the prejudice of my Son according to all Laws the Fathers have no right to alienate the Estates of their Children whilst they are Minors and when these Estates are Maternal But says Luxemburgh the Marriage was only concluded upon this condition so that the renunciation your Majesty made upon all the present and future Right that you might have upon Spain or upon the depending States was consider'd as the Ground of Marriage without which the Ministers of Spain would have been guilty of a great deal of Folly on their side to have consented to an Allyance which would have produc'd nâ—w causes of Wars and Divisions instead of a Firm and Stable Peace whiâ—h was their chief design I add to all these proofs that the Circumstance of the Oath that your Majesty was obliged to take in swearing solemnly upon the Holy Evangelists that you would keep your Royal World that you then gave was as the Seal of all the promises of the engagements and of the good Faith of your Majesty In your opinion says the King I am then very ill grounded in my pretensions and I have no right according to the Civil Law No without doubt says Luxemburgh but a hundred thousand Men a hundred pieces of Cannon and a hundred Millions will make the Ballance incline much more to your side It was a custom to represent Justice blindfolded holding a Balance in one Hand but if the other had not been arm'd with a Sword and had a Lion plac'd by her side which is the badge of Force and Might she would have been but a ridiculous Maygame expos'd to the violence and rashness of Men. So we may say he that has the power in his Hand is the Master of Justice and whether she will or no must of necessity betake her self to his side and fight under his Standards against the weakest and this is your Majesty's Right But says his Majesty since things are in this condition and that I see my self Master of Force and of Justice shall I not do well to push my good fortune to the end and to render my self by my Armies always victorious and triumphant over all the States which shall be at my discretion and serve for my convenience having placed my self safe from the opposition of mine Enemies Very well says Luxemburgh there is no other obstacle which is capable to stop your Majesty but the Faith of Treaties But that is another Gospel for your Majesty for which you care but very little We say of King John the First one of your Ancestors descended from the first Branch of Valois that that Prince was so great an observer of his Word that they gave him the Title of Good He was accustomed to say that when Fidelity and good Faith should be banished the World they ought to be found in the person of a Prince This Prince answer'd his Majesty did not know Machiavel and you should have added at the same time that he was very unhappy during his Reign and I do not doubt but his too great Goodness was in part the cause of his Misfortunes For having lost the Battle of Poictiers against the English who were commanded by the Prince of Wales a great Captain the King was taken and carried Prisoner to London from whence he came not out but by the treaty of Bretigny by which he quitted the Sovereignty of some Provinces in France in f vour of the King of England But all these faults of John the First were gloriously repaired by Charles the Fifth his Successor who acquir'd to him self the name of Wife Sir answer'd Luxemburgh since your Majesty Laughs so at the good Faith of Treaties which other Princes look upon as Inviolable and adore as an Idol I am not surpriz'd that you have heap'd up Conquest upon Conquest There is never a little Prince in the World but may be in a condition to make himself great by this means and at last become the terror of his Enemies but it is not to be wished that such a like disorder should happen for if every Soveraign should do the like we should see a great number of Scepters overthrown to the ground become the Prey of the strongest But says his Majesty since it is not permitted to make ones self great what 's the reason that the Prince of Orange is Mounted even in our Days upon the Throne of his Father-in-Law Is not that an Usurpation Sir says Luxemburgh that is not singular Histories are full of such like instances and we see that Childerick the Third last King of the first Race was Dethron'd by Pepin the Short who before was but Mayor of the Palace which was a place almost like that of Grand Visirs and his deposing was also done by the Assembly of the States after the Pope had declar'd that the French were dispens'd with from owning that Prince So that the poor Dethroned Childerick had no other part to take but to shave himself and put himself into a Monastery And as this disgrace happen'd to him by reasons of State which would be too long to report so the Prince of Orange is not mounted upon the Throne but by the consent of the People which call'd him to it And the Parliament it self which being in England very near to what the States were formerly in France Crown'd him and confirm'd him nemine contradicente so the coming of the Prince of Orange to the Crown ought to be call'd an Acceptance and not an Vsurpation According to this sense says his Mâ—jesty you are then of opinion that the Prince of Orange is well grounded and that the poor King James has no shorter Course to take in the midst of his disgraces than to imitate Childeric that is to say to make a rennuciation of the Crown shave himself and so put himself into a Convent Sir answer'd Luxemburgh I abuse perhaps the liberty your Majesty allows me speaking open hearted my Mind and what I think of the misfortune of this Prince But as in the beginning of this Conference your Majesty was pleased to say you put a great deal of Confidence in me I desire you also to give me leave to abstain from the language of certain Parasites who applaud your Majesty in every thing No Luxemburgh says his Majesty you do me a kindness to tell me the things as you think tâ—em that does not surprise me because I have always given you more liberty to speak your thoughts than any of my Courtiers and Counsellors Sir says Luxemburgh since your Majesty gives me leave to speak what I think of King James and of the War which has been kindled in Europe upon his occasion I do not now speak of a secret itching desire that your Majesty had from your Cradle to surpass your Ancestors in enlarging your Dominions and pushing on youâ— Conquests beyond the Rhine the Sambre and Meuse I speak not neither of the Rights of the deceased Queen I pass also in silence the Right of
take me for Monsieur Scarron I easily put by that blow in crying out with a full Throat Fire upon that bold Fellow But says his Majesty you dearly then bought the glory that you had to keep the Field about half an hour by the death of my best Officers and of a great number of brave persons of my House Sir says Luxemburgh your Majesty has long since used your self to lose a great mâ—ny Men when you would have the advantage over your Enemies As it is my Maxime to attack them ordinarily three against one and that the Enemies who see themselves almost always inferiour and more feeble in number by half fight also like Madmen that 's the reason your Majesty loses more men than they but still you have the Glory on your side But says his Majesty if these losses are frequent and that the War should last four or five Campaigns as in all appearance it will I run a risque to see my self without Officers and Souldiers Sir says Luxemburgh your Majesty must buâ— a Peace at any rate should it cost even half your Subâ—ects But answers his Majesty I had then rather hazard a general Battle and come orderly into an open Campaign in the Face of my Enâ—mies I am perswaded that they would not refuse it and that would be infinitely more glorious and worthier of the name of Great that I bear imitating in that Charles Martel who acquir'd that name by reason of his martial humour and of the great actions he did at the Battle of Tours where the French kill'd a hundred and seventy five thousand Moors that lay dead on the Spot It seems to me that an Action like that would be incomparably better than all the Tricks and Wiles that I have made use of till now which are no more after all than small Rencounters which decide nothing and only lengthen the War No Sir says Luxemburgh that is not the way by which I pretend to conduct your Majesty your Enemies would desire no better The Prince of Orange and the Elector of Bavaria would Triumph with joy and your Majesty cannot do them a greater favour than to come as you say into an open field There wants but only one such like Resolution to annihilate in an instant all those Prodigies of glory and to lose so many brave Conquests heap'd up one upon the other which hast cost so many Men and so much Blood and I am persuaded that your Majesty has not yet forgot what it cost Francis the First and St. Louis for having expos'd themselves a little too much How then says his Majesty do you understand it for we must take the shortest way my People begin to be able to do no more and Mony becomes scarce in my Kingdom and as we say foresight is the Mother of Wisdom I know what it cost me in 1672 for having staid a little too long Sir says Luxemburgh doth your Majesty absolutely wish to have a peace I have already pray'd you several times to discover to me your most secret intentions You know says his Majesty that I wish it passionately But I reserve to my self the glory to grant it to my Enemies and I fight only at present to constrain them to come and demand it of me Sir answer'd Luxemburgh since it is so that your Majesty is absolutely resolved to have a peace that you wish it and seek after it this is the way to come quickly to it Your Majesty must then at present make Flanders the Seat of War you must gather together your greatest force and you must reckon to have three Armies this Campaign to act in concert and mutually to assist one another Each of these Armies must be at the least fifty thousand Men. For this purpose your Majesty must give Orders to Monsieur Voisin Intendant of the Low Countries to make with the Commissaries of Provisions an exact computation of Provisions necessary for the maintenance of so many Troops and to furnish the Magazines of which the Principle ones shall be at Mons Maubeuge Philipville and Dinant The great Master of the Ordinance must also give order that the Ammunitions of War as well as the great Artillery be transported early to the nearest frontier places The Count de Guiscard Governour of Dinant must take care to assemble and get ready a good number of Boats Monsieur de Vertillac Governour of Mons must likewise take care to get together all the Waggons and Carts which can be found in the Country of Hainault He must make at the same time as well as the other Governours a list of the Pioneers that we can have the number of which cannot be less than Twenty thousand and to the end that all the Troops may be there at the time of the general Rendevouse which shall be at Mons your Majesty must presently dispatch Orders to make them march I add also that care must be taken to have good intelligence to stir them up and maintain them cost what it will because it is the primum mobile without which we shall build upon a Quicksand All these Resolutions being taken there will want nothing but a Head to move so great a Body And as the presence of Kings and Princes is the Soul and strength of their Army and that a Prince which commands in person his Armies aspires to an immortal glory so there is not a Souldier who fighting in the sight of his Prince doth not employ all his valour and being animated with a desire of glory and hopâ—s to be liberally recompens'd doth not present himself with joy to the greatest and most dangerous perils I advise then your Majesty to make this Campaign as you did that of Mons your Majesty took notice that this important place was surrendred in less than fifteen Days after the opening of the Trenches in the sight of an Enemies Army and in a time where the rigours of the Season oppos'd you After such a blow your Majesty may undertake what you please That 's very well says his Majesty but where do you judge it will be necessary to open the Campâ—ign shall it be by the Siege of At h or Charleroy as these places are nearest it seems that we must begin there No Sir says Luxemburgh you must attack your Enemies in a more sensible part At h and Charleroy are places which will fall of themselves into your Majesties Hands What must be done then says his Majesty shall we go to Bombard Brussels No Sir says Luxemburgh that is not worth while it must be a more shining enterprize it is not reasonable your Majesty should put your self at the head of your Armieâ— for so small a matter What then says his Majesty shall we Attack Ostend by Sea and by Land this loss will be very sensible to my Enemies because that is the place where all the English Troops come to Land and from thence we may penetrate into the Heart of the County of Flanders No Sir
