the Town This gave the Christians an Opportunity not only to advance but to possess themselves of an Hill near the Place And this was succeeded with a Summons from the General to surrender But the Governour Saban Basha who was gone to put himself at the Head of a Body of Turks to observe the Motion of the Christians as not believing they durst undertake the Siege of Prevesa The Officer that commanded in his Absence would not receive the General 's Letter but rudely fired upon the Person that carried it Thereupon they landed 4. Pieces of Cannon and as many Mortars on the 22d and next Day shot above 300 Bombs into the Town which burnt several Houses and before Night dismounted all the Enemies Cannon but one and had all this while but one Man killed and few wounded On the 24th they made a Lodgment in the Ditch and began to Mine under the Great Tower of the Place towards the Terra Firma but they were somewhat disturbed by a Sally of the Turks who yet had no great Success So that the Besiegers the 3 following Days advanced their Works notwithstanding the Enemy plyed them very warmly with their small Shot so far that the Mine being ready by the 28th and a considerable Breach made by the Cannon Orders were given for a general Assault But next Morning the Turks prevented them by hanging out a White Flag and sending 5 Deputies to capitulate who required the same Conditions as had been granted to Sancta Maura But the General would allow them no other save that 30 of the most considerable of the Garrison should march out with their Arms and Baggage and the rest without Arms taking only along with them what they could carry which the Turks were forced to submit to And so they marched out of the Place on the 30th of Sept. leaving 44 Pieces of Cannon 14 whereof were large and would shoot a 50 Pound Ball with a considerable Quantity of Ammunition and Provisions to the Conquering Venetians who after this went to Winter at Corâ—u But their Troops in Dalmatia did not yet do so they and the Morlaques under the Dominion of the Republick had all along the War been very successful not only in several Rencounters with the Turks but in divers Incursions into their Country from whence they always returned with good Booty besides possessing themselves of some Places in those Parts But my Design will not admit me to descend to such Minute Particulars and therefore I shall only observe that before the Expiration of this Year they took in the Isle of Narenta and the Castle of Narini And were thereupon joined by a great many of the Neighbouring Greeks But the advanced Season confined them now to their Winter Quarters as I am also confined to close up the History of this Year without superadding any remarkable Adventure as I have hitherto been â—ted to do There is nothing occurs year 1685 worthy of Consideration this Year before the Death of Charles II. King of England who was seized as they gave out of a violent Fit of an Apoplexy on Monday the 2d of Feb. and on the 7th departed this Life in the 37th Year of his Reign computing it from his Father's Death after he had lived 54 Years 8 Months and 8 Days His Character I will not attempt it has been done so well already by a Learned Pen But for his Religion if we believe his Brother that succeeded him he was however otherwise he appeared outwardly in his Life Heart and Soul a true Roman Catholick not only by his Dying in the Communion of the Church of Rome and other Ceremonies of that Church But the Papers taken out of his Strong Box and which his Brother took Care to Publish to the World plainly proved him to be so in his Judgment However be this as it will he had little Regard to any Thing that favoured of Sincere Religion for he would occasionally in his ordinary Conversation ridicule most Opinions and that Religion most of all wherein it was said he died I know not whether it be to his Praise to say He was a Prince the most fit to Govern of any other and applied himself the least to it which was great pitty since he had such an Insight into Men and Things that no Monarch of his Age could pretend to compare with him besides a mild Disposition which made him at his Death be so universally lamented by all sorts of his Protestant Subjects but more by those that dissented from the Publick Church out of the Fear they had of the Religion and Temper of his Successor than any real Kindness for his Government which of latter Years especially had not been very mild towards them But for my part I think a witty Quaker made a truer Judgment of that Conjuncture than any other for appearing very merry and jovial when all about him discovered all the Marks of Sorrow imaginable for the King's Death and being asked the Reason of it he replied He had no Occasion to grieve but the Contrary for that having two to deal withal before 〈◊〉 God be thanked there was but one And now James Duke of York ascends the English 〈◊〉 and having the same Day of his Brother's Death assembled the Council he declared to them That since it had pleased God to place him in that Station to succeed so good and gracious a King as well as so kind a Brother he thought 〈◊〉 to Declare his Endeavours to follow his Brother's Example more especially in that of his great Clemency and Tenderness to his People and make it his Business to preserve the Government both in Church and State as by Law established Commended the Church of England's Principles and Members and said He knew the Laws of England were sufficient to make the King as great a Monarch as he could wish and therefore as he would never depart from the just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so he would never invade any Man's Property It was well enough spoke of him and as well acted that he did not dissemble his Religion which was Popish and for which some in his Brother's Reign were severely used for but saying he was so for the very next Sunday after his Brother's Death he went publickly to Mass But his taking the Customs and Excise granted only for the Life of his Brother before they were given him by Parliament did ill Correspond with that part of his Speech that he would never invade any Man's Property and as little did the severe and barbarous Usage of Dr. Oates whom they endeavoured to prove Guilty of Perjury tho' the Contrary has since manifestly appeared by Ben. Hinton's Books agree with his saying He would imitate his Brother in his Clemency and Tenderness to his People But to leave these Things pass His Majesty being solemnly Crowned the 23d of April at Westminster he appointed a Parliament to meet the 22d of May to whom after having
Princes that France shall give up to them all that she has taken from them at present and that the rest remain as it was before the War That Lorrain be restored to the Duke of that Name in the State it is in now or if that cannot be done in the State it was when seized by France his Majesty and the States mutually and really obliging themselves to the Observation of this Point I. His said Majesty and the Lords the States-General promise to do their utmost and if it may be to use all sorts of Means to constrain the most Christian King to give Satisfaction in these Terms without being at Liberty to make a Peace with him if he do not give his Consent to them or to some others as shall be agreed on between his Majesty and the States according to the Success of the War II. His Majesty and the States-General do engage themselves further for the obliging France to consent to these Conditions or to such as the Princes concerned shall find convenient and in short for bringing of that Crown to comply with it that his Majesty shall furnish One Third more by Sea and a Third less by Land in the Low-Countries than the Lords the States all by a Provisionary Way till it be otherwise provided by the Allies III. It is also stipulated That if his Majesty of Great Britain and the most Christian King make War upon one another one of the Confederates cannot separate from the other by any particular Treaty without that other's Consent IV. But if the Negotiation of the Peace which is held at Nimeguen comes to be broke up and that the Parties should agree upon any other Place to treat of it or of a Truce that cannot be done without the Consent or Agreement of the other Allies and without at the same time one of the Parties in the Confederacy procure also to the other the necessary Pasports to pass freely and without Danger to the Place appointed for the Treaty where he ought also to communicate to him all that passeth in that Negotiation And in the mean time they shall not have Power to consent to any Peace or Truâ—e but according to the Conditions stipulated by the 1st Article or such other as they shall agree upon and without his Aâ—y be re-established in the full and entire Possession of all the Lands Towns Places and Immunities which he enjoyed at the Signing of this Treaty in Europe if it be not otherwise agreed on between his Majesty and the States V. But if the Peace in Hand terminate happily between the most Christian King on the one Hand and his Catholick Majesty and the States General on the other whether by the Propositions which France hath made her self or by such other as they can agree to his Britannick Majesty and the States will not only be Guarrantee in the best and surest Form that may be but also its free for other Kings and neighbouring Princes who shall have any Interest in the Repose of Christendom and the immutable Tranquility of the Low-Countries to be so 'T is with this View that his said Majesty and the States would agree upon the Troops and Means that are necessary to bring the Party who shall violate the Peace to make Satisfaction for the Damages he shall do another any manner of way VI. These Articles and the full Contents of them are to be Signed and Ratified within 3 Weeks or sooner if it may be and the Ratifications exchanged at the same time Given at the Hague the 26 th of July 1678. Signed W. Van Henkelom de Van Wiugaerden Fagel D. Van Heyden Van Leewen J. de Maregnault Jean Baron de Reed A. ter Borght Temple After the Treaty had been thus concluded and signified to France all the Artifice that could be was used on that side to elude it by drawing the matter into a Treaty or at least a greater length which had succeeded so well in England that they offered to treat upon it at St. Quintin then at Ghent where the French King himself proposed to meet such Embassadors as the Dutch should send into either of them Towns But the States were stanch not to recede from their late Treaty and continued in that Mood till about 5 Days before the Expiration of the time then came one De Cross from England with a Packet for Sir William Temple commanding him to go forth with to Nimeguen and there to endeavour from the King to perswade the Swedish Embassadors to let the French know That for the Repose of Christendom they did not any longer desire the French King to insist upon the Detention of the Towns and consequently hinder the Peace upon the sole Regard and Interest of the Crown of Sweden and to assure them that after the Conclusion of the Peace the King would employ all his Endeavours that the Towns and Countries which their Master had lost in the War should be restored unto them How this Dispatch of Du Cross was gained was never known but 't is sufficient to believe that France had the greatest Hand in it since 't was transacted all one Morning in Portsmouth's Apartment by the intervention and pursuit of Barillon the French Embassador Yet for all this when Sir William Temple arrived at Nimeguen which was but 3 Days before the Expiration of the Term fix'd by the late Treaty between our King and the States either for the French to evacuate the Towns or for carrying on the War conjointly against France there was but little Disposition that the Peace would be Signed but rather the quite contrary appeared by the Stiffness shewed on both sides to adhere firmly to their respective Demands And the Dutch Embassadors remained peremptory That there could be no Deputation for the securing of the future Satisfaction of Sweden as the French demanded before the Term expired and no other Remedy upon that but that the War must go on With this View and Expectation all the Parties seemed to be when the fatal Day came wherein either a suddain Peace or a long and bloody War was to be reckoned on in Christendom on the Morning whereof Monsieur Boreel who had been sent from Amsterdam to the Dutch Embassadors at Nimeguen went to the French Embassadors and after some Conference with them they immediately went to those of Holland and declared they had received Orders from their Master to consent to the Evacuation of the Towns and thereupon to Sign the Peace but that it must be done that Morning At this the Dutch seemed to be surprized but immediately entred into a Conference with them thereupon which lasted for 5 Hours and ended in an Agreement upon all Points both of Peace and Commerce between France and Holland It was certainly thought the French Embassadors had received no Power to Sign the Peace and 't was said Sir William Temple himself did advise those of Holland to press them to it out of a real Belief as well as the
obtain not such Security When the Prince of Orange was made acquainted with this Procedure of England by Mr. Hyde who went on purpose to Hounslerdike to do it he was no sooner withdrawn but the Prince lift up his Hands two or three times and said to Sir William Temple then present Was ever any Thing so Hot and so Cold as this Court of yours Will the King that is so often at Sea ever learn a Word that I shall never forget since my last Passage When in a great Storm the Captain was crying out to the Man at the Helm all Night Steddy Steddy Steddy If this Dispatch had come 20 Days ago it would have changed the Face of all Things in Christendom and the War might have been carried on till France had Yielded to the Treaty of the Pyrenees and left the World in Quiet for the rest of our Lives but it is my Opinion as it comes now it will have no Effect And indeed the Event proved answerable to the Prince's Judgment It s true all Appearances for the present seemed very different from both the Proceedings of the Dutch and Spaniards too whereof many of the Deputies of the former appear'd so ill satisfied with their Embassadors having Signed the Peace that they inclined to the King's Proposals and framed severral Articles against Monsieur Beverning's Proceedings the five Principal whereof were these First That in the Preface the French King seemed to be the Protector of the States Secondly That the Neutrality to which the States-General were engaged by that Treaty was indefinite and by consequence might be extended beyond the present War Thirdly That he had exceeded his Commission in having obliged the States to warrant the Neutrality of Spain Fourthly That he had omitted an Article of Amnesty and Oblivion which ought mutually to be stipulated in all Treaties of Peace And Lastly That he had forgot to mention the Barrier which the French King granted to Spain in Consideration and for the Security of the States-General As for the Embassadors of the latter notwithstanding the French after several Debates and Conferences did demit in their Pretentions yet they raised new Scruples about the Castellany of Aeth and other Things their Confederates upon the Continent and the daily Transportation of English Forces into Flanders heightning their Stiffness as well as the Expectation they had of the States going on again with the War upon this new Turn of Things But after Matters had continued for about 3 Weeks in this uncertain State France thought the Conjuncture of too much Importance to let it hover so long and therefore first dispatch a Courier to their Embassadors at Nimeguen with leave to satisfie the States as to those Clauses in their Treaty wherein they seem'd justly to except against Beverning's Conduct And therefore to cover the Credit of that Minister who had been so affectionate an Instrument in the Progress of it and so gradually softning their Rigour as to the remaining Points contested by the Spaniards they at last dispatch'd a Courier who brought Letters to Nimeguen on the 8th of Sept. impowering their Embassadors to remit all the Differences that obstructed or retarded the Conclusion of the Treaty between that Crown and Spain to the Determination and Arbitrage of the States themselves which was a piece of Confidence towards them on the part of France that several Towns and Provinces proceeded with a general Concurrence to their Ratifications that they might lie ready in their Embassador's Hands to be exchanged when the Treaty with Spain was Signed which was done on the 17th at the Dutch Embassadors House and wherein Sir Lionel Jenkins the Kings Mediator had no part and so the Designs of the Court of England were once more Eluded and Mr. Hyde had the Mortification to return re infecta This Treaty with Spain is very long and for that Reason I had Thoughts once to leave it quite out but considering the Treatise would have been imperfect without it and that a much better Estimate may be made by it of the present Posture of the Spanish Affairs upon the late Peace than otherwise could be done I have altered my Mind and given my Reader the Particulars The TREATY of PEACE betwixt France and Spain Concluded at Nimeguen Sept. 17. 1678. IN the Name of God the Creator and of the most Holy Trinity To all present and to come be it known That whereas during the Course of the War that arose some Years since betwixt the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God most Christian King of France and Navar and his Allies on the one part and the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Charles II by the Grace of God Catholick King of Spain and his Allies on the other part their Majesties have desired nothing more vehemently than to see it end in a good Peace And whereas the same desire to put a Stop as far as in them lay to the Ruine of so many Provinces the Tears of so much People and the shedding so much Christian Blood hath induced them to comply with the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince the King of Great Britain to send their Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to the Town of Nimeguen So it is come to pass through an Effect of the Divine Goodness that hath been pleased to make use of the intire Confidence that their Majesties have always reposed in the Mediation of the said King of Great Britain that at length the said Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to wit on the behalf of his most Christian Majesty the Sieur Count D' Estrades Marshal of France and Knight of his Majesty's Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissy Councellor in Ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur De Mesmes Knight Count De Avaux Councellor also in his Majesty's Councils and on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty the Sieur Don Pablo Spinola Doria Marquess de les Balbases Duke of Sesto Lord of Gminossa Casalnosetta and Ponteucrone Councellor in his Council of State and chief Protonotary in his Council of Italy Don Gaspard de Tebes and Cordova Tello Guzman Count de Venazuza Marquess de la Fuente Lord of Lerena of the House of Arrucas of the Isles of Guadalupa and Matalione Perpetual Master de la Victoire Perpetual Major and Recorder of the Town of Sevil Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Imperial Majesty one of his chief Council of War and General of his Artillery Don Pedro Ronquillo Knight of the Order of Alcantara Councellor in his Council of Castile and of the Indies and Don John Baptisse Christin Knight Councellor in the high Council of Flanders near to his said Catholick Majesty's Person and one of his Council of State and of his Privy-Council in the Low-Countries by Virtue of Letters and Commissions which they have communicated to one another and the Copies whereof
during the Course of the War to support to the utmost of their Abilities the common Interests That if the rest of the Allies had done the like Things might have had a better Issue That they were sorry they were forced thro' the Necessity of their Affairs to conclude the Peace upon the Terms they did but that when they saw the Spanish Netherlands ready to be lost themselves exhausted their Inhabitants ruin'd for want of Trade and no longer able to bear the Burden of the War they had been necessitated to accept of the Conditions offered by France as Spain likewise had done That since the Peace they had laboured all they could to obtain a Neutrality for his Countries of Cleve and Mark but to no purpose France having still refused it And in Conclusion desired he would continue his Friendship with them which they should always cultivate on their part as became sincere and true Allies This is all the Satisfaction that Noble Elector could have for all the Damages he had sustained Things were now in another Posture with the States being menaced with no apparent Danger from any Quarter However they did afterward make him some little sort of Compensation by paying some Arrears of Subsidies due to him upon the Account of his Assistance in the War with which he was forced to sit down and content himself to be quiet But it was not the Elector of Brandenburg alone that thought himself aggrieved by the Proceedings of the States and so wanted Reparation for the Spaniards also put in a great Claim and that was the Restitution of Maestricht up to them You are to understand that when the Spaniards who were one of the first came in to the States Assistance against France in this War it was stipulated between these Two Powers among other Things That Maestricht should be delivered to the Spaniards whenever the Dutch should be in a Condition to do so for it was then in the French Hands in Consideration of so timely a Relief from them against so formidable an Enemy But for all this the Dutch taking no notice of that Article after they had made their Peace with France the Spaniards now at length were pleased to mind them of it by several Memorials delivered in by their Embassador M. de Lyra Yet the Dutch knowing well whom they had to deal with in some time made no Difficulty to answer That they did very readily acknowledge the Assistance they had received from his Catholick Majesty in the Beginning of the War during the Course of which the States were not wanting to support the common Interests to the utmost of their Power That they were willing to own that by the Alliance made between the Crown of Spain and them in the Year 1673 they ought to deliver Maestricht to his Majesty but that the same Treaty likewise obliged him to the Observance of the Peace of Munster and all the Stipulations made in consequence thereof and that accordingly his Majesty lay under an Engagement to make good the Agreement concerning the Prince of Orange and to satisfie the Debt which with the Interest amounted to near 8000000 of Livres due to his Highness by Virtue thereof That the States had during the War caused a Squadron of Men of War to be fitted out for the Service of Sicily and that great Arrears were still remaining due to the Admiralties upon that Account and that therefore they prayed his Majesty to give them and the Prince Satisfaction in these Points and then they would be ready on their side to comply with the Obligation of their Treaty and to restore Maestricht The Spanish Minister not satisfied herewith shewed himself much surprized that after the Sollicitation of near 10 Months and so many Memorials put in by him he should receive an Answer so little suitable to the great Assistances even preceding the Treaty of 1673 given the States by the Crown of Spain in the Beginning of the late War That the Offer of Maestricht was then made voluntary by the States as an Acknowledgement of the same which they ought therefore the rather to make good For that which concerned the Prince of Orange the Debt had never been denied and great Sums had been paid upon that Account and that the Millions which the Crown of Spain had expended during the late War in Subsidies and Maintenance of Foreign Troops would more than have satisfied his Highness's Pretensions That the Crown of Spain did readily acknowledge the great Obligations they the States had to his Highness for the eminent Services he had rendred them on so many Occasions That in Satisfaction of his Debt the Crown of Spain had assign'd him an 100000 Crowns at each Return of the Galeons and 50000 Crowns of Annual Rents in the Low-Countries That as to what was owing to the Admiralties all Care should be taken to satisfie the same That Maestricht would be of very great Advantage to the Crown of Spain but none to the States being so far from their Frontiers And concluded all with telling them He knew not how the King his Master would resent this their Proceeding or what he might resolve upon in return thereof concerning the Dutch Effects For that he was ignorant whether his Majesty would act therein according to his Royal Goodness or according to the Justice and Right of the Thing The Minister indeed Don Emanuel de Lyra might resent the Proceedings of the States tho' to his own Damage as he did in refusing their usual Present to Embassadors but the Court of Spain proved of another Temper knowing well the crasie Constitution of their State at that time and that they were not in a Condition to procure Satisfaction for the supposed Injury However the States endeavoured the Year following to make them some Reparation by mediating between France and Spain a Remission of the former's Pretensions to the Title of Duke of Burgundy which the latter always possest till this Treaty of Nimeguen And which notwithstanding the great Deference the French King seemed to have to the Interposition of the States the Catholick King under the specious Pretences of being desirous to take away all Occasion that might be made use of to disturb the Peace and from the particular Regard he had to the Instances of the States who sollicited both Parties in that behalf totally remitted to the French King who from thence forward inserted among the rest of his Titles that of Duke of Burgundy There remained now no Negotiation undecided but that of Denmark and Sweden towards the compleating of which Conferences had been daily set on foot at Lounden in Schonen But the Negotiation which M. de Mayerkron had begun at the French Court gave the greatest Hopes that the Peace would e're long be concluded on that side also and the French to hasten it sent a considerable Detachment of Cavalry under the Command of the Marquess of Joyeuse through the Territories of the Elector of
French Embassador at the Hague and the Dutch one at Paris And this being effected the Subjects of their Republick should have alone the Trade in that King's Dominions to the Exclusion of all other Nations This was soon after seconded with a Memorial by the French Embassador concerning an Alliance the King his Master offered to enter into with the States to be founded upon the Foot of the Treaty made An. 1662. which Offers were further enforced by representing unto them as well the Advantage that would accrue to them upon their accepting as the Inconveniencies that might follow upon their refusal of it and telling them that any Delay in the Affair would be looked upon as a Refusal and that his Master would regulate himself accordingly But the States taking some time to deliberate and demurring upon the Matter they received Letters in the mean while from their Embassadors at Paris importing That being sent for by Monsieur Colbert and going to him he had put them in mind of the many Obligations the States had to the King his Master and of the particular Demonstration he had given them of his Affection in offering them a Peace in the midst of his Conquests upon the Terms he did That he had since expected Overtures from them of a nearer Alliance But they having been wanting he had himself for some time since made an Offer of the same by his Embassadors at the Hague That it had been debated in the Assembly of the States of Holland and that the said States had Adjourned themselves without coming to any Resolution therein That the King was much surprized to find them make so small an Account of an Alliance which they themselves had sought for some Years before by an Extraordinary Embassadors now the same was offered them That this Alliance proposed was only Defensive which the States could receive no Prejudice by but much Advantage That his Majesty understood that the King of England did oppose them while he pretended to make himself an Alliance with them and that his Majesty would have great Cause to be dissatisfied with the States if they should refuse the Overtures made by him and instead thereof close with those of the King of England concluding That his Majesty as his Embassador the Count d' Avaux had already told them would take their Delay for a Refusal That however he would keep the Peace with them but would at the same time look upon them as a State that did not deserve to live in good Amity with him and would not favour their Commerce Mr. Henry Sidney the King's Embassadors in Holland as I told you and now Earl of Rumney was no sooner informed of the foresaid Memorial and Proceedings of France but he put in a like Memorial to the States shewing That the King his Master having understood the Proposals that had been made them by the French Embassadors could not believe that the States could so far forget their own and common Interests of Christendom as to accept of them That his Majesty particularly would have Cause after their having refused the Act of Guarranty which he lately offered to enter into with them for securing their present Peace to resent their entring into any new Engagements with France especially since his Majesty might have just Cause to be jealous that the same could have no other end than to enable the French King to shew his Resentments of the Peace his Majesty had made with the States in 1674 and of what his Majesty did afterward in order to the procuring a more advantageous Peace for them and their Allies than that which was made at Nimeguen That such a Resolution in the States would certainly prejudice that strict Union and Friendship that was established between him and them and oblige his Majesty to take other Measures But that his Majesty for his part would not only punctually comply with what was stipulated and agreed in the Defensive Treaty made between England and Holland the 3d of Mar. 1678 if they would reject the French Alliance but also stand by them to the uttermost if they should be attack'd by France Mr. Sidney's Address and Diligence in the Prosecution of this Matter was admirable and succeeded so well that the States determined civilly to refuse the Alliance proposed by France But the French King having declared he was not satisfied therewith his said Embassador made another Effort to divert the States from their intended Resolution shewing That he had received further Orders from the King his Master to acquaint them That his Majesty was extreamly astonished at their manner of Proceedings in the Matter of the Alliance by him proposed and highly resented it That he was commanded to expect some Days longer their final Resolution in that Affair but that afterward he should say no more of it nor accept any Act which they should offer and that then they must expect his Master would take such Measures as he thought necessary for the Good of his Kingdoms and the Advantage of his Subjects in their Commerce That Mons Colbert had told their Embassadors at Paris The King his Master wonder'd extreamly to find all Persons in Holland full of Hopes which their Letters had given them That his Majesty would not depart from the Execution of the Peace and that if they would not enter into that Alliance with him they should only suffer somewhat in their Commerce That the Sense of what he had then told them from the King his Master had been wrong delivered by them and worse interpreted at the Hague That his Majesty did not threaten them with his Indignation but the Dissatisfaction which he had conceived at their Proceedings might perhaps be the Occasion of greater Prejudice to them than the Indignation of others and that they would do well to consider what had happened to them within 8 or 10 Years past the Beginnings whereof had been less considerable than the just Dissatisfaction which their present Conduct gave the King his Master D' Avaux had no sooner ended but Mr. Sidney was ready to oppose who after he had take notice to the States of the great Earnestness of the French to press them into their Alliance he thought fit to repeat his Instances to disswade them from it That the King his Master did not pretend to make use of Threats of which the Memorials of the French â—mbassador were full but would leave them wholly to be guided by the Consideration of their own Interests That his Majesty did perswade himself that after the Assurances of Assistance he had given them in whatever might happen they would not enter into any Engagements which his Majesty should have Cause to look upon as intended against him and that the Instances of the French King which were too sharp and pressing for a Free Republick would not divert them from their true Interests and from that strict Friendship that was between his Majesty and their State and of which his Majesty had
That the Treaty of Nimeguen did confirm that of Westphalia and consequently that the said Towns ought to be restored to the Enjoyment of the Rights and Priviledges which they stipulated for them That for the 5th and 6th Points they likewise directly contravened the said Treaties That as for the 7th they expected further Information on it As for the 8th they could not imagine what Right the French had to fortifie Schlestadt considering the Promises with relation to those Free Towns For the 9th and 10th That the French had acted notoriously contrary to the Westphalian and Nimeguen Treaties For the 11th That Homburg belonged to the Count of Nassaw as appeared by the Treaty of Osnalbrug That as for what concerned Bitsoh they expected further Information And Lastly They hoped the French King would not prejudice Strasburg in its Rights and Priviledges and particularly in that of fortifying Kiel that was so necessary for its Security But for all these Remonstrances the French were 〈◊〉 far from giving the proposed Satisfaction that they began â—ery Day to enlarge their Limits in Alsatia and set up a new Pretension upon Santerburg belonging to the bishoprick of Spire and Monsieur Verjus the French Minister at Ratisbone spake very big upon the Matter which made Things very uneasie on that side at the present And a Paper that was some time after printed and dispersed in those Parts containing several Conditions offered as was pretended by the French King in case the Dauphine were chosen King of the Romans did not lessen you may be sure the Apprehensions they had of Danger from that Quarter the Contents of which Paper were these that follow That the most Christian King and the Dauphine his Son would make good the Imperial Constitutions That the Dauphine would bear all due Respect to the Emperor That Burgundy Lorrain the Lower and Upper Alâ—ace the Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun with other Lands and Places should be restored to the Empire and the City of Friburg to the Emperor That 60000 Men should be maintained in Hungary to be employed against the Turks without any Charge to the Empire which should only maintain a Body of 16000 Men That all the Places which should be taken in Hungary should be put into the Emperor's Hands That a considerable Fleet should be employed against the Turks towards the Dardanello's That Two Universities should be erected in Germany for the Use of the several Religions there And Lastly That the French King would renounce all Pretensions to the Lands possessed by Charles the Great But what Effect soever these Proposals were like to have upon the Empire in general the Elector Palatine felt the Effects of the French Arms about this time in particular for they attacked the Castle of Falkenberg and after some small Resistance made themselves Masters of it All which with a great many more put together made the Emperor and Empire put forth their Complaints in every Court where there was any hopes of Relief And particularly the Emperor's Minister in Holland represented to the States-General That by Order of His Imperial Majesty he was to acquaint them that the Officers of the most Christian King had already seized a great part of the Territories of the Elector Palatine and it was to be feared they would do the like by the rest of his Countries on Pretence of Dependances and other Rights which they took upon them to search Antiquity for even to the Time of King Dagoberte That the Elector of Trier had already suffered the like Treatment And that other Princes of the Empire were exposed to the same Dangers and particularly the City of Strasburg which being directly contrary to the Peace of Nimeguen the Preservation whereof was not only necessary to the Tranquility of Germany but likewise to the Good of that Republick whose Interest was no less to have a good Barrier towards the Rhine than towards Flanders He therefore desired the said States would effectually employ their good Offices at the French Court to the end those Contraventions might for ever cease and be abolished But whether the States thought it to no purpose to sollicite France on this behalf since after all the Caresses of the French King upon their Motion to him of being easie with Spain in respect to the Title of Duke of Burgandy before-mentioned and in his Saying He should always have a very great Regard to what the States should desire of him they met at last with so little Success and Spain was forced to demit her Right or that they thought others more immediately concerned than themselves they took but little Care of it But Germany was not the only Country that thought her self injured by the French Proceedings since the Peace for the new Pretensions that were set up every Day upon some Place or other in Flanders made them very uneasie on that side also and so much the more because they were not in a Condition to hinder it and right themselves For the French in the Spring of this Year not only possessed themselves of the Abbies 〈◊〉 Thiery and St. Gerard with above 40 Villages in the Province of Namur under Colour of their being Dependances upon Charlemont lately yielded to them but also of the Abby 〈◊〉 Molyn and its Dependancies obliging the Inhabitants 〈◊〉 those Places to swear Fealty to France and threatning them 〈◊〉 case of Refusal with Military Execution And the Princes 〈◊〉 Italy however they might take it had no less Reason to be alarm'd at the Extension of the French Dominions on their side than either Flanders or Germany for now it was after sometime of Treaty that the Duke of Mantua's Ratification concerning the giving up of Cassal into the French Hands foâ— 4000000 of Livres arrived and that their Troops marched to take Possession of the Place This was the State of Things abroad when the Parliament in England met which was upon the 21st of Oct. and to whoâ— the King made a Speech importing That the several Prorogations he had made had been very advantageous to our Neighbours and very useful to him For he had imployed that Time in makinâ— an Alliance with Spain suitable to that which he had a little beforâ— made with the States of the United Provinces and they also 〈◊〉 with Spain consisting of Mutual Obligations of Succour and Defence That he desired Money of them for the Relief of Tangler which had already ebâ—hausted his Purse That he would not have them meddle with the Succession of the Crown in the Right Line but proceed in the Discovery of the Plot and to the Trial of the Lords As for the Alliance with Holland I have already given you an Account of it and indeed it was well managed as well as a good Point gained and deserved more Notice should have been taken of it by the Parliament and perhaps they would have done it another time But as for the other with Spain I can give you no
