with my whole Fleet and as after the joining of the Eâ—glish Fleet yâ—u will be stâ—onger by half than they I flatter my self already beforehand that you will obtain one of the mâ—st signalized Victories which has yâ—t been gain'd I recommend to you above all to be I excâ—â—ble and to destroy without Pity and without Mercy my Enemies to exterminate them and to act so that not one escape Tourville call to your remembrance the Fight of 1690. and see that that happens no more to you to let the Hollanders retire without taking one unhappy Bark from them Whilst you shall be engag'd King James shall be upon the Coast to judge of the Blows waiting for the Event and the Descent into England will follow immediately after and all that without losing time The King ask'd for John Barts who was retir'd out of the way John Barts seeing his Majesty desir'd to speak with him answered Sir I am here John Barts says his Majesty how go the Prizes Do you take many of the English and Hollanders For by what I can learn these two Nations fear you Sir answered John Barts I have resolv'd saving your Majesty's good pleasure to carry the French Piracy to so high a degree that all the Capers of France shall have reason to call me their Father their Patron and their Restorer and finally after my death those of S. Malo and Dunkirk shall cannonize me in Memory of my great Actions and my name plac'd in the Kalendar shall be named The Feast of John Barts the holy Thief In short I hope by the help of the Almighty to out-do quickly by my Tricks and my good Prizes all that has been formerly most boldly done by the Mezomortes and those of Tripoly But answer'd his Majesty if it should happen that you should fall into the Hands of your Enemies I am persuaded that they would make you pass your time very ill Sir says John Barts I fear nothing so much as the Zealand Capers formerly my joint Brothers and at present my mortal Enemies because they are so angry that I have betray'd my Country and their Party to embrace that of your Majesty's that they will call me in their Language Vrede Breeker Breaker of the Peace that they would never pardon me besides they cannot indure that I should surpass them in Malice and that I should teach the French their Art of which they are jealous even to the last degree John Barts says his Majesty this is not all I have two great Designs in hand the one in Flanders and the other in England and I see my self just upon the point of Execution and to make it succeed I shall have occasion for all my Forces by Sea and Land so it is and for that end I have call'd together all my Generals to take their Advice and conduct this Enterprize with all the Prudence imaginable My design is then to go into Flanders at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men and to form the Siege of the strongest place of Europe whilst I shall be busy in the execution of it you must get together all my Capers and form a Fleet of which I make you from this time Admiral in consideration of your good Services and you must act on one side whilst the Count de Tourville shall act on the other according to the Orders I have given him and you must make your Movements and your Courses with your flying Camp of Pirates being well settled in Concert and Intelligence with Tourville As to the rest I recommend to you the Secret Assoon as the Count de Tourville and John Barts were gone out his Majesty order d That Monsieur de Pompone should come Pompone says the King I recommend to you my Kingdom I am just upon my departure the Resolutions are taken and I am to be in Flanders at the Head of 150000 Men so I leave you the Reins of Government during my absence You are the wisest of my Ministers and after the death of poor Louvois I knew not how to make choice of a worthier Subject than you Father La Chaize my Confessor is not contented and the old Quarrels that these good Fathers have had with your Uncle Monsieur Arnaud run still in their Heads Sir says Pompone the Jansenists will always flourish in your Kingdom in spight of the Reverend Fathers of the Society and of their violent Prejudices against them I know what I have suffered upon their account having try'd many Storms which had made me resolve upon a voluntary Banishment in retireing into the Country to be secure from their Persecution and their Rage Monsieur de Louvois neither was none of my best Friends he had too much correspondence with Father la Chaize not to join Forces and attempt my Ruin every way he could but without ransaking the Ashes of the dead I rejoyce to see my Innocence applauded by the confidence your Majesty reposes in me concerning the Affairs of your Kingdom As you have been says his Majesty in Ambassy in Holland and that you know perfectly the Genius and Interest of that Republick I have but one word to say to you to make you apprehend immediately what is my end in going to the Head of my Armies it is one Home-push for the Game and the only one to come to a Peace Luxemburgh made me see it as clear as the day Sir says Pompone it is high time for your Majesty to begin to set bounds to your Ambition and that you cherish your People the whole Kingdom is oppress'd and groans under the heavy Burden of Imposts and Subsidies and therefore 't is dangerous for so great a Prince as you to expose himself too much If the Presence of your Majesty is necessary in your Army it is no less so in your Kingdom where you support your Power and Sovereignty and