that he did not want means to do himself justice for the injuries received at his Hands but being willing to shew a more than Filial respect to the Holy See he suspended his just resentment for a whole twelve Month. For if on one side the consideration of so gross an affront provok'd him to Revenge on the other Hand the miseries and inconveniencies which attend a War to be waged in a far distant Country against the common Father of the Faithful kept his resolution in suspence It is not to be denied but that without reproach to himself he could scarce delay his Vengeance especially since it might be done without the least danger to his Affairs but it was also to be consider'd that as the danger was inconsiderable so there was but little Honour to be gotten by the Victory But being at last fuly convinc'd that the Court of Rome took advantage from these delays to abuse his patience he order'd his Troops to march to wards Italy and having seized uyon Avignon every thing was put in a readiness to pass the Alps. It was then that the Pope thought it high time to open his Eyes and that it was for his Interest to make a Virtue of Necessity and to prefer an Inglorious Peace before a War which in all human appearance must prove very successful to him His Kindred themselves perswaded him to take the surest measures as judging it more for their Intrest to turn the Mony raised by the Pope for the use of the War their own use than to render themselves Obnoxious by making themselves instrumental in troubling the Peace of Italy and to betray their Vanity to the World in being so presumptuous as to measure their Power with the greatest King of Christendom A Treaty therefore being agreed upon to be set on Foot at Pisa the King refusing to accept of Rome for the place of Treaty it was concluded soon after upon the following Articles That the Pope should be obliged to send the Cardinal Patroon The Cardinal Chigi in Quality of his Legat into France to disown the whole Action of the Corsick Guards That the Legat himself should make his Protestation before the King that neither he The Pope obliged to give satisfaction for the Affrone put upon the French Ambassadour nor any of his Family had had the least Hand in that attempt and that for the time to come they would be ready to give ample demonstrations of their Real Submission and Fidelity to the King That his Holiness's Brother should be obliged to make the same protestation in Writing and to leave Rome till such time that the Legat had given the promised satisfaction to the King That the Cardinal Imperiale should likewise come in Person into France to justifie himself and to submit his Cause if required to the decision of the King That the whole Corsick Nation should for the future be declar'd incapable of serving in the Ecclesiastical State and to brand with everlasting Infamy an Action so Insolent a Pyramid should be erected just opposite to the Corps de Guard in which should be Engraven the reason of their Banishment By Virtue of the same Treaty the Dukes of Parma and Modena besides several other Roman Lords that were in the French Interest obtained considerable advantages all which was to be attributed to the protection of the most Potent King in Christendom who thus obliged the Pope to give him the most ample satisfaction that could be for the Affront put upon his Minister The Treaty was executed accordingly July 3 1664. The Legat came into France the Pyramid was Erected and remained standing for five Years after 1667. when by the intercession of Clement IX the Successor of Pope Alexander VII the King was graciously pleased to order it to be broken down What could be more glorious at the very beginning of our King's Reign than to come off Triumphantly upon two so extraordinary occasions without as much as drawing a Sword These were the marvellous effects of the King 's growing Reputation which encreasing more and more every day had acquir'd a new Lustre the Year before the conclusion of the Treaty of Pisa by the possession of Dunkirk which was bought with much less charge than in all probability it could have been taken After the taking of this place we were by Virtue of a Treaty concluded with Oliver Cromwell obliged to surrender it into his Hands It was a very unfortunate thing for us to be forced to deliver the Key of our Kingdom into the Hands of such Strangers as we were sensible would not fail to lay hold of all opportunities to trouble our repose The King being sensible of this inconveniency had no sooner taken the Reins of the Government into his own Hands but he only watch'd for a favourable juncture to send these dangerous Neighbours back to their Island and to incorporate the said place with the rest of his Conquests Charles II. King of England being lately re-established in his Throne this juncture seem'd to be the most favourable in the World to treat with him about the Surrender of this place at a time when we were sensible that he was not in a condition to be at the charge of maintaining a Fleet in the Port of Dunkirk or to provide the City with such a Garrison as might be sufficient to make a vigorous defence in case of an Attack Notwithstanding which the Negotiation advanced but slowly or at least not so well as we could have wished This was occasion'd partly by the jealousie of our Neighbours partly by the reluctancy which the King of England shew'd in parting with a place so advantageous both for its Strength and Situation For it ought to be consider'd that Dunkirk was at that time not the same little paultry Town it was before the conclusion of the Pyrenean Peace when it was taken and retaken without any opposition it being since made one of the most considerable places in Europe chiefly by the care of Cromwell who had caused it to be strongly Fortified to serve upon an occasion as a safe retreat to him and his Party or else that the English might always be sure of a Gate by which to enter into the Heart of France at their own pleasure Besides this the Spaniards making more advantageous offers than the French and the Hollanders striving to out-bid both each Party having sufficient reasons to over-ballance one another Dunkirk bought from the English It was looked upon as one of the most refined pieces of Policy in the French to have managed that grand Affair with so much dexterity as to make themselves Masters of a place of that importance at the price of four Millions of Livres in spite of all the opposition of their jealous Neighbours The King had no sooner received the News that his Forces had taken possession of it but he went thither to give the necessary Orders for the accomplishing the Fortifications of
at last it began to be discoursed at Court that the King was to Marry the Princess of Savoy whose Picture being presented to him he took such liking to it that he resolv'd to take a journey to Lyons to see her in Person The Queen was overjoy'd at this Journey in hopes that her Brother would once more consider of the matter and when he found himself in danger of missing this opportunity to shew henceforward as much inclination for the match as he had been opposite to it before Neither did she find her self frustrated in her hopes her wish being accomplished when she expected it least The Spaniards had during this War which lasted four and twenty Years sustained great losses they had been vanquished in six Field Fights and three Sea Engagements besides that they had lost above fifty places of note and the whole Kingdom of Portugal not to mention our Conquests in Germany and those of our Allies together with the many Encounters in most of which they had been miserably beaten By these so terrible and frequent misfortunes the Spanish Monarchy was reduced to so low an ebb that to recover its strength it stood in absolute need of a Peace and the People of Spain being quite exhausted cry'd aloud for it and in terms so pressing that the Council of Spain being cured of its former Repugnancy He Marries the Infanta Maria Theresia Eldest Daughter to Philip IV. King of Spain thought it most advisable to send an Ambassador to offer the Infanta in Marriage to the King It must be confess'd that none of these Obstacles which had hitherto retarded the Marriage were remov'd but it seems the present Exigency was judged more urgent than the danger that was to come or perhaps the Spaniards had raised these difficulties only with an Intention to try whether thereby they might obtain the better conditions of Peace The Queen was so desirous of this Match that it was easie to read the satisfaction she received by the Arrival of the Spanish Ambassador Pimentel with the Propositions in her Face the Articles were very near the same which had been proposed by our Court and every thing being thus agreed to the mutual satisfaction of both Parties it was judged convenient that the Cardinal and Don Lewis de Haro the Chief Ministers of State of both Crowns should have an interview upon the Frontiers to put the finishing stroak to this great Work The Treaties being signed on both sides Interview of the French and Spanish Courts the French Court took a Progress to St. John de Luz to meet the Infanta The King her Father had conducted her thither in Person partly to pay the more respect to our King and partly to take this opportunity to see the Queen his Sister Nothing can be imagined more magnificent than this interview Where-ever you turn'd your Eyes June 6 1660. there was nothing to be seen but the Pomp and Lustre of Precious Stones Gold and Silver every one there present striving to out-do the other in richness and magnificent Apparel with this remarkable difference however that the behaviour of the Spaniards appear'd far short from what was to be observed in our Court. The Politicians who are not so soon dazled with the outward Lustre of Things which are only invented to blind the Eyes of the Common People made certain Remarks at that time upon the appearance of these two Courts from whence they drew certain Presages and erected the Horoscope of both the Empires Our King was then about one and twenty years of Age of a vigorous Constitution Active Vigilant all his Designs tending to Glorious Actions whose principal care was to be always engaged in Affairs of State his Court was composed of Men of the first Rank not inferiour to any in Europe either at the head of an Army or to manage the secrets of the Cabinet besides which there was among all these Princes and other Persons of Quality not one but what made it his chief Ambition to serve him to the utmost of his Power and to sacrifice his Life for the Glory of his King and the welfare of his Country This Noble Emulation was the happy fore-runner of all the brave Actions performed afterwards under the Conduct of so great a King the more because France being a Kingdom abounding in Riches and all other Things Two Years Peace seem'd to be sufficient to repair its losses and to make it more flourishing than before On the contrary in the Spanish Court there was not the same appearance of Prosperity but only the slender remainders of a State that once when in its Splendour had made so great a noise in the World Their King was advanced in Years minding nothing so much as his rest Most of the Grandees had scarce been without the compass of the City of Madrid and were so fond of their own Interests as to look with a very indifferent Eye upon that of the Publick His Treasury was exhausted and the Kingdom destitute both of good Troops and expert Generals at least they had very few who had acquir'd any great Reputation abroad since the Prince of Conde who by his Valour and Conduct had for seven or eight Years upheld the tottering Fortune of that Crown was return'd to his Duty and came into France with all those brave French Volunteers of his Party Without calling to aid the assistance of the Stars it was no very difficult task to foretel in making a due comparison betwixt these two Crowns that one in all likelihood would lay the foundation of her greatness upon the ruins of the other After the Marriage of the King with the Infanta At St. John de Luz June 9th 1660. every thing was prepairing for our return to Paris All along the Road she was received by the King's Order with all the demonstrations of Honour and Respect but the Triumphs in the Provinces thro' which they passed were only the fore-runners of what they were to see in the City of Paris where every thing was prepar'd with an incredible Magnificence for the reception of their new Queen thereby to raise in her at the beginning of her Reign a high esteem of the Power and Riches of a Kingdom which a Foreign War of thirty Years and the Intestine broils of six Years had not been able to drain of its Wealth The King and Queen make their Entry in Paris Aug. 26 1660. Since the first beginning of this Monarchy there never appear'd a more glorious day in France The Streets thro' which they passed were covered with rich Tapestries the Gates adorned with Greens and Flowers the Windows and Balconies on both sides with the finest Carpets in the Squares and Market-places were erected Triumphal Arches beautified with Statues and Paintings not inferiour to what the old Rome could have produced when at the highest pitch of its Glory Besides this there was an incredible number of people flock'd hither from all parts of Europe
Leopold I. demanding Succours from our King he sent him six thousand chosen Men. These Troops had signaliz'd themselves in many Encounters but more particularly in the Battle fought near St. Goddard Seven or eight thousand of the bravest among the Infidels having pass'd unperceiv'd by the Christians a River which parted both their Camps charged the right Wing of the last with such incredible fury that they made them give way without much opposition In all human appearance the whole Christian Army must have been put to an entire rout if the French who were in the left Wing had not come up very opportunely with the Turks and like lightning charged thro' them with so much bravery that they put them in confusion and made such a slaughter among them that five or six thousand remained dead upon the spot To be short the Victory was compleat they brought off a great many Standards and Colours and sixteen pieces of Cannon most of the abovementioned Turks being either slain or drown'd in the River Those few that escaped by flight put the whole Turkish Camp into such a consternation that the Grand Visier notwithstanding he had yet remaining with him an Army of above forty thousand Men in few days after concluded a Truce with the Imperialists As the French succors had been of great consequence to the Emperor The King's protection of the Dutch against the Bishop of Munster 1665. so the protection which the King was pleased to afford to the Hollanders stood them in no less stead against Bernard Van Galen then Bishop of Munster a Man of a turbulent Spirit better qualifi'd for a General than a Prelate For the King of England having declar'd War against them had at the same time stir'd up the Bishop who being a troublesome Neighbour to the Dutch never wanted pretensions but only an opportunity to quarrel with them being a Man aspiring and bold to undertake any thing and at that time when he was so well provided with good Forces and other things requisite for such an undertaking The Hollanders had all the reason in the World to be surprized at this unexpected rupture as having liv'd for five Years in perfect Tranquility and consequently disbanded their Troops except such as serv'd in Garrisons on their Frontier places The Bishop taking advantage from the ill State of their Troops made an irruption into their Territories and over-run entirely one of their Provinces where he made himself Master of their Cities and ravaged the Countrywhere-ever he came which struck such a consternation into the adjacent Provinces that it was feared they would scarce have Courage enough to resist his Victorious Arms. In this perplexity having made their Addresses to our King he order'd six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse instantly to march to their relief Hitherto nothing had been able to put a stop to the Current of the Conquests of the Bishop but the terrour of the Force of France had such a Powerful influence over him that he began to abate immediately of his fierceness and in less than three Months time matters were brought to a composition by Virtue of which he was obliged to disband his Troops to Surrender to the States all that he had taken and restore to them their former Tranquillity The Hollanders being by the Treaty of Cleves delivered from the fear of this troublesome Enemy The Dutch protected against the English 1666. they now apply'd themselves with all their might to the prosecution of the War against the English The States-General had at the first beginning of the War sollicited the King for