should run the risque of a Battle and I see the impossibility of executing such an enterprize without engaging of the two Fleets the event whereof gives me trouble to think on 't Sir says Luxemburgh here are great inclinations to a revolution we must hazard and give something to Fortune She is too much a Friend of your Majesties to abandon you in so fair a Field Give but your Orders only to Tourville to go himself to attack the Hollanders if he beats them as there is all appearance he will they being not more invincible at present than they were in 1690 all the English Fleet will range themselves on your side and being Masters of the Sea we can make the Descent with all liberty But says his Majesty the English are like Catâ— the more you caress them the less they â—ome near you If it should happen that they should change Opinion in the very momâ—nt of the Battle and that they should joyntly fight with the Hollanders where woulâ— Tourville be and what would become of my poor Fleet Sir says Luxemburgh your Majesty must banish out of your imagination any such thought it is a deceiving fancy and a Bird of an ill Omen which comes to trouble you We have seen but one such Catastrophe hâ— happen'd to your Majesty and you have â—ather reason to presage a Victory than a Defeat In short say his Majesty since you are of that opinion and that you advise me to hazard a Bate I will give my Orders to Tourville to â—â—t effect But as to tâ—â— business of Namur it seems to me that one Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men is not enough to undertake a Siege of that importance and to possess so vast a ground as that Sir says Luxemburgh we are not now in a time when they marched with Four or Five Hundred Thousand fighting Men. We read in the History of the Kings of the first Race that Attila King of the Huns came into the Field with an Army of five Hundred Thousand men causing himself to be called the Scourge of God but notwithstanding this great nâ—mber he was defeated by King Merovee â—nd lost in one Battle two Hundred Thoâ—sand of his Men. Sir it is not the great nâ—mbers that cause Battles to be Won â—n Army of Fifty Thousand Men well commanded and which makes her movemâ—nts regularly will beat one of an Hundâ—â—d Thousand if there happens a disâ—rder among them I have often heard say of the incomparable Monsieur de Turenne â—nd of the deceased Prince of Conde that â—n Army which exceeded the number of â—â—fty Thousand Men incommoded herself â—nd the General that Govern'd it Besides Sir I have mad just computation of the Troops of your Enemies I suppose also that they should be put altogether they would not then make one Hundred Thousand Men so that your Majesty having Fifty Thousand more you will be in a condition to Besiege the place and observe their Motions But says his Majesty you have supposed that the Prince of Orange will find himself obliged to return in all hast to England and that consequently the Enemy having no longer this Prince commanding at their Head who is their greatest Spur would stand still unmoveable contenting themselves to be Spectators which is to see the Medal just on its fair side But I pray let us view the Reverse and let us suppose that he should stay at the Head of his Army as this Prince has long since sought an occasion to signalize himself in and to give me Battle seeing me engaged in a Seige of this Consequence if the fancy should take him to come and attack me and that I being beat should be obliged to quit it what shame and what confusion will that be to me who boast my self to have the invincibility of Achilles Sir says Luxemburgh your Majesty has nothing less to doubt than that I will make you so just a draught of the ground of the Avenues and Defiles which cover the place that when your Majesty shall be once made Master of them with an Army of one Hundred and Fifty Thousand Fighting men as it hath been said the Prince of Orange cannot attack you with an Army of Two Hundred Thousand Men without hazard of being beaten Your Majesty ought to Encamp between the Sambre and the Meufe and besides that you will be cover'd by those two Rivers you will have at your Right the Army of the Marquess de Bouffters which will cover you on that side As to the other Body of the Army of which I shall have the Command that shall possess all the ground between Namur and the small River of Mehaigne which is just the only place at which the Enemy can make their Attack if so be they have a mind to it besides many advantages that I could draw from the Situation of the Country which is cut off by Defiles and Woods there wants but a small River to Stop your Enemies the Mehaigne or the Orme would serve me always for an Obstacle so that your Majesty has no cause to apprehend any danger I will cover it so well with my Army that you will have no more reason to fear than if you were at Versailles near your good Maintenon But at least says his Majesty you must promise me to avoid all engaging and to Encamp your self so well that the Prince of Orange mav rather dream of any other thing than to force you to fight I am apprehensive of nothing more than of a Battle and if I should be present and happen to lose it I should make an irreparable breach to my Glory Sir answer'd Luxemburgh rest satisfied thereupon Let your Majesty only give your Orders to the end that all may be ready and that the Troops come early especially those of Catalonia Savoy and Germany which are the Provinces that are farthest off As to the event I take it upon my self and I will always be answerable for it being perswaded that this Conquest will cost your Majesty no more than that of Mons and that you will receive not only great advantages but that it will put you into an infallible way of obtaining a Peace which I wish with all my Heart As soon as Monsieur de Luxemburgh was gone out the King caus'd Monsieur de Catinat to be call'd in and bid him make him in few words a Report of the condition in which he left the Affairs of Savoy Monsieur de Catinat says Sir I have sufficiently inform'd your Majesty by my Letters of the particulars of the War of Italy of the care that I have taken to acquit my self worthily of the Government of your Army with which your Majesty was willing to Honour me And if I had not all the success that I could have well wished the last Campaign which was that of 1691. I have nevertheless done as much as lay in any Man's power with so small a number as I had But the arrival of the Elector of
says his Majesty if the Emperour Leopold stirr'd up by my Example or by Imitation of the Roman Emperours his Predecessors should of a sudden take the resolution to come himself at the Head of the Army upon the Rhine to govern it and see what passes there I must own I should be in a great deal of trouble upon this account and that you would be in no less than I because I am perswaded that the presence of a Prince who shews and exposes himself to danger in sight of his Soldiers and of his Generals is a mighty Example If the Ottoman Emperour my Allie would have believ'd me and have hearken'd to my Ambassadour the Baron de Chasteau Neuf he would have come in Person to have put himself at the Head of his Armies in Hungary I doubt not but he would thereby have preserv'd all his Conquests carryed the dread for the second time to the Gates of Vienna and sav'd many Battles lost by the fault of his Viziers Sir answer'd the Duke de Lorge the Emperour Leopold and his Nephew Charles the II. King of Spain are not so Ambitious as your Majesty These are two good Princes who seek only Repose and Peace and shun the Cruelties of the War And if your Majesty had not constrain'd them to take up Arms to maintain their Interests and those of all Europe they would not have troubled themselves at this time to go and gather Lawrels in the Field of Mars this God doth not Sympathize with those Princes Apollo has many other Charms and Mount Parnassus other Enchantments Formerly Orpheus by the sweetness of Instruments drew to him all the Beasts and also the insensible Creatures the Rocks and the Woods could not defend themselves from his attractive Harmony It is true that if Charlemaigne Charles the V. and Phillip the II. should come from the other World this reproach would without doubt be made them But every Prince has his Passions his Inclinations and his Weaknesses your Majesty loves War the late King Charls the II. King of England lov'd the fair Sex and your Majesty took care to make him a Present of Mistresses The Roman Emperor loves a Harmony make him a Present of Musicians and they will take care to inform you of all that passes at the Court of Vienna I understand also Sir that the Electors at present for the most part Study the Inclinations of their Prince and strive to imitate him in all things which is the reason they are all almost lovers of Musick So there remains no more for your Majesty to do than to make a provision of Musicians Brabant above all abounds of such and send them into all the Courts of Germany and this will be a Sovereign remedy to know and discover all What I have just now said furnishes me yet with one thought which is that it is not to be wonder'd at as a politick Spaniard did once very judiciously say that your Majesty has surpas'd Henry the IV. Lewis the XIII and in a word all your predecessors by a great number of events which have happn'd during your Reign and which are solely owing to the Wisdom and to the good fortune of your Majesty since we see that the Imbecility of Princes who have Reign'd in your time have as much and also more contributed thereunto If you had had for Competitors Queen Elizabeth Gustavus Adolphus and Charles the V. which would have disputed the Ground with you as you had Charles the II. and James the II. Kings of England the Emperour Leopold and Charles the II. King of Spain who have let you undertake any thing I am perswaded you would not have got so many Victories But this is the unhappy condition of States The downfal of one is the rise of the other I say also farther if it should happen by way of fatality as we may say that the Prince of Orange was not met with in your Reign and also that being met with he had not been animated with another Zeal than the rest of the Princes of Europe for the defence of their Countries and the preservation of their Liberties all would long since have fallen under the weight of your Arms and your Majesty would have finished the great Work of the Universal Monarchy But says his Majesty what do you hear of the Negotiation of the Peace between the two Empires Monsieur Harbord Envoy of the Prince of Orange has he been well receiv'd by the Grand Vizier I know the enterview was to be at Belgrade what have you learnt and what are your thoughts thereupon Do you believe that he will succeed better than Pensionary Hop and the Knight Hussey have done before Sir answer'd de Lorge I know from good Hands that the Grand Seignior wishes for a Peace and that the People will have it at any rate so your Majesty has no more time to lose and there wants but one moment to conclude it and to reconcile these two Powers The French Sirens who are at the Court of the Grand Seignior begin to loose a little of the Charms of their Singing and their Melody as well as their credit The Louis d' Ors are so strongly cry'd down at Constantinople that no Body will have any more to do with them I advise then your Majesty to push on your great designs the time presses prevent your Enemy in the Field your Majesty being at the Head of a flourishing Army may go fall on where you think fit and carry one of the strongest places of Europe I advise you again to make your last efforts to come to a Peace an to hinder the conclusion of the Truce between the two Emperours and if Mony is not capable to hinder it to employ yet more Sovereign remedies the Secrets of †Harbord poysoned Brinvilliers in the Hands of a French Cook are infallible As soon as the Mareschal de Lorge was gone out of the Chamber the King order'd that the Count de Tourville and John Barts should come in Tourville saies his Majesty I have two great designs in hand and I have chose you to execute the one whilst I am going to execute the other at the Head of an Army of one Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men. There is no time to lose the occasion is pressing and the resolution is taken First I propose to my self to re-establish King James upon the Throne of England And in the second place to constrain my Enemies who have flatter'd themselves to stop the Course of my Conquests to ask for a Peace Sir says Tourville nothing is impossible for your Majesty you have a formidable Fleet which makes you Master of the Sea which obliges your Enemies to yield you that Empire for which so many Nations have spilt their Blood The English and the Dutch boasted themselves till now to possess it but the glorious Fight of 1690. has decided it to the advantage of your Majesty so you are in a condition to undertake all that