during the Life of the said James Duke of York this Act shall be given a Charge at every Assizes and General Sessions of the Peace within the Kingdoms Dominions and Territories aforesaid and also shall be openly Read in every Cathedral Church and Parish Church and Chappels within the aforesaid Kingdoms Dominions and Territories by the respective Parsons Vicars Curates and Readers thereof who are hereby required immediately after Divine Service in the Forenoon to Read the same twice in every Year That is to say on the 25th of Dec. and upon Easter-day during the Life of the said James Duke of York But the Lords Rancounter to the Commons in this Bill tho' they made a Sift upon the others Impeachment to Try and Sentence William Lord Viscount Stafford to Death for the Popish Conspiracy who on the 7th of Dec. was executed accordingly For after the Reading it the First time in the Upper-House the Question being put Whether it should be read the Second time it was resolved in the Negative by above a double Majority of Votes and so this great Affair dropp'd The Commons imployed much of their Time to prosecute and impeach all those that had countenanced the Popish Plot or were Abhorrers of Petitioning the King for the Meeting of the Parliament in the several Prorogations of it and voted That it ever had been the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England to Petition the King for the Calling and Sitting of Parliaments and Redress of Grievances And that to traduce such Petitioning as a Violation of Duty and to represent the same to his Majesty as Tumultuous and Seditious was to betray the Liberty of the Subject and contributed to the Designs of subverting the ancient Legal Constitutions of the Kingdom of England and introducing Arbitrary Power The first that fell under their Lash was Sir Francis Withens since a Judge a Member then of their own House whom they voted to be a Betrayer of the undoubted Rights of the Subjects of England and for that his high Crime expelled him the House receiving first the Sentence at the Bar upon his Marrow-bones Sir George Jefferys was the next then Recorder of London who for the present by Virtue of the House's Address to the King for that End was put out of all publick Offices tho' we have seen him since act the Tyrant in the highest Station the late King his good Master could advance him to but at last being left in the Lurch by him was found in a Seaman's Habit at Wapping and died in the Tower because he had not Courage enough to live a little longer to be hang'd Several others were censured upon the like Account and among the rest the House voted That it was a sufficient Ground for them to proceed against Sir Thomas Jones one of the Judges of the King's Bench and Sir Richard Westone a Baron of the Exchequer for high Crimes and Misdemeanors because they had advised and were assisting to draw up a Proclamation against Petitioning for the Sitting of the Parliament The like was passed against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas for the same who for murdering poor Stephen Colledge under Colour of Law at Oxford had the Great Seal of England committed to his Custody and therewith the Care of the King's Conscience who had none at all of his own All this while we hear nothing of the King's Business which was to get Money for the Preservation of Tangier and Perfecting the Alliance made with Spain But the Commons had Three Reasons why they would not comply with his Majesty in his first Demand One was for that the State of the Nation was such at that time that their giving any Money for that End might augment the Strength of the Popish Party and further endanger the Nation 's Safety Another was Seeing there were several Regiments besides Guards in England then in Pay they might be transported to Tangier with little Charge and be maintain'd there as cheap as at Home which Two Reasons they clench'd with this Third That that Garrison was the Nursery of Popish Officers and Soldiers And if Things went ill with the King on this Head he is like to fare no better with the other For the House had as many Reasons for not giving him Money for the Alliance of Mutual Obligations of Succour and Defence which he pretended to have made with Spain For first they seemed to be jealous of the King's Sincerity therein and the more because he had not declared to them what manner of Alliance that was and that it might be more to the Prejudice than Benefit of the Kingdom or if it should have been to the Advantage of it they could have no more Assurance of the Performance than they had of the Triple League That which was made with the Prince of Orange when he was in England Or that between the King and States of Holland by Mr. Hyde on the King's Part which were all broken almost as soon as made Besides it was impossible any great Benefit should arise to England and Spain by such an Alliance For if all Christendom after the separate Peace made by the Dutch at Nimeguen could not uphold Spain and the Spanish Netherlands from falling under the Dominion of France how could the King in the feeble and distracted State of the Nation be in a Condition to support it without them Add to this the Unreasonableness of giving Money upon such an Account For tho' the Kings of England have frequently demanded Supplies for maintaining vast Wars yet never any one of them before demanded Supplies for making Alliances And indeed whatever Alliance the King had made with Spain it will be found before his Reign has spun out that it was very ill performed on his part And if the Commons were not a little mortified at the Proceedings of the Lords and of the Court in respect to the Bill of Exclusion the King could not be well pleased to be sure with the Methods they took to answer his Demands of a present Supply in the ordinary way but was undoubtedly much more nettled at their Resolutions to hinder him from being relieved by extraordinary Methods afterwards For the House considering the weak and dangerous Condition of the Nation as well by the Debt the King had contracted by shutting up of the Exchequer as by his squandering away almost all the ancient Revenues of the Crown did in order to prevent the like upon the Revenue settled upon the King since his Restoration on the 17th of Jan. resolve 1. That whosoever should lend or cause to be lent by way of Advance any Money upon the Branches of the King's Revenue arising by Custom Excise or Hearth-money should be adjudged an Hinderer of the Sitting of Parlaiment and be responsible for the same 2. That whosoever should buy any Tally or Anticipation upon any part of the King's Revenue or whosoever should pay such Tally hereafter to be struck should
Practices upon Captain Wilkinson who proved too honest to be tempted even by blessed Memory himself who failed not to attack him to that end at the Secretaries Office The Grand Jury Nov. 24 whereof that worthy Gentlemen Sir Samuel Bernardiston was Foreman and for all the whole Bench of Judges sat in Court to influence the matter returned Ignoramus upon the Bill whereat all the People discovered their Satisfaction and good Will to the Nation not only by a general Shout but with such Indignation against the Rascally Hireling-Witnesses that they would have torn them to pieces had it not been for the prudent care of the Sheriffs to prevent it as also by making several Bone-fires that Night in the City His Royal Highness was all this while in Scotland moulding that Nation under a Protestant Mask for a Popish Successor and Government the Parliament there chimed in with him and made a Test and other Acts which in the main were less binding than what were in force before and whereat many of the Members seemed so dissatisfied that they desired other Additions and Acts which the Duke in open Parliament promised when Time and Opportunity offered but when at any time that was proposed the Test was obtruded Among the rest there had been an Act made that was less binding to the Successor to the Crown as to his own Profession The Earl of Argyle proposed at the passing thereof That all other Acts against Popery might be added which was so contrary to the Duke's Designs and so inraged him against the Earl that all Methods imaginable were proposed to ruine him which at last was effected under a pretence of his putting his own Sense and Interpretation upon the Test when he took it tho' others had done it as well as he and so the Earl was prosecuted hereupon with so much Cruelty Unjustice and Oppression and by such execrable and partial Methods that none could be guilty of but him that was at the Head of the Business and his sworn Slaves and he was upon the said trivial Account found guilty of High-Treason as you may read at large in the Earl's Case and indeed its worth any honest Mans reading but I would not curtail it here and to insert it at large would not be consistent with the present Design However that brave Man made a shift to escape his Destiny at that time by exchanging Cloaths with his Daughter and so getting privately out of Edenburg-Castle and flying beyond the Seas tho' he could not do it afterwards but fell a Sacrifice to the same Revenge that thus made him first miserable But while our Royal Pair were acting the T against their innocent Subjects Laws and Constitution the French were playing another part abroad which in my Mind let others think what they list was not near so bad tho' I do not at all justifie it You have heard before how that after the Conclusion of the Peace of Nimeguen the French still continued their Pretensions to some Places both in Flanders and on the Rhine Concerning which last we have already given you the Memorial of the Emperor to the Dyet of Ratlsbone and their Result thereupon Now there was no City on that side so much alarm'd from time to time as Strasburg and of this there were frequent Accounts given even in the publick News of those days But the French the more to amuse them this Year disposed of their Troops in that order that it was but Sept. 13 that they wrote from that City that they were very easie in those Parts the French Troops being gone into their Winter Quarters and that it was likely to be so with them since the French King's Designs were towards Italy tho' at the same time they could not but take notice of the great Magazines that were provided both in Lorrain and Alsace But they or the Rogues amongst them who betray'd them might flatter themselves as long as they pleased with the thoughts of their Security Whereas the French King was this very Month set out toward their Frontiers having sent M Louvois before to draw the Troops suddenly together for the Enterprize One should think it a strange thing that a Person whose great Talent was to be a Minister of a State and no Souldier among so many profess'd Souldiers and great Commanders wherewith France abounded should be singled out to perform this Military Enterprize But upon second Thoughts it will it be allowed to have been a piece of Justice to grant him who had made the Bargain the honour of taking Possession for Mr. Louvois was fouly belyed if he had uot been divers times at Strasburg inoognito to that end as well as in greater Places And we have known Richlieu occasionally lead the French Army over the Alps into Italy as Mazarine has often acted that part on other Occasions But to return Mr. Louvois having used great Diligence and Secresie appear'd with a great number of Troops before Strasburg and the very same Day order'd a Regiment of Dragoons to seize upon the Fort of Kiel that guards the Bridge of the City and sent the Magistrates Word That the King expected they should render him the Oath of Fidelity and Obedience due to him by the Treaty of Munster which had yielded to him all the Vpper and Lower Alsatia and consequently that City which was the Capital thereof a pretty Pretence indeed and should receive a Garrison of his Troops into it Hereupon the Magistrates by Concert no doubt made no Hesitation to submit but for Form sake proposed Conditions of which take the following Sceach and the rather because hereby it will be easie almost for any Reader to discern whether there have been afterwards any Infractions made in the present Agreement ARTICLES as Proposed by the Proetors Consuls and Magistrates of the City of Strasburg and as they were granted by the Marquess de Louvois and the Baron de Monclair the King's Lieutenant General in Alsace Sept. 30. 1681. I. THat the City of Strasburg and all its Dependancies shall be received into His Majesty's Protection II. That his Majesty will confirm the ancient Priviledges Rights Statutes and Customs of the City of Strasburg as well Ecclesiastical as Civil pursuant to the Treaty of Westphalia confirmed by that of Nimeguen Both which were granted III. That His Majesty should leave them the free Exercise of their Religion as it had been since 1624. to this time with all the Churches and Schools and that his Majesty would not permit any Person whatsoever to make any Pretensions upon them but for ever preserve them to the City and its Inhabitants Granted that the City shall enjoy all its Ecclesiastical Goods and Revenues pursuant to the Treaty of Munster except the Cathedral of our Lady which should be restored to the Catholicks However His Majesty would permit the Inhabitants to make use of the Bells of the said Church but not to Ring them to Prayers A great Favour indeed IV. That
Truth and even by the Confession of my Opposers for that OLD CAVSE in which I was from my Youth engaged and for which thou hast often and wonderfully declared thy self Yet notwithstanding all these Points gained there was something to be done before it could be be said That the King was a Despotical â—rince and would make his Will his Law For tho' the City of London was now absolutely dependant upon his Majesty in respect of the Magistracy thereof and that the naming of the other Sheriffs of all the Countles and Shires of the Kingdom belonged unto him yet there were many other Cities in England who still chose their own Sheriffs but something must have been done with these before the Constitution of the Parliament could be subverted which seemed to be the only White in the Butt they had been aiming at all this while For you are to note that the House of Commons consists of 513 Members whereof but 92 only are Knights of the Shires so that near 5 Parts in 6 are Burgesses Citizens and Barons of the Cinque-Ports and the generality of the Corporations which send these Members are poor decay'd Places and so not in a Condition as the City of London was to contest their Charters or if they should there were but little hopes to keep them now London had not been able to hold hers Yet it was considered also that it would cost the Court-Agents a great deal of time to bring Quo Warranto's against above 200 Corporations wherefore all Hands were set on work to induce these poor Inhabitants to surrender up their Rights and mighty Rewards proposed unto those who should shew themselves forward and instrumental therein But because Moneys were scarce there were Bargains made wiâ—h Multitudes of them to have Grants of Fairs for the Surrender of their Charters and those who refused must have Quo Warranto's brought against them However before these things were fully put in Execution it was thought necessary to augment the standing Forces in England who were already too many in time of Peace For some Umbrages were taken that Disturbances might arise before they could be brought to Perfection For tho' the Duke had secur'd Scotland and had 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse and a Years Pay to be assisting upon all Occasions and that greater Liberty than ever was given to the Irish yet all this was not thought enough and therefore Tangier part of Queen Catherine's hopeful Portion which cost the King her Husband above 100000 l. a Year the keeping for 20 Years together must now at last the Mould was near finished be utterly demolished and the Garrison brought over which had been a Nursery of Popish Officers and Soldiers and quartered in the most considerable parts of the Kingdom And in this pittiful State we shall leave England and see what mighty Changes have been made in the Face of Things in other Parts of Europe and more particularly in the Kingdom of Hungary where brake out the cruellest War between the Emperor and the Turks and that has been intermixt with such Variety of Actions and Fortune in the long Course of it as I think no Age nor History can parallel the exact Particulars whereof we shall endeavour to give as they shall fall out in due Series of Time and their proper Order But before we enter immediately upon that mighty Affair it will be necessary to premise somewhat in this place how things stood on this side the Empire towards France and in the Netherlands We have said something before concerning the Re-unions pretended to be made by France after the Treaty of Nimeguen But yet to be a little more particular It was not long after the Conclusion of the said Peace that that Crown possessed her self of Homhurg and Bisstel the only two Places remaining to the Duke of Lorain of all his Dutchy However tho' the Duke who had â—ut little Power of his own was forced tamely to submit to it yet it could not be thought that others would be so willing to do it And therefore First Monsieur Ravaux who had searched all the Monuments of the Parliaments of Metz and the Cities thereabouts endeavoured from thence to prove That in time of old all Alsatia Lorain the Counties of Chiney Arlon Vierton St. Armand all the Country of Luxemburg except the City of that Name divers Villages and Seigniories in Germany Flanders Brabant Hegenow and the Country of Liege did really and of just Right belong to the King of France as Dependences upon the three Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun or upon other Places that had been yielded to them by the Treaty of Nimeguen In pursâ—ance hereof they erected in France 2 Tribunals of Justice or Sovereign Courts one at Metz and the other at Brisac by the Name of The Chambers of Re-unions where the Inhabitants and Lords of all the fore-mentioned Places were gravely cited to appear before the Commissioners Judges and Parties to see themselves condemned to make their Submission to the French King and to receive his Orders thereupon and in case of Refusal to be condemned for Default and Contumacy It was under such Pretensions that Strasburg was seized on by that Crown and by the same pretended Reasons Luxemburg had been blocked up in a manner ever since the Peace and that as it were by way of Reprisal because the Spaniards would not yield up to them several Places in Flanders which they laid claim to Which way of Procedure did at length alarm all the Potentates upon the Continent so that the Emperor Swedeland the States of Holland Franconia and several other Free and Imperial Cities entred into a mutual League of Defence which was called The League of Ausburg and to the Glory of the then Prince of Orange it must be said and is what his Enemies have own'd he was the greatest Instrument to bring it about of any in Europe Good God! What shall we think of England all this while But I have told you already our King had other Fish to fry and 't is very remarkable that he was by this time fallen into such an abject State in the Opinion of all the Neighbouring Princes and States that it does not appear they ever sought as much as his Concurrence in or Approbation of this League though otherwise generally speaking England was the only Kingdom that was wont to keep the Scales even between the contending Parties for many Ages together However whether it were out of the Apprehensions of the impending Storm upon Christendom from the Mahometan Quarters or out of a meer Act of Generosity this is certain that as soon as the French King came to know that the Turk was bending all his Forces against the Empire and to that End had ordered his Army to march towards Belgrade not only with a Design to possess himself of all Hungary but even to invade the Neighbouring Provinces he withdrew his Forces from before Luxemburg though almost ready
King of Great Britain provided no Complaint shall be received on this Subject three Months after the Exchange of the Spanish Ratifâ—cations VII The Contributions shall be continued on both sides till the Day of the Exchange of the Spanish Ratification and the Arrears then due shall be paid within three Months after and during that time there shall be no Military Execution on that Account provided the Places give good Security to pay the same and if any Difference arise concerning the said Contributions it shall be referred to the Arbitrage of the King of Great Britain VIII The most Christian King obliges himself to cause from this present time all Hostilities to cease in the Low Countries against the Places belonging to the King of Spain and even in the open Country in case the Spaniards do abstain from them IX In case the King of Spain do not accept the said Truce within the said Term of 6 Weeks and cause the Ratifications to be furnished in due Form the States-General do oblige themselves immediately afterwards to withdraw their Troops out of the Spanish Netherlands and not to give the Crown of Spain any Assistance during the present War and do further oblige themselves not to commit any Hostilities against his Majesty or his Allies and his most Christian Majesty likewise obliges himself not to attack or possess with his own Troops or those of his Allies any Place in the Low-Countries and even not to make War in the open Country if the Spaniards do abstain from it X. In case the War shall continue and that his most Christian Majesty shall make any Conquest upon Spain his Majesty promises not to accept any Equivalent in the Spanish Netherlands for the Conquests he shall make elsewhere during the present War and that he will not during the said time possess himself of any Places in the Low-Countries either by Revolt Exchange voluntary Cession or any other way whetever XI His Majesty obliges himself to give a Month longer to the Dyet at Ratisbone to accept the Truce upon the Conditions already offered them XII The King of Great Britain and generally all Princes that are willing to enter into a like Engagement may be Guarantees of this Treaty XIII Nothing shall be innovated in the said Treaty concluded at Nimeguen between his most Christian Majesty and this State XIV This Treaty shall be ratified by his Majesty and the said States within 3 Weeks from the Date thereof At the same time that this Truce was proposed in Holland there was also another put to the Dyet at Ratisbonne importing in a manner the same thing and was accepted of by them the more readily to be sure because of the War the Empire was now deeply engaged in with the Turks In both which we find the Republick of Genoua mentioned but for what Reason it is time we should here mention it being the same as was transmitted from the place it self when the Occasion happened The French Fleet arriving about the 17th of May before that City the Fort on the Mole saluted them with 11 Guns which was answered by the French Admiral with 9 when the Fort a little after saluted the Admiral again with 20 Chambers and 10 Guns which he returned with 7 so that they seemed yet to be in the dark what to think of it Next Morning the Senate sent 6 Deputies on Board the Admiral to complement him and to know the occasion of the Fleet 's coming thither which they knew no doubt well enough before and being returned they reported to the Senate that Monsieur Saignelay had told them the King was very much dissatisfied with the late Conduct of the Republick and that his Demands of them were That they should quit the Protection of Spain That they should join the 4 Gallies they had lately built with those of his Majesty That they would permit the French to have a Magazine of Salt at Savona That they should send 4 Senators on Board to beg his Majesty's Pardon c. The Senate resolved not to grant these Demands and therefore let the French know if they drew not farther off they would look upon them as Enemies But they taking no notice of it the Genoese about 3 in the Afternoon shot towards the Admiral without Bullet and an Hour after the several Forts fired with Shot which made the French Ships and Gallies draw further off But the 〈◊〉 Galliots continued all in a Row to fire one part of the City and began to throw their Bombs into the plate which put the People into a very great Consternation having never heard and much less seen and felt such 〈◊〉 thing before for I think this Action of the French was the first of Bombing any place by Sea before But it did not end here and they themselves have since felt the dire Effects of it On the 21th the Doge's Palace was quite beaten down and the Doge and Senate removed to the Albergho a great Fabrick built by the Publick where the Bombs 〈◊〉 not reach The next Morning being the 22th the French sent ashoar to let the Senate know That they were sorry to â—uine so fine a City and that they would yet give them 24 Hours to agree to the King's Demands Upon this the Great Council was called the 23th early in the Morning who resolved not to submit to the French Demands and this Answer was given them at the Mole the People now beginning to be couragious and with a great Shout crying Vive St. Georgio whereupon the French began again to shoot their Bombs into the Town and they from the Shoar fired upon the Fleet. The Inhabitants upon this occasion removed most of their movable Effects into the neighbouring Villages and to quiet the Rabble there was leave given them to break open all the French men's Houses and Shops which was soon done but it had an ill Consequence For the same Rabble began to rob and plunder what other Houses they pleased Whereupon the Senate gave the Serjeant General of the City leave to hang up whomsoever he should find stealing which after some Examples made of them brought all things quiet again On the 23th at Sun-set the French Ships and Gallies came very near and severely batter'd the Town for 7 Hours together and in the mean time landed 500 Men to the Westward and another Body on the East side of the City but they were so warmly received that they were forced at last to return to their Gallies excepting several they left slain and divers Prisoners behind them But on the 24th the Sea growing high the French Fleet weighed off which the Genoese were not a little glad of For besides the vast Loss they suffered by this Bombardment already they had dreadful Apprehensions of being entirely ruined which made them bethink themselves of giving the King Satisfaction before such another Return and therefore at last they were constrained sore against their Wills to send their Doge
Confession of those Violences of the Government that we have set forth so the Defectiveness of it is no less apparent For they lay down nothing which they may not take up at pleasure and they reserve entire and not so much as mentioned their Claims and Pretences to an Arbitrary and Despotick Power which has been the Root of all their Oppression and of the Total Subversion of the Government And it is plain That there can be no Redress no Remedy offered but in Parliament by a Declaration of the Rights of the Subjects that have been invaded and not by any pretended Acts of Grace to which the Extremity of their Affairs has driven them Therefore it is that we have thought fit to declare That we will Refer all to a Free Assembly of this NATION in a Lawful Parliament Given under Our Hand and Seal at Our Court in the Hague the 24th Day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1688. WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange By His Highness's Special Command C. HUYGENS. At the same time an Extract of the States-General's Resolution was privately Printed at London wherein among other Reasons why they had intrusted the Prince of Orange with such a Fleet and Army is this which follows THE King of France hath upon several Occasions shewed himself dissatisfied with this State which gave Cause to fear and apprehend that in case the King of Great Britain should happen to compass within his Kingdom and obtain an Absolute Power over his People that then both Kings out of the Interest of State and Hatred and Zeal against the Protestant Religion would endeavour to bring this State to confusion and if possible quite to subject it There was also Printed about the same Juncture this Letter of the Prince of Orange to the Officers of the Army Gentlemen and Friends WE have given you so full and so true an Account of Our Intentions in this Expedition in Our Declaration that as We can add nothing to it so We are sure you can desire nothing more of Us. We are come to preserve your Religion and to Restore and Establish your Liberties and Properties And therefore We cannot suffer Our Selves to doubt but that all true English Men will come and concur with Us in Our Desire to Secure these Nations from Popery and Slavery You must all plainly see That you are only made use of as Instruments to enslave the Nation and ruine the Protestant Religion and when that is done you may judge what ye your selves ought to expect both from the Cashiering all the Protestant and English Officers and Soldiers in Ireland and by the Irish Soldiers being brought over to be put in your Places and of which you have seen so fresh an Instance that We need not put you in mind of it You know how many of your Fellow-Officers have been used for their standing firm to the Protestant Religion and to the Laws of England And you cannot flatter your selves so far as to expect to be better used if those who have broke their Word so often should by your Means be brought out of those Streights to which they are at present reduced We hope likewise that ye will not suffer your selves to be abused by a false Notion of Honour but that you will in the first place consider what you owe to Almighty God and your Religion to your Country to your Selves to your Posterity which you as Men of Honour ought to prefer to all private Considerations and Engagements whatsoever We do therefore expect That you will consider the Honour that is now set before you of being the Instruments of Serving your Country and Securing your Religion and We shall ever remember the Service you shall do Us upon this Occasion and will promise you that We shall place such particular Marks of Our Favour on every one of you as your Behaviour at this time shall deserve of Us and the Nation in which We shall make a great Distinction of those that shall come seasonably to join their Arms with Ours And you shall find Us to be your Well-wishing and assured Friend W. H. P. O. This Letter was spread under-hand over the whole Kingdom and read by all sorts of Men and the Reason of it being undeniable it had a great Force on the Spirits of the Soldiery so that those who did not presently comply with it yet resolved they would never strike one stroke in this Quarrel till they had a Parliament to secure the Religion Laws and Liberties of England Which the Court on the other side had resolved should not be granted till the Prince of Orange with his Army was expelled out of the Nation and till all those that had submitted to him which were not many then were reduced into their Power to be treated as they thought fit In the mean time the Fleet came about from the Buoy in the Nâ—re to Portsmouth under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth where it arrived on Saturday the 17th of November and on the Monday following the KING entred Salisbury which was then the Head Quarters of the whole Army But on the 16th of the aforesaid Month the Lord Delamere having received certain Intelligence of the Landing of the Prince of Orange in the West and seeing the Irish throng over in Arms under pretence of Assisting the King but in reality to enslave us at Home as they had already reduced our Country-Men in Ireland to the lowest Degree of Danger and Impuissance that they have at any time been in since the Conquest of Ireland in the Reign of King Henry II. He thereupon Assembled Fifty Horse-Men and at the Head of them marched to Manchester and the next Day he went to Bodon-Downes his Forces being then 150 strong declaring his Design was To join with the Prince of Orange This small Party of Men by degrees drew in all the North and could never be suppressed Now before His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange left Exeter there was an Association drawn up and signed by all the Lords and Gentlemen that were with him the Date of which I cannot assign but the Words thereof are as follow VVE whose Names are hereunto subscribed who have now joined with the Prince of Orange for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and for the maintaining the Antient Government and the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland do engage to Almighty God to His Highness the Prince of Orange and to one another to stick firm to this Cause and to one another in Defence of it and never to depart from it until our Religion Laws and Liberties are so far secured to us in a Free Parliament that we shall be no more in danger of falling into Popery and Slavery And whereas we are engaged in this Common Cause under the Protection of the Prince of Orange by which means his Person may be exposed to Danger and to the cursed Attempts of Papists and other Bloody Men we do therefore solemnly