succours against the English or at least his Mediation for the composing of the differences betwixt them The King at their request sent a Solemn Embassy to London to offer his Mediation which being accepted of by the King of England the Conferences were began in London But King Charles II. having happily suppress'd some tumultuous Assemblies of the Fanatick Party which hitherto had kept matters in suspense without expecting the issue of this Negotiation order'd his Fleet to put out to Sea in quest of the Dutch even in their Ports Our King having all the reason in the World to be dissatisfied with the King of England enter'd into to a League offensive with the States-General Thus the War being kindled 1665 1666. it broke out into so violent a Flame that for two Summers successively the Seas betwixt the English and Flanders Coast seem'd to be all on Fire there being nothing to be heard of but slaughter and the thundering of Cannons In these several most bloody Engagements neither party could boast of any real advantage over the other the Victory inclining one time on one and at another on the other side both parties at the same time claiming the Honour of the Victory and dissembling their losses The Hollanders notwithstanding they much flatter'd themselves with the Honour they believed to have gain'd against their Enemies yet were very desirous of Peace these Demi-triumphs and the loss of so many brave Seamen being but a slender recompence for the damage they receiv'd in the interruption of their Commerce The English irritated more by shame than the consideration of their losses left no Stone unturn'd to break this Alliance and to draw our King from the Dutch Interest but in vain for the King protesting he would not abandon his Allies a Peace was soon after concluded at Breda July 31 1667. which was very advantageous to the States About two Months before the conclusion of this Treaty the King was enter'd Flanders with a considerable Force to do himself Justice on the just Pretensions of the Queen Her right was so unquestionable on the Dutchy of Brabant and its Dependencies upon part of Gueldres upon Luxemburgh the Franchè Comtè Mons Antwerp Cambray Malines Limbourg Namur and some other places on the Meuse that the King having taken the Advice of the most Famous Lawyers of the Low-Countries upon the point in question under borrow'd Names they were unanimously of opinion that her Right was indisputable According to the Custom of these Provinces it is an Establish'd Law that the Children begotten in the first Marriage become Heirs to the Possessions of their Parents immediately after the Decease of one of them the Survivor enjoying only the benefit of them during Life Philip IV. King of Spain had by Isabella his first Spouse only two Children to wit Prince Balthasar one Son and one Daughter since Queen of France who surviving the Prince these Provinces by right of Succession pursuant to the Custom of the Country which regulates as well the right of Succession in respect to Soveraigns as private Persons were devolved to her It must be confess'd that at the time of her Marriage they had taken this precaution to make her renounce all her Rights and Pretensions to those Provinces but besides the Act it self was so defective in Form and full of Nullities that according to the
well disciplin'd Troops and inur'd to the Fatigues of War His Frontiers were enclos'd on all sides with strong Forts and well Fortifi'd Cities his Treasury in a good condition and the whole Kingdom in a profound Tranquility He himself both delighted in and understood the Art of War His Affairs being in so flourishing a condition what could hinder him from making new Conquests if his desire of Glory had not been Counterbalanc'd by his Inclination for Peace and seeing that his Enemies were reduc'd to a state of moderation and his Frontiers secured on all sides he resolved to restore tranquillity to Europe After Charles II. King of England was enter'd into the Alliance with the Dutch King Ch. II. Mediator at the Treaty of Nimeguen his chief aim was to make himself a happy instrument in procuring a general Peace in which he succeeded so well that his Mediation was accepted For hitherto matters had advanced but slowly at the Treaty of Nimeguen where two Years were spent in setling some Preliminaries of little moment in respect of the great Work they were to transact to wit in Disputes about the place of Treaty in fixing the bounds of the Neutrality in exchanging their Credentials and examining their Commissions and such other Preliminaries as are commonly made use of to protract these Conferences whilst in the mean while the longest Sword decides the principal differences in the Field It is sufficiently known that scarce a Year had passed since the Declaration of the War wherein Spain had not been a considerable loser nevertheless they were the first who protested with all the solemn expressions in the World that they would never consent to the Peace unless our King did restore all what he had taken from them and the Emperor's Pretensions were as exorbitant as those of the Spaniards For which purpose the King made his chief application to the Hollanders being sensible that if he could draw them from the Interest of the Confederacy and perswade them to accept of a separate Peace the other Princes would soon follow their Example The King was sufficiently convinc'd that the Jealousy fomented by a certain Faction in Holland against the Prince and their fear lest if the War should continue much longer they might be involved in some troubles by the Prince's departure for England the decay of their Trade and the immense charges they were at by bearing the burthen of the War in maintaining not only their own Troops but also most of the Confederate Forces made them very desirous after a Peace but the more it was their Interest to promote it the more difficulties were to be surmounted before it could be brought to a happy conclusion For tho' the Emperor and Spain had acted but with indifferent success in this War yet on the other Hand the King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenburgh had had considerable advantages over Sueden which had declared for us against the Confederacy in the Year 1675. In three Years time that the War lasted betwixt the Northern Princes the Suedes had gain'd three Battles by Land but they had been worsted in three several Sea-Engagements and had lost the Isle of Rugen and all Pomerania This success against the Suedes seem'd to intimate to the Confederates that the French might also be vanquish'd in their turn The Emperor and Spain shew'd more inclination for the continuation of the War than for the Peace tho' it be evident that their hopes were built but upon a very slippery foundation to wit upon the chance of Fortune and those continual vicissitudes which are the constant Attendants of all human Affairs This was the reason that notwithstanding all the earnest applications of the States-General to obtain a General Peace yet the Treaty advanced but slowly and might perhaps have been quite rendred ineffectual if the King had not taken a firm resolution to see it brought to a happy conclusion by taking such measures as should oblige the rest of the Confederates to accept of the Peace The King himself drew up the Articles which he sent to his Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen to be communicated to the Mediators under this condition that in case the Confederates did not think fit to accept of them in forty Days the King should be at liberty to alter them or to propose some new time By vertue of these Articles he was to remain in possession of all his Conquests unless Maestricht and six Places in Flanders to wit Ghent Courtray Aeth Oudenarde Charleroy Limbourgh and St. Gillian demolished That the King promised to restore Maestricht to the Hollanders and the six above-mentioned places to the Spaniards That the Peace of Munster should remain in its full force That if the Emperour kept Philipsbourg the King should remain in possession of Fribourg That the Prince of Furstemberg should be set at Liberty and restored to his Honour Dignities and Estate And that lastly the Northern Princes should restore to the Suedes what they had taken from them in this War Most of the Confederates exclaim'd against these Articles but notwithstanding all their Protestations and Clamours their Threats Intreagues and Cabals they were at last oblig'd to accept of the same terms The Hollanders had no sooner embrac'd the King's offer but the Emperour and Elector of Brandenburgh loudly exclaim'd against their Proceedings upbraiding them with breach of Faith and Ingratitude But who is so unacquained in publick Affairs as to look for acknowledgment among Princes or to imagine they think themselves oblig'd to one another for the assistance they give when it is evident that the same proceeds more from a motive of Interest than Friendship how can a State therefore be charg'd with Ingratitude unless it be call'd so when they search too narrowly into the true causes of a benefit they have receiv'd But to be short these reproaches made but slender impressions upon the States who were so far from changing their opinion that they prevail'd upon the Spaniards to follow their Example but when the Spanish Ambassadours were upon the point of signing the Articles there arose an unforeseen difficulty which was likely to have broken off the whole Treaty For in the Article concerning Spain wherein the King had promised to restore to them six Places in Flanders there being no certain time limitted the States had interpreted it thus that the Evacuation of the said Places should be made immediately after the Ratification of the Peace betwixt France and Spain But the King's Intention being not so much that by restoring these Places to Spain they should serve as a Barricado betwixt him and the Hollanders and to remove the Jealousie they had conceived at the Neighbourhood of so potent a Prince as to be in lieu of an equivalent for those Places that were to be restored to Sweden he refused to surrender these Cities into the Hands of the Spaniards before the Swedes had received full satisfaction as to their Demands This Spark was like to have proved
disown the Affront put upon the French Ambassador at Rome and to give Satisfaction for the same p. 45 Cheo p. 171 Choiseul Claudius Count de Marshal of France p. 280 Christine Queen of Sweden comes into France to see the King p. 10 11 Circles of Germany declar against the King p. 207 Clergy The Assembly of the French Clergy in the Year 1682. p. 184 Constine Armond du Cambout Duke de Peer of France wounded at che Passage of the Rhine p. 91 Colbert John Baptist Minister and Secretary of State his Character p. 28 29 Colbert Charles Marquis de Croissi French Plenipotentiary at Nimhegen p. 166 Cologne Affairs of Cologne p. 199 Compte French Compte Conquer'd p. 68 Restored p. ib. Conquer'd a second time p. 114 Conde Lewis of Bourbou II. Prince of his Victories and Character p. 5 Commands the French Army in Holland p. 86 Beats the Allies near Senef p. 117 Forces them to raise the Siege of Hagenau p. 132 Conde Henry Julius Prince of besieges and takes Limburgh p. 128 Coni the Siege raised p. 230 Conti Lewis Francis Prince of signalizes himself at Steenkirk and Neerwinden p. 239 248 Is Elected King of Poland p. 299 Corsairs of Africa chastised p. 171 Crequy Duke of is insulted at Rome by the Pope's Guards p. 39 40 Crequy Francis de Marshal of France Commands a flying Body p. 65 Defeats Marlin p. 66 Is routed by the Dukes of Zell and Lorrain p. 133 Forces Prince Charles of Lorrain to repass the Rhine p. 151 Takes Friburgh p. ibid. D. Darmstadt Landgrave of signalizes himself in the defence of Barcelona p. 301 Dauphin Lewis Dauphin of France only Son to LEWIS the Great His Birth and Education p. 170 171 Besieges and takes Philipsburgh p. 203 Commands in Germany p 224 Commands in Flanders p. 255 Prevents the Enemy from forcing the French Lines p. 256 Dauphin Invasion of the Allies of that Province p. 241 Deinse opens its Gate p. 270 Denmark delares against France p. 111 Conquers many places from the Swedes p. 159 Obliged to restore them p. 166 Makes a defensive League with Holland p. 288 Descent made by the English in Cameret-Bay p. 261 By the Dutch in a small Island p. 122 Diepe see Bombardment Diet of Ratisbonne p. 175 176 Differences betwixt France and Spain about the Precedency p. 33 Betwixt the Duke of Crequy and the Nephews of Alexander VII p. 41 Betwixt two Religious Orders about the Doctrine of Grace p. 70 Betwixt the Empire and France concerning the Limits p. 175 176 Betwixt France and Spain about the Limits in Flanders p. 178 About the Succession in the Palatinate p. 194 About the Franchises of the Ambassador's Quarters at Rome p. 196 Dinant taken by the Marshal de Crequy p. 128 Dixmuyden surrendred p. 178 56 Doesburgh surrendred p. 92 Dole besieged and taken by the King p. 97 Doway taken after a Siege of two days p. 116 Duells severely chastised p. 65 Dunkirk taken p. 13 Delivered up to the English p. 47 48 Bought by the King p. ibid. Bombarded see Bombardment Duquesne Lieutenant General of the King 's Marine Forces his Off-spring p. 137 Defeats Admiral Ruiter ib. Burns eight Tripolin Vessels in the Port of Chio. p. 171 E. Edicts of Nantes and Nismes p. 190 191 Emperour see Leopold Electors of the Empire declare unanimously against France p. 207 England subject to great Revolutions p. 210 Entrance of the King and Queen in Paris p. 20 Estrades Count d' afterwards Marshal of France his Difference with the Spanish Ambassadour Batteville in London p. 33 Plenipotentiary and French Ambassadour at Nimhegen p. 166 Estrees Francis Hannibal II. Duke d' Peer of France Ambassadour at Rome the Pope does not abolish the Franchises of Quarters till after his Death p. 196 Estree John Count d' Marshal and Vice-Admiral of France p. 171 Estree Caesar Cardinal d' sent to Rome to endeavour an Accommodation with Pope Innocent XI p. 184 F. Fariau defends Mastrick p. 103 Fenelon Francis de Polignac Fenelon Preceptor of the Children of France p. 285 Fleets see Sea-Fights Formular against the five Propositions of Jansenius subscribed p. 77 Fortifications above 220 are Erected by the King's Order since 1660. p. 168 France its Pre-eminency p. 30 31 Its Fertitility p. 253 254 Franchises of the Ambassadour's Quarters abolished by Innocent XI p. 196 Frankendahl taken p. 204 Friburgh taken p. 151 Granted to the King by the Peace of Nimhegen p. 160 Fuente Marquis of Spanish Ambassadour declares that the Ministers of Spain shall not dispute about the Precedency with those of France p. 37 38 Furnes taken p. 244 Furstenbergh William Eugene is seised at Cologne and carried to Viena p. 112 Chosen Co-adjutor of Cologne Innocent XI refuses to confirm it p. 201 202 G. Gap abandoned p. 242 Genneses disoblige the King p. 172 Genoa bombarded see Bombardment They send their Doge with four Senators to make their Submission to the King p 173 Ghnet besiged and taken by the King p. 154 156 Gigery taken abandoned p. 56 Guesne Archbishop of Primate of Poland calls together a Diet for the Election of a King of Poland p. ib. Proclaims the Prince of Conty King of Poland p. 299 Grave besieged and surrendred to the Prince of Orange p. 120 121 122 Gray taken p. 114 Gregory VII the first who pretended to depose an Emperour p. 186 Groll a strong Place taken p. 93 Guillestre in Dauphine p. 242 Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden p. 10 H. Hageneu besieged by Count Montecuculi raises the Siege p. 132 Harlay Nicolas Augustus de Count of Celi French Plenipotentiary at the Conferences of Frankfurt p. 175 And at the General Peace p. 291 Haw Don Lewis de Premier Minister of Spain p. 18 Havre de Grace see Bombardment Heidelbergh the Capital of the Palatinate taken by the Marshal de Lorge p. 246 Hesse Landgrave of raises the Siege of Eberenburgh p. 243 Holland the Commonwealth of its Origin Progress Reputation Varity p. 82 83 Loses above forty Places in one Campaign p. 84 Hollanders assisted by the King against the Bishop of Munster and the King of England p. 58 59 The Chief Promoters of all the Alliances against France see Leagues Humiers Marshal d' takes Aire p. 135 Is repulsed at Walecourt p. 214 Huy taken by the French p. 128 Retaken by the Allies p. 258 I. JAMES II. King of England retires into France p. 211 212 Passes over into Ireland p. 214 Returns to France after the Battle of the Boyne p. 225 Goes to the Sea-side in hopes of making a Descent in England p. 231 Jansenisme its Origin Progress and Condemnation p. 70 71 72 Janson Toussain Cardinal d' Bishop of Beauvais p. 294 Imperial Cardinal Governour of Rome comes into France to justifie himself p. 45 46 Innocent XI the Pope his Character writes three Briefs to the King about the Regale p. 182 Annuls the Acts of the Assembly of the French Clergy p. 185 Refuses his Bulls to the