dissipate the Plots of the Malecontents which keeps Prosperity among your People and preserves the Harmony that is necessary between him that commands and those that obey We have experienc'd in all Ages past that those Kings who have staid at home in their Closets have executed greater things than those have done whom Ambition and an insatiable desire of Glory have carried even to the extremities of the World Charles V. and Louis XI have atchiev'd greater Exploits without going out of their Palace than did Louis the Young and Philip the August in passing the Seas and in carrying their Arms into Africa we still feel the smart of what was occasioned in France by the Imprisonment of St. Louis of King John and of Francis I. Sir these are Wounds to the State and irreparable Losses when they happâ—n Pompone says his Majesty the Resolution is taken and the Dice is thrown this Campaign will be no more dangerous for my Person than that of Mons was and so many others that I have made in my Reign Fortune cherishes me too much to leave me now I am in so fair a Career
Prince as we may say forcing nature in the Child did so harass him in mounting on Horse back and fencing before he was strong enough to bear these rude Exeâ—â—ises that he thereby lost one full Third of hiâ— Boâ—y In effect those that have seen him undress'd know that he is in a manner all Thighs and Leggs Nevertheless this last opinion is scarcely believ'd if we make Reflection upon his hump back which gives him so ridiculous an Air and which cannot be look'd upon otherwise than a natural defect and it is reasonable to believe he came into the World in this condition because we certainly see by experience that the exercise of Arms contributes rather to regulate and render the Body free than to cause such imperfections Let it be as it will he has improv'd it well We may say that he is at present a Man after the King 's own Heart so it is not to be wonder'd at if he leaves to him the Government of his Armies since he has been bold several times to say That he thank'd God that he had caus'd him to be born without pity and compassion to the end he might be more capable of serving the King his Master and executing his designs A very Christian like sentiment and worthy of Monsieur de Luxemburgh But as to the Hump in his Back it will not be amiss to give an account of a thought which he had the day after the Battle of Fleurns As he receiv'd the Complements of success from the Lieutenant Generals and other Officers of his Army shewing them his Hump he told them he had there a reserve of a Body of Forty Thousand Men of which his Enemies knew nothing which would always render him Victorious thereby remarking the Artifices which he made use of which without contradiction makes up a good part of the Necromancy of which he was accused and which he himself has begun to Communicate since he has been a Commander to the other French Generals The Marquess de Bouflers who was one of his principal Disciples did him most Honour for he it is that at present seems to have profited most by the Lessons of his Master So Monsieur de Luxemburgh chose him to be at the Head of this reserve of which he spoke and was very careful in all the Battles to place him so well that he was seen running up and down like a Mad-Man not to say fly upon the least signal that he gave him The King seeing him come in turn'd towards him and spoke in these Terms Luxemburgh you are the Person at this Day in whom France places her greatest hopes my People look upon you as their Turenne and I my self esteem you as my right Hand you see me engaged in an unhappy War which consumes my Treasure impoverishes my Subjects ruins the State and makes me apprehensive of unhappy Events It is a lingring Fever which undermines by little and little my Kingdom and I fear lest it should in the issue become like Spain that is to say a poor and impotent Desert Sir answer'd Luxemburgh I thank your Majesty for having forgot my pass'd faults and for honouring me with the preference of the Command of your Armies before the Marshal d' Humieres much Older and Wiser than my self I am at the same time very much Obliged to the deceased Marquess of Louvois my good Friend and to the good Madam de Maintenon who sollicited my release and employ'd all their credit with your Majesty to get me out of the Bastile where I had been shut up upon the Death of the Count de Soissons and several other small matters which I was branded withall I vow I did not expect to be received again into your Grace and Favour your Majesty having had since tâ—e War of 1672 a particular aversion to my Pâ—rson But on the other side I am glad to see that my Enemies have for their part shame and trouble by the Triumph of my Innocence after having imploy'd all their power to ruin me I shall remember all my Life time the reverend Father La Chaise and the jealous Madam de Montespan who have been the principal actors of this Tragedy and if it is natural to keep resentment I will reserve to my self a favourable occasion to let them know that I have not been either a Necromancer nor Madam Brinvilliers Disciple But answer'd his Majesty Let us not talk of pass'd Quarrels altho' what is said of you should be true and also that you had a familiar Spirit to win Battles to gain the Love of the Ladies and to please me I will in acknowledgment of the Services that you have done me in the Wars of Holland and that you may do me in the present War