they ought not to be separated in the meaning of the said States General to cause his Majesty to consent unto them and he doubts not at all that since he made but one thing of his own Interest and that of his Allies their meaning was not but that he should procure both the one and the other His Majesty had likewise reason to hope that by advantaging both them and Spain in being willing to quit so many important Places for the sake of Sweden they would have joyned with him to procure the re-establishment of that Crown and though his Majesty hath not desired them to unite their Forces to his to put that Crown in possession of the Places it hath lost yet they ought not to hinder him from making use of those Means that are in his power for the effectual executing of a Condition to which they have so solemnly consented They know well that his Majesty hath no other effectual means whereby to contribute to the re-establishment of the King of Sweden in Pomerania and the Dutchy of Bremen than by making War upon the Elector of Brandenburg and the Princes that are possessed of the Estates of that Crown and they know as well that in order to his acting against those Princes his Majesty will have occasion for those Places he now possesses as being equally useful for the passage of his Armies as for erecting Magazins there for them Lastly they cannot look upon the Peace which his Majesty is willing to make otherwise than as one and the same Treaty as well for himself as his Allies nor think it strange if he take all necessary Cautions to see all the Conditions of it performed This practise is conformable to that of all Treaties and for an example might be alledged the practise of that of the Pyrenaeans in which Treaty the Places his Majesty was to restore to the Catholick King were evacuated proportionably as he on his side executed the Conditions he had agreed to and Verceil which the Catholick King was to surrender to the Duke of Savoy was restored in the same manner for that the Interests of his Majesty and his Ally were not to be separated In like manner the States General being obliged to look upon as one and the same convention the Conditions offered by his Majesty and accepted of by them at Nimeguen they ought to do what lies in them that the same be executed all together as well with relation to his Majesty as to Sweden And his Majesty hath the greater reason to believe they would concur with him in so just a thing for that in the Project of the Treaty which their Ambassador delivered to those of France there is no mention made therein of the time of the Restitution of the Places This silence shows that they did not pretend to it till all the conditions that they had accepted should be executed and that therefore they would make the less difficulty that Maestricht remained in the hands of his Majesty in order to oblige the Enemies of Sweden to Peace for that the said States General were by their Treaty to deliver that Place unto Spain And to evidence yet further to the States General how sincerely his Majesty intended after the many paces he made to give Peace to Europe to restore unto them his first Friendship to promote the advantage they might receive from it and to desist from all future Enterprises upon the Low-Countreys they need but reflect upon his Majesties Conduct since they declared by the Letter which the Sieur de Lanoy delivered to his Majesty that they would sign the Peace before the end of June and that Spain would likewise sign it at the same time They may have observed how at their entreaty without expecting the Exchange of the Ratifications his Majesty gave order to his Army to withdraw from the Neighbourhood of Brussels How he was ready to open again the free Commerce and Navigation by the Passports he allowed his Ambassadors to Exchange How he offered to take measures with them about the manner how his Troops should live near Mons and about the means for the subsistance of that City till the exchange of the Ratifications How for the ease of the Low-Countreys and the speedy obliging the Elector of Brandenburg to consent to the Peace his Majesty hath re-inforced the Mareschal de Schomberg with a considerable Detachment of his Army in Flanders which he hath already caused to march into Germany and was upon the point of ordering others to follow them All which Conduct doth sufficiently show that his Majesty looking upon the Peace with Spain as certain his intention onely was to employ his Forces against the Elector of Brandenburg thereby to oblige him to make his Peace with Sweden But because his Majesty observes by the Reports which his Enemies spread abroad that they endeavour to render the fidelity of his words suspected and would make it believed That when by the Peace he had broken the measures of Spain and Holland for the War he wouldmake use of the Places he should retain to act with more advantage against the Low-Countreys his Majesty is very desirous as much as in him lieth to cure them of these vain apprehensions The onely aim he has in what he insists upon is to procure the satisfaction of Sweden and he is willing to believe that the States General have always the same intention and therefore he is ready to use all such means in conjunction with them as they shall think fit to be effectual to that end either by obliging themselves to restore that Crown to th Places and Countreys it has lost or by disposing its Enemies to surrender them provided they give his Majesty full security of its re-establishment His Majesty will willingly embrace such Expedients as they shall propose unto him and shall be esteemed most speedy and effectual to make the Peace General And for the treating of this business they may either discuss it with the said Ambassadors of France at Nimeguen or appoint some Minister to repair to his Majesty or send Deputies to the Frontiers of Flanders and Ghent as nearest to their Countreys to confer thereupon with those to whom his Majesty shall entrust the care of it His Majesty will rest satisfied if they can but agree upon a safe speedy and certain way of procuring the re-establishment of Sweden The said Ambassadors of France are perswaded that the said Ambassadors of the States General and all indifferent men will be equally convinced as well of the Right his Majesty hath to demand the Execution of a Condition so positively accepted as of procuring the same by such means as are in his power unless the States General shall adjust others with him to obtain it The long time his Majesty hath lost in Flanders since the 18th of May that he writ unto the said States doth also shew how sincerely he desired the Peace Considering the Condition in which his Majesty
appointed for this purpose may if they please make use of the Boats and Carriages of the Countrey for two months time and shall have free passage by Water and Land for the carrying away the said Ammunition And the Governors Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the said Town shall give them all the facilities they can for the carriage and conduct of the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers Soldiers Men of War and others that shall leave the said Place may take thence and carry away all their moveable Goods but it shall not be lawful for them to exact any thing from the inhabitants of the Town of Maestricht or it's neighbourhood nor to do any hurt to their houses or carry away any thing belonging to the said inhabitants XI All Prisoners of War on both sides shall be delivered without distinction or exception and without paying any ransom XII The raising of contributions demanded by the Governour of the Town of Maestricht of the Countreys subjected shall continue for all that shall become due till the Ratification of the present Treaty and such Arrears as shall remain shall be paid within three months after that at convenient times for which a valuable caution shall be given in some Town within his Majesties Dominion XIII The said Lords the States General have and do promise not only to maintain a perfect Neutrality without being at Liberty to assist directly or indirectly the enemies of France or it's Allies but also to garrant all such engagements as Spain shall enter into by the Treaty that is to be betwixt Their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties and especially that whereby the Catholick King shall be held to the same Neutrality XIV If through inadvertence or otherwise there happen any want of due observance of this present Treaty or other inconvenience relating thereunto on the part of his said Majesty or of the Lords the States General and their Successors this Peace and Alliance shall remain in full force notwithstanding so as no breach of friendship or of good correspondence shall ensue thereupon but such contraventions shall be speedily repaired if they shall be occasioned by any particular Subjects faults those Subjects only shall be punished XV. And for the better securing Commerce and Friendship hereafter between the Subjects of the said King and those of the States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countreys it is agreed and accorded that in case there shall be in time to come any interruption of friendship or that a breach shall happen between the Crown of France and the said Lords the States General of the said United Provinces which God forbid then six months after such breach shall always be allowed to the Subjects of both parties to retire with their effects and transport them whithersoever they think fit which also they shall be permitted to do as likewise to sell or transport their goods and moveables with all freedom so as no hindrance shall be given to them nor any proceedings be to seize their effects much less to secure their Persons XVI As for the pretences and interests that concern the Prince of Orange upon which there has been a separate Treaty and Agreement by an Act this day Signed the said writing and all the Contents of it shall be effectual and shall be confirmed fulfill'd and executed according to the Form and Tenour thereof neither more nor less than if all it's points in general and every one of them in particular were word for word inserted into this present Treaty XVII And as his Majesty and the Lords the States General acknowledge the powerful Offices that the King of Great Brittain has incessantly imploy'd by his Counsels and good Advertisements for the publick Weal and Repose so it is agreed on both sides that his said Majesty of Great Brittain and his Kingdoms be comprehended by name within this present Treaty according to the best form that may be XVIII Within this present Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall be comprehended on the part of the said Most Christian King the King of Sweden the Duke of Holstein the Bishop of Strasburg and Prince William of Furstemburg as interessed in the present War And there shall likewise be comprehended if they will themselves the Prince and Crown of Portugal the Duke and Seignorie of Venice the Duke of Savoy the Thirteen Cantons of the Ligue-Switzers and their Allies the Elector of Bavaria Duke John Frederick of Brunswick Hanover and all Kings Potentats Princes and States Towns and particular Persons to whom his Most Christian Majesty shall grant at their request to be comprehended within this Treaty on his part XIX And on the part of the Lords the States General the King of Spain and all other their Allies that within six weeks to be computed from the exchange of the Ratifications shall declare their acceptance of the Peace as also the Thirteen laudable Cantons of the Ligue-Switzers and their Allies and Confederates the Town of Embden and moreover all Kings Princes and States Towns and particular Persons to whom they shall grant at their request to be comprehended on their part XX. The said King and the said Lords the States General do consent that the King of Great Brittain as Mediator and all other Potentats and Princes that shall be willing to enter into the like engagement may give his Majesty and the said States General their promise and tie themselves to garrant the performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXI This present Treaty shall be Ratified and Approved by the said King and the said Lords the States General and each parties Letters of Ratification shall be delivered in proper due form within the Term of six weeks or sooner if it may be reckoning from the day of Signing In witness whereof We the aforesaid Ambassadors of his Majesty and of the Lords the States General by virtue of our respective powers have on their behalfs Signed these presents with our ordinary Seals and have set our Coats of Arms to the same At Nimeguen the 10th of August in the year of our Lord 1678. Le Ma' D' Estrades H. Beverning Colbert W. van Nassaw De Mesmes W. Haren WE liking well the aforesaid Treaty of Peace in all and every the points and Articles therein contained and declared have for our Selves our Heirs Successours Kingdoms Countreys Lands Lordships and Subjects accepted approved ratified and confirmed and do Accept Approve Ratifie and Confirm the same and do promise upon the Word and Faith of a King to keep and observe the whole inviolably without ever acting to the contrary directly or indirectly in any sort or kind whatsoever and thereto we oblige and morgage all and every our goods that are or shall be In witness whereof we have Signed these presents with our own hand and have made our Seal to be set thereto Given at St. Germain en Laye the 18th day of August in the year of Grace one thousand six