Occasion and that most truly to in their own Justification That they had bore alone the Burthen of the War by keeping of great Fleets and numerous Land-Forces which they had set out at their own Charge for the common Good and notwithstanding so many States and Princes of the Empire they had paid almost alone the Expences of the War all along the Rhine And that Trade not having its ordinary Course all this bore very hard upon them To this may be added the advantageous Conditions of Peace granted them and first to begin with that of the English for whom and himself no Man surely in his Wits will deny but King William made as honourable Terms as could in Reason under the Circumstances of things be expected But a better View hereof will be had by the Articles themselves which follow I. That there be an Universal Perpetual Peace and a Truce and Sincere Friendship between the Most Serene and Mighty Prince William the Third King of Great Britain and the most Serene and Mighty Prince Lewis the Fourteenth the most Christian King their Heirs and Successors and between the Kingdoms States and Subjects of Both and that the same be so Sincerely and Inviolably observed and kept that the one shall promote the Interest Honour and Advantage of the other and that on both sides a faithful Neighbourhood and true Observation of Peace and Friendship may daily Flourish and Encrease II. That all Enmities Hostilities Discords and Wars between the said King of Great Britain and the most Christian King and their Subjects cease and be abolished so that on both sides they forbear and abstain hereafter from all Plundring Depredation Harm-doing Injuries and Infestation whatsoever as well by Land as by Sea and on fresh Waters every where and especially throughout all the Kingdoms Territories Dominions and Places belonging to each other of what Condition soever they be III. That all Offences Injuries Damages which the said King of Great Britain and his Subjects or the said most Christian King and â—his Subjects have suffered from each other during this War shall be forgotten so that neither on Account of them or for any other Cause or Pretence neither Party or the Subjects of either shall hereafter do cause or suffer to be done any Hostility Enmity Molestation or Hindrance to the other by himself or others Secretly or Openly Directly or Indirectly by Colour of Right or Way of Fact IV. And since the most Christian King was never more desirous of any thing than that the Peace be firm and inviolable the said King Promises and Agrees for himself and his Successors That he will on no account whatsoever disturb the said King of Great Britain in the free Possession of the Kingdoms Countries Lands or Dominions which he now Enjoys and therefore Engages his Honour upon the Faith and Word of a King that he will not give or afford any Assistance directly or indirectly to any Enemy or Enemies of the said King of Great Britain And that he will in no manner whatsoever favour the Conspiraces or Plots which any Rebels or ill disposed Persons may in any place Excite or Contrive against the said King And for that end Promises and Engages That he will not assist with Arms Ships Ammunition Provisions or Money or in any other way by Sea or by Land any Person or Persons who shall hereafter under any pretence whatsoever Disturb or Molest the said King of Great Britain in the free and full Possession of his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions The King of Great Britain likewise Promises and Engages for himself and Successors Kings of Great Britain That he will inviolably do and perform the same towards the said most Christian King his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions V. That there be a free use of Navigation and Commerce between the Subjects of both the said Kings as was formerly in the time of Peace and before the Declaration of the late War so that every of them may freely come into the Kingdoms Marts Ports and Rivers of either of the said Kings with their Merchandizes and may there continue and Trade without any Molestation and shall use and enjoy all Liberties Immunities and Priviledges granted by solemn Treaties and ancient Custom VI. That the ordinary Administration of Justice shall be restored and sâ—t open throughout the Kingdoms and Dominions of both Kings so that it shall be free for all the Subjects of either to claim and obtain their Rights Pretensions and Actions according to the Laws Constitutions and Statutes of each Kingdom VII The most Christian King shall Restore to the said King of Great Britain all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the English did possess before the Declaration of this present War And in like manner the King of Great Britain shall restore to the most Christian King all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the French did Possess before the said Declaration of War And this Restitution shall be made on both Sides within the Space of Six Months or sooner if it can be done And to that end immediately after the Ratification of this Treaty each of the said Kings shall Deliver or cause to be Delivered to the other or to Commissioners Authorized in his Name for that Purpose all Acts of Concession Instruments and necessary Orders duly made and in proper Form so that they may have their Effect VIII Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides to Examine and Determine the Rights and Pretensions which either of the said Kings hath to the places Situated in Hudsons-Bay But the Possession of those Places which were taken by the French during the Peace that preceded this present War and were retaken by the English during this War shall be left to the French by virtue of the foregoing Article The Capitulation made by the English on the 5th of September 1696. shall be Observed according to its Form and Tenor The Merchandises therein mentioned shall be restored The Governour of the Fort taken there shall be set at Liberty if it be not already done The Differences arisen concerning the Execution of the said Capitulation and the value of the Goods there lost shall be adjudged and determined by the said Commissioners who immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty shall be Invested with sufficient Authority for settling the Limits and Confines of the Lands to be restored on either side by virtue of the foregoing Article and likewise for exchanging of Lands as may conduce to the mutual Interest and Advantage of both Kings And to this end the Commissioners so appointed shall within the space of 3 Months from the time of the Ratification of the present Treaty meet in the City of London and within six Months to be reckoned from their first Meeting shall Determine all Differences and Disputes which may arise concerning this matter After which the Articles the said Commissioners shall agree to shall be Ratified
by both Kings and shall have the same Force and Vigour as if they were inserted Word for Word in the present Treaty IX All Letters as well of Reprisal as of Marque and Counter-Marque which hitherto have for any cause been granted on either side shall be and remain null and void Nor shall any the like Letters be hereafter granted by either of the said Kings against the Subjects of the other unless it be first made manifest that Right hath been denied And it shall not be taken for a denial of Right unless the Petition of the Person who desires Letters of Reprisal to be granted to him be first shewn to the Minister residing there on the part of the King against whose Subjects those Letters are desired That within the space of 4 Months or sooner he may inquire into the contrary or procure that satisfaction be made with all speed from the Party offending to the Complainant But if the King against whose Subjects Reprisals are demanded have no Minister residing there Letters of Reprisal shall not be granted till after the space of 4 Months to be reckoned from the Day on which his Petition was made and presented to the King against whose Subjects Reprisals are desired or to his Privy Council X. For cutting off all matter of Dispute and Contention which may arise concerning the Restitution of Ships Merchandises and other moveable Goods which either Party may complain to be taken and detained from the other in Countries and on Coasts far distant after the Peace is concluded and before it be notified there All Ships Merchandises and other moveable Goods which shall be taken by either side after the Signing and Publication of the present Treaty within the space of Twelve Days in the British and North Seas as far as the Cape St. Vincent Within the space of Ten Weeks beyond the said Cape and on this side of the Equinoctial Line or Equator as well in the Ocean and Mediterranean Sea as elsewhere Lastly within the space of six Months beyond the said Line throughout the whole World shall belong and remain unto the Possessors without any Exception or further Distinction of Time or Place or any consideration to be had of Restitution or Compensation XI But if it happens through Inadvertency or Imprudence or any other Cause whatever that any Subject of either of the said two Kings shall do or commit any thing by Land or Sea or on fresh Water any where contrary to the present Treaty or that any Particular Article thereof is not fulfilled this Peace and good Correspondence between the said two Kings shall not on that account be Interrupted or Infringed but shall remain in its former Force Strength and Vigour and the said Subject only shall answer for his own Fact and undergo the Punishment to be Inflicted according to the Custom and Law of Nations XII But if which God forbid the Differences now Composed between the said Kings should at any time be renewed and break out into open War the Ships Merchandises and all kind of moveable Goods of either Party which shall be found to be and remain in the Ports and Dominions of the adverse Party shall not be Confiscated or brought under any Inconveniency but the whole space of six Months shall be allowed to the Subject of both of the said Kings that they may carry away and transport the aforesaid Goods and any thing else that is theirs whither they shall think fit without any Molestation XIII For what concerns the Principality of Orange and other Lands and Dominions belonging to the said King of Great Britain the separate Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen concluded between the most Christian King and the States General of the United Provinces the 10th Day of August 1678. shall according to its Form and Tenor have full effect and all things that have been Innovated and Altered shall be restored as they were before All Decrees Edicts and other Acts of what kind soever they be without Exception which are in a manner contrary to the said Treaty or were made after the conclusion thereof shall be held to be null and void without any revival or consequence for the future And all things shall be restored to the said King in the same state and in the same manner as he held and enjoyed them before he was dispossessed thereof in the time of the War which was ended by the said Treaty of Nimeguen or which he ought to have held and enjoyed according to the said Treaty And that an end may be put to all Trouble Differences Processes and Questions which may arise concerning the same both the said Kings will name Commissioners who with full and summary Power may compose and settle all these matters And forasmuch as by the Authority of the most Christian King the King of Great Britain was hindred from enjoying the Revenues Rights and Profits as well of his Principality of Orange as of other his Dominions which after the conclusion of the Treaty of Nimeguen until the Declaration of the present War were under the power of the said most Christian King the said most Christian King will restore and cause to be restored in reality with Effect and with the Interest due all those Revenues Rights and Profits according to the Declarations and Verifications that shall be made before the said Commissioners XIV That Treaty of Peace concluded between the most Christian King and the late Elector of Brandenburg at St. Germains in Laye the 29 June 1679. shall be restored in its Articles and remain in its former Vigour between his Sacred Most Christian Majesty and his Electoral Highness of Brandenburg XV. Whereas 't will greatly conduce to the publick Tranquility that the Treaty be observed which was concluded between his Sacred most Christian Majesty and his Royal Highness of Savoy on the Ninth of Aug. 1696. 't is agreed that the said Treaty shall be confirmed by this Article XVI Under this present Treaty of Peace shall be comprehended those who shall be named by either Party with common consent before the Exchange of Ratifications or within six Months after But in the mean time the most Serene and Mighty Prince William King of Great Britain and the most Serene and Mighty Prince â—ewis the most Christian King gratefully acknowledging the sincere Offices and Indefatigable Endeavours which have been employed by the most Serene and Mighty Prince Charles King of Sweden by the inter position of his Mediation in bringing this happy work of the Peace with the Divine Assistance to the desired Conclusion and to shew the like Affection to him 't is by consent of all Parties stipulated and agreed That his said Sacred Royal Majesty of Sweden shall with all his Kingdoms Countries Provinces and Rights be included in this Treaty and comprehended in the best manner in the present Pacification XVII Lastly The Solemn Ratifications of this present agreement and alliance made in due Form shall be delivered on
the Army of the Crown 5. That he shall employ his own Soldiers in the Siege of Caminiec and for the Recovery of Podolia which shall afterwards be re-united and incorporated in the Crown 6. That then he shall send back his Soldiers into Saxony and repair the Damages done by his Saxon Soldiers 7. That he shall revoke the Concessions of Crown-Lands and take 'em away from those on whom he has bestow'd 'em and that the Revenues thereof shall be employ'd toward the Subsistance of his Houshold 8. That he shall revoke and disannul all the Protestations which he made against the Primate and the Heads of the Rocosche 9. That he shall confer no Employments Benefices c. but upon Polanders who shall profess the Roman Catholick Religion and that the Members of the Rocosche shall be preferr'd before others in the Distribution of publick Employments 10. That the River Pisca shall be made Navigable at the King's Expences 11. That after the Expedition to Caminiec is ended a General Dyet of Pacification shall be call'd and that in the mean time his Majesty shall by his Circulatory Letters give notice of the Treaty of Agreement to all the Palatinates of the Kingdom 12. That the Tribunals shall remain suspended till the King be again confirm'd in the Possession of the Crown This being over the Cardinal went in great State to wait upon the King who received him in the Marble Chamber and according to Custom advanced some few Paces to receive him and to whom his Eminency made the following Speech in French SIR IF I have the Misfortune to present my self among the last to pay my most humble Respects to Your Majesty I have the Satisfaction to bring You the Fruits of a long Expectation the Hearts of Your Subjects and the Repose of Your Kingdom It was not for a Person of my Character to appear without these two Guides which in regard they are to be the chief Ornaments of Your Reign I place 'em at the Feet of Your Throne wishing that whatever eterniz'd the Renown of the Great Augustus may be accomplish'd in Your Majesty's Sacred Person to whom I have consecrated my Devotion and my solid and inviolable Adherence But tho' this Agreement we find thus to be at length happily accomplish'd in Poland yet things in Lithuania continu'd all this while in utmost confusion the Party of the Great General Sapieha and that of Oginski's the Great Standard Bearer with whom sided the major part of the Nobility seeming to remain Irreconcilable and the demands of the latter were so exorbitant as if they seemed to be made on purpose to prevent an Accommodation However dire Necessity having no Law and the King being eager to go into the Field he signed the Articles proposed by them wherein among other Things the inseparable Union and Coaequation of the Rights and Priviledges of the Grand-Dutchy of Lithuania with the Crown of Poland were agreed on and both sides bound by Oath to the observance of this Coaequation That the Imployments of the Great General Mareschal and Treasurer should still remain but with no other Priviledges than those allowed to the same Officers of Poland that the Army should not exceed 9000 Men That as for the Treasurers paying the Army no longer unless it were in the Presence of the Palatines that Point should be referred to the Approbation of the General Diet That Injuries and Damages sustained on either side should be forgotten and any new Differences that might arise should be left to the Arbitration of the next Diet But so unhappily it fell out that while they were labouring to bring this Accommodation to bear a Bloody Fight happened between Oginski's Forces and those of the Great General commanded by his Son wherein the former was defeated lost four Field-pieces and his Baggage had part of his Men Killed part Drowned in the Mimnell while the rest fled one and another way the Great Ensign himself making an hard shift to Escape into Ducall Prussia But neither this nor the daily Brangles and Skirmishes that happened between the Poles and Saxons could hinder his Majesty to prepare for the Field in order to which he arrived Aug. 15th at Leopold from whence the Czar and Princes of Muscovy who were got thither before went to meet him as far as Rava where they staid together for some Days and after all the Demonstrations of a Reciprocal Satisfaction accompanied with rich Presents on both sides they parted The Czar began his Travels last Year first into Brandenburg and thence into Holland to see his Brittanick Majesty for whose heroick Vertues he had always profest a very high Esteem From Holland he went for England and having staid here most part of the Winter went over for the Court of Vienna from whence he designed to go for Italy where there were great Preparations made and particularly at Venice for his Reception but the unhappy News of a Conspiracy having been formed against him in his own Country made him post thither where he quickly brought things into good Order and his Armies this Year had some Brushes with the Crim Tartars to the disadvantage of the latter Whatever the matter was 't was observed he had a perfect aversion to the French and notwithstanding as was said a very kind Invitation from that Monarch nothing would induce him to go thither which perhaps was no small Mortification to that Court The Czar was observed to be wonderfully inquisitive especially in Maritime Affairs and very Ingenious and nothing but the Ignorance of the Customs and Barbarousness of his Country could make any think him otherwise But to leave him and return to his Polish Majesty at Leopold he held divers Councils of War about the Operations of the Campaign concerning which the Generals were of very divided Opinions the formal Siege of Caminiec was the thing which the King aimed at But while neither that the Bombarding of it nor any thing else could be fully resolved on the Tartars gave him a sharp Check for the Polish Army being upon their march to joyn that of the Crown upon the Road of Caminiec Commanded by the Duke of Wirtemburg the Tartars being informed of the smallness of their Number in comparison of theirs on the 8th of Sept. met them under the Command of Sultan Suos Gerey near Podaiza which upon the 9th obliged the Poles to put themselves in order of Battle by break of Day About Noon the Tartars attack'd their Vanguard then fell upon the Right and Left Wings of the Poles both sides Fighting obstinately for a time at length the Poles gave Ground and thereby gave the Enemy an Opportunity to penetrate as far as the Generals Tent but there they were so vigorously received that the Polanders had time to rally and repel the Enemy who were forced to retreat The Fight lasted 8 Hours and was Bloody on both sides The Tartars at first defeated two Companies of Wallachians under Prince
to facilitate the Treaty with the Venetians and agreed in case their Negotiations could not be determined by the 26th the time they were to sign they should have time given them to continue their Treaty at Constantinople seeing the Ottoman Ministers were not willing to stay any longer at Carlowitz This Conference was on the 16th of January in the Presence of the Mediators which took them up 9 Hours together But they could not agree as to the Castle of Romelia and the Mountains which cover the Isthmus of Corinth The Venetian Embassador pretended also that Dalmatia had been annext to Albania by the resignation of several Places which the Turks possessed and which hindred the Republick of Ragusa from being totally separate from the Ottoman Empire But after various Contests they rose without coming to any conclusion and Reis Effendi declared if they were upon that Lock he would return no more to the Conferences However they met again on the 18th but to no purpose and next Day the Turks drew up a Project of a Treaty which being imparted to Seignior Ruzzini he declared he would not consent to it nor depart from the Treaty proposed for the separation of the Limits However he dispatched a Courier to Venice about these particulars while the Imperialists in the mean time signed their Treaty which is comprehended in the following Articles An Extract of the Treaty concluded between the Emperor and the Sultan In the Name of the Holy and Inseparable Trinity IN perpetual Memory of the Thing Be it notorious to all to whom it shall appertain That after fifteen Years of a cruel War between the Most Serene and Thrice Potent Prince and Lord Leopold on the one side and the Most Serene and Thrice Potent Prince and Lord Sultan Mustapha Han Emperor of the Turks c. and his Glorious Predecessors on the other these Two Most Potent Emperors considering how much Blood has been spilt and how many Provinces have been laid waste and mov'd with Compassion of the Miseries of their Subjects and being desirous to put an end to so many Calamities God through his Mercy has permitted that by the Mediation of the Most Serene and Most Potent Prince and Lord William III. King of Great Britain France and Ireland and of the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces of the Netherlands both sides have condescended to conclude Solemn Treaties at Carlowitz upon the Frontiers of both Empires where the Mediators the Lord William Paget Baron of Beaudesers and Monsieur James Collier being assembl'd together with the Count d'Ottingen and M. Schlick the Imperial Plenipotentiaries and Mehemet Effendi Grand Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and Alexander Mauro Cordato of the Noble House of the Scarlati it has been agreed c. I. THat Transilvania should remain entire to his Imperial Majesty with the ancient Limits as before the War II. That the Province of Temiswaer with all its Appurtenances and Dependances shall remain under the Ottoman Dominion having the ancient Limits for its Bounds That the Imperialists shall demolish Caransebes Lippa Czanad Bersche Sabla and three or four other Places never to be refortify'd by any other Treaty The Imperialists and Turks shall enjoy in common the Conveniences of the Marosche and the Teysse whether for fishing watering of Cattle for the driving of Mills or Navigation That the Islands which his Imperial Majesty has in the two Rivers shall remain in his Possession and that the Subjects of both Empires shall be enjoin'd under severe Edicts to live quietly and peaceably without injuring one the other in any manner whatever III. That the Emperor shall enjoy the Country between the Teysse and the Danaw commonly call'd Batska Titul not being to be fortify'd any otherwise then it is IV. That a Line shall be drawn from the Extremity of the Strand behither the Teysse over against Titul to the Banks of the Danaw and another Line from the Teysse to the River Bossut and to the hither Shoar of Moravitz and from thence to that part where the biggest Branch of the Bossut falls into the Save which shall serve as Limits to both Empires V. That part of the Save which waters those Countries surrender'd to his Imperial Majesty shall be under his Dominion and likewise that which washes the Country remaining to the Grand Signior shall be subject to the Ottoman Empire but that part of the Save which runs between both Empires shall be common to both together with the Islands therein VI. The Limits prescrib'd by the Treaties and those which shall afterwards be settl'd by Commissioners shall be religiously observ'd and preserv'd without any Alteration nor shall any Change or Alteration therein be suffer'd VII Both Parties shall be at Liberty to fortifie their Frontier Places as they shall judge convenient except such as are excepted by the Treaty VIII All Incursions Invasions Hostilities and all sorts of Injuries shall be strictly forbidden on both Sides under severe Penalties whether they may be committed openly or in secret IX Nor shall it be lawful for either Party for the future to give any Sanctuary or Protection to wicked People Rebels or Malecontents X. Nevertheless it shall be lawful for the Transilvanians and all others who during the Course of the War withdrew themselves into the Ottoman Empire there to live in Freedom and Security under the Protection of his Highness XI But in Consideration of the Tranquility of the Frontiers and the Repose of the Subjects it is farther agreed That those Persons before-mention'd shall not settle themselves but in Places remote from the Frontiers and in case there happen any Disputes upon any one of the Articles of this present Treaty an equal Number of Commissioners shall be chosen on both Sides to determine 'em in friendly wise XII Prisoners taken during the War shall be exchang'd and if there be a greater Number of the one side than the other their Imperial Majesties shall extend their Clemency towards 'em and release 'em when they shall be requested so to do by the Embassadors or Ministers residing in their Courts As for those that are in the Power of particular Persons they shall be permitted to ransom 'em at reasonable Rates XIII In respect of the Monks and the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion the Grand Signior promises to renew and confirm all Priviledges granted by his Predecessors Moreover it shall be permitted to the Embassador of of the Most Serene and Most Potent Emperor of the Romans to make his Complaints and Demands upon the Subject of Religion every time that he shall receive Orders from his Master XIV That Trade shall be resettl'd between the Subjects of both Sides according to the ancient Capitulations XV. That all the Conditions stipulated in the preceding Capitulations shall be religiously observ'd in every thing not excepted in this present Treaty XVI For the maintaining of a good Friendship and Correpondence between the Two Empires Embassadors shall be
so excellent an Account as to the Rise Progess and Continuation of it as has proved to the Satisfaction generally of all Men the French excepted who have wrote a Treatise also upon the same Subject Dedicated to Monsieur Colbert one of the Active Plenipotentiaries of France on that Occasion And which tho' it carries all those Affectations which are so peculiar to that Nation throughout the whole Body of it yet I must own it has given Light to some other Things that otherwise might have remained in the Dark to this Day From these two I have made up saving what refers to some particular Articles and intervening Passages relating to the War wherein They are generally very concise that Treaty entire which brought me of Course into an Enquiry into the Popish Conspiracy and what succeeded thereupon at Home more particularly in relation to the Humour as well as Demeanour of our then Court where I have not had Leisure to dwell over-long when the Contraventions and I may say Infractions of the said Treaty called me Abroad from whence I have passed into Hungary and after having given an Account of something preludious to the War there which will I belive remain still a Paradox I have in the respective Years of it traced the same as well as those managed by Poland and Venice the Emperor's Confederates therein against the Infidels throughout the whole Variety thereof to the final Period of it And herein I confess my self to have received great Assistances from divers Tracts written concerning particular Sieges and other memorable Actions as they occurred And as I have endeavoured to oblige the Reader with as many Original Papers as I could in relation to this War so it will be found I have not declined the same Practise in respect to other Occurrences and more especially have been very solicitous to omit nothing of that kind that was worthy to be perpetuated in Reference to our own Affairs to that grand Revolution that happened amongst us the secret Machinations used to unhinge our Settlements and the tedious and bloody War we have been since engaged in which I have made my Business to give as true a Light into as was consistent with the various and diversified Relations that by the contending Parties have been given of it And if I should intimate in this Place that I have made it part of my Business to keep a Journal of the Transactions of these Times and add thereto That I have had the Assistance of the best Authors in most Languages and that in consequence hereof not few Things have been rectified or supplied from my own particular Observations and Discoveries I should do my self no Wrong though I might incur the Censures of others for it But after all I am so far from pretending to have committed no Error herein that all I will say is I am not guilty of any wilful Mistake But as this Treatise would have been very lame and imperfect if amidst the Sound of War I had not observed the Overtures made from time to time of a Peace So I should have been much more inexcusable if I should not have been very particular concerning the last general Negotiation in all the Paces made till the final Conclusion of it and of which I am morally assured there is a much better Account given than is yet to be found any other where now extant amongst us But as it will be needless to insist upon the Vsefulness of the Introductory Discourse I have given to show the State of the World in respect to the Enlargement of Dominion and Conquest down to the Commencement of our History to say any thing for the Necessity of a Table to the whole Work will be much more so Wherefore to conclude As our History ends with the General Peace we now enjoy let our Value and Esteem of him who under God has been the particular Instrument of it our dread Sovereign King William be enhaunsed more and more who has so many Personal Excellencies both in Peace and War as to have no manner of Need to borrow any from the Vertues of his Ancestors whereof there has been such an unparallell'd Chain as is not to be met with in History And the Antiquity of whose Name for ought I can see may be as old as Julius Caesar who in the First Book of his Commentaries says A Body of Germans out of Suabia came under the Command of Two Brothers Nasua and Cimberius by Name and settled upon the Banks of the Rhine near Treves Now this is so much the more worthy of Observation that besides the Similitude of the Names of Nasua and Nasau which only differ in the Transposition but of one Letter there is an Estate upon that Spot of Ground which belongs to the Family to this Day But be it as it will I was the more desirous to take Notice of it upon this Occasion because I believe it is the first time it has been done by any other in this kind And because it may stir up the Curiosity of those Gentlemen that are skilled in Genealogies to make a farther Enquiry into it As for this Second Edition whereunto the Transactions of another Year are added which more particularly include the Negotiations of a Truce with the Turks and so leaves all Europe in Peace I have nothing to say but that what Mistakes or Deficiences thro' Haste or Inadvertency the former may have laboured under I have now endeavoured to rectifie and supply them with all becoming Diligence and Sincerity INTRODUCTION THERE has been almost as much Contest between the Learned about what Form of Government is best and was of Primitive Institution as there has been Endeavours used by the Princes and States of the World to propagate their Dominion and Power to the Diminution of that of their Neighbours This Itch of Superiority and Rule has in all Ages from the Beginning been the Property of all sorts of Governments And though it has been a general Assertion and and pretty common Observation of Latter Times that Republicks whether Aristocratical Democratical or otherwise constituted have not been so proper for Extending of Conquest as Monarchical Constitutions yet that it has not been always so is manifest from the Commonwealths of Rome and Carthage who enlarged the Bounds of their Dominions to a greater Degree than any other Kingdom or State whatever that we know of save somewhat more that was done by the Introduction of a single Administration into the former Republick which yet did not prove of any long Duration or fixed Settlement For tho' no Empire upon Earth could ever pretend to vye with that of Rome in this Particular and which therefore for that Reason we may call An. Vniversal Monarchy yet being at length tired out and crasie with Age she sunk under her own Weight being over-run and divided into divers Pieces by those Nations she ever termed Barbarous but proved neither so contemptible in their Arms nor
â—o unskilful in Government as the Name they gave them did import 'T is indeed not to be doubted but that the Division made of the Empire by Theodosius between his Two Sons Arcadius and Honorius into the Eastern and Western did very much precipitate the Ruine of it For tho' the former for many Ages after made a Shift to keep up yet it came infinitely short of the Ancient Roman Empire for Power and Splendour and was so harassed by degrees with the Insults of the Neighbouring Nations and diminished by the Conquests of the Bulgarians over one part of it by the Saracens subduing Palestine Syria Egypt and Cilicia by the City of Trebesond and the Neighbouring Countries withdrawing themselves from under the Obedience of it and chusing an Emperor of their own as Greece set up divers petty Princes to govern the different Parts of itâ— That the poor Remains thereof was not only swallowed up at length by the Turks but most of the said conquer'd or revolted Divisions to other very great Acquisitions of their own made both before and after fell under their Dominion also which made them for a Time more formidable in Power than any other single Dominion known to us in those Parts of the World But the Fate of the West Part of that divided Empire came on a pace the same becoming a Prey to the Germans and Goths who about this time came in prodigious Numbers to change their poor Habitations for the pleasant and fertile Provinces of the Romans Britain became a Prey to the Saxons Spain fell to the Share of the West-Goths The Goths Burgundians and Franks made bold with dividing France between them Rhoetia and Noricum were conquered by the Suevians A great part of Pannonia and Illiricum fell into the Hands of the Huns The Vandals fixed their Habitations in Africa And one part of the Goths set up a Kingdom in Italy and did not think Rome once Mistress of the World and the common Mother and Habitation of Mankind a fitting Place for their Kings to reside in The Empire being thus mangled and rent into so many different Pieces the next Thing according to the Course of a corrupted and vain World these Invaders went upon after some tolerable Settlement in their respective Acquisitions was to incroach upon their Neighbours and to endeavour to introduce such a Dominion again upon the Earth as might in Imitation of that glorious Empire which all of them in their several Turns had given an Helping-hand to overthrow over-top all others and merit the Name of a Supream and Universal One But there have hitherto in the Course of Divine Providence such Rubs been laid in the Way of this Design that it could never be accomplish'd tho' divers Princes have attempted it with the greatest Application and some seeming Probability of Success As Islands are not so liable to be invaded as those Kingdoms and States that lie upon the Continent So neither are they on the other hand so proper to make Conquests of others and to enlarge their Territories And if Great Britain has come in any respect short of other Countries in this Particular this is a sufficient Reason for it But there were other Causes and Considerations which we shall a little consider before we go any farther Tho' tho Saxons made an entire Conquest of the best and fruitfullest Part of Britain yet neither the most Northern Parts of the Island possessed by the Picts and Scots nor the Southern known since by the Name of Cornwall much less the ancient Habitation of the Britains wrongfully called Wales could they subdue in a long time nor the first indeed at all entirely Add to this That the Saxons themselves had no less than Seven Dynasties or petty Kingdoms amongst them known all together by the Heptarchy which took them up from their first Landing under Hengist by Alliances and the Power of their Arms not much less than 400 Years to unite them into one Monarchy which happen'd under K. Egbert about the Year 800. But tho' this Conjunction of Seven into One was very considerable and that now some grand Efforts might have been made for reducing the remaining Parts of the Island under one Head the Danes now a very Potent and Sea-faring People in the very same King's Reign invaded Britain Between whom and the English there were continual Wars for the Space of 240 Years and the former so far prevailed that Three of their Kings reigned successively over England for 26 Years when the Government returned again into the Hands of the English But it was so weak and feeble that in a short time it fell into the Hands of Will surnamed the Conqueror and his Normans in whose Son 's Reign Henry I. by Name the Dukedom of Normandy was annexed to the Crown of England This so considerable Accession of Strength upon the Continent came yet short of a Compensation for the still remaining Disjunction of Scotland and Wales from the rest of Britain which the succeeding Kings little minded to effect For tho' Henry II. was the greatest King at this time in our Western World as being besides K. of England and Duke of Normandy by Inheritance Duke of Anjou and by Marriage Duke of Aquitain and Poictou yet he was so far from going through stitch with his intended Conquest of Wales or reducing Scotland that his chief Aim was upon the Conquest of Ireland which tho' a noble Design and in a very great Measure effected yet it was misplaced and should have followed the Reduction of the other two Yet what came to Henry upon the Continent by Right of Inheritance his Son King John and his Grandson Henry III. in a manner totally lost But of all the Kings of England to this Time Edward I. was the only Prince that seemed to have a right Notion of Extending his Dominions and therefore he never gave over till what by fair and foul Means with an Intermixture of Policy he entirely united Wales to the Kingdom of England and made in a manner by the same Methods a perfect Conquest of Scotland which nothing humanely speaking but the Weakness of his Successor obstructed the Consummation of So that henceforward all the Thoughts of our Warlike Kings were the Recovery of that Right they alledged to have to the Kingdom of France whose Conquests there if they had been as wisely secured as they were valiantly made had added a much greater Glory to the English Name than our Annals would otherwise admit of But that which our Kings would not or could not add to their Dominions by Conquest within the Island it self I mean the Scotch Kingdom which always obstructed the Progress of their Arms upon the Continent at length fell in of it self in the Course of Succession So that England Scotland and Ireland were in the Person of King James I. united under one Head In the mean time one of our Neighbour-Nations was arrived to that Pitch of Greatness and another of them in