A King is never Great nor Illustrious who has not carried his Arms among Strangers to make them know his Strength and to make them feel the sweetness and equity of his Commands I had all my Life an aversion for those slothful Kings of the first Race who did not govern their Countries but suffer'd themselves to be govern'd by the Grandees nothing is more pernicious to a Prince than Luxury and too much Repose Nero whose first years were so admirable and so great eclips'd the lustre of them by his Debauâ—hes and his Cruelties which were but the fatal consequence or Idleness Sir answer'd Pompone if your Majesty has so concâ—uded and that you think it fit for the way to a Peace I wish you all Prosperity and a happy Campaign The time of my departure draws near saâ—â— his Majesty I recommend to you above all to have an Eye upon the new Catholicks whom I look upon in my Absence as Enemies most to be fear'd You know what care I have taken to bring them back to the bosom of the Church anâ— how I have bâ—en forc'd to use them to pluck up this cursed Tare which has mix'd it self with the good Corn. Sir answer'd Pompâ—ne I do not know if your Majesty had all the reason in the World to deliver them so mercilesâ—y to the resentment of their Enemies for my paâ—ticular I felt a part of their Misfortunes and Father la Chaizâ— gave me no better Quarters than them Your Illustrious Predecessâ—rs witness the Grandfather of your Majesty Hâ—n y IV. came to the Crown only by their aâ—sistance They did hâ—m so great Services when he saw himself overwhelm'd by the Cathâ—lâ—â—ks wâ—o 〈◊〉 maâ—e a considerable Party ca â—'d Tâ—e League that he woulâ— have undoubtedly sunk withâ—ut their Assiâ—tance so in memory of their Fidelity he graâ—ted them the Edict of Naâ—â—s So that your Majâ—sty ought to consiâ—er that if you have at this day the Crown upon yâ—ur Head as a most worthy Successor of that Great Henry you are no â—ess beholding to them than your Grandfather Pompone says his Majesty let us talk of other things It suffices to tell you That the G â—â—â—es of â—…y Consâ—â—ence having so order'â— it it was no longer in my Power to oppose it In short I am going anâ— therefore recommend to you aboâ—e all my Kingdom my new Converts I recommend to you the Qâ—een of Great Bâ—itain the Prince of Wales aâ—â— the Infant of Eâ— land visit them often and comfort them in their â— sgrace teâ—â— them from me Tâ—â—t I go where Glory calls me to heap up Lawrels anâ— to accompâ—â—sh their re-estabâ—â—shment I recâ—mmenâ— aâ—so to you my Sâ—â— the Dâ—uphiâ—… take care above all to represent to â—â—m the Inj ry he does to his Reputation to love rather the Pleasures of Diana and the Hunting of the Wolf than the noble Works of Mars I recommend to you also the three young Princes my Grand-children entertain them above all with the great Actions of their Grand-father I recommend to you chiefly the Eldest the Duke of Burgundy whom I us'd to call the Prince of Coâ—de because that truly we see as it were rebâ—rn in hâ—m all the shining Qualities of that Prince I recommend to you in short all the Intelligences that I have in Foreign Courts have a care of them receive the Letters that shall be writ to me and cause the Sums design'd for the Pensions I pay them to be return'd I also very carefully recommend to you my Treasury assist Ponchartâ—aine with your good Advice and lend him your Hand in working jointly for settling a Fund for the next Campaign Mony is the Sinew of War without it I should be a Kâ—ng wâ—thout Power and all my great Designs would evaporate intâ—â—moak Sir says Pompone they report of Dagâ—bert that he was so jâ—st and free towards the Churches That he caus'd the Church of St. Dennis to be covered with Silver But your Majesty makes another use of Mony you have a quite different Pity and Justice from that Prince You imitate rather him who finding the 12 Apostles of Massy Silver in a Church caus'd them to be taken from the Altar and having made them into Mony told them That they should go Preach throughout the whole World according to the order that Jesus Christ had given them Monsieur de Pompone being gone out the King order'd that Messieurs de Barbesieux and de Chanlais should come in in all haste Barbesieux says his Majesty the Resolutions are taken I have a great Design in hand Silence we are now at the point to bring great things to Light the Campaign of Mons had nothing like it Ha! what then Sir says Barbesieux I am a going says his Majesty into Flanders at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men to form the Siege of the Key of all the Low Countries Luxemburgh has shou'd it me as clear as the Sun at Noon Sir says Chanlais your Majesty must make haste for I hear that the Prince of Orange will come a Month sooner into the Field than he did last year It is no matter says his Majesty I shall have near 80000 Men more than he and I shall be covered by three potent Armies besides I will make Boufflers go before and possess himself of the Passages Luxemburgh has assur'd me that I have no more cause to fear than if I were at Versailles Sir answer'd Barbesieux if that be so your Majesty will have a good Bargain for all you shall undertake whilst that the Prince of Orange fatigues and exposes himself to the most eminent Dangers Sir says Chanlais Gold and Treason are at this day two great double Keys to your Majesty besides that they open all Gates they operate more in a moment than great Armies do in a Summer's Expedition Both the one and the other must be had says his Majesty I have found out the means to tame the Lion and the Fox which were heretofore incompatible and I only march now to take Possession of what I have bought before Sir says Barbesieux that is not all your Majesty must seek the shortest way to come quickly to a Peace the want of every thing is a dangerous Disease which begins to be felt throughout your Kingdom Barbesieux you speak home says his Majesty and all the advantage I propose to my self by this Expedition is to come to the way of a Peace Sir says Barbesieux I have yet a shorter way and more abridg'd than that to come to a Peace Ha! what says his Majesty It is to put in execution the Project that my deceased Father the Marquiss de Louvois had begun the rough draught of and which he left in his Cabinet after his death that is the White that is the Center whereto all your Majesty's Enterprizes should tend What must be done then says his Majesty Sir the Business in hand is to send the Prince of Orange Chief of the League ad Patres if your
in the World whereas others that are in the Service of other Princes find themselves with all their Ingenuity bauk'd and stopt sometimes in the midst of their Carreer when they are upon a great design by the defect and want of means which should contribute the most to make them succeed But however it be Monsieur de Vauban and de Megrini had orders to be at Versailles to assist at the finishing of this design Monsieur de Megrini who made his ordinary abode at Tournay of which he was Governour departed in all haste to place himself where his Majesties orders had call'd him and arriv'd almost at the same time as Monsieur Catinat did who had taken Post immediately after the taking of Montmellian All was now ready for the opening of the Council and all the Generals his Majesty had pleas'd to call were arriv'd The number yet was but very small the King being in what regards his Council and his Secrets a Prince as circumspect as ever was which is the cause that his Majesty confides in so few persons and that he ordinarily admits none but such as are extremely reserv'd so we we may say it is one of the principal Wheels upon which his great designs and his good fortune moves and that he is come to so many Conquests only by this means and if we say of Mony that it is the Sinew of War we may say also that Silence is the Soul and that by consequence they are both indispensably and absolutely necessary since they make Armies move and march where they think fit making them Victorious and Masters of the most Important Forts of Provinces and also of whole Kingdoms as we have experienc'd in the last Revolution that happen'd in England which we may say was the only time that the French King was deceiv'd for that ordinarily he has so many precautions and also so great a number of Emissaries well paid in all Courts that he keeps in his Pocket so to speak the Key of their Counsels and most secret Resolutions But we may say that the affair of England was miraculous for how else could King William encompass'd round with French Spies as he was in such a place as the Hague where they were seen to walk openly in Troops and with as much confidence and fierceness as if they had been in the midst of Rome or Paris find nevertheless means to hide so great an undertaking to carry it on a whole year and to trust but two Ministers of State with it to wit Pensionary Fagel of happy memory and Monsieur Dickvelt to make all the Preparations and at last to make them appear by the Reduction of three Kingdoms and to save by an undertaking as bold as successfull Europe from Slavery and that in the sight of two mighty Kings his Enemies well Arm'd who stood waiting for him without ever stirring treated him with fool-hardiness and flatter'd themselves with hopes to see him swallow'd up in his enterprize with as much shame and Confusion as the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth was Finally that I may return to my subject the great Council of War which was to be held at Versailles being assembled and all the Generals being there present his Majesty would according to his custom have a particular Conference with each General and for this reason order'd they should enter in order one after another into his Chamber Monsieur Luxemburgh was first call'd as being the greatest Favourite and him in whom his Majesty most confided looking upon him as his greatest support and him who would maintain at present the Honour of the Nation and the Glory of France It will not be alltogether foreign to our purpose before we go any farther to speak a word of the Person of this General We will say then that Monsieur Luxemburgh so much made of and so much esteem'd as now he is ought not to boast to be descended from the Illustrious and ancient House