Licensed January 16th 1678 9. Roger L'Estrange A COLLECTION Of all The ACTS MEMORIALS LETTERS That pass'd in the Negotiation of the PEACE With the TREATIES Concluded at NIMEGVEN Translated from the French Copy Printed at Paris with Privilege The Articles of Peace between the Emperor and the French King and those between the Emperor and the King of Sweden Translated from the Latin Copy Printed at Nimeguen LONDON Printed by H. Hills and are to be sold by Walter Kettilby at the Bishop's-head in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1679. THE CONTENTS HIs Majesties Letter to the States-General of the United-Provinces pag. 6 A Letter from the States-General of the United-Provinces to the Most Christian King p. 8 The Kings Answer to the Letter of the States-General of the United-Provinces p. 9 The Memorial which the King Ordered to be delivered to the Sieur Van Beverning Ambassador Extraordinary from the States-General of the United-Provinces to his Majesty p. 10 The Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States-General c. to the Duke De Villa Hermosa of the 27th of May. p. 12 A Declaration given by the Spaniards containing their consent to the Conditions proposed by his Majesty in order to a Peace p. 14 A Declaration on the behalf of the King of Denrnark p. 16 A Declaration on the behalf of the Elector of Brandenburg upon the Subject of the Peace p. 20 A Declaration on behalf of the Emperor p. 22 A Letter from the States General of the United-Provinces to the King Written at the Hague the 22. of June 1678. p. 27 The King's Answer to the Letter of the States-General of the United-Provinces Written from St. Germain the 30th of June 1678. p. 28 An Extract of the Resolution of their Lordships the States of Holland and Friesland at their meeting on the 11th of July 1678. p. 31 A Memorial of the French Ambassadors delivered the 17. July 1678. to the Ambassadors of the States-General of the United-Provinces of the Low-Countreys p. 36 A Memorial delivered to the Plenipotentiaries of France by the Nenipotentiaries of Holland July the 26th 1678. p. 41 A Memorial delivered to the Plenipotentiaries of France by the Plenipotentiaries of Sweden July the 27th 1678. p. 59 The second Memorial of the Ambassadors of France given into the Ambassadors of the States-General 29th of July 1678. p. 62 A Memorial given in by the Ambassadors of the States-General to the Ambassadors of France the 4th of August 1678. p. 65 The third Memorial of the Ambassadors of France given in to the Ambassadors of the States General of the United-Provinces the 6th of August 1678. p. 69 A Memorial given by the Ambassadors of Sweden to the Ambassadors of France this 9th of August 1678. p. 70 The Treaty made and passed between the Commissioners deputed on behalf of the King and those deputed likewise on behulf of the Catholick King and of the States-General of the United-Provinces of the Low-Countreys about the demenour of the Troops and Garrisons of both sides in the said Low-Countreys till the Ratisitations of the Treaty of Peace are Exchanged The 19th of August 1678. p. 75 Treaties of Peace and Commerce Navigation and Marine betwixt France and the States-General of the United-Provinces of the Low-Countreys concluded at Nimeguen the 10th of August 1678. p. 80 The Ratification of the Treaty of Peace by the States-General p. 91 Here follows the Tenour of the Power of his Majesties said Ambassadors p. 93 The Tenour of the Power of the said Ambassadors of the States General of the United-Provinces p. 96 A separate Article concerning the Prince of Orange p. 98 The Ratification of the separate Article concerning the Prince of Orange by the States-General p. 101 A Treaty of Commerce Navigation and Marine betwixt France and the States-General of the United-Provinces of the Low-Countreys p. 103 A Formulary for Pass-Ports and Letters to be granted by the Admiralty of France to Ships outward bound in pursuance of an Article of this present Treaty p. 122 Another form of Letters to be granted by the Sea-Port-Towns of the United-Provinces to Ships and Barks outward bound in pursuance of the aforesaid Article p. 124 Here follows the Tenour of his Majesties said Ambassadors Power p. 125 Here follows the Tenour of the Power of the said Lords the Ambassadors Extraordinary of the Lords the States of the United-Provinces p. 127 A separate Article concerning the Imposition of Fifty Sols per Tun upon Stranger 's Ships sailing out of Ports in France p. 131 The States General 's Ratification of the Treaty of Commerce p. 134 By the King's Order p. 136 By the King's Order The Provost of Paris Or Lieutenant Civil p. 137 A Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States-General of the United-Provinces to the Duke de Villa Hermosa of the 8th of May. p. 138 Answer of the Duke de Villa Hermosa of the 9th of May to the Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States-General of the United-Provinces of the 8th of May. p. 140 A Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States-General c. to the Duke de Villa Hermosa c. of the 14th of May. p. 141 The Answer of the Duke de Villa Hermosa of the 16th of May to the Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States-General c. p. 144 A Declaration of the Emperor's Ambassadors at a Conference Extraordinary of the Allies at Nimeguen the 20th of June 1678. p. 145 A Declaration of the Ambassadors of Spain at an Extraordinary Conference of the Allies the 20th of June 1678. p. 148 A Declaration of the Ambassadors of Denmark at an Extraordinary Conference of the Allies at Nimeguen the 20th of June 1678. p. 149 A Declaration of the Ambassador of the Elector of Brandenburg on Munday the 20th of June 1678. p. 152 A Declaration of the Ambassador of Prince Charles of Lorrain at a Conference Extraordinary of the Allies at Nimeguen the 20th of June 1678. p. 155 A Letter from the Lords the States-General to Mons the Duke of Luxemburg the 22. of June 1678. p. 156 A Memorial presented to his Majesty of Great Britain at London by Mons de Borgomanero c. the 5th of June 1678. p. 157 A Remonstrance of the Ambassadors of the Elector of Brandenburg to the Ambassadors of the Lords the States-General concerning the present Affairs of the Treaties of Peace Given at Nimeguen this 31. of July 1678. p. 158 The Protestation of the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries of the King of Denmark the Elector of Brandenburg c. against the separate Peace of the States-General of the United-Provinces Made the 10th of August 1678. at Nimeguen p. 162 A second Protestation of the Ambassadors and Plempotentiaries of the King of Denmark of his Electoral Highness of Brandenburg c. Made the 18th of August 1678. at the Hague c. p. 167 A Memorial of the Ambassadors of Denmark and of the Elector of Brandenburg given in to those of the
preservation of both their Estates Still provided That whatsoever Conquests the most Christian King may have made in any part of the World within the Dominions of the King his Master and not specified in the above-said Propositions shall be restored to his Majesty Hoping moreover that the States General will so far interpose with his most Christian Majesty as that he will be pleased not to insist upon those terms which it is not in his Majesties power to perform and to grant us such terms as may be effectual for the preservation of what we have left and that the States General will likewise take care that the Borders and Fronteers may be so fixed as to prevent for the future any such Accidents and Occurrences as may prove the seeds of a new War and contribute to the greater satisfaction of the Confederates High Allies Given at Brussels the 13th day of June 1678. Signed The Duke de Villa Hermosa Earl of Luna A Declaration on the behalf of the King of Denmark THe Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of Denmark and Norway at the Treaty of Peace held at Nimeguen hath seen by the communication which the Deputies of the States General of the United Provinces have made to the Ministers of the Confederates at the Hague what his Most Christian Majesty was pleased to Order the delivery of in writing to his Excellency the Sieur de Beverning their Ambassador Extraordinary as well touching his consent to a Cessation of Arms for Six weeks as concerning his demand of a promise from the States General that in case they shall not be able during that Cessation to prevail with their Allies to accept of such Terms as his Majesty hath offered that then they will no longer Assist them directly or indirectly against him or his Allies during the continuance of the War And having thereupon considered what he conceives is fit and necessary for the Kind his Master to do upon occassion of his Most Christian Majesties said agreement and demand He thinks it his duty to represent to their Excellencies the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of the High Allies at this Congress that presupposing which he does without any doubt the constancy and resolution of the States General wherewith they have always hitherto maintain'd the Credit and Honour of their Treaties which is the true band and most proper support of a free Common-wealth That they will not do any thing that may cast the least blemish upon the Reputation which they have hitherto honourably accquired and maintain'd His Majesty assures himself that in this juncture they will not set one step to the Prejudice of those mutual engagements that are betwixt himself and them in discharge of which he has vouchsafed to hazard his own sacred Person and the choicest blood of his Subjects to the expence of what the utmost of the revenue of all his Kingdoms and Estates would amount to Every one may remember into what extremity of Affairs his Majesty was willing when requested to throw himself in the midst of those Calamities that then oppressed the United Provinces and some of the Confederates with intention to deliver them from the ruine that threatned them and to take part with them in their most dangerous Events What course he took to effect this and the benefit which has accrewed by his Engaging in it both to the common cause of all the Confederates and to their Hi. and Mi. the States General of the United Provinces in particular is sufficiently known to all the World so that it would be to no purpose to make a repetation of them here A sure and honourable Peace is what every one now aims at For the obtaining whereof if the mutual engagements which the Confederates stand in one to another continue in force we ought to Treat upon terms and not take them ready made to our hands It has been demonstrated more then once by pregnant and undeniable Arguments and Reasons that a Cessation of Arms must needs come attended with many great mischiefs and inconveniences if there are more cogent Arguments why the States General of the United Provinces in respect of their own Affairs in particular and the concerns of such whose interest is the same with theirs should accept of a Truce with France we may well hope at least that that consideration will not be thought sufficient to oblige others whose Affairs are in quit different circumstances to come into the Truce likewise And that they will so qualifie the conditions of their Truce as that what makes for the advantage of one part of the Allies may not be to the utter ruine of all the rest though the Arms of France are attended with a