induce him to continue in Possession of Lorrain is willing that Prince Charles be restored to it upon one of these two Alternatives of which he gives him his Choice First That he be restored according to the Articles expressed in the Pyrenaean Treaty without any Change or Alteration in any of them Or Secondly That he be restored generally to his whole Estate except the Town of Nancy which his Majesty will retain with Plenary Right of Sovereignty and excepting such a Way as was agreed upon at the Treaty of 1661 to pass from the Frontiers of France into Alsatia and all such Ways as shall be necessary to pass from France to Nancy and from France to Metz Brisac and Franche Compte upon Condition nevertheless that to make him some Compensation for the Town of Nancy his Majesty shall restore to him that of Toul considerable for its Extent and Situation and much more in respect for its Bishoprick His Majesty demands likewise That Long-Wic and its Provostship be quitted to him but offereth withal to recompense the Prince of Lorrain with another Provostship of equal Value of one of three Bishopricks And whereas Marsal having been quitted to his Majesty by a particular Treaty is not at present any part of Lorrain so it is not to be understood to be comprised in this Restitution These are the Terms which may and ought to make the Platform of a General Peace and upon which his Majesty hath long ago declared himself to the King of Great Britain His Majesty desires they may be imparted to the Assembly at Nimeguen and that his own Plenipotentiaries propose them to the Consideration of the rest as containing the lowest Conditions he can admit and upon which his Enemies may make Choice either of War or Peace Given at St. Germains the 9th of Apr. 1678. The Imperialists of all others seemed the least inclinable to yield to the foregoing Conditions and the Strain of requiring full Satisfaction to Sweden was insupportable to the Northern Princes yea the Spaniards and other Confederates looked upon them so hard that they said They would hazard all rather than accept of them Tho' after all those Articles that concerned Holland and Spain having been before privately agreed upon with some Leaders of the principal Towns they proved the Plan of the Peace both for Holland and all the other Confederates engaged in the War Yet when the French Embassadors carried these Conditions to Sir Lionel Jenkins then sole Mediator in order to be communicated by him to the Confederates he made Answer He could not do it as a Mediator but that he would atquaint the Parties with them in Discourse as a matter to which he promised no Answer and this he did because of the other Terms that had been agreed on between England and Holland for forcing of France to a Compliance on the 10th of Jan. foregoing which tho' they proved to be of little use in the Course of this Peace yet they had one good Effect upon the Affairs of Spain and this was That notwithstanding all the French Intriguing in England and Holland the Fears they had that the King at length might be in earnest and punctually perform the Conditions of this League and well knowing that if it came to that they should have occasion for all the Force they could make and perhaps find all little enough they abandoned Messina and all their Conquests in Sicily and that at a time when every body thought the Mareschal de Fevillade had been sent into that Kingdom with fresh Forces upon the Design of some new Enterprize Whereas indeed he went thither to fetch off the French Troops that were there which he did after he had first declared to the Senate the King's Orders and the present Necessity of them and with whom a vast Number of the Messines who dreaded the certain Revenge of the Spaniards took also the Opportunity to retire But that the French might stave off the Blow from England if possible they at length bethought themselves of a Srratagem that had more charming Obligations in it than any other made with the Prince of Orange when in England or with the States-General afterwards and that was an Offer of Money For you must know Mr. Montague the King's Embassador at Paris after a long Conference with M. Louvois by his Master's Orders wherein the Latter represented to him the Measures that had been already concerted for a Peace upon the French Terms in Holland and that since they were agreed there it was hoped his Britannick Majesty would not be against it but that however he had Orders to make him a Tender of a great Sum of Money for his Consent tho' a thing already accepted by the Dutch and wherein his Majesty consequently was not concerned was desired to give the then Lord Treasurer of England an Account hereof by a Packet which Offer tho' very relishing at any time with the Humour of our Court yet the violent Dispositions of the Dutch to run into the Peace at this time whatever came of it and such a fatal and mutual Distrust as there was both in Court and Parliament that it was very difficult to fall into any sound Measures between them made the King look upon it as a very profitable Proposal saying That since the Dutch would have a Peace upon the French Terms and that France offered him Money for his Approbation of that he could not help he knew no Reason why he might not get the Money and so required Sir William Temple to treat with the French Embassador about it But that Gentleman had more Honour and Honesty than to engage in so dishonourable a Thing and did thereupon retire from Court You have heard before that the 10th of May was the time limited by the French Project of Peace for the Allies to accept of the Terms or no and to which they appeared positively engaged but there being a Necessity of somewhat a greater Confidence between the Dutch and French upon this Occasion least such a Sâ—iffneâ—s might produce that Alteration in the Pace of Affairs at the Expiration of the Term that might prove a Disadvantage to one or the other side the Heer Beverning sent secretly to acquaint the French Embassadors That the States did accept of the King's Offer However that he might not by such a Pace allarm the Allies he gave the Count d' Avaux also notice That he was very desirous to discourse with him in private and for that end would fetch a Walk alone upon the Ramparts of the Town about 7 in the Morning where they met accordingly and between whom all Matters were in a manner fully concluded The Consequence thereof was the granting of Ten Days longer for the Dutch to endeavour to perswade their Allies to accept of the Conditions proposed as themselves had done In this time the Estates received a Letter from the French King from his Camp at Deinse wherein he made some further Concessions
and invited them to send Deputies to him at Ghent But because the Reader will be better pleased to peruse the Letter it self I shall here insert it DEINSE the 18th of May 1678. Most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates OVT of the sincere Affection which we have always born to the the promoting the Peace of Europe we are very much satisfied to understand by our Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen the Account given unto them in your Name by one of your Ambassadors concerning your Thoughts upon the Conclusion of so great a Work which you had imparted to them by one of your Embassadors We are glad to understand that the Terms which we proposed at that Assembly appear to you to be reasonable and that you are fully perswaded of the Sincerity of our Mind in a matter of so great Importance And it is with the greater Satisfaction to our selves that we confirm the same unto you by this Letter that notwithstanding those Advantages which we have already acquir'd by our Arms and may justly hope for by the Prosecution of the War yet we place our chiefest Glory in making all the Steps we can towards a Peace But because it appears by the Discourses that have been made to our Plenipotentiaries by your Order that how desirous soever you are to conclude the Peace yet there remains some Scruple with you concerning the 7th Article of the Treaty of Commerce which has been debated at Nimeguen between our Embassadors and yours and Trouble of Mind lest we should make an entire Conquest of the Low-Countries in case Spain should reject the Terms we have offered we are willing to impart our Thoughts unto you upon these two Points We cannot do it more favourably as to the 1st of them than by granting that the 7th Article should be as your selves desire it and in taking such Measures with you upon the 24 Point as may ease you of the Fear you express for the Loss of Flanders And this we will then do when Spain having refused to consent to the Peace there shall be a Treaty concluded between us and you upon such Terms as have been already propos'd with relation to your selves and that you shall have returned to our Alliance and shall oblige your selves to continue Neuters during the War We shall be always reddy for your sake to grant to Spain the same Terms with relation to Flanders which they are at liberty now to accept And we are further willing to assure you that in all that time we will not Attack any one Place in all those Provinces Thus ye shall always find us reddily inclined not only to form that Barrier which you think so necessary for your own Safety but to secure it and to let you enjoy together with the Re-establishment of Commerce whatever other Advantages you can expect from our Friendship And if for the Prosecuting this Negotiation you shall think it necessary to send Deputies to us they will find us near Ghent till the 27th of this Month and in the same Dispositions we have declared to you in this Letter In the mean time we pray God to take you most great dear Friends Allies and Confederates into his Holy Protection Your good Friend Ally and Confederate LOVIS Underneath was Signed Arnauld The States after 4 Days Consultation did on the 25th of the same Month send a Letter in Answer to the King 's by a Trumpeter of their own to his Camp and after having complimented him upon the Honour he had done them by writing to them and rejoiced at the sincere Desire they conceived to be in his Majesty for the Peace of Europe They pray'd he would be pleased to give Credit to the Heer Van Beverning their Extraordinary Embassador whom they would send to him to inform him how desirous they were on their part to give him fresh Assurances of their sincere Intentions also for Peace Beverning attended upon the French King accordingly and concerted Measures so well that he obtained a Cessation of Arms for 6 Weeks in Flanders to the end the Dutch might endeavour to get the Spaniards to enter into the Peace upon the Terms they proposed for them which Truce extended it self to the 15th of Aug. following and upon his return he told his Masters whether really or designedly is a Question That he found the French King as well informed of the Condition of his Enemies and of the Places he might attack as he was of his own Affairs England in the mean time was grown pretty indifferent in the Matter of the Peace and Spain seemed well inclined to accept her part of it But the Emperor King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenburg fell into the highest Declarations and Reproaches against the States that could well be invented ripping up all they had ventured and suffered in a War wherein they had engaged for the sole Preservation of Holland But that now they were abandoned by them under a Pretence of concluding a Peace and that upon imperious and arbitrary Terms for them without then Consent That they were not backward to treat with France and make a Peace upon any safe and equitable Conditions but would never endure to have them imposed as from an absolute Conqueror and would rather venture and expose all than accept them especially those for the Duke of Lorrdin whose Case was the worst treated tho' seemingly the most favoured by the Confederates and the least contested by France Yet for all these Storms from their Allies the States were little moved but held on their Course having little Regard to the Satisfaction of any other than Spain in what concerned the Safety of Flanders and the Necessities of that Crown made them easie tho' as little pleased as the rest Wherefore on June 22. they sent their Embassadors Orders to Sign the Peace with France before the End of the Month And the very same Day wrote to the French King by the Sieur Lanoy one of their Officers who passed thro' the Camp and delivered a Letter from them to the Mareschal de Luxemburg whereby they acquainted him That they had given the foresaid Orders to their Embassadors at Nimeguen about Signing the Peace and at the same time communicated to him the Sence of the Letter they wrote to his Majesty But notwithstanding all this Tendency both in Spain and Holland to give the finishing Stroke yet an unforeseen Accident fell out which had like to have overturned the whole Fabrick and renew the War with greater Vigour and more equal Forces by engaging England in a Share of it in Favour of the Confederates which they had been long practising without any Success and were quite out of Hopes thereof For in the Conditions which the Dutch had made for the French restoring the 6 Towns in Flanders to the Spaniard there was no particular Mention made of the Time of that Restitution the Dutch understanding as well as the Spaniards that it was to be upon
Hopes he had they could not indeed do it But the Length of the Conference did so alarm the Confederates that they were in a Commotion before it was ended and yet-more sensibly touched when they came to know the Peace was concluded on and that it was to be Signed that very Day And what gave them a greater Uneasiness was That they â—ound England now acting in their Favours in the same manner as they had long desired However not to be wanting to themselves thâ— Embassadors of Denmark Brandenburg and Munster that very Day gave in a Protestation to those of the States wherein they represented That finding them the Embassadors of the States-General inclined that Day to Sign a Separate Treaty of Peace with the French King by the Confession now even of one of themselves tho' they had given them no Intimations whereof as they should have done according to their Treaties they were obliged to lay before them how disagreeable this manner of Procedure was to the Solemn Alliances the Staâ—es had contracted with their Masters wherein they had engaged never to enter into a Separate Treaty with their Common Enemy who was ready to destroy their Republick and from whose Hand they could never have escaped had it not been for their Assistances and the Diversion they had given his Arms in several parts of Europe in their Favour They conjured them by all that was solemn and engaging not to precipitate the Treaty but to give them leasure to acquaint their Principals with it which could be no Prejudice to either Party That they could not but promise themselves so much at their Hands especially since there was no apparent Necessity to oblige their High and Mightinesses to Resolutions so contrary to all that had been concerted before after they had exhorted their Allies afresh to the Observation and Execution of their Treaties and after that their Masters had taken vigorous Resolutions thereupon and agreeable to the Desires of the States in sending vast numbers of Troops into the Spanish Netherlands for the Relief of Mons which by the Arms of France was reduced to Extremity and for seconding and putting in Execution other Designs which Spain and the States should resolve upon under the Conduct of his Highness the Prince of Orange for the common Security of the Low-Countries in particular To say nothing of the great Bodies that were on their March towards the Meuse to be employed to the same purpose from whence with the Assistance of God there was room to hope for a good Success in so just a Cause But that in case the Lords the States found themselves under an indispensible Necessity which yet did not appear to them of proceeding with so much Precipitation to a particular Peace with France they did declare hereby That their Masters were ready at the same time to enter upon the said Treaty and in Conjunction with the States to conclude the same with the French King upon just and equitable Conditions which in a short time might be agreed and whereunto they on their part would shew all the Facility imaginable That they could not but promise to themselves the Compliance of the States in this particular and that they could not think they had entertained the least Design of abandoning their good and faithful Friends Neighbours and Allies who had hazarded all that was dear unto them to deliver them from the impending Storm wherewith they had been threatned and for their re-establishment in their ancient Splendor and Liberty at leastwise they hoped for so much from their Justice and Sincerity that they would conclude upon nothing without comprehending the Interest of their Allies which was in a manner their own in it and not concur in the Oppression and Ruine of those who had faithfully assisted them against so powerful an Enemy who with one Hand made all the Semblance imaginable of the sincere Desire he had to give Repose to Christendom but with the other refused to accept the Means that were proper to effect it They added further That such an hasty and precipitate Conduct in them was unworthy of a State that had always governed it self with Reason and Justice and that such an extraordinary Step would be an everlasting Blot upon the Honour and Reputation of the States-General But that if notwithstanding all they were resolved to proceed and enter into a Neutrality so contrary to their Solemn Engagements they protested against that Separate Treaty in the best Form they could and not only so but also against all the Calamities that Christendom in general and the Princes their Masters in particular might suffer by that Separation But notwithstanding the Reasonableness and Solemnity of this Protestation and the Irresolution of Monsieur Van Haren one of the Dutch Plenipotentiaries who did not seem to be so clear in the Point of their Orders yet Directions were presently given to have all-fair writ over with the greatest haste imaginable so as the Treaty might be Signed that Night which was done accordingly between 11 and 12 without the Intervention of the English Mediators who refused to Sign the same or to have their Names made use of as such saying Their Instructions were to mediate a General Peace and therefore by their Orders could not Sign a Particular One. The Treaty follows NIMEGUEN Aug. 10. 1678. LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navar to all that shall see these Presents Greeting Since our most dear and well-beloved Cousin the Sieur Comte d'Estrades Mareschal of France and Knight of our Order our faithful and well-beloved the Sieur Colbert Marquis of Croissi Counsellor in Ordinary in our Council of State and our faithful and well-beloved the Sieur De Mesmes Comte d'Avaux Counsellor also in our Councils our Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries by vertue of the Plenary Powers which We had given them have Concluded Agreed and Signed the 10th of this Month at Nimeguen with the Heer Hierosm Van Beverning Baron of Teylingen Curator of the University of Leyden late Counsellor and Treasurer General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries the Heer Willem Van Nassaw Heer Van Odyke Cortgene and first Noble and Representative of the Nobility in the States and Council of Zealand and the Heer Willem Van Haren Griedtman Van Bildt Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of our most Dear and Great Friends the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries instructed likewise with full Power the Treaty of Peace according to the Tenour ensuing In the Name of God the Creator To all present and to come be it known that as during the Course of the War that has been stirr'd for some Years betwixt the most High most Excellent and most mighty Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God most Christian King of France and Navar and the Lords the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces his Majesty always maintain'd a sincere Desire to give back to the said States his principal Friendship and they
very probably might have been as much Glorious to him in the Consequence as it was Honourable at the present according to the Confession of a brave Enemy that was in the Battle who said That he esteemed this the only Heroick Action that had been done in the whole Course or Progress of the War The Prince sent to give the Duke of Luxemburg notice of the Peace who thereupon desired an Interview with him which was agreed to and all things past with great Civilities on both sides the French crowding about a Young Prince that had made so much noise in the World and but the Day before given Life and Vigour to such a desperate Action as all Men esteemed this Battle of St. Dennis to be yet many Reflections were made upon it both by his Friends and Enemies some saying That he knew the Peace was Signed before the Fight began but that if it were true could not Prejudice him since he was not obliged to take notice of it till he received Advice from the States and that it was too great a venture both to himself and the States and too great a Sacrifice to his own Honour since it could be to no other Advantage others laid the blame upon the Marquess de Grana That he had Intercepted or Concealed the States Packet to the Prince but this was an uncertain Report However the Prince could not have ended the War with greater Glory and with more spight to see such a mighty occasion wrested out of his Hands by the sudden and unexpected Signing of the Peace which he had assured himself the States would not have consented to without the Spaniards But the Business was done and therefore he left the Army went first to the Hague then to Dieren to Hunt as having little else to do leaving the States at liberty to pursue their own paces as to the finishing of the Treaty between France and Spain wherein their Embassadors at Nimeguen imployed themselves with great Zeal and Application and no longer as Parties and Confederates but rather as Mediators the English declining that Function as being a Matter wherein our Court would take no part The Northern Confederates were still mightily chafed at the Dutch Proceedings and tho' with all their Remonstrances they were not able to stave off the Separate Peace of Holland yet they imployed their last Effort now to prevent the Spaniards agreeing to that part of the Peace as accepted for them by the Dutch and to that end exclaimed mightily against their Breach of Honour and Interest citing the very Articles of their Treaty with them for it and said That what was left the Spaniards in Flanders by those Terms was Indefensible and would serve but to exhaust their Men and Treasure to no purpose That France had no other Design than to break the present Confederacy by such Separate Treaties and so leave the Spaniards abandoned by all their Allies upon the next occasion which they could no less than expect if Spain should use them with as little regard of their Honour and Treaties as the Dutch Embassadors seemed to design these and especially some difficulties that did arise on the part of France about giving up the Country of Beaumont and the Town of Bovines to the Spaniards as being Matters not mentioned in the Dutch Treaty with the French upon the Score of Spain before the Peace was Signed made Matters very doubtful and uncertain whether the Dutch would Ratifie their Treaty or the Spaniards Sign theirs Whilst Mens minds were busied with various Conjectures and Presages upon the present Conjuncture about the middle of Aug. Mr. Hide was suddenly dispatcht over from England to the surprize even of all in Holland and more especially of our Embassador there who had not the least Intimation of it and if the Journey was surpriâ—ing the Message was no less which is included in the following Memorial That his Majesty having understood that a Separate Treaty of Peace had been Concluded and Signed between the Most Christian King's Embassadors and those of this State he was extreamly surprized at the Manner of the Procedure of the the States Embassadors at Nimeguen and having seriously reflected thereon he hath commanded my Lord Embassador to hasten hither with all expedition in order to represent the same to the Lords the States that his Majesty cannot find there is any Declaration or Promise made by the Most Christian King for the Evacuating the Towns upon the Ratification of the Peace Signed at Nimeguen That in the next place there is no Article between the Most Christian King's Embassadors and those of this State to assure the said Evacuation Thirdly That France has retarded the said Evacuation by the new Proposals she has made to the Spaniards whereof there were no mention made in their own Propositions which had been accepted by Spain particularly by a Detention of some Places till Dinant were yielded up by the Empire and by keeping the County of Beaumont and Bovines with other Places of which there had been no mention made in the said Proposals And as it has been agreed upon in the last Treaty which was concluded and ratified between his Majesty and this State that in case his Most Christian Majesty did retard or retract from the said Evacuation whether upon account of procuring Satisfaction to the Swede or for any other Cause whatsoever that the King and this State were obliged to enter into a Conjoint War against France his Majesty does believe that the Substance of that Treaty is come to pass by the fore-mentioned Conditions and that his Majesty and this State were equally obliged to pursue the said Treaty and to give the said Embassador Orders to demand of this State the Execution of it And as his Majesty does not at all doubt but this State has the same Sentiments with himself in respect to the Mutual Obligation that lies upon them from the said Treaty he has commanded the said Embassador in his Name and on his part to assure them that if the Lords the States will refuse to Ratifie that which was Signed by their Embassadors at Nimeguen his Majesty 3 Days after such a Declaration shall be notified to him on the part of this State will declare actual War against France and punctually put in Execution all the Contents of his last Treaty with this State And his Majesty having taken into Consideration those Representations which have been made unto him on the part of this State concerning a Neutrality for Cleve and Juliers his Majesty is so sensible of the great Danger that may befal this State without a sufficient Barrier on that side as well as on that of Flanders that he has commanded the said Embassador to assure the Lords the States that he is ready to Concert with them and enter upon all the Measures that can be taken for their Security on that side as well as on the other and that it shall be their Fault if they
embarking his Forces on several Ships and being himself present at their landing he managed his Matters with such a prudent and happy Conduct that in less than a Days space he rendered himself Master of the whole Island and without losing time went and laid Siege to Stralsond which after 2 Days Battery he got surrendred up to him But the French Forces having marched into the County of Juliers and possest themselves of Aix la Chapelle undoubtedly lessened the Conforts of the Elector's Success in the North where we leave him at present and observe that the great Preparations the French made to attack the Empire under Pretence of forcing them to conform to the Terms of the Peace did so alarm the Princes of the Rhine that the Electors of Mentz and Triers with the Duke of Neuburg sent away in great haste to the States to desire they might be included by them in the Peace they had made by Virtue of an Article therein which gave them Liberty within 6 Weeks to declare and include such as they should name for their Allies But this was opposed by France and refused to any particular Prince of the Empire and allowed only to the Emperor and the Empire if they should joyntly desire to be declared and included in the Peace tho' the Dutch assured them that the Emperor himself would e're long accept of the Peace and insisted upon it as a Matter that was just and conformable to the Article of their Treaty About the same time the Duke of Lorraiâ— seeing all Things go to wreck and that every one minded his own particular interest accepted his part of the Peace as France had carved it out for him and chose that Alternative offered by that Crown whereby Nancy was to remain to France tho' this afterwards came to nothing The Treaty between the Emperor and France was still in agitation tho' it went but slowly on the main Difference being about the free Passage of the French Troops through the Empire whenever they sound it necessary for the Execution of the Treaties of Westphalia But for the Spaniards who would still act in Concert with the Emperor and therefore let not only he Term expire for the Ratification of their late Treaty with France and even the Prolongation of it agreed to by that Crown they were at length moved out of their slow pace by the Outcries and Calamities of their Subjects in Flanders which suffered such cruel Ravages from the French Troops in this time that it was a question whether the Spanish Netherlands were not more ruined between the Signing of the Peace and the Exchange of the Ratifications than they had been in so much time during the whole Course of the War and the Ratifications came from Spain about the beginning of Dec. but were not exchanged till the 15th the last Term given by France There were divers other Difficulties started between the Empire and France in the Course of this Negotiation which spun out the greatest part of the Winter one the Affairs of the House of Funstemburg the Emperor insisting those Princes should by their Submissions crave Pardon of him and make him publick Satisfaction for having espoused contrary Interests and another France would have the Result of the Diet of Ratishone mentioned in the Treaty by which it might appear that the Embassadors of the Empire were sufficiently Authorized to stipulate in the Name of the Empire but at last when all Things seemed to have been agreed on the Embassadors on both sides fell into such Heats and Contests about the Right of the Dutchy of Bouillon the only Point now in Controversie that the Conference ended in a total Rupture and with so much Animosity on both sides that those who formerly desired the Peace had cause to fear the Treaty would hardly be set on foot again This made the Embassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg nick the Opportunity that Evening which was Feb. â—st about Eleven a Clock to make a long and smart Remonstrance to the Imperial Embassadors without taking any notice of the Rupture That their Proceedings with the common Enemy so much the more alarmed them as that in the Place where they were shut up they could not come as much as to the Speech of them that they might represent to them how sensibly they were affected to see they made such Mysteries of that which the Enemy scrupled not to make publick That they intreated them to consider the Faith of their Leagues the Decrees of the Empire and the Injuries they would do to the Princes their Masters if they restored Sweden to the Benefit of the Treaties of Westphalia contrary to the solemn Conclusions that declared they had forfeited the same â—hat above all they desired them to give away nothing that belonged to them and not to suffer under the Name of a Peace that the War might be carried into those Parts of the Empire unto which the Enemies Forces were never yet able to advance Adding withal that if the Imperialists abandoned them to the Discretion of their Enemies they must not take it in ill part if they made use of their own Misfortunes for obtaining some Reparation from those who would sacrifice them and their Interest in that manner and in fine adjuring them by the Majesty of the Sacred Roman Empire that they would conclude nothing contrary to the Rights of their Masters seeing they were ready on their Part to make Peace conjointly with them upon equitable Conditions or otherwise to take all necessary Measures for a vigorous Resistance But notwithstanding all this Remonstrance and the Seasonableness of the Conjuncture the Zeal and Conduct of Sir Lionel Jenkins the English Mediator brought Matters so to bear that the next Day which was the 2d of the Month the Conferences were renewed again And the Pope's Nuncio who all along had been covertly very active to accommodate the Differences of the Catholick Princes and particularly in the present Negotiation fearing least this single Difficulty might obstruct the Fruit of so long and tedious a Work bestirred himself so much and brought Matters to that pass that the Sieurs Charun and Vomderveck Envoys from the Prince and Chapter of Liege declared That since nothing but the Pretension which their Master had to the Dutchy of Bouillon obstructed the Peace they consented that upon the Account of that particular Interest the Welfare and Repose of the Empire should be no longer retarded So that now all Things were adjusted and in the same Conference which lasted till Midnight the Embassadors agreed to Sign the Peace which was done on the 5th without the English Mediators whom the Imperial Embassadors would by no means allow to Sign first and therefore they declined doing it at all unless as Mediators in which Case they ought to have the Precedency And tho' a French Gentleman is pleased to droll upon Sir William Temple hereupon saying He said true when he protested a long time before that
had been a little more hastned the News of it had come in time to have saved a great many brave Mens Lives by preventing that Engagement The main Purport of this Peace was The Re-establishment of the Treaties of Westphailia without any Derogation from them except in a few Particulars and that for avoiding those Differences which commonly arise among Princes about the Confusion of Limits But the Reader will be better pleased to have the distinct Particulars and they are these that follow I. THAT there shall be a firm and lasting Peace between them and free Commerce by Land and Water II. All Hostilities to cease within 10 Days after the Exchange of the Ratification III. A general Oblivion of all that is past IV. The Treaties of Munster and Osnuburg to remain in full Force V. The Elector to restore to Sweden all he has taken in Pomerin during this War as Stetin Straelsond c. VI. But that the Lands on the other side the River Oder shall remain in Sovereignty to the Elector VII That Golnow shall at present remain in the Hands of the Elector he paying 50000 Crowns to the King of Sweden who upon payment of that Sum shall have the same restored to him VIII The King of Sweden quits the Toll which he received at Colberg and other Places in Pomerania pursuant to the Treaty made at Stetin 1653. IX Quits likewise all Rights and Revenues of the Lands on the other side of the Oder which remains by this Peace to the Elector X. Frees the Inhabitants of the Oath of Allegiance by them taken to him XI The River Oder to remain in Sovereignty to Sweden and the Elector is not to build any Forts or strong Holds on it as far as the Territory of Sweden reaches XII The most Christian King shall presently after the Exchange of the Ratification draw his Forces out of the Countries and Places of the Elector except 1000 Horse who are to remain in Wesel and Lipstadt till the Peace be entirely concluded XIII That the Elector shall draw his Forces out of the Field but because the King of Sweden wants Troops the Elector shall keep Garisons in the Places in Pomeren viz. 2000 Men at Straelsond 1200 or 1000 in Stetin and so in other Places proportionable till such time as Sweden sends over Men to receive them XIV That the Elector may take away the Cannon and Ammunition he hath brought into those Places but must leave what he found there XV. That all Endeavours shall be used to make the Peace with Denmark and that in the mean time the Elector shall not give that Crown any Assistance XVI The most Christian King obliges himself to procure the Crown of Sweden's Ratifications of this Treaty in 3 Months and as long as it is wanting the Elector is not obliged to restore the Places above-mentioned The Ratification between France and the Elector to be exchanged in a Month. But France somewhat to sweeten these hard Conditions put upon this Gallant Prince the Elector of Brandenburg in parting with such large Conquests as he had made in the Course of this War upon the Swede promised by a Separate Article to pay or cause to be paid unto him the Sum of 300000 Crowns towards the re-imbursing in some manner the vast Charges he had been at in making and prosecuting the said Conquests The Elector had no sooner made up Matters upon these hard Terms with his Enemies but he bethinks himself of trying whether his forsaken Friends who were the main Occasions to bring him to it would at all consider him And therefore he writes a Letter to the States-General wherein he did set forth That in the deplorable Condition his Country's Interests in Westphalia were in at that present it might be easily judged whether he had more Reason to complain of those who as Enemies had thus fallen upon him or of those for whose sake All that had happened to him who instead of giving him the Assistance required by their Treaties had neglected them and made a Separate Peace thereby as well abandoning his as their own Affairs and laying upon him the whole Burden of the War in which he should have had no part had it not been for his Desire to help his Friends in their Misfortunes as if it had been a Consolation to their High and Mightinesses to see him who had endeavoured with all his Might to save them from utter Destruction as a Recompence totally ruined That he did not think it necessary to set before them more Particulars of what he had suffered for his assisting them and how his Countries of Cleves Mark Ravensberg and Minden in sight of their Armies had been quite ruined and desolated which they had already understood from his Ministers according to the Orders he had given them That he had expected they would have returned him an Answer to the Letter in which he advised them of the Dangers that threatned him and desired their Assistance that so at least he might have had the Comfort to see the Concern they had for his Misfortunes which he had the more Reason to expect for that it could not but be yet fresh in their High and Mightinesses Memory how in their greatest Necessity he had hazarded all for them and preferred their Friendship before the most advantagious Conditions that were offered him That their High and Mightinesses would according to their great Wisdom comprehend that he ought not to bear these inestimable Damages for their sake without Compensation and that according to all Right he ought to expect the same and his Indemnity from those who might and ought to have prevented them That therefore he wrote to their High and Mightinesses that Letter that they might not think that he had swallowed their unjust Proceedings or quitted the Obligations his Alliance with them laid upon them But that as he on his part had always performed his Promises and Engagements and done even more than they required so he expected the like from them or in Default thereof Satisfaction for the same and reserved to himself and to his Posterity all the Right belonging thereunto That he prayed God to preserve them from all Misfortunes and hostile Invasions for the future that so they might not to their great Prejudice come to know the Consequence of forsaking faithful Friends The States who had once before failed in that respect that was due to the Elector by not answering his former Letter would not offend further in that Particular by turning a deaf Ear to this also tho' in Substance the Elector had as good as have received no Reply at all However they acknowledged in the first place the great Services the Elector had rendred their State and particularly in the late War assuring him That they would always keep the same fresh in Memory and make all suitable Returns as it should be in their Power Then they let him see how that they themselves had not been wanting