order the Courts of Justice to burn the Informations and the Tryal and to forbid any upon pain of Death throughout my whole Kingdom to talk directly or indirectly of it Sir answered Luxemburg I most humbly thank your Majesty for the care that you will take of my reputation and I do engage upon my word that in remembrance of so great a Favour I will do for my part all that lies in my power to ruin your Enemies and advance your Conquests You know answer'd his Majesty That the first Campaign which was that of 1689. I gave the Command of my Army to the Marshal d' Humieres and that this General who is a good Man did really do me good service For it was him that I sent Ambassador to the Court of England immediately after the Death of King Charles and he executed my Orders very punctually For King James who came to be Crown'd King of three Kingdoms received him with open Arms and very generously accepted all the offers of Alliance and Friendship that Humieres made him on my behalf But this unfortunate Prince afterwards not having followed my Orders found himself all of a sudden overwhelm'd with great troubles and has engag'd me in a War which has Arm'd all Europe against me But to come to my purpose Having then chose him to Command in Flanders against Prince Waldeck a General of good Conduct and well instructed in what concern'd the Order that an Army in her Marches and Incampments ought to be kept in but on the other hand very unlucky to hazard a Battle I remark'd that in this first year the Marshal d' Humieres suffer'd himself to be Coop'd up as we say by Prince Waldeck and that he had during the whole Campaign the disadvantage I remember also very well the Battle of Walcourt which was on the Great St. Louis day Patron and Protector of my Kingdom where all my House-hold was Cut in pieces but I pardon him with all my heart because he did it with a good intention and belief of doing me Service that day The little Genius of d' Humieres was not only the cause of this check but we may also say that he favour'd by the little motion he made the Enterprizes
the prejudice of my Son according to all Laws the Fathers have no right to alienate the Estates of their Children whilst they are Minors and when these Estates are Maternal But says Luxemburgh the Marriage was only concluded upon this condition so that the renunciation your Majesty made upon all the present and future Right that you might have upon Spain or upon the depending States was consider'd as the Ground of Marriage without which the Ministers of Spain would have been guilty of a great deal of Folly on their side to have consented to an Allyance which would have produc'd nâ—w causes of Wars and Divisions instead of a Firm and Stable Peace whiâ—h was their chief design I add to all these proofs that the Circumstance of the Oath that your Majesty was obliged to take in swearing solemnly upon the Holy Evangelists that you would keep your Royal World that you then gave was as the Seal of all the promises of the engagements and of the good Faith of your Majesty In your opinion says the King I am then very ill grounded in my pretensions and I have no right according to the Civil Law No without doubt says Luxemburgh but a hundred thousand Men a hundred pieces of Cannon and a hundred Millions will make the Ballance incline much more to your side It was a custom to represent Justice blindfolded holding a Balance in one Hand but if the other had not been arm'd with a Sword and had a Lion plac'd by her side which is the badge of Force and Might she would have been but a ridiculous Maygame expos'd to the violence and rashness of Men. So we may say he that has the power in his Hand is the Master of Justice and whether she will or no must of necessity betake her self to his side and fight under his Standards against the weakest and this is your Majesty's Right But says his Majesty since things are in this condition and that I see my self Master of Force and of Justice shall I not do well to push my good fortune to the end and to render my self by my Armies always victorious and triumphant over all the States which shall be at my discretion and serve for my convenience having placed my self safe from the opposition of mine Enemies Very well says Luxemburgh there is no other obstacle which is capable to stop your Majesty but the Faith of Treaties But that is another Gospel for your Majesty for which you care but very little We say of King John the First one of your Ancestors descended from the first Branch of Valois that that Prince was so great an observer of his Word that they gave him the Title of Good He was accustomed to say that when Fidelity and good Faith should be banished the World they ought to be found in the person of a Prince This Prince answer'd his Majesty did not know Machiavel and you should have added at the same time that he was very unhappy during his Reign and I do not doubt but his too great Goodness was in part the cause of his Misfortunes For having lost the Battle of Poictiers against the English who were commanded by the Prince of Wales a great Captain the King was taken and carried Prisoner to London from whence he came not out but by the treaty of Bretigny by which he quitted the Sovereignty of some Provinces in France in f vour of the King of England But all these faults of John the First were gloriously repaired by Charles the Fifth his Successor who acquir'd to him self the name of Wife Sir answer'd Luxemburgh