Taken amounted to about 700 more But what Error soever that brave Man Lieutenant General Talmash might have committed in his Landing he paid very dear for it with the loss of his Life as did I doubt a much greater number of Men killed and wounded than my Lord talks of in his unfortunate Expedition which for my part I think could not be otherwise than so since the French by such strong Works Batteries and great Forces had taken so much Precaution to defend themselves against this Attempt of which and the place of Landing they had no doubt timely information enough which they could not well be without since it was no secret in England but a Town-talk at this time that Brest was the place we designed to Land at But how unsuccessful soever we proved in this Expedition the King had managed his Affairs so well both at home and abroad this Season that he began now to beard the French and this since the beginning of the War was the first time they seemed to be upon the decline in Flanders Its true the Death of the Bishop and Prince of Liege towards the beginning of this Year gave the French a mighty Prospect to imbroil the Affairs of the Confederates on that side For as the Death of the Elector of Cologn in 1688 and the Contests between the Empire and France in the two Persons of Prince Clement of Bavaria and Cardinal Furstemburg gave the first Occasion to the Flame of this War to break forth in Germany that soon after by divers concurring Accidents spread it self over the Face of almost all Europe So if the French could have got the Cardinall de Bovillon to have been advanced into the Principality of Liege they did not doubt but to have brought the Confederates to be more humble and to have accepted of the Conditions of Peace the French King would allow them but this did not happen neither For notwithstanding all Bovillion's Protestations the major part of the Chapter first made Choice of the Elector of Cologn and the other of the
Grand Master of the Tutonick Order to be their Prince and Bishop both which sent to the Emperor and Court of Rome about it and this was as likely to imbroil the Confederates Affairs as any thing that had yet hapned the last named of the Candidates or Princes Elect being no less than Brother-in-Law to the Emperor who we might reasonably suppose would espouse his Cause with all the Interest he had as the other was Brother to the Elector of Bavaria who besides his own Interest that was considerable had 't was generally believed that of the King of England and the States of Holland on his side But while things hung thus in suspence and that particularly both Parties were expecting the Decision of the See of Rome Heaven decided the Contest in an unexpected manner by the Death of the Grand Master of a certain contagious Distemper that had for some time been rise in the City of Liege and so the Elector of Cologn in some time after got the peaceable Possession of the Principality which together with the great Power of the Confederates in Flanders made things look with an ill Aspect upon the Affairs of France For the Confederate Army now under the King's Command encamped at Mont St. Andrew where they all joined amounting in Horse and Dragoons to no less than 31800 Men all very well Mounted and Armed and of the Dragoons more especially it may be said that such a Body either for Number or the good Order they were in has hardly ever been in the Field and in Foot to 51000 besides a Body of about 7000 Men under the Command of Count Thien near Ghendt But tho' the French were not far inferiour in Number yet the Dauphine used all his Endeavours to decline Fighting and the King put him hard to it so that the French Army was in a manner couped up by him for a time under the Walls of their Garrison of Huy and reduced to considerable streights where we shall leave them and the Confederates in their respective Camps and where they continued while the English Fleet in the Channel were Bombing the Maritime-Towns of France to the great Consternation of the poor Inhabitants as well as their utter Ruin And what good Mein soever the French Court put upon it it was a business that made them Heart-sick as afterwards appeared when they came to Bombard Brussells Diep in Normandy was the first Town that felt the Fuâ—â— of the English Bombs before which my Lord Berkley oâ— the 12th of July brought the Fleet as near as possible and sent 6 Ment of War and 9 Bomb Galliots away to take their Stations and from that day at Night till 4 the next Morning they threw into the City 1100 Bombs and Carcasseâ— that set the Houses on Fire in several places so that the Townsmen not knowing whither to run and despairing to quench it took a fright and began to run away in Disorder which made the Marquess of Bearon send 2 Battalions of the Militia of Bretaign to encourage the Inhabitants but the Disorders were so great and the Fire so terrible that the Soldiers fled with the rest So that if the Confederates had known what had passed they might in all probability have possest themselves of the Place however they so ruin'd it that there was hardly a House left unshattered but the greatest part were intirely reduced to Ashes From hence the Fleet allarming all the Coast sailed towards Havre de Grace where on the 26th about 3 in the Afternoon they begaâ— to approach the Town under the Direction of Captain Bembâ— into which between 4 and 5 they began to throw their Bombs which they continued till next Morning when the Wind blowing hard they gave over shooting but tho' Havre de Grace was not entirely ruined as Deâ—p was yet a great part of it was Burnt and so considerable Damage done to the Place as was not soon repaired And if the French were thus put to it on the Coast their Army was not a little streightned by that of the Confederates in the Netherlands for though the Dauphine declared he had received Orders from his Father not to budge from his Camp at Vignamont as long as the Confederates continued at theirs at Mont St. Andre yet being not able possibly to subsist there any longer he resolved to decamp first and though he thought to have concealed his design by sending forth several little Bodies of Horse under Pretence of Forraging to reinforce the Marquess of Harcourt's Body on the other side of the Meuse who was to seize the advantageous Post of Picton and by that means get before the Confederates yet the King who was aware of the Design decamped before him on the 8th of Aug. and soon gained the Posts of Picton where there was not Forrage for above 4 days and being informed of the Enemies March moved towards Neville thence to Lessines having sent Orders before for the Baking of Bread at Ghent and Aeth On the 12th the Army posted it self at Chieere from whence that Evening a numerous Detachment of Horse and Foot with some Pieces of Cannon went to possess themselves of a Post upon the Scheld and the Army followed on the 14th with an intention to have passed the River at Pont Espeires But tho' the Confederates made great haste to get thither the French made more to prevent them For on the 15th the Elector of Bavaria having advanced towards Pont de Eschaieâ—â—e with a numerous Detachment in order to attack the Passage of the River he found the French to the number of 30000 Men entrenched on the other side up to their Teeth so as that he did not think it convenient to proceed But that hasty March of the French cost them more Men and Horses than they have been willing to own they had lost in some of their Battles However it must be said it was a business that was worth while to hinder the Confederates to enter into French Flanders where if they had once done so they would in all probability together with some important Conquest have secured some Winter Quarters at least Besides other losses that would almost inevitably have followed And this the French King was so sensible of that he writ a Letter with Orders for the reading it at the Head of the Army wherein he returned thanks in the first place to the Princes of the Blood then to the Mareshal de Luxemburg as having a principal share in the Conduct to the rest of the Marshals of France and all the General Officers and lastly to all the French and Swiss Infantry Regiment by Regiment beginning with that of the Guards and acknowledged how much beholding he was to their Zeal and infinite Diligence for the Preservation of their Country Lives and most inportant Places on the Sea-side and assured them he would acknowledge upon all Occasions that same Testimony of their Affection and desired a continuation of it But
as the French did not a little Triumph they had warded this Blow the King was resolved they should not always have occasion to do so and therefore finding the Enemy very intent to watch his Motion in a new seat of War he laid hold of the Advantage and in pursuance of it the Prince Serclas de Tilly passed the Meuse at Thilen with all the Horse and Dragoons of the Diocess of Liege being followed by a party of Brandenburg Horse and some Battalions of Foot and the same day invested Huy where the next day arrived 16 Regiments of Foot with the Duke of Holstein Ploen who was appointed to Command the Siege The Place was no sooner invested on both sides the Meuse but the Town surrendred to the Confederates and by the 19th of Sept. the Batteries were raised against the Castle and the Artillery that consisted of 60 Pieces of Cannon and 30 Mortars came up when the French made a Sally upon Major-General Cohorn's Quarters in hopes to have taken 3 Field-pieces but they were repulsed with loss and so the Works went on briskly till the 21st at Night when the Besieged opened their Trenches These they carried on with great Vigour till that on the 24th in the Morning the Brandenburg under-Officer of the Regiment of Anhault mounted the Counter-scarp of Fort Piccard at the head of 15 Soldiers only and that with so much Courage and Bravery that they killed the few French that were there threw a Tunful of Granadoes into the Water and took away a Barrel of Powder and some Arms which he brought into the Camp And all this in the sight of the Duke of Holstein Ploen and other Generals who were so satisfied with his Bravery that the Brandenburg General immediately wrote to the Elector to desire him to bestow a Captain's Place upon the young Officer The Besiegers the same day continued firing upon the Castle and two Forts both which last were taken by 700 Brandenburghers by dint of Sword who in the heat of their Fury put 150 French to Death but gave Quarter to 70 others that were mostly wounded and all this with the loss only of 20 Men So that being flush'd with Success they pushed on the Siege of the Castle with wonderful Vigour wherein they had made a considerable Breach and had all things ready for an Assault by the 27th when the Governour beat a Parly and the Articles were soon agreed on whereby the Garrison was to be convoy'd into Namur which was done accordingly and the French thereby totally expelled out of the Diocess of Liege Dinant at that time being accounted a part of France Thus ended the Campaign in Flanders not very pleasing to the French tho' perhaps all Circumstances considered with less disadvantage than themselves expected however they made amends for it to purpose in Spain as has been already hinted and of which we shall now briefly run over the Particulars The French Army under the Command of the Mareschal de Noailles being about 30000 strong and consequently much superiour to the Spaniards and very early in the Field to boot arrived on the 26th of May on the Banks of the River Ter in Catalonia which notwithstanding they found the Spaniards intrenched on the other side they resolved to pass and having to that end sounded all the Fords that same Evening they forced their way through after about half an Hours Dispute and constrained the Spanish Foot to quit their Retrenchments without any great Resistance But the Cavalry shewed a more than ordinary Valour and great Conduct in their Retreat which they performed in the best manner they could to cover their Foot yet this could not prevent the loss of their Baggage though what with the Defence the Horse made and the Narrowness of the Ways the French made no far pursuit However this point of passing the Ter was enough gained for them to besiege Palamos a Town by the Sea-side about 22 Leagues from Barcelona to the S. E. which was invested on the 30th of May and by the 2d of June at Night the Trenches were opened and the Works carried on a good way though not without Disturbance both from the small Shot and Cannon of the Besieged which killed a great many Men and next Day they made a Sally at first with good Success but they were at length repulsed and ply'd close with Mortars and Cannon both by Sea and Land so that by the 7th in the Morning all things were in a readiness to attack the Covert-way This the Granadeers did with great Fury and were so far from losing time to make Lodgments that they pushed forward and finding a way to enter at two Breaches where only one could pass in Front they entred the City plunder'd it and put all they met to the Sword and of those that were saved all were made Prisoners of War Only part of the Officers that were most wounded were sent to Gironne upon their Paroles Not only said Monsieur Noailles in his Letter because they seemed to desire it but because he considered the Terror that would strike among the Soldiery and People And what he said was true enough for the Spaniards quickly withdrew their Garrison out of St. Felix Quinola and the Castle of St. Elme and though they pretended to make a stout Resistance at Gironne a well-fortify'd City that Noaâ—lles had actually laid Siege to by the 19th of June Yet they could scarce hold it for 10 Days for they surrender'd the Place on the 29th of the same Month and that upon very ignominious Terms too For the Garrison was to march out without Cannon and the Cavalny except 10 in a Troop to march away on Foot with the Infantry without their Horses and all the Ammunition and Provision to be left behind in the City This being effected successfully the next thing was to attack Ostralick a little City upon the Road to Barcelona which they quickly mastered without any great Resistance and thereby enlarg'd the French Territories 20 Miles in extent But the Army because of the violent Heats beginning now to be sickly they went into Quarters of Refreshment upon the Banks of the River Terdera which is a very plentiful Country and full of Fruit-trees and where they continued in a manner as unmolested from the Spaniards as if they had been in the middle of France But it was not so with the Spaniards on the part of the French for after they had refreshed themselves they bethought of taking in Castle Folet a Town a little to the W. of Gironne which they took having first routed a Body of Country Militia that came to relieve it and made the Garrison Prisoners of War But tho' the Spaniards thought to profit themselves of this Opportunity by re-taking Ostralick which they actually besieged with 4000 Foot and 1500 Horse and had reduced it to that Condition that the Governour was up on Articles of Surrender and Hostages were given on both sides yet
little that we were in a manner left disconsolate and next to Despair And what could that be alas but the Death of the best of Queens the best of Wives nay the best of Women our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Mary Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland which happen'd on the 28th of December at her Palace of Kensington after she had lain some few Days sick of the Small-Pox To attempt her Character would be Arrogance in me since it has been done so well by so many learned Pens But I cannot omit remarking the Answer as I have heard His Majesty who knew her best was pleased to make the Archbishop of Canterbury when he went to comfort him for his great Loss That he could not chuse but grieve seeing she had been his Wife for 17 Years and yet he never knew her guilty of an Indiscretion And to add what most People are apt to pass over untouched That she was certainly a Princess of real Piety which I should not say if I had not known some Circumstances my self concerning her upon that Account that were evident tokens of it Wherefore I shall end this unhappy Year with the Parliament and Nation 's Condolance of the King upon this great Loss as himself was pleased to express it and their Protestations to stand by him against all Opponents whatsoever both at home and abroad And the Truth of it is if ever Addresses were real and unfeigned they were those made upon this Occasion since it has been obvious to any Man of Observation that that sad Providence did very much heighten Men's Affections to His Majesty's Person which being before as it were divided between him and that beloved Princess were now entirely cemented into one year 1695 But tho' the Nation laboured under this great Sorrow for our unretrievable Loss as we did also from the Badness of our Coin which had been a long growing Evil upon us and began now to be very intolerable yet there was no going back And therefore the Parliament went roundly to work and besides some other useful Bills had by the 11th of Feb. prepared for the Royal Assent An Act for Granting 4 s. in the Pound to His Majesty And for Applying the Yearly Summ of 300000 l. for Five Years out of the Duties of Tunnage and Poundage and other Summs of Mony payable upon Merchandizes Exported and Imported for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour But what Zeal soever the two Houses in general shewed for the common Cause there was such a Brangle at this time among them especially in the Upper House about sending of the Fleet to the Streights that tho' some under the specious Pretence of Good Will towards the Government took upon them to shew the Inconvenience of it Yet the major part of that most honourable Assembly shewed themselves to have far different Sentiments by their Address of Thanks to the King for so ordering it And it happen'd â— little favourably as if it had been a Confirmation of their Lordships Judgments that News came soon after which gave an Account that some Frigats which Admiral Russel had sent out to cruise had taken 2 French Men of War of the bigger Size near Messina So that the other Party was now obliged to acquiesce and the Lovers of the Government to go on with the King's Business But it was the middle of April or thereabout before there were any more Mony-Bills ready when His Majesty signed among divers others An Act for enabling such Persons as had Estates for Life in Annuities payable by several former Acts therein mentioned to purchase and obtain farther and more certain Interests in such Annuities And in Default thereof for Admitting other Persons to purchase or obtain the same for Raising Moneys for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchellors and Widowers for the Term of 5 Years for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty several Additional Duties upon Coffee Tea Chocolate and Spices towards Satisfaction of the Debts due for Transport-Service for the Reduction of Ireland And then he was pleased to tell them that the season of the Year was so far advanced and the circumstances of affairs so pressing that he very earnestly recommended unto them the speedy dispatching of such business as they thought of most importance for the publick good because he was to make an end of the Sessions in a few Days which was done accordly after the signing of some other Bills which the Parliament had dispatched and among the rest An Act to grant unto the King certain Duties upon Glass-wares Stone and Earthen Bottles Coal and Culm for carrying on the War as before Then it was that he told them the necessity there was for his Presence abroad but that he would take care to have the administration of Affairs during his Absence put into such Persons hands on whose care and fidelity he could entirely depend and that he doubted not but they both Lords and Gentlemen in their several Stations would be assisting to them and that what it was he required of them was to be more than ordinarily vigilant in preserving the publick Peace In pursuance to this His Majesties Resolution he was pleased before his Departure which was on the 12th of May to appoint in Council the Lord Archbishop the Lord Keeper the Earl of Pembrook the Duke of Devonshire the Duke of Shrewsbury the Earl of Dorset and the Lord Godolphin to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Absence beyond the Seas where as before he was Commander in Chief of all the Confederate Forces which were this Campaign very strong and out-numbred the French 20000 Men which yet was no such odds as to act offensively as they did as the Duke de Villeroy was over the Armies of France in the room of the Duke of Luxemburg who died towards the beginning of this Year There were two Camps formed for the Confederate Army the one was at Arseel to be commanded by the King in Person and under him by the old Prince de Vaudemont to whom His Majesty had given last Winter the Command in chief of his Armies and the other at Ninove under the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Holstein Ploen The King after his usual Divertion went on the 27th of May from Breda to Ghent where the Inhabitants made great preparations to receive him with demonstrations of Joy suitable to what they owed to so great a King and the Protector of their Country and could not have done more to their own Sovereign the King of Spain had he come among them But though the King ordered the Rendesvouz of his Army in the foresaid place and that the Elector himself advanced towards the Scheld yet it is very likely that at the very beginning of the Campaign His
Majesty's real design was to Besiege Namur for the Elector of Bavaria had Orders to Detach the Earl of Athlone with 40 Squadrons of Horse towards Lovain and in lieu thereof the King reinforced the Elector with some other Brigades which being done the King's Army marched from Arseel to Becelar On the 3d of June in the Evening His Majesty went to view the Enemies Lines where he found the main Body of their Army incamped within them standing to their Arms as expecting to be Attacked But though there was no probability of Success in forcing of their Lines yet it was convenient for the Confederates to further their Designs to get the French to bring all their Forces for the defence of them and therefore the Elector of Bavaria likewise decamped on the 4th of June from Ninove and incamped on the 6th between the Lys and the Soheld near the Lines also but was quickly fronted here by the Marshal dâ— Boufflers So that things being in this disposition and that the King could have easily bombarded Ipres yet he thought it better if possible to take in the Fort of Kenock and to that end the Duke of Wirtemburg was sent with a Detachment to Attack it This though it was done with very great Application and Vigour and with the loss of a pretty many Men and that he had possessed himself after a long resistance of the Redoubt Pintele and lodged himself in the Intrenchment of a little Bridge upon the Canal over against the Fort yet finding at length it was impossible to hinder the communication of the Fort with the Body under Montal who lay so posted that he could supply it with Men and Provisions as he pleased it was judged unadvisable to lose any further time which might be improved to better advantages And therefore the King and his Generals finding that Villeroy would not stir out of his fastnesses fully concluded upon the siege of Namur and in order thereunto the Army marched on the 19th to Rosalaer where the King left them under the Prince de Vaudemont and on that Day early in the Morning went towards the Meuse in order to this great Work There had been all this time vast preparations making at Maestricht of Artillery Mortars Bombs and all manner of Ammunition and all the Boats of the Meuse were detained at Liege Maestricht and Huy for the service of the States And tho' all this threatned Namur yet the French had brought all their Forces within their Lines without keeping any Body to guard the Passages of the Sambre But however this came about the King who as we have said was moving towards the Meuse sent in the mean time Orders to my Lord of Athlone encamped at Tilmont and to the Brandenburg and Liege Forces now come as far as Falise upno the Mehaigne to invest Namur My Lord of Athlone accordingly marched on the 17th Old Stile with the body of Horse under his command and incamped between Malevre and Perwys on the 18th between la Falise and Templonee where being joyned by the Brandenburg Troops he left a good Body of Horse next day at la Falise and with the rest of the Troops marched towards Charleroy This motion put the French in suspence whether the Confederates designed to Attack Namur or Charleroy and made the Marquess of Harcourt who had passed the Meuse near Dinant to reinforce the Garrison of Charleroy with a Body of Dragoons But my Lord of Athlone having passed the Sambre at Chasselet below Charleroy marched again down the Sambre towards Namur and pressed all the Boats upon the River to make a Bridge of Communication which were brought down to the Abby of Floref upon the Sambre 2 Leagues from Namur so that the Earl took all the â—osts from the Sambre to the Meuse of the Town-side about la Falise But all the other side of the Meuse lay open for want of Troops enough to do it at once which gave the Marshal de Boufflers an opportunity with 8 Regiments of the best Dragoons in the Army to throw himself into the place but he sent back most of the Dragoons Horses But while this was doing the Elector of Bavaria's Army which was nearest marched with wonderful Celerity to carry on this famous Siege so that all the Posts were taken about Namur by the 23d of June the King being come up the Day before to it It is from this Day forward that we must reckon the investing of it and here before we go any further we are to observe that the place had very much changed Conditions since it fell into the French Hands who spared no Charges to put their Frontier Garrisons into the best Defence they could For the Town at the time of their taking it was but weak being absolutely commanded by a steep Hill that hangs just over it from the Port de Fer to that of St. Nicholas near the Meuse so that they had the liberty to bring down their Batteries at first to the descent of that Hill and to open their Trenches at the foot of it near the Meuse so that it did not then hold out above 5 or 6 Days But now to add a very considerable strength to this weak part of the Town the French had made a detacht Eastion upon the ascent of the Hill before St. Nicholas Gate all of Stone Work with a Casemotte upon it Bomb proof the Counter-scarp of the French Fasse of Free Stone and the covered way the same which pointed just upon the top of the Hill So that no Cannon from the Plain could bear upon this Work upon the Hill but the Confederates were necessitated to batter it in reverse from the other side of the Meuse from the Brandenburg-Batteries which required some Time before they coâ—ld bring them to the Water-side But this was not all for upon the Right towards the Port de Fer they had made 2 or 3 detached â—astions of the same Work just upon the Brow of the Hill and at the Foot of the same before the Port de Fer and between the Hill and the Brook of Werderin they had a 4th which hinder'd the Avenues between the Hills to this Gate The Plain upon these Hills was fortified with a double Covered Way Pallisadoed to defend these detached Bastions towards the Village of Bouge And when the Confederates were Attacking the place they were working at a 3d nearer to the brow of the Hill just before these Works so that the Town which before was but weak was now by these additional Works exceeding strong and held out longer than the Castle Again the French attack'd the Castle and Cohorn-Fort upon the top of the Hill between the Sambre and the Meuse and this they took care to fortifie afterwards so as to leave it almost unattackable the same way they took it before Cohorn or William's Fort fell into their Hands by driving their Trenches round the Work along the bottom between it and the Terra Nova
or Upper Castle which Work being embraced and all manner of Communication cut off was forced to Surrender But the French to prevent such a Method of proceeding another time built a strong Stone Redoubt just upon the top of the Hill between the Cohorn and Terra Nova with a Case-mott upon it Bomb-proof and this Work commands all this Bottom unto the Sambre before which Work they had also made a very good Covered Way pallisadoed from the Angle of the Gorge of the Cohorn to the Brink of the Hill upon the Meuse Add to this a very good Half-moon they had made upon the Curtain of the Horn-work of the Terra Nova besides their fortifying of the Devil's House which flanks the sides of the Cohorn towards the Meuse with a strong Stone Redoubt which place when the Spaniards had it had but a simple Retrenchment about it and yet it held out 4 or 5 Days From the upper part of the Cohorn which is towards the Meuse they had made a very good Covered Way that goes about before the forementioned Redoubt to the Edge of the Hill upon the Meuse they had undertaken a prodigious Line cut into a Rock all along the top of the Hill near an English Mile in length terminating upon the Edge of the Hill towards the Sambre and the same Hill towards the Meuse with two Redoubts at each end The Line was finished and the Redoubt towards the Meuse very forward but that toward the Sambre was but just begun which they made up with Fascines upon the Arrival of the Confederates before the Place And in short the Castle was so strongly fortify'd upon the top of the Hill with all these Outworks that it would have been a very tedious piece of Work for the Confederates to have attack'd it this way But the weak side of the Castle and Cohorn was towards the Sambre and the Town and the French had not provided for an Attack on that side so that all those prodigious Works fell into the Confederates Hands in less time than the French had taken this Place before tho' then far inferiour to what it is now in Strength and Fortifications To which if you add the Strength of the Garrison being computed at near 14000 Men and most of them the best Troops of France headed by a Mareschal of France and assisted by Major General de Megrigny one of the ablest Engineers in Europe it would look little less than a Wonder that the Confederates should carry it But now its time to come to some Particulars After the Place had been invested the King ordered the Earl of Athlone with most of the Cavalry to the Plains of Flerus and so to the Pieton to consume the Forage that was there and a good Reinforcement from the Army under Prince Vaudemont to march towards Namur where on the 27th of June the Besiegers began to work on the Lines of Circumvallation traceing the Ruines of that which the French had made when they besieged the place but for want of their Cannon coming up they did not open their Trenches till the first of July which was done without considerable Disturbance from the French But by the 3d their Cannon began to play from a Battery of 3 Pieces of Cannon from the de Bouge against the Old Tower and from the Edge of the Height of St. Barbe On the 4th a Detachment was sent to reinforce the Prince de Vaudemont upon an Information that the Duke de Villeroy designed to attack him who to that end had made his Army as strong as possible and passing the Lys advanced to St. Barbon of whose Motion the Prince being aware he made a Movement of his Camp at Woutergaem to bring his Right more to the Reer to take up the rising Ground of Arseel which he judged more defensible and then ordered Retrenchments to be made upon the Left towards the Lys and Walken as they also fortified all the rising Grounds upon the right of Arseel The Prince had then with him about 50 Battalions of Foot and 51 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and with these Forces he was then resolved to expect the Mareschal de Villeroy though the latter had near double the number with which he was marching upon the 4th of July towards him and came up early enough to have attacked him But whether it was that he found the Prince's Camp so strongly fortifyed or that he would not then hazard a Battle or that he had Orders to stay till Montal had taken his Post in the Reer of the Prince's Right Wing between Arseel and Wirk to attack him there he remained in sight of them that Evening expecting to have fallen upon the Prince very early in the Morning and in a manner to have caught him in a Net by invironing him on the Right But the Prince being informed of Montal's Motion and finding he had already passed the Thielt wisely changed his Resolution of Fighting and though the time was very urgent and pressing he immediately with a most admirable Judgment resolved upon and contrived a Retreat and as he is a Person of very great foresight he had wisely provided for such an Accident in the Morning by ordering all the Baggage to load immediately and to March by the way of Deinse to Ghent that it might not embarrass the motion of the Army First the Prince ordered the Cannon to be drawn off of the Batteries and to March towards Deinse which was done with that Secrecy that the Enemy did not perceive it for he had cunningly ordered the Artillery to be moving from the Batteries all the Afternoon so that when it went clear off the Enemy thought it had been but the ordinary Motion Then marched the two Lines of Foot upon the Left along the Retrenchment to cover which the Prince ordered a Body of Horse to go and post themselves in the Retrenchment as it was quitted by the Foot the Foot at the same time marching out with their Pikes and Colours trailing to conceal their going off Neither did the Enemy perceive this Motion till the Cavalry mounted again and abandoned the Retrenchment By which time the Infantry was got into the Bottom between Arseel and Wouterghem marching towards Deynse But while the Foot were filing off from the Retrenchment the Prince ordered Monsieur Overkirke with the Right Wing of the Horse interlined with Collier's Brigade of Foot to make a Line falling towards Caneghem extending himself from the Wind-mill of Arseel towards Wink And this Motion was in order to make Montal believe that this Line was designed to oppose his Attempt upon the Rear of the Prince's Right but his secret Orders were to march off by Wink to Nivelle and so to Ghent At the same time that the Foot marched by Wouterghem and Deynse the Earl of Rochford who was posted with the Left Wing of Horse and two Battalions towards the Lys made the Rear-Guard towards the Left with a Line of Foot upon the one