p. 92 Noailles Philip de Montaut Duke de Noailles Marshal of France p. 149 Newburgh Duke of his Character p. 193 Cabals against France p. ibid. Presses the Emperour to conclude a Peace with the Turks p. 194 Endeavours to make one of his Sons Coadjutor of Cologne p. 199 Neutrality proposed for the French Comte p. 113 For Catalonia p. 289 Refused by the Allies but accepted for Italy p. 283 Nice taken p. 230 Nimhegen taken p. 94 Chosen for the Place of Treaty of Peace p. 157 Noailles Ann Julius Duke of Peer and Marshal of France Commands in Catalonia takes Campredon p. 214 Roses p. 245 Palamos p. 259 Gironne p. 269 Gains the Battle of Ter. p. 258 Noailles James Lieutenant General of the French Gallies signalizes himself at the Siege of Barcelona p. 302 Orange William III. Prince of Entrenches himself near the Issel p. 88 Besieges Voerden p. 97 Charleroy twice p. 101 149 Oudernard p. 120 Mastrick p. 135 His overthrow near Voerden p. 97 Near Senef p. 117 And near Cassel p. 146 Orange Prince of his Exploits takes Naerden p. 108 Bonn. p. ibid. Grave p. 120 O. Orange Prince of makes a Descent in England and is received with great Acclamation p. 211 Is Crown'd and acknowledged lawful King by the Emperour King of Spain and the rest of the Roman Catholick Confederate Princes and in general by all the Protestant Princes p. 212 Orleance Philip of France Duke of takes Orsoy p. 87 Besieges St. Omer p. 147 Takes it p. ibid. Defeats the Prince of Orange near Cassel p. 146 Oudernard the Siege of Oudernard raised p. 120 Oudewater a small Place in Holland p. 92 P. Peace see Treaty Palamos taken p. 259 Palatinate Conquer'd by the Dauphin p. 204 Palatine see Newburgh Palermo see Sea-fight Pamiers Bishop of makes his Complaint to Pope Innocent XI concerning the Regale p. 182 Philip IV. King of Spain conducts in Person the Infanta his Daughter to St. John de Luz p. 18 Resigns the Precedency to our King p. 37 Philipsburgh taken by the Enemy p. 139 Retaken by the Dauphin p. 203 Piedmont Conquest in Piedmont p. 230 231 Pignerol bombarded by the Allies p. 250 Pimentel Don Antonio d' employed to conclude the Marriage betwixt the Infanta of Spain and the King p. 18 Pisa see Treaty Plate the King's Plate employed to the use of the War p. 78 Plenipotentiaries assembled at Nimhegen p. 157 Frankfurt p. 175 176 At Reswick p. 291 Ponty the Sieur d' takes Carthagena in America p. 307 Poland the Diet for the chusing a King of Poland p. 295 Polignac Melchior d' French Ambassadour in Poland p. 299 Precedency disputed to France by Spain p. 33 Propositions the five Propositions of Janson condemned by Innocent X. and Alexander VII p. 72 73 R. Ratisbonne see Diet. Ravensberg ravaged p. 101 Regale in what it consists the King's Declaration about it p. 180 181 Renunciation Nullity of the Queens Renunciation to the Succession of Spain p. 62 p. 63 Re-Unions of the Dependencies in Alsace and the three Bishopricks by the Chambers of Brisac and Metz. p. 174 Revolution in England p. 210 Rhineberg surrendred p. 87 Rhine an account of the passing the Rhine p. 88 Richelieu Cardinal of p. 3 Reswick Situate betwixt Delft and the Hague the Place of Conference for the General Peace p. 288 Rome Affairs of Rome p. 180 seq Roses taken p. 245 Ruiter Admiral of Holland miscarries at Martinico p. 122 Defeated by Duquesne p. 137 Mortally wounded p. ibid. S. Salines taken p. 116 Saluzze opens its Gates p. 224 St. Andrew Fort of p. 92 St. Ann Fortress of p. 116 St. Brigit Fort of p. 250 St. Cyr a Community of three hundred young Ladies p. 169 St. Guillaine taken p. 152 St. Jean de Luz p. 18 St. Malo see Bombardment St. Omer besieged by the Duke of Orleance p. 147 Surrendred p. ibid. Saverne besieged in vain by the Enemy p. 132 Savoy Victor Amadeus II. Duke of joins with the Allies p. 209 His Defeat see Battles Enters Dauphine p. 242 Enters Casal p. 265 Makes Peace with France p. 283 Besieges Valenza in the Milaneze p. ibid. Savoy Maria Adelaida Princess of Dutchess of Burgundy is conducted into Erance in order to her Marriage p. 284 Savoy Dukedom of Conquer'd by the King p. 224 Saxony Frederick Augustus Elector of Saxony proclaimed King of Poland by the Bishop of Cujavia p. 300 Saxony Duke of Saxe Eusenach Commander in Chief of some German Troops saves himself in one of the Islands of the Rhine p. 150 Desires a Pass-port for a safe Retreat ibid. Schomberg Marshal Duke of his Exploits p. 122 Relieves Mastrick p. 135 Is kill'd at the Battle of the Boyne p. 225 Sea-Fights p. 3 60 p. 95 110 p. 222 137 p. 220 Seq p. 232 seq Shel-stadt p. 107 Shenkenshantz Fort of p. 92 Sobieski John III. his Elevation to the Crown of Poland Relieves Vienna p. 295 Sobieski Prince James one of the Candidates for the Crown of Poland p. 296 Spain its Grandeur under Philip II. p. 31 Resigns the Precedency to France p. 137 Refuses to give Satisfaction about the just Pretensions of the Queen p. 65 Enters into all the Confederacy's made against France p. 107 Spires p. 204 Strasburgh submits to the King p. 107 Sweden's Mediation of the Peace p. 112 Has all the Places restored p. 159 Swiss refuse to enter into the Confederacy p. 208 T. Tellier Michael Chancellour of France p. 50 Tellier Michael Francis Marquiss of Louvois Minister and Secretary of State his Character p. 51 Thoulouse Lewis Alexander Count de Thoulouse wounded near the King at the Siege of Namur p. 236 Tournay surrended p. 65 Tourville Ann Hilarion de Constantine Count of Vice-Admiral and Marshal of France engages and beats the Confederate Fleets of England and Holland is worsted by them see Sea-Fights Takes and Burns eighty Merchant-Men of the Enemies p. 245 246 Treaties the Pyrenean Treaty p. 18 Of Pisa p. 45 Of Breda p. 60 At Cleves p. 59 At Aixe la Chapelle p. 68 Of Nimhegen p. 162 Of Peace with Savoy p. 283 Of Reswick p. 308 Treves seised upon by the King p. 107 Taken by the Allies p. 133 Taken by the French p. 204 Tripoli see Bombardment Tromp Admiral of Holland p. 122 Truce of twenty years p. 177 Turks routed by the French near St. Godard p. 57 Turenne Henry de la Tour de Auvergne Viscount de gains the Battle of St. Anthony See Battles Commands under the King in the year 1667 His Victories in Germany See Campaigns Is killed by a Cannon Shot Is magnificently buried at the King's Charge p. 131 V. Valence Siege of p. 283 Valenciennes taken by Assault p. 142 Vaudemont Prince of his Retreat p. 270 Vendosme Lewis Joseph Duke de signalizes himself at Steenkirk p. 239 Commands in Catalonia his Exploits p. 280 Defeats the Viceroy of Catalonia p. 303 Besieges and takes Barcelona p. 305 Varjus Count de Crecy see Plenipotentiaries Versailles
p. 77 Vessels fifteen of the King's Vessels burnt p. 232 Villa Franca taken p. 230 Villeroy Commands the Grand Army in Flanders see Campaign of 1695. Bombards Brussels see Bombardment Vironne Lewis Victor de Rochechovard Duke of Peer and Marshal of France beats the Confederate Fleet. p. 136 Relieves Messina ibid. Vxelles Marquiss de defends Mayence with great Bravery p. 215 216 217 W. Walecourt the French repulsed near that place p. 214 Waldeck Count of General of the Confederate Army p. 219 Routed near Flerus see Battles War Civil War and its Origin p. 3 p. 4 5 Wesel surrendred p. 87 William III. King of Great Britain worsted at Steenkirk p. 239 At Neerwinden p. 248 At St. Denis p. 163 Takes Namur p. 272 Gains the Battle near the Boyne p. 225 Is present at the Great General Council at the Hague p. 226 His Courage and Resolution p 278 Is one of the first that Signs the Peace p. 308 Is acknowledged by France lawful King of England Scotland and Ireland p. 310 Wirtenbergh Dutchy of p. 215 Wirtenbergh Duke of made Prisoner by the Marshal de Lorge p. 243 Z. Zell Duke of routs the Marshal de Crequy p. 133 Takes Treves p. 134 Zutphen p. 94 Zwell p. 93 Books Printed and Sold by D. Midwinter and T. Leigh at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard THE Education of Young Gentlewomen written originally in French and from thence made English and improved for a Lady of Quality Twelves 1699. Advice to Young Gentlemen in their several Conditions of Life by way of Address from a Father to his Children by the Abbot Goussalt with his Sentiments and Maxims upon what passes in a Civil Society Printed at Paris 1697 and Translated into English Octav. A compleat Doctrine of the Bones according to the newest and most resined Notions of Anatomy shewing their Nature and Substance c. By Robert Baker Chirurgeon Octav. 1699. Plain and full Instructions to raise all sorts of Fruit-Trees that prosper in England c. the Second Edition with the Addition of two entire Chapters of Greens and Green-houses by the Author T. Laugford Gent. Oct. 1699. The Lives and Characters of the English Drammatick Poets also an Account of all the Plays that were ever yet Printed in the English Tongue c. first begun by Mr. Langbain improv'd and continued down to this time by a Careful Hand Octavo A Voyage to the East-Indies giving an Account of the Isles of Madagascar and Mascarene of Surat the Coast of Malabar c. Written originally in Fr. by Mr. Dellon M. D. Octav. The Mystery of Phanaticism or the Artifices of Dissenters to support their Schism together with the Evil and Danger of them set forth in several Letters c. By a Divine of the Church of England The 2d Edit Octav. The Life of our Blessed Saviour an Heroick Poem c. with above 60 Cuts The 2d Edit Fol. Resolves Moral Divine and Political By Owen Feltham Esq Fol. Bishop Burnet's History of the Reformation of the Church of England In Two Vol. Fol. Dr. Cave's Lives of the Primitive Fathers In two Vol. Fol. Bishop Tillotson's Posthumous Sermons In Five Vol. Octav. Books sold by Rob. Knaplock at the Angel and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard MR. Hole 's Letters concerning the Gift and Forms of Prayer The Mystery of Fanaticism The Government of a Wife Mr. De la Salle's Discoveries in North America Drydon's Virgil. Juvenal Pufendorf's Introduction to History A. Bishop Tillotson's Works Fol. Sir Roger L'strange's Tully Seneca M. Antonini Imp. Medit. cum Notis G. Gattakeri Graec. Lat. Gibson 's Anatomy Salmon's Dispensatory Chirurgery Synopsis Medicinae THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT LIB I. LEWIS the XIIIth had for a considerable time after his Marriage no Issue by Ann of Austria his spouse till in the Year 1638 on the 5th day of December at eleven of the Clock 22 Minutes before Noon His Birth she was happily delivered of a Son The Imperialists vanquish'd near Rhinefels aâ—d the Spaniards at Sea With what an universal satisfaction this welcome News was received all over the Kingdom is easier to be imagined than exprest The rejoycings made upon this occasion did in a great measure obliterate the glory of famous Victories obtained about the same time by the French over their Enemies the people of France looking upon them all at that juncture as scarce worth taking notice of and of little consequence in comparison of the advantages they promised themselves from the happy birth of a Dauphin The barrenness of the Queen and the ill state of the King's health had given occasion to several Cabals and Factions and no sooner was one head of this pernicious Hydra cut off but another appeared in its stead the divisions of the Great ones being risen to that pitch as to threaten the ruine of the whole Kingdom if by the auspicious Birth of this Prince these dreadful Clouds had not been dispersed Troubles during his Minority But the Death of Lewis the XIIIth which happened when the young Prince was but four Years and nine Months old occasioned no small apprehensions of future troubles in the State great discontents reigned among the Nobility the Parliaments were exasperated by many provocations and the People exhausted by heavy Impositions all which it was feared would have broke out into an open Rebellion during the young King's Minority Cardinal Julius Mazarin The Queen Regent being absolutely satisfied in the ability of the Cardinal Mazarin had made him Chief Minister of State to the great dissatisfaction of such of the Great ones as proposed to themselves to fish in troubled Waters and to find their account in fomenting Divisions in the Kingdom They alledged that the Cardinal being a Foreigner they did not question but that he would tread the footsteps of Cardinal Richlieu and in this high station revived the same haughty Maxims his Predecessor had made use of during his Ministry But this great Minister of State managed matters with so much dexterity that by bestowing ample favours and larger promises upon those of the discontented Party he brought many of them over to his side so that beyond all expectation his Ministry was very quiet for the first five years and the present condition of the Kingdom appear'd to be more flourishing at that time Victories near Rocroy near Rotewil Friburg Nortlingen and Leantz Nâ—ar Cartagena and Castellamara than it had been for many Years before The French gained 5 Victories by Land and 2 at Sea and besides they made themselves Masters of 10 or 12 places of no small Importance But this prosperity was of no long continuance The excessive Ambition and Covetousness the Envy and Jealousies which reigned among the Nobility the pretended Zeal of some of the French Parliaments encouraged by the Favour and Acclamations of the common People which being inveigled with the hopes of an abatement of the heavy Taxes they
ranged on both sides of the Streets upon the Scaffolds that were built for that purpose before the Houses all which together made up so glorious a Show as is easier to be imagined than described All the Princes and other persons of Quality had spared no cost not only in their own Apparrel but also in their Equipages and Servants to the highest degree of profusion The Queen appear'd in a Chariot the King with all the Lords of his Court on Horseback in an Equipage so magnificent that nothing was ever seen or heard of which bore the least comparison to this glorious Cavalcade It was computed that the Charges bestowed on this occasion by particular Persons amounted to ten Millions of Livres every one striving to raise his Fortune by giving the King the most ample Proofs of their Zeal for his Honour and Service They were at a great distance met by the Acclamations of the People who wished the King a long and prosperous Reign As they passed thro' the Streets the Eyes of all the Spectators were fix'd upon him so that it might be truly said they had no Eyes but for him and scarce had he pass'd by in one place but the People run round about to meet him again and to see him as often as possibly they could Others may boast what they will of Honours these Superficial Ceremonies cannot come in the least in competition with those hearty wishes and vows which the People sent after him as he passed thro' the City it being certain that every one had so a real esteem and affection for his Person being prepossess'd with this opinion That one day he would be one of the greatest Princes that ever mounted the French Throne Neither was it long before they were sufficiently convinc'd that they had not been unfortunate in their guess when the King began to take the Reins of the Government into his own Hands and to manage the State Affairs by his own Conduct after the Death of Cardinal Mazarin who did not survive the conclusion of the Peace longer than ten Months This great Minister of State died when he was risen to the Pinacle of his Glory Cardinal Mazarin died March 9 1661. happy in that he had Triumph'd both over his own and the Enemies of the State and more happy still in that he had forced the first to acknowledge his great Deserts and the others to restore Peace to the Kingdom in a manner as glorious to himself as it was beneficial to the State AN ESSAY UPON THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT LIB II. BY the Death of the Cardinal Things were left in such confusion that The King takes the Administration of the Government into his own Hands notwithstanding the extraordinary Idea the people had conceived of the King 's great Ability they cou'd scarce imagine that a Prince then hardly two and twenty years old would venture to take upon himself so heavy a burthen or if he did it would scarce be possible for him to bear it but they were soon convinc'd of their mistake for the King in four or five Years time setled the Government upon so firm a Basis that for above these thirty Years past he has govern'd the Kingdom in great Tranquility without the assistance of a Chief Minister has been Victorious over his Enemies and restored Prosperity to the Kingdom a convincing instance that a Man may sometimes be Master of his own Fortune at least thus much is certain that Fortune will not be of long continuance if not upheld and managed by a dextrous Hand The first thing he did was to