next Day and most part of the Night that followed But by how much the more Affectionate the Citizens and Nation appeared to be towards him the King and his Court proved to be so much the less so For all his Places of Profit and Trust were immediately taken from him Whereas the Duke of York was sent High Commissioner into Scotland where the Duke of Monmouth's Victory at Blackbourn had left a clear Field for the other to play his Game But this did not well agree with the King's Speech at the Opening of the last Parliament When he said That he had commanded his Brother to absent himself from him because he would not leave malicious Men room to say that he had not removed all Causes which could be pretended to influence him to Popish Councils and a little Time will shew it You have heard before that the King by Proclamation dissolved the Parliament upon the 12th of July and issued out Writs for the Meeting of another on the 17th of Oct. following But like the usual Methods of many other Things in this Reign when they met they were prorogued to the 26th of Jan. and from thence to the 5th of Ap. 1680. and further from thence to the 21st of Oct. when he graciously declared they should Sit and do Business These were strange doings and therefore the more sober Part of the Nation and such as had a due Regard to the publick Good bestirred themselves in the Interval of the first Prorogation to move the King in the most dutiful Manner for the Sitting of the Parliament and that you may have a true Idea of the Matter we will give you an Instance or two of the Entertainment they met with at Court upon this Occasion There came several Petitions to this end from divers Counties and Corporations and among the rest one from Wiltshire was on the 22th of Jan. presented to the King by Thomas Thynne Esq accompanied by Sir Walter St. Johns and Sir Edward Hungerford He asked them Whether they had Directions from the Grand Jury for what they did And Mr. Thynne having answered No the King replied Why say you then that you come from the Country You came from a Company of loose disaffected People What do they take me to be And what do you take your selves to be I admire Gentlemen of your Estates should animate People to Mutiny and Rebellion you would not take it well I should meddle with your Affairs and I desire you will not meddle with mine especially with a Matter that is so essential a Part of my Prerogative Another Petition of the like Nature being presented to him the Day following by Sir Gabriel Barrington Coll. Mildmay Mr. Honywood c. in the Names of themselves and others the Inhabitants of the County of Essex the Answer was That he was extreamly surprized to see them meddle with Matters that so immediately concerned the Crown and him and that against the Sense of the best and chiefest Men in the County that he believed that some of those that had Signed the Petition might mean well but that they were abused by those that did not To which he was pleased to add in my Mind a very strange Passage That he was not willing to call to mind Things past yet that he could not but remember the Act of Oblivion tho' not as some did That those who had stood in need of that Act would do well not to take such Courses as might need another and that he very well remembred 40 and so turned away And for the Berkshire Gentlemen and their Petition which was presented the same Day from their Quarter-Sessions he was pleased to droll it out saying That they would agree that Matter over a Cup of Ale when they met at Windsor tho' he wondered that his Neighbours would meddle with his Business Farther that the Nation as well as these respective Gentlemen might not be ignorant of the Court-Sentiments in these Matters these Answers were publickly inserted in the Gazzettes but without the Petitions as if they would have it suggested slily to the World that there were some audacious and very criminal Things contained in them Whereas the Abhorrers of Petitioning and consequently of Parliaments and of the Fundamental Constitution of our Government had the Honour of having their Addresses put in ample Manner into the Publick Prints which in these Times were stuffed with nothing else many of them to be Dubbed Knights and a good Soak of Wine in the King's Cellar to boot by particular Order which I know to be true on my own Knowledge The King being found to be of this Humour and there happening to be so long an Interval of Parliament by the several Prorogations that were made and the Duke doing what he pleased in Scotland there could be no very earnest Prosecution of the Popish Plot you may well imagine nay it was so far ridiculed in this Time by L'Estrange and others Pensioners of the Tory Party that indifferent Men began to doubt whether there were any such Thing or no while the Popish Faction began to trump up a new Plot upon the Whigs or Dissenters But their Designs being not laid close enough though the Devil was at the Bottom of them they failed and so I will leave Matters till the Sitting of the Parliament and see what they are doing all this while beyond the Seas King Charles finding himself weak at Home tho' I must speak my Conscience I know of no one so great an Instrument of it as himself it was high time to make some Alliances Abroad and the rather since France by the late Peace was grown so extream Powerful and in the Main had no great Reason to be satisfied with his Conduct whatever good Meen they were pleased from time to time to put upon it he sent Mr. Sidney into Holland towards the latter end of the last Year to propose to the States the making a Treaty of Guarranty for the Peace concluded at Nimeguen France did then most industriously oppose that Alliance but yet in a covert Manner at first by a Stratagem as odd as it might seem to some Extravagant There being a Letter conveyed to the States-General from an unknown Hand wherein was represented at large the ill Posture those Provinces were fallen to which was the Reason the Neighbouring Princes had not the same Regard for their Republick as formerly witness the Menaces of Spain Denmark Brandenburg c. and that the only way to restore the States into the Condition it was in formerly was to enter into a strict Alliance with France in pursuance of which the French King would maintain 50000 Men in Arms and the States need not keep above 10000 Foot and 6000 Horse and Dragoons in their Pay That by that means those Provinces would be able to defend themselves against any whomsoever that should attack them That that Alliance should be confirmed every Year by mutual Oaths by the
Kingdom we began to hope we should see an End of our Miseries But to our unspeakable Grief and Sorrow we soon found our Expectation frustrated the Parliament then subsisting was Prorogued and Dissolved before it could perfect what was intended for our Relief and Security and though another was thereupon called yet by the many Prorogations it was put off till the 21st of Oct. past and notwithstanding Your Majesty was then again pleased to acknowledge that neither Your Majesty's Person nor the Kingdom should be safe till the Matter of the Plot was gone through it was unexpectedly Prorogued on the 10th of this Month before any sufficient Order could be taken therein all their just and pious Endeavours to save the Nation were overthrown the good Bills they had been industriously preparing to unite all Your Majesty's Protestant Subjects brought to nought the Discovery of the Irish Plot stifled the Witnesses that came in frequently more fully to declare that both of England and Ireland discouraged those Foreign Kingdoms and States who by a happy Conjunction with us might give a Check to the French Power disheartned even to such a Despair of their own Security against the growing Greatness of that Monarch as we fear may induce them to take new Resolutions and perhaps such as may be fatal to us the Strength of our Enemies both at Home and Abroad increased and our selves left in the utmost Danger of seeing our selves brought into utter Desolation In these Extremities we had nothing under God to comfort us but the Hopes that Your Majesty being touched with the Groans of Your perishing People would have suffered Your Parliament to have met at the Day unto which it was Prorogued and that no further Interruption should have been given to their Proceedings in order to the saving of the Nation yet that failed us too But when we heard that Your Majesty by the private Suggestion of some wicked Persons Favourers of Popery Promoters of French Designs and Enemies to Your Majesty and the Kingdom without the Advice and as we have good Reason to believe against the Opinion even of Your Privy-Council had been prevailed with to Dissolve it and to call another to meet at Oxford where neither Lords nor Commons can be in Safety but will be daily exposed to the Sword of the Papists and their Adherents of whom too many are crept into Your Majesty's Guards the Liberty of speaking according to their Consciences will be thereby destroyed and the Validity of all their Acts and Proceedings consisting in it left disputable the Streightness of the Place no way admits of such a Concourse of Persons as now follows every Parliament the Witnesses that are necessary to give Evidence against the Popish Lords such Judges or others whom the Commons have Impeached or had resolved to Impeach can neither bear the Charge of going thither nor trust themselves under the Protection of a Parliament that is it self evidently under the Power of Guards and Soldiers The Premises consider'd we Your Majesty's Petitioners out of just Abhorrence of such a dangerous and pernicious Council which the Authors have not dared to avow and the direful Apprehensions of the Calamities and Miseries that may ensue thereupon do make it our most humble Prayer and Advice That the Parliament may not Sit at a Place where it cannot be able to act with that Freedom which is necessary and especially to give unto their Acts and Proceedings that Authority which they ought to have amongst the People and have ever had unless impaired by some Awe upon them of which there wants not Presidents and that Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to order it to Sit at Westminster it being the usual Place and where they may consult and act with Safety and Freedom And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. Montmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Essex Shaftsbury Mordant Evers Paget Gray Herbert Howard Delamere The Answer given by the King to this Petition is left Recorded no where that I can find but that he express'd his Displeasure at it by a Frown was commonly reported in those Times which was the more taken notice of because of thâ—â— kind Answers he was wont to give the other Party upon all Occasions and the greater Care that was taken in the Publication thereof that the Nation might know it But how looâ— soever he was in his Promises to the Parliament you will findâ— him steddy and unmovable in this of the Parliament's meeting at Oxford and the Lords that had an Hand in this Petitioâ— shall be remembred by him in their due Place But we shaâ—â— now leave this Matter and see a little what was done betweeâ— the last and 3d Westminster Parliament of this King 's Reigâ— and the meeting of this at Oxford Though the Meal-Tâ— Plot whereof we have already given you an Hint meet witâ— such ill Success yet the indefatigable Zeal of a Son of Sir Edâ—â—â— Fitz-Harris an Irish Papist and consequently very fit as 〈◊〉 really was to be a Correspondent with the Dutchess of Porâ—â— mouth her Woman Mrs. Wall and the French Embassadoâ— Confessor the first of which had several times supplied hiâ— with Money and at one time particularly with 250 l. 〈◊〉 such that happening to come acquainted with one Everard beyond Sea where they were both in the French King's Service he did about the Beginning of Feb. after the Parliament was Dissolved renew his said Acquaintance with Everard and represented to him the Advantages he might have in forsaking the English Interest and ingratiating himself into the French and Popish one and that it would be very conductive to that Interest if he would make a Pamphlet that reflected upon the King To this the other gave not a clear Consent yet Fitz-Harris upon the 21st of Feb. gave him some Heads by Word of Mouth to draw up such a Pamphlet Which Procedure of his made Everard acquaint several withal and particularly one Mr. Smith and Sir William Waller whom he engaged in a concealed Manner to be at a Place appointed to hear the further Discourse between them which was next Day and whither the former came where he heard Fitz-Harris give Everard Instructions to this Purpose That the King and Royal Family should be traduced as being Papists and arbitrarily affected from the Beginning That King Charles I. had an Hand in the Irish Rebellion and that Charles II. did countenance the same by preferring Fitz-Gerrald Fitz-Patrick and Mount-Garret who were engaged in the Irish Rebellion That the Act forbidding to call the King a Papist was to stop Mens Mouths when he should encline to further Popery which appeared by his adhering so closely to the Duke of York's Interests and hindring him from being proceeded against by the Parliament and hindring the Officers put in by the Duke of York to be turned out and for that the Privy-Councellors and Justices of the Peace who were for the Protestant Interest were turned out of
Designs he proceeded now to shew how Absolute he would be in them and therefore on the 4th of May he passed an Order in Council that his Declaration of Indulgence should be Read in all Churches and Chappels throughout England and Wales in Time of Divine Service and that all the Bishops in their respective Diocesses should take Care to have the same accordingly performed There is no question to be made but they understood the King's Meaning well enough and that under a Shadow of Favour to be intended hereby to Protestant Dissenters all the Good imaginable was meant to the Roman Catholicks and that whatever was intended by it there was no Good meant to them nor their Church and therefore it was their Business to ward off the Blow which 7 of them endeavoured to do in an humble Petition to the King wherein their Reasons were set forth why they could not comply with the Order of Council But they were so cautious in the Matter that after it was drawn up they would let no other see it before it was presented And the same was as also the King's Answer to this Effect TO THE KING'S Most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble PETITION of William Archbishop of Canterbury and divers of the Suffragan Bishops of that Province now present with him in behalf of themselves and others of their absent Brethren and of the Inferior Clergy of their respective Diocesses Humbly Sheweth THAT the great Aversness they find in themselves to the Distributing and Publishing in all their Churches Your Majesty's late Declaration for Liberty of Conscience proceeds neither from any Want of Duty and Obedience to Your Majesty our holy Mother the Church of England being both in her Principles and in her constant Practice unquestionably Loyal and having to her great Honour been more than once publickly acknowledged to be so by Your Gracious Majesty nor yet from any Want of Tenderness to Dissenters in relation to whom we are willing to come to such a Temper as shall be thought fit when the Matter shall be considered and settled in Parliament and Convocation But among many other Considerations from this especially Because that Declaration is founded upon such a Dispencing Power as hath been often declared Illegal in Parliament and particularly in the Years 1662 and 1672 and in the Beginning of Your Majesty's Reign and is a Matter of so great Moment and Consequence to the whole Nation both in Church and State that Your Petitioners cannot in Prudence Honour or Conscience so far make themselves Parties to it as the Distribution of it all over the Nation and the solemn Publication of it once and again even in GOD's House and in the Time of His Divine Service must amount to in common and unreasonable Construction Your Petitioners therefore most humbly and earnestly beseech Your Majesty that You will be pleased not to insist upon their Distributing and Reading Your Majesty's said Declaration And Your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray c. Will. Cant. Will. Asaph Fr. Ely Jo. Cicestr Tho. Bathon Wellen. Tho. Peterburgen Jonath Bristol His MAJESTY'S ANSWER I Have heard of this before but did not believe it I did not expect this from the Church of England especially from some of you If I change my Mind ye shall hear from me If not I expect my Command shall be obeyed But how unpleasing soever the Petition might be to the King which is sufficiently evinced by his Answer and what Revenge soever he might ruminate within himself to take upon the Bishops for it the Chancellor though he thought his Ecclâ—siastical Commission big enough to suspend the Bishop of London and the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge and to expel the Master and Fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford yet is seems he did not believe it sufficient to suspend these Bishop And therefore it was said he advised the King to Try them upon an Information of High-Treason at the King 's Beneh-Bar In order to this they were committed Prisoner to the Tower and that on the Day before I think the Legendary Birth of the Prince of Wales who came to Town on Sunday Morning the 10th of June that they might not have the Opportunity as it was the Place at least of some of them to be present thereat and make any Inspection into that pious Fraud But though the Nation was mightily alarm'd at their Commitment and more particularly with the Time and Circumstance of it and that this Discontent might have been read in the Faces of almost all Men â—â—ve Romanists yet the Court unconcerned held on their Pace and accordingly the Bishops were Tryed in Trinity Term following at the King 's Beneh-Bar upon an Information of High-Misdemeanor as aforesaid for their Petition to the King But how secure soever the King and his Chancellor thought themselves of the Judges and though Sir Robert Wright who was Chief Justice and Sir Richard Allibone a known Papist were Two of them yet they were not all of a Piece for Mr. Justice Powell both learnedly and stoutly defended the Cause of the Bishops And though I believe the Jury of themselves upon considering the Merit of the Cause were sufficiently disposed to acquit them as they did accordingly yet surely if they had done otherwise I question whether all the King's Guards could have secured them from the Fury of the People who were not a little chafed with these Proceedings and wrought such Seeds of Discontent in the Minds of most Men that afterwards broke forth with a Witness And though it is not to be doubted but the Great Men of our Nation began before this to look about them and to have a watchful Eye upon every Motion of the Court yet this awaken'd them to purpose to seek for a Remedy against the impending Evil by such Methods and from such Persons as were most interested to divert the Course of them But of this we shall more particularly speak hereafter the Course of our History leading us 〈◊〉 to the Prosecution of Foreign Affairs and Campaigns 〈◊〉 ready to begin And first we shall again begin with Hungary We left off last Year with the Surrender of Agria a most pleasing Piece of News to the Imperial Court as was that of the Fortress of Mâ—ngaâ—z early this Spring no less grateful to it Famine and no other Reason was the Occasion of the Surrender of this Place as well as the preceding one The Fortress had been held out by the Princess Ragotzi Count Tecâ—eley's Lady in a manner ever since the Beginning of the War But now dire Necessity constrained that Noble Lady to surrender both it and her self into the Emperor's Hands as it appear'd evidently by her saying when the Capitulation was brought from Count Caraffa to be signed by her Must I Sign my Husband's Death For I am perswaded that as soon as the Turks come to know I have abandoned this Place they will take off his Head The Terms of
Doge who shall have 500 Ducats a Month and Entertainment and shall act and do as the Doge may do receiving his Revenues defraying his Charges and reserving what shall be due to him till he returns But as if Fortune had been now glutted in heaping up of her favours upon Morosini by adding to the many Victories and Conquests he had made the highest Dignity his Country could confer upon him he did nothing that was memorable this Campaign having been beyond most Mens expectations extreamly baffled in the Enterprize he undertook upon Negropont nor indeed ever after this comparatively to the great feats he had done in the preceding part of his life So that besides the taking of Chir in Dalmatia by General Cornare about the beginning of Sept. and that small Victory which the Albanians who had now put themselves under the protection of the Republick got over some thousands of Turks Commanded by the Basha of Scutari and their taking the Town of Maduna thereupon there was nothing else of any great consideration that fell out on that side And as for Poland he that can find any thing extraordinary there for the breaking up of the Diet held at Grod now this Year in Confusion and the Incursion of the Turks into the Province of Pocusia I do not take to be such let him do it and I shall pass on to somewhat of greater Moment Now it may be remembred in what uncertain state and imminent danger we left both the Civil and Religious Rights of Britain there were some concurring causes that made those of Europe appear to be little less so France by the Interval of the Peace was grown wonderfully potent and if the Altercations between the Imperial and French Ministers about the later's Fortifying of Traerback foreboded no good to the Empire the Death of the Elector of Cologn which hapned June 2d this year manifestly tended to an open Rupture The two Candidates for the Electorate were young Prince Clement of Bavaria the Elector's Brother of that Name whose interest was supported by Germany and the Cardinal de Fustemburg whose pretentions were backed by the Crown of France But though the former made a shift to carry it and that his Election was confirmed afterwards by the Pope who was at no good terms with France at this time yet the French K. concerned himself so far in the matter as to make it an occasion to begin the cruellest War that ever happn'd in this part of the world this was seconded with a Manifesto from the French K which indeed in the right course of things should have been first setting forth the Justice of his cause But I hope the world is still at liberty to believe as little of it as they please However it cost Germany this Season besides the incredible sums paid for Contribution no less than the loss of the Fortress of Phillipsbourg taken by the Dauphine in Person Manheim Spire Mentz Creusenack Baccarack Heidelburg and several other places as far as Hailbron besides Bonn secured by the Cardinal de Furstemburg towards the beginning of the dispute about the Election But before all this happened and even soon after the foresaid Elector's Death there was an interview and even a long Conference held at Minden in Westphaliâ— between the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg the Landâ—grave of Hesse Cassell the Princes of the House of Lunemburg and the P. of Orange under pretence of the Affair of Cologn as it was in part but much more about concerting methods to divert the Storm hanging over our British Isle without disjoynting of which from the French interest and securing of its Religion and Liberties there was but little likelihood of preserving the rest of Europe and confining France to the Bounds set unto it by former Stipulations and Treaties The Consequence of this Interview was the making mighty Preparations in Holland both by Sea and Land without any visible Appearance who they designed to make War upon And tho' it was said the Heer Van Citters the States Ambassador at London assured the King England had nothing to fear from it and did insinuate that France had much more Reason to be allarm'd than he the Design was penetrated into another way Mr. Skelton while Ambassador in Holland had gained some Glimmering of it by the Interception of some Letters to a certain Person in the Family of the Princess of Orange But being soon after sent in the same Quality to France he got a much clearer Light thereof from one Verace a Genevese by Birth The Story whereof is such as deserves a more particular Recital This same Person had been formerly Captain of the Guard to the Prince of Orange but happening to kill a Man in a Duel he was put out of his Master's Favour However Mr. Skelton found a Way by the Interest of the Earl of Clarendon who had bred up his Son my Lord Cornbury at Geneva and was obliged to Verace for many Services he had done him there to make his Peace again The Genevese being thus re-established in his Master's Favour he had a greater Share of it than ever and was more particularly intimate with Monsieur Bentink the Prince's Favourite I could never learn how he put himself out a second time But so it was that he withdrew and was upon his Journey to Geneva when upon the Noise of the Preparations in Holland he writ to Mr. Skelton then at Paris that he had something to communicate to the King his Master that concerned nothing less than his Crown and to let him know a Son-in-Law whom he was not mistrustful enough of But for the rest he would not explicate the Secret to any other than the King himself if he were pleased to send him Orders to come and wait upon him Upon this Mr. Skelton writ several Letters to England but did not receive an Answer suitable to the Occasion which made both himself and the French Court much concerned at it Yet when they had in a manner entirely acquiesced and left the King to take his own Measures since he seemed to reject theirs and the Assistances offered him it hapned one Day that Monsieur de Croissi being in Discourse with Mr. Skelton and interrogating of him concerning the then State of Things in England the other answered He had nothing more to do in the Matter and durst not inter meddle any farther But added That he believed if the Most Christian King would order his Ambassador to declare to the States the Part he took in the Affairs of the King his Master and to threaten to attack them in case they attempted any thing against him that he would quickly put a Stop to them and break the Measures of the Prince of Orange thereupon c. Monsieur de Croissi took the Proposal presently and he no sooner acquainted the King with it but he sent Orders to the Count d' Avaux to acquaint the States-General with his Mind And this occasioned
of the Protestant Religion and that by their Taking of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Test yet these evil Counsellors have in effect annulled and abolished all those Laws which relate to Ecclesiastical and Civil Employment VII In order to Ecclesiastical Dignities and Offices they have not only without any colour of Law but against most express Laws to the contrary set up a Commission of a certain number of Persons to whom they committed the Cognisance and Direction of all Ecclesiastical Matters in the which Commission there has been and still is one of His Majesty's Ministers of State who makes now publick profession of the Popish Religion and who at the time of his first professing it declared that for a great while before he had believed that to be the only true Religion By all this the deplorable State to which the Protestant Religion is reduced is apparent since the Affairs of the Church of England are now put into the Hands of Persons who have accepted of a Commission that is manifestly illegal and who have executed it contrary to all Law and that now one of their chief Members has abjured the Protestant Religion and declared himself a Papist by which he is become uncapable of holding any Publick Imployment The said Commissioners have hitherto given such Proof of their Submission to the Directions given them that there is no Reason to doubt but they will still continue to promote all such Designs as will be most agreeable to them And those Evil Counsellors take care to raise none to any Ecclesiastical Dignities but Persons that have no Zeal for the Protestant Religion and that hide their unconcernedness for it under the specious pretence of Moderation The said Commissioners have suspended the Bishop of London only because he refused to obey an Order that was sent him to suspend a worthy Divine without so much as citing him before him to make his own Defence or observing the common Forms of Process They have turnd out a President chosen by the Fellows of Magdalen College and afterwards all the Fellows of that College without so much as citing them before any Court that could take legal Cognisance of that Affair or obtaining any Sentence against them by a competent Judge And the only Reason that was given for turning them out was their refusing to chuse for their President a person that was recommended to them by the Instigation of those Evil Counsellors though the Right of a Free Election belonged undoubtedly to them But they were turned out of their Free-Holds contrary to Law and to that express provision in the Magna Charta That no Man shall lose Life or Goods but by the Law of the Land And now these Evil Counsellors have put the said College wholly into the Hands of Papists tho' as is abovesaid they are incapable of all such Employments both by the Law of the Land and the Statutes of the College These Commissioners have also cited before them all the Chancellors and Arch Deacons of England requiring them to certifie to them the Names of all such Clergy-men as have Read the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience and of such as have not Read it without considering that the Reading thereof was not enjoyned the Clergy by the Bishops who are their Ordnaries The Illegality and Incompetency of the said Court of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners was so notoriously known and it did so evidently appear that it tended to the Subversion of the Protestant Religion that the Most Reverend Father in God William Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of England seeing that it was raised for no other End but to oppress such Persons as were of eminent Vertue Learning and Piety refused to sit or to concur in it VIII And tho' there are many express Laws against all Churches or Chapels for the Exercise of the Popish Religion and also against all Monasteries and Convents and more particularly against the Order of the Jesuites yet those Evil Counsellors have procured Orders for the Building of several Churches and Chapels for the Exercise of that Religion They have also procured divers Monasteries to be Erected and in contempt of the Laws they have not only set up several Colleges of Jesuites in divers places for the corrupting of the Youth but have raised up one of the Order to be a Privy-Counsellor and a Minister of State By all which they do evidently shew that they are restrained by no Rules of Law whatsoever but that they have subjected the Honours and Estates of the Subjects and the Established Religion to a Despotick Power and to Arbitrary Government In all which they are served and seconded by those Ecclesiastical Commissioners IX They have also followed the same Methods with relation to Civil Affairs for they have procured Orders to examine all Lord-Lieutenants Deputy-Lieutenants Sheriffs Justices of Peace and all others that were in any Publick Employment if they would concur with the King in the Repeal of the Test and Penal Laws and all such whose Consciences did not suffer them to comply with their Designs were turned out and others were put in their Places whom they believed would be more compliant to them in their Designs of defeating the Intent and Execution of those Laws which had been made with so much Care and Caution for the Security of the Protestant Religion And in many of these Places they have put professed Protestants tho' the Law has disabled them and warranted the Subjects not to have any Regard to their Orders X. They have also invaded the Privileges and seized on the Charters of most of those Towns that have a Right to be Represented by their Burgesses in Parliament and have procured Surrenders to be made of them by which the Magistrates in them have delivered up all their Rights and Privileges to be disposed of at the Pleasure of those Evil Counsellors who have thereupon placed new Magistrates in those Towns such as they can most entirely confide in and in many of them they put Popish Magistrates notwithstanding the Incapacities under which the Law has put them XI And whereas no Nation whatsoever can subsist without the Administration of good and impartial Justice upon which Mens Lives Liberties Honours and Estates do depend those Evil Counsellors have subjected these to an Arbitrary and Despotick Power In the most important Affairs they have studied to discover before-hand the Opinions of the Judges and have turned out such as they found would not conform themselves to their Intentions and have put others in their Places of whom they were more assured without having any regard to their Abilities And they have not stuck to raise even professed Papists to the Courts of Judicature notwithstanding their Incapacity by Law and that no Regard is due to any Sentences flowing from them They have carried this so far as to deprive such Judges who in common Administration of Justice shewed that they were governed by their Consciences