Confederates a breathing time for the Siege of the Castle and see how it fared with the French else-where But if the Confederates seemed thus to grow over the French by Land the latter were much more despicable by Sea where they had no Fleet in the Channel and the English and Dutch at full Liberty to insult them in their own Ports as they did divers ways And first they began with St. Malo's where the Lord Berkley with the Fleet under his Command arrived on the 4th of July gave the Signal next day for the Frigats to stand in to the Channel with the Bomb Galliots and to attack the Town Whereupon Captain Bembow going on Board the Charles Gally by 6 in the Morning was ready to Sail as Captain Durley at the same time Commander of the Fire-ship called the Charles and a Dutch Fire-ship had Orders to bear up with the Rock de la Coucâ—ee and attack it and afterwards to set fire to the Vessel which was vigorously put in Execution and a little after the Fort took Fire but whether by the burning of the Fire-ships or the fall of the Bombs is uncertain However it were the Fire lasted for two Hours but this was not enough for our Galliots and Frigats having got in about 7 in the Morning the former stood in so near that in charging the Bombs they were forced to lessen the weight of the Powder otherwise they would have gone beyond the Mark So that about 10 the Fire took in several parts of the East-end of the Town and about 2 in the Afternoon they could see a great Fire kindled in the middle of the Town that continued burning till Night and could not be quenched without blowing up several Houses that were near They threw no less than 900 Bombs into the place a great part of which was reduced to Ashes and the English were perhaps the more forward in putting this design in Execution because we had suffered more in our Traffick and Navigation by the Privateers of this place than from all the Ports of France besides But though the English might and really did Exaggerate in some measure the French loss they on the other hand made it so diminitively little as to appear in it self very ridiculous Granville another Town not far from it ran the same fate and some of the French themselves have frankly acknowledged this place to be reduced to Ashes But how different soever the Relations may be in respect to these places as they were afterwards as to the Bombing of Calais which hapned to be about the middle of Aug. and the design upon Dunkirk the French Court did not like them as we shall see by and by to whose Army under Mounsieur Villeroy we are now returning and see whether their Acquisitions did in any degree counterballance the Losses they had already sustained and whereof more was to follow After the Mareschal had failed in his Design upon Prince Vaudemont as also against Newport as we have before Noted he chose rather to play at a small Game than to stand out and therefore he order'd Montal to lay Siege to Dixmude which though of it self but a very weak Place yet considering the Goodness of the Garrison it might have made a better Defence or at least have got better Conditions than to be made Prisoners of War But if there was any Treachery in the matter the Governour Major General Ellenburg paid dear for it with the Loss of no less than his Head and the Garrison with hard Usage and a tedious Imprisonment by the French who would not release them according to the Cartell till another Accident hapned that brought them to a better Temper Deinse also a Defenceless place and its Garrison ran the same Fate but though this came vastly short of Namur yet the Damage done to Brussells as it was of the same nature with our attacking the Maritime Towns of France so the same was very considerable But Monsieur Villeroy being come to Anderleck would first to shew his Civility and his Master's Goodness send a Letter to the Governour the Prince of Berghen Dated Aug. 13th to this Purpose THE King being full of Goodness towards his Subjects and Care to contribute to their Defence seeing the Prince of Orange sends his Fleet upon the Coasts of France to Bombard his Sea-Port Towns and endeavour to Ruin them without getting any other Advantage by it has thought that he could not put a stop to such Disorders but by using Reprisals which is the Reason that His Majesty has sent me an Order to come and Bombard Brussels and at the same time to declare that 't is with Reluctancy that the King has put himself upon it and that as soon as he shall be assured that the Sea-Ports of France shall be no more Bombarded the King likewise will not Bombard any Places belonging to the Princes against whom he is at War reserving nevertheless the Liberty on both sides to do it in such Places as shall be Besieg'd His Majesty has resolved upon the Bombarding of Brussels with so much the more Pain that the Electress of Bavaria is there If you will let me know in what part of the Town she is the King has commanded me to forbid to fire there I shall stay for your Answer till Five of the Clock in the Evening after that I shall obey the Orders the King has given me without delay The Contents of this Letter were looked upon very strange and as it gave an evident Proof of the Damages done their Sea-Port-Towns by our Fleet and that the same did very much affect them so the Compassion pretended for the safety of this City was irreconcileable to the Course of their Actions during the whole Management of the War However the Prince after having Communicated this Letter to the Elector of Bavaria who was come in great haste to Brussels upon this Occasion from the Camp before Namur sent the following Answer THE Declaration you have sent me of the Orders you have from the King your Master to Bombard the Town of Brussels and the Reason which his said Majesty does alledge upon which you demand an Answer it cannot be given by his Electoral Highness who is just now arriv'd since it regards the King of Great Britain who is before the Castle of Namur but his Electoral Highness will acquaint him with it to have an Answer in 24 Hours if you agree to it As for the Consideration his Most Christian Majesty has for the Electress she is at the King's Palace I need not tell the World the Fate of this poor City the French Bombs having had but too much Success in reducing a great part of it to Ashes But with this they were not yet satisfied to relieve Namur was their great design to which end Villeroy being reinforced with all the Troops that could be spared out of the Garrisons and the Forces from the Sea Coasts and in Expectation
Attempt upon the Breach Upon this Re-inforcement of Dutch and Bavarians at this Attack by my Lord Cutts and the English Troops under his Command the Enemies were so employed in the Defence of this most dangerous Post as very much facilitated Major General la Cave's Enterprize upon the cover'd way before the Ravelin and upper Point of the Cohorne and so on towards the Casotte where he lodg'd himself without any considerable Loss Major General Swerin commanding the Right Attack of all before the Casotte and so towards the Mâ—use designing to beat the Enemies from the cover'd Way and Retrenchment between the Casotte and the Mâ—use which reaches to the Brow of the Hill which has here a very steep Descent to the River over-came the Enemies Resistance and made a very good Lodgment all along this cover'd Way and Retrenchment of about 300 Paces which he extended to the Left turning in towards the Cohorne about 140 Paces more to join it to that of Major General la Cave which reached to the Ravelin of the Cohorne The Dutch and Bavarians commanded at first by Major General Rivera carry'd it to the Angle saillant or inferiour Point of the Cohorne towards the Sambre and our rally'd Forces continued it to the other side of this Angle before the Breach so that our Men were now Masters of one of the greatest Lodgments that ever has been made in one Assault being near an English Mile in length Tho' they miscarried in the great Design of this General Storm which was to have taken the Castle with all its prodigious Out-works by Assault for want of a due Correspondence among our several Attacks either by the Failure or Mistake of the Signals Such a vast Lodgment could not be done in a Moment the Assault lasted till the Evening nor could it be gained without Loss I have not seen the particular List of the Foreigners but the Chief Officers among them killed were Count Rivera Major General of the Bavarians and Envoy Extraordinary from the Elector of Bavaria to condole his Majesty upon the Death of our late most Gracious Queen Monsieur de Marsilly Colonel commanding the Regiment du Thei l and Fabrice Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Lindroot of the Brandenburghers and Heckeren of the Dutch Their Chief Officers wounded were the Prince of Holstein Norburg Brigadier the Colonels Lindsburg Caunits Horne d' Ohna and Denhoff and Monsieur de Millune Colonel of a Swiss Regiment besides a great many Lieutenant Colonels Majors Captains and Subaltern Officers The General Computation in those Times was that it cost the Besiegers between 1500 and 2000 Men and about two Thirds of that Number to the Besieged tho' without any Certainty However it were there was now no looking back for the former and therefore the Cannon thunder'd continually against the Castle the two succeeding days and they continued to work hard to bring their Mine to Perfection under the Breach of the Cohorne when on the 22d about Noon the Besieged beat a Parly to bury their Dead that had been slain in the last Assault But now at length considering how hard they were pressed both from within and from without and that there was no likelihood of being relieved they turned their Thoughs wholly to Capitulate to which end the Count de Guiscard came upon the Breach a little before the Cessation was over and called for the Major General of the Trenches and told him That he desired to speak with the Elector of Bavaria who having immediately Notice went there-upon to the Breach to whom the Count offered to surrender the Cohorne-Fort But his Electoral Highness refusing to Capitulate for any part but the whole the Count replied That the Mareschal de Boufflers commanded in the Castle and that he would let him know and desired that in the mean while the Cessation might be continued The Result of this was an Agreement to surrender all upon honourable Terms and the Exchange of Hostages Whereupon an Express was immediately dispatched to give the King an Account thereof at Ostin but his Majesty with the Prince de Vaudemont was then coming to the Siege in his Coach to order a second Assault when he met the Express by the Way The Capitulation was agreed on and signed that very Night and the Count de Guiscard obliged the Mareschal de Boufflers to sign it because he had commanded in the Castle during the Siege whereas the Count had only commanded in the Cohorne and the Out-works and so could not sign for the Surrender of the other part And perhaps this was the first Capitulation that was ever signed by a Mareschal of France and so much the more to the Honour of the Confederate Arms who took this almost impregnable Place from a compleat Army within it headed by a Mareschal of France in the sight of 100000 Men without that came to relieve it but could only remain Spectators of their Bravery As it was to the Amazement of the French themselves who had made such additional Fortifications to it as they presumed could never be forced and therefore they set up this Inscription over one of its Gates Reddi non vinci potest But none can pretend to so much Glory from this Conquest as the King of Great Britain under whose Conduct and Direction all was happily atchieved it being unversally acknowledged by all as well Enemies as Friends That no Siege was ever carried on with greater Regularity The same Evening that the Castle capitulated Orders were given in his Majesty's Camp for all the Officers to lie in their Clothes and the Soldiers to do the same with their Arms ready and 60 Men out of each Battalion were commanded to re-inforce the Pass at Massy All this being done to prevent all manner of Surprize from the Enemy who upon the News of the Capitulation might have presumed upon the Confederates Negligence and fall upon them or they might have been prompted to it by their own Despair But they were so far from the one or the other that the Mareschal de Villeroy when he had notice of the Capitulation was so extremely concerned at it that for some Hours he would admit no Body to him and at length he marched away to the Plains of Flerus with so much Haste and Precipitation that he left many of his Foragers and Out-guards behind him But if the Mareschal had Reason thus to be sorry and to precipitate his Retreat the Confederrtes had no less cause of Rejoycing and therefore after they had taken Possession of the Cohorne they prepared all things forthwith to discharge their Guns for Joy for dispersing their Men in their several Posts from Massy to the Meuse along their Retrenchments The Confusion of the Fire from so many different Places was very agreeable and the Tripple Discharge of their Small-shot seemed to be but one of a long Continuance And now it is time we should come to the Evacuation of the Place and to give an Account of the
over the Christistians Left Wing But they being soon rallied and reinforced the Turks were several times beaten back and after a Fight that lasted for 3 Hours forced to yield the Field of Battle to the Victorious Christians with the loss of about 3000 Men slain upon the Spot besides Prisoners and to retire into their Retrenchments which they quitted next Night and retreated silently out of the Morea But with so much haste that they left in their Camp behind 14 Pieces of Cannon 2 Mortars a good number of Bombs great store of Ammunition and Provision 2 Standards several Tents 700 Head of Oxen and 300 Cammels and Horses as a Booty to the Conquerors whose loss amounted to about 500 Men and who by this brave Action prevented the Ravaging of the whole Morea and the Besieging of Napoli di Romania by Land while the Turkish Fleet blocked it up by Sea as the Infidels had concerted their Design But I do not find the Venetians made any Improvement of this Victory tho' it hapned timely enough in the Summer However it was exceeding brave of them and the Germans too in comparison of the Poles which Army I think hardly ever turned out of their Quarters this Season and the chief business of whose King was to endeavour though in vain to mediate a reconciliation between the Bishop of Vilna and the General of Lithuania whom the former excommunicated for quartering of some Troops within his Jurisdiction A hard Case upon a Prince to have his measures broken in relation to the Campaign as himself told the Deputies of the said Bishop thro' the feuds of a couple of humorous Subjects But thus it is to hold a precarious Crown And as for the Muscovites all that we heard of them this Summer was their march against the Tartars but nothing of Action save the blocking up of Asoph of which you will hear more next Year It remains now that we return homewards and briefly see what had been doing before the Conclusion of the Year His Majesty after so glorious a Campaign as before mentioned hasted for England and being arrived to the gladning of the Hearts of all his honest Subjects on the 11th of Oct. at his Palace at Kensington He called a Council that very Night and a Proclamation was ordered to be issued fourth for the Dissolving of the then Parliament and calling a new one to meet upon Nov. 22d following Soon after this the Great Duke of Tuscany's Envoy whose Master was grown mighty good Natur'd since our Fleet went into the Streights had his Audience of His Majesty to Congratulate his Happy Accession to the Throne but this was somewhat like to that of the Ilienses which we Read of in Suetonius who coming a Day after the Fair to Condole with the Emperor Tiberius for the Death of his Son Drusus the other made them Answer And I also Condole with you the Death of your great Countryman Hector This being over His Majesty went a short Progress and the day of the Parliaments sitting being come he spake to them to this Effect My Lords and Gentlemen IT is with great Satisfaction that I meet you here this Day being assured of a good Disposition in my Parliament when I have had such full Proofs of the Affection of My People by their Behaviour during My Absence and at My Return I was engaged in the present War by the Advice of My first Parliament who thought it necessary for the Defence of Our Religion and for the Preservation of the Liberties of Europe The last Parliament with great Chearfulness did assist Me to carry 〈◊〉 on and I cannot doubt but that your Concern for the Common Safety will oblige you to be unanimously zealous in the Prosecutio◠of it And I am glad That the Advantages which We have had this Year give Vs a Reasonable Ground of hoping for farther Success hereafter Vpon this Occasion I cannot but take Notice of the Courage and Bravery the English Troops have shewn this last Summer which I may say has answered their highest Character in any Age. And it will not be denied That without the Concurrence of the Valour and Power of England it were impossible to put a Stop to the Ambition and Greatness of France Gentlemen of the House of Commons I think it my great Misfortune That from the Beginning of My Reign I have been forced to Ask so many and such large Aids of My People And yet I am confident you will agree with Me in Opinion That there will be at least as great Supplies requisite for Carrying on the War by Sea and Land this Year as were Granted in the last Session and the rather because Our Enemies are Augmenting their Troops and the Necessity of Increasing Our Shipping does plainly appear The Funds which have been given have proved very deficient The Condition of the Civil List is such that it will not be possible for Me to subsist unless that Matter be taken into your Care And Compassion obliges Me to mention the miserable Circumstances of the French Protestants who suffer for their Religion And therefore Gentlemen I most earnestly recommend to you to prouide a Supply suitable to these several Occasions I must likewise take notice of a great Difficulty We lie under at this time by reason of the ill State of the Coin the Redress of which may perhaps prove a further Charge to the Nation But this is a Matter of so general Concern and so great Importance that I have thought fit to leave it entirely to the Consideration of My Parliament I did recommend to the last Parliament the Forming some good Bill for the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen I hope you will not let this Session pass without doing something in it And that you will consider of such Laws as may be proper for the Advancement of Trade and that you will have a particular Regard to that of the East-India's lest it should be lost to the Nation And while the War makes it necessary to have an Army abroad I could wish some Way might be thought of to Raise the necessary Recruits without giving Occasion of Complaint My Desire to meet My People in a New Parliament has made the Opening of this Session very late which I hope you will have such Regard to as to make all possible Dispatch of the great Business before you And also that you will call to mind that by the long Continuance of the last Session We did not only lose Advantages which We might have had at the Beginning of the Campaign but gave the Enemy such an Opportunity as might have proved very fatal to us And I am the more concerned to press this because of the great Preparations which the French make to be early in the Field this Year My Lords and Gentlemen I have had such Experience of your good Affections and I have such an entire Satisfaction in the Choice which My People have made of you Gentlemen
of the House of Commons that I promise My Self an happy Conclusion of this Session unless you suffer your selves to be mis-led into Heats and Divisions Which being the only Hope Our Enemies have now left I make no Doubt but you will entirely disappoint them by your Prudence and Love to your Country We will leave the Parliament to deliberate upon the mighty Affairs contained in this Speech as we do Admiral Sir George Rook to go into the Streights in the room of Admiral Russel now come home with our great Ships and observe according to our Custom in the Conclusion of the Year what has fallen out that was particularly remarkable in the Course of it that could not well be introduced into the Body of the Story and we find only this that Anselm Francis Frederick de Angelheim Bishop of Mentz departed this Life on the 30th of March being extreamly aged after having held that Bishoprick about 16 Years and was succeeded in the Bishoprick and Electorate by Lothair Francis de Schonborn his Coad jutor and Bishop of Bemberg year 1696 Now we begin with another Year and without the least Recapitulation of what preceded we come to take notice That though our Arms had triumphed abroad in the manner already related yet never was a Nation under such unhappy Circumstances as England at this time where Guineas were at an exorbitant Price and our Silver Coin through the Wickedness of Villanous Men reduced to such a state that nothing but the Wisdom of such a Parliament as then sate and of him that was at the Head of them could possibly have gone through with the Amendment of it But though the matter was managed with admirable Prudence and Celerity so as that an Act was ready and Signed early in Jan. for the remedying the ill State of our Coin Yet it put such a general Stop to Trade and gave such an occasion of Uneasiness to all in general and such an opportunity for the Malecontents to be practising their Villanies against the Government that I dare avow it would have been endured in no other Reign save that of our good and heroick Kingâ— nor so well then neither save something that happened in consequence of it which gave an opportunity to secure all that were suspected to be troublesome and which turned the worst of Mischiefs to the best Effects according to the Disposition of Divine Providence that had always appeared very remarkable in the preservation of that Sacred Life whom we shall never sufficiently value But to give a little Sceach of what was preludious to the Discovery of that damnable Design against His Majesty's Person we are to understand that the French finding themselves considerably upon the losing Hand last Campagne not only made divers new Levies this Winter but divers Troops filed off daily towards the Sea-Coast which gave great Umbrage to the Confederates and especially to Holland as fearing they might be designed to infest the Coasts of Zealand and Flanders But the Design was quickly unravel'd for many Days in February had not been gone but that it was a publick Discourse in France That the Intent was to re-establish the late King upon the Throne and that the Design was so far concerted that nothing more remained but the Winds and the Waves to do their part In order to this the late King on the 18th of February took Post for Calais and immediately upon his Arrival the Troops Artillery and Stores were ordered to be put on Board with the utmost Diligence while News was impatiently expected from England to set Sail And so Cock-sure were they in France of the Success of the Enterprize that the Duke of Orleans in consideration of his near Alliance with the Duke of Savoy and with an assured Prospect of the Overthrow of most of the Confederates sollicited that Prince in a very pressing manner to make his Peace betimes But if they were so mightily alarmed before on the other side of the Water at these Preparations they were much more now when they heard of the late King's Arrival at Calais which made the Duke of Wirtemberg immediately to dispatch one of his Aids de Camp for England to give his Majesty notice of all this The Prince de Vaudemont who was then at Brussels with the Elector of Bavaria both dispatched Expresses also to the King by way of Holland upon the same account But the Duke of Wirtemberg's Messenger going directly by the way of Newport with great Difficulty in escaping the Enemy got to Court first which was on the 22d of Feb. and acquainted his Majesty that the Duke had stopped all the Ships in the Harbor and Canal of Ostend as well as that of Bruges in order to transport the Forces over for his Service And 't was further said he should send word That in case he did not hear quickly from his Majesty he would run the hazard of bringing them over The States of Holland made the like Preparations at Sas van Ghent But notwithstanding all the Expedition used by the Duke of Wirtemberg's Aid de Camp the King had received before some certain Intimations not only of the Invasion but also of the Conspiracy against his Person But because such desperate Designs as these are cannot be thought to be concerted in a Day it will be necessary to look a little back and search into the very beginning of it as far as could be discovered from such Hellish Darkness It was as early as the latter end of 1694. that the Embrio of the Villany was contrived and because some might be brought to engage in such an Assassination who otherwise scrupled it unless they had a Commisssion from the late King for that purpose it was agreed that one Mr. Waugh should go visit his Friends the Jacobites in England and to give those of them he most confided in an Account that their Friends in France thought the killing of King William the most effectual means to restore their old Master Jemmy And in order to assure them of his Concurrence in the Fact they should have a Commission from him to command the doing it and an Order to all his general Officers then in England to be aiding and assisting in it To corroborate this Assurance Major Crosby came at the same time over and affirmed he saw the Commission Signed and under Seal in France that it was sent away before him and if it was not already come he was certain it was upon the Road. But however it came about and that the Project was to cut the King off before he went to Holland blessed be God it took not effect Yet that it was really intended is manifest from the Lady Mary Fenwick's Petition praying a Reprieve for Sir John her Husband delivered afterwards to the House of Lords But though His Majesty got safe and escaped the intended Fatal Stroak the restless Spirits of those wicked Men some whereof were born to be hanged would not let
them give over their Villany and therefore they had several Meetings about it and one particularly where were my Lord Aylsbury my Lord Montgomery Sir John Friend Sir William Perkins Sir John Fenwick Mr. Charnock Mr. Cook Captain Porter and Mr. Goodman who came in after Dinner There they consulted of the best way to restore the late K. James and all agreed to send a Messenger over to the late King to desire him to procure of the French King 10000 Men viz. 1000 Horse 1000 Dragoons and 8000 Foot Mr. Charnock was the Person to manage this Affair who said he would not go on a foolish Errand and therefore would know what the Company would do if Foreign Forces could be procured whereupon they all unanimously promised if the late King would come over with such a number of Men as was desired they would meet him at the head of 2000 Horse where-ever he would appoint At the latter end of June 1695. or the beginning of July they had another meeting when after many publick Discourses and private Whisperings Mr. Charnock desiring the Company to acquaint him whether they continued their former Resolutions they assured him they did and would meet him with the number of Men promised at the former Meeting Upon which Mr. Charnock told them he would begin the Journey in a few Days The Invasion being thus promoted by dispatching Mr. Charnock into France that the Assassination might not lag behind it some of the Assassins called to mind that nothing would be attempted in that kind till the Commission which Crosby said was upon the Road was come to their Hands Captain Porter and Mr. Goodman communicated the Project to Sir George Barclay who was then in England and upon his Departure for France telling him what Difficulties they laboured under for want of it and that a longer Delay of the Commission would extreamly embarrass the Affair Sir George not only approved but commended the Design and that such an hopeful Project might not miscarry he promised to use all his Interest when he came to St. Germain's that such a Commission should no longer be wanting This Encouragement from so considerable a Favourite as Sir George Barclay whose Bigottry to the Romish Perswasion and the late King's Interest would prompt them to any thing in favour of him employed all their Heads and opened all their Purses to contribute the last Assistance for the Accomplishment of the Assassination The Beginning of Aug. 1695. brings Mr. Charnock again to London with the unwelcome News That the French King was not in a Condition to spare the Jacobites such a Number of Men as they desired Which being imparted to the Chief of that Unruly and Blood-thirsty Faction the two Branches of the Conspiracy to overthrow the established Government were both laid aside till the approaching Winter should give them another Resurrection But in Nov. 1695 Sir George Barclay with several Officers and Soldiers and 800 l. in Mony came into England and and brought with him a Commission from King James all written with his own Hand to seize King William which Sir William Perkins confessed to a Committee of Parliament he saw But neither Sir George Barclay nor the Commission being yet in the Hands of the Government and the Jacobites ashamed to set up their late King and themselves under the infamous Title of Murtherers they minced the Matter into more relishable Terms and that it was only To levy War upon the Prince of Orange and all his Adherents Others said it was to attack the Prince of Orange in his Winter-Quarters All which are meer Tricks and Evasions invented by the Party to disguise the Horrour of the Action for the very Gloss which they themselves put upon it sets it in its true Light for all the Party knew the meaning of Attacking of the Prince of Orange as appears by Monsieur de la Rue's Oath who deposeth That when the Musquettoon was lent by Mr. Porter to Mr. Pendergrass which would carry six or eight Bullets Mr. King desired him when he shot at His Majesty not to be afraid of breaking the Glasses Sir George Barclay after his Arrival at London lodged in Covent-Garden and kept himself very private till he could speak with Sir William Perkins Captain Vaughan and Mr. Charnock and that the 22 Men who were sent by King James out of France and appointed to obey his Orders were come to London also And now they endeavoured to strengthen their Party by the Addition of more Friends as Mr. de la Rue Mr. Pendergrass Mr. Rookwood Major Lowick Mr. Knightley Mr. Bertram Chambers Durant Cramburne Kendrick Grimes Waugh and Goodman some of which were engaged in the designed Assassination the Year before and were now again confirmed in it As for Captain Porter who has now so honourably and honestly attoned for his former Offences they were sure of him already But to others in whom they had no more than ordinary Confidence they discoursed of the Assassination at a distance and if they found in them any Reluctancy or Indisposition to the Assassination they turned them over to the Invasion-Plot and desired them to be ready to meet their old Master at his Landing But to those whom Wickedness had made fit for any Impression they imparted their Villany in Words at length and so secured the whole Party either to be Rebels or Murtherers Those that came from France knew not what Affair they were sent upon till they arrived at London but were kept in a blind Obedience to Sir George Barclay's Orders as appears by the Depositions of Mr. George Horn who saith That he this Deponent was an Ensign of Foot under the late King James in Scotland and has since served in the Second Troop of Guards in France And about the 14th of Jan. 1695 King James sent for this Deponent and Michael Hore his Comrade and in the Queen's Bed-Chamber told him That he had now an Opportunity of doing something for him as a Reward of his faithful Services That he would send him into England where he should be provided for and that he should follow Sir George Barclay's Orders and in so doing he should take care of him That he had ordered them Mony for their Journey which they should receive from Mr. Caryll the late Queen's Secretary And he farther told this Deponent That he should find Sir George Barclay every Monday and Thursday between Six and Seven at Night in Covent-Garden Square whom they should know by a white Handkerchief hanging out of his Pocket He also told this Deponent That when he came to England he must go by the Name of Jenkins and his Comrade Hore by the Name of Guiney And farther this Deponent saith That Colonel Parker was present and heard all that the late King said and went with this Informant and his Comrade to Mr. Caryll and told him that the King had ordered each of them Ten Lovis de' Ors which would be sufficient to carry them