regulate his time and to prescribe himself certain Rules and Maxims of State gathered partly from the most famous Princes in former Ages partly from the Advice of the most quick-sighted of his Council He was so far from being check'd in his Glorious designs by the fatigues that must needs attend the management of publick Affairs that on the contrary these served only for a better relish of the Enjoyment of his Pleasures There was never a day but he imployed five or six Hours with his Ministers who were to give him an exact account of every particular transaction that passed in the Government He gave constantly once or twice a Week Audience to every Body was present at all the Councils and if any thing of great moment was to be debated there he would retire into his Closet to ruminate so long upon the matter till he had chosen what he judged most advisable to be done But notwithstanding his constant application to business it is not to be imagined His Divertisements that he renounced the enjoyment of his pleasures The heavier the burthen of publick Affairs laid upon his Shoulders the more requisite it was to be relieved by some pleasant intervals The strength both of our Spirit and Body is not inexhaustible but limitted within certain bounds which if transgressed leave us destitute and void of Vigour At the beginning of his Reign there were always Rejoycings Feastings Balls Carousels and Running at the Ring at Court this young Prince taking an extraordinary delight to pass his spare time in such noble Exercises and Divertisements as have been always accounted to belong to Princes to dazle the Eyes of the People who are extreamly taken with these Things and commonly judge of the Power of the Prince by these outward appearances of Grandeur Never any Prince understood better how to manage this point to his own Advantage and how to make the Lusre of the Throne appear more Glorious in the Eyes of the People It must be confess'd that his Court has always been the publick School of Politeness and Magnificence notwithstanding which as his chief delight has been all his life time in managing his glorious Designs in order to bring them to a happy issue so his Divertisements were never enticeing enough to him to make him neglect the management of Publick Affairs And as young as he was when he took the Administration of the Government into his own Hands he shew'd as much Eagerness and Assiduity in Reforming the Disorders that were crept into the Government as he did for his Pleasures Happy Prince who remains Master of his Pleasures who is not so intoxicated with his Diversions but that he can make use of and leave them whenever he pleases He who makes himself a Slave to his Pleasures in lieu of enjoying those honourable Recreations which were invented for the Relaxation of our Minds and Bodies finds himself insensibly entangl'd by a Charm sufficient to corrupt all his generous Inclinations Among other Abuses that were crept into the Government He re-establishes good Order in the Treasury the Mis-management of the King's Revenues as it was most likely to draw after it very fatal Consequences so it wanted a speedy Redress these being the Nerves of the State which if defective in their Function the whole Body remains without Motion and Vigour There
had been for fifteen or sixteen Years last past prodigious Summs rais'd in the Kingdom notwithstanding which the Government was over-charg'd with Debts the People exhausted with Taxes the King's Revenues anticipated there being but a slender Share left for his present Use Besides that he ow'd to the Bankers above Thirty Millions of Livres It must be confess'd that besides the ordinary Charges there had been an absolute Necessity of keeping five Armies on foot at a time and the Civil War requir'd more than ordinary Charges to satisfie the greediness of the Great ones who for the greatest part put their Services and Interests to sale to those that bid most This was nevertheless not the Principal cause of these Disorders the true source of this evil was to be look'd for among the Managers and Farmers of the King's Revenues who keeping the rest from the knowledge of the true value of them Farmed them at half or a fourth part of what they were worth besides that if they were to advance any Money before it was due to supply the present Exigency of the State they were sure to make their own Market at so dear a Rate that it has been computed that sometimes out of a Million of Livres of the King 's ordinary Revenue there was not brought above two or three hundred thousand into the Exchequer These Extortions had been constantly practised against the King during his Minority partly by the connivence of those who had the management of it and consequently a share in the Booty partly by the pressing necessity of the State at a time when standing daily in need of the assistance of Monied Men it was not judged seasonable to dive too far into this Mystery of iniquity till after the Peace when there might be sufficient opportunity to remedy these abuses But the Sur Intendant or Overseer-General of the King's Revenues was more mindful of his own pleasures than this trust Yet was not this the only cause of those Disasters which befel him afterwards there were several other matters of complaint of the greatest consequence exhibited against him which deserved severe Punishment for he had caused a Seat beloning to him to be Fortified without having demanded or obtained leave for so doing and by the profusion of great Sums made himself Friends and enter'd into Cabals to avoid punishment But the King being resolv'd to strike at the root of the Evil caused him to be taken up and examined concerning such matters as were alledged against him whereof he was found guilty by his Judges This bold stroke managed with so much Prudence kept all the rest in awe the Cabal vanish'd insensibly and notwithstanding the vast sums the Sur Intendant had bestowed among the Great ones there was not one that durst appear in his behalf A convincing instance that a Confederacy founded barely upon interest is soon dissolved when the Wheel of Fortune changes and takes away the prospect of future Advantages The King having restor'd Tranquility to the Kingdom and being resolv'd to introduce an absolute Reformation in the Treasury chose for the management of his Revenues a Person well versed in business of this nature of an active Genius John Baptist Colbert Secretary of State Controuller-General of the Exchequer Chief Surveyor of the King's Buildings and Manufacturies exact in his Accounts and a Man of an unshaken Resolution to do Juftice without Partiality and immoveable to any thing that might in the least turn to the disadvantage of the State The Person I speak of was John Baptist Colbert afterwards Minister and Secretary of State a Man of an extraordinary Head-piece and who had such an insight into the management of publick Affairs that he gave innumerable Proofs of his great Capacity whilst he sat at the Helm For by the Conduct and indefatigable Care of this Minister Matters soon appear'd with quite another Face in the King's Treasury The Revenues of the Crown were Let to Farm according to their true Value without any respect to Favour or Interest The Salaries of the Officers were setled at a certain Rate Instead of those Officers who during the late Troublesome Times had abused their Commissions and under the pretext of their Titles pillaged the Country and enriched themselves with the Spoils of the People certain Commissioners were appointed to manage all Affairs of moment A Change so sudden and unexpected appear'd like an Enchantment to the People who were afraid that many Years could not redress an Evil which had taken so firm Root among the Courtiers so that by making due Reflections upon the Times past and comparing them with the present State of Affairs they fansy'd themselves to be transplanted into another Kingdom The King's Treasury was at once stor'd with Money and a just Account being made of the Extorsions and Frauds committed by the Managers of the Revenue it was found that instead of the King 's being indebted to the Bankers and Receivers they ow'd him vast Sums Their prodigious Riches and most magnificent Palaces which they had built in all Parts of France the Richness of their Furnitures the Extravagancy and Profuseness which were daily to be seen in their Houses and at their Tables not to speak of many other Things which being so many Monuments of their Pride and Luxury appear'd as so many Witnesses against them were without question more than sufficient to convict these People born for the most part to no Fortune of Extorsions and Depredations But the King being resolv'd to proceed against them in a Legal Way In December 1661. a Court of Justice was established by his Order composed of certain Judges chosen out of the several Parliaments of France who were to take Cognizance of all the Abuses committed in the Management of the King's Revenues and to punish the Guilty according to the Heinousness of their Crimes Whilst they were busie in putting their Commission in Execution there happen'd an unforeseen Accident which had been likely to have proved the Source of a most cruel War the Matter in question being not about the Possession of some Towns or Provinces but how to defend the most antient Prerogative of the French Crown attacked by the Spaniards Precedency of the French Crown in its most sensible Part. The finest Flower belonging to the French Crown is the Precedency it enjoys above all the others There is no Kingdom which surpasses it in Riches Power and Number of People and in making a due Comparison it is evident that the great Actions of all the other Kingdoms join'd together can scarce come in Competition with the glorious Exploits of the French For these Thirteen Ages last past since the first Foundation of this glorious Monarchy the Sceptre has never been devolved or surrender'd into the Hands of any Stranger And such have been the Exploits performed by the French Nation in behalf of the True Religion and maintaining the Liberty of Europe that Time will never be able to blot
out the Memory of such glorious Actions nor the Praise and Acknowledgment due to such important Services Who knows but that all Europe might at this Day have groaned under the Yoke of the Califfs and Mahometans if the Bravery of the French had not set Bounds to their Conquering Arms and put a Stop to the Moors and Mahometans who like a violent Torrent were over-running the best part of Europe when Charles Martel put them to an entire Rout. France has at all Times been the Sanctuary and Place of Refuge for distressed Princes but especially for the Popes who are beholden to the Liberality of Pepin and Charles the Great for all those vast Possessions of which they are Sovereigns in Italy Charles the Great and Francis I. revived Learning in Europe It is to France that all the Western Parts stand indebted in respect of the most useful Arts and Sciences which being bury'd under the Ruins of Old Rome were revived by their Industry and Care These The Croisades and Conquest of Constantinople as well as many other glorious Actions which have render'd this Kingdom one of the most famous in the World were the true Motives which Time out of Mind had put this Crown in possession of that glorious Prerogative of Precedency among other Kingdoms which it enjoy'd without the least Opposition for many Ages The first Dispute began in Venice 1558. there never appearing a Rival bold enough to dispute the Rank with it till in the last Age Philip II. then King of Spain pretended to be its Competitor in this Prerogative Spain was at that time risen to the very Pinacle of its Glory The Spaniards were in possession of One Third Part of Europe besides the Immense Riches of the New World It cannot be deny'd Before 1017. Castile was only an Earldom The French made Henry instead of his Brother Pieter the Cruel a King from whom was descended that Princess who brought the Sceptre into the Austrian Family At Venice 1558. At Rome 1564. In Poland 1573. but that their Power appear'd most formidable in those Days to all Europe notwithstanding which their Pretensions were look'd upon as unjust and ill-grounded in most Christian Courts considering that Spain could not in the least come in Competition with France both in respect of its Antiquity or Dignity and that Spain had such vast Obligations to France that it could not be otherwise than the highest piece of Ingratitude in the First to pretend to incroach upon the Rights and Prerogatives of the Last These Considerations were so prevailing that Philip lost his Cause at Venice at Rome and in Poland And where-ever the Spanish Ambassadors pretended to dispute the Precedency it always turn'd to their own Disadvantage and our Satisfaction and Glory Notwithstanding they had met with so many Rubs upon this Account they never let slip any Opportunity to renew their Pretensions till at last our King oblig'd the King of Spain to make an express Renunciation of these Pretensions occasion'd by a certain Rencounter which happen'd betwixt the Count d' Estrades and the Baron de Batteville Ambassadors of the Crowns of France and Spain at the Publick Entry of the Count de Brahe the Suedish Ambassador in London The Count de Brahe was no sooner arriv'd in England but the Spanish Ambassador The Precedency disputed by the Spaniards but the Spanish Ambassador Batteville caus'd it to be spread abroad that to shew all imaginable Respect to the Suedish Ambassador he intended to send his Coaches and Domesticks to attend him at his Publick Entry The Count d' Estrades had got timely notice of the Matter but considering that the Predecessor of the Count de Batteville Alfonso de Cardenas a Person of extraordinary Merits and Understanding had never made the least Motion of this kind during his Residence at the English Court he look'd upon it only as a flying Rumour or at the most as some Rhodomontado of the Domesticks of the Count de Batteville not imagining in the least that it had been contriv'd on purpose by the Ambassador to be a Fore-runner of his intended Design For which Reason he sent his Coaches and Attendants to meet the Ambassador without any other Guard than his own Domesticks and without taking the least Pre-caution against any Assault But no sooner did the Coaches of the French Ambassador appear at the Publick Entry Octob. 10. 1661. but they were surrounded by many Soldiers and others to the Number of 2000 headed by the Domesticks of the Spanish Ambassador who furiously fell upon the Count d' Estrades his Attendants These defended themselves as well as they could for some Time but being over-power'd by the Spanish Party were forced to leave the Ambassador's Coaches to the Mercy of their Enemies who having kill'd some of the Horses and consequently prevented the Coaches from going farther Triumphantly and with their Swords in Hand accompany'd the Suedish Ambassador home It was the most ridiculous Thing in the World to see the Spaniards as they pass'd along the Streets to make so many Huzzah's there being scarce a Man of good Sense there present that could forbear laughing at the Vanity of these Imaginary Bravo's who by their extravagant Cries and other Expressions of Joy would have made the World believe that they had triumph'd over France and all its Forces and had wrested out of the Hands of the French the so long disputed Precedency by killing two or three Horses and as many of the Domesticks of the Count d' Estrades But as all the World stood amaz'd at the Vanity of this Enterprize so the French stood in Expectation to see how this Action of the Count Batteville would be taken at the Spanish Court He had been everal imes Ambassador and Governor of St. Sebastian easily imagining that this Bravado was not an Invention of his own as being a Man of better Understanding and too well vers'd in Affairs of this nature than to signalize himself without express Orders from Court by a Zeal so indiscreet as must needs expose the King his Master to this Nonplus either to take a gross Affront in disowning what his Minister had done and to declare him to have been in the wrong to contest with the French Ambassador for the Precedency or else to see himself again entangl'd in a War which in all likelihood must prove fatal to him at a Time when he knew himself to be in a worse Condition than ever to sustain it On the other hand the King of Spain's Health as well as the present State of the Kingdom being in a declining Condition exhausted of Money and destitute of good Forces there seem'd to be no likelihood that Spain after the late conclusion of a Peace so much desired on their side and so dearly bought should be so forward to break it on the account of a punctilio of Precedency especially since hitherto By Policy in Poland 1573. By threats at Rome 1564.