of Luxemburgh which has given so many Emperors to Germany and so many Kings to Hungary and Bohemia neither is he of the posterity of those titular Dukes of Luxemburgh and Piney Princes of Tingry but a Posthumous Son of Francis Lord of Bouteville of the House of Montmoranci who was beheaded at Paris the 21. of June 1627. for having kill'd in cold Blood in a Duel several persons of Quality This happen'd under the Ministry of the Cardinal Richelieu The present Duke of Luxemburgh was then but in the Cradle and the Countess of Bouteville his Mother retir'd her self after this disgrace to one of her Country Houses where she liv'd a Melancholy life till such time as her only Son whom she very tenderly belov'd arriv'd at the seventh year of his age an age in which it was fit to take him from the Hands of Women and put him under the care of Governors capable to give him Education suitable for a Person of Quality By this time Madam de Bouteville judg'd that the Mothers House was a place very unfit for the Education of the young Count and besides being not dissatisfied to find an occasion to shew a part of her Resentment of the shameful Death of her Husband she resolv'd to carry her Son to Court and present him to the King She set out then for Paris without much Equipage and being arriv'd she went the next day to St. Germain and demanded Audience of the King who was then with the Prince and some Lords of the Court They were mightily surpriz'd at the arrival of this Lady who for many years had not appear'd in the World and every one strove to find out the reason of it when she enter'd into the Chamber having her Son in her Hand whom she carried straight to the King saying Sir here is the last of the Montmoranci's which I present to your Majestty to do with as you think fit The King would have reply'd something to her but Madam de Bouteville not desiring to engage in any further discourse retir'd after having perform'd her obeisance and left the young Count in the Kings Chamber The Prince of Conde who was naturally very generous was so affected at the condition of this poor Gentleman that he told the King that he having been formerly a very good friend of his Fathers and of Monsieur de Montmoranci he would do him a very great favour to let him bring up this last cast-away of a Family which had been dear to him the King consented and the Prince carried him home caus'd him to be instructed and brought up with all imaginable care particularly in the exercises of a Gentleman suâ—h as Riding the Great Horse and Fencing and as to that give me leave to tell you what an old Officer brought up from his infancy in the Lord Bouteville's House did assure me that Monsieur Luxemburgh was born straight and of a good shape and that he appear'd so to the Eyes of the World till he was ten years of age that the
Prince as we may say forcing nature in the Child did so harass him in mounting on Horse back and fencing before he was strong enough to bear these rude Exeâ—â—ises that he thereby lost one full Third of hiâ— Boâ—y In effect those that have seen him undress'd know that he is in a manner all Thighs and Leggs Nevertheless this last opinion is scarcely believ'd if we make Reflection upon his hump back which gives him so ridiculous an Air and which cannot be look'd upon otherwise than a natural defect and it is reasonable to believe he came into the World in this condition because we certainly see by experience that the exercise of Arms contributes rather to regulate and render the Body free than to cause such imperfections Let it be as it will he has improv'd it well We may say that he is at present a Man after the King 's own Heart so it is not to be wonder'd at if he leaves to him the Government of his Armies since he has been bold several times to say That he thank'd God that he had caus'd him to be born without pity and compassion to the end he might be more capable of serving the King his Master and executing his designs A very Christian like sentiment and worthy of Monsieur de Luxemburgh But as to the Hump in his Back it will not be amiss to give an account of a thought which he had the day after the Battle of Fleurns As he receiv'd the Complements of success from the Lieutenant Generals and other Officers of his Army shewing them his Hump he told them he had there a reserve of a Body of Forty Thousand Men of which his Enemies knew nothing which would always render him Victorious thereby remarking the Artifices which he made use of which without contradiction makes up a good part of the Necromancy of which he was accused and which he himself has begun to Communicate since he has been a Commander to the other French Generals The Marquess de Bouflers who was one of his principal Disciples did him most Honour for he it is that at present seems to have profited most by the Lessons of his Master So Monsieur de Luxemburgh chose him to be at the Head of this reserve of which he spoke and was very careful in all the Battles to place him so well that he was seen running up and down like a Mad-Man not to say fly upon the least signal that he gave him The King seeing him come in turn'd towards him and spoke in these Terms Luxemburgh you are the Person at this Day in whom France places her greatest hopes my People look upon you as their Turenne and I my self esteem you as my right Hand you see me engaged in an unhappy War which consumes my Treasure impoverishes my Subjects ruins the State and makes me apprehensive of unhappy Events It is a lingring Fever which undermines by little and little my Kingdom and I fear lest it should in the issue become like Spain that is to say a poor and impotent Desert Sir answer'd Luxemburgh I thank your Majesty for having forgot my pass'd faults and for honouring me with the preference of the Command of your Armies before the Marshal d' Humieres much Older and Wiser than my self I am at the same time very much Obliged to the deceased Marquess of Louvois my good Friend and to the good Madam de Maintenon who sollicited my release and employ'd all their credit with your Majesty to get me out of the Bastile where I had been shut up upon the Death of the Count de Soissons and several other small matters which I was branded withall I vow I did not expect to be received again into your Grace and Favour your Majesty having had since tâ—e War of 1672 a particular aversion to my Pâ—rson But on the other side I am glad to see that my Enemies have for their part shame and trouble by the Triumph of my Innocence after having imploy'd all their power to ruin me I shall remember all my Life time the reverend Father La Chaise and the jealous Madam de Montespan who have been the principal actors of this Tragedy and if it is natural to keep resentment I will reserve to my self a favourable occasion to let them know that I have not been either a Necromancer nor Madam Brinvilliers Disciple But answer'd his Majesty Let us not talk of pass'd Quarrels altho' what is said of you should be true and also that you had a familiar Spirit to win Battles to gain the Love of the Ladies and to please me I will in acknowledgment of the Services that you have done me in the Wars of Holland and that you may do me in the present War order the Courts of Justice to burn the Informations and the Tryal and to forbid any upon pain of Death throughout my whole Kingdom to talk directly or indirectly of it Sir answered Luxemburg I most humbly thank your Majesty for the care that you will take of my reputation and I do engage upon my word that in remembrance of so great a Favour I will do for my part all that lies in my power to ruin your Enemies and advance your Conquests You know answer'd his Majesty That the first Campaign which was that of 1689. I gave the Command of my Army to the Marshal d' Humieres and that this General who is a good Man did really do me good service For it was him that I sent Ambassador to the Court of England immediately after the Death of King Charles and he executed my Orders very punctually For King James who came to be Crown'd King of three Kingdoms received him with open Arms and very generously accepted all the offers of Alliance and Friendship that Humieres made him on my behalf But this unfortunate Prince afterwards not having followed my Orders found himself all of a sudden overwhelm'd with great troubles and has engag'd me in a War which has Arm'd all Europe against me But to come to my purpose Having then chose him to Command in Flanders against Prince Waldeck a General of good Conduct and well instructed in what concern'd the Order that an Army in her Marches and Incampments ought to be kept in but on the other hand very unlucky to hazard a Battle I remark'd that in this first year the Marshal d' Humieres suffer'd himself to be Coop'd up as we say by Prince Waldeck and that he had during the whole Campaign the disadvantage I remember also very well the Battle of Walcourt which was on the Great St. Louis day Patron and Protector of my Kingdom where all my House-hold was Cut in pieces but I pardon him with all my heart because he did it with a good intention and belief of doing me Service that day The little Genius of d' Humieres was not only the cause of this check but we may also say that he favour'd by the little motion he made the Enterprizes
of the Duke of Lorrain and of the Electors who took Three good Cities from me that year The deceased Marquess de Louvois whom I now very much lament foretold it me the good Man was a very good Physiognomist and as he knew his People extremely well so he was observed not to be mistaken in the choice he made of Persons of merit to fill the vacant places which has been the cause that during my Reign I have always had the choicest Persons It was he that presented Monsieur Catinat to me to Command in Italy being a Man he said who had experience and the good Fortune to have pass'd through all the inferiour degrees in the War having been formerly a common Soldier I was also willing to imploy the Duke of Duras to Command in Germany but Louvois advis'd me rather to send the Marshal de Lorge his Brother as a Man who had more of Softness and execution which agrees better with the natural slowness of the Germans I had also made choice of Monsieur Lauzun for Ireland at the Sollicitation of Madamoiselle de Monpensier my Cousin but the poor Man is no more what he was and the affairs of that Kingdom were quite changed after the loss of the Battle of the Boyn where he commanded joyntly with King James Louvois advis'd me to call him back as soon as possibly and to send the brave St. Ruth of happy memory whom I much lament because he was the Man that Purg'd my Kingdom of the Huguenot Heresie He was naturally hasty but brave as his Sword Be it as it will I found him very serviceable to me and if he had not been unfortunately kill'd by a Cannon Bullet I am persuaded that the War would have lasted still in Ireland and that the Prince of Orange would not have come off so cheap in Flanders It is also the deceased Marquis of Louvois who presented Tourville to me to Command my Fleet as an Admiral of a gallant Person And I vow that I have had till this very time a great deal of trouble to stop the Torrent of his Courage He talks to me in all my undertakings of nothing but giving Battle to the Enemy Hitherto I have always hindred him because I was not altogether satisfied with the Engagement of 1690. where the Hollanders alone with 20. or 22. Men of War dar'd to attack him at the head of my Fleet which was composed of more than 80. great Ships whilst the English contented themselves to be Spectators and that which caused astonishment was that after a Fight of more than Six hours not one of the Enemies Ships was taken having retreated after the Fight in very good order tho' in truth disabled and unmasted So the last Expedition I order'd him to shun all Engageing and when the Enemies should be on the one side to go on the other which he observ'd very well 'T is also from the same hand that the Marquiss de Bouflers was presented to me tho' in truth Madam de Maintenon also contributed for she wearied me