Invasion intended by King James upon England and that there was certain Intelligence of it from Abroad I presume every Body was satisfied and to the facilitating of which I own that my Self and some Others did agree upon the Undertaking To Attack the Prince of Orange and his Guards for which I am now to Suffer but I think my Self obliged by all the Tyes imaginable both of Conscience and Honour to declare That as for any Order or Commission of King James's for Assassinating the Prince of Orange I neither saw nor heard of any but have had frequent Assurances of his having rejected such Proposals when they have been offer'd I confess I did hear that there was a Commission arrived for Levying of War and which was natural to believe if the King was in such a readiness to come over as was reported but if there was any such Authority as that I declare I never saw it As to what regards the Body of the Roman Catholicks I must do them the Justice and which I dare to be positive in That they had no manner of Knowledge of this Design nor do I believe it was Communicated to any other Party of such as are reputed the King's Friends but carried on meerly by a small Number without the Advice Consent or Privity of any Parties whatsoever I ask forgiveness of all the World for what Offences or Injuries I have done to them and I am I bless Almighty God in perfect Charity with all Mankind Robert Charnocke Mr. KING's Paper I Am now within a few Moments of Eternity brought to this Place by the Just Hand of God in Punishment of all my Crimes but particularly of that of which I have been lately Arraigned and for which I stand here Condemn'd but I hope that Goodness of God which has given me a Sense of my Wickedness will accept my Repentance and shew Mercy on me which I hope to obtain thro' the Passion and Merits of my Redeemer upon whom I intirely cast my self And that I may find his Mercy I think my self oblig'd to do Justice to my Neighbour that so none may suffer wrongfully on my Account and therefore as I am soon to Answer the Truth of what I say before the Tribunal of God I First declare That I never saw any Order or Commission of King James's promoting the Asâ—â—ssination for which I am Condemned Neither do I know of any such Order or Commission Secondly That this Design was not undertaken with any General Knowledge or Approbation of any Body of Men either Catholick or Protestant Lastly That I did not engage in it on Presumption of any King-killing Principles that cou'd justifie such an Undertaking but was drawn into it by my own Rashness and Passion for which and all other Sins I heartily beseech God to forgive me And I hope that such who think the Misfortune of their Imprisonment or Trouble is deriv'd from my having been engaged in this Enterprize or such to whom it has any ways given scandal that they will admit me to their Pardon as I freely and heartily forgive all Mankind In this Disposition of a sincere Repentance and true Charity I commend my Soul into the Hands of God and hope to find Mercy from him And for this I beg all your Prayers Edward King Mr. KEY 's Paper I Am now going to appear before the Living God I trust in his Mercy that he will forgive all my Sins committed to this last moment of my Life God is just in all his Judgments and I accept of this Death as the Punishment of my Iniquities I forgive all my Enemies and hope through a hearty Repentance and the Merits of my Saviour to obtain Mercy Have Mercy on me O Father of Mercy and through thy only Son forgive me all my Sins Thomas Key The next turn was Sir John Friend's and Sir Will. Perkins both Tried Condemned and Executed in like manner for the same complicated Fact of the Assassination and Invasion which was owned by them also as appears by their own Words the first in these Terms Sir JOHN FREIND's Paper KNowing that I must immediately give an Account to God of all my Actions and that I ought to be especially careful of what I say in these last Hours I do solemnly profess That what I here deliver is from my very Soul with all the Heartiness and Sincerity of a dying Christian The Cause I am brought hither to suffer for I do firmly believe to be the Cause of God and True Religion and to the best and utmost of my Knowledge and Information agreeable to the Laws of the Land which I have evermore heard to require a firm Duty and Allegiance to our Sovereign and that as no Foreign so neither any Domestick Power can alienate our Allegiance For it is altogether new and untelligible to me that the King's Subjects can depose and dethrone him on any account or constitute any that have not an immediate Right in his Place We ought I think not to do this and surely when it is done to assist him in the Recovery of his Right is justifiable and our Duty And howsoever things may seem at present I do believe I am sure I heartily pray That he shall be one day restored to his rightful Throne and Dominions As for any sudden Descent of his Majesty upon these his Dominions in order to the Recovery of them I declare I had no certain knowledge of it nor can I tell what Grounds there was to believe it so little Reason had I to be in a present Preparation for it I suppose it is not expected I should endeavour to clear my self out of the Assassination which was not the thing alledg'd against me however it was mentioned through what means I know not As it was insinuated to my disadvantage I forgive such as were therein instrumental And I do also from the very bottom of my Soul freely forgive and beg of God to do so too suce as were any ways accessary towards the taking away my Life which I really look upon to be their Misfortune more than mine I profess my self and I thank God I am so a Member of the Church of England though God knows a most unworthy and unprofitable part of it of that Church which suffers so much at present for a strict adherence to Loyalty the Law and Christian Principles For this I Suffer and for this I Die Though I have a perfect Charity for People of all Professions and do heartily wish well and would endeavour so to do to all my Fellow-Subjects of what Persuasions soever And indeed I have met with a great deal of Uprightness and Sincerity among some People of very different Opinions in Religious Matters And I hope and desire it may not be taken as an uncharitable Censure or undue Reflection that I objected to the Legality of the Popish Evidence being advised so to do for my better Security upon the Foundation of a Statute-Law Having own'd
that I should have been very glad to have had a Horse but never had any And as for being concern'd in any Bloody Affair I never was in my Life but have done my Endeavour to prevent as much as I could on all Occasions and if the Killing the most miserable Creature in the World or greatest Enemy would now save my Life restore the King and make me one of the greatest Men in England I first would chuse to die because against the Law of God If any who are now Sufferers on this Account think I have been too forward and a Promoter of this Design I do now declare it was never my Inclination to do any rash thing However I beg their Pardons and of all the World I have offended either in Thought Word or any Action whatsoever and do freely forgive my Enemies and hope through the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have Remission of all my Sins Good God preserve the King Queen Prince and Princess and all that Royal Blood of Stewards and may England never want one of that direct Line to Govern them and make them once more Happy I have had the Honour to serve my Royal Master in several Commissions and the last as Major and strove ever to serve him to the best of my Power and even to be Just to those who I had the Honour to Command Lord Jesus into thy Hands I recommend my Spirit O Jesus receive my Soul Robert Lowick Brigadier ROOKWOOD's Paper HAving committed the Justice of my Cause and recommended my Soul to God on whose Mercies through the Merits of Jesus Christ I wholly cast my self I had once resolved to die in Silence but second Thoughts of my Duty to others chiefly to my True and Liege Soveraign King James moved me to leave this behind me I do therefore with all Truth and Sincerity declare and avow That I never knew saw or heard of any Order or Commission from King James for the Assassinating the Prince of Orange and Attacking his Guards but I am certainly inform'd That he the best of Kings had often rejected Proposals of that Nature when made unto him Nor do I think he knew the least of the particular Design of the Attacking the Guards at his Landing so much talk'd of in which I was engaged as a Soldier by my immediate Commander much against my Judgment but his Soldier I was and as such I was to obey and act according to Command These twelve Years I have served my true King and Master King James and freely now lay down my Life in his Cause I ever abhorr'd Treachery even to an Enemy If it be a guilt to have complied with what I thought and still think to have been my Duty I am guilty No other guilt do I own As I beg all to forgive me so I forgive all from my Heart even the Prince of Orange who as a Soldier ought to have consider'd my Case before he Sign'd the Warrant for my Death I pray God may open his Eyes and render him sensible of the much Blood from all Parts crying out against him so to prevent a heavier Execution hanging over his Head than what he inflicts on me Amb. Rookwood But I confess after all that the Shouting of the People at the Execution of some of these wretched Assassins was cruel and inhumane and two base a Triumphing over Misery which always deserves our Christian Compassion As soon as the News reached Flanders that the King was safe and England happily delivered from the two bloody Tempests that threaten'd her the Generals and it was thought to be the particular Contrivance of Prince Vaudemont bethought themselves of making an extraordinary Bonfire for Joy by burning the French Magazine at Givet To which End after several Orders and Countermands given to the Garrison of Namur the greatest part of them were ordered to march with Provision for six Days and being joined by several other Troops they crossed the Meuse on the 12th of March and were followed the next Day by the Horse under the Conduct of the Earl of Athlone and Major-General Cohorne and having crossed the River Leile the Earl with one part of this Body marched towards Dinant while Cohorne with the rest sate down before Givet And having got all things ready by the 16th in the Morning he began his Work about Seven a Clock with Bombs and Red-hot Bullets which first set fire to the Forage and at the same time a certain Number of Soldiers were commanded to enter the Town with lighted Flambeaux in their Hands who fired the Cazerns and other Edifices where the Magazines of Oats and other Provisions lay So that that vast Magazine was utterly consumed and all this performed with the Loss of not above 9 or 10 Men. But notwithstanding this considerable Advantage to the Confederates the Conspiracy in England and other more than ordinary Affairs before the Parliament had spun out so much Time that the King could not be so early in the Camp this Year as was designed who was himself also unwilling to leave his Kingdoms till the Arrival of the Fleet from Cales under Sir George Rook who had upon occasion of the first breaking out of the Plot Orders sent him to return home and safely came upon the Coast towards the latter end of April to the dissipating of the great Fears we were in lest the French Fleet from Thoulon should overtake and ruine him And indeed they were not far behind for before the Junction of those Men of War we had then in the Downs with some of Sir George's Squadron and that he could get upon the Coast of Brest in order to intercept and fight them they were got safe into that and the other Harbours of France So that the French took the Field before the Confederates to whom they were superiour at first in number till the Junction of the German Troops who ever came late which was at all times a prodigious Disadvantage to the Confederates So that what with these things but most of all for the extream Want of Mony to pay the Army now our Coin was called in the Confederates could not act Offensively as they had done the preceding Year But about the time that the King arrived at the Hague there happen'd something to fall out which began to savour of somewhat else than the Toils and Inconveniences of War for Monsieur Caillieri was come thither from France with Proposals towards concluding a general Peace by setling such Preliminaries as might be a sufficient Basis to ground a Treaty upon I do not know whether there was any real Disposition in the French Court to a general Peace before the Year 1695 but the loss of Namur Casall and other Disadvantages did without all doubt powerfully operate towards it and nothing could have retarded their Motions in order to it but the Plausibility of the Invasion against England and that in such an hazardous Juncture when our Coin was
the Po which being once effected the French could not think of Bombarding the Place or forcing the Confederates to a Battle But tho' this Treaty was concerted before amidst the Devotions at Loretto where such a Business could be managed without being observed by the Ministers of the Allies yet all the Artifice imaginable was made use of to cover the Matter for a Time To this End Catinat as we have said came from the Mountains of Savoy into the Plains of Turin threatning the Extirpation of the Name of the Piedmontois but stopped on a sudden till he had slipped the Opportunity And when he found he had given the Duke Time enough to fortifie himself and under pretence of strengthening the Army had got his Fortresses clear of the Confederate Troops the Mareschal removed farther off towards Pignerol which occasioned various Speculations And the more Clear-sighted began to suspect there was an Agreement under-hand patched up between the two Parties And there was an Adventure which happen'd much about the same time that sufficiently discovered the Secrecy of the French Court in the Matter as well as the Assurance they had of their Work being done on that side There was a Discourse of some Mis-understanding between the Mareschal de Caâ—inat and the Grand Prior of France while the Army lay at Rivalta For the Grand Prior urging two or three several times that the Mareschal had favourable Opportunities to have gained considerable Advantages over the Confederates and still desiring the Mareschal to make use of the Benefit of of Fortune's Offer the Mareschal as often put him off with Refusals which made the other in the height of his Zeal as believing the Mareschal to be guilty of Negligence or Cowardice to write his Accusations to the French King who could not forbear smiling all the while he read the Letter However he was so kind as to send him an Answer and to let him know that the Mareschal had obeyed his Orders and that he would soon see the Reasons of his pretended Negligence unravelled Not long after this on the 12th of July a Truce was concluded on for a Month the Consequence whereof was the Exchanging of Hostages and at last the final Conclusion of a Peace Which if it had been gained on the Duke's part without any Violation of his Honour was very advantageous to him and the rest of hâ—ly For the French made a Restitution to him of all the new Conquests they had made as also of Pignerol demolished gave him 4000000 of Livres towards the Reparation of the Damages he had sustained during the War engaged to assist him at the Charge of the French King with 8000 Foot and 4000 Horse and because the Knot should be tied fast enough his Daughter was to be married to the Duke of Burgundy without any Portion But I will not curtail the Treaty which was sign'd Aug. 29. and runs as follows THE Most Christian King having all along during this War maintained a sincere desire of procuring the Quiet of Italy and it having pleased Almighty God to inspire his Royal Highness with the same Thoughts his Majesty has given his full Power Commission and Command to the Sieur Rene de Troullay Count de Tesse Knight of the Orders of the King Lieutenant General of his Armies Colonel General of the Dragoons of France Governour of Ipres Lieutenant General for the King in the Provinces of Maine and Perche and at present Commanding for the King in the Countries and Places on the Frontiers of Piedmont His Royal Highness having likewise on his Part given his Power and Commands to the Sieur Charles Victor Marquess de Saint Thomas Minister of State and his said Royal Highness's Principal Secretary of State the said Plenipotentiaries having reciprocally Exchanged the Original of their Commissions by virtue of which they Treat have agreed on these following Articles I. That there shall be from henceforth and for ever a firm and sincere Peace between the King and his Kingdom and his Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy and his Dominions as if the said Peace had been never interrupted and the King resuming the same Sentiments of Bounty he hath heretofore had for his Royal Highness which he desires his Royal Highness to be perswaded of his Royal Highness doth by this present Treaty entirely renounce all Engagements and all Treaties made with the Emperor with the Kings and Princes comprehended under the Name of the League or Confederacy and doth undertake to employ all his Endeavours and to do all that he can in order to obtain of those Sovereign Powers at least of the Emperor and King of Spain a Neutrality for Italy until the General Peace shall be Concluded and to signifie their Consents by a particular Treaty which shall be made to that purpose or for want of such a Treaty by Declarations which the said Emperor and the King of Spain shall make to the Pope and to the Republick of Venice and which shall be at the same time followed by the Retreat and Withdrawing of all the Forces which the Allies have at present in Italy as it shall be hereafter more particularly specified And in case the above-mentioned Princes do not Consent to such a Neutrality in Italy at his Royal Highnesses's Instance to the Emperor and to the King of Spain his Royal Highness doth engage to enter into an Offensive and Defensive League with the King until a General Peace be Concluded acting jointly with his Majesty's and his own proper Forces as becomes good and sincere Allies for the Common Interest and to make War against the State of Milan and against all those who shall oppose this present Treaty's taking effect And as an evident Demonstration of a Return of the King's Amity towards his Royal Highness his Majesty does willingly Consent and doth Promise That the City and Cittadel of Pignerol the Fort of St. Bridgit the Perouse with other Forâ—â— depending on the same shall be Demolished as to the Fortifications only at the King's Charges and after the aforesaid Fortifications are Demolished they shall all be restored to his Royal Highness as well as all the Territories and Dominions comprised under the Name of the Government of Pignerol and which did belong to the House of Savoy before the Cession or Surrender that Victor Amadeus the first Duke of that Name made unto Lewis the XIIIth The which City dismantled Cittadel and demolished Forts and Territories shall be likewise Surrendred to his Royal Highness to be held in Soveraignty and to be by him enjoyed fully and perpetually by him and his Successors from henceforth as things to him of Right belonging By virtue of which present Surrender his Royal Highness doth Engage and Promise as well for himself his Heirs and Successors or others by any ways Claiming neither to Re-build noâ— cause to be Re-built the aforesaid Fortifications nor to cause any new ones to be Built upon and in the Space and Limits of the said Territories Funds
effectually and sincerely as he hath done in the fore-mentioned Articles all the Engagements which he might have had with the Enemies doth likewise hope that his Majesty will answer thereunto with all the Sentiments which his Royal Highness craves and wishes for and that having the Honour to be so nearly related to the King and of entring into a new and glorious Alliance with him his Majesty doth Grant and Promise to his Royal Highness as he doth demand his powerful Protection as formerly in all its Extent and as his Royal Highness is desirous to maintain a perfect Neutrality with the Kings Princes and Sovereign Powers who are at present his Allies his Majesty doth promise not to put any manner of Restraint on the Inclinations which his Royal Highness hath of continuing and using towards them all the external Measures of Decency and Freedom that are becoming a Sovereign Prince who hath Embassadors and Envoys at the Courts of those Princes and receives and entertains at his own Court Envoys and Embassadors from them and that the King shall in no ways take ill his so doing comprehending under that Word Princes the Emperor Kings and Sovereign Powers of Europe V. His Majesty doth ingage and declare That the ordinary and extraordinary Embassadors of Savoy shall receive at the Court of France all the Honours without Exception and with all the Circumstances and Ceremonies that are paid to the Embassadors of Crowned Heads that is to say they shall be received as Embassadors from Kings and that his Majesty's ordinary as well as extraordinary Embassadors in all the Courts of Europe without Exception and even the King's Embassadors at Rome and Vienna shall likewise treat and use the said ordinary and extraordinary Embassadors and Envoys from Savoy as they do those from Kings and Crowned Heads But in regard that this Addition of Honour as to the Treatment of the Embassadors from Savoy has been never hitherto settled nor raised to that Degree that his Majesty doth now allow it his Royal Highness is sensible and doth acknowledge that it is in Consideration of this Treaty or Contract of Marriage of the Duke of Burgundy with the Princess his Daughter and his Majesty doth promise that this Augmentation of Honour shall take Place from the Day that the aforesaid Treaty of Marriage is Signed VI. That the Trade between France and Italy shall be renewed and maintained in the same manner as it was settled before this War from the time of Charles Emanuel II. his Royal Highness's Father and the same shall be observed and practised in all Points and in all Places between the Kingdom and the several parts of his Majesty's Dominions and those of his Royal Highness's which was used and practised in all things in the Life-time of the said Charles Emanuel II. on the Roads of Suza in Savoy and Pont Beauvoisiâ— and Villefranche every one paying the Duties and Customs on both Sides the French Ships shall continue to pay the ancient Duties at Villefranche as it was wont to be paid in the time of the said Charles Emanuel about which there shall be no Contest or Opposition made any more than used to be done in those Days The Couriers and ordinary Poâ—â—s of France shall pass as formerly through his Royal Highness's Estates and Countries and according to the Regulations there they shall pay the Duties for the Merchandizes wherewith they shall be charged VII His Royal Highness shall cause an Edict to be published by which he shall upon the Penalty of severe corporal Punishments forbid the Inhabitants of the Vallies of Lucern called Vaudois to have any Communication in Matters of Religion with the King's Subjects and his Royal Highness shall engage not to suffer at any time from the Date of this Treaty any of his Majesty's Subjects to make any Settlement in the Protestant Vallies under Colour of Religion of Marriage or for any other Pretence of Settlement Conveniency taking Possession of Inheritances or any other Pretence whatsoever and that no Protestant Minister shall come thence into any of his Majesty's Dominions without incurring the severest corporal Punishments That however his Majesty shall take no Cognizance of his Royal Highness's Usage towards the Vaudois in regard of their Religion yet his Royal Highness shall be bound not to suffer the Exercise of the Reformed Religion in the City of Pigneroâ— nor in the Territories that are restored to his Royal Highness in like manner as his Majesty neither doth nor will allow the Exercise of it in his Kingdom VIII That there shall be on both sides a perpetual Act of Oblivion and Indemnity of all that has been done since the beginning of this War in what Place soever the Acts of Hostility have been committed That in this Act of Grace all those shall be comprehended who have served his Majesty in what Station soever although they were his Royal Highness's Subjects so that no Prosecution shall be made against them neither shall they be molested either in their Persons or Estates by Reprisals Executions or Judicial Processes or upon any pretext whatsoever and the King's Subjects that have served his Royal Highness shall be used in the like manner IX That Ecclesiastical Benefices in such parts of his Royal Highness's Country as hath been conquered by the King having been filled up by his Majesty from time to time as the same became vacant during the time that his Majesty possessed the said Countries it is agreed that the said Collation to Benefices shall be valid and the Persons who have been promoted by the King and invested by Authority of the Pope's Bulls shall remain in full Possession thereof But as to the Promotions to the Livings belonging to the Military Order of St. Maurice or to the Places of Judicature or Magistracy his Royal Highness shall have Liberty to alter the Nominations made by the King and all Grants made by his Royal Highness of Offices in the Law become vacant by the Person 's leaving them during the War shall remain good and valid X. As for Contributions that were imposed on the Lands of his Royal Highness's Dominions altho' they are lawfully imposed and are become due and that they amount to considerable Sums his Majesty does out of his Liberality fully discharge his Royal Highness of them so that from the Day of this Treaty's Ratification the King will not pretend to nor require any of the said Contributions leaving his Royal Highness in full Possession of his Revenues throughout his Dominions as well as in Savoy Nice about Pignerol and Suza his Royal Highness on the other side not demanding any Contributions of the King XI As to the Pretensions of the Dutchess of Nemours on his Royal Highness his Majesty leaves those Controversies to be determined among themselves by due Course of Law without concerning himself further therein XII That it shall be lawful for his Royal Highness to send Intendants and Commissaries into Savoy the Country of Nice the
Marquisate of Suza and Barcellonet into Pignerol and its Dependencies in order to Regulate his Interests Rights and Revenues and to settle his Customs and Excises upon Salt and other things And the said deputed Persons shall be admitted and authorised in their Offices immediately after the Ratification of this present Treaty after which the said Duties shall belong to his Royal Highness without Exception or Contradiction XIII That if the Neutrality for Italy be accepted or that a General Peace be Concluded as in such Cases a great many Troops would become altogether Useless and Chargeable to his Royal Highness and that besides the excessive Charges requisite for the maintaining of them they commonly become an occasion of creating a mis-understanding among Princes when more Troops are kept on Foot than are necessary in a State either for its own Conservation or for the maintaining of the Dignity of a Sovereign Prince his Royal Highness doth therefore oblige himself not to keep in times of Neutrality any more than Six thousand Foot on this side the Alpes and One thousand five hundred on the other side of the Mountains for the Garrisons of Savoy and of the County of Nice and One thousand five hundred Horse or Dragoons and this Obligation is to continue only till the General Peace be Concluded We the above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries have agreed upon and signed these present Articles and we do promise and engage to procure them to be ratified and confirmed by his Majesty and by his Royal Highness promising likewise that they shall be kept secret till the end of September next and if at that time new Articles are made to the same Sense and purpose then these shall be suppressed Dated at Turin the Twenty Ninth of August 1696. Rhene de Froullay and Saint Thomas And because some may be curious to see the French King's Act of Surrender of the Country of Savoy to the Duke it was conceived in these Terms BE it known to all Persons whatsoever That in pursuance of a Treaty of Peace made and signed between his most Christian Majesty Lewis XIV King of France and Navarre on the one part and his Royal Highness Victor Amadeus II. Duke of Savoy Prince of Piedmont King of Cyprus c. on the other Part That his most Christian Majesty hath given Orders to Monsieur Anthony Balthasar Marquiss de Thoy Major General of the Armies of France and Governour of Savoy to restore entirely to his Royal Highness all the Countries Places Castles and Fortresses of all Savoy except Montmilian and to draw out all the Troops that are there pursuant to his Majesty's Letters Patents To this end his Royal Highness hath sent the Marquiss of Thana Captain of his Life Guards Major General of his Army and Governour of Savoy with a Power to receive in his Royal Highness's Name all the said Estates and Places The said Marquiss de Thoy having therefore personally appeared in the Council-Chamber of the Town-Hall of Chambery and having there assembled the Nobility the Syndics and Counsellors of the said City and the said Marquiss of Thana there likewise appearing did then and there receive from the said Marquiss de Thoy an absolute and full Surrender in the Name of his most Christian Majesty of all the Countries and of all the Places of the Dutchy of Savoy Montmelian only excepted according to the Treaty of Peace The said Marquiss de Thoy expressing the same in these following Words viz. My Lord Marquess de Thana in Pursuance of an Order from the King my Master and according to the Power you have also received from his Royal Highness I do hereby make an entire Surrender and Restitution to his Royal Highness in your Person of all the Countries and Places and of all the Dependencies of the Estate of Savoy Montmelian excepted and his Royal Highness may accordingly dispose of the same in like manner as he had done before those Estates were conquered by the King 's Arms. To which the Marquiss of Thana answered That he received in his Royal Highness's Name the aforesaid Countries Places and Dependencies This done the Marquiss de Thoy repeated once more the Words of the said Surrender and then went out of the Town House Of all the aforesaid Transactions both the said Marquesses de Thoy and Thana caused an Act to be made before Publick Notaries which was signed Thoy de Pisâ—en Marquiss de Thana As Witnesses Syndics Favre de Charmettes Perin Cugnet Tonce Syndics I Jasper Chambet Notary and Burgess of Chambery have receiv'd and passed the present Act as required Signed G. Chambet Not. When the News of this procedure came our King was Encamped at Gemblours where Monsieur de la Tour the Duke of Savoy's Envoy notified to him the separate Peace which his Master had made with the French King and that the Forces of the Allies were to depart his Country within such a limitted time or be forced to it by his own Troops in Conjunction with those of France But that it was in the power of the Confederates to make a Neutrality which should include all Italy within the same time I could never learn what Answer his Majesty gave the Envoy but perhaps he was more concerned that the Duke by Letter should excuse the matter to the Emperor King of Spain and Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg and yet not a line to him than at the thing it self and this procedure of the Dukes makes that Harange of his Envoy the Marquess de Govon to the late King James in Sept. this Year to be the more to be believed the which because so Diametrically opposite to that we have given you in the preceding part of this Book which was made to his present Majesty and our late Queen Mary of Happy Memory and that it is a strange instance of the unconstancy of sublunary things take as follows SIR HIS Royal Highness is at length happily reconciled to his mâ—st Christian Majesty against whom he had rashly taken up Arms tho' he has all along receiv'd sincere Proofs of His Majesty's Protection The strict Leagues his noble Ancestors have heretofore had with France and the more exact Alliance his Royal Highness has contracted by his Marriage have but the more disjoyn'd him from the Interest of that Kingdom This Vnion which ought to have been the most inviolable we have lately seen interrupted by the Artifices of his most Christian Majesty's and your Majesty's Enemies to whom his Royal Highness has been hitherto so weak as to give ear His Royal Highness therefore humbly begs Your Majesty would please to pardon his past Conduct so very contrary to his sincere Desires to re-establish your Majesty upon your Throne The Injustice and Oppression of your Enemies Sir have caused his most Christian Majesty to engage in this War God Almighty has hitherto favour'd his Attempts because they are just and 't is also to be hoped he will lend the like Attention to your Majesty's Petition