the Spaniards had rather been enclined to surprize the French in this point by some State-trick or other or to try whether they could hector them out of their Right by threats but never were come to such extremities even when engaged with one another in War and when that Monarchy was arrived at the highest pitch of its greatness But howsoever it be this seem'd to be the last effort the Spaniards intended to make towards their pretended Precedency This Enterprise of the Count of Batteville having given sufficient opportunity for all the World to be convinc'd that as this undertaking of the Spaniards savour'd very much of Vanity so the French had all the reason in the World on their side to maintain a just prerogative they enjoy'd for so many Ages The King of France had no sooner received Intelligence of what had happened upon this occasion in London George de Aubusson Archbishop of Ambrun and Bishop of Metz. but he sent immediate Orders to the Arch-bishop of Ambrun then his Ambassador in Madrid to demand satisfaction for what was past and in case of refusal to leave that Court and to return into France It is a customary thing with the Council of Spain to conclude upon nothing even of the least moment without many tergiversations and delays whether it it be that they look upon it as a Maxim of State whereby to tire out those that make their Applications to them and consequently to make them more pliable or whether it be only a Custom proceeding more from their Natural Inclination than any Mystery of State I will not pretend to determine Thus much is certain that as soon as the Archbishop of Ambrun demanded satisfaction in the King his Master's Name the King of Spain promised to make due reparation to the King of France his Son-in-Law and that he would recall the Count de Batteville his Ambassador out of England This was a fair step towards the demanded satisfaction but not altogether sufficient to repair the affront given upon so extraordinary an occasion the Chastisement intended against the Spanish Ambassadour might give some satisfaction for what was passed but did not remove the main Obstacle it being more than probable that the same quarrel might be soon revived if the Catholick King persisted in his Pretensions concerning the Precedency Most of the other Princes of Europe did underhand edge on the Spanish Court not to part with their pretended Prerogative it being natural for Princes to be jealous of one another in so nice a point as this which the French Kings had enjoyed time out of mind or because they were not without apprehensions that if a King so Young Valiant and Potent should gain a point of so vast a consequence without opposition it might in all likelihood be a sufficient encouragement for him to make farther Encroachments upon other Princes bordering upon France It was for this reason that two or three Months were elapsed before the Council of Spain would take a final resolution in the matter there being not a few of them who were of opinion rather to hazard all than to part with this Prerogative But the difficulty was by what means it was to be maintained against the King without exposing the Kingdom of Spain to utter destruction so that at last it was found expedient for the King of Spain to engage his Word that the Marquis de la Fuenta nominated to go Ambassadour from that Court to France should in his first Audience give absolute satisfaction to his most Christian Majesty both in respect of what was passed and for the time to come To add to the Solemnity of this Audience The King of Spain Renounces the Precedency March 24 1662. and to have a considerable number of Illustrious Witnesses present who might testifie to the World what they had heard the Spanish Ambassadour say upon this occasion the King had invited all the Foreign Ministers who all appeared to the number of thirty they were placed on the right side of the Royal Throne as were on the left the Princes of the Blood the Ministers of State and other Officers of the Court. In the presence of this August and Noble Assembly the Spanish Ambassadour told the King That the King of Spain his Master had been extreamly dissatisfied at what had happened in London on the 10th of October 1661. That so soon as he had notice of it he recall'd the Baron de Batteville with express Orders to return forthwith into Spain where he intended to give him such severe Proofs of his displeasure as so extravagant an undertaking did deserve That he had sent Orders to all his Ambassadors abroad not to appear in any publick Ceremonies where there might be the least likelihood of contest on the account of this Precedency and not to stand in competition for the future upon that score with the Ambassadours and other Ministers of his most Christian Majesty The four French Secretaries of State there present ordered an Instrument in Writing to be drawn up containing the same Words of this Declaration to serve in time to come as a lasting Monument to Posterity of the Glorious success of so memorable a Transaction which for some time had kept all Europe in suspense and for these hundred Years last past had made so much noise in the World between the two most Potent Houses of Europe who being like the Primum Mobile of all the rest put an end to that famous Contest which a most glorious Emulation had raised betwixt them Scarce was this difference composed August 20 1662. but there arose another betwixt the Pope and the King occasioned by an Assault made upon the Duke de Croqui his Majesty's Ambassadour at the Court of Rome The Affront put upon the Ambassadour was so gross that the like has scarce ever been heard of among civiliz'd Nations but it must also be confess'd that the History of all former Ages scarce can furnish us with an Example where the Law of Nations has been more gloriously vindicated than upon this occasion and where those who had impudence enough to violate it have been more severely chastised Two or three unknown Persons being pursued by ten Souldiers of the Pope's Guard Alexander VII had sought for shelter in the Stables belonging to the Palace of Farnese where the said French Ambassadour resided at that time Some of his Domesticks being come out at the noise and clashing of the Swords had driven the Souldiers back who being reinforced with some of their Comerades in their turn beat the Ambassadour's Attendance whom they pursued and forced to retreat within the very Gates of the Palace-The Duke in the mean while was come home thro' another Gate having understood the occasion of the tumult ordered his Servants immediately to desist and to withdraw within the Palace This precaution which he supposed might be a fit means to appease the Insolence of the Soldiers served only to augment it for
a place which was of the highest consequence for the safety of his Kingdom These several Affairs of the highest moment tho' they took up much of the King's time who spared no labour nor care till they were brought to a happy issue yet did this not so confine his Active Genius but that at the same time he applied his thoughts towards the re-establishment of the decay'd Military Discipline and to find out suitable remedies against those abuses that were by degrees crept into the Government Lewis XIV Re-establishes the Military Discipline Before the Conclusion of the late Peace all sorts of licentiousness had been practised among the Souldiers with Impunity and the neglect of the due observance of Military Discipline had introduc'd such disorders both among the Officers and Souldiers that in all likelihood it must have in time proved fatal not only to many private Persons who extreamly suffer'd under these violences but also dangerous to the State if the King had not put a stop to these enormities As he was sufficiently accquainted with the Natural Inclinations of Mankind to know that the most Valiant Men in the World if not confin'd under certain Rules and Discipline must be more hurtful than profitable to the State so he took a firm resolution to re-establish among them such Laws as founded upon a Prudent severity should be sufficient to keep them within their due bounds As he took effectual care that his Souldiers whether in sickness or health should be provided with all things necessary for their subsistence so he would not allow any one to be exempted from the exact observation of these Rules and all the Employments in the Army from the highest to the lowest being bestowed upon such as had deserved well in proportion to their Merits there was a strange alteration to be observed in the Army For the desire of Glory the Honour to please the King the fear of Punishment and the hopes of Reward this happy mixture I say of several Interests and Passions made such powerful impressions upon the minds of the Souldiery that every one in his Station strove as much to out-do the other in the just observance of his Duty as they formerly had been eager after Rapines and negligent in performing their Military Functions Thus a good Order being re-established in the Army it may be said without boasting that possibly there scarce ever appear'd better disciplin'd Troops in the Field than the French Armies under the Reign of the present King After the conclusion of the Pyrenean Peace the greatest part of the French Forces were disbanded nevertheless as those that were kept in pay were all chosen Men so the King took care to augment them from time to time not only to serve in his Garrisons but also to have in readiness such a number of well Disciplin'd Troops as he judg'd sufficient to maintain his respect both among his Subjects and Neighbours For what real assurance can a Prince have of the Fidelity of the one and of the sincerity of the others unless he be in a condition to maintain his Authority by his Power The better to train up his Soldiers to the Wars he order'd every Year Encampments to be made in some place or other where they perform'd all the Exercises belonging either to Sieges or Battles without Blood-shed This was look'd upon as of so much consequence that even in the most peaceable times it was never discontinued afterthey had once been convinced of its usefulness it being agreed on all Hands that not any thing else contributed so much to the inuring the Soldiery to the Fatigues of Wars and consequently to the obtaining so many Victories in the following Years as these Engagements Reviews and Exercises which kept the Armies under a constant good Discipline and trained up the young Officers as well as the Soldiers to serve their Apprenticeship at home in the Action of War Michael Francis le Tellier Michael le Tellier Chancellor of France had two Sons Michael Francis Marquis of Louvois Secretary of State and Charles Maurice Archbishop and Duke of Rheims Counsellor of State and Supervisor of the Sorbonne Marquis of Louvois Minister and Secretary of State was the Person whom France next to the King stands indebted to for the re-establishment of the Military Discipline and a good Order in the Army It is unquestionable that never any Man living had a better insight into all Martial Affairs whether in the most exquisite advantages belonging to Fortifications or in regard to the raising and maintaining a great Army in the Field He was a Person of a marvellous Activity and Vigilance as Firm Resolute and Bold in his Enterprises as Fortunate in the Success and to be short never any Minister deserved better at the same time both of his Prince and the State He was Eldest Son to Michael de Tellier Minister and Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Chancellor of France who render'd himself Famous by his Prudence Fidelity and great Services under the King's Minority Neither did the King shew less eagerness for settling the Administration of Justice He would give most particular marks of his Favour and Esteem to such of the Judges as he knew to be proof against Corruption crowning their Virtues with Praises and Rewards as on the other Hand he despised those who having purchased their Places at an excessive rate made use of their Power to satisfie their Avarice and Pride these were sure to meet with deserved punishment from his Hands and to receive the rewards of their Treachery in making the Royal Authority a Cloak where withal to cover their unjust Proceedings To banish for over from among his Subjects all vexatious Suits or at least to retrench the extravagancy of litigious Persons and superfluities in the Law which serve only to create and protract Suits he caused a new Codex or Law-Book to be compiled by the Advice of the most understanding Lawyers in the Kingdom and as he was not ignorant that the best Laws are useless or at least of little effect unless those who are to put them in execution be careful in the observance of their duty so he would frequently take an account of their Transactions and be always putting the Chancellor in mind to keep a strict Hand and a watchful Eye over the Judges and Magistrates that they might not be remiss in their Duties to Administer Justice without partiality and to punish the Transgressors without respect of Persons especially in what-related to the maintaining of the publick Tranquillity To encourage the rest by his own Example After the Death of the Chancellor Seguier he kept the Great Seal in his own Hands near three Months and tho' he would sometimes Pardon such Trespasses as proceeded rather from passion or misfortune than any ill design he never spared those who were found guilty of disturbing the publick Tranquility and above all prosecuted with the utmost severity all such as were convicted
Divisions which revived in him that most terrible Idea of all the mischiefs and misfortunes which occasioned by the followers of the Doctrine of Calvin had afflicted the Kingdom for these thirty Years last past When he recall'd to mind and seriously reflected how by the intreagues of this Sect above a Million of the bravest of his Subjects had been Massacred or kill'd in the Wars how above three hundred goodly Cities had been destroy'd and the most Antient and Richest Families in France were very near extirpated the more I say he reflected upon these Calamities the more he judged it becoming his present station to stifle in the very Cradle this growing Evil which in time might prove fatal both to Church and State The Followers of Jansenius refusing to sign the Formular pursuant to the Orders of the Assemblies alledging that they had no Authority to oblige them to it the King applied himself to Pope Alexander VII desiring him to prescribe another Formular and by his Bull to Command every Body to subscribe it The Bull was dated Feb. 15. 1665. But after this Bull had been obtain'd they publickly protested they could not in Conscience subscribe any Formular which declar'd the Propositions to belong to Jansenius and that they had been Condemn'd as such That neither the Pope nor the Church it self being Infallible in things relating to matter of Fact they ought not to be forced to a blind Obedience That their Eyes and Reasons were the most natural Guides and Judges of matter of Fact that indeed Pope Innocent and his Successor and three several Assemblies of the Bishops had given their Judgment in the matter and declared these Propositions to be the same maintain'd by Jansenius and they had been Condemn'd as such but that it was impossible for them to agree with them in their Opinion they having perus'd and examin'd the Book of Jansenius with all the Candour and Exactness imaginable and nevertheless had not been able to find out these Propositions To this it was answer'd that to argue at that rate was in effect to declare in plain terms that the Pope and the Bishops had unjustly Condemn'd an Innocent Prelate and had declar'd a Book Heretical which contained nothing but the pure Doctrine of St. Austin What a horrid confusion said they must this produce if it be allow'd that the Church may err to that degree as to declare and condemn a most excellent Book which contains nothing but the purest Truth as a Work of the Devil Tho' it must be confess'd that generally speaking the Church is not infallible as to every particular in matters of Fact it is nevertheless undeniable that in matters of the greatest consequence tending absolutely to its Tranquillity and the maintaining of Church Discipline the Church cannot be in the dark but ought to be the Test of our Faith for how could she be the Pillar of Truth if she could be guilty of such enormous errors as to oblige us under the most severe punishments to receive that for real Truth which in effect is notoriously false These Disputes maintain'd with equal heat on both sides were likely to have continu'd for ever if the King to put an end to the Controversie had not thought fit to put the last Bull in execution and to exhort the Bishops to take forth with effectual care that the Formular should be subscribed by all the Ecclesiasticks without exception in their respective Dioceses commanding his Officers to assist them in their Zeal and to give him an exact account of their Proceedings When they saw the King absolutely resolved to break the neck of this Controversie by his Authority all obey'd and these Prelates themselves who had hitherto publickly protested against the signing of the Formular following the footsteps of the rest Jansenism was quite suppress'd all Disputes ceas'd and Tranquillity was restor'd both in Church and State During this Calm the King employed part of his time in erecting most magnificent Structures in several places In Octob. 