Night and Day and I never saw her but she spoke to me of him But I have not been deceiv'd in him He is one of the bravest Officers that I have at this Day in my Armies and from whom I reap the greatest benefit by the Contributions which he takes care to gather together and to make my Enemies pay in ready mony which makes a considerable Sum design'd to buy Horses to re-mount my Cavalry For his pains I have lately made him Captain of my Guards besides several other good Offices which he possesses further more I have reserv'd a Marshals Staff for him if the War last two Campaigns more 'T is Louvois also who presented to me Monsieur Amelott formerly my Ambassador at Venice to go and reside with the Laudable Swiss Cantons during this War I have been deceiv'd in him no more than in Monsieur Bouflers for if this knows how to use a Pistol and is able in the handling of a Sword the other is no less in that of the Pen. It is also to his good conduct that I attribute all the good intelligence which reigns at present amongst my Cousins the Suissers Let him but make a Speech with Words well plac'd back'd with a good Purse of my Louisses distributed underhand and behind the Curtain I obtain immediately all I would have They granted me the last Campaign the raising of ten thousand Men of new Troops I hope they will grant me this Campaign at least fifteen thousand to fill up the number of the forty thousand that I have in my service with whom I am very well satisfied for they are the best Foot of my Army I ought not to forget to speak one word by the way of their General Stouppa with whom I am very well contented who seems to have chang'd his Country in changing his Religion that is to say become a good French-Man He takes so strongly to Heart my interests that we see him boldly march at the Head of the Swisser's Troops every where and in all places laughing at certain old and pretended Treaties which say that the Swissers that are in my Service shall not act against the Emperour and his Allies 'T is Louvois also who presented to me the Count of Bethune that I lately sent to the King of Sweedland to feel the pulse of that Prince and to see if there was no way to engage him to a Rupture Bidall writ to me that he could no longer retain his Resentment and that the English and Dutch Capers might make him become one of the French Interest I have given order to the Count de Beâ—hune to say at his arrival at Stockholme That he was arriv'd by chance and that a Tempest had cast him there that he may conceal so much the better his Negotiation I hear thanks to God that he is happily arriv'd I have also in Holland one of the Disciples of Bethune which doth me very good service and who has well succeeded the Count d' Avaux The Count de Bethune had considerable Summs to pay to Madam Morean's Father a rich Merchant at Paris but finding himself disabl'd to serve him he engag'd himself to obtain of the King of Poland by my recommendation Letters of credit for Monsieur Moreau her Husband and that by this means he might as we say kill two Birds with one Stone and be as Janus with two Faces in calling himself Envoy of the King of Poland and keeping in effect the place of the Count d' Avaux in his absence I am very well satisfied with him and I esteem him as one of my best Correspondents in Holland When the Count de Bethune shall have made the first motion to the Northern Princes I have then the Count d' Avaux and Bonrepos ready to set sail for that Coast to go and finish what Bethune shall have begun I have made choice of these two Ministers d' Avaux for Sweedland and Bonrepos
for Denmark because truly I judg them most proper to bring those two Crowns to a Mediation their management accompanied with some Millions may buy a peace or at least set a good step towards it D' Avaux has done me great Services in Holland and knows the Republican Spirit to the bottom St. Didier his Secretary and whom I call his Achates has orders to follow him because he understands admirably well to draw up a Memorial proper to persuade and bring them into a Snare The Sieur de Rebenack was also presented to me by Monsieur Louvois and neither have I forgot what he told me in recommending him to me Sir said he here is the most active of your Subjects and from whom your Majesty may receive great Services if you send him Ambassadour to the Northern Crowns which I did accordingly and truly he did me very good service at the Court of the deceased Elector of Brandeburgh I knew by his Intreagues all that pass'd there The Kings of Sweedland and Denmark did nothing but what I came to the knowledg of by his means so that I did not trouble my self to have on that side any other Spy nor correspondence but his Since calling him home I sent Bidal in his place and it is he also actually takes care of my intelligence in those Countries But answer'd Luxemburgh I have heard that your Majesty has sent Rebenack lately into Italy to endeavour to bring the Princes of those parts to imbrace your side or at least a good Neutrality It is true said his Majesty and I wish he may cross the designs of the Germans and persuade the Princes of Italy not to grant them Winter Quarters He has orders to go to all those Courts by what I can understand his Negotiation will not be altogether in vain having already put many of those Princes into a wavering condition The great Duke of Tuscany and the Republick of Genoua have promis'd him and I hope the rest will follow Sir reply'd Luxemburgh must he not also take a turn to Rome to kiss the Slipper of Innocent the 12th on the behalf of your Majesty for by what I can learn that good Father has more of a French Heart than Alexander the 8th and Innocent the 11th his Predecessors Without doubt answer'd his Majesty for the Holy Father granted me almost all I ask'd of him whereas the others refus'd me every thing He has already granted the greatest part of the necessary Bulls to the Bishops of my Kingdom and promis'd to the Count d' Estree to endeavour with all forwardness to procure a peace to Christendom Now I think on 't Sir says Luxemburgh how does your Majesty like the Baron de Chateauneuf whom I took the liberty to present to be your Ambassadour at Constantinople Very well says his majesty he is a gown Man come out of my Parliament of Paris where he pass'd for an able Man in business and I wanted such a Man as him for by what I can learn he is an artist in persuading the Grand Signior Besides the best of it is that he is very well belov'd by the Grand Visir who has promis'd him to hearken to no peace this Campaign but even that not without two hundred thousand Crowns which he was oblig'd to pay him Sir answer'd Luxemburgh Mony at this Day affords great help to your Majesty and if it should come once to fail I do not know how all would go That puts me in mind of what the History of our Kings report of Charles the Fifth who was Sirnam'd the Wise that he without going out of his Closet had always the advantage over the English and obtain'd all his designs After his Death he was called rich because at his Death he left 17 Millions of Crowns which was a prodigious Sum at that time I much doubt if your Majesty had reign'd in that time whether you would have succeeded in all your Enterprises with so small a Sum since we see that you have a great deal of trouble to do it with the three hundred Millions â—f Livers that you draw from your Subjects Luxemburgh says his Mayjesty a Prince which is absolute over his People and who is by consequence Master of their Estates has Mines of Gold and Silver which never consume these Springs never dry up and are infinitely richer and more abounding than those of Mexico and Peru and we see in our Days that the King of Spain that furnishes as we may say all other Princes of Europe with all the Riches they have and all the Gold and Silver which rules in the trade of each People and each Nation is nevertheless the least partaker of it and has the most occasion for it Sir answer'd Luxemburgh if your predecessours Henry the Fourth and Louis the Thirteenth had had the Despotick and Arbitrary Power as your Majesty has at this Day especially Henry the Fourth who was a stirring Prince and full of activity what could they not have done The true art to reign says his Majesty was unknown to them and they knew not how to make any profit of the lessons of Machiavel and of the incomparable Richelieu and Mazarine who have been the only persons that have taught it so that I do not see of all my Ancestors why Louis the Eleventh should make so much use of that Principle which was attributed to him and which has been since call'd the Maxim of Louis the Eleventh qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare He that knows not how to dissemble knows not how to Reign As to the matter of Mony says Luxemburgh how does your Majesty like Pont-Chartrain that the deceased Monsieur Colbert recommended to you before his Death as a Man very proper to manage your Treasury Pontchartrain answer'd his Majesty doth me good service in the present conjuncture and I know not how all would go if I had him not When I find my self short of Mony which often happens by reason of the pressing necessities of the War I need only say to him I have occasion for so many Millions as he is extreamly ingenious and one of the best Partizans that has ever been in France he immediately invents some new Impost upon the People or some new Tax upon those which are poâ—sâ—st of places Nor is this all for he is expert to find out means how to hâ—â—e it presently in ready Mony Sir says Luxembâ—rgh I believe your Majesty very much laments thâ—â—â—s you had by the deceased Mr. Colbert which was an understanding Man if ever there was any in the management of your Treasury He was too much hated by the People says his Majesty they began to call him Thief they accus'd him of having ruin'd France and made it a general Hospital and yet he never did any thing but by my order and acquainting me with all he did Let it be as it will he has been the Instrument of a great many things of which I should never have thought of
had not he perswaded me unto them In short for the quieting of my People I am glad that his death has taken this Obstacle out of their way that was a horrour to them and as we love Novelties we always flatter our selves that the last comer will be better than the former all the World conceiv'd great hopes upon the Arrival of Pontchartrain But says Luxemburgh I think that Colbert had gather'd together great Riches which he possess'd as his own and all his Children became very great It is true says his Majesty but after his Death the Water came to it's Spring and I caus'd full and good Restitution to be made I made use of a specious pretence to drain them which brought some Millions into my Coffers Sir answer'd Luxemburgh let us let all those matters alone which do not concern the War your Majesty has no time to lose the matter in hand is now to prevent your Enemies and be early in the Field so that it's time to take a firm and solid resolution Luxemburgh you have reason says his Majesty and it is also for that purpose I caus'd you to come hither together with my other Generals to hear you one after another and to have a private conference about what I ought to undertake But as you are one of those in whom I have most confidence and that on the other side my design is to make Flanders the principal Theatre of the War where I pretend that my great designs shall appear I will impart every thing to you with an open heart You are a Man of experience and the Wars of Seventy Two has given you a particular knowledg of that Country I lament extreamly the poor Prince of Conde he also knew perfectly the Genius and Interests of the Spaniards and the Hollanders Schombergh would have also been of great use to me if his infatuation to Religion had not made him perish miserably in Ireland Poor Turenne the Flower of all my Generals hac Coelum itur via merited the same Honours that the Gods formerly gave to great Hercules in memory of his Toils I mean Immortality Be it as it will I shall never