His Royal Highness for his part will contribute all in his Power thereunto who likewise flatters himself that this Treaty lately signed with his most Christian Majesty may be a Means to divide these Princes whose Vnion will infallibly oppose your Majesty's Return to your Dominions which may facilitate a general Peace the first Effects of which will undoubtedly be your Majesty's Re-establishment on your Throne This has been the Occasion Sir of his Royal Highness's withdrawing from the Allies and which he hopes will be thought fully to answer his promises to your Majesty's Ministers seâ—t to sollicite him in that behalf This he would have perform'd sooner but Your Majesty may be inform'd from the most Christian King what Reasons inclined him to the contrary These Sir are the sincere Protestations of his Royal Highness which he will endeavour to make appear by his continued Prayers for the Prosperity of your Sacred Majesty But to return the French King in Conformity to his Articles made a formal Resignation of all manner of pretentions to Savoy and the Dukes Territories whilst his Royal Highness upon the expiration of the Truce on the 15th of Sept. put himself at the head of the French and his own Troops to drive his Friends the Allies out of Italy or to accept of a Neutrality for it A strange Metamorphosis and such as I think cannot be parallel'd in any History Ancient or Modern that one and the same Prince who equals himself to Crown'd Heads should successively in one and the same Campaign Command the two Armies of two Enemies This was a pace none of his Ancestors ever made though they shewed themselves unconstant enough between the French and Spanish Crowns upon divers occasions But so it was that the Duke marched at the head of his Army and laid Siege to Valentia a Citty in the Dutchy of Milan belonging to the King of Spain which was carried on with much Vigour while the Treaty was agitated on both sides by the Prince of Fundi from the Emperor Marquess of Leganez on the part of the Spaniards the Lord Gallaway for the King of England and the Marquess de St. Thomas for the Duke of Savoy and many Conferences were held before they could be brought to any Conclusion But though the French and Savoyards were so eager to take Valentia they found an harder thing of it than was expected having lost above 3000 Men before it and the approach of the bad Weather and the Winter Season made the matter very Dubious at last and things on all hands were brought to this Crisis on both sides whether the French should run the hazzard and Dishonour that would accrue to them of raising the Siege or whether the Confederates would venture the losing of it and with that protract the War in Italy But all Parties having considered the advantages and disadvantages the Neutrality was agreed to and signed upon the 7th of October containing chiefly the following Articles I. That there shall be a Neutrality or Suspension of Arms in Italy till a General Peace II. That the Imperial and French Troops shall depart out of Italy and return into their own Countries III. That in lieu of Winter Quarters which the Princes of Italy were otherwise oblig'd to allow the Imperialists they should furnish them with 300000 Crowns that is to say One third before their Retreat and the remainder at a time prefix'd upon sufficient Security IV. That so soon as the Imperialists should begin to March off with some part of their Troops the French should proportionably do the like V. That the Treaty should be ratifyed within two Days by the Duke of Savoy by the Emperor within a Month and within two by the King of Spain Hereupon the Count of Thesse and Marquess de Vins were sent Hostages to Turin by the French is were also the Prince of Trivultio and the Marquess de Burgomaniero by the King of Spain and the Marquess of St. Thomas to Milan by the Duke of Savoy Things being thus concluded on in Italy in respect to that particular Peace there was a mighty Discourse all the while of a general One with the rest of the Confederates and Monsieur Dickvelt's going about the same time to the King's Camp when News came to him of the former made the same hotly Discoursed of People supposing he came to His Majesty to give an Account of his Negotiations about that important Affair And that which confirmed Men more in this Opinion was That Monsieur Dickvelt made this Journey more than once between the Camp and the Hague but this matter we shall pursue no further at present it being time we should proceed to see the Operations of the Campaign in Hungary this Year The Armies on each side were Commanded by the same Generals as the preceding Year the Grand Seignior pretty early in the Summer came to Belgrade at the head of very numerous Troops while the Elector of Saxony about the beginning of June joined the Imperial Forces whom he found to be so good that according to all the Intelligence at that time of the Enemies Numbers he might be able to fight them or if they refused to sit down before some considerable place Whereupon several Counsels of War were held according to Custom wherein it was resolved at length to Besiege Themeswaer but whether it were really designed for a formal Siege or that it was only a feint to draw the Mahometans to a Battle is uncertain However the Duke approached the place viewed it raised Batteries and in some measure made a formal Attack upon the Town while advice came in the mean time thick and three-fold that the Sultan was preparing to cross the Danube with his whole Army which made the Elector glad of the News rise from before Themeswaer and immediately to set forward to meet the Infidels But this proving to be a false Rumour the Elector returned to attack the place again though this was thought to have been done that the Turks might be more eager to follow him and indeed the Stratagem took For the Sultan to divert him from the Siege came on amain which made the Elector to make some small motion towards the Enemy to the end he might take his measures to observe their Countenance and the Scituation of their Ground So that the Imperialists continued their march when on the 21st of August by break of Day they found the Turkish Chavalry begin to appear in very great Numbers which made the Elector and General Capara to cause the Army to march in order of Battle But at the same time the Infidels came pouring down upon the Christians from several parts with extraordinary Fury But they met with such Vigorous resistance from every Quarter that after a sharp Recounter they were forced to retreat and the Germans pursued them close at their Heels with an intention to drive them upon their Infantry in hopes to have come up with them the same Day and
speak once more the Language of Nimeguen came hereby very far short of their Expectations However neither this nor the Siege of Barcelonâ— was designed by them to retard but rather to quicken the Spaniards pace towards a Peace So that the Conferences between their Plenipotentiaries and the Allies went on under the Mediation of the Young King of Sweden now his Father Charles XI of that Name had died on the 17th of April this Spring by the intervention of the Baron de Lillieroot his Ambassador who went between the one and the other for the said purpose After the Allies had made their Pretensions they drew up a large Deduction in justification of them of which they resolved to give the French Plenipotentiaries no Copy until they had Declared that they had received the King's Orders to make theirs But these same Plenipotentiaries having Declared that they had nothing to ask or pretend to and that they were ready to Answer the others The Allies changed their Thoughts the French Plenipotentiaries having in the mean time had several separate Conferences with those of the States General about Commerce and a Cessation of Arms which the former shewed themselves very eager for But there was but little appearance that this last point should then have been agreed to seeing the Peace was more likely to be Retarded than Advanced thereby Towards the end of May the Spanish Ambassadors presented their grievances to the Mediator who received them with a promise of having the same shortly Debated But the said Mediator did at the same time Declare that he was of Opinion that it would very much contribute to the advancement of the Peace if a Truce was agreed on by common consent seeing the Clamour and Fury of War did more harm than good to the Negotiation Mens minds being so much â—he less composed by how much they were Distracted and 〈◊〉 out of order by the daily â—venâ—â— of War This Opinion seemed then to be approved by silence but other things intervened and none of all the Allies made so much ado about having all the Names of the Confederate Princes exprest and particularly inserted in the Treaty as the Brandenburg Ambassador who insisted very much upon it as some of the Allies took it also very ill that both the one and the other pretentions of the Empire were proposed by the Emperor's Ambassador only in his Name but they had satisfaction given them in respect to these complaints for the said Ambassadorâ— replied that every one of the Allies was free to propose separate Articles concerning his own Affairs Several Princes did about the same time give in their Grievances to the Mediator while all Parties were in mighty Expectations oâ— News from divers parts that might favour their respective interests but more especially from Poland where the Frenâ—â— were Cocksure the Prince of Conti would carry that Crown whereas the Confederates had apparently all their Eyes turn'd upon Prince James but there was a third Person who ran away with the Bone in Contention whom no body eveâ— Dreamt to have any thoughts that way and that was the Elector of Saxony who in the end of the Spring took a Journey to Vienna under pretence of settling matters in Relatiâ—â— to the Campaign in Hungary where 't was given out he would Command the Emperor's Army again this Year But the Event proved that in reality the Design was to Concerâ— with the Emperor how the Elector might obtain the Crowâ— of Poland which his Religion could be no bar to since â—e was already privately reconciled to the Church of Rome 〈◊〉 at least given out so afterwards But whether in order 〈◊〉 the wearing of a Crown the Elector has obtained as mâ—â— Reputation and Glory by the Abjuration as the Gentlemeâ— of the Church of Rome are pleased to phrase it of the Proâ—â—stant Religion as his great Ancestor did in the Propagation of that Faith Preached by Martin Luther and the first Priâ—â— in Europe that avowedly tho' it was with the hazzard of aâ—â— took both him and it under his Protection I 'le leave otheâ— to Judge However it be the Design was certainly carried on with wonderful secrety and address for all of a suddâ—â— the Elector leaves Vienna which was attended with varioâ— Reports spread abroad immediately of some mis-understanâ—ing between the Emperor and Him which no body coâ—assign a cause for But when they saw the Elector muste◠〈◊〉 a Body of his Troops it wrought I know not what suspitioâ— and the Brandenburgers so far took the Allarm as suddenly 〈◊〉 get what Froces they could together to oppose any atteâ—â— that might be made that way But the Electors sudden maâ—â— towards Silesia and the Frontiers of Poland quickly ocâ—â—oned other Speculations and in Truth the next News thâ—â— had at Reswick was his being chosen on the 26th of 〈◊〉 King of Poland by a great majority of Voices above the Prince of Conti who was also Proclaimed King though the Expedition afterwards made into that Country by that brave Man proved little to his or the French King's satisfaction the Elector having in a manner weathered all his point before the other's Arrival The first news of it was a great mortification to the French Plenipotentiaries at Reswick however the Treaty went on and the Ceremonial part being in a manner all adjusted the French who had daily Conferences with the Ministers of the States General and of the other Allies made an offer of an Equivalent again for Luxemburg and Strasburg they being willing for the former to give up to his Catholick Majesty Conde Tournay Melen and Ipres as they were for the other ready to consign into the Emperor's hands Brisac Phillipsburg and Friburg But the French Plenipotentiaries had in the mean time sent the Pretensions of the Allies to their King while the Confederates protested That they would not be put by their right but that they should have liberty allowed them every one to present his Grievance to the Mediator The Princes of the Empire desiring also to â—e comprehended in the Treaty demanded the same things whereof neither the Imperialists nor the French made any great difficulty whether they were willing to have all their different Interests and concerns terminated together or every one of them by themselves in particular About this time it was the Plenipotentiaries of the States General Declared aloud with some sort of Indignation That it was an unjust and false Report that was spread abroad concerning their Masters having underhand concluded upon their Affairs with France And that they might still make a greater appearance of their just Comportment and Sincerity they openly diswaded the Ministers of the Allies from consenting to a Truce with France to which they were of themselves deaf enough and the rather for that the French had rejected the Pretentions of the Imperialists and Spaniards as being not willing to answer the same before the Confederates gave their Opinions concerning the
Occasion and that most truly to in their own Justification That they had bore alone the Burthen of the War by keeping of great Fleets and numerous Land-Forces which they had set out at their own Charge for the common Good and notwithstanding so many States and Princes of the Empire they had paid almost alone the Expences of the War all along the Rhine And that Trade not having its ordinary Course all this bore very hard upon them To this may be added the advantageous Conditions of Peace granted them and first to begin with that of the English for whom and himself no Man surely in his Wits will deny but King William made as honourable Terms as could in Reason under the Circumstances of things be expected But a better View hereof will be had by the Articles themselves which follow I. That there be an Universal Perpetual Peace and a Truce and Sincere Friendship between the Most Serene and Mighty Prince William the Third King of Great Britain and the most Serene and Mighty Prince Lewis the Fourteenth the most Christian King their Heirs and Successors and between the Kingdoms States and Subjects of Both and that the same be so Sincerely and Inviolably observed and kept that the one shall promote the Interest Honour and Advantage of the other and that on both sides a faithful Neighbourhood and true Observation of Peace and Friendship may daily Flourish and Encrease II. That all Enmities Hostilities Discords and Wars between the said King of Great Britain and the most Christian King and their Subjects cease and be abolished so that on both sides they forbear and abstain hereafter from all Plundring Depredation Harm-doing Injuries and Infestation whatsoever as well by Land as by Sea and on fresh Waters every where and especially throughout all the Kingdoms Territories Dominions and Places belonging to each other of what Condition soever they be III. That all Offences Injuries Damages which the said King of Great Britain and his Subjects or the said most Christian King and â—his Subjects have suffered from each other during this War shall be forgotten so that neither on Account of them or for any other Cause or Pretence neither Party or the Subjects of either shall hereafter do cause or suffer to be done any Hostility Enmity Molestation or Hindrance to the other by himself or others Secretly or Openly Directly or Indirectly by Colour of Right or Way of Fact IV. And since the most Christian King was never more desirous of any thing than that the Peace be firm and inviolable the said King Promises and Agrees for himself and his Successors That he will on no account whatsoever disturb the said King of Great Britain in the free Possession of the Kingdoms Countries Lands or Dominions which he now Enjoys and therefore Engages his Honour upon the Faith and Word of a King that he will not give or afford any Assistance directly or indirectly to any Enemy or Enemies of the said King of Great Britain And that he will in no manner whatsoever favour the Conspiraces or Plots which any Rebels or ill disposed Persons may in any place Excite or Contrive against the said King And for that end Promises and Engages That he will not assist with Arms Ships Ammunition Provisions or Money or in any other way by Sea or by Land any Person or Persons who shall hereafter under any pretence whatsoever Disturb or Molest the said King of Great Britain in the free and full Possession of his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions The King of Great Britain likewise Promises and Engages for himself and Successors Kings of Great Britain That he will inviolably do and perform the same towards the said most Christian King his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions V. That there be a free use of Navigation and Commerce between the Subjects of both the said Kings as was formerly in the time of Peace and before the Declaration of the late War so that every of them may freely come into the Kingdoms Marts Ports and Rivers of either of the said Kings with their Merchandizes and may there continue and Trade without any Molestation and shall use and enjoy all Liberties Immunities and Priviledges granted by solemn Treaties and ancient Custom VI. That the ordinary Administration of Justice shall be restored and sâ—t open throughout the Kingdoms and Dominions of both Kings so that it shall be free for all the Subjects of either to claim and obtain their Rights Pretensions and Actions according to the Laws Constitutions and Statutes of each Kingdom VII The most Christian King shall Restore to the said King of Great Britain all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the English did possess before the Declaration of this present War And in like manner the King of Great Britain shall restore to the most Christian King all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the French did Possess before the said Declaration of War And this Restitution shall be made on both Sides within the Space of Six Months or sooner if it can be done And to that end immediately after the Ratification of this Treaty each of the said Kings shall Deliver or cause to be Delivered to the other or to Commissioners Authorized in his Name for that Purpose all Acts of Concession Instruments and necessary Orders duly made and in proper Form so that they may have their Effect VIII Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides to Examine and Determine the Rights and Pretensions which either of the said Kings hath to the places Situated in Hudsons-Bay But the Possession of those Places which were taken by the French during the Peace that preceded this present War and were retaken by the English during this War shall be left to the French by virtue of the foregoing Article The Capitulation made by the English on the 5th of September 1696. shall be Observed according to its Form and Tenor The Merchandises therein mentioned shall be restored The Governour of the Fort taken there shall be set at Liberty if it be not already done The Differences arisen concerning the Execution of the said Capitulation and the value of the Goods there lost shall be adjudged and determined by the said Commissioners who immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty shall be Invested with sufficient Authority for settling the Limits and Confines of the Lands to be restored on either side by virtue of the foregoing Article and likewise for exchanging of Lands as may conduce to the mutual Interest and Advantage of both Kings And to this end the Commissioners so appointed shall within the space of 3 Months from the time of the Ratification of the present Treaty meet in the City of London and within six Months to be reckoned from their first Meeting shall Determine all Differences and Disputes which may arise concerning this matter After which the Articles the said Commissioners shall agree to shall be Ratified
by both Kings and shall have the same Force and Vigour as if they were inserted Word for Word in the present Treaty IX All Letters as well of Reprisal as of Marque and Counter-Marque which hitherto have for any cause been granted on either side shall be and remain null and void Nor shall any the like Letters be hereafter granted by either of the said Kings against the Subjects of the other unless it be first made manifest that Right hath been denied And it shall not be taken for a denial of Right unless the Petition of the Person who desires Letters of Reprisal to be granted to him be first shewn to the Minister residing there on the part of the King against whose Subjects those Letters are desired That within the space of 4 Months or sooner he may inquire into the contrary or procure that satisfaction be made with all speed from the Party offending to the Complainant But if the King against whose Subjects Reprisals are demanded have no Minister residing there Letters of Reprisal shall not be granted till after the space of 4 Months to be reckoned from the Day on which his Petition was made and presented to the King against whose Subjects Reprisals are desired or to his Privy Council X. For cutting off all matter of Dispute and Contention which may arise concerning the Restitution of Ships Merchandises and other moveable Goods which either Party may complain to be taken and detained from the other in Countries and on Coasts far distant after the Peace is concluded and before it be notified there All Ships Merchandises and other moveable Goods which shall be taken by either side after the Signing and Publication of the present Treaty within the space of Twelve Days in the British and North Seas as far as the Cape St. Vincent Within the space of Ten Weeks beyond the said Cape and on this side of the Equinoctial Line or Equator as well in the Ocean and Mediterranean Sea as elsewhere Lastly within the space of six Months beyond the said Line throughout the whole World shall belong and remain unto the Possessors without any Exception or further Distinction of Time or Place or any consideration to be had of Restitution or Compensation XI But if it happens through Inadvertency or Imprudence or any other Cause whatever that any Subject of either of the said two Kings shall do or commit any thing by Land or Sea or on fresh Water any where contrary to the present Treaty or that any Particular Article thereof is not fulfilled this Peace and good Correspondence between the said two Kings shall not on that account be Interrupted or Infringed but shall remain in its former Force Strength and Vigour and the said Subject only shall answer for his own Fact and undergo the Punishment to be Inflicted according to the Custom and Law of Nations XII But if which God forbid the Differences now Composed between the said Kings should at any time be renewed and break out into open War the Ships Merchandises and all kind of moveable Goods of either Party which shall be found to be and remain in the Ports and Dominions of the adverse Party shall not be Confiscated or brought under any Inconveniency but the whole space of six Months shall be allowed to the Subject of both of the said Kings that they may carry away and transport the aforesaid Goods and any thing else that is theirs whither they shall think fit without any Molestation XIII For what concerns the Principality of Orange and other Lands and Dominions belonging to the said King of Great Britain the separate Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen concluded between the most Christian King and the States General of the United Provinces the 10th Day of August 1678. shall according to its Form and Tenor have full effect and all things that have been Innovated and Altered shall be restored as they were before All Decrees Edicts and other Acts of what kind soever they be without Exception which are in a manner contrary to the said Treaty or were made after the conclusion thereof shall be held to be null and void without any revival or consequence for the future And all things shall be restored to the said King in the same state and in the same manner as he held and enjoyed them before he was dispossessed thereof in the time of the War which was ended by the said Treaty of Nimeguen or which he ought to have held and enjoyed according to the said Treaty And that an end may be put to all Trouble Differences Processes and Questions which may arise concerning the same both the said Kings will name Commissioners who with full and summary Power may compose and settle all these matters And forasmuch as by the Authority of the most Christian King the King of Great Britain was hindred from enjoying the Revenues Rights and Profits as well of his Principality of Orange as of other his Dominions which after the conclusion of the Treaty of Nimeguen until the Declaration of the present War were under the power of the said most Christian King the said most Christian King will restore and cause to be restored in reality with Effect and with the Interest due all those Revenues Rights and Profits according to the Declarations and Verifications that shall be made before the said Commissioners XIV That Treaty of Peace concluded between the most Christian King and the late Elector of Brandenburg at St. Germains in Laye the 29 June 1679. shall be restored in its Articles and remain in its former Vigour between his Sacred Most Christian Majesty and his Electoral Highness of Brandenburg XV. Whereas 't will greatly conduce to the publick Tranquility that the Treaty be observed which was concluded between his Sacred most Christian Majesty and his Royal Highness of Savoy on the Ninth of Aug. 1696. 't is agreed that the said Treaty shall be confirmed by this Article XVI Under this present Treaty of Peace shall be comprehended those who shall be named by either Party with common consent before the Exchange of Ratifications or within six Months after But in the mean time the most Serene and Mighty Prince William King of Great Britain and the most Serene and Mighty Prince â—ewis the most Christian King gratefully acknowledging the sincere Offices and Indefatigable Endeavours which have been employed by the most Serene and Mighty Prince Charles King of Sweden by the inter position of his Mediation in bringing this happy work of the Peace with the Divine Assistance to the desired Conclusion and to shew the like Affection to him 't is by consent of all Parties stipulated and agreed That his said Sacred Royal Majesty of Sweden shall with all his Kingdoms Countries Provinces and Rights be included in this Treaty and comprehended in the best manner in the present Pacification XVII Lastly The Solemn Ratifications of this present agreement and alliance made in due Form shall be delivered on
present Treaty by his Majesty or the said Lords the States General and their Successors nevertheless this Peace and Alliance shall remain in its full Force without coming to a Rupture of the Amity and good Correspondence But the said Breaches shall be dresently repair'd and if they proceed from the Misdemeanor of any private Subjects they only shall suffer Punishment XIV And for the better Assurance for the future of the Trade and Amity between the Subjects of the said Lord the King and those of the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries it is accorded and agreed That if hereafter any Interruption of Friendship or Rupture shall happen between the Crown of France and the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces which God forbid there shall be always nine Months time allowed after the said Rupture for the Subjects of each Party to retire with their Effects and to transport 'em whether they shall think fit Which it shall be lawful for 'em to do as also to sell and transport their Gods and Moveables with all Freedom without any Hindrance or Molestation or Proceeding during the said space of nine Months to any Seizure of their Goods much less to any Arrests of their Persons XV. The Treaty of â—eace between the deceas'd King and the Elector of Brandenburg concluded at St. German enlay the 29th of June 1697. shall be re-establish'd between his Most Christian Majesty and his present Electoral Highness of Brandenburg in all the Points and Articles of it XVI In regard it is of high Concernment to the publick Tranquility that the Peace concluded between his Most Christian Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy August the 9th 1696. should be exactly observ'd it is agreed That the same be confirm'd by this present Treaty XVII And in regard his Majesty and the Lords the States General acknowledge themselves beholding for the effectual good Offices which the King of Sweden has continually contributed by his good Counsels and Admonitions toward the publick Safety and Repose it is agreed on both sides That his said Swedish Majesty with his Kingdoms shall be expresly comprehended in the present Treaty in the most ample Form that may be done XVIII In this present Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall be comprehended on the part of the said Lord the Most Christian King all those that shall be nominated before the Exchange of the Ratifications and within the space of six Months after they shall have been Exchanged XIX And on the part of the Lords the States General the King of Great Britain and the King of Spain and all the rest of the Allies who in the space of six Weeks to reckon from the Exchange of the Ratifications shall declare themselves willing to accept of the Peace as also the Thirteen Laudable Cantons of the Confederate Switzers and their Allies and Confederates and particularly in the best Form and Manner that may be the Evangelick Republicks and Cantons of Zurig Berne Glaris Basle Schasthause and Appenzel with all their Allies and Confederates as also the Republick of Geneva and its Dependencies the City and County of Neufchastelle the Cities of St. Galles Milhause and Bienne also the Confederate Grizons and their Dependancies the Cities of Bremen and Embden and more-over all Kings Princes and States Cities and private Persons to whom the Lords the States General upon request to them made shall grant Liberty to be comprehended therein XX. The said Lord the King and the said Lords the States General consent That the King of Sweden as Mediator and all the rest of the Potentates and Princes who are desirous to enter into the same Engagement may give to his said Majesty and the said Lords the States General their Promises and Obligations of Guarranty for the performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXI The present Treaty shall be ratify'd and confirm'd by the Lord the King and the Lords the States General and the Letters of Ratification shall be deliver'd within the Term of Three Weeks or sooner if it may be to count from the Day of the Signing XXII And for the greater Security of Peace and of all Clauses and Articles therein contain'd the present Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd in the Court of Parliament in Paris and in all the other Parliaments of the Kingdom of France and Chamber of Accounts in Paris aforesaid as also in like manner the said Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd by the Lords the States General in the Courts and other Places where such Publications Verifications and Registers are accustom'd to be made In Faith of which We the Embassadors of his said Majesty and the Lords the States General by virtue of Our respective Powers have in the said Names sign'd these sents with Our usual Subscriptions and put thereto Our several Seals of our Coats of Arms. At Ryswick in Holland September the 20th 1697. The Separate ARTICLE BEsides what has been concluded and determin'd by the Treaty of Peace between the Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of the Most Christian King and those of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces this 20th of September 1697. It is yet farther agreed by this Separate Article which shall have the same Force and Virtue as if it were Word for Word in the above-mention'd Treaty That his Most Christian Majesty shall consent as he does hereby consent by this present Article That the Emperor and Empire shall be allow'd till the 1st of November next to accept the Conditions of Peace propos'd as the last that are to be made by his said Most Christian Majesty according to his Declaration of the 1st of this present Month of September if his Imperial Majesty and the Empire cannot otherwise agree with his said Most Christian Majesty and in case that within the said time the Emperor and the Empire do not accept the said Conditions or do not otherwise agree with his said Most Christian Majesty the said Treaty of Peace shall have its full and entire Effect and shall be fulfill'd according to its Form and Tenor so that the said Lords the States General shall in no manner oppose it either directly or indirectly under any Pretence whatsoever In Faith of which We the Embassadors of his said Majesty and the States General by vertue of Our respective Powers have in the said Names sign'd this Separate Article with Our usual Subscriptions and seal'd it with Our Coats of Arms at Ryswick in Holland this 20th Day of September 1697. Sign'd L. S. N. A de Harlay Bonueil L. S. Verjus de Crecy L. S. De Callieres L. S. A. Hensius L. S. E. de Weede L. S. W. V. Haren Thus having inserted the English and Dutch Articles at full length nothing less can be expected than that I should do the like by the Spaniards who will be thought not to have fared the worse for the Peace