1668. but especially the Palace of Versailles which from a simple Hunting Rendezvous was by his Orders in a little time made one of the finest places in the World For in less than two Years time in a barren Ground without Water or any other Advantages there appear'd vast Allies of Trees spacious Groves and Labyrinths a whole Forest of Orange-Trees Here you might feast your Eyes with Statues of the best Marble without number and Cisterns of a prodigious bigness of the same Materials Whereever you turn'd your self you saw Fountains with their Cisterns adorned with Colossus's of Brass or most excellent Figures of the most exquisite Marble of a prodigious bigness with an infinite number of Water-spouts and a Canal that reaches out of sight To be short all that may be seen that is either extraordinary or surprising in the most famous and most accomplish'd Structures is to be met with here there being nothing that surpasses this Palace in Magnificence if you see it from any of the neighbouring Hills it affords the finest and most delightful Prospect that can be imagined The inside of this Pallace is in all respects answerable to its outward Grandeur The most exquisite pieces which being done by the Hand of the greatest Master of our Age Le Brun. adorn the chiefest Apartments the fine Tapestries interwoven with Gold inestimable both for their Beauty and Workmanship that prodigious Quantity of Plate The King Sacrificed all his large Silver Vessels to the Necessity of the State 1689. that variety of silver Cups Basons and other Vessels of all sorts which are to be seen upon the Side-board Tables all these admirable pieces being the Objects of our highest admiration are to be valued by a silent surprize The King taking a more than ordinary Delight in so fine a place he made it the constant Residence of his Court which at that time appear'd in such splendour that nothing was comparable to it in any other place this great Prince sparing no Cost to make it appear the most magnificent in the World All this did not proceed from any vain Ostentation or purely to indulge his Pleasure but from a real intention to augment thereby in the People the respect and esteem due to the Soveraign and to raise in Foreigners an Idea of the Riches of the Kingdom and of the Grandeur of the Prince that sways the Scepter But these were but weak and transitory Appearances of his Greatness his Riches Power and Generosity in affording timely Succours to his Allies To the Venetians in Candia 1669. A Turkish Chiaus 1669. Ambassadors from Muscovy and Guinea 1670. had rendred his great Name so famous among Foreign Nations that the greatest and proudest Monarchs sent their Ambassadors from far distant Countries to court his Friendship and desire his Protection But as his growing Reputation could not but be a great Eye-sore to his Jealous Neighbours who were kept in continual Alarm by so Potent a
Prince so they left no Stone unturn'd to thwart his Design and to stop the career of his good Fortune Among others Charles IV. then Duke of Lorrain was one of the most active against him Conduct of the Duke of Lorrain He was a Person equally dexterous in advising and executing a brave Soldier and great Captain but the most unquiet and inconstant of all Men living whose delight being to fish in troubled Waters was always in motion always raising Soldiers always in the Field making a Trade of Soldiery choosing one side to Day and another to Morrow pillaging without distinction his Subjects his Friends and Foes a Character more suitable to a Cham of Tartary than to a Soveraign of a small Principality whose Interest is to be gentle and live peaceably and to observe either an exact Neutrality or to shelter himself under the Protection of the most Potent of his Neighbouring Princes Lewis XIII having seized upon Lorrain to chastise the Duke for his many malicious Intrigues he marched with his Troops into Flanders where he gather'd vast Riches by selling their Service at an excessive rate at the beginning of each Campaign putting his Soldiers Pay into his own Pocket and affording them no other Subsistence than full liberty to live at Discretion where-ever they came and to Pillage the Country at pleasure The loud Complaints of the People the little account the Duke made of the Spanish Ministers with whom he would frequently make his Sport having at last occasioned great Jealousies against him he was secured and not set at liberty till after the Conclusion of the General Peace By vertue of this Treaty he was restored to his Dominions but refusing to accept of these Conditions some more favourable were agreed on in a particular Treaty concluded not above two or three Days before the Death of Cardinal Mazarine The next following Year the said Duke having a Disgust at his Family proposed his two Dutchies as a Gift to the King and as a Pledge of his sincere Intentions offered to surrender Marsal into his Hands In Febr. 1652. The Treaty was no sooner concluded and signed but the Duke according to his wonted custom began to make many Evasions and by several Delays fifteen or sixteen Months passed without the least probability of performing his Promise till finding the place invested by the King's Troops who were ready to Besiege it he was constrained to deliver it up During the Wars in Flanders 1663. it was much against his Will that he assisted the King with four or five Regiments as it plainly appear'd the Year following when he left nothing unattempted to debauch them After the Conclusion of the Peace at Aix la Chapelle it was the Wonder of all the World to see him augment his Troops to make new Levies and enter into new Alliances The King was not wanting on his side to give him timely notice that he was not ignorant of those Transactions but his ill Stars having made him insensible of his true Interest and incapable of receiving good Council he continued his former course till the King found himself under an absolute Necessity to drive him out of his Dominions The Duke was so generally hated The King seises upon Lorrain 1670. that there appear'd not any Body that shew'd the least inclination to espouse his Interest much less to lend a helping hand towards his Restauration He himself seem'd not much concerned at his Loss it being more suitable to his Inclinations to march from place to place at the Head of a good Body of his Troops than to lie idle at Mirecourt his ordinary Residence in the Dukedom of Lorrain Living in expectation of the next War he imployed most of his time in making Cabals against France being chiefly encouraged by the Hollanders who at that time made it their Business to embroil Europe and consequently were extreamly glad to have met with a Prince of his Character who might be very serviceable to them in spreading about fears and jealousies thereby to raise against the King so many Enemies as might under pretence of protecting this Prince serve as a Check to the Greatness of France A fatal Maxim of State which had almost proved the Destruction of the United Provinces and in effect brought them to the very brink of ruine This Commonwealth Causes of the Dutch War which in the last Age was no more than a handful of Men confined to a small corner of the World penn'd in betwixt the Fenns and Waters was since become so rich by its Commerce so famous by several Victories so dreadful for its Power and prudent Management that they were the admiration of the World But for four or five Years past they had been so much blinded with Vain-glory and their Affluence of Fortune that by their Vanities they had drawn upon themselves the hatred of all their Neighbours They had been so insolent as to cause several Medals to be made containing very injurious Reflections against Crowned Heads among the rest there was one representing Hollandia leaning upon many Trophies with this Inscription That she had restored vigour to the Law reformed Religion protected maintain'd and reconcil'd Kings clear'd the Seas and secured the Common Tranquillity by the force of her Arms. After the Conclusion of the Peace of Aix la Chapelle they made it their Boast that it was by their means that the Spanish Netherlands had been preserved and that they had stop'd the Career of the King's Conquests and Victories They did without intermission form Cabals in all Courts of Europe being very prodigal of their Money to set on foot new Alliances against him and that with so little respect to his Person that they did not make any Secret of the matter adjuging it to be of such a nature as to be pass'd all Dissimulation The King to make a suitable return and to prevent their Designs against him resolved to attack them with vigour and to try whether he could humble these proud People and revive among them the Modesty and Moderation of their Ancestors and put them in mind what Obligations they had received from the French Kings his Predecessors as also from him in particular Who can be so ignorant as not to know that without the Assistance of France they would have been so far from being able to make such a Figure in the World that on the contrary it would have been impossible for them to defend themselves against the Power of Spain It is to Henry IV. and Lewis XIII they stand indebted for vast Sums and a considerable Body of their best Troops expended and maintained for their Defence and by the Confession of the Hollanders themselves they scarce ever obtain'd a considerable Victory but these Troops had some share in the Action it was but lately that the King had espoused their Interest against the Bishop of Munster and engaged himself in their Quarrel against the Crown of England and upon all
thing for the preservation of it Nevertheless in spite of all these Advantages this strong City so couragiously defended was not able to hold out against the King above thirteen Days For the King was no sooner arrived in the Camp Siege of Masâ—â—icht but having taken an exact view of the whole situation of the Place he ordered immediately the Lines of Circumvallation and Contravallation to be made and assigned the Quarters for their Batteries Five of these were in a condition to play within three Days and the Lines perfected much about the same time tho the Lines of Circumvallation contained eight Leagues in Circuit and that both of them were ten Foot high and twelve broad The next following Day the Trenches being opened they advanced the first Night within a small distance from the convert way It is next to an impossibility to conceive with what dispatch Matters were carried on in this Siege But it must also be confess'd that if the King's Subjects were not sparing in their Labour and undergoing all the Fatigues that can be imagined he on his side gave such Proofs of his Valour Liberality and Conduct that all the World must acknowledge him to be worthy to Command such brave Fellows For he appear'd every where order'd the Attacks in Person animating them by his Presence by his Liberality Praises and Promises of Rewards he never rested all Night not going to Sleep till Six a Clock in the Morning and getting again on Horseback immediately after Dinner Amongst the Variety of Business which distracted his Thoughts without intermission in an Enterprize of such consequence he was never forgetful to enquire after the State of the Wounded Souldiers and would sometimes take his Round among them from Tent to Tent even of the Common Soldiers to see whether they stood in want of any thing for their Subsistence or Recovery The King having thereby gained the Hearts of all the Soldiery as his Liberality and Promises had raised their Courage they were ready to Sacrifice every thing for his Service which was the reason that the Siege advanced so successfully notwithstanding the Besieged did all that could be expected from Mortal Men to defend themselves against us the Governour being not sparing either of his Soldiers or Workmen who seem'd to outdo the French in repairing their Breaches and placing new Pallisado's instead of those ruin'd by our Cannon But the most memorable Action was performed in the two Attacks made at once upon the Counterscarp and it may be said without the least Contradiction to truth that never was a more dreadful Night known since the Memory of Man for what with the continual Fire from the Fire-locks Cannon Mortars and Hand-Granado's what with the Cries and Lamentations of the fighting and wounded Soldiers what with the Horrour and Slaughter which lasted from the Evening till Break of Day it is confess'd by the consent of all the most experienced Officers there present that never any thing was seen like it before Both Attacks were carried on with equal Bravery and by the confession of both Parties both the Assailants and Besieged gave a thousand Proofs of their Valour which were for the most part buried by the obscurity of the Night The Granadeers followed by the Grand Musqueteers all brave young Fellows and eager after Fighting began the Attack and were received with an unparallell'd Bravery by the Besieged the Governour having posted there all the chosen Men of the whole Garrison and a good number of Volunteers who had thrown themselves in on purpose to signalize themselves upon so extraordinary an occasion Thus the Engagement lasted with equal Bravery on both sides till the Besieged were forced out of a Half-moon this was taken and re-taken three times in four and twenty Hours before the French could secure themselves in it against the furious Attacks of the Enemy Two Days after they took also from them the Horn-work which the Governour Fariau endeavoured to regain but with so ill success that having caused a small Mine to be sprung in hopes to ruine ours it sprung backwards and carried five hundred of his Men up into the Air. This new disaster the fear of being Plundered and the Miserable Condition into which the whole place was reduced by our Cannon and Bombs made the Inhabitants resolve upon a Capitulation Having accordingly made their Address to the Governour he refused to hearken to it but they earnestly insisting upon their Demand he answer'd That he was resolved to hold it out to the last Extremity But after a little while dreading a double Misfortune to wit the effects of the enraged Multitude and of the Enemy he thought it more prudent to Capitulate upon Honourable Terms than to expose the Garrison of which there was but one third part remaining fit for Service to the Slaughter accordingly he beat a Parley Mastricht Surrendred after having defended the place thirteen Days after opening of the Trenches with all the Conduct and Courage that could be expected from a brave Officer The Garrison marched out with Drums beating Matches lighted and two pieces of Cannon the King being not unwilling to grant these Honourable Terms to Men that had behaved themselves with so much Bravery The taking of Mastricht would in all likelihood have been followed by the Conquest of Boisleduc and all the other places of the Dutch Brabant if the Storm that arose on the German side had not drawn the King that way To disperse these Clouds The German War or at least to prevent their Effects the King after having given his Orders for the repairing the Fortifications of Mastricht set forth on his Journey to Nancy where he likewise order'd the Fortifications to be put in a State of defence which was put in execution with incredible Diligence in less than three Weeks at the same time he secured Colmar and Schlestadt in his Interest where as it was believed the Imperialists had a secret Correspondence and having obliged the City of Strasburgh by his approach to embrace a Neutrality he possest himself of the City of Treves to be even with that Elector for the Breach of his Word and to make it a frontier place to cover his Dominions on that side These so necessary Precautions proved of such consequence afterwards to his Affairs that among all those Enemies that were ingaged in a League against him during the space of five Years whilst the War lasted and threatned to Invade his Country none of them could boast to have been able to enter his Dominions with so much as one single Squadron The Dutch Money League betwixt the Emperour Spain and Holland of which they were very prodigal in most Courts of Europe and the Intrigues of their Ministers who had every where raised great fears and jealousies against the King had at last drawn the Emperor and Spain into their Party who having concluded an Offensive League with them the Emperor brought together an Army of thirty