since your Majesty Laughs so at the good Faith of Treaties which other Princes look upon as Inviolable and adore as an Idol I am not surpriz'd that you have heap'd up Conquest upon Conquest There is never a little Prince in the World but may be in a condition to make himself great by this means and at last become the terror of his Enemies but it is not to be wished that such a like disorder should happen for if every Soveraign should do the like we should see a great number of Scepters overthrown to the ground become the Prey of the strongest But says his Majesty since it is not permitted to make ones self great what 's the reason that the Prince of Orange is Mounted even in our Days upon the Throne of his Father-in-Law Is not that an Usurpation Sir says Luxemburgh that is not singular Histories are full of such like instances and we see that Childerick the Third last King of the first Race was Dethron'd by Pepin the Short who before was but Mayor of the Palace which was a place almost like that of Grand Visirs and his deposing was also done by the Assembly of the States after the Pope had declar'd that the French were dispens'd with from owning that Prince So that the poor Dethroned Childerick had no other part to take but to shave himself and put himself into a Monastery And as this disgrace happen'd to him by reasons of State which would be too long to report so the Prince of Orange is not mounted upon the Throne but by the consent of the People which call'd him to it And the Parliament it self which being in England very near to what the States were formerly in France Crown'd him and confirm'd him nemine contradicente so the coming of the Prince of Orange to the Crown ought to be call'd an Acceptance and not an Vsurpation According to this sense says his Mâ—jesty you are then of opinion that the Prince of Orange is well grounded and that the poor King James has no shorter Course to take in the midst of his disgraces than to imitate Childeric that is to say to make a rennuciation of the Crown shave himself and so put himself into a Convent Sir answer'd Luxemburgh I abuse perhaps the liberty your Majesty allows me speaking open hearted my Mind and what I think of the misfortune of this Prince But as in the beginning of this Conference your Majesty was pleased to say you put a great deal of Confidence in me I desire you also to give me leave to abstain from the language of certain Parasites who applaud your Majesty in every thing No Luxemburgh says his Majesty you do me a kindness to tell me the things as you think tâ—em that does not surprise me because I have always given you more liberty to speak your thoughts than any of my Courtiers and Counsellors Sir says Luxemburgh since your Majesty gives me leave to speak what I think of King James and of the War which has been kindled in Europe upon his occasion I do not now speak of a secret itching desire that your Majesty had from your Cradle to surpass your Ancestors in enlarging your Dominions and pushing on youâ— Conquests beyond the Rhine the Sambre and Meuse I speak not neither of the Rights of the deceased Queen I pass also in silence the Right of
he would remain firm in his first resolution that the Council might resolve what they thought fit but for him he knew what he had to do and that the Imperial Troops of which he had the chief Command should make no other motion than what he should order them that he knew the Emperour's mind and so it was needless to lose time in employing it to deliberate thereupon This way of procedure which was so little expected extreamly surpriz'd the other Generals But the Count de Schomberg appear'd so sensibly touch'd at it that he without any more ado presently complain'd and also afterwards acquainted them that he was so little satisfied in Italy that he e'en resolv'd to go back into Holland or into Brandenbourg where he had formerly Commanded the Troops of his Electoral Highness of Brandenbourg The Duke of Bavaria was no less concern'd that after having Travelled through all Germany and Italy to come by hard Journeys into Piedmont where he was expected with such impatience which he did notwithstanding the access of a Fever which he found very hard to get rid of without reckoning a Thousand other unhappy mifortunes which he felt during the length of his Journey And all this in hopes to have gather'd Lawrels at his Arrival if he met with nothing less that he must rest contented as also his other Companions with an Idea only which they formed to themselves of a Glorious Campaign The Duke of Savoy was he who lost most by these Disputes and whom the matter touch'd nearest but as he had not the experience of other Generals he found himself not in a condition with a heat proper for the cause to maintain an Opinion so plausible and so disinterested as that of Count Scomberg's appear'd Besides he was willing to consent to it because they look'd upon this undertaking as the only remedy which presented it self to incommode their Enemy and to discharge their poor States from the Insupportable burthen of the Auxiliary Troops which would Triumph with Joy said he if they should see themselves once Posted in the Enemies Country to take their Winter Quarters there which is just the grievance of the Germans But the bitter Draught that Count Caraffa could not swallow was quite another thing He saw amongst the Princes of Italy plenty enough of all things It is a Country flowing with Milk and