the Hearts of the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God Most Christian King of France and Navarre and the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Charles II. Catholick King of Spain who desiring cordially and as much as in them lies to concurr toward the Re-establishment of the Publick Tranquility and more-over not having any other Design than to render it solid and perpetual by the Equity of the Conditions their said Majesties unanimously consented to submit for that purpose to the Mediation of the Most High Most Excellent and Most potent Prince of Glorious Memory Charles XI by the Grace of God King of Sweden the Goths and Vandals c. but sudden Death having cross'd the Hope which all Europe had conceiv'd of the happy Issue of his Counsels and his good Offices their said Majesties persisting still in a Resolution as soon as might be to stop the Effusion of so much Christian Blood believed they could not do better than still to acknowledge in the same Quality the Most High the Most Excellent and Most potent Prince Charles XII King of Sweden his Son and Successor who on his part has continu'd the same Cares for the advancing of the Peace between their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties in the Conferences that have been held at the Castle of Ryswick in the Province of Holland between the Extraordinary Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries appointed on both sides That is to say on the part of his Most Christian Majesty the Sieur Nicholas Augustus de Harlay Knight Lord of Bonneuil Count de Cely the King's Counsellor in Ordinary in his Council of State the Sieur Lewis Chevalier Verjus Count de Crecy the King's Counsellor in Ordinary in his Council of State Marquiss de Freon Baron of Cauvay Lord of Boulay the two Churches of Fort Isle du Muillet and other Places and the Sieur Francis de Callieres Knight Lord of Callieres de la Rochellay and Gigny and on the part of his Catholick Majesty Senior Don Francisco Bernardo de Quiros Knight of the Order of St. James the King's Counsellor in his Royal and Supream Council of Castille and the Sieur Lewis Alexander de Stockart Count of Tirlemont Baron de Gaesbeke Counsellor in the Supream Council of State for the Low Countries at Madrid in the Councils of State and Privy-Council within the said Countries who having first implor'd the Assistance of Heaven and respectively imparted their full Powers Copies of which shall be inserted Word for Word at the end of this present Treaty and duly exchang'd 'em by the Interposition and Mediation of the Sieur Nicholas Baron de Lilienrâ—â— Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of Sweden who has discharg'd his Office of Mediator with all requisite Prudence Capacity and Equity they agreed for the Glory of God and the Good of Christendom upon the Conditions following I. It is agreed and consented That for the future there shall be a good firm and lasting Peace Confederacy and perpetual Alliance and Amity between the Most Christian and Catholick Kings their Children born and to be born Inheritors Heirs and Successors their Kingdoms States Countries and Subjects that they shall reciprocally love each other like Brothers procuring to the utmost of their Power the Good Honour and Reputation of each other sincerely and as much as in them lies avoiding what-ever may cause the Damage either of the one or the other II. In pursuance of this Peace and good Union all Acts of Hostilities shall cease between the said Kings their Subjects and Vassals as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land and generally in all Places where the War has been carry'd on by their Majesties Arms as well between their Armies as between the Garrisons of their Strong Holds and if it were transgress'd by the taking of one or several Places either by Attack by Surprize or by Correspondence or if any Prisoners were taken or if any other Acts of Hostility were committed by Chance or otherwise the Breach shall be sincerely repair'd on both sides without scruple or delay restoring without Dimunition what shall have been possess'd and delivering the Prisoners without Ransom or Payment of Charges III. All Causes of Enmity or Misunderstanding shall be extinguish'd and abolish'd for ever There shall be on both sides a perpetual Oblivion and Amnesty of what-ever has been done during this present War or by reason thereof so that there may be no Prosecutions on either side directly nor indirectly upon any Pretence what-ever nor shall their said Majesties their Subjects Servants nor Adherents testifie any Resentment nor pretend to any sort of Reparation IV. The Strong Holds Gironne Roses and Belver shall be restor'd and left in Possession Demesne and Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty as they were when taken with the Artillery which was found there at the same time and in general all the other Cities Strong Holds Forts Places and Castlewicks which have been possess'd during this War by his Most Christian Majesty's Arms and since the Treaty of Nimeguen within the Principality of Catalogna or other where in Spain their Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes shall be restor'd in the Condition as now they are without retaining reserving weak'ning or impairing any thing Also the City of Barcelona Fort and Fortifications thereupon depending with all the Artillery shall be surrender'd back into the Power Demesne and Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition wherein the whole was found at the Day of taking thereof with all Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes V. The City and Fortress of Luxemburg in the Condition as it is now without demolishing changing or weak'ning any thing or impairing the Works Forts or Fortifications thereof together with all the Artillery that was there at the time of taking as also the Province and Dutchy of Luxemburg and County of Chiny in all their Consistencies and all that they comprehend with their Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes shall be sincerely and faithfully restor'd and surrender'd back into the Power Demesne Soveraignty and Possession of the Catholick King for the said King to enjoy as he did or might do then and before the Treaty of Nimeguen without detaining or reserving any thing but what was yielded up to his Most Christian Majesty by the preceding Treaty VI. The Fortress of Charleroy shall be likewise surrender'd back into the Power and under the Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty with its Dependencies in the Condition it now is without breaking demolishing weak'ning or impairing any thing as also the Artillery that was at the time when it was taken VII Also the City of Mons the Capital of the Province of Hainault with the Works and Fortifications belonging to it shall be restor'd to the Soveraignty Demesne and Possession of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition as they are now without breaking demolishing weak'ning or impairing any thing together with the Artillery which was there
at the time when it was taken as also the Banlieu and Provostship Appurtenances and Dependencies of the same City in all its Consistencies as the Catholick King enjoy'd it then and before the said Treaty as also the City of Aeth in the Condition it was at the time of its being last taken without breaking demolishing or weakning any thing or impairing its Works with the Artillery which was there at the same time together with the Banlieu Castlewick Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes of the said City as they were yielded by the Treaty of Nimeguen the Places following excepted viz. The Bourg of Anthoin Vaux Guarrain Ramecroix Bethune Constantin the Fief de Paradise the last being intermingled within the Limits of Tournaisis and the said Fief of Paradise so far as it contributes with the Village of Kain Havines Meles Moncourt Kain le Mont de St. Audebert call'd de la Trinitie Frontenoy Maubray Hernies Caluelle and Viers with their Parishes Appurtenances and Dependencies without reserving any thing shall remain in the Possession and Soveraignty of his Most Christian Majesty nevertheless without any prejudice to what has been granted to his Most Christian Majesty by the Preceding Treaties VIII The City of Courtrary shall be surrender'd back into the Power Demesne and Possession of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition as now it is with the Artillery which was there at the time when it was taken together with the Castlewick of the said City the Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes conformable to the Treaty of Nimeguen IX The said Most Christian King shall also cause to be restor'd to the Catholick King all the Cities Places Forts Castles and Ports which his Armies have or might have possess'd till the Day of the Peace and also since that in any place of the World where-ever situated as likewise his said Catholick Majesty shall cause to be restor'd to his Most Christian Majesty all the Places Forts Castles and Posts which his Arms may have possess'd during this War till the Day of the Publication of the Peace and in whatsoever Place situated X. All the Places Cities Burroughs strong Holds and Villages which the most Christian King has possess'd and reunited since the Treaty of Nimeghen within the Provinces of Luxemburg Namur Brabant Flanders Hainault and other Provinces of the Low-Countries according to the List of the said Reunions produc'd on the part of his Catholick Majesty in the Acts of that Negotiation a Copy of which shall be annex'd to this present Treaty shall remain to his Catholick Majesty except the Eighty two Cities Burroughs Places and Villages contain'd in the List of Exception which has been also produc'd on the Part of his Most Christian Majesty and to which he lays claim by reason of the Dependencies of the Cities of Charlemont Maubege and others surrender'd to his Majesty by the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeghen in respect of which Eighty two Places only a List of which shall be annex'd to the present Treaty it is agreed on both sides that immediately after the Signing this present Treaty that Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides as well to regulate to which of the two Kings the said Eighty two Cities Burroughs Places or Villages or any of them shall belong as to agree upon Exchanges to be made for the Places and Villages intermix'd in the Countries under the Dominion of either Prince And in case the said Commissioners cannot agree their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties shall refer the Ultimate Decision to the Judgment of the Lords the States General of the Vnited Provinces whom the said Kings have reciprocally consented to take for Arbitrators without prejudice nevertheless to the Plenipotentiary-Embassadors of the said Most Christian and Catholick Kings otherwise to agree the Matter in friendly Manner between themselves and before the Ratification of this present Treaty if it be possible so that all Difficulties as well touching the said Re-unions as Limits may be totally ended and determin'd In pursuance of which all Prosecutions Sentences Separations Incorporations Forfeitures Judgments Confiscations Re-unions Declarations Regulations Edicts and generally all Acts what-ever put forth in the Name and behalf of his Most Christian Majesty by reason of the said Re-unions whether made by the Parliament or Chamber settl'd at Metz or by any other Courts of Justice Intendants Commissioners or Delegates against his Catholick Majesty or his Subjects and shall be revok'd and annull'd for ever as if they had never been and moreover the Generality of the said Provinces shall remain to his Catholick Majesty except the Cities Towns and Places yielded to his Most Christian Majesty by the preceding Treaties with the Appurtenances and Dependencies XI All the Forts Cities Burroughs Places and Villages Circumstances Dependencies and Annexes hereabove restor'd and surrender'd back by his Most Christian Majesty without reserving or with-holding any thing shall return to the Possession of his Catholick Majesty to be by him enjoy'd with all the Prerogatives Advantages Profits and Revenues that depend upon 'em with the same Extent the same Rights of Property Demesne and Soveraignty which he enjoy'd before the last War at the time and before the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeghen and altogether as he might or ought to enjoy them XII The Restitution of the said Places shall be perform'd on the behalf of the most Christian King cordially and sincerely without delay or scruple for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever to Him or Them who shall be appointed by the said Catholick King immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty without demolishing weak'ning or diminishing any thing in any manner within the said Cities nor shall there be any Pretensions or Demands for Reimbursments for the Fortifications Publick Edifices and Buildings rais'd in the said Places nor for the Payment of what may be due to the Soldiers that shall be there at the time of the Restitution XIII The Most Christian King shall cause to be remov'd out of all the said Places which he restores to the Catholick King all the Artillery which his said Majesty caus'd to be carry'd into the said Places after they were taken all the Powder Bullets Arms Provision and Ammunition which shall be therein at the time that they shall be restor'd to his said Catholick Majesty and they who shall be entrusted by the Most Christian King for that purpose shall for Two Months make use of the Waggons and Boats of the Country they shall have free Passage as well by Water as by Land for the Transportation of the said Ammunition to the Places belonging to his Most Christian Majesty which shall be nearest adjoining The Governours Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the Places so restor'd shall afford all Accommodations in their Power to facilitate the Carriage and Transportation of the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers and Soldiers who shall march out of the said Places shall have Liberty to remove and
carry away the moveable Goods that belong to 'em nor shall they be permitted to exact any thing of the Inhabitants of the said Places or of the Flat Countries nor to endamage the Houses nor to carry away any thing belonging to the Inhabitants XIV The Prisoners of what Nature or Condition soever shall be set at Liberty on both sides and without Ransom presently after the Exchange of the Ratifications paying what they have call'd for and what they may otherwise justly owe. And if any have been sent to the Gallies of their said Majesties by Reason or by the Misfortune of the said Wars only they shall be forthwith releas'd and set at Liberty without any scruple or delay upon any account whatever nor shall any thing be demanded for their Ransom or Expences XV By virtue of this Peace and strict Amity the Subjects of both sides whatever they be observing the Law Usages and Customs of Countries may go come reside traffick and return to their several Countries like good Merchants and as they shall think convenient as well by Land as by Sea and other Waters and may Treat and Negotiate together and shall be supported protected and defended as the proper Subjects of either Prince paying the reasonable Duties in all accustom'd Places and such others as shall be impos'd by the said Kings or their Successors XVI All Papers Letters Documents that concern the Countries Territories and Signories which shall be restor'd and surrender'd back to the said Kings by the present Treaty of Peace shall be produc'd and sincerely deliver'd on both sides within Three Months after the Ratifications of the present Treaty shall be exchang'd in whatever Places the said Papers and Documents shall be found even those that were taken out of the Cittadel of Gaunt and the Chamber of Accompts at Lisle XVII The Contributions settl'd or demanded on both sides Reprisals Convoys of Forrage Corn Wood Cattle Utensils and other sorts of Impositions upon the Countries of either Sovereign shall cease immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty and all Arrearages or Portions of Arrears that may be due shall not be exacted on either side upon any Claim or Pretence whatever XVIII All Subjects on both sides as well Ecclesiastick as Secular Bodies Corporations Societies Universities and Colleges shall be restor'd as well to the Enjoyment of the Honours Dignities and Benefices with which they were provided before the War as to the Enjoyment of all and every one of their Rights Moveable and Immoveable Goods Rents Hereditary or Annunities seiz'd and possess'd since the said time either by occasion of the War or for siding with the contrary Party together with all their Rights Actions and Successions them befalling even since the beginning of the War yet so that no Demands shall be made of the Incomes Fruits or Revenues receiv'd or forfeited during this War from the seizing of the said Rents Immoveable Goods and Benefices to the Day of the Publication of this present Treaty XIX Neither shall any thing be demanded or pretended to of Debts Effects and Moveables which have been confiscated before the said Day nor shall the Creditors of such Debts or Trustees of such Effects their Heirs or any other pretending Right thereto commence any Prosecutions or pretend to recover the same Which Re-establishments and and Restorations in Form aforesaid shall extend in Favour of those who shall have sided with the contrary Party so that by virtue of this Treaty they shall be restor'd to the Favour of their King and Soveraign Prince as also to their Estates such as they shall find 'em at the Conclusion and Signing of this present Treaty XX. The said Re-establishment of the Subjects of both sides shall be made according to the 21st and 22d Articles of the Treaty of Nimeghen notwithstanding all Donations Concessions Declarations Confiscations Forfeitures Preparatory or Definitive Sentences pronounc'd by reason of the Contumacy or Absence of the Parties and they unheard Which Sentences and their Judgments shall be null and of no effect as if never given or pronounc'd with full and absolute Liberty for the said Parties to return from the Countries whither they were withdrawn personally to enjoy their Estates and Moveables Rents and Revenues or to settle their Hâ—bitations out of the said Countries in such Place as they shall think convenient it being at their own Choice and Election so that they shall be free from all Constraint in that respect And in case they rather choose to abide in any other Place they may depute or entrust such Persons as lie under no Suspicion whom they shall think fit for the Government and Possession of their Estates but not in respect of Benefices requiring Residence which shall be personally administred and serv'd XXI The 24th and 25th Articles of the said Treaty of Nimeghen concerning Benefices shall be observ'd and consequently they who were provided with Benefices by either of the Two Kings who at the Time of the Collation possess'd the Cities and Countries wherein the said Benefices were situated shall be maintain'd in the Possession and Enjoyment of the said Benefices XXII The Subjects on both sides shall have Liberty and full Power to Sell Exchange Alienate or otherwise dispose of as well by Deeds between the Living as by their last Testaments the Estates and Effects Moveable and Immoveable which they have or shall have under the Dominion of the other Soveraign and any one may buy 'em Subject or not Subject without any necessity of any Licence for the said Sail or Purchace or any other Permission then this present Treaty XXIII In regard there are some Rents which belong to the Generality of certain Provinces of which one part is possess'd by his Most Christian Majesty and the other by the Catholick King it is covenanted and agreed That each shall pay his Share and Commissioners shall be appointed to receive what each of the said Kings shall pay for their particular Shares XXIV The Rents legally settl'd or due upon the Demesnes by the preceding Treaties and of which the Payment shall be made appear in the Accompts given in to the Chambers of Accompts by the Receivers of their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties before the said Cessions or Surrenders shall be pay'd by their said Majesties to the Creditors of the said Rents under whose Dominion soever they may be French or Spanish or any other Nation without distinction XXV And in regard that by the present Treaty there is a good and lasting Peace made as well by Sea as Land between the said Kings in all their Kingdoms Countries Lands Provinces and Signiories and that all Hostilities ought to cease for the Future it is stipulated That if any Prizes are taken on either side in the Baltick or North Seas from Terneuse in Norway to the end of the Channel within the space of 4 Weeks from the end of the said Channel to Cape St. Vincent within Six Weeks and from thence in the
Mediterranean Sea and as far as the Line within the space of Ten Weeks and beyond the Line and in all the other Parts of the World within the space of Eight Months to reckon from the Day of the Publication of this present Treaty the said Prizes which shall be taken of either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be restor'd with Reparation for Damages sustain'd XXVI In case of a Rupture which God forbid there shall be allow'd the Term of Six Months that so the Subjects of either Part may have time to remove and transport their Effects and Goods whither they shall think most convenient and it shall be lawful for 'em to do it with all Freedom without any Molestation or Obstruction or Seizure of the said Effects during the said Term much less shall any stop be put to their Persons XXVII The Soldiers on both sides shall immediately after the Ratification of this present Treaty return to the Territories and Countries of their proper Sovereigns and into the strong Holds and Places which are to remain and belong to their Majesties respectively after or according to this present Treaty not being to stay upon any Pretence whatever in the Territories of either Sovereign nor in the Places which are in like manner to appertain to him and there shall be also after the Signing of the same Treaty a Cessation of Arms and Hostilities in the Dominions of the said Kings as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land XXVIII It is also agreed That the Receipt of Duties of which the said Most Christian King is in Possession upon all the Countries which he surrenders back or restores to the said Catholick King shall be continu'd till the actual Restitution of the Places of which the said Countries are Dependancies and that what shall remain due at the time of the said Restitution shall be faithfully pay'd to those who have taken the Farms of the same as also that at the same time the Proprietors of Woods Confiscated within the Dependencies of the said Places which are to be restor'd to his Catholick Majesty shall re-enter into the Possession of their Estates and of all the Woods that are upon the Place it being to be understood that from the Day of the Signing this present Treaty all Cutting down of Woods shall cease on both sides XXIX The Treaty of Nimeghen and the preceding Treaties shall be observ'd and put in Execution according to their Form and Tenor except in the Points and Articles from which there shall have been any thing formerly derogated or any Alteration made by this present Treaty XXX All Proceedings and all Judgments given between private Persons by the Judges or particular Officers of this Most Christian Majesty settl'd as well in the Cities and Places which he enjoy'd by virtue of the Treaty of 〈◊〉 Chapelle and which he has since restor'd to his Catholick Majesty as in those which appertain to his Most Christian Majesty by the Treaty of Nimeguen or of which he was in Possession after the said Treaty and likewise the Decrees of the Parliament of Tournay pronounc'd by reason of Differences and Suits prosecuted by the Inhabitants of the said Cities and their Dependencies during the time they were under his Most Christian Majesty's Obedience shall take Place and have their full and entire Effect as if the said King were Lord and Possessor of the said Countries nor shall the said Decrees or Judgments be call'd in Question or made void nor shall the Execution of 'em be in any other manner hinder'd or delay'd But it shall be lawful for the said Parties to provide for themselves by review of the Cause and according to the Order and Disposal of the Laws and Ordinances the Judgments still remaining in full Force and Virtue without prejudice to what is stipulated to this Effect in the 21st Article of the aforesaid Treaty of Nimeghen XXXI The City and Castle of Dinant shall be restor'd by his Most Christian Majesty to the Bishop and Prince of Liege in the Condition they were at what time they were possess'd by his Majesty's Arms. XXXII His Most Christian Majesty having testify'd his Desire That the Island of Ponza in the Mediterranean Sea shall be restor'd to Monsieur the Duke of Parma his Catholick Majesty in consideration of the good Offices of his Most Christian Majesty is pleas'd to declare That he will withdraw the Soldiers which he has there and return that Island into the Power and Possession of Monsieur the Duke of Parma presently after the Ratification of this present Treaty XXXIII In regard it is of high Concernment to the publick Tranquility that the Peace concluded at Turin the 29th of August 1696. between his Most Christian Majesty and his Roval Highness of Savoy should be also exactly observ'd it is thought convenient to confirm and comprehend it in this present Treaty and in all its Points such as are contain'd in the Copy sign'd and seal'd by the Plenipotentiaries of Savoy and which shall be annex'd to the present Treaty for the due observance of which and the present Treaty their said Majesties do give his Royal Highness their Guarranty XXXIV Their said Majesties in acknowledgment of the good Offices and Cares which the Most Serene King of Sweden has continually employ'd toward the Re-establishment of Peace are agree'd That his Swedish Majesty his Kingdoms and States shall be nominally comprehended in this present Treaty in the best Form and Manner that may be XXXV In his Peace Alliance and Amity shall be comprehended all those that shall be nam'd on either Part by common Consent before the Exchange of the Ratifications or within the space of Six Months after they shall be exchang'd XXXVI The said Most Christian and Catholick Kings consent That his Swedish Majesty in the Quality of Mediator and all other Kings Princes and Republicks who are desirous to enter into the said Engagement may give their Majesties their Promises and Obligations of Guarranty for the performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXXVII And for the greater security of this Treaty of Peace and all the Points and Articles therein contain'd this Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd as well in the Grand Council and other Councils and Chambers of Accompts of the Catholick King in the Low-Countries as in the other Councils of the Crowns of Castille and Aragon the whole according and in the Form contain'd in the Treaty of Nimeghen in the Year 1678. As also the said Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd in the Court of Parliament of Paris and in all other Parliaments of the Kingdom of France and Chamber of Accounts of Paris aforesaid Of which Publications and Inregistrings Copies shall be return'd and deliver'd on both sides within the space of Three Months after publication of the said Treaty XXXVIII All which Points and Articles above-declar'd and express'd together with the Contents of every one of them were negotiated