these our good Intentions that they have endeavoured to alienate the King more and more from us as if we had designed to disturb the Quiet and Happiness of the Kingdom XVIII The last and great Remedy for all these Evils is the Calling of a Parliament for securing the Nation against those evil Practices of those wicked Counsellors but this could not be yet compassed nor can be easily brought about For those Men apprehending that a Lawful Parliament being once Assembled they would be brought to an Account for all their open Violations of Law and for their Plots and Conspiracies against the Protestant Religion and the Lives and Liberties of the Subjects they have endeavoured under the specious Pretence of Liberty of Conscience first to sow Divisions among Protestants between those of the Church of England and Dissenters The Design being laid to engage Protestants that are equally concerned to preserve themselves from Popish Oppression into Mutual Quarrellings that so by these some Advantages may be given to them to bring about their Designs and that both in the Election of Members of Parliament and afterwards in the Parliament it self For they see well that if all Protestants could enter into a good understanding one with another and concur together in the preserving of their Religion it would not be possible for them to compass their wicked Ends. They have also required all Persons in the several Counties of England that either were in any Employment or were in any considerable Esteem to declare before-hand that they would concur in the Repeal of the Penal Laws and that they would give their Voices in the Elections to Parliament only for such as would concur in it Such as would not thus preingage themselves were turn'd out of all Employments and others who entred into those Engagements were put in their Places many of them being Papists And contrary to the Charters and Priviledges of those Boroughs that have a Right to send Burgesses to Parliament they have ordered such Regulations to be made as they thought fit and necessary for assuring themselves of all the Members that are to be chosen by those Corporations and by this means they hope to avoid that Punishment which they have deserved tho' it is apparent that all Acts made by Popish Magistrates are null and void of themselves So that no Parliament can be Lawful for which the Elections and Returns are made by Popish Magistrates Sheriffs and Mayors of Towns and therefore as long as the Authority and Magistracy is in such Hands it is not possible to have any Lawful Parliament And tho' according to the Constitution of the English Government and Immemorial Custom all Elections of Parliament-Men ought to be made with an entire Liberty without any sort of Force or the requiring the Electors to chuse such Persons as shall be named to them and the Persons thus freely Elected ought to give their Opinions freely upon all Matters that are brought before them having the Good of the Nation ever before their Eyes and following in all things the Dictates of their Conscience yet now the People of England cannot expect a Remedy from a Free Parliament Legally Called and Chosen But they may perhaps see one Called in which all Elections will be carried by Fraud or Force and which will be composed of such Persons of whom those evil Counsellors hold themselves well assured in which all things will be carried on according to their Direction and Interest without any regard to the Good or Happiness of the Nation Which may appear evidently from this That the same Persons tried the Members of the last Parliament to gain them to consent to the Repeal of the Test and Penal Laws and procured that Parliament to be dissolved when they found that they could not neither by Promises nor Threatnings prevail with the Members to comply with their wicked Design XIX But to Crown all there are great and violent Presumptions inducing us to believe that those Evil Counsellors in order to the carrying on their ill Designs and to the gaining to themselves the more time for the effecting of them for the Encouragement of their Complices and for the discouraging of all good Subjects have publish'd That the Queen hath brought forth a Son tho' there have appeared both during the Queen's pretended Bigness and in the manner in which the Birth was managed so many just and visible Grounds of Suspicion that not only we our selves but all the Good Subjects of this Kingdom do vehemently suspect That the pretended Prince of Wales was not born by the Queen And it was notoriously known to all the World that many both doubted of the Queen's Bigness and of the Birth of the Child and yet there was not any one thing done to satisfie them or put an end to their Doubts XX. And since Our dearest and most entirely Beloved Consort the Princess and likewise We Our Selves have so great an Interest in this Matter and such a Right as all the World knows to the Succession to the Crown Since all the English did in the Year 1672. when the States General of the Vnited Provinces were invaded with a most unjust War use their utmost Endeavours to put an end to that War and that in Opposition to those who were then in the Government and by their so doing they run the hazard of losing both the Favour of the Court and their Employments And since the English Nation has ever testified a most particular Affection and Esteem both to our dearest Consort the Princess and to Our selves We cannot excuse our selves from espousing their Interest in a Matter of such High Consequence And for contributing all that lies in us for the maintaining both of the Protestant Religion and of the Laws and Liberties of those Kingdoms and for the Securing to them the continual Enjoyment of all their just Rights To the doing of which We are most earnestly sollicited by a great many Lords both Sipiritual and Temporal and by many Gentlemen and other Subjects of all Ranks XXI Therefore it is That We have thought fit to go over to England and to carry over with us a Force sufficient by the Blessing of God to defend us from the Violence of those Evil Counsellors And We being desirous that our Intentions in this might be rightly understood have for this end prepared this Declaration in which as We have hitherto given a True Account of the Reasons inducing us to it so we now think fit to declare That this our Expedition is intended for no other Design but to have a Free and Lawful Parliament Assembled as soon as it is possible and that in order to this all the late Charters by which the Elections of Burgesses are limitted contrary to the Ancient Custom shall be considered as null and of no Force And likewise all Magistrates who have been unjustly turned out shall forthwith resume their former Employments as well as all the Boroughs of England shall return
that no interruption may be given to an happy and lasting Settlement The dangerous Condition of the Protestants in Ireland requiring a large and speedy succour and the present state of things abroad oblige me to tell you that next to the danger of Vnseasonable Divisions amongst our selves nothing can be so fatal as too great a delay in your Consultations The States by whom I have been enabled to rescue this Nation may suddenly feel the ill Effects of it both by being too long deprived of the Service of their Troops which are now here and of your early Assistance against a powerful Enemy who hath declared a War against them And as England is by Treaty already engaged to help them upon such Exigencies so I am consident that their chearful Concurrence to preserve this Kingdom with so much hazard to themselves will meet with all the Returns of Friendship and Assistance which may be expected from you as Protestants and English Men when ever their Condition shall require it Given at St. James's the 22d Day of January 1688. Will. H. P. d' Orange Their first Act was an Address of Thanks to the Prince of Orange for what he had successfully undertaken for the Nation a desire he should continue the Administration of Publick Affairs and take particular Care of the Affairs of Ireland with a promise on their part to dispatch the Affairs that lay under their Consideration with utmost Application to which having received a very kind Answer on the Prince his part both Houses immediately fell to their Work and after 8 days the Commons past the following Vote Resolv'd That King James II. having endeavour'd to subvert the Constitution of this Kingdom by breaking the Original Contract between King and People and by the Advice of Jesuits and other wicked Persons having violated the Fundamental Laws and having withdrawn himself out of this Kingdom hath abdicated the Government and that the Throne is thereby vacant The Declaration of the Commons being sent up to the Lords for their Concurrence that House entered into a Debate upon it and so far agreed with it that they had only by way of amendment put in the word Deserted instead of Abdicated and left out and that the Throne is thereby vacant and sent a Message to the Commons to acquaint them therewith But they were so far from approving of what the Lords had done that they proceeded to give their Reasons against the Amendment alledging that they could not allow the word Deserted instead of Abdicated which their House had made choice of because it did not fully express the Conclusion necessarily inferred from the Premises viz. That K. James II. had endeavoured to subvert the Constitutions of the Kingdom as before in the former part of the Declaration to which their Lordships had agreed seeing Deserted only respected withdrawing whereas Abdicated did respect the whole Neither were the Commons better pleased with the Lords for leaving out the last words And that the Throne is thereby vacant and the Commons did so much the more insist upon it because that if they should admit of the Lord's Amedment that the King had only deserted the Government yet even thence it would follow that the Throne was vacant as to King James II. deserting the Government being in true Construction deserting the Throne Besides the Commons did conceive there was no necessity to prove to their Lordships or any other that the Throne was vacant since the Lords themselves both before and after their meeting in the said Convention had addrest the Prince of Orange to take upon him the Administration of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and had appointed a Day of publick Thanksgiving to be observed throughout the Kingdom by all which the Commons understood it was their Lordships Opinion that the Throne was vacant and that they signified so much thereby to the People of England To which they added that it was from those who were upon the Throne of England where there was any fault that the People of England ought to receive Protection and to whom for that Cause they owed the Allegiance of Subjects but there being none then from whom they expected Regal Protection and to whom for that cause they owed the Allegiance of Subjects the Commons conceived the Throne vacant The Issue of these Reasons was a Conference held on Feb. 5. between the two Houses who appointed Managers accordingly The Lords insisted hard upon their Amendments and some of them run so far upon the Debate that they did in a manner seem to recede from the Premises which their House had allowed of viz. That the King had endeavoured to subvert the Constitutions of the Kingdom as before but the Commons stood stoutly to their Declaration and to the forementioned Reasons added a great many fine things to back the Argument which 't were pity to curtail any way and I have not room to insert the whole but in conclusion the Conference ended in appearance with less likelihood of Agreement than when it first began Yet though there was some further struggle made in the upper House for the Interest of the late King at length it was by Majority of Voices Feb 7th agreed to by the Lords to send a Message to the Commons that they had agreed to the Vote sent them up Jan. 25th touching which they had had a free Conference the Day before without any alteration So that the next thing that came under Consideration was the form of Government to be establish'd I do not remember that a Commonwealth was mentioned to be set up at all in either House though Father Orleans is pleased to say so in his History of the Revolutions of England the two main things then to be considered was whether to set up a Regency or to continue a Regal Dignity in a new Subject But the former of the two being well known to be attended with many publick Evils it was at last concluded for the latter and that in Favour of the Prince of Orange our Deliverer and her Royal Princess who was immediate Heiress In pursuance of this a Declaration was drawn up in order to such an Establishment as that the Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom might not again be in danger and for vindicating and asserting the Ancient Rights and Liberties of the People in these Words VVHereas the late King James the Second by the Assistance of divers evil Counsellors Judges and Ministers employ'd by him did endeavour to subject and extirpate the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom By assuming and exercising a Power of dispensing with and suspending of Laws and the execution of Laws without Consent of a Parliament By committing and prosecuting divers worthy Prelates for humbly petitioning to be excus'd from concurring to the said assum'd Power By issuing and causing to be executed a Commission under the Great Seal for erecting a Court call'd The Court of Commission for
Grand-Seignior should never more claim any right therein 2. That Moldavia Walachia and the Republick of Ragusa which had put themselves under the Emperor's Protection should be comprized in the Treaty of Peace and not to be disturbed by the Turks in any manner whatsoever 3. That all the Tartars should depart the Countries 4. That the Port should pay 6000000 towards the Expences of the War immediately after the Conclusion of the Peace and 2000000 every Year for free Passage to Constantinople 5. That all the Christians that had been taken during the War which were above 1000000 should be set at liberty lastly that Tekeley and all his Adherents should be delivered up to the Emperor The King of Poland demanded the restitution of Caminiec and 4000000 in Silver And for the Venetians they required 1. The restitution of all the Islands that formerly belonged to them and particularly the Island of Negrâ—pont 2. The restitution of the Dukedom of Athens 3. The Exchange of Lepanto for Tragusa 4. The restitution of Dulâ—igno and Mahona 5. A Regulation of the Limits of the conquered Cities and Countries And lastly that the Grand-Seignior should pay to the Republick 400000 Ducats But these Propositions seemed so unreasonable to the Embassadors that they tore their Beards upon it However they delivered a Letter to the Imperial Commissioners which the Grand-Seignior had written to the Emperour Within which it was thought some Offers and Proposals tending to a Peace might be met with But they were surprized to find nothing but Complements and the Imperial Court was so incensed at it that they sent Orders for the Ottoman Embassadors to be gone but while they were preparing for their departure word was sent them that they might stay till the Return of the Couriers from Poland and Venice to know the final Resolutions of those two Republicks At last depart they did but stopped at Commorra and after a long stay there got leave at length to return leaving the Peace that way desperate and the War to be prosecuted with as great fury as ever But how high soever the Demands of the Venetians were in their Proposals of Peace they must have proceeded from another Motive whatever it were than the Operations of this Compagne which proved very unsuccessful to them as the last had done For the Siege of Napoli di Malvasia a City in the Morea which their Forces undertook did not go forward with that Success that was desired their Army being only worn out before it and a great Number of brave Officers lost And therefore being reduced to this bad plight and the Garrison obstinately refusing to hearken to a Surrender tho' the Place was very much ruined by the Bombs they resolved at length to change the Siege into a Blockade To this end they put 2000 Men in Garrison into the two Forts which they had raised on the Land-side and left some Frigates at Sea to endeavour the prevention of any Relief that way Which being effected they drew off the rest of the Army to Napoli di Romania to take up their Winter-Quarters Neither did their Affairs in Dalmatia meet with any better Success than those in the Morea For Seignior Mclino Proveditor-General of that Countrey having advanced towards Narenta to make himself Master of la Gabella and some other Posts met the Turkish Horse near the Bridge that leads to that Place The Vanguard composed of Morlaques was charged so vigorously that they were forced to give Ground However Molino stood firm with 600 Horse and his Infantry but finding the Turks were reinforced he was not willing to engage in a Fight the Success whereof was so much the more doubtful by how much his Men had been somewhat discouraged by the Defeat of the Morlaques wherefore he retreated in good Order and with the Loss of no great number of Soldiers The rest of Italy was hitherto pretty quiet save for the Troubles of the poor Vaudois whose Persecution is now at an end and with which doth a Cloud gather that in a little time shall overcast a great part of this Countrey But of this we shall have occasion to speak in the succeeding Years and take notice here that this as it hath been remarkable upon many other Accounts so upon that of the Death of one of the greatest Popes that lived since Gregory the Great 's Days the famous and renowned Odeschalchi by Name and Innocenâ— XI upon his Assumpsion of the Papacy who departed this Life upon the 12th of Aug. between 3 and 4 in the Afternoon He was born at Como in Italy in the State of Milan was made Clerk of the Chamber under the Pontificate of Vrban VIII and of Innocent X. by whom he was made a Cardinal in 1645. after which he was preferred to be Legate of Bologna and Bishop of Novarra and Clement X. dying the 22d of July 1676. he was advanced to the Pontifical Chair the 22d of Sept. following Some have called him the Protestant Pope for what Reason I know not unless it be that when France was exercising her Severities upon her Reformed Subjects they were highly opposed by him at the same time upon another Account and that some said that he in one of his Letters exprest a Dislike not only at the one but the other of their Proceedings at least-wise as to the manner of it But be it as it will he was certainly a very great Man for all the Satyrs that were made upon him in France and it cannot be taken ill by the Publick if with a judicious Person I encounter all their Calumnies with what an Impartial Author wrote of him when he was yet but a Cardinal saying Odeschalchi is most certainly a very great Man and a Person of Worth and Integrity not to be corrupted Exemplary Charitable Disinterested Disingaged from the World without Pride without Vanity without Pomp Zealous with Moderation Austere only to himself His Kindred are Persons of Worth his Brother died at Como some Years since Canonized by the People for his signal Works of Piety and Charity there is nothing to be blamed in his Conduct and of all the Colledge he is the most fit to be Pope for his Honesty and Vertue But whether the vacant See was supplied with a Person worthy to succeed so great a Man may appear hereafter we shall only here note That Peter Ottoboni a Venetian by Birth and Bishop of Porro was on the 6th of Oct. following promoted to the Papal Dignity being aged 80 Years within a few Months year 1690 The Affairs abroad being terminated as we have above related for the Year 1689. we shall enter upon this with the Affairs of Britain The Parliament of England happily ended their most important Affairs towards the beginning of it and in regard they had found the Aim and Drift of the preceding Reigns to have been absolutely to annihilate the Authority of Parliaments and that King James in particular had gone a great
they found an old Fort built by their Ancestors which they were very proud of and from thence they fired 3 or 4 Field-pieces upon the Irish that lay intrenched between them and the Town As soon as the Army was posted the King ordered a Trumpet to be sent with a Summons to the Town where as was understood since a great many of the Garrison were for Capitulating But Monsieur Boisâ—leau the Governours the Duke of Berwick and Colonel Sarsfiâ—â—d opposed it with a great deal of heat saying There were great Divisions and Insurrections in England that the Dauphin was landed there with 50000 Men and that the Prince of Orange would quickly be obliged to withdraw his Forces thither Hereupon Monsieur Boiselau sent the Trumpeter back with a Letter directed to Sir Robert Southwelâ— Secretary of State for he would not as 't is supposed send directly to the King because of avoiding to give him the Title of Majesty importing That he was surprized at the Summons and that he thought the best way to gain the Prince of Orange ' s good Opinion was by a vigorous Defence of the Town which his Master had entrusted him withal And so the Cannon plaid on from both sides and next Morning early which was Aug. 13th the King sent 8 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and 3 Regiments of Foot over the River which they passed though it was very rapid and dangerous and some of them encamped beyond the Ford the rest was ordered thus The King's Camp was on the Right in the 2d Line next him the Horse-guards and blew Duâ—ch then some English and Duâ—ch Regiments then the French and Danes and behind all the Horse tho' after some time they encamped rather conveniently than regularly Neither were the Irish idle but they fell to build Forts between the Besiegers and the Irish Town one to the Sâ—â—gate and the other towards the 〈◊〉 which proved serviceable to them But not so much a disadvantage to us as the surprizing of the Train that was upon the Road to join the Army It was reported a French-man and one of the Gunners ran away the Day before from the Army and got into Limerick and gave the Enemy an account where the English Train lay as also of those Guns and other things that were coming up where the King's Tent stood and divers other things that might be material for them to know and therefore they plaid very briskly upon the Train as also towards the King's Tent which he was prevailed with at last to remove but this was not all For though on Munday one Manus O Brian a substantial Country Gentleman came to the Camp and gave notice that Sarsfield with a Body of Horse had passed the River in the Night and designed something extraordinary yet he was so far from being taken notice of at first that most People looked upon what he said as a Dream and though a great Officer called him aside as though he designed to have some more particular information yet his main business was to interrogate him concerning a Prey of Cattle in such a Place which the Gentleman complained of afterward saying He was sorry to see General Officers mind Cattle more than the King's Honour But after he had met with some acquaintance he was brought to the King who to prevent the worst gave orders that 500 Horse-should be made ready and march to meet the Guns But where-ever the fault lay it was certainly 1 or 2 in the Morning before the Party marched which they did very softly till after they saw a great light in the Air and heard a strange rumbling Noise which some conjectured to be the Train blown up as it really was For our Train having on Munday marched beyond Cullen to a little old ruinous Castle called Ballenedy not 7 Miles from the Camp Sarsfield lurked all that day in the Mountains and having notice where and how our Men lay he had those that guided him through By-ways to the very spot where he fell in among them before they were aware and cut several of them to pieces with a great many of the Waggoners and some Country People that were carrying Provisions to the Camp The Officer commanding in chief when he saw how it was commanded to sound to Horse but those that endeavoured to fetch them up were killed as they went out or else saw it was too late to return The Officers and others made what resistance they could but they were every Man at length obliged to shift for themselves so that there were in all about 60 Persons killed but it did not end here For the Irish got up what Horses they could meet withall belonging either to the Troops or Train some broke the Boats and others drew all the Carriages and Waggons with the Bread Ammunition and as many of the Guns as they could get in so short a time into one heap they filled the Guns with Powder and put their Mouths into the Ground that they might thereby certainly split What they could pick up in an hurry they took away with them and then laid a Train to the rest which being fired at their going off blew up all with an astonishing Noise but for all that 2 of the Guns received no damage The Irish took no Prisoners on this occasion only a Lieutenant of Colonel Earl's being sick in a House hard-by was stript and brought to Sarsfield who used him very civilly and told him if he had not succeeded in that Enterprize he would have gone for France The party of Horse that was sent from the Camp came up after the business was over in sight of the Enemy's Rear But wheeling towards the left to endeavour to intercept the Enemy's Passage over the Shannon they unhappily went another way The News of this Adventure was very unwelcome in the Camp and even the very private Men shewed their concern at it However the Siege went on and the Trenches were opened the 17th and a Battery raised below the Fort to the Right of the Trenches which dismounted some of the Enemy's Cannon and the day following his Majesty himself was in great danger For while the Enemy fired very thick he rid softly up towards Cromwell's Port and as his Horse was directly entring the Gap he was staid by a Gentleman who came to speak to him when in the veâ—â— moment there struck a 24 Pounder in the very Place which would have struck the King and his Horse too to pieces if his usual good Angel had not defended him It struck the Dust all about him however though he took little notice of it but alighting came and laid himself down on the Fort among all the Dust It will be an endless thing to trace every particular of the Attacks and Defences and therefore I shall only observe that on Wednesday the 27th of Aug. after a Breach had been made nigh St. John's Gate over the black Battery of about 12 Yards in length and
Majesty's real design was to Besiege Namur for the Elector of Bavaria had Orders to Detach the Earl of Athlone with 40 Squadrons of Horse towards Lovain and in lieu thereof the King reinforced the Elector with some other Brigades which being done the King's Army marched from Arseel to Becelar On the 3d of June in the Evening His Majesty went to view the Enemies Lines where he found the main Body of their Army incamped within them standing to their Arms as expecting to be Attacked But though there was no probability of Success in forcing of their Lines yet it was convenient for the Confederates to further their Designs to get the French to bring all their Forces for the defence of them and therefore the Elector of Bavaria likewise decamped on the 4th of June from Ninove and incamped on the 6th between the Lys and the Soheld near the Lines also but was quickly fronted here by the Marshal dâ— Boufflers So that things being in this disposition and that the King could have easily bombarded Ipres yet he thought it better if possible to take in the Fort of Kenock and to that end the Duke of Wirtemburg was sent with a Detachment to Attack it This though it was done with very great Application and Vigour and with the loss of a pretty many Men and that he had possessed himself after a long resistance of the Redoubt Pintele and lodged himself in the Intrenchment of a little Bridge upon the Canal over against the Fort yet finding at length it was impossible to hinder the communication of the Fort with the Body under Montal who lay so posted that he could supply it with Men and Provisions as he pleased it was judged unadvisable to lose any further time which might be improved to better advantages And therefore the King and his Generals finding that Villeroy would not stir out of his fastnesses fully concluded upon the siege of Namur and in order thereunto the Army marched on the 19th to Rosalaer where the King left them under the Prince de Vaudemont and on that Day early in the Morning went towards the Meuse in order to this great Work There had been all this time vast preparations making at Maestricht of Artillery Mortars Bombs and all manner of Ammunition and all the Boats of the Meuse were detained at Liege Maestricht and Huy for the service of the States And tho' all this threatned Namur yet the French had brought all their Forces within their Lines without keeping any Body to guard the Passages of the Sambre But however this came about the King who as we have said was moving towards the Meuse sent in the mean time Orders to my Lord of Athlone encamped at Tilmont and to the Brandenburg and Liege Forces now come as far as Falise upno the Mehaigne to invest Namur My Lord of Athlone accordingly marched on the 17th Old Stile with the body of Horse under his command and incamped between Malevre and Perwys on the 18th between la Falise and Templonee where being joyned by the Brandenburg Troops he left a good Body of Horse next day at la Falise and with the rest of the Troops marched towards Charleroy This motion put the French in suspence whether the Confederates designed to Attack Namur or Charleroy and made the Marquess of Harcourt who had passed the Meuse near Dinant to reinforce the Garrison of Charleroy with a Body of Dragoons But my Lord of Athlone having passed the Sambre at Chasselet below Charleroy marched again down the Sambre towards Namur and pressed all the Boats upon the River to make a Bridge of Communication which were brought down to the Abby of Floref upon the Sambre 2 Leagues from Namur so that the Earl took all the â—osts from the Sambre to the Meuse of the Town-side about la Falise But all the other side of the Meuse lay open for want of Troops enough to do it at once which gave the Marshal de Boufflers an opportunity with 8 Regiments of the best Dragoons in the Army to throw himself into the place but he sent back most of the Dragoons Horses But while this was doing the Elector of Bavaria's Army which was nearest marched with wonderful Celerity to carry on this famous Siege so that all the Posts were taken about Namur by the 23d of June the King being come up the Day before to it It is from this Day forward that we must reckon the investing of it and here before we go any further we are to observe that the place had very much changed Conditions since it fell into the French Hands who spared no Charges to put their Frontier Garrisons into the best Defence they could For the Town at the time of their taking it was but weak being absolutely commanded by a steep Hill that hangs just over it from the Port de Fer to that of St. Nicholas near the Meuse so that they had the liberty to bring down their Batteries at first to the descent of that Hill and to open their Trenches at the foot of it near the Meuse so that it did not then hold out above 5 or 6 Days But now to add a very considerable strength to this weak part of the Town the French had made a detacht Eastion upon the ascent of the Hill before St. Nicholas Gate all of Stone Work with a Casemotte upon it Bomb proof the Counter-scarp of the French Fasse of Free Stone and the covered way the same which pointed just upon the top of the Hill So that no Cannon from the Plain could bear upon this Work upon the Hill but the Confederates were necessitated to batter it in reverse from the other side of the Meuse from the Brandenburg-Batteries which required some Time before they coâ—ld bring them to the Water-side But this was not all for upon the Right towards the Port de Fer they had made 2 or 3 detached â—astions of the same Work just upon the Brow of the Hill and at the Foot of the same before the Port de Fer and between the Hill and the Brook of Werderin they had a 4th which hinder'd the Avenues between the Hills to this Gate The Plain upon these Hills was fortified with a double Covered Way Pallisadoed to defend these detached Bastions towards the Village of Bouge And when the Confederates were Attacking the place they were working at a 3d nearer to the brow of the Hill just before these Works so that the Town which before was but weak was now by these additional Works exceeding strong and held out longer than the Castle Again the French attack'd the Castle and Cohorn-Fort upon the top of the Hill between the Sambre and the Meuse and this they took care to fortifie afterwards so as to leave it almost unattackable the same way they took it before Cohorn or William's Fort fell into their Hands by driving their Trenches round the Work along the bottom between it and the Terra Nova
the best of the Opportunity but to little purpose for the Prince till he was reinforced kept close with in his Trenches and then he in his Turn did all he could to oblige the French to a Battel but with the like ill Success And so we shall pass into Italy where the Campaign was less favourable to the French than in Germany by their losing of Casall which served as a considerable Augmentationâ— of the Disadvantages which happen'd to them this Year which to say the Truth of it looked upon them with an evil Aspect almost every Way This important Place had been blocked up a long time by the Confederate Forces 〈◊〉 all the Noise this Spring was the formal Besieging of 〈◊〉 which at length was put in Execution about the middle 〈◊〉 June when the Trenches were opened before the Cittadel as they were also a little while after before the Town 〈◊〉 that before the end of the Month the Imperialists and Pulmontois had carried on their Approaches so far that theâ— were in hopes in a short time to lodge themselves upon 〈◊〉 Classis of the Counterscarp of the Cittadel By the 5th 〈◊〉 July they began to play with their Bombs upon the Cittâ—del and the Out-works while the Spaniards also on their side plyed the Besieged with a Battery of 10 great Mortars and in a few days the Bombs and Carcasses had very much endamaged both the Town and the Out-works which was still the more increased by the Imperialists and Piedmontois springing of two Mines under the Classis of the Counterscarp of the Cittadel with that good Success that they carried the Pallisadoes and the Half-Moon by Storm as they did also the Counterscarp After this there were Orders given on the 9th to draw a Parallel Line athwart the Classis of the Cittadel and the Work was so effectually carried on that the Line was finished the next Morning by Break of Day notwithstanding the continual Fire of the Besieged to hinder their Progress Wherefore finding the Besiegers now ready to storm the cover'd Way they thought fit to beat a Parley and to surrender the Place into the Hands of the Confederates who became the more easily Masters of it because of its Remoteness from the rest of the French Dominions and that the Mareschal de Catinat was obliged to send the greatest part of his Forces to secure the Coasts of Provence which seemed to be threatned with an Invasion from the Confederate Fleet under the Command of Admiral Russell But because the Duke of Savoy valued himself much upon the Reduction of this Place and gave the States of Holland an Account thereof by his Letter we shall the more willingly insert the same because of a Passage or two in it which did not at all correspond with what was transacted on his part in Italy the following Year High and Mighty Lords THE Generous and Affectionate Sentiments which Your High and Mightinesses make appear in Our Behalf and how greatly You lay Our Interests to Heart engage Vs indispensibly to Impart without Delay to Your Knowledge the Surrender of Casall We shall not trouble Your High and Mightinesses with an exact Account of what passed in this Enterprize nor with the particulars of the Capitulation having ordered the Count and President de la Tour to give you a moâ—e punctual Information Be pleased then that I may refer You to his more particular Relation Earnestly beseeching You to grant Me the Continuation of Your Friendship and assuring You that You may certainly rely upon Ours which will always incline Vs to wish You an Accumulation of all manner of Prosperity and to testifie upon all Occasions that We are more than any other From the Camp before Casall July 13. 1695. High and Mightinesses c. Signed V. AMADEVS There being nothing else of Moment transacted on the side of Italy this Season we shall now pass over a wide Country and see what is doing between the Germans and the Turks We should have told you in the preceding Year that Guila was given up into the Hands of the Imperialists towards the close of it And if the Imperial Court valued themselves upon it they had no reason to do so upon account 〈◊〉 the change of Government that hapned in the Ottoman Empire by the Death of Sultan Ackmet who departed this life 〈◊〉 27th of January at Adrianople For his Nephew Mustapha Son to Mahomet IV. that had been deposed as we have already more particularly related was advanced to the Throne and proved to be a more Active Prince than had swayed that Scepter for many years And this he quickly manifested by the several Regulations he made first at home and among other things in forbidding the Eunuchs and Ladies of the Seraglio who in time past had had a main Share in the Administration to intermeddle with State Affairs and in suppressing in the Bud a tumultuary design of the Janizaries which they intended to have begun by a demand of the Donative that had been frequently bestowed upon them upon new Advancements and then by going actually into the Field to Head his Armies himself This the Imperial Court was not long ignorant of and therefore to obviate this Turkish Heat of a young Prince in the flower of his Years and Heading a formidable Army they turned their Thoughts upon the Elector of Saxony as a very fit Person to oppose against him both in respect to his Age and Power and to that purpose the Emperor concluded a Treaty with his Highness whereby he was impowered to have the sole Command of his Army in Hungary in the same manner as Elector of Bavaria had it before him but that the Elector should bring 8000 Men of his Troops into the Field to oppose this young Infidel who about the beginning of July arrived with his whole Power at Belgrade where he had not been long but he began to think of Action To attack the main Army now under the Elector of Saxony encamped near Peter Waradin he did not think fit to attempt but at last he chose rather to play at a small Game than to stand out Knowing well that a little Action performed by him would make a mighty Noise among his Subjects whose formeâ— Princes never dared almost to venture their Heads out of their Seraglio's and therefore he resolved to take Lippâ— which the Garrison that was in it defended stoutly and most bravely considering their weak Circumstances and after all lost it with the loss of all their Lives the Place being takeâ— by Storm But besides the Cannon Ammunition and Particularly the great Magazine they found therein which they carried to Temeswaer it proved to be of no great advantage to the Ottomans for they blew up the Fort and ruined the Town not finding themselves in a Condition to keep what they had won The same fate also attended the Fortress of Titull which being not tenable was surrendred unto them upon Articles though they