Hony whereas in Dauphine he saw nothing but Melancholy Deserts and People already ruin'd by the War which was more than sufficient to make him take another resolution Prince Eugene was of the Opinion of the Duke his Cousin and their interests were too common not to be united together He added that he could not think self-willdness was capable to produce so great disorders and that Princes were happy when they were the only Masters and the Armies Victorious when they were Commanded by one Chief that these three years that the Wars continu'd in Italy their disagreement had alone done more hurt than the Enemy for 't was this angry Goddess of Discord that came incessantly to trouble the most important resolutions and to furnish new Seeds of Division and Dispute which oftentimes arises from a slight occasion That if these contests should be kept up any longer and that we should amuse our selves thus to pass whole Campaigns in deliberating and principally the precious time which was destin'd to enter into Action This would be just to play the Game which France would desire that we drawing our selves insensibly into Winter which is the Mother of business for her she would have a new occasion to cry out as she use to do of Victory because she is assured of her design and takes justly the time of our Retreat and lying in our Winter Quarters The Duke de Leganez Governour of the Milanese was altogether of the Spanish Opinion that is to say Piano veremo and being full of confidence and good will he catch't at all and was ready to embrace the first or second resolution or else both together if that could have been done and agreed to with good Judgment But as the good Man is as great a Wit as was his Predecessor so he seems to have a little more good nature and the glorious House from which he is descended serves him for a Pattern he contents himself nevertheless to follow the Crowd and plurality of Voices for fear to fall into some Heresie if he should have dar'd to have advanc'd from his own Opinion a third project In a word the resolution taken to enter into France was the most proper for him and for all the other States of Italy And if the Count de Caraffa would by misfortune have yielded to it that had been done But as I have already insinuated to your Majesty I had so well fetter'd him with Chains of Gold that he saw himself not in a condition to make one single Step towards it Count Palfi a good German also otherwise a brave Man and the Marquiss de Pianese were absolutely of the Opinion of Count Schomberg and could not consent to the Negative without regret The busyness having then been travers'd by the selfconceitedness of Count Caraffa who as I have represented it had no Body with him but as he had on his side all the Imperial Troops which made the principal Force of their Army he constrain'd all the other Generals in spight of all they had to say to submit to the Law of his Judgment so that not being able to do otherwise they resolv'd at last to act joyntly with him and to open the Campaign by the Siege of Carmanoille of which they made themselves Masters after a great deal of resistance from a part of your Majesties Troops which fought bravely After this Conquest they talk'd no more of any Project for the rest of the Campaign Caraffa keeping faithfully his word which he had so solemnly sworn would hear talk of nothing more but Winter Quarters for fear of violating his Oath and passing for a perjur'd Person so putting immediately his Hand to the Work he began to treat about Contributions with the Princes of Italy who finding themselves in more trouble than if they had an Enemies Army at their Gates found no better way to take to preserve Peace and repose in their Country than to consent to the payment of great Summs which they demanded of them rather than to see their Inhabitants expos'd to the Insolence and Fury of the Souldiers who were ready to fall upon them as upon Innocent Doves The Republick of Genoua and the Dukes of Mantua and Modena will for a good while remember the coming of the Germans into Italy and the other States will have no reason to forget them But to make short since your Majesty orders me and that the time to make your designs appear this Campaign approacheth I will add only to all I have said already concerning the Affairs of Italy that I thought fit as I have let your Majesty know to make
A King is never Great nor Illustrious who has not carried his Arms among Strangers to make them know his Strength and to make them feel the sweetness and equity of his Commands I had all my Life an aversion for those slothful Kings of the first Race who did not govern their Countries but suffer'd themselves to be govern'd by the Grandees nothing is more pernicious to a Prince than Luxury and too much Repose Nero whose first years were so admirable and so great eclips'd the lustre of them by his Debauâ—hes and his Cruelties which were but the fatal consequence or Idleness Sir answer'd Pompone if your Majesty has so concâ—uded and that you think it fit for the way to a Peace I wish you all Prosperity and a happy Campaign The time of my departure draws near saâ—â— his Majesty I recommend to you above all to have an Eye upon the new Catholicks whom I look upon in my Absence as Enemies most to be fear'd You know what care I have taken to bring them back to the bosom of the Church anâ— how I have bâ—en forc'd to use them to pluck up this cursed Tare which has mix'd it self