were detach'd to go and make themselves Masters of this Booty But as it usually happens in such Hurries the Ammunition took Fire that Day beyond the Bridge as it had done the Night before on this side the Bridge so that a good part of it was consumed with a great quantity of Victuals and other Booty In the Morning a Transilvanian Commissary brought the Grand Seignior's Seal a curious Piece of Workmanship which never happened before in any Battle that had been fought during this War Which confirm'd what the Prisoners and Fugitives reported That the Grand Visier was kill'd because he is bound always to carry the Seal about his Neck In the mean time the Hussars and some other Troops of the Army pursued the Enemy for above 4 or 5 Leagues together from the Place where the Battle was fought who found store of Booty by the way and some lazy Turks whom they took Prisoners The same day Colonel Gleckelsberg was sent out in pursuit of the Infidels with 600 Horse and to pick up what Booty and Prisoners he could He pursued the flying Enemy as far as Aranga within half a Mile of Temeswaer and after his return with a considerable Booty which he met with all along the Road he confirm'd what had been reported of the Grand Seignior's Consternation and of the small number of Foot that was left him As for the Loss which the Turks sustained it augmented every day by new Relations the last of which gave an Account That besides the Grand Visier and the Aga of the Janisaries there were 27 Bassa's slain upon the Spot above 20000 Men killed and about 10 or 12000 drowned in the Theysse 6000 wounded and several taken Prisoners The Booty consisted of 6000 Waggons laden with Ammunition and Provision 6000 Camels 6000 Horses 12000 Oxen and a very great number of other Spoils with 160 Pieces of Cannon among which there were 70 of a larger Size for Artillery 500 Drums and as many Colours 74 Pair of Kettle-Drums the Grand Seignior's Tent valued at about 4000 Florins and a Coach or Chariot with Six Horses wherein were 10 Women of the Sultan's Seraglio It was said that the whole Booty amounted to several Millions This Victory was so much the more Glorious because it was gained with so little Loss to the Imperialists A loss so small that it is a rare thing to read of so great a Battle fought and wun with so little Effusion of Blood on the Victors Side some Regiments not loosing above 1 2 or 3 others not above 14 15 or 29 at most But how Glorious soever this Action was there was this unhappiness that did attend it that it was so late in the Year that the Germans could go upon no considerable Undertaking and follow the Blow So that all they did the remainder of the Campaign was to make an Incursion into Bosnia from whence they returned with a considerable Booty So we shall leave them and being so near will take a step into Poland and see how their Affairs stood there before we return to prosecute the remaining Negotiations of the Peace We have hinted before that the Elector of Saxony was chosen King of Poland as much contrary to most Men's Expectations as the Change of his Religion was thereupon And that for all this the Prince of Conti his Competitor's Expedition thither who was in like manner proclaimed King was at length undertaken However Saxony was by much before-hand with him for besides other Paces made the Baron de Fleming as early as July 13th in his Master's Name signed the Pacta Conventa the same being done also by a great Number of the Senators and Principal of the Nobility The Articles were these I. THE Kingdom of Poland shall be always preserv'd in its Right of Electing a Sovereign King so that it may never become Hereditary II. No King shall be elected who shall not be devoted to the Roman Catholick Church and who shall not take an Oath constantly to persevere in her Communion III. Liberty of Conscience shall be preserv'd inviolably in its full Strength and Vigour and as for the Greek Religion that shall be taken into Consideration after the Coronation IV. No Presents shall be taken from those who shall sue for any Offices or Starâ—sties V. The Queen not to intermeddle with Affairs of Government VI. As to the Administration of the Military Affairs the Presidents of Vladistaus IV. and John 〈◊〉 to be follow'd VII Alliances shall be renew'd VIII Endeavours shall be us'd to recover the Vkraine and to conclude a perpetual Peace with the Muscovites IX The Revenues in Money shall not be employ'd to the particular Benefit of the King nor shall any Money be Coin'd without the Consent of the Republick X. No Foreign Forces shall be brought into the Kingdom without the knowledge of the Republick XI None shall be employ'd in Embassies but Gentlemen of good Fortunes XII No body shall purchase the Right of Naturalization but such as have done the Republick important Services XIII No body shall be admitted to any Preferment in the Royal Houshold unless he have first serv'd the Crown XIV Nor shall any Person by the Connivance of the Senators enjoy any petty Revenues of the Crown without the Consent of the Republick XV. No Person shall enjoy two considerable Offices at one time such as are those of the Mareschal and General but they who now enjoy any Offices shall continue in the Exercise of 'em and enjoy the Revenues of 'em without any Defalcation XVI The accustom'd Order in the Administration of Justice shall be preserv'd without any alteration XVII The King when he has re-taken Caminiec shall cause it to be fortify'd at his own Charges but after that the Republick shall keep the said Fortifications in Repair XVIII The Court and the King's Guards shall consist of the Natives of the Kingdom XIX If the King has a desire to Marry he shall advise with the Senators about the Choice of a Wife and if he takes a Foreigner she shall not have above six Foreigners in her Service at Court XX. Only the Latin and Polish Languages shall be made use of for the King's Letters and Orders XXI The Laws call'd Pacta Henricea shall be observ'd in the Judgments call'd Postcurialia and when any Difficulty shall arise Judgment shall be given with the Counsellors Assessors XXII The Differences which are in the shall be determin'd with all speed that may be XXIII That no new Custom or Novelty shall be admitted in the Order of the King's Table but that the ancient Custom shall be exactly observ'd XXIV Places becoming vacant in the Intervals of Dyets shall be supply'd in six Weeks XXV The Militia shall be so regulated at the Dyet of the Coronation that is to come that there shall be no need of Foreign Troops and Military Discipline shall be exactly observ'd XXVI That the Salt shall be tax'd and shar'd out in all the Palatinates according to the
ancient Custom XXVII That all Gentlemen shall have the Freedom of the Salt Mines XXVIII The ancient Privileges of the Palatinates shall remain inviolable XXX All the Privileges which belong to the Universities of Cracow and other Cities as well Ecclesiastick as Secular as also all the Articles which were promis'd upon Oath at the Coronations of the Kings Henry Stephen Sigismond Vladistaus John Casimir and others shall be renew'd at this Election which if it be not done or any thing endeavour'd to the contrary of these Articles then the Inhabitants of Poland and Lithuania to be free and disingag'd from their Obedience This being over the new King advanced towards Poland and upon the Frontiers was harangued by the Embassy sent to him by the Republick or at least a Party of it And having himself Swore to the Pacta Conventa and given sufficient Testimony of his being reconciled to the Romish Church he deliver'd himself to the Nobility that attended him in the following manner MY Dear and Good Friends You have chosen Me to be Your King You are come to offer Me the Crown and You have brought Me hither I am come and have quitted my Territories and my Country for Love of You. 'T is not with a Design to be a Burthen to You but to bring abundance along with Me my Wealth my Forces and all that belongs to Me to augment as much as in Me lies the Glory and Honour of Your Nation by fighting against the Enemies of the Kingdom more-especially those of Christendom Be assur'd that my Heart shall be always constant and sincere towards my Faithful Subjects and that my Sword shall only be employ'd in the Defence of Your Liberty and the Authority with which You have invested Me. From Piccari the King continued his March towards Cracow And tho' all Circumstances consider'd he had by far the Advantage over his Adversary yet there were still innumerable Difficulties not only to struggle with in Poland but Saxony it self was also to be taken care of wherefore least the sudden Change of his Religion should occasion any Innovations there he caused the following Declaration to be affixed upon the Gates of Dresden FRederick Augustus by the Grace of God King of Poland c. Elector of Saxony c. We notifie and make known That having long since by Divine Inspiration resolv'd to return to the Bosom of the Roman Church wherein our Ancestors liv'd and whereas for that purpose without any Allurement of Interest or Profit but only having God before our Eyes we have embrac'd the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion and that in the mean while it has pleased his Divine Majesty to advance our Person to the Throne of Poland for which reason we find our selves oblig'd by Affairs of so great Importance to absent our selves for some time from our Dear Country the Electorate of Saxony and seeing that for these Reasons and because of our Change the States of our said Country and our Dear Subjects may believe that we have a Design to abolish their ancient Priviledges we have thought fit to declare That we have not any the least Thought to over-charge 'em in any manner whatsoever contrary to their aforesaid ancient Priviledges but rather graciously to maintain our said States and Subjects in all their Liberties assuring 'em that as we promis'd 'em when we enter'd into Possession of our Estates and were settl'd in the Government and now that we have embrac'd the Roman Religion that we will maintain and protect our Dear States and Subjects in their Ausburg Confession in their ancient Possession of Liberty of Conscience of Churches of Religious Worship of Religious Exercise of Universities of Schools and of all other Priviledges which they now enjoy that in pursuance of this we will not constrain any Person to embrace our present Catholick Religion but will leave every Body free in his own Conscience as we assure 'em upon our Royal and Electoral Word assuring our selves in the mean time that our Dear States and Subjects will continue their just Affection Love Esteem and Fidelity which they have hitherto testify'd to our Person as their Lawful Elector and Sovereign and that they will live in Peace in Repose and in Union during our Absence for a while so that the Blessing of God and all manner of Happiness may more and more increase to which purpose we will assist our People with all our Power and at all times give 'em Demonstrations of our Royal and Electoral Affection And to the end that our present Assurance and Promise may be known to all our States and Subjects of our Electorate and other Countries we ordain that being Printed it be affix'd in all Places of our Electorate and Country and that Copies of it be every where distributed and dispers'd And for the greater Confirmation of what is above written we have Sign'd this present Act and Promise with our Hand and Seal'd it with our Seal At Lobsow August 6. 1697. â— AVGVSTVS K. of Poland and E. of Saxony The Prince of Conti in the mean time being buoy'd up by the Primate and his Party September the 6th left France and on the 25th arrived before Danzick but while that City refused his Men the liberty of Landing and adher'd firmly to the Interest of the Elector this last was solemnly crowned King at Cracow September 15. This undoubtedly must be a great Mortification to the Prince of Conti However not to be totally discouraged and in assurance that the Lithuanian Army would not submit to the new crown'd King with an Intention farther still to embroil Matters he wrote the following Letter and his Party were very sedulous to disperse Copies of it FRancis Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conti and by the Grace of God and the Affection of the Polish Nation Elect King of Poland and the Dutchy of Lithuania made no haste to come sooner in order to testifie his Acknowledgment that he might not do any Prejudice to the Customs of the Kingdom For the same Reason it is that he still remains on Board his Ship and that he has brought no Men along with him He does not apprehend that the Coronation of the Elector of Saxony can any way Prejudice his Right according to the Maxim That whatever is originally invalid can never be of any force in the Consequences that attend it Hence it comes to pass besides the Irregularities of His Electoral Highness's Coronation that there is an indispensible Necessity according to the Pacta Conventa that the Electress should embrace the Roman Catholick Religion before the Elector can be crown'd He puts all his Confidence in the Poles having a Design to avoid Effusion of Blood But in case of Necessity he Promises as many Forces as shall be necessary and continues still dispos'd to spend his Estate and to expose his own Person for the Polish Religion and Liberty But tho' this Stratagem had not the desired Effect the new King did not defer the
our Reasons may appear both now and for the future in the Acts of the present Negotiation We the Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries whose Names are underwritten earnestly desire their Excellencies the Embassadors Mediators that this our Remonstrance may be inserted in their Protocol or Register and that they may have an Act given 'em to confirm the presenting it Protesting also at the same time that their Masters are no less Zealous for the Peace then the rest of the Princes of Europe and that it is great Grief to 'em that they cannot sign in their Master's Name by reason of a Difficulty that was no way foreseen The Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries here present have sign'd the present Declaration and thereto fix'd their Seals in the Names of the Electors Princes and States of the Sâ—cred Roman Empire of the Confession of Auspurg who sent us their Deputies to the Treaty of Peace At the Hague 15th October 4 November 1697. In the Name of the Elector of Saxony Christopher Dieteric Bose the Younger Dutchy of Deux Ponts George Frederick de Snoilsky Saxon Gota Adolph Christian Aveman Duke of Brunswick Zell E. Klinggraffe Landtgrave of Hesse-Cassel William Vultesius Elector of Brandenburgh W. de Schmettau N. E. L. B. de Dankâ—lman Duke of Sauon Coburg Henry Richard L. B. de Hagen Margrave of â—â—â—eith E. L. B. de Stein Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbutel John William de Mansberg Dutchy of Holstein Gluckstar Dethlevus Nicholus de Lewencron But to return the Conferences still continued at Ryswick and all things were agreed on by the 30th of Oct. and the Treaty Signed then being Two Days before the time limitted by France to accept of her Offers The Articles were to this purpose IN the Name of the most Holy Trinity Amen Be it known unto All and every One that a cruel War attended with the Effusion of much Christian Blood and the Devastation of several Provinces having been waged for some Years last past between the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Leopâ—ld elected Emperour of the Romans always August King of Germany Hungary Bohemia of Dalmatia Croatia and Sclavonia Archduke of Austriâ— Duke of Burgundy Brabant Stiria Carinthia and Carniola Marquiss of Moravia Duke of Luxemburg of the Upper and Lower Silesia of Wirtemberg and of Teckay Prince of Suabia Counâ— of Habâ—bourg of Tyrol Kybourg and Goritia Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire Burgaw of the Upper and Lower Lusatia Lord of the Sclavonian Marches of Port-Naon and Salins c. and the Sacred Roman Empire on one part and the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Lewis XIV the most Christian King of France and Navarre on the other part Now his Imperial Majesty and his most Christian Majesty having most seriously apply'd themselves to terminate and put an end as soon as possible to those Mischiefs that daily encreas'd to the Ruine of Christendom by the Divine Assistance and by the Care of the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Charles XI King of Swedeland Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of Finland Duke of Scania Esthonia Livonia of Carelia Bremen Perden of Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Râ—gâ—n and Lord of Ingria and Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliens Câ—â—ves and Bergues of Illustrious Memory who from the very beginning of these Commotions did not cease effectually to sollicit the Christian Princes to Peace and afterwards having been accepted as Universal Mediator never desisted gloriously to labour even to his dying Day to procure the same with all imaginable speed having to this purpose appointed and settled Conferences in the Palace of â—yswick in Holland and after his Decease the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Câ—arles XII King of Sweden Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of 〈◊〉 Duke of Scania Esthonia of Livonia Carelia Bremen of Ferden Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and of Vandalia Prince of Rugen Lord of Ingria and of Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliers Cleves and Bergues Inheriting from his Royal Father the same longing Desire and Earnestness to procure the publick Tranquility and the Treaties having been brought to their perfection by the foresaid Conferences the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries lawfully appointed and established by both Parties being met to this effect at the aforesaid place that is to say on the Emperor's part the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Dominic Andrew Kaunitz Count of the Holy Roman Empire Hereditary Lord of Austerlitz of Hungarischbord Marischpruss and Orzechan the Great Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece intimate Councellor of State to his Sacred Imperial Majesty Chamberlain and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Empire the Sieur Henry John Stratman Sieur de Puerbach Count of the Holy Roman Empire Lord of Oâ—th Schmiding Spatenbrun and Carlsberg Imperial Aulique Councellor Chamberlain to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and the Siuer John Frederick free and noble Baron of Seilern Imperial Aâ—lique Councellor to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and one of the Plenipotentiaries in the Imperial Diets And on the part of his Sacred most Christian Majesty the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Nicholas Augustâ—â— de Harlay Knight Lord of Boneuil Count of Cely Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State The Sieur Lewis Verjus Knight Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State Count de Crecy Marquiss of Freon Baron of Couvay Lord of Boulay of the two Churches of Fort-Isle and other places together with the Sieur Francis de Callieres Lord of Callieres of Rochechellay and Gigny By the Mediation and Intercession of the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Charles Bonde Count de Biornoo Lord of Hesleby Tyres Toftaholm of Graffteen Gustavusberg and of Rezitza Councellor to his Majesty the King of Sweden and President of the supreme Senate of Dorpat in Livonia and of the Sieuâ— Nicholas free Baron of Lillierooâ— Secretary of State to his Majesty the King of Sweden and Extraordinary Ambassador to their High and Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces both of them Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries for confirming and establishing a General Peace who have faithfully discharg'd their Duty of Mediatorship with Integrity Application and Prudence The Plenipotentiaries of the Electors Princes and deputed States of the Holy Roman Empire being Present Approving and Consenting after the Invocation of God's Holy Name and the Exchange of their full Powers made in due manner and form did agree for the Glory of God's Holy Name and the Welfare of Christendom upon Conditions of Peace and Concord the Tenor whereof is as followeth I. THere shall be a Christian Universal Perpetual Peace and a true Amity between his Sacred Imperial Majesty and his Successors the whole Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdoms and Hereditary States their Vassals and Subjects on the one part It shall be faithfully and sincerely maintain'd so that the one shall not undertake
any thing under what Pretence soever to the Ruin or Prejudice of the other nor Afford or Lend Assistance upon any account whatsoever to any one who would attempt it or in any wise do any Wrong to the other that he will not receive protect or assist in any way or manner whatsoever the Rebellious and Disobedient Subjects of the other Party but on the contrary both Parties shall seriously procure the Benefit Honour and mutual Advantage of each other notwithstanding all Promises Treaties and Alliances to the contrary made or to be made in any manner whatsoever which are abolished and made of none effect by the present Treaty II. There shall be on both sides an Amnesty and perpetual Oblivion of all the Hostilities reciprocally committed in what place or manner soever it be so that upon any Cause or Pretence of the same or upon any other account it may not be lawful for the one to express any Resentment to the other nor create any Trouble or Vexation directly or indirectly either by way of Justice or de facto in any place whasoever nor permit that any such shall be expressed or created but all and singular the Injuries and Violences whether by Word Deed or Writing without any respect to Persons or Things are so intirely and fully abolish'd and cancell'd that whatsoever the one may pretend against the other upon this account shall be bury'd in everlasting Oblivion all and several the Subjects and Vassals of both Parties shall enjoy the Effect and Benefit of the present Amnesty insomuch that the having adhered to such or such a Party shall not be wrested to the Prejudice or Disadvantage of any of them but that he shall be wholly re-establish'd and settled as to his Honours and Estate in the same condition he was in immediately before the War excepting notwithstanding what hath been more especially and particularly regulated in the following Articles in relation to Moveables Ecclesiastical Benefices and Revenues III. The Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen shall be look'd upon as the Basis and Foundation of this present Treaty and consequently in pursuance of the same immediately upon the Exchange of the Ratifications the said Treaties shall be fully executed in respect both to Spiritual and Temporal Matters and shall be inviolably observed for the future except in such Cases wherein it is expresly otherwise agreed on by this present Treaty IV. Particularly there shall be deliver'd up to his Imperial Majesty to the Empire and to its States and Members all the Places and Rights situate out of Alsâ—â—ia that have been in the possession of and occupy'd and enjoy'd by his most Christian Majesty as well during the present War by way of Fact and Deed as by way of Unions and Reunions or that have been exprest in the Catalogue of Reunions produced by the Ambassadors of France nulling to this purpose all the Decrees Determinations Acts and Declarations made upon this account by the Chambers of Metz and Besancon and by the Council of Brisac and all things shall be reduced to the same Condition wherein they were before the foresaid Seisures Unions or Reunions without putting the Possessors of the said Places to any further Trouble or Molestation the Roman Catholick Religion nevertheless remaining settled in the fore-mentioned places in the same manner as it is at present V. And albeit by these general Rules one may easily judge who they be that are to be re-established and in what manner and how far they ought to be so nevertheless upon the earnest Sollicitations of some and for some particular Reasons it hath been thought convenient to make particular mention of some Occasions yet so that those who shall not be expresly named may not be taken for omitted but shall absolutely enjoy the same Right as those that are nominated and may be put in the same Rank and Capacity VI. Namely the Elector of Triers and Bishop of Spires shall be re-invested in the Possession of the City of Triers or Treves in the same Condition wherein it is at present without demolishing or damnifying any thing either in the publick or private Edifices together with the Artillery that was therein at the very time of its last being taken In like manner whatsoever was regulated in the IV. Article aforegoing upon the account of places occupied of Unions and Re-unions must be thought to be repeated in particular in favour of the Churches of Treves and Spires VII The Elector of Brandenbourgh shall likewise enjoy all the Advantages of the present Peace and shall be therein comprised together with all his Territories Possessions Subjects and Rights and more especially those that appertaiâ— and belong to him by Virtue of the Treaty of the 29th of June in the Year 1679. just as if they had been specified each in particular VIII All the States occupied and enjoyed by the most Christian King shall be surrender'd to the Elector Palatine whether they belong to him in particular or whether he possesses them in common with others of what nature soever they may be and particularly the City and Prefecture of Germersheim together with the Prefectures and Vice-Prefectures therein comprised with all the Fortresses Cities Burroughs Towns Villages Hamlets Fiefs Funds and Rights according as they were surrendred by the Peace of Westphalia together with all Instruments Instructions and Acts taken away or plunder'd from the Archives or Records Chancery Court of Fiefs from the Chamber of Counts of Prefectures and other Palatine Offices not any Place Effect Right or Document being excepted and as to what relates to the Claims and Rights of the Dutchess of Oâ—leans it is agreed upon that the aforesaid Restitution being first made the â—usiness shall be decided and judged in Form of Compromise by his Imperial Majesty and by his most Christian Majesty as Arbitrators which shall be decided according to the Imperial Laws and Constitutions But if they do not agree in their Verdict the Business shall be referr'd to the Pope to judge of it as Supreme Arbitrator Nevertheless they shall not forbear in the mean time endeavouring to procure an amicable Concord between the Parties and till such time as the Businnss be determined and ended the said Elector shall give every Year to the said Dutchess of Orleans the Sum of Two hundred thousand French Livres or One hundred thousand Florins of the Rhine in such manner and upon the same Condition as is specified by a particular Article of the same Power and Force as the present Treaty and that the Right of the two Parties as also that of the Empire shall remain intire in respect of the Possessor as well as Pretender IX There shall be restored to the King of Sweden in quality of Prince Palatine of the Rhine the County of Sponâ—eim Valdents his ancient Dutchy of Deux Ponts intire and with all its Appurtenances Dependences and Rights which the Counts Palatines of the Rhine and Dukes of Deux Ponts Predecessors of his Swedish Majesty
therein but shall be forced immediately to repair to the Territories belonging to the Crown of France XXII There shall be likewise restored to his Imperial Majesty and the Holy Roman Empire the Town of Philipsburg in its best Condition with the Fortifications adjoining thereto that are on the right Hand of the Rhine and all the Ordinance and Artillery that was there when France seized on it the last time with this Proviso That the Right of the Bishop of Spires be altogether excepted upon the account of which the fourth Article of the Treaty of Peace at Nimeguen is to be look'd upon as repeatable in this place in express Terms But the Fort that was built on the Left side of the Rhine and the Bridge that was made by the Most Christian King's Order after the taking of it shall be utterly demolished XXIII The Most Christian King shall take care to cause the Fortifications built over against Hunningen upon the Right side in the Isle of the Rhine to be razed at his own proper Cost and Charges restoring the Grounds and Edifices to the Family of Baden The Bridge also built in this place upon the Rhine shall be demolish'd likewise XXIV They shall likewise destroy the Fort that was built on the Right side of the Rhine over against the Fort called Fort Louis the said Fort and Isle remaining in the Power of the Most Christian King and as for the Ground of the demolish'd Fort it shall be restored together with the Houses to the Marquess of Baden They shall more-over destroy that part of the Bridge that goes from the said Bridge to the Isle which shall never be repaired hereafter by either Party XXV The Most Christian King shall likewise cause to be demolish'd the Fortifications added after the Peace of Nimeguen to the Castle of Trarbach and the Fortress of Montroyal upon the Moselle without any Body's presuming to repair them for the future yet leaving the Fortress of Trarbach intire to be wholly restored with the City and its Appurtenances to its former Possessors XXVI They shall likewise demolish the Fortifications added by the Most Christian King to the Fortress of Kernburg after which demolishing the City of Kernburg being left intire and untouched as also the other Goods and Chattels belonging to the Prince of Salm and to his Cousins the Rhinegraves and Vildgraves and other things shall be restored to be possessed in the same manner and with the very same Right they did possess them before they were turn'd out of them Upon which it is agreed and consented to by the present Treaty XXVII The New Fortifications added by the Most Christian King to the Fortress of Ebernburg shall also be demolished and the Fortress to be afterwards restored to the Barons of Sickenguen with other Estates belonging to them which are to be restored to them by both Parties XXVIII The Duke of Lorrain having been united to his Imperial Majesty in this War and having a desire to be comprehended within this present Treaty he shall be accordingly re-instated for himself his Heirs and Successors into the free and full Possession of the States Possessions and Goods which Duke Charles his Uncle by the Father's Side was possest of in the Year 1670. at such time as the Most Christian King seized upon them excepting notwithstanding the Alterations and Changes explain'd in the following Articles XXIX His Most Christian Majesty shall particularly restore to the said Duke the Old and New City of Nancy with all its Appurtenances and the Artillery that was found in the Old City at the time of its being taken upon this Condition nevertheless That all the Ramparts and Bastions of the Old City remaining intire with the Gates of the New the Ramparts and Bastions of this latter as also the whole exteriour Fortifications of both shall be intirely razed at the sole Charge of the Most Christian King never to be any more re-built for time to come Except the said Duke and his Successors shall have a mind when they please to enclose the New City with a single dry Wall without a Flank XXX His Most Christian Majesty shall likewise cause the Castle of Bitsch to be evacuated with all its Appurtenances as also the Castle of Homburg by causing all the Fortifications to be razed before-hand that they may never more be repaired yet so that the foresaid Castles and Cities that are adjacent thereto may receive no Damage thereby but may remain totally untouch'd XXXI Upon the whole Whatsoever hath been ordered as above-said in the IVth Article in reference to Unions and Re-unions shall be as serviceable and advantageous to the said Duke as if it had been here repeated verbatim in what Place and after what Manner the foresaid Unions and Re-unions have been made and ordained XXXII His Most Christian Majesty reserves to himself the Fortress of Saar-Louis with half a League round about it which shall be marked out and limitted by the Commissioners of his said Majesty and by those of Lorrain by him to be possess'd Sovereignly for ever XXXIII The City and Prefectship of Longwi together with all its Appurtenances and Dependences shall also remain in the Power of the said Most Christian King his Heirs and Successors with all Superiority Sovereignty and Property without the said Duke his Heirs or Successors pretending henceforward to claim any Right therein but in exchange of the said City and Prefectship his said Most Christian Majesty will put another Prefectship into the Hands of the said Duke in one of the three Bishopricks of the same Extent and Value whereof the said Commissioners shall bona fide agree upon And the said Prefectship so made over and conveyed by the Most Christian King to the said Duke he the said Duke as well as his Heirs and Successors shall possess it to the Words end with all the Rights of Superiority Sovereignty and Property XXXIV The Passage shall be always open through the Territories of the said Duke without any Obstacle or Impeachment to the Most Christian King's Troops who shall go or come from the Frontiers upon Condition nevertheless that timely Notice of it shall be given before-hand that the Soldier that passes shall not go out of his Way but may pursue the shortest and usual Way and duly continue his Road as he ought without delay He shall not commit any Violence nor do any Damage to the Places and Subjects of the Duke and shall pay ready Money for Victuals and other Necessaries that shall be delivered to him by the Commissioners of Lorrain Mutually abolishing and causing the High-ways and Places that his Most Christian Majesty had reserved to himself by the Peace of Nimeguen to return to the Power and Jurisdiction of the Duke without any Exception XXXV The Ecclesiastical Benefices conferred by his Most Christian Majesty till the very day of the present Treaty shall remain in the Enjoyment and Possession of those who possess them at present and who have obtained