forget the good service he did me in Germany and of so many brave Captains you are the only one that is left me so I desire you not to expose your self too much and to take as much care of your dear Person as my Armies For if I should come to lose you I should not know who to give the Command to having for the most part none but Lieutenant Generals more fit to Command a party of Incendiaries than an Army so considerable as that in Flanders The Prince of Orange coming every Campaign to Command himself would desire no better than to have to do with a Novice nor the fiery Elector of Bavaria who also commands with him These two Princes fly round about my Army as a Bird of Prey about a Swallow and seek nothing else but to make me lose a Battle to make way for them into France Besides Luxemburgh here is now a trick of the Prince of Orange which puts me in despair He is not contented to mount the Throne of England after poor King James his Father-in-Law and my Ally was retired to my Court but he does yet worse in respect to me for he has found out a means to drive me out of the Low-Countries endeavouring to deprive the Dauphin my Son of the Provinces fallen to his Mother my Wife the most Christian Queen by the decease of Queen Elizabeth her Mother of Prince Don Balthazar her Brother and of the Catholick King Philip the Fourth her Father The Stratagem that he has made use of is he has brought the King of Spain Charles the Second to make a gift ad vitam of the Spanish Netherlands to the Elector of Bavaria They made a shew some years ago to have play'd this trick but I made such strong Protestations and threatnings to come into Flanders with a great Army without having any regard to the Truce that they thought fit for the Peace of those Provinces and the repose of Europe to refer the matter to another time Sir answer'd Luxemburgh all this good success we owe to the taking of Mons and the good Correspondence that the good Marquis de Gastanaga had kept with us which was thereby discover'd The Prince of Orange seeing the Spanish Netherlands were sold at a great price by the covetousness of the Governours resolv'd to play a Masterpiece in causing it to be put into better hands who would make it their glory to preserve it But says his Majesty can that be done without injustice and can they dispute with my Son the Dauphin as they would have disputed with me in the time of the Wars of Paris that the most Christian Queen Maria Tieresia formerly Infanta of Spaiâ— and immediaely after the Pirenaean Peace became my Wife was brought to Bed of a Prince at Fountain Bleau on All Saints day the first of November a little before Noon in the year 1661. Sir answer'd Luxemburgh the Dauphins Birth is not the thing in Question no Body doubts but he is truly your Majesties and the Queen Maria Tieresia's Son We are well satisfied with the fruitfulness of that Princess And as to what properly concerns your Majesties Person you have thanks to God furnish'd us with Patterns taken from the Originals of the Ladâ—s de Fontanges la Valliere and la Mourtespan who have lâ—ft enough of Illustrious young Sprigs Witness the Duke de Main Madam the Princess of Conti and Madamoiselle de Blois now Dutchess of Charters As for Madam de Maintenon who succeeded them I dare not speak of because I am perswaded it is a Soil where the best Seeds-men seem to me to loose their time and trouble unless God would make her a Sarah As to Madamoiselle de Blois I must tell your Majesty by the way that they talk very much of her Marriage with Monsieur the Duke de Charters in Foreign Countries and Principally in Holland where they Criticize even upon the least Actions of Kings and Princes All the World take upon them here to talk of Politicks nay even the Women They say that your Majesty has by this Marriage and by that of the Princess de Conti unworthily and without distinction mixt the pure with the impure and that if this should continue there would not remain in France one drop of the Noble Blood of your Great Grandfathers and that we should see no other in the Royal Family but the Children of la Valliere and la Montespan But to come to my matter in Hand that which is the Question is that the Allies pretend the renunciation your Majesty made at the Pyrenaean Peace has forfeited you your Right and Pretensions which you might have had to the Succession we were speaking of But says his Majâ—sty it was not in my power to dispose of those Rights and to renounce them to
says Luxemburgh this Conquest is not important enough to imploy a King with an Army of one hundred and fifty thousand Men. What shall be done then says his Majesty shall we enter into the Country of Liege to force the Prince of that Diocess to lay down his Arms and to submit himself to my clemency No says Luxemburgh that expedition is more proper for Boufflers than your Majesty it is not glorious enough for a Prince who marches only to attack invincible places Ha! What then says his Majesty Thus Sir says Luxemburgh your Majesty must come at the Head of one hundred and fifty thousand Men divided into three Bodies the first of which shall be commanded by your Majesty having under you the Mareschall d' Humieres The the second shall be under the Command of the Marquess de Bâ—ufflers and the third shall be remitted to my Conduct The Army being thus divided the Marquess de Boufflers shall take the Van with a Body of fifteen thousand Horse and possess the passages and avenues The main Body of the Army being arriv'd your Majesty shall form the Siege of Namur and by the taking of that important place you will render your self Master of a whole County which is without contradiction the finest of the Low Countries Luxemburgh says his Majesty this enterprise is great and this place seems to me Impregnable by it Situation besides the building of a certain Fort which is called Fort William built within this little while renders it almost inaccessible Sir says Luxemburgh Art and Inteltelligence must favour force and as we say sow the Tail of the Fox to the Skin of the Lyon I know an expedient by which half of these difficulties will be overcome and thus it is as I understand it There is in the Cittadel a certain Baron de Berse which is a Major a Man fit to do any thing a high spender and much given to his pleasures I understand that this Berse calls himself Kinsman of Madam de Maintenon and that 's what we want But says his Majesty who has told you that this Berse will be a fit Man to hold correspondence Sir answer'd Luxemburgh it is sufficient that he is given to Debauchery Your Majesty must charge Madam de Maintenon with all this business and whilst we shall be preparing Bombs and Carcasses she on her side must attack the strongest part of the place by fair and good guilded Letters which will do more in one day than an Army of one hundred and fifty thousand Men in six weeks Ho! says his Majesty if matters be so my good and dear Maintenon will do that well enough to do me a kindness But what is it she must promise him in order to engage him Sir says Luxemburgh she must promise him one hundred thousand Livers for reward and after the reduction of the place a Lieutenant Generals Post I am persuaded that he will accept the proposition and that in less than eight days your Majesty will have convincing proofs thereof Ha! Well says his Majesty suppose then for example that he accepts the offers that Maintenon shall make him in your opinion what method must he take to favour the enterprize Sir says Luxemburgh it is this he must in the first place make an exact Register of all the Provisions and Ammunitions of War which shall be found in the Cittadel he must also make a very regular draught of the strength and weakness both of the Cittadel the Devils House Fort William â—e must oppose in quality of Major of thc Cittadel to all that shall be undertaken on the behalf of the Prince of Barbancon who he must also endeavour to engage if that can be done He must inform your Majesty or some of your Generals of all the designs marches and countermarches of your Enemies he must at the same time seem to do nothing but to keep himself in the Cittadel and at his ordinary Post just till you give him notice that the Mine is to be sprung Which being done Madam de Maintenon must write to him some time before to pretend to come out in a Party and suffer himself to be taken Prisoner as if it had happen'd by imprudence The Invention is not bad says his Majesty Sir says Luxemburgh being thus made Master of a Man who will inform you at bottom of the least Circumstances you ought to assure your self that from this time forth the place is surrendred If that be so says his Majesty we shall have as good a Bargain as that of Mons. But the Prince of Orange is about to repass the Sea in order to be present here early and by what I can learn here may put himself into the Field as soon as I and having a great Army and being accompany'd with the Elector of Bavaria they may well dispute this Conquest with me these two Princes are of a little hot temper so that this attacking them by so sensible an enterprise will so infâ—ame them that they will not fail to get together all their Forces to oppose me I do not doubt says Luxemburgh that whilst this Opera shall be playing in Flanders we must prepare a Tragedy in England for the Prince of Orange Your Majesty told me confidently the last time that King James had receiv'd Letters almost from all the Nobility and great ones of the Kingdom besides that there was a great number of Quakers and Faâ—aticks that had all unanimously espoused the Interest and Cause of this Prince to re-establish him upon the Throne if your Majesty would only favour and support their enterprize by Eighteen or Twenty Thousand Men which would make a Descent into the Isle of Wight It is true says his Majesty and I have my self read the Letters A Person of Quality says in express terms that his British Majesty has nothing to do but to come that he cannot believe with how much impatience and earnestness the Grandees of the Kingdom aâ—d the People wait for him that all the World generally is concern'd for his re-establishment upon the Throne That in short they begin to make proivsions of Arms and Horses which they gather together the most secretly theâ— can without forgetting good Summs of Mony which they keep ready to pay the Troops to be raised in the Kingdom which shall consist only of persons discontented with the present Government Sir says Luxemburgh if the thing be so that will be a great stroke the Prince of Orange must of all necessity repass the Sea in all hast to go to the succor of his three Kingdoms and in the mean time your Majesty may do your business without opposition and without resistance Your Majesty must give Orders without losing of time to the Count de Tourville to have the Fleet ready to Sail and that a great number of Transport Ships be got together in great diligence for the Embarquing of the Troops But says his Majesty I shall not be very well pleased that Tourville