strange current of Success yet the faithfulness of which the Most Christian King makes profession in adhering to his Allies ought not to triumph over their constancy whom common interest has linked together in a sacred bond for their mutual preservation This vertue will make them respected even among their enemies whereas the contrary would blast all their Reputations and lead them one by one into Calamities which they would discover the cause of too late when the effects would be remediless His Most Christian Majesty has given the States General a very short time to declare themselves upon the contents of his Memorial the foresight of his Councel saw very well that the time would be too short for all the parties concern'd to be well advised and we may easily judge with what design the matter was so Ordered But if we must take the things as they are and make the best we can of them we may certainly assure our selves that their Hi. and Mi. will not shorten the time but will allow their Friends as large a Term as their Enemies have allowed them and that they will not precipitate themselves into such resolutions as the events that half a day may produce may likely make them repent of their forwardness in taking up But above all things his Majesty aforementioned and his said Ambassador Extraordinary in his name and on his behalf doth most earnestly entreat their Excellencies the Ambassadors Extraordinary of their Highnesses that they will interpose to the utmost of their power and make use of the credit that they have with the States General their Masters to prevent their putting themselves out of all possibility of doing any thing for those that have done all for them which power our Enemies reserved to themselves for the sakes of such as have not contributed at all or but very inconsiderably to the putting them into the condition in which now they are in and that at least they will continue a readiness of mind to do what may be in their power though they should happen to be destitute of such means as might enable them to do what they ought Their Hi. and Mi. may be well assured that his Majesty will never reject their Councel and Advice in any
when his Provinces were attack'd by the Arms of the King of France and they assure themselves that your Excellence is perswaded of it since your Excellence sees how much their Hi. and Mi. do to this day contribute to the preservation of his Majestie 's Country And notwithstanding this War has been continued many years and at an infinite expence yet the effects have been so unfortunate that the King of France being puff'd up with his Victories and Conquests will not come out of it but upon the Conditions that have been delivered at Nimeguen to the Mediators which your Excellence knows what they are Which Conditions considered in themselves are indeed too hard and of such a nature as they ought to be rejected which also their Hi. and Mi. would do in regard of their Allies and chiefly in regard of his Catholick Majesty as concerning the Low-Countries in the preservation whereof they find themselves so deeply interessed But when their Hi. and Mi. reflect upon the Power of the King of France which hitherto and during this War has been such that he has not only made Head against the Armies of his Catholick Majesty and those of the United Provinces and their Allies but has made great Conquests in divers Parts they conceive a just apprehension that these Conditions how hard soever ought yet to be prefer'd considering the present state of Affairs to a continuance of the War which in all probability would prove very fatal Which makes our Masters the States General of the Low-Countries incline to look upon these Conditions as receivable if they should have the happiness to find their Allies and especially his Catholick Majesty in the same Sentiments And should very much wish That your Excellence on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty would concur with them to make them as agreeable as may be to the other Allies And in the mean time give Order to labour for a prolongation of the Term which the King of France has given by his Proposition at Nimeguen We expect your Excellencie's Answer as soon as may be upon the premisses as being the only Subject of this Commission Brussels the 8th of May 1678 Jacob Boreel De Weede Answer of the Duke de Villa Hermosa of the 9th of May to the Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States General of the United Provinces of the 8th of May. HIS Excellence having considered this Memorial and that the loss of Flanders by the hardness of the Conditions of France will be greater and more dishonourable than by the ill success of Arms must hope that the States General will not further it since his Majesty wholly for its preservation has exposed himself to the manifest hazards of War which he has suffered so much by Also the punctual and religious observance of such strict Treaties with his said Majesty to which the publick Faith obligeth them will not permit him to make a doubt of it especially since his Majesty hath and always will havè a firm desire and intention to contribute as much as possibly he can to their preservation and that in regard of the Expedient propos'd of making new Alliances for the making sure the said impracticable Conditions of France it is to be considered that the time in which precisely they must be concluded can be no other than that of the Campagne from which by means of our so late Alliance with his Majesty of Great Britain we ought to expect by a more prosperous success some redress of Affairs and it would be a breach of Faith to abandon his Forces in this Conjuncture by admitting Conditions so forlorn and at the same time failing in our Fidelity to his Imperial Majesty and the other High Allies especially since the Emperour is resolv'd to run to the defence of Flanders rather than to the reparation of his own losses and the other High Allies are upon a Treaty of joyning and imploying all their Forces against France His Excellence being able likewise to assure them That the King his Master since the reduction of Sicily is resolv'd to imploy all his Power as his Excellence likewise all his Cares for the defence and re-establishing of this Country to which his Excellence hopes the States General will concur on their part in an Occurrence which as it is urgent so it concerns the greatest good of the common Cause as being the only mean to obtain a just and lasting Peace Given at Brussels the 9th of May 1678. A Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States General c. to the Duke de Villa Hermosa c. of the 14th of May. THE Lords the States General of the United Provinces having seen and perused your Excellencie's Answer to the Memorial that we their under-written Deputies Extraordinary presented the 8th of this Moneth could have wished That your Excellence had not only considered the Conditions offered by the King of France as they are in themselves but had also made reflexion upon the present state of Affairs and considered that the King of France being become Master of all the Frontier Towns of his Catholick Majestie 's Netherlands was entred into the heart of them and had made himself Master even of the Town of Gand being very strong in the Field and at the Head of a very formidable Army ready for any enterprize and in the greatest appearance in the world of succeeding and conquering where he will Whereas the Troops of the Allies not being yet come together much less in a condition to make Head against him and oppose his designs Hence it is that their Hi. and Mi. apprehend with great reason that what remains to the King of Spain in the Low-Countries will infallibly be lost if it be not saved by accepting the Conditions of Peace that are offered and it would be a thing very sensible to their Hi. and Mi. if what his Catholick Majesty has yet left in the Low-Countries should be so lost after such infinite expences and so much blood spilt for their preservation Your Excellence knows but too well by what has lately happened what Account one has to make of the Troops of the Confederates upon occasion The Assistance which is expected from his Majesty of Great Britain is very considerable and will be of great support to our Party but it deserves your Excellencie's consideration that those Troops are but newly raised and that it will require some time to enure them to the War that as yet there are but few of them in these Parts and we are uncertain when the rest will come whereas on the other side every moment is precious and great misfortunes may happen in a short space And moreover the States as they have made it to be declared to your Excellence are not in a condition to carry on the War in such manner and with so much vigor as they have done hitherto seeing their Treasures are exhausted and their People not able to contribute so much any longer As
Guaranty hereafter inserted V. And forasmuch as it highly imports the Publick Tranquility That the War which yet continues between his Majesty and the Kingdom of Sweden and their Allies and the King of Denmark the Elector of Brandenburg the Bishop of Munster and the Dukes of Brunswick-Lunenbourg namely the Bishop of Osnabrug and the Dukes of Zell and Wolfembutel be with all possible speed composed His Imperial Majesty and the Empire aswell by themselves as joyntly with others shall most effectually interpose their Offices to procure a Peace saving always to the Emperour and the Empire the King and Kingdom of Sweden the reciprocal Obligation of not assisting each others Enemys stipulated in the preceding Article And so long as the Peace shall not be made between the aforesaid Partys no hinderance or impediment shall be given to his Majesty of Sweden in the prosecuting the War against his said Enemies but the Peace being made the same shall be deemed to be in such manner comprehended in this Treaty as if it were therein specifically inserted VI. A free Liberty of Trade and Commerce by Sea and Land shall be restored on both sides and the same Freedom Immunity Rights Priviledges and Advantages shall be and remain to the Subjects of his Imperial Majesty and the Empire more particularly to the Hanse Towns in the Kingdom Countrys Dominions and Ports of Sweden and in like manner to the Subjects of Sweden within the Empire that both Parties mutually enjoyed before the War VII His Imperial Majesty sutable to his Obligation shall afford his Protection aswell to the Lord Christian-Albert Duke of Sleswick and Holstein Gottorp as to the other States of the Empire pursuant to the Laws and Constitutions of it to the end his Dominions situate therein and the Rights belonging unto him may be preserved entire and shall interpose his Offices that the other Disputes depending between the King of Denmark and the said Duke be also composed VIII The Emperor and the King of Sweden do Consent That the King of Great Britain as Mediator as also all Kings Princes and States may give their Guaranties to his said Imperial Majesty and his Majesty of Sweden for the due Execution and Performance of all and every thing and things contained in this present Treaty IX And whereas his Imperial Majesty and his Royal Majesty of Sweden retain a Grateful Sense of the Offices and continual Endeavours the Most Serene King of Great Britain hath used to restore a General Peace and the Publick Tranquillity it is mutually agreed That he together with his Kingdoms be included in this present Treaty in the best and most effectual manner that may be X. In this Peace those also shall be comprehended who shall be named by either Party with common Consent before the Exchange of the Ratifications or within 6. months after Those things also which have been agreed between his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and the Most Christian King shall be deemed to be in the same manner comprehended in this Treaty as if they were word for word inserted therein XI The abovementioned Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of the Emperor and the Empire on the one part and the King of Sweden on the other do promise that the Peace thus concluded shall be ratified in the manner mutually hereby agreed on and that they will take effectual care that Authentick Ratifications be within the space of 8 weeks to be computed from the day of the Signing thereof or sooner if possible reciprocally and in due form exchanged here XII And whereas his Imperial Majesty hath been humbly desired by the Electors Princes and States of the Empire in pursuance of a Resolution of the 31. May 1677. delivered under the Seal of the Chancery of Mentz to the Ambassadors of Sweden to take care by his Imperial Ambassadors in this Congress of the Interests of the said Electors Princes and States of the Empire as well the Imperial as the Swedish Ambassadors have in testimony and for the greater validity of all and every thing and things contained in this present Treaty of Peace Signed and Sealed the same with their Names and Seals and promised interchangeably to deliver sufficient Ratifications thereof within the space of time abovementioned and the former therein agreed on nor shall any Protestation or Contradiction from the Directory of the Empire against the Subscription of this Treaty be received or esteemed valid Done at Nimeguen the 5th day of February A. D. 1679. Ls John Bishop and Prince of Gurk Ls Francis Udalrick Count Khinsky Ls T. A. Henr. Stratman Ls Benedict Oxenstiern Ls John Paulin Olivencrans FINIS