without any Expence or Trouble to the other Party for the said Demolition Likewise shall all the Archives Records Literal Documents be faithfully restored immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications as well those which belong to the Places that are to be surrendred and deliver'd to his Imperial Majesty's Empire and to its States and Members as those that have been remov'd and convey'd from the Chamber and City of Spires and other places of the Empire altho' there may be no particular mention made thereof in the present Treaty The Prisoners taken upon occasion of the War shall also be releas'd and set at liberty on both sides without any Ransom and in particular such who have been condemned to the Gallies or to any other publick Slavery LI. And to the end that the Subjects of both Parties may speedily enjoy the intire Benefit of this Peace it hath been agreed That all Contributions of Money Grain Wine of Forage Wood and Cattel or the like altho' already impos'd on the Subjects of the other Party and altho' they have been settled and stated by Agreement as also that all Foraging of what nature soever upon the Territories and Jurisdiction of one another shall totally cease upon the very day of the Ratification and what shall be due in Arrears for such like Contributions Impositions or Exactions shall be totally abolish'd In like manner the Hostages delivered or carried away during this War for what cause soever shall be restor'd without farther delay and that without being oblig'd to pay any thing for the same LII In like manner the Commerce prohibited during the War between the Subjects of his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and those of his Most Christian Majesty and of the Realm of France shall be re-establish'd presently after the Signing of this Peace with the same liberty as before the War and shall All and every One of them and more particularly the Inhabitants and Citizens of the Hans-Towns Enjoy all manner of Security by Sea and Land together with their Ancient Rights Immunities Privileges and Advantages obtained by Solemn Treaties or by Ancient Custom LIII Whatsoever is concluded and agreed upon by this Treaty shall be firm and inviolable to perpetuity and shall be observed and put in execution notwithstanding whatsoever might have been believed alledged or imagined to the contrary which remains altogether cancelled and abolished altho' it might be of such a nature that we might have been obliged to make a more ample and more particular mention of the same or altho' the cancelling and abrogation seem as if it ought to be lookt upon as null invalid and of none effect LIV. Each of the Stipulating contracting Parties shall be capable of confirming this present Peace and his observance of it by certain Alliances by Fortifications upon his own proper Ground except in the Places in especial manner above excepted the which they may build or inlarge put Garrisons into and use other means they shall judge most necessary for their defence It shall likewise be permitted as well to all the Kings Princes and Republicks in General As to the King of Sweden in particular as Mediator to give their Guarantie to his Imperial Majesty and Empire and to his Most Christian Majesty just as it was by vertue of the Peace of Westphalia LV. And forasmuch as his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and his Most Christian Majesty do acknowledg with Sentiments of Gratitude the continual Cares and good Offices that his Swedish Majesty hath used for re-establishing the Publick Tranquility both Parties agree that his Swedish Majesty shall by name be comprehended in the present Treaty with his Realms and Dominions in the best form and manner as possibly may be LVI There are also comprehended in the present Treaty upon the behalf of his Imperial Majesty and the Empire besides the Members of the Empire already named the other Electors Princes States and Members of the Empire and among others more especially the Bishop and Bishoprick of Basil with all his Estates Privileges and Rights Item the thirteen Swisse Cantons together with their Confederates namely with the City of Geneva and its Dependences the City and County of Neufchatel the Cities of St. Gall Mulbausen and Bienne the three Grison Leagues the Seven Jurisdictions or Dizaines of the Vallais as also the Abbey of St. Gall. LVII On the part of his Most Christian Majesty are in like manner comprised the thirteen Cantons of Switzerland and their Allies and namely the Republick of Vallais or Wallisland LVIII There shall also be comprehended within this Treaty all such who shall be named by common consent of the one and the other party before the Exchange of the Ratifications or within the space of six Months after LIX The Ambassadors of his Imperial Majesty and of the Most Christian King conjointly with the Plenipotentiaries of the States deputed by the Empire do promise to cause the present Peace thus concluded by the Emperour the Empire and King of France to be ratified in that same form whereof it is interchangeably here agreed on and to procure the Exchange of the Letters of Ratifications in this same place within the space of six Weeks to begin to reckon from this very Day or sooner if possible LX. In Witness and confirmation whereof the Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries as well Imperial as those of the King of France as also the Plenipotentiaries of the Electors and Deputies from the States of the Empire have to this effect subsigned this present Treaty with their own Hands and have annexed their Seals thereto Done at the Royal Palace of Ryswick in Holland the 13th of October in the Year 1697. L. S. D. A. C. de Kaunitz L. S. Hen. C. de Stratman L. S. J. F. L. B. de Silern L. S. De Harlay Bonnueil L. S. Verjus de Crecy L. S. De Callieres In the Name of the Elector of Mentz L. S. M. Frederic Baron de Schinborn Embassador L. S. Ignatius Antonius Otten Plenipotentiary L. S. George William Moll Plenipotentiary In the Name of the Elector of Bavaria L. S. De Prielmeyer Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary In the Name of the House of Austria L. S. Francis Radolphe de Halden L. Baron of Trasberg c. In the Name of the Great Master of the Teutonick Order L. S. Charles B. de Loe Knight of the Teutonick Order In the Name of the Bishop of Wurtsbourg L. S. John Conrard Philip Ignatius de Tustungen In the Name of the Elector of Triers L. S. John Henry de Kaisarsfeld Plenipotentiary In the Name of the Prince and Bishop of Constance L. S. Frederic de Durheim In the Name of the Bishop and Prince of Hildesheim L. S. Charles Paul Zimmerman Chancellour to his Highness Counsellour of the Privy Counsel and Plenipotentiary In the Name of the Elector of Cologn in quality of Bishop and Prince of Liege L. S. John Conrade Norff Deputy Plenipotentiary In the Name of
the 19th the Parliament of Scotland met and during the short time of their sitting which was but to the beginning of September made several good Acts and were then prorogued to the 25th of November following Neither were the Lords Justices in Ireland wanting in their Duties to his Majesty and the Country for they took a Progress this Summer in order to view the State of several Places in the Kingdom and give such Instructions as theâ— saw convenient for the Security of the Government and good of the Subject But how Prosperous soever things went with us at home the Apprehensions of the Death of the King of Spain who was sick more or less for a great part of this Year made all Europe uneasie for fear of another War It will be impertinent for me to enter upon the particulars of the King's Sickness and Distemper that being fitter for a Physitian 's Diary than an History However it is my part to observe that a Fleet of French Men of War and Gallies coming into Caâ—iz-Bay and afterwards their giving out they would Winter there to say nothing of those Gallies that went to Naples gave no small Umbrage to their Neighbours And tho' I will not say the Arrival of the English and Dutch Squadron in Cales-Bay some time after made them think fit to return to their own Ports yet it is certain that that with the King's Recovery made their Affairs in that Country look quite with another Aspect than they had done a little before when nothing was less expected than that the Duke of Berry should succeed the Marquess of Harcoâ—â— the French Embassador valuing himself much upon the Paces he thought he had made to that end But while all this was in Agitation towards Spain the French were busie in the North to perfect an Allyance with the Crown of Sweden which at length was brought to bear and the same was notified by M. de Lissenheim his Swedish Majesty's Minister to the Envoys of other Courts residing at Hamborough and other Places The main Intention of what was made publick of this Allyance is to preserve the Repose of Europe and the Articles were to this purpose I. THat the Ancient Alliance is renew'd between the two Kings their Heirs and Successors II. That the Aim and Intention of this Treaty is to preserve and secure the Common Peace by such means as shall be adjudg'd most proper and convenient III. If it should come to pass that it should be disturb'd by any Breaches and Hostilities that the two Kings will make it their Business to repair the wrongs in an amicable way IV. And if their Cares prove ineffectual they will joyntly consider of ways to defend the Rights of the Country injur'd V. In case any Prince or State will enter into this Treaty within a Year they shall be admitted by the consent of both Kings VI. Neither the one nor the other shall make Peace or Truce without comprehending the other therein VII The Articles of the Treaties formerly concluded by either of the two with other Kings Princes or States shall remain in their full Strength and Vertue so far as they shall not be contrary to this VIII The Freedom of Commerce between the Subjects of the two Kings shall be preserv'd as formerly without any Impeachment as well in time of War as in Peace paying the usual Duties IX In pursuance of which all Ports Cities and Provinces shall be open to the Subjects of both Crowns according as the Laws and Customs shall permit both to sell their Commodities in those Places and buy others X. This particular Treaty shall continue Ten Years with Liberty to prolong this Term if it be judg'd convenient by the two Kings who by consent shall have a watchful Eye upon the means to preserve the Peace against the Dangers that threaten it XI This Treaty shall be exchang'd by both sides within three Months after the Signing or sooner if it may be Given at Stockholm the 9 th of July O. S. 1698. I shall not meddle here with the Mock-Battle at Compeign nor the more violent persecution of the Reformed since the Peace both of them being Subjects ungrateful to my Pallate but pass on into Germany where to say nothing yet of the Discourse concerning the Marriage of the King of the Romans with the Princess of Hanover we find a mighty disposition in the Emperor and his Confederates also to a Peace with the Turks after the continuance of a War for above fifteen Years wherein perhaps there has been as much variety of Action as in any other whatsoever but now it seems to draw to a period and things look in the World as if Janus his Temple was once more to be shut up And tho the Armies in Huâ—gary on both sides were considerable in number and Strength yet there seemed no great disposition in either for Action but much more in the Parties concerned to set up a Treaty of Peace under the Mediation of his Britannick Majesty and the States General by their Ministers the Lord Paget and M. Colliers who towards the middle of August arrived in the Turkish Camp near Belgrade and by their good Offices got the Place to hold the Conferences to be between Peter Waradin and Salankemen the Emperor and Confederate Ministers being to reside at Câ—rlowitz the Sultan's at Salankamen and the Mediators between the two Places The Emperor's Plenipotentiaries were the Count of Ottengen General Sâ—â—lick and the Count de Marsigli those of the Port were the Effendi or Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and Mauro Cordato for Venice came Signior Ruzzini Embassador in Ordinary from the Republick to the Court of Vienna and Seignior Wicolasi Secretary of the said Republick for Poland appear'd the Sieur Malokowski Palatine of Posnania and for the Moscovites Procopius Pogdanowitz Vosnicin I shall now leave the Plenipotentiaries to meet and not enter upon the Particulars of the Negotiation my design being to reserve that for the closing up of this Work nor shall I take any Notice of the Conspiracy which was said to have been formed by the Army under General Rabaâ—in in Transilvania to kill him and the rest of the Officers and then to go over to the Turks because I believe there was more Noise than Truth in it But I shall return where I left off last Year with the Polish Affairs and observe that tho' the King's Competitor was now gone without any likelihood of ever returning again and that the potent City of Danzick were firm to his Interest yet other Difficulties from the Obstinacy of the Cardinal Primate and his Adherents and from the present Necessity he lay under to be guarded in Poland with his own Troops made his Affairs much perplex'd However he set forward and arrived at Warsaw January the 14th in great State The King us'd all imaginable Endeavours to bring the Primate to submit and the Offices of the Brandenburg Minister were indefatigable to this
Lubormirski and at the first Assault took several Waggons full of Baggage It was allowed the Poles had 900 common Soldiers and 60 Officers Slain and of the latter there were four Starosts besides a great many made Prisoners of War of which two were Starosts not to mention the Wounded whereof the Grand General Jablonowski's Son was one This together with the increase of the Troubles in Lithuania the Complaints of the Polish Army against â—he Germans and that they might not Quarter any of them in the Starosties or any other Places where the Polish Troops were to Winter besides that the Nobility of Great Poland pretended to Summon a Diet of that Province without the King's knowledge must needs have sunk another Prince of less Courage and Abilities than himself But his Majesty having disposed of all things as well as might be for Winter-quarters resolved to go for Grodno in order to appease the Troubles of Lithuania and at the same time ordered some of his German Regiments under Major General Fleming to move that way but before this could be accomplish'd as an accumulation of Disorders in rushes the unwelcome News of the City of Elbing's having been Invested by the Elector of Brandenburg's Troops under Geral Brandt of which he was resolved to make himself Master as being Mortgaged to him for a great Sum of Mony unless the said Sum were forthwith repaid him If the Poles were very much allarm'd at this Enterprize you may be sure Elbing was nothing less so but finding Friends remote and themselves unable to make any resistance to purpose they could for the present think of no better Expedient than to write in very submissive Terms to the Elector to beg a longer delay Promising That in case of the failure of the King of Poland to whom they desired time to send they would endeavour to satisfy the Electors Demands themselves to which Letter the Elector was pleased to return an Answer whereby because a better view might be had of his Pretentions take it as follows Frederick III. by the Grace of God c. YOur Letter of the 14th of this Month sent us by your Secretary was faithfully deliver'd to us We have clearly seen the Request which you make us of the Respite and the Offer you make us of discharging the Debt your selves according to your Power and the Ratie we have granted you But you and all the World are not Ignorant of a perpetual Treaty concluded at Velau and Bridgost between the Crown of Poland and our selves importing That the City of Elbiâ—g should be deliver'd to us for Security of the Payment of a certain Sum. The Elector our Father and We have now waited above 40 Years in vain the Accomplishment of this Treaty so Solemnly concluded and ratify'd so that at length our Patience was tyr'd And therefore to prevent the Derision and Blame of Posterity should we any longer neglect our Rights and the Interests of our States we thought our selves oblig'd to make use of the Means which God and the Laws have put into our Hands All which we have made known to the King and the Senators of Poland We could have wish'd we could have taken Possession of our Mortgage without Noise and Hostility But since it could not be it now solely depends upon you to preserve your City by doing what we demand with so much Justice We protest before God and the World we have no Animosity or ill Intention against you or your City but wish your Preservation and Welfare provided you answer our Goodness with a becoming and voluntary Accommodation in which Case we promise upon our Electoral Word that that you shall be maintain'd in all your Privileges Prerogatives and Immunities as well Spiritual as Temporal and to re-establish you when we shall have received Satisfaction As for your Offer to pay us your Selves we do not refuse it But in regard you do not think your Selves able to do it of your Selves we look upon that Offer as a means only to gain time Therefore if you neglect this candid Declaration of ours and suffer things to go to Extremity we protest before God and Men that we are Innocent of the Misfortune and Ruin that may befal your City c. The Elector moreover writ to the K. of Poland and the Cardinal Primate upon this Head and publish'd also a large Manifesto in his own Justification by all which it plainly appear'd to the World he was in earnest as it did more particularly to the Elbingers by the Batteries he began to raise and the Effects whereof they did not much care to feel wherefore they agreed to Capitulate and November the 11th signed these Articles 1. THat the City shall be maintain'd in the Enjoyment of all its Privileges Rights Prerogatives and Immunities without exacting any new Homage or Oath to his Electoral Highness unless it be an Acknowledgment of his Right of Mortgage 2. That the Exercise of Religion and Ecclesiastick Rights shall remain in their Present Condition as also the Seminaries the Schools the Hospitals as well Roman Catholicks as Protestants 3. That the Magistrates shall be continu'd in their Dignities and Employments as formerly and the Election of new ones shall be made as before they shall also enjoy the same Sallaries and Emoluments 4. The Elector shall take the Burgesses into his Protection and maintan 'em in their Privileges 5. That he shall also preserve their Trade and endeavour to encrease it and render it more flourishing 6. That his Duty upon the Salt-Fish of Pilow shall be suppress so long as the Mortgage shall last 7. That his Electoral Highness shall impose no new Duties either by Sea or Land 8. That the Traffick of the Town with the Bishoprick of Ermeland and other Places within the Territories of Poland shall remain free and open 9. That the City shall enjoy all the Goods and Effects which they have within the Electoral Jurisdiction and the Administration of Justice shall continue as before 10. His Electoral Highness promises to maintain and preserve the City to let her have her Cannon and her Ammunition not to deprive the Burghers of their Arms not to add any new Works to the Fortifications nor to put any Soldiers into the Old Town But the Garrison which shall be but a small Number in the New Town and the Suburbs shall be paid by his Electoral Highness without any Charge to the â—arghers nor the Flat Country for quartering of Soldiers 11. His Electoral Highness shall protect and defend the City and the Inhabitants in case they be molested by reason of this Capitulation and the Surrender of their City 12. That so soon as his Electoral Highness shall be fully satisfy'd of his Pretensions which he claims from the Crown of Poland the Place shall be restor'd according to the Tenor of the Treaties 13. The City shall pay no farther Contributions than such as shall be impos'd in Dyets by the States of Royal Prussia 14.
The Keys of the City shall remain in the Custody of the President Burgomaster who shall also give the Word 15. The Old City shall be guarded by the City Soldiers except the Burgesses Gate and the Middle Post 16. If any of the Inhabitants will remove to any other Place they shall be permitted to depart with their Families and Effects 17. All Hostilities committed on either side shall be abolish'd by an Amnesty and the Soldiers that shall be oblig'd to quit some Posts shall do it with Drums beating lighted Matches and other Marks of Military Honour granted upon the like Occasions 18. General Brandt promises to obtain a just Ratification of the Articles above-mention'd These the Elector ratified with some Variation wherein in respect to the first Head he consented that the Oath which the City had taken to the King of Poland should remain inviolable he contenting himself for the present with the Assurances which the Magistrates gave him of their â—idelity But in case of a Rupture between him and the King and that their City was to be attack'd the said Article was to be void and they were to take the same Oath of Fidelity to him The Elector was also willing to contribute all that he had promised on his part for the Preservation and Defence of the City in case it were attack'd and to satisfie the Inhabitants for any Losses they might sustain by any new Fortifications he might be obliged to raise for the Defence of the Place he is farther content that the President of the Burgomasters should have the Custody of the City-Keys and give the Word and that the Guard of the old Town c. should be entrusted with the Soldiers in their Pay except the Burgesses Port and another Post granted to the Brandenburgers so long as the City should not be attack'd But if otherwise he would have his own Soldiers employ'd in all the Posts where there should be occasion for the Security and Defence of the City The Poles have blustred mightily about this Matter and the King at least wise in outward appearance shewed a mighty concern at it So that with many of them nothing but a War upon the Elector must serve However 't is hoped things are somewhat cooled and that the Interposition of the Emperor King of Denmark and the States General may bring all things again to an amicable Composure either to bring the Poles to pay the Elector his Money or confirm Elbing to him I confess as it fell out I do not think Elbing unhappy in the Change of Masters the Elector being a Protestant Prince who is under no Obligation to disturb her in the Exercise of her Religion and withal so famous for his Prudence Moderation and other admirable Qualities that he cannot but promote the Interests of it However I cannot without some sort of Indignation think of that Liberty some Princes have assumed to themselves of Mortgaging or out-right Selling of Cities and their Subjects as Men do Horses and Cows and not only so but many times also their Religion Lives and Properties Tho' by what divine or humane Right is beyond my Capacity to understand But to leave this ungrateful Subject and return to Lithuania We told you before of Oginski's Defeat and Flight which by the Consequence thereof did not appear to be so entire as was at first represented For he quickly recovered again and most part of the Nobility joyning in with him he in his turn before the end of November with a body of 15000 Men fights and defeats the General Sapieha's Army consisting of about 8000 and slew to the number of 2000 of them But tho this Loss began to open the Eyes of several of the chief Leaders of them and that being inferiour in Number they plainly saw the Dangers they expos'd themselves too if they persisted longer to trouble the Repose of the Dutchy and that thereupon they began to lend an Ear to the Remonstrances and good Offices of the Bishop of Wilna for the Re-union of the contending Parties Yet such was the Obstinacy of Prince Sapieha that he got what Troopâ— he could together and posted himself at some distance from the City of Grodno while the other Quartered himself on the other side of the said City with the Nobility of the Country and his other Adherents who far surpassed the Prince in Strength and where they seemed to be ready to engage when General Fleming suddenly came and posted himself with 28 Saxon Companies between both Armies with Orders to fire upon those that committed the first act of Hostility This he had no sooner done but he sent Orders to Prince Sapieha in the King and Republick's Name to disband his Army upon the Place Which tho' the Prince at first made a scruple to obey yet considering the pernicious Consequences of a Refusal and the vast inequality of Force between them his Enemy being computed to be thrice his Strength he resolved to yield Obedience Upon which Commissioners were appointed on both sides in the Presence of General Fleming whom the King had appointed as Mediator and a Treaty of Accommodation was signed December the 20th Importing That Sapieha's Army which was the chief Cause of the Contest in so severe a Season should be forthwith disbanded 2620 Foot should be kept still in Pay comprehending the Regiment allow'd by the Republick That the Officers should Swear an Oath of Fidelity and engage never to Attempt any thing against the Republick and faithfully to serve the King That the Hungarian Troops should be disbanded 1140 Dragoons should be kept on foot That the Soldiers as well disbanded as otherwise should be promised free Quarters in lieu of all their Pretensions That all Hostilities committed on both sides should be obliterated by a General Amnesty That the Money which the King had promised the Army by the Pacta Conventa should be paid and that the Republick should press the Performance of the said Pacta Conventa But as for the four Quarters promised by the Republick Deputies should be sent to the next Dyet that the Money might be paid to the Respective Companies No new Levies should be made without the Dyet and that till the same met all possible care should be taken that the General of Lithuania might exactly observe the Institution of the Coaequation And whereas some Palatines had hitherto refused Winter Quarters and other Contributions Commissioners should be sent to the Dyet to demand Satisfaction That the Right of Coaequation Partition c. as also the Tribunal of Lithuania should be preserved inviolable and that all Manifesto's for that end should remain in full Force as to that particular But should be annull'd in every thing that concern'd the General of Lithuania his Family and other Persons in particular comprehended in the said Manifesto's and that all possible security should be procured for their Persons Estates and Dignities That the Government of General should subsist upon the Terms of
Coaequation and that his Pension be reserved to him That for the Sum which he promised to pay some Ensigns out of his own Money the same should be taken out of what should arise from the four Quarters The Artillery was to be paid out of the Revenue of Lipiuski Germoreski and Winosopski till the succeeding Dyet of which the General of the Artillery was to give an account to the succeeding Dyets at hand That the Artillery should be laid up in the Arsenal of Wilna from whence it was not to be taken out but to be employ'd against the Enemies of the Republick That Protection should be granted to the Lithuanian Tartars as well for their Estates as Persons upon Condition that they took forthwith the Oath of Fidelity to the King and the Republick Having thus dispatch'd the Affairs of the North I shall not amuse the Reader in this place with the Naval Fight that hapned between the Venetian and Ottoman Fleets in the Waters of Mitylene on the 20th of September since I cannot with any Certainty assign what Loss was sustained or the Victory to either side so various have the Reports been tho' the former laid a Claim to it but design now to resume the Negotiations of the Peace with the Turks already mentioned but because the same has spun out into the new Year before the final Conclusion of it I shall here according to my Custom briefly touch upon the Remarkables of the last Towards the beginning of February dyed Frederick Casimir Duke of Courland at Mittau the place of his Residence who was succeeded by his Son Frederick Casimir a Child of of about Six Years Old During whose Minority Prince Ferdinand his Uncle who has embrac'd the Popish Religion would have taken the Guardianship and Administration upon him But the States have interposed and the young Prince is to be bred up a Protestant The third of the same Month was also fatal to Ernestus Augustus Elector and Duke of Hanover and Bishop of Osnaburg who departed this Life at Hernhausem He was born November the 10th 1629. being third Son to George Duke of Lunemburg and Anne Eleonora Daughter of Landgrave Lewis of Hesse-Damrstadt He was married in 1659. to the Princess Palatine Sophia Daughter to Frederick Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart Daughter of King James I. and Sister to King Charles I. by whom he had several Children and whereby it appears the present Elector his Son is next in Succession after the Royal Family here by the present Constitution of the Government that no Roman Catholick shall inherit to the Crown of England By the Peace of Westphalia the deceased Elector was designed Bishop of Osnabrug which is a very considerable Country when the Alternative was settled for one time a Roman Catholick and next time a Prince of the House of Lunemburg of which he took Possession in 1668. upon the death of the Cardinal of Wirtemburg the last Roman Catholick Bishop The Emperor was no sooner informed of the Elector's death but that in pursuance to the said Treaty he dispatch'd away a Commissioner to be present at the Election of a new Bishop for which there were divers Candidates and about which the Capitulars were extreamly divided But at length April the 14th they all united in favour of Charles Joseph Ignatius of Lorrain Bishop of Olmutz the Duke of that Name 's Brother who was advanced to that Dignity And now we have mentioned the Death of two Illustrious Persons we shall take notice of as many marriages One was in the North at the Swedish Court between the Duke of Holstein Gottorp and Hedwig Sophia Princess Royal of Sweden which was Consummated at Carelsbourg on the 12th of June without any Solemnity But the other between the present Duke of Lorrain and Elizabeth Charlotte Daughter to the Duke of Orleans the French King's Brother was performed upon the 12th of October at Fontainbleau with so much Pomp and Ceremonious Observances that I have no great Stomach to relate the Particulars and as little to call to mind the death Ferdinand Joseph Electoral Prince of Bavaria who departed this Life February 16th N. S. 1699. not long after as was given out and that very probably the King of Spain had settled the Succession of that Crown upon him and the French King 's Memorial at Madrid upon that Subject was a manifest Confirmation of it And the Truth of it is if there was a Right of Succession any where it must be in the Person of this young Prince by vertue of the Seventeenth Article of the Pyrenean Treaty Which undoubtedly must have stood good in Point of Justice whatever others have said against it in favour of another Person else we must account Don Lewis de Haro one of the wisest Ministers of State that ever Spain bred a â—ool and no Treaties how solemnly soever made of any Validity But now to draw to a Closure we are to remind you that the Plenipotentiaries on either side both Christian and Turk with the Mediators met at Câ—rlâ—â—itz in order to terminate so long and expensive a War by a Peace or at least a Truce for some term of Years It was the â—th of November when the Mediators delivered to the Turkish Plenipotentiaries the Preliminary Articles which mainly in Substance contained That each Party respectively should retain what he had got and the following days till the 12th were spent in preparing Matters upon which they were to enter in Conference that day On the 13th the Imperial and Turkish Plenipotentiaries caused several fair Tents to be set up on the sides of the House appointed for the Conferences and by Nine in the Morning the first arrived at the Mediators Lodgings whither the Turks also repaired at the same time and from thence went altogether to the House of Conference where after mutual Civilities they took their Places in the midst of the Tent which had four Doors two whereof being opposite to one another served for the Entrance of the Mediators and the other two for the Imperial and Turkish Plenipotentiaries The Count of Oâ—â—inghen had the right of the former and Reis Effendi of the latter The Mediators Secretaries and those of the Imperial Embassy were placed behind and the Turkish Secretary who stood up-right before sat down upon the Floor And this was the manner of the opening of the first Conference after pronouncing of these Words God-Grant an happy Pâ—â—ce There was a Table in the midst between the Mediators and Plenipotentiaries And the Conference lasted from half an Hour after Ten till Three in the Afternoon when the Mediators and Plenipotentiaries went out in the same order as they entred But all the while they were within the Emperor's and Turkish Guards besides a great Number of Officers of both Nations environed the Tent. The Conferences were renewed in the same manner the three succeeding days with good Success And among other things they conferred about the Regulation of