should happen to me and that that should fall out for having fail'd of good Intelligence Sir reply'd the Mareschal de Lorge the Germans go not so fast in business your Majesty makes them gain at this time more Conquests than they will make in three Campaigns They are too great Friends to their Ease and good Cheer to forsake their Winter Quarters in the Month of May. Now I think on't de Lorge says his Majesty How did you Govern your self the last Campaign which was that of 1691. for I hear that their Army was strong Sir answer'd de Lorge this Campaign was pass'd like the rest that is to say in disputing the Ground But as the Confederate Army commanded by the late Elector of Saxony came very late into the Field which is the Original Sin of the Germans that of your Majesty had two Months sooner the Enemies Country at her discretion After having caus'd the Forrage to be consum'd on the Right and Left as I had Orders from your Majesty to keep my self upon the Defensive I repass'd the Rhine upon the Arrival of the Enemies Army The Duke of Saxony pretended to follow me but as he wanted more necessaries than I to make a Bridg so I was on the other side before he was ready and made my self first Master of the best Posts The Marquiss d Vxelles made on his side with a Flying Camp all the necessary Marches and Counter-marches as well to cover the Place as to give false Alarms to the Enemies Monsieur de Melac open'd the Campaign by thirty Villages that he Burnt with a very good Grace As he is the ablest Incendiary of Europe so he has reason to hope for a Mareschals Staff for recompence But says his Majesty How did then the Designs of the Elector of Saxony end Sir answer'd de Lorge this Elector was a good Prince made much of by the God Mars but a lover of Joy of Pleasure and of good Chear Brave otherwise as the Sword he wore But as he was not absolute in the Army and that I had the secret to divide them I knew always beforehand by the means of my Spies and my Intelligence all the Resolutions taken in their Council Besides I do not know a Nation more lyable to be Corrupted than the Brabancons at the sight of a Golden Calf they all Humble and Prostrate themselves St. Louis was a great Saint in Germany as well as in Flanders I speak as to particulars because as to the general each People have their Scaevola who had rather Dye a Thousand times than betray their Country To come back to my Subject the Division began and the Sickness accomplish'd the ruin of their Army which coming to want Provisions by the defect of the Magazines saw themselves reduc'd to the brink of falling into great extremities The Elector himself having felt in his own Person part of the Evils which began to afflict his Army went out of the Camp and caus'd himself to be carryed Sick of the Bloody Flux to Frankfort Sometime after I heard of his Death which made an end of the Expeditions of the Campaign of the Germans for the Year 1691. But answer'd the King that does not follow and does not prove that it will be the same this year The Germans may come again to themselves make just reflections and enter into their true Interests and as they have a mighty Spur which is the Prince of Orange and have on the other side from Forty to Fifty Thousand Men if they should come all of a sudden to pass the Rhine and force you I am perswaded that you would be in a great confusion having but Ten Thousand Men to oppose them So that coming to lose a Battle I should lose the Fairest Flower of my Crown and my good Fortune which has promis'd not to quit me but in the Grave would bid me eternally Farewel Besides that the Turk my Ally whom I have till now strove to raise up in his hopes by the consideration of the Progress that I have made upon the Rhine would turn his Back upon me and making his separate Peace with the Emperour our common Enemy I should find my self in a very ill condition Sir answer'd de Lorge do not forge unto your self Monsters for fighting them The Picture that your Majesty now makes of the present State of Germany is nothing less than such To be fully perswaded therein we need reflect only upon what has been done on that side since the beginning of the War till now Three Campaigns are pass'd without having gaind one Inch of Ground upon your Majesty and if the Deceased Duke of Lorrain whom we might have call'd with Justice the Turenne of Germany had not by his Vigilance and his Bravery stir'd up and animated the Electors to take the Reins in their Hands and Unite all together to raise again the Glory of the Empire to work for her preservation and to set themselves in opposition to the Violence of the Common Enemy that same would not have been compassed So that in the Campaign which was of 1689. we saw them bestir themselves and minding their business heartily they form'd the Siege of Maâ—â—ence of Bon and of Keiserswert of which they made themselves Masters But this great Zeal which had so â—â—rongly animated them cool'd by little and little and was wholly stifled by the Death of him who had first rais'd it Besâ—des if your Majesty wishes to have a more sensible proof of what your Enemies are in a condition to undertake on that side you have only to follow the course of the Rhiâ—e in beginning by the Palatinate so to Colegâ—â— and then to consider the condition which most of the Members of the Empire have been reduc'd to since the Rupture of the Truce Let us begin with the Palatinate I do not think that your Majesty has any thing to fear on that side since it is only a Melancholy remainder of what escap'd the Fury of the Soldiers and the Barbarity of the Incendiaries and by consequence worthier of pity and compassion than to be fear'd As for the Elector Palatine he is a brave Prince and who might be fear'd if he had Power in his Hands Let us go on to the Elector of Mayence neither will he put himself at the Head of the Imperial Army to Command it because on the other side it is not his business I am perswaded that he will be very sorry to have chang'd his Cross for a Marshal's Staff and he ought long ago to have remember'd the Allyance of your Majesty and to have more than he did hearken'd to the French Sirens which obstinacy hath made him become a Prince without Land an Arch-bishop without a Diocess and a Shephard without a â—lock and he would have been still in the same condition if the Deceased Dâ—ke of Lorrain and the Allies had not taken up Arms in his Favour to recover him a part of his Country as for the rest the
Râ—pentance and their Conversion But we may still avâ—w That it is a very base and odious Action fâ—r F ance and of which Louis the Great as Triumphaâ—t as Glorious and as great a Politician as he is will never waâ—h himself clean tho' he should use all the Water of Versailles or the Royal Canal Mesâ—â—â—urs de Boilâ—au and de la Fontain who are employed about writing this History ought by no means to forget marking this in great Characters under Viro Immortali and to speak of it as one of the principal Events of his Reign This will be the richest Flower of his Crown and one of his fairest Pictures capable to draw admiration from all Ages to come But I can't forbear saying here by the way That there have such things been done in the Reign of this Monarch which yet pass in the sense of his Flatterers for Actions Great and Heroick which yet to speak sincerely are nothing less than such and if we should put as we say the History of his Life and of his Reign into a Crucible there would be wrought a very surprizing change for instead of Gold and the other fine glittering Gimcracks wherewith those Juglers use to cheat the deluded Multitude there would come out nothing but so many Monsters in different Shapes and Figures It is to be fear'd that of all these Prodigies of Glory and Grandeur which at present seem to be the terror of his Subjects as well as of his Enemies and as it were essential to his good Fortune there would remain in the Furnace only a little Dross and Smoak But hold let us not go too far but turn for once the other side of the Medal and take it on the fairest side We will speak a little of his Glory since he loves it so much and it is his Favourite Passion We will own it true that he is one of the greatest Kings that the French Monarchy ever yet hath given us that he is a very great Politician very Wise in his Choice and very Vigilant in the execution of a good Design but then we must acknowledge this too that this Prince would be a very great Hero if he would but add to all these excellent Qualities that one of right knowing himself without suffering his Courtiers to offer him such Incense as if he were another Divinity and thereby commit that great oversight which Alexander the Great did formerly when he exacted that they should pay him Divine Honours Let him remember himself that this was the first Forerunner of the fall of the Empire of that Prince and of the great Designs he had conceiv'd of the Conquest of Asia I would advise him then rather to rid himself of all those Owls who are always about his Sacred Person as Birds of an unhappy Omen and who will leave him no more than the Devil formerly did our Saviour in the Wilderness even till he hath promised them to do all the mischief they desire Here is the Source and Spring of all those Evils and Calamities which at present so cruelly afflict Europe If this Prince would but once enter into his true Interests and would change his Council we might then see him the Wonder of the Universe The imaginary Immortality with which they flatter him would then be a real and solid one which would procure him not only the Love of his Subjects but also the Respect and Veneration of the whole World Here is enough for Louis the Great let us go on to King James his good Friend This Prince as all the World knows has long since bid adieu to Glory and therefore it may be said of him That he is like an old Deserter who has sold all his Equipage to go into the Service of another Prince Besides it is sufficient that he is a Member of the Society to carry in one hand the Sword and in the other the Flambeau He ought to remember That he was once fallen into the hands of his Competitor who receiv'd him by Principles of Humanity and Christianity very different from his who fought after nothing but Popery and Slavery and if he could once in his Life imitate the least of the Qualities of this great Prince whom he makes at present the Object of his Hatred and whom he looks upon as his mortal Enemy he would acquire many degrees of Glory and good Fortune which he has not yet attained to and 't is to be feared scarce ever will But God forgive him his Sins and make him a good Christian if he has not been so yet This may suffice to say of him let us pass on now to two other Gentlemen Here is a fitting place to make their Panegyrick in a few words But to spare them the Shame for having been the Instruments of so detestable an Undertaking we will be content to make them only repass in review one after another to the end they may be well known to the World Let us begin then with Monsieur de Barbesieux who presents himself the first his Sword in his Hand câ—ying Kill Kill you must not wonder to see him so hot for since the death of the Marquiss de Louvois his Father he fears nothing so much as a Reverse of Fortune and that Louis the Great should one time or another take a fancy to serve him as the Crow in the Fable that is to say to pull off his best Feathers in taking from him his most profitable places as he did formerly to the Children of Câ—lbert So Monsieur de Barbesieux to keep himself in favour has thought that he could not render a more signal piâ—ce of Service to his Majesty than that of assassinating a Prince who is at this daâ— the oâ—ly â—bstacle to all the Designs of the King his Master and the most glorious Prince in Christendom Now let us make way for Monsieur de Luxemburgh and let him pass by he wears the Sword of the late Monsieuâ— de Boutevilleâ— â—is Father that is to say a dangerous Sword and which gives Quaâ—ter to no Body methinks I hear him say what Rodrigus said to the Earl in the Play of Ciâ— That Arder which I carry in mâ— Eyes Do you know it is his Blood do you know it So it is not the first of his Wickednesses his having attempted the Life of King William and we may say of him without a Compliment That his Sins are become a habit to him and he is now too much advanced in years ever to have any hopes that he will correct himself But to give yet a jâ—ster Iâ—ea of what he can do we will add here to satisfie the Curious the Articles of Agreement which he formerly made with the Devil just as we find them in the Original which have been communicated to us to wit I. That he gave himself wholly â—o him with Promise II. That he would never speak of God and that he would nâ—ver go to Mass III. That he should be without