Ordered to be delivered to the Sieur Van Beverning Ambassador Extraordinary from the States General of the United Provinces to his Majesty THe King hath with pleasure seen as by the Letter of the Heeren the States General so by the Assurances which they have given him by the Heer Van Beverning their Extraordinary Ambassador that their Intentions to a General Peace correspond with the desire his Majesty hath had to procure the same and that they are ready to accept the Conditions which his Majesty hath offered them by his Ambassadors and Plenipotentaries at Nimeguen But at the same time that the Heer Van Beverning hath thus made known to him the Sentiments of the said States General he hath in their Name prayed his Majesty would grant a Cessation of Arms for six Weeks and hath represented to him that they had need of that time to communicate with their Allies and to obtain their consent for the concluding of so great a work The condition in which his Majesties Arms are at present and the favourable opportunity that would be lost in deferring their acting would not permit him to consent to this Proposal if the desire to give Peace to Europe did not much more prevail in him than that of enlarging his Frontiers by new Conquests It is in this consideration to contribute to the Publick Repose that he will agree at the desire of the said States General to a Cessation of Arms for six weeks to begin the first day of the next month such an one as was stipulated between France and Spain in the year 1668. But forasmuch as it would not be just if the Enemies of His Majesty should let that time pass fruitlesly and that instead of its serving to advance the Peace they should make advanttge thereof to avoid the effect of his Majesties Arms that he should have lost the advantageous conjuncture which is at present in his hand His Majesty desires of the said States General that they do promise him in case during the time of the said Cessation of Arms they cannot bring their Allies to accept the conditions which he hath offered They will not assist them directly or indirectly against him or against his Allies during the whole course of the War In exchange his Majesty will in such case renew to them the same Engagements which he hath taken with them by his Letter of the 18 of the last Month as well for what concerns the same Conditions which he will be always ready to agree to Spain as for the security of the Places in the Netherlands His Majesty hath thought fit to make known to the said States General by this Memorial which he hath appointed to be delivered to the Heer Van Beverning the sincerity of his intentions for a Peace And to give them a yet far greater testimony thereof he doth command the Duke of Luxemburg General of his Army to go and expect their Answer during this Month in the Neighbourhood af Brussels with orders not to Attaque any Place during that time Given in the Camp at Wetteren the first day of June 1678. Signed LOUIS And underneath Arnauld The Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States General c. to the Duke De Villa Hermosa of the 27th of May. THe Lords the States General of the United Provinces are extremely satisfi'd to understand by the Answer your Excellency was pleased to return to the Memorial presented on their behalf by us their under-written Deputies Extraordinary the 14th instant That your Excellency did agree and consented to treat of a Truce or Cessation of Arms for the space of six weeks and could have wished That you had as positively declared your self touching the second Point contained in the said Memorial namely the Conditions of Peace proposed some time ago by the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries of the King of France at Nimeguen But because in the said Answer no mention is made of so considerable a Point their Hi. and Mi. have again commanded us to make instance and represent unto your Excellency of how great moment it is as well with relation to the common Cause as more especially for the preservation of what remains to his Catholick Majesty in the Low Countreys that your Excellency declare in the name of the King of Spain your acceptance of the said Conditions of Peace such as they are considering the present state of affairs and the risque and great danger there may be in continuing the War against so powerful an Enemy as the King of France is who has already brought his Army together and is himself at the head of it in the Field and that in the heart of the Low Countreys For these and other reasons represented in the preceding Memorials we earnestly entreat your Excellency to take such a resolution as may be agreeable to the desires of our Lords and Masters and that without loss of time since a few days considering the condition wherein things are at present may produce fatal Revolutions and such as would extremely embarass as well your Excellency as the Allies and be likewise very prejudicial to the Peace of all Europe Done at Bruxels the 27th of May 1678. Jacob Boreal De Weede A Declaration given by the Spaniards containing their consent to the Conditions proposed by his Majesty in order to a Peace HIs Excellency having seen and considered this Memorial and at the same time made particular reflection upon the former ones of the 8th and the 14th of May though the States General of the United Provinces know very well that the terms upon which the King of France has offered to make Peace with Spain are very hard yet considering the misfortune and extremities that the Low-Countreys are exposed to and that their Hi. and Mi. though otherwise so much concerned also in the Interest of their preservation do yet find themselves at present deprived of all means to effect it their People not being in condition to carry on the War and considering that in this Juncture of Affairs nothing can be of so great importance as the preservation of that miserable Remainder of Flanders by strict Alliances which they persuade us to accept of and value And whereas in the said Memorial the States General do represent their instances of and desire to admit of the said Conditions in order to the conclusion of a Peace his Excellency being willing to second them as he hath done from the very first time that his Master entred into the War which he undertook first for the preservation of the Confederates Estates of the Low-Countreys and has since continued to assert the common Interest is now likewise willing to comply with the desire of the States General and to admit of a Peace upon such terms as the King of France hath propos'd to the end that so convincing a proof of his Excellencies servent desire to unite him with the said States General may contribute to strengthen their mutual Alliances and conduce to the
confiding in the King's Word did their duty for the inducing his Catholick Majesty to accept of those conditions and laboured on the otherside to the utmost of their power to perswade the rest of the Confederates also with which they acquainted his Majesty by Monsieur de Beverning their Ambassador declaring that for their own parts they accepted of his Majesties Terms and desiring his Majesty that he would be pleased to agree to a Truce for Six weeks that they might labour with their Allies and get them to consent to a general Peace and that his Majesty was pleased to agree to such a Truce for Six months to begin from the first of July and as himself wrote from his Camp at Wetter the first of June upon the same foot that the Truce in 1668 was agreed betwixt France and Spain upon condition that the States would engage themselves in case they should not be able in Six weeks time to perswade their Allies to admit of the conditions then not to assist their said Allies directly nor indirectly against his Majesty or his Allies during the War and that in requital thereof his Majesty would renew the engagements which he made in his Letter of the 18th of May both concerning the conditions to be granted to his Catholick Majesty and the securing of the places in the Low Countreys leaving the Duke of Luxemburg near Brussels to stay to the end of June for an answer with Order not to attack any Place during that time and without making any alteration in the said conditions or any mention either of the Allies of this State or of giving satisfaction to the King of Sweden that the States acting candidly and being ready on their part to perfect that Treaty and having induced his Catholick Majesty to accept it also as they advised his Most Christian Majesty by their Letter of the 22th of June assuring him that they had given Order to their Ambassador to conclude a Peace before the end of that month with such of the Confederates as would joyn with them in it without so much as staying for the Truee which was to begin on the first of July and that his Majesty by his Letter of the 30th of June declared himself to be extreamly well satisfied therewith and was so far from obliging the States or his Catholick Majesty to make any satisfaction to the King of Sweden that he expressed in the same Letter that he observ'd in the proceedings of the States a good inclination to the general Peace of Europe and he perswaded himself it would not be long delay'd by such of the Allies as hitherto had not been able to help forward so great a good that his Majesty doubted not but the Peace would be concluded by his Ambassadors and should take delight in making this State sensible of its effects and in forbearing all acts of hosility in the Low Countreys and obstructions to Commerce by Sea though it be customary to let things continue in the same condition till the Peace be Ratified by exchange of Ratifications and publishing of Treaties without suspending the effects of the Peace upon any Treaty with the Confederates or any satisfaction to be made to the King of Sweden That the States may say with good reason that his Most Christian Majesty is the cause why the Peace is not concluded and not they since his Majesty advances new Conditions which never were proposed to themselves nor to the King of Spain it never having been pretended that the Peace or its effects should depend upon the King of Sweden's receiving satisfaction but onely upon the States standing Neuter in relation to his Majesty and his Allies against those that should reject the Conditions of the Project So that it is evident that the most Christian King hath promised to restore those Places to the King of Spain and to this State and that himself hath directed to have the Treaty perfected by Exchanging the Ratifications and publishing it That the States pretend to no new matter concerning the said Evacuation That the things of no small concern to the Catholick King and to this State who cannot arrive at peace and quiet in getting rid of the War if at the same time they continue depriv'd of the effects of Peace much less if they must be sent back and made to depend upon the chances of War betwixt other Parties which who knows when it will end in a satisfaction that is not limited to any thing in particular Especially considering that the King of Sweden contimes an Enemy to this State without giving order to put an end to the differences that are and that daily grow betwixt him and it and doth perpetually molest the Inhabitants of this State contrary to the Treaty of Commerce made with him That order be given to the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries of this State to enquire of the Ambassadors of the most Christian King in a