is not to be forced in Matters of Religion and so regulate their Actions accordingly But however it may prove with these of the Popish Communion and how rigorously they may be still bent to extripate that which they mis-call by the Name of Heresie and how great soever the Demerit of our Suffering Brethren may be the general and solemn Days of Humiliation and Prayers appointed for their Deliverance by almost the Universal Authority of all the Protestant Princes and States of Europe is one good sign that their Salvation draweth nigh The INDEX A. ABstract of Peace between the Empire and France Page 58 c. between France Sweden and Brandenburgh 66. between France Sweden and Denmark 71 c. Ackmet Sultan of the Turks his Death 534. Aeth besieged and surrender'd to the French 593. Agria surrendred to the Imperialists 235. Aghrim a Relation of the Battle there 429 c. Albania ravaged by the Turks 407. Alba Regalis surrendred by the Imperialists 249. Alexander VIII Pope his Death 456. Allâ—es endeavour to keep Spain out of the Peace 38. Altercations about the Basis of the Reswick Treaty 595 and 599. Ann Princess her Letter to the Queen 289 c. Argyle E. of lands in Scotland 267. his Declaration 268 c. taken and beheaded 269. Articles of Alliance between England and Holland 23 c. of Peace between Holland and France 28 c. between France and Spain 41 c. between Strasburgh and France 113 c. between France and Savoy 565 c. Of Neutrality in Italy 575. Of Peace between England and France 603 c. between Holland and France 609 c. between France and Spain 619 c. between the Empire and France 647 c. of Alliance between France and Sweden 676 c. Assassination discovered 541. Assassins tried and executed 552 c. Association at Exeter for the Prince of Orange 285. Athens submits to the Venetians 242. Athlone besieged in vain by the English 375. besieged again 425. taken 427. Avaux Count de his Memorial at the Hague 259. Ausburg the League there 131. B. BAden P. Lewis of defeats the Turks at Brod 254. made General in Hungary 336. defeats the Turks at Patochin 337 c. At Nissa 333. reduces Transylvania and expels Tekeley 414. beats the Turks at Salankemen 453 c. Barkan the Battle there between the Christians and the Turks 147. taken by the Germans 148. Bavaria Elect. of arrives with his Troops before Buda 158. made General in Hungary 250. his Letter to Osman Basha 252. takes Belgrade by storm 254. Beaumont Lieutenant-Colonel his Speech refuses Irish Soldiers is imprisoned c. 260. Belgrade besieged by the Imperialists 250. taken by Storm 254. besieged again by the Turks 411. taken by Storm 412. besieged again by the Imperialists 489. Siege raised 490. Berghen Prince of his Letter to Villeroy 522. Beverning Dutch Plenipotentiary his Saying of the French 11. of the King of England ib. Acts the Mediator ib. complies with the French 19. Articles against him 40. Bill of Exclusion 91 c. rejected by the Lords 94. Bishops seven their Petition to King James 245 c. imprison'd and acquitted 246 c. Advice to him 261 c. Black Box the story of it 80. Bonne besieged and surrendred to the Elector of Brandenburgh 335 c. Boufflers Mareschal de seized at Namur 530. released 531. Boyle Robert Esq his Death and Character 475. Boyne the Battle there 369 c. Brandenburgh Elector of solicits Peace in France 62. Fails and endeavours to embroil the Peace of the Empire ib. his Letter to the French King 64 c. receives Money of France 67. his Demands of the States ib. his Death 305. this Letter to Elbing 684 c. Brussels bombarded by the French â—22 Buda besieged by the Imperialists 156. the Siege raised 159. besieged a second time 208 Battle there 205. the siege continued 209 taken by storm 211. C. CAlais bomb'd by the English 561. Catamata abandoned by the Turks 195. Cambray surrendred to the French 9. Caminieck relieved by the Tartars 507. Canea besieged by the Venetians in vain 475 c. Canisia surrendred to the Imperialists 408. Carignan the Action there between the French and Confederates 403. Carigfergus besieged by the English and surrendred 324. Carmagnola besieged and taken by the French 449. retaken by the Confederates 451. Casal the siege of it and taken by the Confederates 532. Castle-Nuova besieged by the Venetians 240. surrendred 239. Charlemont Castle surrendred to the English 365. Charleroy besieged by the French and surrendred 482. Charles II. King unconstant to his Engagements to the P. of Orange 13. tempted with Money from France 18. concludes an Alliance with Holland 22. his Letter to the Duke of York 75. constitutes a new Council ib. unconstant 76. disclaims any Marriage with Monmouth's Mother 80 c. his Different Demeanour to the Addressors for Parliaments and Abhorrers of Petitioning 82. his Speech to the Parliament 90 c. petitioned by several Lords for the Sitting of the Parliament at Westminster 97 c. dissolves the Oxford Parliament and his pretended Reasons for it 108. prosecutes Protest-Dissentors 115 his Methods to get Charters surrendred and his design therein 129. demolishes Tangier that cost him so much 130. contemptible abroad 149. his Death and Character 165. Charnock his Paper at his Execution 552 c. Chialafa besieged by the Turks in vain 216. Churchill Lord his Letter to King James 289. Ciclut taken by the Venetians 505. Colledge Stephen tried at Oxford and Executed 110. Congress at the Hague 421. Comet appear'd 97. Commons the House of debate King James's Speech 184. address him to turn out the Popish Officers ib. Conferences about Peace renewed at Nimeguen 55. Coni besieged by the French 449. relieved 450. Conspiracy in the Army in Ireland 328. in England 458. Conti Prince of goes from Poland and his Letter to the Republick 640. returns 641. Corinth abandoned by the Turks 241. Cork besieged and surrendred to the English 384 c. Cornish Mr. tried 181. executed 182. Coron besieged the Battle there 192 c. taken by Storm 194. Coin remedied 540. Courland Duke of his Death 689. Cross du his Message from England to Holland 25. contriv'd in Portsmouth's Lodgings 26. Czar of Muscovy his Travels 682. D. DAngerfield Thomas whipp'd and kill'd 203. Dauphine Married 87. Debates of the Lords and Commons about Abdication 307 c. Declaration for Liberty of Conscience 224. at Nottingham in favour of the Pr. of Orange 286 c. of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal at Guildhal 297. of Right in England 308 c. of Right in Scotlandâ— 312. English Declaration of War against France 320 c. of the Protestant Princes against the 4th Article of Reswick 643 c. Deynse surrendred to the French 520. Delamere Lord rises for the P. of Orange in Cheshire 284. Demands of the Allies at Nimeguen 5 c. Denmark Ambassador of enrag'd at
him 202. Lords Justices of England the Names of the first of 'em 509. Lorrain D. of retreats with the Imperial Army out of Hungary into Austria 134. his Letter to the Emperor concerning his Beating the Turks 157 c. overthrows the Turks at Gran 187. his answer to the Turkish Aga 189. marches towards Esseck 228. his endeavours to draw the Turks to fight 231. deheats the Turks 234. marches to Transylvania and reduces it ib. besieges and takes Mentz 331 c. his death 398. Louvis Monsieur his death 457. Lowick Major his Paper at his Execution 558 c. Luxemberg the Duke of his Saying upon the Battle of Flerus 396. falls upon Waldeck's Rear 448. his death 509. Luxemburg the City of besieged by the French and surrendred 150. M. MAestricht besieged by the Pr. of Orange in vain 3. 4. Mahomet IV. deposed 194. and the manner of it 235 c. Mainotes submit to the Venetians 194. Marsaglia an Account of the Battle fought there 435 c. Memorial English to the States 39. Spanish about Maestricht 69. of the Emperor to the Diet at Ratisbonne 89. Mentz besieged and surrendred to the Confederates 331 c. The Elector's death 540. Messina abandon'd by the French 18. Minden an interview between divers Princes there 258. Modon besieged and surrendred to the Venetians 217. Mohatz the Battle there 232. Mongatz surrend to the Imperialists 247. the Articles of surrendry 248 c. Monmouth Duke of routs the Scotch Covenanters 79. banished by the King but returned 81. Lands in England and his Declaration 170 c. His Letter to K. James 178 c. Beheaded 179. Mons besieged 423. surrendred to the French 424. Montmellian Fortress surrendred to the French 451. Morosini Capt. Gen. successful against the Turks 195. made Doge of Venice 255. his death 505. Muscovites rout the Turks and take Asoph 581. Mustapha Sultan takes Lippa and Titul 535. defeated at Zenta 633. N. NAmur besieged by the French 460. surrendred 461. besieged by the Confederates 511. its Siege continued to the surrender of the Town 516 c. It s Castle and Fort surrendred 529. Nants the Edict of revoked 196. Napoli di Malvasia blockaded by the Venetians 356. supplied by the Turks 416. besieged and taken by the Venetians Ibid. Napoli di Romania besieged by the Venetians 218. surrendred 219. Navarino Old surrendred to the Venetians 216. Navarino New taken by the Venetians 217. Nowheusel besieged by the Imperialists 132. and its Siege raised 132. besieged a second time by them 181. taken by storm 188. Nice besieged and taken by the French 422. Nimeguen the Description of it the Treaty and the Congress formed there 1. Nissa taken by the Imperialists 353 surrendred to the Turks 410. O. OGingski defeated in Lithuania 682. Omer St. besieg'd by the French 9. surrendred 10. Orange Pr. of his Resolutions to continue the War 8. Fights the D. of Orleance at Mont-Cassel 10. arrives in England 12. K. Charles's Opinion of him is married 12 13. Concerts the Terms of the Peace ib. Returns for Holland ib. dissatisfied with K. Charles's Embassie 14. Deâ—eats Luxemburgh at Mons 36. How censured for it 38. His Censure of the English Court 40. Promotes the League of Ausburgh 131. Takes the Field 150. His Offers to K. James râ—jected 177. Lands in England 269. His Declaration 270 c. His additional Declaration 281 c. His Letter to the Officers of the Army 283 c. The third Declaration 291. c. Prevails both in England and Scotland 290. His Answer to the King's Proposals 295. His Message to K. James 301. Arrives in London 303. takes the Administration of the Government upon him 304. His Letter to the Convention 305 c. Proclaimed K. of England 311. Proclaimed K. of Scotland c. 317. Osman Bassa of Aleppo his Letter to the Elector of Bavaria 253. Ossory the Earl of dies his Character 96. P. PActa Conventa of Poland 636 c. swore to by the King 638. Palamos taken by the French 501. Palatin the Elector of his death 97. Another's death 421. Parliament long dissolved 75. Another sits and is dissolved 77. Meet 90. prosecute the Abhorrers 94. Reasons against giving King Charles Money 95. Vote against lending him Money upon the Revenues 96. Meet at Oxford 107. dissolved 108. Prodigal in giving King James Money 166. dissolved 184. Prorogued and dissolved and another called 358. Meet 457. and Adjourn 476 c. Their Proceedings more 492 and 508. Dissolved and another called 538. Their Proceedings upon the Coin 540. upon the Association 551. Farther Proceedings and against Sir John Fenwick 583 c. more 674. Patrass abandon'd by the Turks 241. Peace separate at Nimeguen between Holland and France obstructed by the French Pretensions 21. Protested against by the Allies 28. Signed with Spain 41. Difficult to conclude it between the Empire and France 57. Agreed to by the Imperialists and French 58. Protested against by the Danes and Brandenburghers 62. Signed between England Holland and Spain and France at Reswick 602. Concluded 671. Peers their Orders about the Irish 300. Perkyns Sir William his Papers at his Execution 557. Peter-Waradin deserted by the Turks 250. Phillipsbourgh surrendred to the Imperialists 4. Plot Popish discovered 73. Plot pretended Presbyterian discovered 116. Podolia ravaged by the Tartars 191. Poland King of relieves Vienna 144 Takes Jaslowick 161. Routs the Tartars ibid. Invades Moldavia 221. routs the Turks and Tartars 222. Tempted to make a Peace with the Turks c. 415. Invades Moldovia again 456. His death 581. Ponti Mons an Account of his Expedition 617 c. Portland Earl of Interviews between him and M. Boufflers 602. Preliminary Articles of Peace 591 c. Prevesa besieged by the Venetians 163. surrendred 164. Primate of Poland submits to the new King 680 his Speech to him 681. Q. QUeen Mary her Death and Character 507 508. Queen Mother of Spain her Death 583. R. REswick the Treaty there 592. Re-unions Chambers of how set up and managed by France 130 c. Rheinfield besieg'd by the French in vain 472. Rocosche of Poland their Proposal to the new King 678 c. their Articles of Agreement 680 c. Rookwood Brigadeer his Paper at his Execution 559 c. Rugen the Island of taken by the Brandenburghers 56. Rupert Prince his Death and Character 115. Russel Lord tried condemned and beheaded 117. His Speech ibid. c. His Paper to the Sheriff 118 c. Russel made Admiral 447. His Letter to the Earl of Nottingham 458. Beats the French Fleet ib. Sails with the Fleet for Spain 494. S. SAint Malo bombarded by the English 520. Saint Martins bombarded by the 61. Saint Ruth Monsieur General of the Irish 427. His Speech to them 428. Killed 432. Salankemen the great Battle there 453. Salusses the Battle there between the French and Confederates 404. Surrendred to Catinat 405. Sancta Maura besieg'd by the Venetians 162. Surrendred ib. Savoy Duke of
out of favour K. Charles II's different Carriage to the Addressors Mr. Sidney sent Embassador into Holland and for what K. Charles makes a Defensive Alliance with Holland The Dauphine intended to marry Dauphine married to the Princeâ—â— of Bavaria The Emperor's Memorial to the Diet at Ratisbone concerning the French Infractions The Result of the Diet. The Empire complain of France Parliamenâ— met The Bill of Exclusion The Bill thrown out of the House of Lords The Parliament prosecute the Abhorrers of Petitioning The Resolution of the Commons against lending the King Money The Earl of Ossory's Death The Death of the Electors of Saxony and Palatine The Earl of Essex's Speech to the King The Lords Petition to the King Fitz-Harris his Libel The Oxford Parliament dissolved The King's Declaration after the Dissolution of the Parliament Stephen Colledge Try'd The Earl of Argyle's Case Articles granted Strasburg Protestant Dissenters Prosecuted The Charter of London questioned The pretended Presâ—byterian â—ior Earl of Essex's Death Lord 〈…〉 Speech Col. Sidney Try'd Col. Sidney's Paper Methods used to get the Charters of Cities surrender'd The League of Ausburg The Carriage of the French upon the Turks invading Hungary The Emperor prepares against the Turks Newheusel besieged by the Imperialists The Siege raised The Turks advance to Austria The Tartars attack the Germans Great Consternation at Vienna The Turks form the Siege of Vienna A Journal of the Siege from the Beginning to the End Count Staremberg's Letter to the Duke of Lorain The Battel of Barkan Gran besieged by the Germans 〈…〉 K. Charles contemptible abroad Luxemburg besieged by the French and surrender'd The 20 Years Truce Genoa bombarded by the French Fleet. Vicegrade besieged and taken by the Imperialists The Siege of Buda The D. of Lorain's Letter to the Emperor concerning the beating of the Turks Army The Siege of Buda raised Count Lesley routs the Turks in Selavonia and takes Virovitz The Emperor's Forces successful against the Turks in Vpper Hungary 〈…〉 The Campaign in Poland The Venetians take Sancta Maura The Venetians make â—ncursions into the Turkish Territories The Venetians besiege Prevesa Prâ—vesa surrendered The Death of King Charles II. K. James 〈◊〉 Speech to the Council◠〈…〉 K. James II Crownâ—d and his Speech to the Parliament The Parliament gives him a great deal of Money The Earl of Argyle's Declaration Argyle taken and beheaded K. James his Practices against the Duke of Monmouth D. of Monmouth lands in England His Declaration The P. of Orange's Offers to King James rejected The D. of Monmouth's Letter to K. James Monmouth Beheaded The cruel Executions in the Wâ—st Mr. Cornish Try'd Mr. Cornish Executed K. James's Proceedings in respect to Ireland Talbot's Villany K. James's Speech to his Parliament The Lords Voted Thanks for the Speech The Commons debated it and addrest the King to turn our the Popish Officers Parliament dissolved Neuheusel Besieged by the Imperialists The Turks Besiege Gran. The Battel of Gran. Vicegrade taken by the Turks Neuheusel taken by Storm The Serasquier's Letter to the D. of Lorain Esperies besieged by General Schultz Surrendred The Siege and Battel of Coron Coron taken Dr. Hough chosen President of Magdalen Collede The Fellows of Magdalen College turn'd out Dangerfield Sentenced and kill'd Mr. Johnson's Sentence K. James's Letter to the Scotch Parliament Buda besieged The Battel of Buda The Siege continued Buda stormed Buda taken Five Churches besieg'd Surrender'd The besieging and taking of Syclos Darda abandon'd by the Turks The Pr. of Baden burns the Bridge of Esseck Segedin besieg'd The Battel of Scinta Segedin surrender'd to the Imperialists Chialafa besieged by the Turks The Turks beaten and raise the Siege Old Navarino besieged and taken New Navarino besieged New Navarino surrender'd Modon besieged by the Venetians Surrendred Napoli di Romania besieged The Turks defeated Napoli di Romania taken Sign besieged Sign taken The King of Poland invades Moldavia The Hospodar's Message to him and his Answer The King of Poland routs the Turks and Tartars A Proclamation for a Toleration of Religion in Scotland Tyrconnel made Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and other Proceedings there The Duke of Lorrain towards 〈◊〉 The Battel of Mohatz Transilvania revolts Butschin besieged by the Imperialists Esseck abandoned by the Turks Transylvania reduced by the Imperialists Arch-Duke Joseph crowned K. of Hungary Agria surrender'd to the Imperialists The Revolution of the Turkish Empire ended with the Deposing of Mabomet IV. and advancing his Brother Solyman to the Throne Sign besieged by the Turks and relieved by the Venetians Castlenovo besieged by the Venetians The Turks routed by the Venetians The Turks abandon Patrass Lepanto c. Corinth abandoned by the Turks and several other Places Atâ—ens quitted to the â—enetians 〈…〉 K. James his Declaration of Indulgence commanded to be Read in Churches The Bishops Petition The King's Answer The Bishops sent to the Tower Tryed and Acquitted Alba Regalis surrendred to the Germans Lippa besieged and taken by the Imperialists Illock and Peter-Waradin deserted by the Turks Belgrade besieged by the Imperialists Belgrade taken by Storm The Battel of Brod. The Affairs of Venice and Poland The Bishop of Bath VVells ☞ ☜ The Prince of Orange lands in England P. George's Letter to the King The Princess Ann's Letter to the Queen â—ivers â—â—aces seized for the Use of the Prince of Orange The P. of O's Third Declaration K. J's Proposals to the Pr. of Orange The Prince's Answer K. J's Letter to the E. of Fevâ— rsham The E. of Feversham's Letter to the Pr. of Orange P. of Or. his Declaration The P. of 〈◊〉 Message to the King K. James's Reasons for withdrawing himself The English Declaration of Right P. and P. of Orange proclaimed K. and Q. or England The Scot. Declarat of Right P. and P. proclaimed in Scotland K. and Q. take the Scotch Oath Dundee slain Tyrconnel sent for K. James to Ireland The Emperor's Letter to the late K. James The late K. James lands in Ireland Protestants disarm'd in Ireland The Irish routed by the Iniskillingers and Mackarty made a Prisoner D. Schomberg lands in Ireland Carrigfergus bâ—sieged Carrigfergus surrendred D. Schomberg marched towards Dundaâ—k A Conspiracy discovered among the French in the English Army The Iniskilliners defeat the Irish near Sligo The Irish take Sligo The English at Dundalk die â—pace Keyserwaert besieged by the Duke of Brandenburg â—eiserwater surrendred Mentz besieged by the Confederates Mentz surrendred The French burning and ravaging the Palatinate Bonne besieged by the Elector of Brandenburg Bonne besieged Bonne surrendred to the Confederates Prince Lewis of Baden made General in Hungary The Battel of Patochin French make Peace with the Algerines Baden routs the Tarks near Nissa Nissa taken by the Imperialists Widin surrendred to the Imperiaâ—iâ—ts The Turkish Embassadors press for a Peace Napoli di Malvasia blockaded bâ— the Venetians The Vâ—udois pâ—rsecution at an end The death of Innocent XI Laws made agaiâ—st Popish Succesâ—ors
whatsoever over the said Countries Places Castles Forts Lands Lordships Demesnes Castellanies and Bailiffwicks and over all Places thereon depending as hath been said notwithstanding any Laws Customs and Constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding though confirm'd by Oath From all which and from the derogating Clauses of derogating Clauses it is expresly derogated by this present Treaty in order to the said Renunciations and Cessions which shall be valid and take place without that the Particular expressing or specification of any one shall derogate from the General nor the General from Particular and excluding for ever all Exceptions upon what Rights Titles Causes or Pretences whatsoever grounded And the said Most Christian King declareth consenteth willeth and intendeth That the Men Vassals and Subjects of the said Countries Towns and Lands yielded to the Crown of Spain as aforesaid shall be and remain discharg'd and absolv'd from this time forward and for ever from the Faith Homages Services and Oaths of Allegiance that they may have made to himself or the Most Christian Kings his Predecessors as also from all Obedience Subjection and Vassalage which they owe him by reason thereof it being the Intention of the said Most Christian King that the said Faith Homages and Oaths of Allegiance shall be void and of no force as fully as if they never had been made or taken VII The said Most Christian King shall also cause to be restor'd to the said Catholick King all the Towns Places Forts Castles and Posts that have or may have been seized by his Arms in whatsoever Parts of the World to the Day of the Publication of the Peace And in like manner his Catholick Majesty shall cause to be restor'd to his Most Christian Majesty whatever Places Forts Castles and Posts may have been seized by his Arms during the present War in any Parts of the World unto the Day of the Publication of the Peace VIII The Restitution of the said Places as aforesaid shall be made by the Most Christian King or his Ministers Really and Truly without any Delay or Difficulty for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever to him or them that shall be deputed by the Catholick King in Time and Manner aforesaid in the Condition they now are without Demolishing Weakening Diminishing or Endammaging the â—ame in any sort and without pretending to or demanding any re-imbursement for fortifying the said Places or for paying what might be due to the Soldiers and People of War there IX It is further agreed That all Proceedings Judgments and Sentences given and made by the Judges and other the Officers of his Most Christian Majesty in such Towns and Places as his Majesty enjoy'd by Virtue of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle and quitted as above to his Catholick Majesty or by the Parliament of Tournay by reason of Controversies and Suits at Law prosecuted as well by the Inhabitants of the said Towns and their Dependances as by others during the Time they were under the Obedience of the said Most Christian King shall take place and be of as full Force and Effect as if the said King continu'd Master and actually possess'd of the said Towns and Countries Nor shall the said Judgments and Sentences be called in question or annull'd nor the Execution thereof be otherwise retarded or hindred nevertheless it shall be lawful for the Parties to seek Relief by Review of the Cause and Course of Law and Order prescrib'd by the Statutes yet so as the Judgments shall in the mean time remain in full Force and Virtue though without Prejudice to what is stipulated in that respect in the 21th Article of this present Treaty X. Whereas his Most Christian Majesty's Ministers after the Peace of Aix la Chapelle maintain'd at the Conference at Lisle That the Sluces both on the West and East-side of the Town of Newport and the Fort Vierboet at the end of the Western Sluce near the Mouth of Newport-Haven and one part of the Fort of Nieuven Dam built upon the Eastern Sluce with the Piers of the said Haven being kept in Repair by those of Furnes were within the Territory and Jurisdiction of the Castellany of Furnes and that consequently they belonged to his Most Christian Majesty And his Catholick Majesty's Ministers held the contrary that they did not and whether they did or did not that it ought to suffice that since the said Fortifications were made as well with respect to the Castellany of Furnes as to the Town of Newport his Catholick Majesty being a Sovereign Prince might Incorporate and Appropriate the said Parts thereof to the Haven and Fortifications of Newport and by that means make them inseparable from that Town It is agreed That the said Sluces and other Parts of the Fortifications of Newport above-mentioned shall remain to his Catholick Majesty as well as the Town it self without any Pretensions ever to be made to the same by his Most Christian Majesty by reason of the Town and Castellany of Furnes being his or otherwise And for the Draining of the Waters of the Castellany of Furnes it shall be continued and his Catholick Majesty shall enjoy the same in Manner and Form as hath been used till now XI The said most Christian King shall retain continue seized of and actually enjoy the whole County of Burgundy commonly called the Franche Comte and the Towns Places and Countries thereto belonging together with the Town of Bezaâ—con and the Liberties thereof and the Towns of Valenciennes and its Dependancies Bouchain and its Dependances Conde and its Dependances though heretofore pretended to be a Member of the Castellany of Aeth Cambray Cambresis Air St. Omer and their Dependances Ipre and its Castellany Warwick and Warneton upon the Lys Poperinghen Bailleul and Cassel with their Dependances Bavay and Maubeuge with their Dependances XII The said County of Burgundy the Towns Places and Countries thereto belonging together with the Town of Bezancon and the Liberties thereof as also the said Towns and Places of Valenciennes Bouchain Conde Cambray Aire St. Omer Ipres Warwik and Warneton Poperinghen Baileul Cassal Bavay and Maubeuge their Bailiffwicks Castellanies Governments Provostships and Territories Demesnes Lordships Appurtenances Dependances and all thereunto annexed by what Names soever called with all the Men Vassals Subjects Towns Boroughs Villages Hamlets Forests Rivers Plain-Countries Salt-Pits and all other Things whatsoever thereunto belonging shall remain by Virtue of the said present Treaty of Peace to his Most Christian Majesty his Heirs Successors and Assignes irrecoverably and for ever with the same Rights of Sovereignty Propriety Regality Patronage Guardianship and Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogative and Preheminence over Bishopricks Cathedral-Churches and other Abbies Priories Dignities Curacies and all other Benefices whatsoever within the Compass of the said Countries Places and Bailiffwicks so yielded up of what Abbies soever the said Priories hold Lands and have dependance upon and all other Rights that heretofore belonged to the Catholick King though not here
March of some of his Troops into Prussia where General Brandt was no sooner arrived but he resolved to make the best advantage he could of the Confusion into which he found his Arrival had put the Prince of Conti's Affairs So that November the 8th marching to Oliva with about 2000 Horse he there surprized a Party of the Prince's some of whom he put to the Sword while of the rest he made an 100 Prisoners The French Embassador Polignac narrowly escaped on Board du Bart's Squadron where he found the Prince just ready to go a Shoar So that he must have run a great hazzard of having been taken himself had General Brandt deferred his march but two Hours longer insomuch that finding himself now quite disappointed of his Hopes he sail'd away on the 9th for France But before his departure we wrote two Letters one to the Primate wherein he acknowledged his wondrous Affection to his Interests professed his great Concern for Poland's being subjected to Foreign Force and of his being not able to succour them and that the Revolt of the Lithuanian Army at the Head of which he design'd to have put himself with the Rigour of the Season constrained his Return he not having found one single Place in all Poland that was willing to hold out for him The other Letter was to the Republick being full of Complaints they should so fail of their Words to him affront him in the Face of all Europe to make him go so far to so ill Purpose c. And concluded with assuring them That if they stood in need of him they might come and seek him in France tho' at the same time he could not but pitty their Oppressions Conti being thus gone Saxony is left at full liberty to pursue the remainder of his Game without Foreign Interruption But he found it still enough and too much to Conflict with the Obstinacy of the Primate and other Factions both in Poland and Lithuania and no less than the Revolution of another Year has enabled him to put a final Period to it But of this in its proper Place it 's time now we should return to the remaining Negotiations of the Peace at Ryswick Yet first we are to observe that about the time of the Signing of the foremention'd Truce between the Empire and France several Embassadors of the Allies Princes and States of the Empire waited upon our King at Loo where notwithstanding the Conclusion of the foresaid Treaties an offensive and defensive Alliance was whispered to have been entred into or rather renewed between the Allies Where it was also Consulted what manner of good Precautions ought to be used to prevent the Violation of the Peace now concluded and how in case of Necessity every State should furnish such a Proportion of Men and Money And the Embassadors of the Empire happening to Complain again how much they were oppressed by an immature Treaty they were answered That they ought impute it to themselves as being advised to put in their Complaints without delay Besides that it had been said before them more than once that it was the Interest of the Empire to Retard the Treaties no longer that they should not flatter themselves that more favourable or advantagious Conditions could have been got thereby since the French insisted still upon the first of which they would retract nothing that by consequence they ought to suffer and not to blame that which could not be done over again So the Imperialists seeing it was in vain to Complain had there been any just room for it applied themselves to Adjust the remaining Points in Controversie with France and the greatest difference seemed to be about Strasburg It was also said the Imperialists would have the Equivalent somewhat amplified as also that besides 〈◊〉 all the Placeâ— possest since the Peace of Nimeguen should be restored as also Fort Louis to the Duke of Lorrain But the French â—lenipotentiaries had no Power to exceed their Orders and therefore they could by no means comply with this Demandâ— The Imperialists hereupon would tye the French to the Performance of the Promise made by them in the Preliminaries and which they had so often repeated afterwards and therefore it was not without reason that they maintained that all that was odious arising from the protracting of the Treaty ought to light upon the French and not upon the Imperialists nor the Allies But the French were positive in their last Proposals as well as to the time they had limitted for the accepting of them so that there was yet but little appearance of bringing things to a Final Accommodation The Protestant Princes of the Empire shewed also the Zeal they had for the Interest of their Religion and therefore being met together at the House of the Elector of Mentz's Embassador they Named four Deputies to wit the Baron Bose on the part of Saxony Monsieuâ— Schmettau for Brandenburg Monsieur Snoâ—â—ki for the Dutchy of Deux Ponts and Mounsier Bulpis for the Circle of Franconia who altogether delivered a Project to the Mediator containing in Substance that as to Strasburg which now the Imperialists were inclinable to concede to France and other Cities of Aisatia which belonged to the French King by vertue of former Treaties the Lutheran Religion should be Tollerated and enjoy all those Rights and Immunities it had in the Year 1624. To which the French demanded eight Days to answer But what misintelligence soever there might appear to continue between them and the Imperial Plenipotentiaries as to other Points it plainly appeared they agreed well enough or rather Combined together to have the Popish Religion Exercised in the same state it was now in the respective Places that were to be delivered up without any notice taken of the Reformed at all which made the Ministers of the Protestant Princes decline to Sign the Treaty when Concluded between them and publish'd the following Declaration in the Protestants behalf FRom the very moment that their Excellencies his Imperial Majesty's Embassadors propos'd upon the 29th of October as they had done the preceding Day That their Excellencies the French Embassadors should require as an absolute Condition That the following Clause should be inserted in the IVth Article of the Treaty which regulates the Restitutions viz. That the Roman Catholick Religion shall remain within the Places restor'd in the same Condition as it is exercis'd at present tho' this Article was read and read over an infinite Number of times and approv'd at length on both sides yet the Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries of the Electors Princes and States of the Empire of the Ausburg Confession being here present after they had exactly weigh'd and examin'd the Matter have unanimously agreed that the said Clause is absolutly Opposite I. To the Fundamental Laws of the Empire that is to say as well to the Peace of Religion in the Year 1555. wherein it was agreed That the Companions and Associates of the Ausburg Confession