over the Christistians Left Wing But they being soon rallied and reinforced the Turks were several times beaten back and after a Fight that lasted for 3 Hours forced to yield the Field of Battle to the Victorious Christians with the loss of about 3000 Men slain upon the Spot besides Prisoners and to retire into their Retrenchments which they quitted next Night and retreated silently out of the Morea But with so much haste that they left in their Camp behind 14 Pieces of Cannon 2 Mortars a good number of Bombs great store of Ammunition and Provision 2 Standards several Tents 700 Head of Oxen and 300 Cammels and Horses as a Booty to the Conquerors whose loss amounted to about 500 Men and who by this brave Action prevented the Ravaging of the whole Morea and the Besieging of Napoli di Romania by Land while the Turkish Fleet blocked it up by Sea as the Infidels had concerted their Design But I do not find the Venetians made any Improvement of this Victory tho' it hapned timely enough in the Summer However it was exceeding brave of them and the Germans too in comparison of the Poles which Army I think hardly ever turned out of their Quarters this Season and the chief business of whose King was to endeavour though in vain to mediate a reconciliation between the Bishop of Vilna and the General of Lithuania whom the former excommunicated for quartering of some Troops within his Jurisdiction A hard Case upon a Prince to have his measures broken in relation to the Campaign as himself told the Deputies of the said Bishop thro' the feuds of a couple of humorous Subjects But thus it is to hold a precarious Crown And as for the Muscovites all that we heard of them this Summer was their march against the Tartars but nothing of Action save the blocking up of Asoph of which you will hear more next Year It remains now that we return homewards and briefly see what had been doing before the Conclusion of the Year His Majesty after so glorious a Campaign as before mentioned hasted for England and being arrived to the gladning of the Hearts of all his honest Subjects on the 11th of Oct. at his Palace at Kensington He called a Council that very Night and a Proclamation was ordered to be issued fourth for the Dissolving of the then Parliament and calling a new one to meet upon Nov. 22d following Soon after this the Great Duke of Tuscany's Envoy whose Master was grown mighty good Natur'd since our Fleet went into the Streights had his Audience of His Majesty to Congratulate his Happy Accession to the Throne but this was somewhat like to that of the Ilienses which we Read of in Suetonius who coming a Day after the Fair to Condole with the Emperor Tiberius for the Death of his Son Drusus the other made them Answer And I also Condole with you the Death of your great Countryman Hector This being over His Majesty went a short Progress and the day of the Parliaments sitting being come he spake to them to this Effect My Lords and Gentlemen IT is with great Satisfaction that I meet you here this Day being assured of a good Disposition in my Parliament when I have had such full Proofs of the Affection of My People by their Behaviour during My Absence and at My Return I was engaged in the present War by the Advice of My first Parliament who thought it necessary for the Defence of Our Religion and for the Preservation of the Liberties of Europe The last Parliament with great Chearfulness did assist Me to carry 〈◊〉 on and I cannot doubt but that your Concern for the Common Safety will oblige you to be unanimously zealous in the Prosecutio◠of it And I am glad That the Advantages which We have had this Year give Vs a Reasonable Ground of hoping for farther Success hereafter Vpon this Occasion I cannot but take Notice of the Courage and Bravery the English Troops have shewn this last Summer which I may say has answered their highest Character in any Age. And it will not be denied That without the Concurrence of the Valour and Power of England it were impossible to put a Stop to the Ambition and Greatness of France Gentlemen of the House of Commons I think it my great Misfortune That from the Beginning of My Reign I have been forced to Ask so many and such large Aids of My People And yet I am confident you will agree with Me in Opinion That there will be at least as great Supplies requisite for Carrying on the War by Sea and Land this Year as were Granted in the last Session and the rather because Our Enemies are Augmenting their Troops and the Necessity of Increasing Our Shipping does plainly appear The Funds which have been given have proved very deficient The Condition of the Civil List is such that it will not be possible for Me to subsist unless that Matter be taken into your Care And Compassion obliges Me to mention the miserable Circumstances of the French Protestants who suffer for their Religion And therefore Gentlemen I most earnestly recommend to you to prouide a Supply suitable to these several Occasions I must likewise take notice of a great Difficulty We lie under at this time by reason of the ill State of the Coin the Redress of which may perhaps prove a further Charge to the Nation But this is a Matter of so general Concern and so great Importance that I have thought fit to leave it entirely to the Consideration of My Parliament I did recommend to the last Parliament the Forming some good Bill for the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen I hope you will not let this Session pass without doing something in it And that you will consider of such Laws as may be proper for the Advancement of Trade and that you will have a particular Regard to that of the East-India's lest it should be lost to the Nation And while the War makes it necessary to have an Army abroad I could wish some Way might be thought of to Raise the necessary Recruits without giving Occasion of Complaint My Desire to meet My People in a New Parliament has made the Opening of this Session very late which I hope you will have such Regard to as to make all possible Dispatch of the great Business before you And also that you will call to mind that by the long Continuance of the last Session We did not only lose Advantages which We might have had at the Beginning of the Campaign but gave the Enemy such an Opportunity as might have proved very fatal to us And I am the more concerned to press this because of the great Preparations which the French make to be early in the Field this Year My Lords and Gentlemen I have had such Experience of your good Affections and I have such an entire Satisfaction in the Choice which My People have made of you Gentlemen
Marquisate of Suza and Barcellonet into Pignerol and its Dependencies in order to Regulate his Interests Rights and Revenues and to settle his Customs and Excises upon Salt and other things And the said deputed Persons shall be admitted and authorised in their Offices immediately after the Ratification of this present Treaty after which the said Duties shall belong to his Royal Highness without Exception or Contradiction XIII That if the Neutrality for Italy be accepted or that a General Peace be Concluded as in such Cases a great many Troops would become altogether Useless and Chargeable to his Royal Highness and that besides the excessive Charges requisite for the maintaining of them they commonly become an occasion of creating a mis-understanding among Princes when more Troops are kept on Foot than are necessary in a State either for its own Conservation or for the maintaining of the Dignity of a Sovereign Prince his Royal Highness doth therefore oblige himself not to keep in times of Neutrality any more than Six thousand Foot on this side the Alpes and One thousand five hundred on the other side of the Mountains for the Garrisons of Savoy and of the County of Nice and One thousand five hundred Horse or Dragoons and this Obligation is to continue only till the General Peace be Concluded We the above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries have agreed upon and signed these present Articles and we do promise and engage to procure them to be ratified and confirmed by his Majesty and by his Royal Highness promising likewise that they shall be kept secret till the end of September next and if at that time new Articles are made to the same Sense and purpose then these shall be suppressed Dated at Turin the Twenty Ninth of August 1696. Rhene de Froullay and Saint Thomas And because some may be curious to see the French King's Act of Surrender of the Country of Savoy to the Duke it was conceived in these Terms BE it known to all Persons whatsoever That in pursuance of a Treaty of Peace made and signed between his most Christian Majesty Lewis XIV King of France and Navarre on the one part and his Royal Highness Victor Amadeus II. Duke of Savoy Prince of Piedmont King of Cyprus c. on the other Part That his most Christian Majesty hath given Orders to Monsieur Anthony Balthasar Marquiss de Thoy Major General of the Armies of France and Governour of Savoy to restore entirely to his Royal Highness all the Countries Places Castles and Fortresses of all Savoy except Montmilian and to draw out all the Troops that are there pursuant to his Majesty's Letters Patents To this end his Royal Highness hath sent the Marquiss of Thana Captain of his Life Guards Major General of his Army and Governour of Savoy with a Power to receive in his Royal Highness's Name all the said Estates and Places The said Marquiss de Thoy having therefore personally appeared in the Council-Chamber of the Town-Hall of Chambery and having there assembled the Nobility the Syndics and Counsellors of the said City and the said Marquiss of Thana there likewise appearing did then and there receive from the said Marquiss de Thoy an absolute and full Surrender in the Name of his most Christian Majesty of all the Countries and of all the Places of the Dutchy of Savoy Montmelian only excepted according to the Treaty of Peace The said Marquiss de Thoy expressing the same in these following Words viz. My Lord Marquess de Thana in Pursuance of an Order from the King my Master and according to the Power you have also received from his Royal Highness I do hereby make an entire Surrender and Restitution to his Royal Highness in your Person of all the Countries and Places and of all the Dependencies of the Estate of Savoy Montmelian excepted and his Royal Highness may accordingly dispose of the same in like manner as he had done before those Estates were conquered by the King 's Arms. To which the Marquiss of Thana answered That he received in his Royal Highness's Name the aforesaid Countries Places and Dependencies This done the Marquiss de Thoy repeated once more the Words of the said Surrender and then went out of the Town House Of all the aforesaid Transactions both the said Marquesses de Thoy and Thana caused an Act to be made before Publick Notaries which was signed Thoy de Pisâ—en Marquiss de Thana As Witnesses Syndics Favre de Charmettes Perin Cugnet Tonce Syndics I Jasper Chambet Notary and Burgess of Chambery have receiv'd and passed the present Act as required Signed G. Chambet Not. When the News of this procedure came our King was Encamped at Gemblours where Monsieur de la Tour the Duke of Savoy's Envoy notified to him the separate Peace which his Master had made with the French King and that the Forces of the Allies were to depart his Country within such a limitted time or be forced to it by his own Troops in Conjunction with those of France But that it was in the power of the Confederates to make a Neutrality which should include all Italy within the same time I could never learn what Answer his Majesty gave the Envoy but perhaps he was more concerned that the Duke by Letter should excuse the matter to the Emperor King of Spain and Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg and yet not a line to him than at the thing it self and this procedure of the Dukes makes that Harange of his Envoy the Marquess de Govon to the late King James in Sept. this Year to be the more to be believed the which because so Diametrically opposite to that we have given you in the preceding part of this Book which was made to his present Majesty and our late Queen Mary of Happy Memory and that it is a strange instance of the unconstancy of sublunary things take as follows SIR HIS Royal Highness is at length happily reconciled to his mâ—st Christian Majesty against whom he had rashly taken up Arms tho' he has all along receiv'd sincere Proofs of His Majesty's Protection The strict Leagues his noble Ancestors have heretofore had with France and the more exact Alliance his Royal Highness has contracted by his Marriage have but the more disjoyn'd him from the Interest of that Kingdom This Vnion which ought to have been the most inviolable we have lately seen interrupted by the Artifices of his most Christian Majesty's and your Majesty's Enemies to whom his Royal Highness has been hitherto so weak as to give ear His Royal Highness therefore humbly begs Your Majesty would please to pardon his past Conduct so very contrary to his sincere Desires to re-establish your Majesty upon your Throne The Injustice and Oppression of your Enemies Sir have caused his most Christian Majesty to engage in this War God Almighty has hitherto favour'd his Attempts because they are just and 't is also to be hoped he will lend the like Attention to your Majesty's Petition
speak once more the Language of Nimeguen came hereby very far short of their Expectations However neither this nor the Siege of Barcelonâ— was designed by them to retard but rather to quicken the Spaniards pace towards a Peace So that the Conferences between their Plenipotentiaries and the Allies went on under the Mediation of the Young King of Sweden now his Father Charles XI of that Name had died on the 17th of April this Spring by the intervention of the Baron de Lillieroot his Ambassador who went between the one and the other for the said purpose After the Allies had made their Pretensions they drew up a large Deduction in justification of them of which they resolved to give the French Plenipotentiaries no Copy until they had Declared that they had received the King's Orders to make theirs But these same Plenipotentiaries having Declared that they had nothing to ask or pretend to and that they were ready to Answer the others The Allies changed their Thoughts the French Plenipotentiaries having in the mean time had several separate Conferences with those of the States General about Commerce and a Cessation of Arms which the former shewed themselves very eager for But there was but little appearance that this last point should then have been agreed to seeing the Peace was more likely to be Retarded than Advanced thereby Towards the end of May the Spanish Ambassadors presented their grievances to the Mediator who received them with a promise of having the same shortly Debated But the said Mediator did at the same time Declare that he was of Opinion that it would very much contribute to the advancement of the Peace if a Truce was agreed on by common consent seeing the Clamour and Fury of War did more harm than good to the Negotiation Mens minds being so much â—he less composed by how much they were Distracted and 〈◊〉 out of order by the daily â—venâ—â— of War This Opinion seemed then to be approved by silence but other things intervened and none of all the Allies made so much ado about having all the Names of the Confederate Princes exprest and particularly inserted in the Treaty as the Brandenburg Ambassador who insisted very much upon it as some of the Allies took it also very ill that both the one and the other pretentions of the Empire were proposed by the Emperor's Ambassador only in his Name but they had satisfaction given them in respect to these complaints for the said Ambassadorâ— replied that every one of the Allies was free to propose separate Articles concerning his own Affairs Several Princes did about the same time give in their Grievances to the Mediator while all Parties were in mighty Expectations oâ— News from divers parts that might favour their respective interests but more especially from Poland where the Frenâ—â— were Cocksure the Prince of Conti would carry that Crown whereas the Confederates had apparently all their Eyes turn'd upon Prince James but there was a third Person who ran away with the Bone in Contention whom no body eveâ— Dreamt to have any thoughts that way and that was the Elector of Saxony who in the end of the Spring took a Journey to Vienna under pretence of settling matters in Relatiâ—â— to the Campaign in Hungary where 't was given out he would Command the Emperor's Army again this Year But the Event proved that in reality the Design was to Concerâ— with the Emperor how the Elector might obtain the Crowâ— of Poland which his Religion could be no bar to since â—e was already privately reconciled to the Church of Rome 〈◊〉 at least given out so afterwards But whether in order 〈◊〉 the wearing of a Crown the Elector has obtained as mâ—â— Reputation and Glory by the Abjuration as the Gentlemeâ— of the Church of Rome are pleased to phrase it of the Proâ—â—stant Religion as his great Ancestor did in the Propagation of that Faith Preached by Martin Luther and the first Priâ—â— in Europe that avowedly tho' it was with the hazzard of aâ—â— took both him and it under his Protection I 'le leave otheâ— to Judge However it be the Design was certainly carried on with wonderful secrety and address for all of a suddâ—â— the Elector leaves Vienna which was attended with varioâ— Reports spread abroad immediately of some mis-understanâ—ing between the Emperor and Him which no body coâ—assign a cause for But when they saw the Elector muste◠〈◊〉 a Body of his Troops it wrought I know not what suspitioâ— and the Brandenburgers so far took the Allarm as suddenly 〈◊〉 get what Froces they could together to oppose any atteâ—â— that might be made that way But the Electors sudden maâ—â— towards Silesia and the Frontiers of Poland quickly ocâ—â—oned other Speculations and in Truth the next News thâ—â— had at Reswick was his being chosen on the 26th of 〈◊〉 King of Poland by a great majority of Voices above the Prince of Conti who was also Proclaimed King though the Expedition afterwards made into that Country by that brave Man proved little to his or the French King's satisfaction the Elector having in a manner weathered all his point before the other's Arrival The first news of it was a great mortification to the French Plenipotentiaries at Reswick however the Treaty went on and the Ceremonial part being in a manner all adjusted the French who had daily Conferences with the Ministers of the States General and of the other Allies made an offer of an Equivalent again for Luxemburg and Strasburg they being willing for the former to give up to his Catholick Majesty Conde Tournay Melen and Ipres as they were for the other ready to consign into the Emperor's hands Brisac Phillipsburg and Friburg But the French Plenipotentiaries had in the mean time sent the Pretensions of the Allies to their King while the Confederates protested That they would not be put by their right but that they should have liberty allowed them every one to present his Grievance to the Mediator The Princes of the Empire desiring also to â—e comprehended in the Treaty demanded the same things whereof neither the Imperialists nor the French made any great difficulty whether they were willing to have all their different Interests and concerns terminated together or every one of them by themselves in particular About this time it was the Plenipotentiaries of the States General Declared aloud with some sort of Indignation That it was an unjust and false Report that was spread abroad concerning their Masters having underhand concluded upon their Affairs with France And that they might still make a greater appearance of their just Comportment and Sincerity they openly diswaded the Ministers of the Allies from consenting to a Truce with France to which they were of themselves deaf enough and the rather for that the French had rejected the Pretentions of the Imperialists and Spaniards as being not willing to answer the same before the Confederates gave their Opinions concerning the
ancient Custom XXVII That all Gentlemen shall have the Freedom of the Salt Mines XXVIII The ancient Privileges of the Palatinates shall remain inviolable XXX All the Privileges which belong to the Universities of Cracow and other Cities as well Ecclesiastick as Secular as also all the Articles which were promis'd upon Oath at the Coronations of the Kings Henry Stephen Sigismond Vladistaus John Casimir and others shall be renew'd at this Election which if it be not done or any thing endeavour'd to the contrary of these Articles then the Inhabitants of Poland and Lithuania to be free and disingag'd from their Obedience This being over the new King advanced towards Poland and upon the Frontiers was harangued by the Embassy sent to him by the Republick or at least a Party of it And having himself Swore to the Pacta Conventa and given sufficient Testimony of his being reconciled to the Romish Church he deliver'd himself to the Nobility that attended him in the following manner MY Dear and Good Friends You have chosen Me to be Your King You are come to offer Me the Crown and You have brought Me hither I am come and have quitted my Territories and my Country for Love of You. 'T is not with a Design to be a Burthen to You but to bring abundance along with Me my Wealth my Forces and all that belongs to Me to augment as much as in Me lies the Glory and Honour of Your Nation by fighting against the Enemies of the Kingdom more-especially those of Christendom Be assur'd that my Heart shall be always constant and sincere towards my Faithful Subjects and that my Sword shall only be employ'd in the Defence of Your Liberty and the Authority with which You have invested Me. From Piccari the King continued his March towards Cracow And tho' all Circumstances consider'd he had by far the Advantage over his Adversary yet there were still innumerable Difficulties not only to struggle with in Poland but Saxony it self was also to be taken care of wherefore least the sudden Change of his Religion should occasion any Innovations there he caused the following Declaration to be affixed upon the Gates of Dresden FRederick Augustus by the Grace of God King of Poland c. Elector of Saxony c. We notifie and make known That having long since by Divine Inspiration resolv'd to return to the Bosom of the Roman Church wherein our Ancestors liv'd and whereas for that purpose without any Allurement of Interest or Profit but only having God before our Eyes we have embrac'd the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion and that in the mean while it has pleased his Divine Majesty to advance our Person to the Throne of Poland for which reason we find our selves oblig'd by Affairs of so great Importance to absent our selves for some time from our Dear Country the Electorate of Saxony and seeing that for these Reasons and because of our Change the States of our said Country and our Dear Subjects may believe that we have a Design to abolish their ancient Priviledges we have thought fit to declare That we have not any the least Thought to over-charge 'em in any manner whatsoever contrary to their aforesaid ancient Priviledges but rather graciously to maintain our said States and Subjects in all their Liberties assuring 'em that as we promis'd 'em when we enter'd into Possession of our Estates and were settl'd in the Government and now that we have embrac'd the Roman Religion that we will maintain and protect our Dear States and Subjects in their Ausburg Confession in their ancient Possession of Liberty of Conscience of Churches of Religious Worship of Religious Exercise of Universities of Schools and of all other Priviledges which they now enjoy that in pursuance of this we will not constrain any Person to embrace our present Catholick Religion but will leave every Body free in his own Conscience as we assure 'em upon our Royal and Electoral Word assuring our selves in the mean time that our Dear States and Subjects will continue their just Affection Love Esteem and Fidelity which they have hitherto testify'd to our Person as their Lawful Elector and Sovereign and that they will live in Peace in Repose and in Union during our Absence for a while so that the Blessing of God and all manner of Happiness may more and more increase to which purpose we will assist our People with all our Power and at all times give 'em Demonstrations of our Royal and Electoral Affection And to the end that our present Assurance and Promise may be known to all our States and Subjects of our Electorate and other Countries we ordain that being Printed it be affix'd in all Places of our Electorate and Country and that Copies of it be every where distributed and dispers'd And for the greater Confirmation of what is above written we have Sign'd this present Act and Promise with our Hand and Seal'd it with our Seal At Lobsow August 6. 1697. â— AVGVSTVS K. of Poland and E. of Saxony The Prince of Conti in the mean time being buoy'd up by the Primate and his Party September the 6th left France and on the 25th arrived before Danzick but while that City refused his Men the liberty of Landing and adher'd firmly to the Interest of the Elector this last was solemnly crowned King at Cracow September 15. This undoubtedly must be a great Mortification to the Prince of Conti However not to be totally discouraged and in assurance that the Lithuanian Army would not submit to the new crown'd King with an Intention farther still to embroil Matters he wrote the following Letter and his Party were very sedulous to disperse Copies of it FRancis Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conti and by the Grace of God and the Affection of the Polish Nation Elect King of Poland and the Dutchy of Lithuania made no haste to come sooner in order to testifie his Acknowledgment that he might not do any Prejudice to the Customs of the Kingdom For the same Reason it is that he still remains on Board his Ship and that he has brought no Men along with him He does not apprehend that the Coronation of the Elector of Saxony can any way Prejudice his Right according to the Maxim That whatever is originally invalid can never be of any force in the Consequences that attend it Hence it comes to pass besides the Irregularities of His Electoral Highness's Coronation that there is an indispensible Necessity according to the Pacta Conventa that the Electress should embrace the Roman Catholick Religion before the Elector can be crown'd He puts all his Confidence in the Poles having a Design to avoid Effusion of Blood But in case of Necessity he Promises as many Forces as shall be necessary and continues still dispos'd to spend his Estate and to expose his own Person for the Polish Religion and Liberty But tho' this Stratagem had not the desired Effect the new King did not defer the
shall remain in the quiet Possession of the Ecclesiastical Estates and Rents belonging to 'em and that they shall not be molested by any Process of Law upon that Occasion as more especially to the Peace of Westphalia which ought to be look'd upon as the Basis and Foundation of this Treaty For that the express Words of that Treaty are That the sole and only Foundation of the Restitution and of the performance which ought to follow it by reason of the Ecclesiastical Affairs ought to be the Year 1624. and respectively in the Palatinate before the Commotions in Bohemia till the Controversies about Religion shall be amicably terminated II. To the Capitulations of the Emperor and the King of the Romans whereby the Conclusion of the said Peace of Religion and of the Peace of Westphalia that follow'd it are confirm'd III. To the Instruction given to the Deputies of the Empire at the present Treaty of Peace which prescribes both to the One and the Other as well Catholicks as Evangelicks after what manner they ought to Act. And for as much as the same Instruction was confirm'd by his Imperial Majesty the Tenor of that Instruction is That all things as well Ecclesiastical as Political of which any Alteration may have been made shall be restor'd to their first Condition according to the Regulation of the Peace of Westphalia IV. Moreover that Clause is contrary to the particular Instruction which the Deputies of the Confession of Ausburg have receiv'd from the Evangelick Body V. To the particular Orders of their Masters tending to the same end VI. To the Guarranty of the Peace of Westphalia with which the Most Christian King is intrusted VII To the Preliminaries of that Peace which were the Foundation of the Treaties that follow'd VIII To the Project and Declaration which their Excellencies the Embassadors of France deliver'd the 20th of July and 1st of September wherein no mention is made of any such dangerous Alteration in the Peace of Westphalia And when the said Embassie some days before the Peace was sign'd gave the Imperial Embassie their Choice to sign the Project and Declaration upon the Subject of the Peace it appear'd by those two Pieces as they are worded and the same appear'd afterwards that the Most Christian King had not then given any Order in reference to that Clause IX That Clause is also opposite to the preceding Article of the Peace of Ryswick according to which the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen are look'd upon as the Basis and Foundation of the present Peace and because it is also added immediately after the Ratifications the said Treaties 〈◊〉 be duly put in Execution in respect of Spiritual and Temporal and shall be inviolably observ'd for the future For as to the Clause which is added if it shall not be expresly derogated from it by the present Treaty Certain it is that it was only to be understood of the Temporal and not of the Spiritual as may be manifestly inferr'd from the Passage already cited and by many others of the Westphalian Treaty For it was there concluded and more-especially in the Vth Article Paragraph 9. of the Treaty of the Peace of Osnabrug That they of the Confession of Ausburg should not be molested for the time to come in any manner whatever in the Possession of such Estates of the Church which they enjoy'd but that they should be for ever secure from all Prosecutions of Law and Violence till the Contests about Religion should be determin'd X. This Clause that has been already several times alledg'd is also contrary to the Separate Articles of the Treaties past with the King of Great Britain and the States-General of the United Provinces by which His Sacred Imperial Majesty and the Empire were left at liberty to conclude or not conclude the Peace by a time prefix'd in the Conditions which had been stipulated in the Project and Declaration of France XI Moreover such a Clause gives too great a Shog to the Union and Tye of Concord that reigns in all the States of the Empire XII And since his Imperial Majesty's Embassie has refus'd to take notice of the General Remonstrance of the Evangelicks concerning the Execution only of the III. Article of the Peace because the said Execution in the Empire no way concerns France but only the Emperor and the Empire XIII Seeing also that the Embassie of his Imperial Majesty has not only refus'd to take any Cognizance of the particular Remonstrances of some of the Evangelicks by which they desire to provide for the Re-establishment of their Religion in the Provinces which are to be restor'd to the Roman Empire looking upon those Remonstrances as superfluous seeing they no way concern'd the Most Christian King and as being already compriz'd under the Regulation of the III Article Besides that they rejected a General Remonstrance of the Evangelicks for the Preservation of the Evangelick Religion in the Cities of Strasburgh and Alsatia upon the Stipulations of the Peace of Westphalia there is no reason that the Embassie of France should pretend the Admittance of this Clause or that the Emperor's Embassie should admit it and make an Alteration so contrary to the said Peace in the Territories of the Empire in reference to Ecclesiastical Affairs XIV The said Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries here present cannot give their Consent to the Clause so often mention'd contrary to their Orders and their Consciences without doing some notable Prejudice both to their Masters and all the rest who uphold the Peace of Westphalia and who are oblig'd to defend it more-especially perceiving upon reading the Treaty of Ryswick after it was sign'd that certain Things were inserted not only in this Article but in several other Places without their Knowledge and at the same time omitted other things which do not slightly concern the Evangelicks and of which Report will be made to the States of the Empire XV. And tho' it was propos'd by way of Expedient that the Evangelicks should sign the Treaty of Peace in hopes the Affair would be accommodated there were but Three who did it having particular Reasons for so doing the rest of the Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries refusing their Consent as already has been said because their Instructions expresly enjoyn'd 'em the contrary the Dispute being aboâ—t a Change of State in regard of Ecclesiastick Affairs within the Territories of the Empire And they thought they might the better do it because the Embassies of France had very often excus'd themselves during the course of the Negotiation because they had not his most Christian Majesty's Orders in Things of less Importance XVI Thus after mature Deliberation another Expedient was propounded which was to defer signing the Treaty till our Sovereigns should be inform'd of all things and should declare themselves upon this Affair either at Ratisbonne or at the Time of the Pacification Now to the end that in an Affair of so much Delicacy and of so high Importance