the occasion of rekindling the Flames and renewing the War with more Vigour and Animosity than before the Emperour and Spain not being wanting to lay hold of this Opportunity to revive the Jealousies and to perswade the Hollanders that the King had no real Inclination for Peace his only design being by withdrawing them from the Confederacy to surprize them hereafter with the more ease Our King had given most evident Proofs of his sincere Intentions for the Peace to promote which he had recall'd his Forces out of Sicily under the Command of Francis de Aubusson la Feuillade Duke Peer and Marshal of France he had at the Intercession of the Hollanders The French leave Sicily prolonged the Term which he had fixed to the Allies for the accepting the Propositions of Peace and tho he had within the last Month extended his Conquests both in Flanders and Catalonia by the taking of two considerable places yet was he so far from taking any advantage of his good Fortune that on the other hand he offered to restore them without any equivalent But notwithstanding all these Demonstrations of his most fervent Inclinations for Peace Matters hung in suspense for some time neither could the Treaty be brought to a Conclusion till the King of Sweden declared by his Ambassadors That he not only consented but also prayed His Most Christian Majesty to restore the above mentioned Places to Spain and not to delay any longer to give Peace to Europe on account of the particular Interest of the Crown of Sweden This grand Obstacle being removed the Peace was signed betwixt the King and the States the 10th Day of August in the Year 1678. Within four Days after the Prince of Orange attack'd the Duke of Luxemburgh who whilst they were contesting at Nimeguen kept Mons block'd up with an Army of forty Thousand Men. Peace of Nimeâ—uen The Prince of Orange had in view no less than the breaking off of the whole Treaty or at least to obtain some more advantageous Conditions if he happened to succeed in this Enterprize The Duke of Luxemburgh could not in the least suspect his Intention as having received fresh Assurances that the Peace was signed Engagement near St. Denis but by his brave Resolution he diverted the danger that he had put himself into by his being too confident of his own Security by the Peace The Action was very bloody which was ended at Night without any considerable Advantage on either side unless that the Enemy retired in some Confusion and were pursued to their Camp The next Day there was a Cessation of all Hostilities the Peace was proclaimed the same Day in the Camp and ratified within a Month after After the Conclusion of this Treaty with the Dutch the Spaniards found themselves under an indispensible necessity to accept of those Conditions the Hollanders had procured for them It was in vain for the rest of the Confederates to make use of all their Perswasions and Intrigues to prevent the Spaniards from accepting of them who signed the Peace on the seventeenth of September following This done the King without losing any further time order'd his Troops towards the Rhine with an Intention to attack the Emperour and Empire with the utmost vigour before the Winter some of the German Princes dreading the Storm that threatned them began to withdraw from the rest and to make their Applications to the Spaniards and States-General to be comprehended in the Treaty But Spain pursuant to asecret Agreement as it was supposed betwixt those two Branches of the House of Austria made several Delays in the Ratification of the Peace so that the time prefixed for the said Ratification notwithstanding it had been twice prolonged at the Request of the Dutch was very near expired In the mean while the French Forces made frequent Excursions into the very Heart of Flanders not sparing even those places that had hitherto escaped from being visited by them they exacted such vast Sums from all the circumjacent Country and pillaged all such as refused to pay them Contributions that according to the computation and confession of the Enemies themselves the flat Country suffered more from the time of the signing till the Ratification of the Treaty than it had done in the heat of the War The Cries and Lamentations of the People did at last overcome the Resolution of the Spanish Council who in spite of all the opposition made by the rest of the Allies caused the Peace to be ratified in December in the Year 1678. Immediately after the King order'd his Ambassadors at Nimeguen to declare to the Emperour's Ministers that in case their Master did not think fit to accept of the same Conditions as they had been proposed in the Project of the General Peace within a limited time that after that there should be no further talk of Peace This Declaration and the fear they were in of the King's Forces that were approaching the Rhine made the Emperour and Empire at last resolve rather to chuse the Harbour than to expose themselves in the open Sea to so dreadful a Tempest as threatned their Destruction Thus a Peace was concluded betwixt the Emperour and our King in the Month of February in the Year 1679. upon condition that the Peace of Munster should remain in its full force and that the Emperour should resign all his Right and Soveraignty over the City of Friburgh and the whole Alsace to our King During the Treaty at Nimeguen the King at the Intercession of the Emperour and the rest of the Confederates had left it to the choice of Prince Charles of Lorrain whether he would accept of the Possession of the Dutchy of Lorrain without that of Bar pursuant to the Pyrenean Treaty or whether he would be satisfied if the King restored him to the Possession of both those Dutchies reserving only to himself the City of Nancy and all the Grounds and Highways by which the King's Armies were to march into Germany The Prince at first chose the last of these two but soon after repenting his Choice refused to accept either But tho the Peace was signed betwixt the Emperour and the King the King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenburgh protested against it continuing to make vast Preparations to maintain themselves in their Conquests taken from the Swedes in Germany But when the French Troops began to approach the Frontiers of Brandenburgh these Princes were foon brought to a compliance and shew'd as much eagerness for the Peace as they had shewn aversion against it before The King of Sweden received full satisfaction they being obliged to restore all that had been taken from that Crown without any other Equivalent but a good Sum of Money which was paid them by our King It will without all question appear surprizing and perhaps past belief to Posterity how France should have been strong enough to withstand so many Enemies at one time and that after they had been vanquish'd
they should have been obliged to accept of a Peace upon the same Terms as they were proposed by our King It is certain that France never made a Peace which proved more Glorious or more for its Interest than this or which has been managed with more dexterity The chief Glory of it is due only to our King who not only himself made the first Project but also according to the different progress of the Treaty directed every step to be taken by his Ambassadours and Plenipotentiaries Godfrey de Estrades Marshal of France Charles Colbert Marquis de Croissy afterwards Minister and Secretary of State and Anthony de Mesmes Count de Avaux Thus Crown'd both with Lawrel and Olive-Branches he was ever after the Object of Admiration not only of his Subjects but also of all Europe AN ESSAY UPON THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS the GREAT LIB IV. THE King having restored Peace to Europe employed all his care in rendering it as durable as possibly could be and having now laid aside his further thoughts of extending the limits of his Kingdom he judged it most conducing to his Affairs to secure his Frontiers on all sides by good Fortifications For which purpose after he had consulted with his best Engineers he himself made the Draughts of the most considerable Fortifications appointed the Charges and all other particulars belonging to the perfecting of the Works according to the best modern Rules Never were any places seen exceeding either in strength or beauty some of those that were by the King's Orders built in Flanders and Alsace the Franche Compte to defend the Passages of the Lis the Rhine the Saar the Moselle the Meuse and several other Rivers that border upon his Dominions it has been computed that since his accession to the Crown two hundred and twenty Towns Forts Citadels Ports and Harbours have been fortified by his Orders As he was not insensible that the best safeguard of a Prince is to maintain his Respect among his Enemies so not contented with having fortified his Frontiers unless they were also guarded by a good number of Troops he did only disband some of his Forces retaining the best in his Service to render himself at all times invincible tho his thoughts were now more bent to preserve Tranquility in his Dominions than to conquer his Enemies He kept all the Officers of the Disbanded Regiments in Pay and that he might never want a constant supply of good Officers The Academies for the Cadies even in time of Peace he erected many Companies of young Gentlemen these were brought up in all Warlike-Exercises and entertain'd at the King's Charge in the Citadels and when a Captain or Lieutenant's place became vacant it was these that supplied those Posts proportionable to their Deserts The better to encourage his Troops to glorious Actions by the assurance of a safe Retreat in their Native Country The Invalids he caused that Hospital called the Invalids to be built in one of the Suburbs of Paris a truly magnificent Structure where those that are render'd unserviceable either by Age or their Wounds find an honourable Retreat and Reward for their past Labours and Toils To afford also fome relief to such Gentlemen as often ruine their Estates in the Service of their Country The House of St. Lewis at St. Cyr. he founded a Community for three Hundred young Gentlewomen at St. Cyr. These young Ladies are educated in this House with particular care from the Age of Seven till Twenty when they are either provided with some advantageous Match or else if their inclination be otherwise are sent into a Nunnery This Noble Community is without parallel in Europe For the rest the King order'd his Troops to encamp every Year when he used frequently to take a view of them in Person and in his Progress to visit some of his Frontier Places to keep the Governours and Overseers of his Works and Places in awe and to encourage them by his Presence to perform their Duty As he was in the Year 1683. returning from one of these Progresses Death of the Queen of France where he had been accompanied by the whole Court the Queen Maria Theresia of Austria fell dangerously ill of a Fever which put an end to her Life on the 30th of July after four Days Sickness She was a Princess endowed with extraordinary Qualities very Devout Charitable to the Poor Liberal to her Domesticks and Affable to all the World She had the Happiness before her Death to see the Dauphin who was Born at Fontainbleau in the Year 1661. the first of November seven Minutes after Twelve a Clock at Noon Married to a vertuous Princess and a Father of a very fine young Prince Of six Children which she had brought into the World The Dauphin of France Lewis the Dauphin of France was the only surviving a very Handsome and Wise Prince of great Moderation and Vigorous Constitution as active and dextrous in his Military Exercises as courageous in encountring of Danger Never any Prince had the advantage of a more Noble Education in respect of the Ability of those to whose Care and Tuition he was committed the King having made choice of Charles de St. Maurice Duke of Montausier and Peer of France for his Governour and of James Bossuet Bishop of Meaux so famous for his many Works for his Preceptor but not satisfied with this he never was sparing in his Paternal Care to give him in Person all the necessary Instructions for the Accomplishment of a great Prince A King who really loves his Subjects does in vain strive to raise the Glory of his Country by his great Actions unless he also be careful to instruct his Successour to follow his Footsteps and to preserve by his own Courage and Conduct the Reputation which he has acquired It is easie to be imagined that there was never a Court in Europe but what most earnestly desired to be joyn'd to us in Alliance by so advantageous a Match especially since that Engagement which was some Years before negotiated with the Elector and Electoress of Bavaria on the account of Marriage betwixt the Dauphin and the Princess of Bavaria seem'd to be broken by the Death of the Parents of the said Princess but notwithstanding this Change and that the said Match was not attended with the same Advantages as before Dauphin Married the King jealous of his Honour and Royal Word Married the Dauphin to their Eldest Daughter on the 7th of March in the Year 1680. Notwithstanding all the Obstacles and Difficulties raised by the Imperial and Spanish Ministers about the execution of the Treaty of Nimiguen Europe enjoyed the Fruits of a Happy Peace for three Years In the mean while the King looking upon it as a most Glorious Work to turn his Arms against the Enemies of the Christian Name he resolved to employ his Forces against the Corsairs of Africa a Nation whose chief Glory Commerce and
be brought to the very brink of destruction And notwithstanding that the Duke of Neuburgh by his Conduct had given sufficient reason to the King to make him feel the effects of his Indignation nevertheless he resolv'd rather to sacrifice his present resentments to the interest of Christendom than by sending an Army towards the Rhine to obstruct the progress of the Christian Arms against the Infidels In the mean time the Elector Palatin happen'd to die without Issue who being succeeded in the Electorate by the Duke of Neuburgh The first Spouse of the present Duke of Orleans was Henriette Anne Daughter to K. Ch. I. of England Charlotte Elizabeth of Bavaria the lately deceas'd Elector's Sister and now Dutchess of Orleans demanded from the new Elector all the moveables Allodian Lands and Fiefs belonging to her Family The new Elector did consent to give her all the moveaables but refus'd to restore the rest of which he had taken possession The better to back his pretensions the Duke of Orleans was forc'd to make his application to the King to lend him a sufficient number of Forces to put himself in possession of those Fiefs which by Inheritance belong'd to his Dutchess This seem'd to be the most favourable opportunity that could be expected for the King to chastise the Elector Palatin but his inclinations for the maintaining Tranquillity in Christendom prevailing over all other considerations he would not consent at that time that the Duke of Orleans his Brother should prosecute his right by force of Arms but prevail'd with him to leave the whole matter of the decision to the Pope The Heads of this new Confederacy imputing this condescension of our King either to the present condition of his Affairs or the ill state of his health left no stone unturn'd especially in the Court of Rome to prepossess the Pope with fears and jealousies against us He being extreamly rejoyc'd at the happy progress of the Emperor's Arms in Hungary it was not without a great deal of satisfaction that he saw our King give such eminent demonstrations of his moderation as not in the least to obstruct their Conquests besides which he could not be sufficiently sensible of these fresh demonstrations of the King's confidence in him in having left the difference about the Inheritance of the Palatinate to his Arbitration But the Emperor's Ministers had so much the ascendant over him that by their insinuations they stifled all the favourable Sentiments he had conceiv'd for the Interest of France and on the other Hand had so deeply engag'd him in their Party that he only wanted an opportunity or a pretext to come to a rupture with us it was not long before he thought to have met with the most favourable one that could be wish'd for when a dispute arose about the Franchises of the Quarters of Ambassadors The Palaces of Foreign Ambassadors belonging not so much to themselves as those Kings and Princes whom they represent Differences about the privileges of the Ambassadors Quarters at Rome ought at all times to be respected as such and for this reason it is that by the Law of Nations they are accounted Sacred and Unviolable The Ambassadors of Crown'd Heads residing at Rome entertain generally a vast Retinue so that their Palaces being seldom large enough to contain so great a number of Domesticks they are frequently oblig'd to dispose of some of them in the next adjacent Houses which upon that account were always esteem'd at Rome as belonging to and enjoying the same Privileges with the Ambassador's Palace it self for which reason the Officers of Justice were not allow'd to do their Office in these places which were look'd upon as a Sanctuary But it happen'd frequently that the Ambassadors Domesticks and sometimes they themselves made but ill use of this Privilege which made several Popes forbid their Subjects under very severe punishments to seek for refuge in the Ambassador's Quarters and order'd their Judges not to suffer any thing like it for the future But notwithstanding all these precautions the Ambassadors had maintain'd themselves in their right till Pope Innocent XI seem'd resolv'd to abolish them for ever For which purpose he immediately after the Death of Francis Hannibal Duke d'Estrees Brother to the Cardinal of the same Name the King's Ambassador at Rame by his Bull Excommunicated all such as should pretend to maintain the said Franchises of Quarters and all those Offenders that should pretend to seek for refuge in those places His judgment appear'd too much inclining to severity by the consent of all the World it being alledg'd that since the Thunderbolt of the Church ought not to aim at any others but hainous Offenders why should it strike at these who perhaps by misfortune being fallen into an error or debts shelter themselves in those places for the preservation of their lives and liberty After the publication of this Bull Henry Charles de Beaumonvil Marquis of Leverdin who succeeded the Duke d'Estrees in the same station at Rome and been present at Mass at Christmass-Eve in the Year 1686 in the Parish Church of St. Lewis the Cardinal Vicar taking it for granted that the Ambassador was fallen under the censure of the above-mention'd Bull order'd the said Church to be shut up but two Months after the said Judgment was revok'd and the Church opened again notwithstanding the said Ambassador had not given the least satisfaction or any demonstrations of Repentance The said Ambassador being since his arrival at Rome not admitted to the Audience of the Pope no body knew whether he had put himself into the possession of the Franchises of the Quarters in order to maintain or else to resign them into the Pope's Hands having hitherto acted with so much circumspection as to this point that it was the opinion of most People that he had receiv'd Orders from the King to renounce them since he had not forc'd all suspitious Persons to leave his Quarters but also giving strict Orders to his Domesticks not to give reception to any for the future As there had not been any body to see him from the Pope so he had not receiv'd the least notice of this Bull against the Franchises of the Quarters tho' it was evident that it had been publish'd a considerable time before his arrival so that if the high Character he bore in the Romish Court had not been a sufficient protection for him against the censure of this Bull it would have proved a very difficult task to evince that consider'd only as a private Man he had fallen under the said Censure Notwithstanding all this the Pope remain'd inflexible to all the remonstrances of the Ambassador who could never obtain to be admitted to his Audience The Allies finding the Pope's resolute disposition so highly favourable to their present design made use of this opportunity to bring over some of the Catholick Princes that hitherto had not shew'd much forwardness to enter into the Confederacy