with the good Corn. Sir answer'd Pompâ—ne I do not know if your Majesty had all the reason in the World to deliver them so mercilesâ—y to the resentment of their Enemies for my paâ—ticular I felt a part of their Misfortunes and Father la Chaizâ— gave me no better Quarters than them Your Illustrious Predecessâ—rs witness the Grandfather of your Majesty Hâ—n y IV. came to the Crown only by their aâ—sistance They did hâ—m so great Services when he saw himself overwhelm'd by the Cathâ—lâ—â—ks wâ—o 〈◊〉 maâ—e a considerable Party ca â—'d Tâ—e League that he woulâ— have undoubtedly sunk withâ—ut their Assiâ—tance so in memory of their Fidelity he graâ—ted them the Edict of Naâ—â—s So that your Majâ—sty ought to consiâ—er that if you have at this day the Crown upon yâ—ur Head as a most worthy Successor of that Great Henry you are no â—ess beholding to them than your Grandfather Pompone says his Majesty let us talk of other things It suffices to tell you That the G â—â—â—es of â—…y Consâ—â—ence having so order'â— it it was no longer in my Power to oppose it In short I am going anâ— therefore recommend to you aboâ—e all my Kingdom my new Converts I recommend to you the Qâ—een of Great Bâ—itain the Prince of Wales aâ—â— the Infant of Eâ— land visit them often and comfort them in their â— sgrace teâ—â— them from me Tâ—â—t I go where Glory calls me to heap up Lawrels anâ— to accompâ—â—sh their re-estabâ—â—shment I recâ—mmenâ— aâ—so to you my Sâ—â— the Dâ—uphiâ—… take care above all to represent to â—â—m the Inj ry he does to his Reputation to love rather the Pleasures of Diana and the Hunting of the Wolf than the noble Works of Mars I recommend to you also the three young Princes my Grand-children entertain them above all with the great Actions of their Grand-father I recommend to you chiefly the Eldest the Duke of Burgundy whom I us'd to call the Prince of Coâ—de because that truly we see as it were rebâ—rn in hâ—m all the shining Qualities of that Prince I recommend to you in short all the Intelligences that I have in Foreign Courts have a care of them receive the Letters that shall be writ to me and cause the Sums design'd for the Pensions I pay them to be return'd I also very carefully recommend to you my Treasury assist Ponchartâ—aine with your good Advice and lend him your Hand in working jointly for settling a Fund for the next Campaign Mony is the Sinew of War without it I should be a Kâ—ng wâ—thout Power and all my great Designs would evaporate intâ—â—moak Sir says Pompone they report of Dagâ—bert that he was so jâ—st and free towards the Churches That he caus'd the Church of St. Dennis to be covered with Silver But your Majesty makes another use of Mony you have a quite different Pity and Justice from that Prince You imitate rather him who finding the 12 Apostles of Massy Silver in a Church caus'd them to be taken from the Altar and having made them into Mony told them That they should go Preach throughout the whole World according to the order that Jesus Christ had given them Monsieur de Pompone being gone out the King order'd that Messieurs de Barbesieux and de Chanlais should come in in all haste Barbesieux says his Majesty the Resolutions are taken I have a great Design in hand Silence we are now at the point to bring great things to Light the Campaign of Mons had nothing like it Ha! what then Sir says Barbesieux I am a going says his Majesty into Flanders at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men to form the Siege of the Key of all the Low Countries Luxemburgh has shou'd it me as clear as the Sun at Noon Sir says Chanlais your Majesty must make haste for I hear that the Prince of Orange will come a Month sooner into the Field than he did last year It is no matter says his Majesty I shall have near 80000 Men more than he and I shall be covered by three potent Armies besides I will make Boufflers go before and possess himself of the Passages Luxemburgh has assur'd me that I have no more cause to fear than if I were at Versailles Sir answer'd Barbesieux if that be so your Majesty will have a good Bargain for all you shall undertake whilst that the Prince of Orange fatigues and exposes himself to the most eminent Dangers Sir says Chanlais Gold and Treason are at this day two great double Keys to your Majesty besides that they open all Gates they operate more in a moment than great Armies do in a Summer's Expedition Both the one and the other must be had says his Majesty I have found out the means to tame the Lion and the Fox which were heretofore incompatible and I only march now to take Possession of what I have bought before Sir says Barbesieux that is not all your Majesty must seek the shortest way to come quickly to a Peace the want of every thing is a dangerous Disease which begins to be felt throughout your Kingdom Barbesieux you speak home says his Majesty and all the advantage I propose to my self by this Expedition is to come to the way of a Peace Sir says Barbesieux I have yet a shorter way and more abridg'd than that to come to a Peace Ha! what says his Majesty It is to put in execution the Project that my deceased Father the Marquiss de Louvois had begun the rough draught of and which he left in his Cabinet after his death that is the White that is the Center whereto all your Majesty's Enterprizes should tend What must be done then says his Majesty Sir the Business in hand is to send the Prince of Orange Chief of the League ad Patres if your