our Reasons may appear both now and for the future in the Acts of the present Negotiation We the Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries whose Names are underwritten earnestly desire their Excellencies the Embassadors Mediators that this our Remonstrance may be inserted in their Protocol or Register and that they may have an Act given 'em to confirm the presenting it Protesting also at the same time that their Masters are no less Zealous for the Peace then the rest of the Princes of Europe and that it is great Grief to 'em that they cannot sign in their Master's Name by reason of a Difficulty that was no way foreseen The Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries here present have sign'd the present Declaration and thereto fix'd their Seals in the Names of the Electors Princes and States of the Sâ—cred Roman Empire of the Confession of Auspurg who sent us their Deputies to the Treaty of Peace At the Hague 15th October 4 November 1697. In the Name of the Elector of Saxony Christopher Dieteric Bose the Younger Dutchy of Deux Ponts George Frederick de Snoilsky Saxon Gota Adolph Christian Aveman Duke of Brunswick Zell E. Klinggraffe Landtgrave of Hesse-Cassel William Vultesius Elector of Brandenburgh W. de Schmettau N. E. L. B. de Dankâ—lman Duke of Sauon Coburg Henry Richard L. B. de Hagen Margrave of â—â—â—eith E. L. B. de Stein Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbutel John William de Mansberg Dutchy of Holstein Gluckstar Dethlevus Nicholus de Lewencron But to return the Conferences still continued at Ryswick and all things were agreed on by the 30th of Oct. and the Treaty Signed then being Two Days before the time limitted by France to accept of her Offers The Articles were to this purpose IN the Name of the most Holy Trinity Amen Be it known unto All and every One that a cruel War attended with the Effusion of much Christian Blood and the Devastation of several Provinces having been waged for some Years last past between the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Leopâ—ld elected Emperour of the Romans always August King of Germany Hungary Bohemia of Dalmatia Croatia and Sclavonia Archduke of Austriâ— Duke of Burgundy Brabant Stiria Carinthia and Carniola Marquiss of Moravia Duke of Luxemburg of the Upper and Lower Silesia of Wirtemberg and of Teckay Prince of Suabia Counâ— of Habâ—bourg of Tyrol Kybourg and Goritia Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire Burgaw of the Upper and Lower Lusatia Lord of the Sclavonian Marches of Port-Naon and Salins c. and the Sacred Roman Empire on one part and the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Lewis XIV the most Christian King of France and Navarre on the other part Now his Imperial Majesty and his most Christian Majesty having most seriously apply'd themselves to terminate and put an end as soon as possible to those Mischiefs that daily encreas'd to the Ruine of Christendom by the Divine Assistance and by the Care of the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Charles XI King of Swedeland Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of Finland Duke of Scania Esthonia Livonia of Carelia Bremen Perden of Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Râ—gâ—n and Lord of Ingria and Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliens Câ—â—ves and Bergues of Illustrious Memory who from the very beginning of these Commotions did not cease effectually to sollicit the Christian Princes to Peace and afterwards having been accepted as Universal Mediator never desisted gloriously to labour even to his dying Day to procure the same with all imaginable speed having to this purpose appointed and settled Conferences in the Palace of â—yswick in Holland and after his Decease the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Câ—arles XII King of Sweden Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of 〈◊〉 Duke of Scania Esthonia of Livonia Carelia Bremen of Ferden Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and of Vandalia Prince of Rugen Lord of Ingria and of Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliers Cleves and Bergues Inheriting from his Royal Father the same longing Desire and Earnestness to procure the publick Tranquility and the Treaties having been brought to their perfection by the foresaid Conferences the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries lawfully appointed and established by both Parties being met to this effect at the aforesaid place that is to say on the Emperor's part the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Dominic Andrew Kaunitz Count of the Holy Roman Empire Hereditary Lord of Austerlitz of Hungarischbord Marischpruss and Orzechan the Great Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece intimate Councellor of State to his Sacred Imperial Majesty Chamberlain and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Empire the Sieur Henry John Stratman Sieur de Puerbach Count of the Holy Roman Empire Lord of Oâ—th Schmiding Spatenbrun and Carlsberg Imperial Aulique Councellor Chamberlain to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and the Siuer John Frederick free and noble Baron of Seilern Imperial Aâ—lique Councellor to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and one of the Plenipotentiaries in the Imperial Diets And on the part of his Sacred most Christian Majesty the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Nicholas Augustâ—â— de Harlay Knight Lord of Boneuil Count of Cely Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State The Sieur Lewis Verjus Knight Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State Count de Crecy Marquiss of Freon Baron of Couvay Lord of Boulay of the two Churches of Fort-Isle and other places together with the Sieur Francis de Callieres Lord of Callieres of Rochechellay and Gigny By the Mediation and Intercession of the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Charles Bonde Count de Biornoo Lord of Hesleby Tyres Toftaholm of Graffteen Gustavusberg and of Rezitza Councellor to his Majesty the King of Sweden and President of the supreme Senate of Dorpat in Livonia and of the Sieuâ— Nicholas free Baron of Lillierooâ— Secretary of State to his Majesty the King of Sweden and Extraordinary Ambassador to their High and Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces both of them Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries for confirming and establishing a General Peace who have faithfully discharg'd their Duty of Mediatorship with Integrity Application and Prudence The Plenipotentiaries of the Electors Princes and deputed States of the Holy Roman Empire being Present Approving and Consenting after the Invocation of God's Holy Name and the Exchange of their full Powers made in due manner and form did agree for the Glory of God's Holy Name and the Welfare of Christendom upon Conditions of Peace and Concord the Tenor whereof is as followeth I. THere shall be a Christian Universal Perpetual Peace and a true Amity between his Sacred Imperial Majesty and his Successors the whole Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdoms and Hereditary States their Vassals and Subjects on the one part It shall be faithfully and sincerely maintain'd so that the one shall not undertake
Arbitrators shall adjudge to her in case they do adjudge any thing at all but if so be they adjudge nothing or less than the said Sum then there shall be a restitution and this compensation allowance or restitution as also the fund and charges of the Process shall be regulated by the Sentence of the Arbitrators But if Madam the Dutchess of Orleans do not give satisfaction to the form of the Compromise either in the Instruction of the Process or in the Answer that shall be produced by the Elector Palatine or if she delays it the course of the said yearly payment shall be interrupted only during that same time the Process going on still according to the form of the Compromise Done at the Palace of Ryswick the 30th of October 1697. 'T is not my Business to answer the foolish Objections some ill-willed Persons have made against the stability of this Peace However I shall observe That tho this Peace with the Empire was not so advantageous to it and the Restitution of Lorrain not in so ample a manner as could have been wished for yet if it be considered that France has given up very considerably on this side and some places she had long been possessed off particularly Brisac which hath appertained to that Crown for very near 60 Years That by the Taking of Casal and the Peace with Savoy she is entirely precluded out of Italy that the same Barrier is left in Catalonia as before And that there is a stronger Frontier in the Low Countries by her Restitution of all she took since the beginning of the War with the Addition of Dinant and Luxemburg If these be put together it 's not likely that Crown will begin another War in hast whatsoever our Male-contents at home or any Enemies we have abroad may â—atter themselves with especially considering the inward weakness of that Kingdom and the strong Union there is between the Crown of England and the Republick of Holland whose Naval Powers are so Formidable and Interests so great in all the Parts of the World Over and above all this we are to note His Most Christian Majesty is now in an advanced Age which is usually attended with an ill Habit of Body and too wise a Prince easily to be brought to engage himself in the Toils and Uncertainties of another War especially in that there was so little gained or I should have rather said so much lost by this To say nothing of that Regard he will undoubtedly have to the Interests of his Posterity as well as his Dominions whose Affairs at his Death he will be very unwilling to leave embroiled with those of their Neighbours It remains therefore now that I take notice that his Majesty King William staid in Holland till all was over and after having very Honourably paid off all the Forreign Troops who by this time were Marching to their respective Homes after the Toyls of this long War He returned to England and upon the 16th of November at the Citizens request made His Publick Entry thro' London being attended by all the Men of Quality in very great State and never I am sure in one Day saw so many People and all of them His own Subjects in all His Life-time and in whose Affections He Triumphed as much as ever he had done at any time over His Enemies and may He always do the first and never have occasion for the second but may we long live under the Benign Influence of His Reign who hath Rescued our Religion and Liberties out of the Jaws of Hell and Destruction so intrepidly â—ought our Battles for us and now at length restored unto us the Comforts and Blessing of a Firm and Honourable Peace Having now run thro' all the Transactions both of War and Peace that fell out within the revolution of this Year we shall draw towards a closure of it with the meeting of the English Parliament December the 3d And see how his Majesty was pleased to deliver himself to them upon this Conjuncture and this he did in these Terms My Lords and Gentlemen THE War which I Entred into by the Advice of my People is by the Blessing of God and their Zealous and Affectionate Assistance brought to the End We all proposed an Honourable Peace which I was willing to Conclude not so much to Ease My Self from any Trouble or Hazard as to free the Kingdom from the Continuing Burden of an Expensive War I am heartily sorry My Subjects will not at first find all thâ— Relief from the Peace which I could wish and they may expect but the Funds intended for the last Year's Service have fallen short of Answering the Sums for which they were given so that there remain considerable Deficiencies to be Provided for There 's a Debt upon the Account of the Fleet and the Army The Revenues of the Crown have been anticipated by My Consent for Publick Vses so that I am wholly destitute of means 〈◊〉 support the Civil List and I can never distrust you 'll suffer thâ— to turn to My Disadvantage but will provide for Me during my Life in such a manner as may be for my Honour and for the Honour of the Government Our Naval Force being increased to near double what it was at My Accession to the Crown the Charge of maintaining it wilâ— be proportionably augmented and it is certainly necessary for the Interest and Reputation of England to have always a great Strength at Sea The Circumstances of Affairs Abroad are such that I think My Self obliged to tell you My Opinion that for the present England cannot be safe without a Land Force and I hope We shall not give those who mean us ill the Opportunity of Effecting that under the Notion of a Peace which they could not bring to pass by a War I doubt not but you Gentlemen of the House of Commons wil take these Particulars into your Consideration in such a manner 〈◊〉 to provide the necessary Supplies which I do very earnestly Recoâ—mend to you My Lords and Gentlemen That which I most delight to think of and am best pleased 〈◊〉 own is That I have all the Proofs of My People's Affection th◠〈◊〉 Prince can desire and I take this Occasion to give them the 〈◊〉 Solemn Assurance That as I never had so I never will nor 〈◊〉 have any Interest separate from theirs I Esteem it one of the greatest Advantages of the Peace that I shall now have leisure to rectifie such Corruptions or Abuses as may have crept into any part of the Administration during the Wâ— and effectually to discourage Prophaness and Immorality and I shall employ My Thoughts in Promoting Trade and Advancing 〈◊〉 Happiness and Flourishing Estate of the Kingdom I shall conclude with telling you That as I have with the Hazard of every thing Rescued your Religion Laws and Liberties when they were in the Extreamest Danger so I shall place the Glory of My Reign in preserving them
the 19th the Parliament of Scotland met and during the short time of their sitting which was but to the beginning of September made several good Acts and were then prorogued to the 25th of November following Neither were the Lords Justices in Ireland wanting in their Duties to his Majesty and the Country for they took a Progress this Summer in order to view the State of several Places in the Kingdom and give such Instructions as theâ— saw convenient for the Security of the Government and good of the Subject But how Prosperous soever things went with us at home the Apprehensions of the Death of the King of Spain who was sick more or less for a great part of this Year made all Europe uneasie for fear of another War It will be impertinent for me to enter upon the particulars of the King's Sickness and Distemper that being fitter for a Physitian 's Diary than an History However it is my part to observe that a Fleet of French Men of War and Gallies coming into Caâ—iz-Bay and afterwards their giving out they would Winter there to say nothing of those Gallies that went to Naples gave no small Umbrage to their Neighbours And tho' I will not say the Arrival of the English and Dutch Squadron in Cales-Bay some time after made them think fit to return to their own Ports yet it is certain that that with the King's Recovery made their Affairs in that Country look quite with another Aspect than they had done a little before when nothing was less expected than that the Duke of Berry should succeed the Marquess of Harcoâ—â— the French Embassador valuing himself much upon the Paces he thought he had made to that end But while all this was in Agitation towards Spain the French were busie in the North to perfect an Allyance with the Crown of Sweden which at length was brought to bear and the same was notified by M. de Lissenheim his Swedish Majesty's Minister to the Envoys of other Courts residing at Hamborough and other Places The main Intention of what was made publick of this Allyance is to preserve the Repose of Europe and the Articles were to this purpose I. THat the Ancient Alliance is renew'd between the two Kings their Heirs and Successors II. That the Aim and Intention of this Treaty is to preserve and secure the Common Peace by such means as shall be adjudg'd most proper and convenient III. If it should come to pass that it should be disturb'd by any Breaches and Hostilities that the two Kings will make it their Business to repair the wrongs in an amicable way IV. And if their Cares prove ineffectual they will joyntly consider of ways to defend the Rights of the Country injur'd V. In case any Prince or State will enter into this Treaty within a Year they shall be admitted by the consent of both Kings VI. Neither the one nor the other shall make Peace or Truce without comprehending the other therein VII The Articles of the Treaties formerly concluded by either of the two with other Kings Princes or States shall remain in their full Strength and Vertue so far as they shall not be contrary to this VIII The Freedom of Commerce between the Subjects of the two Kings shall be preserv'd as formerly without any Impeachment as well in time of War as in Peace paying the usual Duties IX In pursuance of which all Ports Cities and Provinces shall be open to the Subjects of both Crowns according as the Laws and Customs shall permit both to sell their Commodities in those Places and buy others X. This particular Treaty shall continue Ten Years with Liberty to prolong this Term if it be judg'd convenient by the two Kings who by consent shall have a watchful Eye upon the means to preserve the Peace against the Dangers that threaten it XI This Treaty shall be exchang'd by both sides within three Months after the Signing or sooner if it may be Given at Stockholm the 9 th of July O. S. 1698. I shall not meddle here with the Mock-Battle at Compeign nor the more violent persecution of the Reformed since the Peace both of them being Subjects ungrateful to my Pallate but pass on into Germany where to say nothing yet of the Discourse concerning the Marriage of the King of the Romans with the Princess of Hanover we find a mighty disposition in the Emperor and his Confederates also to a Peace with the Turks after the continuance of a War for above fifteen Years wherein perhaps there has been as much variety of Action as in any other whatsoever but now it seems to draw to a period and things look in the World as if Janus his Temple was once more to be shut up And tho the Armies in Huâ—gary on both sides were considerable in number and Strength yet there seemed no great disposition in either for Action but much more in the Parties concerned to set up a Treaty of Peace under the Mediation of his Britannick Majesty and the States General by their Ministers the Lord Paget and M. Colliers who towards the middle of August arrived in the Turkish Camp near Belgrade and by their good Offices got the Place to hold the Conferences to be between Peter Waradin and Salankemen the Emperor and Confederate Ministers being to reside at Câ—rlowitz the Sultan's at Salankamen and the Mediators between the two Places The Emperor's Plenipotentiaries were the Count of Ottengen General Sâ—â—lick and the Count de Marsigli those of the Port were the Effendi or Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and Mauro Cordato for Venice came Signior Ruzzini Embassador in Ordinary from the Republick to the Court of Vienna and Seignior Wicolasi Secretary of the said Republick for Poland appear'd the Sieur Malokowski Palatine of Posnania and for the Moscovites Procopius Pogdanowitz Vosnicin I shall now leave the Plenipotentiaries to meet and not enter upon the Particulars of the Negotiation my design being to reserve that for the closing up of this Work nor shall I take any Notice of the Conspiracy which was said to have been formed by the Army under General Rabaâ—in in Transilvania to kill him and the rest of the Officers and then to go over to the Turks because I believe there was more Noise than Truth in it But I shall return where I left off last Year with the Polish Affairs and observe that tho' the King's Competitor was now gone without any likelihood of ever returning again and that the potent City of Danzick were firm to his Interest yet other Difficulties from the Obstinacy of the Cardinal Primate and his Adherents and from the present Necessity he lay under to be guarded in Poland with his own Troops made his Affairs much perplex'd However he set forward and arrived at Warsaw January the 14th in great State The King us'd all imaginable Endeavours to bring the Primate to submit and the Offices of the Brandenburg Minister were indefatigable to this
is not to be forced in Matters of Religion and so regulate their Actions accordingly But however it may prove with these of the Popish Communion and how rigorously they may be still bent to extripate that which they mis-call by the Name of Heresie and how great soever the Demerit of our Suffering Brethren may be the general and solemn Days of Humiliation and Prayers appointed for their Deliverance by almost the Universal Authority of all the Protestant Princes and States of Europe is one good sign that their Salvation draweth nigh The INDEX A. ABstract of Peace between the Empire and France Page 58 c. between France Sweden and Brandenburgh 66. between France Sweden and Denmark 71 c. Ackmet Sultan of the Turks his Death 534. Aeth besieged and surrender'd to the French 593. Agria surrendred to the Imperialists 235. Aghrim a Relation of the Battle there 429 c. Albania ravaged by the Turks 407. Alba Regalis surrendred by the Imperialists 249. Alexander VIII Pope his Death 456. Allâ—es endeavour to keep Spain out of the Peace 38. Altercations about the Basis of the Reswick Treaty 595 and 599. Ann Princess her Letter to the Queen 289 c. Argyle E. of lands in Scotland 267. his Declaration 268 c. taken and beheaded 269. Articles of Alliance between England and Holland 23 c. of Peace between Holland and France 28 c. between France and Spain 41 c. between Strasburgh and France 113 c. between France and Savoy 565 c. Of Neutrality in Italy 575. Of Peace between England and France 603 c. between Holland and France 609 c. between France and Spain 619 c. between the Empire and France 647 c. of Alliance between France and Sweden 676 c. Assassination discovered 541. Assassins tried and executed 552 c. Association at Exeter for the Prince of Orange 285. Athens submits to the Venetians 242. Athlone besieged in vain by the English 375. besieged again 425. taken 427. Avaux Count de his Memorial at the Hague 259. Ausburg the League there 131. B. BAden P. Lewis of defeats the Turks at Brod 254. made General in Hungary 336. defeats the Turks at Patochin 337 c. At Nissa 333. reduces Transylvania and expels Tekeley 414. beats the Turks at Salankemen 453 c. Barkan the Battle there between the Christians and the Turks 147. taken by the Germans 148. Bavaria Elect. of arrives with his Troops before Buda 158. made General in Hungary 250. his Letter to Osman Basha 252. takes Belgrade by storm 254. Beaumont Lieutenant-Colonel his Speech refuses Irish Soldiers is imprisoned c. 260. Belgrade besieged by the Imperialists 250. taken by Storm 254. besieged again by the Turks 411. taken by Storm 412. besieged again by the Imperialists 489. Siege raised 490. Berghen Prince of his Letter to Villeroy 522. Beverning Dutch Plenipotentiary his Saying of the French 11. of the King of England ib. Acts the Mediator ib. complies with the French 19. Articles against him 40. Bill of Exclusion 91 c. rejected by the Lords 94. Bishops seven their Petition to King James 245 c. imprison'd and acquitted 246 c. Advice to him 261 c. Black Box the story of it 80. Bonne besieged and surrendred to the Elector of Brandenburgh 335 c. Boufflers Mareschal de seized at Namur 530. released 531. Boyle Robert Esq his Death and Character 475. Boyne the Battle there 369 c. Brandenburgh Elector of solicits Peace in France 62. Fails and endeavours to embroil the Peace of the Empire ib. his Letter to the French King 64 c. receives Money of France 67. his Demands of the States ib. his Death 305. this Letter to Elbing 684 c. Brussels bombarded by the French â—22 Buda besieged by the Imperialists 156. the Siege raised 159. besieged a second time 208 Battle there 205. the siege continued 209 taken by storm 211. C. CAlais bomb'd by the English 561. Catamata abandoned by the Turks 195. Cambray surrendred to the French 9. Caminieck relieved by the Tartars 507. Canea besieged by the Venetians in vain 475 c. Canisia surrendred to the Imperialists 408. Carignan the Action there between the French and Confederates 403. Carigfergus besieged by the English and surrendred 324. Carmagnola besieged and taken by the French 449. retaken by the Confederates 451. Casal the siege of it and taken by the Confederates 532. Castle-Nuova besieged by the Venetians 240. surrendred 239. Charlemont Castle surrendred to the English 365. Charleroy besieged by the French and surrendred 482. Charles II. King unconstant to his Engagements to the P. of Orange 13. tempted with Money from France 18. concludes an Alliance with Holland 22. his Letter to the Duke of York 75. constitutes a new Council ib. unconstant 76. disclaims any Marriage with Monmouth's Mother 80 c. his Different Demeanour to the Addressors for Parliaments and Abhorrers of Petitioning 82. his Speech to the Parliament 90 c. petitioned by several Lords for the Sitting of the Parliament at Westminster 97 c. dissolves the Oxford Parliament and his pretended Reasons for it 108. prosecutes Protest-Dissentors 115 his Methods to get Charters surrendred and his design therein 129. demolishes Tangier that cost him so much 130. contemptible abroad 149. his Death and Character 165. Charnock his Paper at his Execution 552 c. Chialafa besieged by the Turks in vain 216. Churchill Lord his Letter to King James 289. Ciclut taken by the Venetians 505. Colledge Stephen tried at Oxford and Executed 110. Congress at the Hague 421. Comet appear'd 97. Commons the House of debate King James's Speech 184. address him to turn out the Popish Officers ib. Conferences about Peace renewed at Nimeguen 55. Coni besieged by the French 449. relieved 450. Conspiracy in the Army in Ireland 328. in England 458. Conti Prince of goes from Poland and his Letter to the Republick 640. returns 641. Corinth abandoned by the Turks 241. Cork besieged and surrendred to the English 384 c. Cornish Mr. tried 181. executed 182. Coron besieged the Battle there 192 c. taken by Storm 194. Coin remedied 540. Courland Duke of his Death 689. Cross du his Message from England to Holland 25. contriv'd in Portsmouth's Lodgings 26. Czar of Muscovy his Travels 682. D. DAngerfield Thomas whipp'd and kill'd 203. Dauphine Married 87. Debates of the Lords and Commons about Abdication 307 c. Declaration for Liberty of Conscience 224. at Nottingham in favour of the Pr. of Orange 286 c. of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal at Guildhal 297. of Right in England 308 c. of Right in Scotlandâ— 312. English Declaration of War against France 320 c. of the Protestant Princes against the 4th Article of Reswick 643 c. Deynse surrendred to the French 520. Delamere Lord rises for the P. of Orange in Cheshire 284. Demands of the Allies at Nimeguen 5 c. Denmark Ambassador of enrag'd at
the Peace with the Emperor 61. sollicites Peace in France with little success ib. Derry the Siege of it 323. Diepe bombarded by the English 498. Diet of Ratisbonne's Result on the Emperor's Memorial 88. Dixmude surrendered to the Fr. 520. Doge of Venice his Death 255. Dulcigno besieged by the Venetians in vain 580. Dundee slain 317. Dutch at Nimeguen inclinable to a Peace 8. E. EBeremberg taken by the Germans 631. Electorate the Ninth 476. Elbing invested by the E. of Brandenburgh 684. Articles of Surrendry 685 c. Eleanor Queen her death 673. Embassadors Turkish press for a Peace 357. Emp-prepares against the Turks 131. gives the Command to the Duke of Lorrain 132. retires from Vienna to Lintz 133. returns to Vienna 146. his Letter to the late K. James 318 c. his Proposal of Peace to the Turks 357. his Answer to the Polish Envoy's Complaint 488 c. Empire's Complaint of the French Incroachments 89. English die-a-pace at Dundalk Camp 328. their Attempt upon Brest 495. Esperies besieged by the Germans in vain 160. besieged a second time ib. surrendred 191. Esseck the Town taken and the Bridge burnt by the Imperialists 190. abandoned by the Turks 234. besieged by 'em in vain 412 c. Essex the Earl of his Speech to K. Charles II 97. his Murther in the Tower 116. Extract of the Peace between the Muscovites and Turks 692. between the Poles and the Turks 693 c. between the Emperor and the Turks 695 c. between the Venetians and the Turks 699 c. F. FEnwick Sir John the Bill of Attainder against him 585. Parliaments Proceedings upon it 586 c. his Paper at his Execution 589 c. Feversham E. of his Letter to the P. of Orange 296. Fitz-Harris Edw. his Libel 102 c. concerned in the Meal tub Plot 106. discovers the Sham 107. impeached by the Commons to prevent his trial ib. tryed condemn'd and executed 109 c. Five Churches besieged and taken by the Imperialists 213. Fleet French beaten and burnt by the English c. 458 c. Flerus the Battle there 394 c. French make Devastations in Germany 8. take Valenciennes 9. comply with the Spaniards 41. invade Juliers 56. invade it again 65. propose odd Conditions to the Court of Bavaria 86. enlarge their Limits in Alsatia 89. their Encroachments in Flanders 90. their Carriage upon the Turks invading Hungary 131. begin the War upon the Rhine 257. burn and ravage the Palatinate 333. beat the Confederate Fleet at Sea 361. prevail in Catalonia 400. attempt a separate Peace with the Emperor 420. opprest with Famine offer Peace to the Confederates 488. fight the Spaniards in Catalonia 562. attack the Smyrna Fleet 477. Friend Sir John his Paper at his Execution 554 c. G. GAlloway surrendred to the English 433. Genoa bombarded by the Fr. 152. submits 153. George Prince his Letter to King James 288. Germans march toward Buda and rout the Turks 155. Ghent besieged and surrendred to the French 14. Givet the Magazine burnt 560. Godfrey Sir Edmundbury Murdered 73. the Discovery of it ib. c. Gran besieged by the Imperialists 148. taken ib. besieged by the Turks 186. relieved and the Battle there 187. Grandval the Sieur de his Trial and Execution 467. Great Waradin blockaded by the Imperialists 455. besieged and surrendred 476. H. HAlliwell Baron worsted and slain by the Turks 154 c. Hanover Elector of his death 689. Havre de Grace bomb'd by the English 498. Heidelburg taken and destroyed by the French 483. Heusler General beaten and made Prisoner in Transylvania 409. Holland Preparations there for England 258. Holstein Gottorp Duke of restored to his Territories 72. Hough Dr. chosen President of Magdalen Colledge 202. Huy taken by the French 479. besieged and taken by the Confederates 500. I. JAmaica an Earth quake there c. 473. James II. King his Speech to the Council 165. Crown'd and his Speech to the Parliament ib. his Practises against the Duke of Monmouth 169. his proceedings in respect to Ireland 182. his Speech to the Parliament about the Popish Officers 183. thanked for it by the Lords 184. his proceedings in respect to Charters 196. sets up the Ecclesiastical Commission ib. his Usage of the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge 202. his Letter to the Scotch Parliament 205. grants toleration of Religion 223. instructs the Judges going the Circuits â—b c. commands the Declaration of Indulgence to be read in Churches 245. the Bishops petition to him upon it ib. his Answer 246. restores London Charter 260. dissolves the Ecclesiastical Commimission c. 263 c. enters Salisbury 284. forsaken by divers of the Nobility 288. returns to London 289. issues Writs to call a Parliament 290 his Proposals to the P. of Orange 294. his Letter to the E. of Feversham 295. withdraws ib. returns to London 301. withdraws into France 303. his Reasons for withdrawing ib. c. abdicates the Throne 306. lands in Ireland c. 319. flees for France 375. his Letter to the Irish Troops arrived in France 446. his Letter to the Fr. King 459 c. Jefferies Chief Justice his proceedings and cruelties in the West 180. takes Money 181. made Lord Chancellor 196. Jenkins Sir Lionel refuses to sign the separate Peace with Spain 41. Imperialists successful in Vpper Hungary 191. Innocent XI his Death and Character 357. Johnson Samuel whip'd 203. his Address to the English Soldiers 204 c. Joseph Archduke crowned King of Hungary 235. chosen K. of the Romans 397 c. Ireland entirely reduc'd 323. Irish routed by the Iniskilliners 446. defeated again near Sligo which they took 327. routed by Woolsly 362. K. KEys his Paper at his Execution 554. Keyserwaert besieged and surrendred to the Elector of Brandenburg 330 c. King of France's Letter to K. Ch. II. and Message 10. his project of Peace 14. c. refused by the Mediator 17. his Letter to the States General 19. ratifies the Peace with Holland 36. prefixes time and condions of Peace to Denmark and Brandenburg 62. his Letter to his Army 499 c. King his Paper at his Execution 553 c. Kingsale besieged and surrendred to the English 386 c. Kirk Major General his cruelty in the West 181. L. LAnden the great Battle there 481. Lepanto abandoned by the Turks 241 Lesley Count routs the Turks in Sclavonia 159. takes the Town of Esseck 190. Letter to the States General from Turin 533. of General Veterani's defeat 535 c. Liberachi Basha embraces the Venetian Interest 579. Liege the Pr. of dies 497. Limerick besieged in vain by the English 379 c. besieged a second time 434 c. surrendred and the Articles 436 c. Lippa taken by the Imperialists 249. retaken by the Turks 535. Lithuania Troubles there 682. appeased and the Articles 688. London the Charter of it question'd 116. taken away 115. the Bishop of it suspended and the Reason of the Courts displeasure against
His Majesty should leave the Magistracy in the State it was in then with all its Rights and Freedom of Election and its Jurisdiction Civil and Criminal This was granted also except in such Causes as should exceed 1000 French Livres Capital in which an Appeal might be made to the Council at Brisac yet so as that the said Appeal should not suspend the Examination of the Judgment given by the Magistrates unless the Question were above 2000 Livres V. That his Majesty should grant to the City all its Revenues Rights Tolls Commerce Money Magazines of Cannon Ammunition Arms Magazines of Corn and Wood and its Records and Publick Papers Granted except what concerned the Cannon Arms Ammunition and Publick Magazines which should be delivered to the King's Officers And for the Arms of Particular Persons they should be brought into the Town-House and be put in a Room of which the Magistrates should have the Keys VI. That the Burghers should be exempted from all Contributions and other Engagements the King leaving to the City all the Ordinary and Extraordinary Imposts VII That his Majesty should leave to the City the free enjoyment of the Bridge over the Rhine with all its Bourgs Villages and Country-Houses VIII That his Majesty should grant an Amnesty for what was past without any Exception and to comprehend therein the Prince Palatine of Valdentz IX That His Majesty should permit them to build Places to Lodge the Troops that are in Garrison And Lastly That the King's Troops should enter the Town at Four in the Afternoon All which was agreed to This sudden and unexpected Business could not but alarm the whole Empire in general as it did the Court of Vienna in particular But as the former were very slow and irresolute in their Deliberations about keeping up a sufficient Standing Force to oppose the Encroachments of France so there was such a terrible Cloud gathering together against the latter as took up in a manner their entire Thoughts how to shelter themselves from it and to obviate the impending Danger But of this we shall have further occasion to speak to in its proper place year 1682 In the mean time we will see what was doing in England this Year which comes to be 1682. and the main Work whereof was the barbarous Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters and how to curb the rest of the Nation so as to truckle entirely under che Court-girdle Herein they made very great Progress in the base Addresses that were procured to be sent from all Quarters But the Ignoramus-Bill of my Lord Shaftsbury stuck deep in their Stomachs and the Fears of being baulked in any such Design for the future made them set their Wits on the Tenter-Hooks how they might take away the Election of Sheriffs out of the Power of the City and no other Expedient could be found but by taking away their Charter which if once effected would not only give the Court the advantage of making Sheriffs but open a Gap to their making a House of Commons too for near 5 Parts in 6 of the House of Commons were Burgesses and Barons of the Cinque-Ports who would not dare to contest their Charter if the City of London could not hold hers So that in Hillary Term this Year a Quo Warranto was brought against the City for two helnous Crimes viz. That they had made an Address to the King for the Parliament to Sit for Redress of Grievances and to settle the Nation yet King Charles I. thought the Parliament's Vote of Non-Addresses to him was Deposing of him and that the City had raised Money towards repairing Cheapside Conduit ruined by the Fire of London We will give you the matter here as entirely and cursorily as we can and thus it was The City pleaded their Right and the King replied upon which there was a Demurrer and here the matter rested for a time the Novelty whereof causing a great Amusement in the Generality of the City and Nation whereto it tended and how it would end In the mean while the Duke of York after having narrowly escaped drowning in his last Voyage to Scotland and then done his Work in that Kingdom was returned to London and his Zeal for promoting the Catholick Cause outgoing his Patience for the Court's Judgment upon the Demurrer to the Quo Warranto there appeared Courtiers of the first Magnitude bare-fac'd for the next Election of Sheriffs and Sir Dudley North and Sir Peter Rich were returned the one by a shameless Trick and the other by open Force And herewith we will end this short Year but pernicious enough to England and to encrease the Misfortune of it was so fatal to Rupert Prince Palatine of the Rhine who died of a Fever and Pleurisie at his House in Spring-Garden in the 63d Year of his Age and who to pass the Errors of his Fiery Youth wherein he was engaged with too much Fury and Ravage in the Party of his Uncle King Charles in our unhappy Civil Wars had of late Years proved a faithful Councellor to the King and a great Patriot to the English Liberty and therefore was towards his latter end neglected by the Court to that degree that nothing passed between him and his great Kindred but Civilities in the Common Forms But though the Court had gained this Point yet they thought it not fit at present to push it farther till the Demurrer to the City-Charter was determined in which such haste was made that only two Arguments were permitted on either side one in Hillary-Term 1683. and the other in Easter-Term following and so Judgment was given in Trinity-Term next after against the City But such a Judgment was never given in any Case as this and if the manner of Electing the last Sheriffs was strange and unwarrantable this was no less so for it was without any Reason given and by two Judges only whereof the one was Sir Francis Withens who had heard but one Argument and perhaps understood but little of that and who afterwards in the Absence of Sir Edward Herbert delivered that for his Opinion which Sir Edward when present disowned and the other was Sir Thomas Jones However if you will believe them they said Justice Raymond was of the same Opinion with them and so was Sanders the Chief Justice though he was past his Senses and had only Understanding enough left to Expostulate with them for then Troubling him when he had lost his Memory But the Cout of King's-Bench was not so ripe for this hasty Judgment as they at Whitehall were for Discovery of Plots against the Government and justice of the Nation of which they set no less than 3 on Foot one was to surprize the Guards Another the Rye-House-Plot to Murther the King and his dear Brother as they were to pass by from New-Market and the Black-Heath Plot wherein the People were to rise upon a Foot-Ball-Match They were sure of the Sheriffs and it was Burton and