friendly and loving manner without the least sharpness whether the King their Master be resolved to persist in his demand and to advise the Estates as soon as may be that they may take proper measures and conser with the Ministers of the Confederates to know whether they can either come to a resolution to accept the Peace upon the terms offered or find means if there shall be occasion to make a more vigorous opposition to their Enemies than heretofore A Memorial of the French Ambassadors delivered the 17. July 1678. to the Ambassadors of the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countreys THe Ambassadors of France being troubled to see that the difficulties arisen concerning the time for the Evacuation of the places which the King their Master is willing to restore give occasion to those that are averse to the Peace to render the sincerity of his Majesties intentions suspected have thought it their duty to manifest the same to the Ambassadors of the States General by this Memorial And to justifie the Reasons his Majesty hath not to quit those Places until Sweden is entirely satisfied it will be sufficient to go no higher than the beginning of the Negotiation by which the Peace is at present so far advanced And we may say that the same are grounded on the Conditions proposed in his Majesties name by the said Ambassadors of France since they have been all of them accepted first by Holland and not long after by Spain We may farther say that when the States General in consequence of the Letters his Majesty writ unto them the 18th of May last and of the Memorial delivered the first of June to Monsieur de Beverning as also of the message of the Sieur de Lanoy to his Majesty and the Letter he presented unto him on the part of the States declared they were ready to sign the Treaty on those Conditions they obliged themselves to the execution of that which relates to Sweden it being the first of all of them And as they were all joyned together so
force and vertue as if it were inserted into the body of the aforesaid general Treaty this day concluded Nimeguen the 10th day of August 1678. Le Mal. d' Estrades H. Beverningh Colbert W. Van Nassaw De Mesmes W. Haren We liking well the said separate Article in all and every the Points thereof have by these presents signed with our own Hand allowed approved and ratified and do allow approve and ratifie the same promising upon the Faith and Word of a King to fulfil observe and cause to be observed the same sincerely and faithfully without ever suffering any thing to the contrary directly or indirectly for any cause or upon any occasion whatsoever In witness whereof we have signed these presents with our own Hand and have caused our Seal to be put to the same Given at St. Germain en Laye the 18th day of August in the year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the six and thirtieth Signed Lewis and underneath By the King Arnauld The States General 's Ratification of the Treaty of Commerce THE States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries To all that shall see these presents greeting Since on the 10th day of this Moneth of August in the year 1678. there has been made and concluded at Nimeguen a Treaty of Commerce Navigation and Marine by the Sieur Comte d' Estrades Marshal of France and Knight of the Orders of the Most Christian King the Sieur Golbert Marquess of Croissy Councellor in Ordinary in his Councel of State and the Sieur de Mesmes Comte d' Avaux Councellor also in his Councels Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of his Most Christian Majesty at the Assembly at Nimeguen in the Name and on the behalf of his said Majesty and by the Heer Hierosme Van Beverningh Baron of Teylingham Curator of the University at Leyden late Councellor and Treasurer-General of the United Provinces the Heer Wilhem Van Nassaw Heer Van Odyke Cortgene and first Noble and representing the Order of the Nobility in the States and Councel of Zeland and the Heer Wilhem Van Haren Grietman Van Blidt deputed to our Assembly on behalf of the States of Holland Zeland and Friesland our Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries at the said Assembly at Nimeguen in our Name and on our behalf by vertue of their respective plenary Powers of which Treaty and Powers the tenor is as followeth viz. The Treaty of Peace which has been concluded c. page AND inasmuch as the Contents of the said Treaty import That the Ratifications of the same shall be delivered in due form and exchang'd on both sides within the space of six Weeks reckoning from the day of Signing We willing to give proofs of our sincerity and to discharge our selves of the Promise which our said Ambassadors have made for us have agreed approved and ratified the said Treaty and every Article thereof above-written and do by these presents agree approve and ratifie the same Promising faithfully and sincerely to keep maintain and inviolably to observe the same in all points according to the form and tenor thereof without ever acting any thing to the contrary directly or indirectly in any sort or manner whatsoever In token whereof we have caused these presents to be signed by the President of our Assembly and under-written by our Principal Register and our Great Seal to be set thereto Given at the Hague the 19th day of September 1678. Signed D. Van Wyngaerd By Order of the said Lords the States General H. Fagel By the King's Order WE do all to know That a good firm stable and solid Peace together with an entire and sincere Friendship and Reconciliation hath been made and accorded between the Most High Most Excellent and Most Mighty Prince Lewis by the Grace of God King of France and of Navarr our Sovereign Lord and the Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries their Vassals Subjects and Servants in all their Kingdoms Countries Lands and Seignories under their obedience That the said Peace is general betwixt them and their said Vassals and Subjects and that by means thereof it is permitted to them to go come return and sojourn in all places of the said Kingdoms Estates and Countries to negotiate and trade hold correspondence and have communication with one another and that with all liberty freedom and safety both by Land and Sea and in Rivers and other Waters and in all respects as it has been and ought to be in times of good sincere and loving Peace such as the Divine Goodness has been pleased to bestow upon our said Lord the King and the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces their Peoples and Subjects And to continue them therein all Persons of what quality or condition soever are most expresly prohibited to take in hand attempt or innovate any thing to the contrary or in prejudice thereof on pain of being severely punished as breakers of the Peace and disturbers of the publick Quiet Given at Fountain-bleau the 26th day of September 1678. Signed Lewis and underneath was Signed Arnauld By the King ' s Order The Provost of Paris Or Lievtenant Civil BY vertue of his Majestie 's Order directed to us given at Fountain-bleau the 28th of this Moneth Signed Lewis and underneath Colbert We require the King's Proctor being heard to it That his Majestie 's Ordinance that has this day been published be posted up at all cross ways and usual places in the City of Paris and that the Substitutes of the King's Proctor take care to have it read and publish'd in all the King's Courts of Justice from which there lye Appeals to us sitting the Courts all which shall certifie the same to us within fifteen days And we forbid his Majestie 's Subjects to oppose the same on pain of being proceeded against as breakers of the Peace and disturbers of the publick Quiet Done and given by Messire John le Camus Counsellor of the King in his Councels Ordinary Master of Requests of the Houshold Lievtenant Civil of the City Provostship and County of Paris the 29th of September 1678 De Riantz Le Camus Vaillant Principal Register A Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States General of the United Provinces to the Duke de Villa Hermosa of the 8th of May. THE Lords the States General of the United Provinces having Affairs of great importance to impart to your Excellence have Commissionated us under-written their Deputies Extraordinary and to this end their Hi. and Mi. have provided us of this Letter of Credit to present to your Excellence The Assistances which his Catholique Majesty gave to the State of the United Provinces in the beginning of this War were so useful and advantagious to this Commonwealth that their Hi. and Mi. shall ever be mindful of it And to testifie as soon as was possible their resentment thereof to his Catholick Majesty they failed not to come with all their Forces to his Majestie 's succour
the Lords the States General will always acknowledge to have received in the beginning of this War very important and useful Succours from his Catholick Majesty so they hope your Excellence will do them the justice to confess that they have not been wanting in the sequel of it to testifie their acknowledgment by using their endeavours and being at extraordinary charges to assist this Country and at least that it is not to be imputed to them that the King of France has made so great a progress and that he will not make Peace but upon such disadvantagious Conditions as whereby the Country will indeed be much weakned and hardly able to maintain necessary Troops for its defence but on the other hand the Places will not be so dis-joyn'd nor the Country so divided as it was before the War which will make it easier to be kept and preserved These Defects may likewise be supplyed by Alliances and a little time may do much toward a redress of Affairs and making the King's Subjects and particularly those of the United Provinces capable of assisting one another who at present are in so lamentable a condition and so utterly unable that they cannot be obliged to a continuance of the extraordinary charges without great hazard and without exposing them to the utmost extremity and finding our selves reduced to a necessity either of accommodating with the Enemy whether we will or no or of lying down under the burden To which they do not think your Excellence will be of opinion That they stand obliged by those Treaties that had no other end than the good of the Allies and the safety of their People The said Lords the States General have also thought fit to have it represented to your Excellence That being informed That the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries of the King of France would be authorized to conclude upon a Truce to the very last Day of December next they have Ordered their Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen to discourse it with them and see whether they would make one for six Weeks or three Months at most Hoping that if it can be obtain'd your Excellence will not be displeased with it but agree to it for such Reasons as have been alledged to your Excellence by word of mouth and as your Excellence may consider with your self Delivered this 14th of May 1678. Jacob Boreel De Weede The Answer of the Duke de Villa Hermosa of the 16th of May to the Memorial of the Deputies Extraordinary of the States General c. HIS Excellence having seen the Memorial of the Heeren Boreel and de Weede Deputies Extraordinary of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the 14th of this Month and desiring on his part to contribute to the greater satisfaction of their Hi. and Mi. will agree to a suspension of Arms for six Weeks upon Conditions that shall be judged such as whereby the suspension of Arms may not produce worse effects than a continuation of Hostility and of the War well understood that regard ought to be had to the King of Great Britain's Answer to the Representation made to his Majesty by their Hi. and Mi. according to that made to his Excellence by the said Deputies on the 8th of this Month and also that the Ministers of his Imperial Majesty and those of the High Allies be acquainted with it And to the end that this resolution may be the more easie his Excellence is of opinion that the matter may be adjusted at Nimeguen or the Hague whereupon the Lords the States General will have reason to acknowledge what consideration his Majesty and his Excellence make of Representations from their Hi. and Mi. and in the mean time it is not doubted but they will use their utmost endeavours to run to the defence of the Low-Countreys with all their