That he was the only one left of so many brave Captains who had Commanded in the former Wars and who having serv'd under Turenne and Conde had learnt by these great Men many fine qualities necessary for the Government and Conduct of an Army which will not be found in the Person of another General Madam de Maintenon who is a true Siren near the King and who sees her self Mistress of the Heart and Will of this Monarch by her flattering Amours was so lively perswaded by the Discourse of Monsieur de Lovois that she immediately espoused the cause and the interest of Monsieur de Luxemburgh and promis'd the Marquis de Louvois to speak to the King the very first visit she made adding withal that she did not doubt but she should obtain the pardon of this unhappy Man and draw him out of his disgrace unless that the Instances and the Intrigues of Father La Chaize and of the Arch-Bishop of Paris should prevail over hers that for him who was the chief of the Clergy of France she had the means in her Hands to appease him but that Father La Chaize would give her a great deal more trouble because this good Father was an Enemy to be fear'd and it was by no means good to have him a party against one that she would endeavour nevertheless to perswade both the one and the other which she also did and Monsieur de Luxemburgh was no less beholding for his liberty to Madam de Maintenon than to Monsieur de Louvois since they equally labour'd for his preservation The King having been thus prepossess'd and the Storm rais'd against him entirely appeas'd the Duke began to hope in Prison to have some more Liberty and to tast some comfort He was no more kept so close up and his Guards began to become more negligent in observing him He was nevertheless kept in the Bastille a long time afâ—erwards by which the Court thought to become Guiltless in the Eyes of the World to the end it might not seem altogether a Connivance and an Authorizing of the Crime by granting liberty to a Criminal whom all the Laws condemn'd to death This was done only to dispose by degrees the People and his Inquisitors to receive with less noise the news of his Release The time being then come that France had occasion for him as the Marquess de Louvois had foretold and the King having experienc'd the first Campaign which was that of 1689. that his Armies were ill govern'd and that they did not Act conformab y to his intention and as he had well enough laid the Scheam that if on the other side his Arms had not had success that year it was not for want of Forces and being seconded and supported by great Armies but rather the fault of the General who was neither undertaking enough nor cunning enough His Majesty having caus'd the Duke of Luemburgh to be call'd would in granting him grace and pardon take occasion from thence to engage him by new favours to be more mindful than ever of his Interests and make that his acknowledment should be a potent inducement to this General to excel above all what he had done well and glorious for the service of his Prince in the former Wars and particularly in that of Holland where he had signaliz'd himself by his Cruelties And as the matter in hand was to give him the Command of the Army in Flanders because it was there where he had the best succeeded if we except the Battle of St. Denis the King wisely thought that he would not fail to make himself quickly talk'd of the Spaniards and the Hollanders to feel new marks of his inhumanity which France wanted above all things to oblige yet tottering Fortune to declare her self for her Arms. It was resolv'd upon utterly to ruin the rest of Spanish Netherlands to the end that he might become Master of them with more ease thereby to force the Hollanders to hearken to new propositions of Peace which is the aim of his Majesty and the design of the Court. Experience shews us then at this day that the Marquess de Lovois was in the right For Monsieur de Luxemburgh strives on his side fully to answer all the expectations of his Benefactor and the hopes he had conceiv'd of him by the signal Services which he renders his Majesty not only in helping him to support the heavy burden of the present War but also in discovering to him a short and abridg'd way to come quickly to a glorious Peace and as he is a Man that abounds in malice and knows sufficiently what is Good and Evil yet he strives to forget that little of Humanity and Christianity which is left him goes on in a full Career with his Sword in his Hand into that Cabal which seeks how to find out Kings and then to assassinate them Here is enough for Monsieur de Luxemburgh let us finish his Chapter and bid him adieu for altogether with putting him in mind that 't is high time for him to set about his Conversion unless he will dye as he has liv'd Let us go on to Monsieur de Chanlais Fourth Actor of this Cabal he keeps himself behind the Hangings feigning as if he had hid himself He does like those that throw a Stone and hide their Arm. But methinks he would do better to acquit himself well of the Charge which he possess in the Army that would be more honourable and more glorious for him than to make here the sorrowful Figure of the Valet of a Hangman in lending his hand to the Assassinates Behold Monsieur Rabenac who walks a pace let us see what he will have to say to justifie himself for having had also a part in so black of an Action He will not fail to say that the overgreat Zeal he had for the Interests of the King his Master did engage him therein What slavery is this That a Minister should engage to commit a detestable Crime before God and Men for nothing but to please his Prince But it may be he will perform his Repentance whilst he is at Rome and ask pardon of God and of the Holy Father for so great a Sin For Messieurs Bidal and Paparal we will put them together to make the balance even because they are truly of the same Metal and the same Weight And if for curiosity one should weigh their malice I do not believe they would either of them want many Scruples to make the Scale even So it is no very strange thing that they have plaid the same part in this Tragedy Good God then have mercy on them As to Mr. Parker an English Offiâ—er we may justly say he follow'd the Councils of his Prince King James who engag'd him to the Party by fair promises of advancing his Fortunes and we may say of him that the Man was not better than the Master so let God give him Peace as the rest But hold
here is one would fain slip by what shall we say of him he seems as if he were afraid of being known He appears to me the more to be fear'd therefore let us have a care of him and let him go by quickly It seems he is not wholly well pleased for we dont any longer see that smiling Countenance which he used to shew when he was at the Hague as he went out in a Coach But I am impatient to know him therefore through Curiosity let us pull off his Mask Ho ho it is Monsieur Moreau To spare a great deal of confusion let us content our selves with making him the Complement that Seneca in his Tragedies caus'd to be made to Jason speaking to Medea purga Regnum veneficas tecum aufer herbas that he may be gone as soon as possibly and carry with him all the evil he would have done to the State and that he may come back no more As to Grandval Dumont and Leefdal the last Actors of this Tragick Scene I do not pretend to speak one word of them because I look upon them as the executioners of the Orders of the Sovereign Tribunal which made them Act and that 's sufficient for their Apology But we must not forget here the Encomiums of Madam de Maintenon who has made no scruple neither to fowl her Fair White Hands in the Plot of an Assassinate She is at least as much to be fear'd as the Goddess of Discord formerly was at the Feasts of the Marriage of Peleus and would not fail to revenge her self in a much more cruel manner than this Important and Angry Goddess did It is also to be fear'd that she would throw into the Assembly either some Carcasses or some Bombs instead of Golden Apples Let us then prevent her Jealousie and her Fury for a Woman in Wrath is dangerous Let us give her rather Incense to appease her and say in her praise that she is Virtuous Zealous and Active as may be that she strives also to render great Services to the French Monarchy and that when ever we come to a Peace she will have no less Contributed to it by her Cares than the Arms of her Monarch But let us say also at the same time that she gives a very bad example to the Ladies of the Abby of St. Cyr of which she is Superiour and that his Majesties Council of Conscience will never justifie her before God for the Crime she has committed in giving her advice to so horrible an attempt I advise her then to dispose of her self early to go make her Repentance in the Convent of Penitents by the Example of those that have gone before her Here is enough for her let us go on As for the Reverend Father La Chaize Methinks I see him appear â—olding in one hand the Sword wiâ—h which the great St. Ignatius was about to kill the Moor in going his Voyage to Spain who would maintain to him that the blâ—ssed Virgin Mary was no Virgin after the Conception Methinks also in the other Hand he carries a Book in Folio which has for Title The Art to assâ—ssinate Kings and Princes But let us not enter into a Dispute with him for fear he should be oblig'd to borrow all the Eloquence of Father Bourdalou to justifie himself To raise yet again the Glory of all these Tragical Actors we may join here to their Cabal the Ilâ—ustrious James Clement Barriere Chastel Ravaillac John Iuvrâ—gni Venero Balthuzar Gerard Peter Paine Parri and a great many more of them as we may find by the Repâ—rt of Râ—badneira the Jesuit lib. 2. ch 3. who have attempted the Lives of the Kings Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth of Great William Prince of Orange his Son Prince Maurice and of Queen Elizabeth But it is no astonishing thing that we see at this day all the Court of France and so many brave Lords who have formerly witnessed their having had a Horror for so detestablea Doctrine to be nevertheless blindly engaged in such a Cabal after having cruelly underwrit to the death of the greatest Prince of Europe After this Stroke I say may we not say That the whole Monarchy is at this day govern'd by Jesuits and that instead of one Louis the Fourteenth we see one Father la Chaize reigning and sitting upon the Throne of the French giving his Orders and making all his Tragical and Bloody Actors to perform their parts And as the Soul of Luxemburgh is an Active Soul and by consequence the most conformable to the Soul of this Reverend Father so has he been chosen to be at the Head of these Assassinates the better to command them and to add yet this Expedition to the History of his Life as the last Master-piece of it But let us come to our purpose and confess That all these Proceedings are made by France to come quickly to her end which is an advantagious Peace Let us also add for Conclâ—sion That Louis the Great often mistakes himself â—n the Execution of his vast Designs since of all the Resolutions he had taken for this Campaign Experience has shewn us that he was out in his Account about the Imaginary Re-establishment of King James about the Engagement at Sea about the Entry of the Duke of Savoy into Dauphine and about the assassinating of King William It is true he made himself Master of Namur which was one of the four great Undertakings that was the object of his Ambition But then we may also own that this Triumph has been sufficiently counterbalanc'd by the ruin of his Fleet and of the Designs of King James which are all blown into the Air by the glorious Irruption of the Duke of Savoy who has put his Country under Contribution and lastly by the Shame and Infamy which will always attend the Baseness of having attempted on the Life of so great a Prince And here are the Events which have flatter'd this Monarch into the beginning of a Campaign but which nevertheless have not answer'd the great hopes he had conceiv'd Let us see at present what he will undertake anew and if his Projects will have the same Success the next Campaign Let us wait for him boldly and make him see that our People are not so weary of the War as his Subjects and that if he will come to a glorious Peace with which he flatters himself and seeks after with eagerness he must at the least surrender up all his Conquests FINIS