Forces that in this interval of time they may not suffer greater shocks Given at Brussels the 16th of May 1678. A Declaration of the Emperour's Ambassadors at a Conference Extraordinary of the Allies at Nimeguen the 20th of June 1678. WE have heard the Proposition that your Excellencies made to us two days since containing in substance That the Lords the States General could not carry on the War any longer and found themselves obliged to make Peace for such Reasons as were then more particularly deduced Your Excellencies would then have known our Sentiments thereupon and you desire the same thing again at this present Not to fail therein we hope above all things that your Excellencies and all the World will do his Imperial Majesty the justice to believe that he has always behav'd himself like a good and faithful Ally towards all both in Peace and War We will not enlarge upon that His Army has always been seen in the Field in great numbers in good order it is evident that he has imploy'd it for the good of the common Cause and that he has made it act in such places as were thought most surable 't were needless to particularize the Campagnes where all was acted for the publick good Moreover his Imperial Majesty has assisted his Allies with all the Forces he could if not with all he would The Rebellion that has been raised against him in Hungary is also publickly known and how both his own Subjects and the Turk and the Tartar have been stirred up against him and yet so evident and so near a danger has not been able to divert or decrease his Forces for the common Interests Besides that it is known he hath sent his Army into the Low-Countries to support the acting there whereby the Enemy had an opportunity to take Friburg from him which makes so much difficulty now As his Majesty has been intent upon the Affairs of the War so he has been no less upon those of Peace And as your Excellencies can bear us witness we his Ambassadors have neglected nothing that might promote it and because we believed that the most effectual mean to obtain a reasonable Peace was to act vigorously we have done all we could as hath been already said For the present it cannot be doubted but the Emperour will understand with sorrow That your Excellencies think Affairs reduced to such extremities that there is a necessity of making a Peace to prevent greater Your Excellencies have told us your Sentiments thereupon and the Spaniards theirs As for our own we find in the first place That this manner of acting from France to prescribe Conditions of Peace and admit no Treaties upon them is against the style and the custom always practis'd among Soveraign Powers and we are far from being able to discover by that any such desire of Peace as the French make so great ostentation of For the Peace it self his Imperial Majesty desires it as much as any and desires it may be general that the publick repose may be obtain'd which is his only aim and the common safety also which is the chief thing that ought to
point according to the form and purport thereof without ever acting to the contrary directly or indirectly upon any pretence whatsoever In token whereof we have caused these Presents to be Signed by the President of our Assembly and underwritten by our Principal Register and our Seal to be set thereto The Treaty of Peace betwixt France and Spain Concluded at Nimeguen the 17th day of September 1678. IN the Name of God the Creator and of the most Holy Trinity To all present and to come be it known That whereas during the course of the War that arose some years since betwixt the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Lewis the 14th by the grace of God Most Christian King of France and Navar and his Allies on the one part and the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Charles the second by the grace of God Catholick King of Spain and his Allies on the other part Their Majesties have desired nothing more vehemently then to see it end in a good Peace and whereas the same desire to put a stop as far as in them lay to the ruine of so many Provinces the tears of so much People and the shedding of so much Christian blood hath induced them to comply with the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince The King of Great Britain to send their Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to the Town of Nimeguen so it is come to pass through an effect of the Divine goodness that hath been pleased to make use of the intire confidence that their Majesties have always reposed in the mediation of the said King of Great Britain that at length the said Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to wit on the behalf of his Most Christian Majesty the Sieur Count D' Estrades Marshal of France and Knight of his Majesties Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquiss of Croissy Counsellor in ordinary in his Councel of State and the Sieur De Mesmes Knight Count D' Avaux Councellor also in his Councels and on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty the Sieur Dom Pablo Spinola Doria Marquiss de les Balbases Duke of Sesto Lord of Guinossa Casalnosetta and Ponteucrone Counfellor in his Councel of State and Chief Protonotary in his Councel of Italy Dom Gaspard de Tebes and Cordova Tello and Guzman Count de Venazuza Marquiss de la Fuente Lord of Lerena of the House of Arrucas of the Isles of Gundalupa and Matalione perpetual Master de la Victoire perpetual Major and Recorder of the Town of Sevil Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Imperial Majesty one of his chief Councel of War and General of his Artillery Dom Pedro Ronquillo Knight of the Order of Alcantara Counfellor in his Councels of Castile and of the Indies and Dom John Baptisse Christin Knight Counsellor in the high Councel of Flanders near to his said Catholick Majesty's Person and one of his Councel of State and of his Privy Councel in the Low-Countreys by vertue of the Letters and Commissions which they have communicated to one another and the Copies whereof are word for word inserted at the end of this Treaty have come to an agreement and conclusion upon mutual Conditions of Peace and Friendship in manner following viz. I. It is Covenanted and agreed that from henceforth there shall be a good firm and lasting Peace Confederation and perpetual Alliance and Friendship between the Most Christian and Catholick Kings their Children born and to be born their Heirs Successors and Inheriters their Kingdoms Estates Countreys and Subjects so that they shall love one another as good brethren procuring with all their might one another's good honour and reputation and faithfully preventing as far as they shall be able one anothers dammage II. In pursuance of this good Re-union the Cessation of all manner of Hostilities agreed on and Signed the 19th day of August of this present year shall continue according to the Tenour thereof betwixt the said Kings their Subjects and Vassals as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land and generally in all places where the War is carried on by their Majesties Arms as well between their Troops and Armies as between the Garrisons of their several places and if any Contravention shall have happened to be committed contrary to the said Gessation by the taking of any place or places whether by attack or surprise or by private intelligence nay though Prisoners shall have been taken or other Acts of Hostility committed through some accident that could not be foreseen or by such Persons as could not foresee it contrary to the said Cessation of Hostilities such Contravention shall faithfully be repair'd on both sides without delay or difficulty restoring to the full whatever shall have been taken and delivering the Prisoners without ransom or paying of charges in such manner that all things be restored in such manner to the same condition they were in on the said 19th day of August when the said Cessation was agreed and Signed the Tenour whereof shall be observed till the day of the exchange of the Ratifications of this present Treaty III. All causes of enmity or misunderstanding shall remain for ever extinct and abolished and whatever hath happened or been done by reason of the present War or during the same shall be put into perpetual oblivion so as for the future no inquiry shall be made into the same on either side directly or indirectly by Law or otherwise under any pretence whatsoever nor may their Majesties or their Subjects Servants and Adherents on either side express any manner of resentment of whatever offences may have been committed against them or dammages received by them during the present War IV. In contemplation of the Peace the Most Christian King immediately after the exchange of the Ratifications of this present Treaty shall put into the Catholick King 's power the Place and Fortress of Charleroy the Town of Binche the Town and Fortress of Aeth Oudenard and Coartray with their Provostships and Castellanies Appurtenances and Dependancies in the same manner as his Catholick Majesty possess'd them before the War of the year 1667. All which Towns and Places the Catholick King yielded to the said Most Christian King at the Treaty signed at Aix la Chapelle the 2d of May 1668. from which this present Treaty doth expresly derogate for so much as relates to the said Towns and Places their Appurtenances and Dependances In pursuance whereof the said Catholick King shall take possession of the same and enjoy them to him and his Successors fully and peaceably excepting the Verge of Menin and the Town of Conde which though heretofore pretended by the Most Christian King to be a Member of the Castellany of Aeth shall nevertheless remain to the Crown of France together with all its Dependances by vertue of this present Treaty as shall be said hereafter V. The said most Christian King obligeth himself and promiseth to put likewise
Brisach to Friburg through the Territory of his Imperial Majesty and the Empire by the High-Way called Landstras for the marching of his Soldiers and the conveying of Provisions and other things necessary for the Garrison of Friburg VII Nor shall the Provisions intended and necessary for the Garrison of Friburg in their way and passage from Brisach to Friburg be molested or detained through payment of any Tolls Customs Taxes Duties or Rights new or antient It is further agreed That the Victuals requisite as well for the Garrison as Inhabitants which shall be transported from any place of Brisgow to Friburg shall as hitherto so likewise for the future pay no Customs and as for other Merchandise and things whatsoever no other nor greater Duties and Customs shall be laid upon them than if they were carried to other Places under the Obedience of his Imperial Majesty or are otherwise paid by the Subjects of his said Imperial Majesty VIII Commissioners shall within a year after the Ratification of the Peace be named to determine and consider what Debts lawfully contracted are to be paid by the said Town of Friburg IX His Most Christian Majesty shall take effectual care that sincerely and without delay all and every the Writings and Deeds which at the time of the taking of Friburg were found in the Town and Castle in the Chancery of the Government and Chamber or in the Houses and Custody of the Counsellors and other Officers thereof or elsewhere be restored to his Imperial Majesty But if the said Writings be publick and do joyntly concern the said Town of Friburg and the 3 Villages thereunto belonging the Commissioners above-mentioned shall agree in what place the same shall be kept so that Authentick Copies of them may be obtained as often as desired X. It shall be lawful not onely to the Chapter of Basle as also to all and every the Members of the Austrean Government and the University of Friburg but also to the Citizens and Inhabitants of what Condition soever who have a mind to depart without any hindrance molestation or imposition within a year after the Ratification of the Peace to Transport themselves together with their Moveables to whatsoever place they please and to sell retain or administer by themselves or others their Immoveables All others shall likewise have the same power to retain administer or alienate who have any Goods Revenues or Rights in the said City of Friburg or the 3 Villages belonging unto it XI Nevertheless His Most Christian Majesty doth consent that the said Castle and Town of Friburg with the 3 Villages thereunto belonging shall be restored to his Imperial Majesty in case they can agree of an Equivalent for it to the satisfaction of his Most Christian Majesty XII Whereas the Duke of Lorrain is engaged in the War with his Imperial Majesty and desires to be included in this present Treaty The said Duke shall for himself his Heirs and Successors be restored to the free and full possession of all those States Places and Goods which Duke Charles his Uncle possessed in the year 1670. When the same were taken by the Forces of the Most Christian King Excepting only such alterations as are made and specified in the following Articles XIII The Town of Naney with it's District commonly called Finage shall remain for ever United and Incorporated to the Crown of France so that his Most Christian Majesty his Heirs and Successors shall possess the same with all Right of Superiority Sovereignty and Propriety And to that end the said Duke of Lorrain doth as well for himself as his Heirs and Successors for ever renounce quit and transfer unto the said Most Christian King his Heirs and Successors without any retention or reservation all Right of Propriety or Sovereignty all Prerogatives and Pre-eminences which did or of right ought to belong to the said Duke with reference to the abovesaid City of Nancy any Laws Customs Statutes Constitutions or Agreements made to the contrary notwithstanding all which as also the annulling Clauses of Derogations are derogated from by this present Treaty XIV And to the end there may be a more free communication between the said Town of Nancy and the Dominions belonging to the Crown of France and a more easie passage for the French Soldiers Ways half a league broad shall be marked out by Commissioners to be appointed for that purpose by the Most Christian King and the said Duke of Lorrain The first of which Ways shall be from St. Didier to Nancy the second from Nancy to Alsatia the third from the said City of Nancy to Besancon in the County of Burgundy And the fourth from Nancy to Metz yet so that the marking out of the said Ways be done in the same manner as was observed in the Ways formerly consented to by Duke Charles in the year 1661. XV. All Places Villages Houses and Lands together with their Dependencies Scituate and lying within the said Ways of half a league broad shall belong unto his Most Christian Majesty together with all Rights as well of Superiority and Sovereignty as Propriety which the said Duke or his Ancestors had and enjoyed before this Treaty yet so that if the Districts or Dependencies of the said Places extend beyond the said half league whatsoever lies beyond that space of ground and the boundaries settled by the Commissioners shall with all Superiority Sovereignty and Propriety remain as formerly to the said Duke his Heirs and Successors XVI The City and Provostship of Longwic with it's Appurtenancies and Dependencies shall for ever with all Superiority Sovereignty and Propriety remain to the said Most Christian King his Heirs and Successors and the said Duke his Heirs and Successors shall lay no claim thereunto for the future But in exchange for the said City and Provostship his Most Christian Majesty shall give unto the said Duke another Provostship in one of the 3 Bishopricks of the same greatness and value according as shall be agreed upon by the abovesaid Commissioners which being so granted and conveyed by the Most Christian King to the said Duke as well the said Duke as his Heirs and Successors shall for ever enjoy it with all Rights of Superiority Sovereignty and Propriety XVII In like manner his Most Christian Majesty for and in compensation of the said Town of Nancy doth for himself and the Crown of France quit and convey to the aforesaid Duke his Heirs and Successors the Superiority Sovereignty and Propriety of the City of Thoul and the Suburbs thereof with all Rights thereunto belonging especially the Prerogatives and Pre-eminences of Patronage which did or of right ought to have belonged to the Crown of France in and over the said City of Thoul it's Suburbs and District commonly called Finage so as the said Duke his Heirs and Successors may without any retention or reservation fully enjoy and exercise the same any Laws Customs Statutes Constitutions or Agreements made to the contrary notwithstanding
from all which as also the annulling Clauses of Derogations the Most Christian King hath expresly derogated by this present Treaty XVIII And in case the District of the City of Thoul shall be found to be of less bigness and value than the District of the City of Nancy the same shall be otherwise compensated to the Duke so that the Districts of both Cities shall be of an equal greatness and value XIX The Most Christian King shall as by this present Treaty he doth for ever renounce for himself his Heirs and Successors the Right of nominating or presenting the Bishop of Thoul unto the hands of the Pope procured by him of Pope Clement ix so that the said Duke may make his recourse to the Apostolick See to obtain the same XX. It is further covenanted and agreed That it shall in no wise be lawful for the said Duke to make any alteration or change in the Benefices bestowed by his Most Christian Majesty until the day of this present Treaty and those who are inducted into the said Benefices shall continue in quiet possession of them so that the said Duke shall in no wise trouble or molest nor dispossess them of the same XXI It is further agreed That all Proceedings at Law Sentences and Decrees made and given by the Council Judges or other the Officers of his Most Christian Majesty in Suits and Actions that are finished as well between the Subjects of the said Dutchy of Lorrain and Bar as others during the time the said States were under the Dominion of the Most Christian King shall take place and have their full and entire effect in as ample manner as if the Most Christian King had still continued Lord and Possessor of those Countreys nor shall it be lawful to question annull delay or hinder the Execution of the said Sentences and Decrees But the Parties concerned may according to what is prescribed and appointed by the Laws desire a Revision of the Proceedings that have been thereupon had yet so that the Sentences shall remain in full force and vigour XXII The Charters Deeds and Writings which were in the Exchequers of Nancy and Bar and in the two Chambers of accompts or elsewhere and have been since removed from thence shall be forthwith restored to the Duke XXIII His Imperial Majesty doth agree that Prince Francis Egon Bishop of Strasburg and his Brother Prince William Egon of Furstenberg together with their Nephew Prince Anthony Egon of Fustenberg and their Officers and Ministers shall be fully restored to the State Reputation Dignities Rights Suffrages Session Benefices and Offices Goods holden in Fee-simple Fee-base and in Capite together with the Profits that have been sequestred and generally to all other Goods which they did or of right ought to have enjoyed before their Deprivation upon occasion of this War any Proceedings Transactions or Decrees whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding The said Prince William Egon shall immediately after the Ratification of the Peace be restored to his full liberty And whatsoever hath been said written or done by the Chapter of Strasburg and others who administred the Goods and Benefices belonging to the said Bishop and Prince shall be buried in perpetual Oblivion nor shall they upon that account be impeached or under any other pretence whatsoever molested XXIV All the Vassals and Subjects Ecclesiastical and Secular of both Parties shall be restored to the Honours Dignities and Benefices which they enjoyed before the breaking out of the War as also to all Goods Moveable and Immoveable Revenues casual and subject to redemption seized and confiscated upon occasion of the War together with all Rights Actions and Inheritances fallen unto them even during the same yet so that nothing shall be demanded for the Profits and Rents received for the said Goods Moveables Revenues and Benefices from the time of the Confiscation and Seisure till the day of the Ratification of the Peace and in like manner the Debts Effects Merchandise and Moveables confiscated before the said day so that neither the Creditors of private Debtors nor those in whose hands such Effects and Merchandise have been deposited nor their Heirs or Assigns may prosecute or pretend to any restitution or satisfaction for the same which restitutions shall be extended to those also who have been of the contrary Party and consequently they shall in vertue of this Treaty be restored to the favour of their Prince as also to their Goods in such condition as they shall be found to be at the Conclusion and Signing of this Treaty all which things shall be effectually executed any Donations Confiscations Orders Interlocutory and Definitive Sentences given and made without hearing and in the absence of the Parties through contumacy Which Sentences and Judgments shall be made null and deemed to be of no more force than if they had never been judged and pronounced full and entire liberty remaining to the said Parties to return into the Countrey from whence they departed and enjoyed the Goods Moveables Estates and Revenues or inhabit in what place soever they shall please and make choice without any violence or compulsion and in case they have a mind to transport themselves to some other place they may by Atturneys not suspected administer and enjoy their Goods and Revenues such Benefices only accepted as require residence which they ought Personally to perform and execute XXV The agreement this day made between his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and the King and Kingdom of Sweden as well with relation to himself as to the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp shall be esteemed to be comprehended in this Treaty in such manner that as well this as the aforementioned Treaty between the Emperor and Sweden shall be judged and looked upon as one and the same and held to be of the same force and vertue as if it were word for word inserted in this Treaty XXVI And because it is highly necessary in order to the preservation of the publick Peace That the War which yet continues between his Most Christian Majesty and the King and Kingdom of Sweden on the one part and the King of Denmark the Elector of Brandenburg the Bishop of Munster and the Princes of Lunenburg namely the Bishop of Osnaburg and the Dukes of Zel and Wolfembutel be with all speed composed as well his Imperial as his Most Christian Majesty shall employ their utmost Offices towards the said Princes and the King of Sweden That a Peace between the aforesaid Parties be speedily made and to that end a Cessation of Arms in order to it be forthwith agreed to by them But if contrary to all expectation the said Offices should want their desired effect His Imperial Majesty and the Electors Princes and States of the Empire included in this Peace do promise that after the Term for the Cessation of Hostilities is expired they will in no wise under any pretence whatsoever directly or indirectly assist the aforesaid Enemies of France and Sweden or in
and his Enemies then were every body will easily believe that onely the desire of giving Peace to Europe was capable of making him loose so favourable a Conjuncture And it is from the same desire that he is still disposed to admit of Propositions that may secure the entire satisfaction of Sweden and procure the Tranquility which Christendom expects from this Assembly A Memorial delivered to the Plenipotentiaries of France by the Plenipotentiaries of Holland July the 26th 1678. THe Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of their Lordships the States General of the United Provinces having received from the hands of the Lords Ambassadors of France the 11th instant a Memorial whereby they pretend to justifie the particular of the Retension of the Places the Restitution whereof were promised by his most Christian Majesty and wherein at the same time they invite their Lordships to enter into some way with his Majesty whereby they might draw and assure a perfect Satisfaction to the King of Swedes are obliged by express order from their Lords and Masters to represent to their Excellencies That their Lordships making a due reflection upon the method of his Majesties proceedings to terminate the present War and upon the advantagious expressions whereby he has particularly declared himself upon their account they cannot entertain so much as a thought that he would at present delay the accomplishment and conclusion by the said Retension being fully perswaded that such kind of obstructions cannot proceed from so generous a Soul as his Majesties but rather from the perswasion of those who are averse to a Peace They strongly possess themselves with this perswaasion that they cannot lay a more solid Basis for their justification than to give an ingenuous account of the beginning and progress of this Affair T is notorious that the Lords the States General have done their utmost endeavours without intermission to determine this present War by a General Peace wherein all Parties Interested might have had that satisfaction which they have so passionately desired as might have disposed all Persons whatsoever thereunto But such was their misfortune that the pretences of the other Allies being far different and very far from it and his most Christian Majesty having caused his Ambassadors at Nimeguen to propose those Conditions which might and ought to serve as a Platform to a general Peace and upon that consideration explaining himself that it was the last point that he could possibly dispence with and hereupon his Enemies might make choice either of Peace or War without being obliged after the 10th of this present May. And the Lords the States General taking into their consideration that the major part of the said proposed Conditions did concern their puissant Allies did carefully explain themselves that they might find out some Expedients and have endeavoured to dispose of Affairs so as that they might enter upon a Negotiation according to the said Platform to see what the Parties concerned at design'd but to their great regret they have been inform'd That it was not at all his Majesties intention to cause a Treaty or to admit any debate upon the Conditions proposed but that the Potent Parties that were at War ought simply to declare themselves before the Term of the 10th of May was expired whether or no they would subscribe the said Conditions Whereupon their Lordships have laboured continually with the Ministers of their Allies to understand their Sentiments But they excusing themselves upon the small time allotted for this great Affair and want of Order from their Masters wherewith they could not possibly be instructed before the Expiration of the term therefore their Highnesses not being able to assure themselves of the intentions of their powerful Allies especially the King of Spain in regard of the Acceptation or Refusal of the said Conditions And considering that the Stop proposed by his most Christian Majesty must also give them particular satisfaction have applied their farther endeavours to inform themselves how this stop should be considered in case the King of Spain should refuse to accept the said Conditions and thereupon his Most Christian Majesty hath been so kind as to honour them with a Letter written from his Camp May the 18th and to acquaint them that if the King of Spain denied to accept of the Peace and they judged it proper to conclude a Peace with him on the Conditions proposed upon their account and that they would engage to remain Neuter during the whole course of this War His Majesty in such Cases would upon their consideration grant the said King of Spain the same Conditions which he was at liberty to accept of at this present and that during that time he would not attack any place in the Low Countreys and if my Lords the States General in order to the advancement of this Negotiation should find it convenient to send Deputies to him that they would find his Majesty in the neighbourhood of Ghent till the 25th of the said month and under the same dispositions Farthermore the Lords of the States General having declared before the 30th of May to the Lords Ambassadors of France that for their parts they were resolved to conclude a Peace with his Majesty upon the Conditions proposed on their account and having desired a convenient time to the end that they might dispose their Allies to the same Peace and after the Receipt of the aforesaid Letter from his Majesty having determined to send to him the Sieur Beverning their Ambassador Extraordinary to represent unto him how earnestly they desired a general Peace that they did accept of the Conditions offered and that they desired his Majesty to grant them a Cessation of Arms for Six weeks that they might have time to discourse with their Allies upon the affairs of Peace and to gain their consent for the conclusion of so great a Work His Majesty was Graciously pleas'd to declare by his answer the first of June dated in his Camp at Wetteren that he did condescend to that Cessation for the space of six weeks as it was desired to commence from the first of July and the same according to the stipulation between France and Spain Anno Dom. 1668. With this proviso they should promise his Majesty that in case during the said Cessation of Arms they could not prevail with their Allies to accept of the Conditions offered they would neither directly nor indirectly assist them against his Majesty or his Allies during the continuance of this War And upon this consideration his Majesty was willing to Render by way of exchange the same engagements that he had obliged himself unto with them in his said Letter of the 18th of May as well in regard of the same Conditions which he would be always inclinable to grant to Spain as for the security of the Places in the Low Countreys And to give them a larger Testimony thereof his Majesty hath charged the Duke of Luxemburg General of his Forces to
attend their answer during the month of June in the neighbourhood of Brussels with orders not to attack any place during that time That consequently the States General to give pregnant proof of the desire they have to conclude the War and to testifie the Candour of their preceedings would not wait till the expiration of the month of June much less make use of the said Cessation of Arms which was to begin on the first of July as it was at their liberty to do but from the 22th of June have assured his Majesty by their Letter that though they had laboured very strenuously with their Allies to dispose them to the said Peace and that they could not be satisfied that all would concur therein yet they had ordered their Ambassadors at Nimeguen to Conclude and Sign the Troaty with his Majesties Ambassadors together with those of their Allies who were willing to condescend thereunto and that they were very certain his Majesty the King of Spain would also accept of the Peace upon the Conditions propos'd on his account And his Most Christian Majesty has been so gracious as to give them an answer by Letter dated the 30th of June that he understood with satisfaction by their said Letter that without expecting the time which he had granted them for a Cessation of Arms they had sent the said Orders to their Ambassadors to Sign the Treaty of Peace before the end of June and that the assurance they gave his Majesty that those of the Spanish King would accept of them at the same time did give him to understand that there were very favourable inclinations for the quiet of all Europe and that likewise his Majesty did perswade himself that he could not be long retarded by their Allies who till this very hour what instances soever they had made had refused to give their Concurrence to so great a Benefit and so Universally desired His Majesty Declaring farther that though the usual Custom in such Cases requires that things should continue in the same condition they are in till the Peace be absolutely Consummated by an exchange of Ratifications and a publication of the Treaties that yet upon their account he had sent his immediate Orders to the Duke of Luxemburg to withdraw his Army from the adjacent parts of Brussels and March them into his own Countreys and that he Charged the said Duke for this purpose to agree with the Duke de Villa Hermosa as also their Envoys with him about the Conduct that should be among the Officers that were to Command the Troops which his Majesty was obliged to leave in the places about the Town of Mons as also how they should live of one side as well as the other without Hostility in a good understanding and with Liberty in the Low Countreys till the Exchange of the Ratisications with Spain From all this it evidently follows that the Intentions as well of his Majesty as the Lords the States General have been from the beginning to make a General Peace upon such Conditions as all the Allies might have agreed unto and being very uncertain whether the said Allies would regulate themselves by the Conditions his Majesty had proposed and having Explained himself that he would admit of no Alteration their Lordships have desired an Explanation of his Majesties Intentions toward them and of the Conditions that concerned them and have had the good fortune to receive Instructions not only from the mouth of his Ambassadors but also by two Letters from his Majesty himself that in respect to them they should enjoy the said Conditions and particularly those relating to the Spanish Netherlands though his Catholick Majesty or any other of his Allies should obstruct the Peace upon condition that when they Conclude the Treaty they should not directly not indirectly Assist their Allies against his Majesty or his Allies whilst the War should continue by which it is manifestly apparent that it has been no ways his Majesties intention to retard or protract the Peace or the effects thereof by any means whatsoever as to those that should who would be ready and in a condition to make a Conclusion though some other persons should not as yet prove so and to contract only that those who should subscribe the Peace should not assist directly nor indirectly those that would continue the War against his Majesty or his Allies And thus it is altogether incredible that so Generous a soul as his Majesties after such clear and Indisputable Declarations as are contained in his Letters could entertain such a Sentiment and certainly their Lordships the States General would be extremely surprised if his Majesties Intentions should be found Conformable to the Expressions of the said Memorial it being a very Erroneous Position that their Lordships the States General did ever Declare that they found all the Conditions equitable which his Majesty had proposed having never explained themselves but in those things which related to their own particular interests and having also demanded time to Dispose their Allies to what may farther be required Besides that it is most certain a Declaration of that Nature was never required of them that even his Majesty himself having weighed the Scruple which they were to be satisfied in that all their Allies could not possibly be Inclined to accept of the Conditions proposed did anticipate them by his Declaration that not withstanding all this upon their own as well as the King of Spains account he would ever condescend to them provided they would put a period to their Treaty upon the conditions that were offered and hath given sufficient Testimony that it was neither his own nor the Intentions of the States General that they should be obliged to the Loan or Payment of any other thing but what concerned them particularly or related to such of their Allies as were ready to Concur with them in making a Peace and that his Majesty as to those that should continue the War would require only a Neutrality of them having in no respect proposed or agreed to Second his Allies and to afford them that Satisfaction they pretend to which nevertheless the French Ambassadors do now lay claim to in the forementioned Memorial directly contrary to his Majesties Declarations if the said Ambassadors would please to call to mind the Answer they gave at the Conference on the 17th of June passed when they openly clear'd themselves upon the point of the Conclusion and Signing of the Treaties they must necessarily agree in this that he hath been and that they were ready to Sign with all those Allies who would declare themselves to Condescend thereunto without any stipulation for the Swede or any Delay on that account having only recommended to them the Continuance of their endeavours with the Allies with a promise that they would effect as much with their own Confederates being farther most certain that during the whole Course of the Negotiation they never intended any thing as to the