which the Allies propos'd to make upon France and to make a better Figure in Europe than he had done hitherto all these fair pretensions I say were motives strong enough to induce that Duke to refuse all the King's offers of a Neutrality The Duke of Savoy enters into the Confederacy and to joyn with the Confederates against us The War in Piedmont is always extreamly chargeable to France all the Cannon Ammunition and Provisions must be carried upon Mules thro' impassable Roads and out Troops could not but suffer great inconveniencies in passing and re-passing these inaccessible Mountains so that nothing could be more advantageously contriv'd for the Interest of the Confederates than to oblige our King to carry on a War on that side where besides all the before-mention'd inconveniencies our Frontiers lay expos'd to our Enemies it having been always the Interest of Savoy to keep a good correspondence with France and the strict Alliances betwixt these two Courts the King's reputation and strength having been look'd upon as a sufficient safe-guard and Bullwark for the security of our Frontiers in those parts It was upon this account that the Allies flatter'd themselves with the hopes of making a powerful irruption upon us and to penetrate into the very heart of the Kingdom on this side where it was least defensible but tho' they promis'd themselves no small advantages from this diversion the main foundation of their hopes was laid on the expected change of affairs in England which prov'd to their satisfaction at a time when it was not so much as dream'd of by us There seems to be a great sympathy betwixt the Climate and the humour of the English Nation the Government being subject to as many Revolutions as the weather is changeable in that Island which tho' very frequent here yet are nothing the less surprising in their events The great diversity of Religions which has been introduc'd since the time of their separation from the ancient Church is an inexhaustible scource of the many intestine troubles and divisions which at several times have brought this Monarchy to the very brink of ruin James II. when Duke of York Revolution in England 1688. was upon the point of having been excluded from the succession of the Crown by one of the Houses of Parliament notwithstanding which he mounted the Throne after the Death of his Brother with the general Acclamation of the People at a time when he made publick profession of the Roman Religion This Noble confidence of not dissembling his Religion stood him in no small stead with the English who look'd upon this his greatness of mind as a pledge of their future safety and that his Word would at all times stand inviolable to protect their Laws and Liberties But it was not long before they chang'd their sentiments the whole Nation being alarm'd at the Zeal they observ'd in him of advancing the Roman Catholicks which was improv'd to the King's disadvantage by a contrary Faction who nois'd it about in the ears of the People that his main design was to overturn their Laws and to establish upon their ruins an Arbitrary power The whole Kingdom being put into confusion and fears they began to enter into an Association headed by the Chief Men among the Commons and most of the Nobility who under hand treated with Holland and obtain'd powerful succours with so much secresy that there was not the least thing discover'd of it till a few Months before the arrival of the Prince of Orange at the head of an Army in England The train was so well laid and the whole matter so well tim'd that when the Prince of Orange landed in Torbay with twenty thousand Men both the Nobility and Gentry flock'd to him in great numbers all the Cities open'd their Gates both the Fleet and Army declar'd for him and abandon'd their King's Interest that to save his Life or at least to preserve his Liberty he was oblig'd to fly and seek for refuge in France A most notable instance of the instability of all human greatness If this Prince had accepted of our King's offers Things would in all probability never have been brought to that extremity for no sooner had his most Christian Majesty been advertis'd of what was in agitation in Holland but he sent word to the King of England that he would either send a French Army to his assistance or else by giving a powerful diversion to the Dutch prevent their design against him But the King of England who flatter'd himself with these hopes that the Prince of Orange being his Nephew and Son-in-Law would scarce be prevail'd upon to head a Faction against him and that if he should have any such intention his Fleet and Army were a sufficient guard to him against any attempts of the Dutch was not till it was too late convinc'd of his mistake For no sooner had the Prince of Orange set Foot upon the English shoar but he found the whole Nation ready to receive him and every thing was thus dispos'd that after the departure of the King of England the English Nation shew'd more forwardness in advancing him to the Throne than he did in all outward appearances in accepting of it For at the first meeting of the States of the Kingdom the Throne of England being declar'd vacant the Prince of Orange was Proclaim'd Crown'd K. Will. III. acknowledg'd King of England and acknowledg'd as Lawful King of England not only by the English Nation and all the Protestant Princes but also by the Emperor Spain by the Electors of Germany an all the other Catholick Princes in general that were enter'd into the Confederacy It having been always look'd upon as a thing past all dispute among the Confederates that the power of England if joyn'd with the Confederacy would over-balance or at least equalize that of France they now believ'd themselves to be arriv'd at the highest pitch of their prosperity for which reason they boasted in all places that France would fcarce be able to hold out two or three Campaigns after the Prince of Orange King William III. should have joyn'd the Forces of three Kingdoms with the Confederate Armies There were some who were foolish enough to imagine and to represent the Kingdom of France as reduc'd to the very brink of destruction block'd up both by Sea and Land scarce able to withstand five or six Armies that were to attack it on all sides at a time but these unexperienc'd Politicians were soon after convinc'd that they had triumph'd before the Victory was obtain'd These vast preparations made by the Allies against France rather serv'd to augment than diminish the Glory of our King who in nine Years time gain'd several Battels and took many of their best Towns some of which they have been forc'd to re-gain with incredible charges and greatloss of their best Men. However Campain in 1689. the Revolution in England was so considerable an addition to
the French Arms for these nine or ten Years last past had given new occasion of Jealousie to the Emperor The Continuation of the War was a plausible pretence to augment his Authority in the Empire he had all the Reason in the World to be afraid of the ill state of the King of Spain's Health and his infirm Constitution he did also imagine that after the Conclusion of the Peace the German Princes would not be very forward to assist him against the Turks all which Inducements were sufficient to diminish the Emperor's Inclinations for a Peace It was supposed that the Prince of Orange K. William III. was also rather inclined to continue the War but considering that both the English and Dutch so earnestly desir'd it there was not any reason which could oblige him to oppose this Negotiation For the several Plots which had been contrived against him since his Elevation to the Throne the decay of Commerce the vast quantity of false and clipt Money and the scarcity of good Coin had caused ' such Confusions in England as could not be better repair'd than by a speedy Peace especially since the English sustain'd such considerable Losses both by our Privateers and the heavy Taxes that many of their richest Merchants were ruin'd by the War Add to this that the People in Holland were so pressing for a Peace that for fear the States-General should be prevail'd upon to consent to a separate Peace with France the Emperor and the other Princes judged it most adviceable not to delay any longer to send their Plenipotentiaries to assist at the opening of the Conferences The King had for some time before sent Francis de Calliere a person in whom he put a singular Confidence to the Hague to adjust the main Preliminary Points with the States General of the United Provinces and to remove all Obstacles which might retard or obstruct this grand Affair he kept upon the defensive for fear of raising new Jealousies against him among the Confederates But finding that this only served for a means to retard than promote the Peace some of the Confederates being buoyed up with the vain hopes of obtaining more advantageous Conditions by these delays he took a resolution to act with more Vigour this Campaign Since the end of the last Campaign the King had ordered his Magazines upon the Rhine to be fill'd with all manner of Provisions The French Forces which hitherto had been Employ'd in Italy were put into Winter-Quarters in Alsace and other adjacent Countries and our Troops had been in Motion all the Winter the better to amuse the Enemy The Neighbouring Princes being greatly Alarm'd at these vast Preparations caused their Territories to be cover'd by strong Entrenchments defended by a vast number of Pallisadoes and Batteries with Redoubts and Forts built on all the principal Avenues as if they all were to sustain the whole Force of France the following Campaign A Rumour being also industriously spread abroad which was confirm'd by the Motions of our Forces on that side that the King intended to have two great Armies in Germany one near the Vpper Rhine to give a Diversion to the Enemy the other under the Marshal de Catinat to undertake a Siege upon the Lower-Rhine the Confederates fortified Mayence and provided this as well as other places thereabouts with fufficient Garrisons This Rumor continued till towards the end of April the King having managed the whole Design with somuch Conduct and Secrecy that the Generals who were to serve under the Marshal de Catinat were upon the Road towards Germany in expectation to make the Campaign there when they receiv'd Orders to the contrary and that they should with all speed repair to Flanders whither the said Marshal was gone to form the Siege of Aeth This Enterprize was look'd upon as the most glorious that could be undertaken Siege of Aeth the Place being strongly fortified with eight Bastions surrounded with a broad and deep Ditch full of Water It was the sixteenth day of May when the Town was Invested at which time there was a Garrison in it of three thousand seven hundred Men. Never was a place attack'd with more precaution and so much vigour at the same time the King having given express Orders to the Marshal to spare as much as possible could be his Troops but to play against the Place the more furiously with his great Artillery But the besieged made but a feeble Resistance they fired not very briskly nor made one Sally when our Men made the Assault upon the covert Way they left their Post after the first Discharge so that as soon as we had made two breaches large enough to mount them this strong Place which by reason of its many Outworks Surrender of Aeth was fear'd would cost us a great many Men surrendred by Composition the 6th day of June in thirteen days after opening of the Trenches with the loss only of a hundred Men on our Side The Confederates had at the same two great Armies in Flanders being both computed at a hundred and twenty thousand Men. Our King to disappoint the Enemies design of relieving the Place had order'd the Marshal de Villeroy to post himself on that side where there was the most appearance of danger The Marshal de Bouflers was Encamped on the other side of the Town and three other Bodies were to guard some other Avenues leading to it all which were posted at such convenient distance as to be able to second one another in case of an Attack so soon as the Enemy had been advertised of the Siege they advanced towards our Lines but whither it were that they fear'd the Desertion of many of their Soldiers who were very ill paid or that they did not think it for their Interest to hazard a Battle at this juncture of time when the Peace was so near a Conclusion for fear that if the Success should not answer their Expectation they should be forced to rest contented with the less advantageous Conditions they divided their Army into several Bodies the better to cover their other Places in Flanders without attempting the Relief of Aeth Soon after the taking of Aeth they received a fresh Reinforcement of eighteen thousand Men but notwithstanding their vast Number they Entrenched themselves in their Camp which they made impregnable by many Redoubts and Batteries The French Army's continued all this Summer in the Spanish Territories without being distubr'd by the Confederates who avoided a Battle or Engagement The remaining part of the Campaign was spent without any further Action the Allies seeming to have no other Aim than to prevent our Forces from undertaking any thing of moment and both Parties being actually inclin'd to expect the issue of the Siege of Barcelona and of the Diet Assembled in Poland for the chusing of a Successor to their lately deceased King John John Sobieski Grand Marshal of Poland ow'd his Elevation to the Throne of Poland not so much
to his own Credit and Interest as to our King's Protection and the prudent Management of the then Bishop of Marseilles Coll. Johnson and the King's Ambassadour in Poland a great Politician and one of those extraordinary Persons who by their singular Merits become honourable to their Age and Highly Serviceable to the Church and State This King acquir'd immortal Glory about nine Years after when he left his Kingdom and marched in the year 1683 to the relief of Viena But ever since that time he had altred his measures and in lieu of prosecuting the War with vigour against the Infidels had given himself over to Idleness his main Care being to heap up such Treasures for his Children as to put them in a Condition either to obtain the Crown after his Death John Sobieski K. of Poland or at least to put them beyond the want of it whereas the best Treasure he could have left to his Children would have been to bless them with the Love of the People But these gave such evident demonstrations of the little esteem they had for his Family by pillaging his Estate during the Interregnum that it sufficiently appear'd to the World that his memory was become odious to them After the Death of this Prince a general Diet was call'd together in order to chuse a Successor to the Crown At this critical Conjuncture when most Princes of Europe were engaged in a War it was no wonder if each Party pretended to maintain their Interest at this Election The Election of a King of Poland inclining either to the Interest of France or the Confederacy being look'd upon at this juncture of time of such Consequence as to carry along with it no small Influence towards the raising or diminishing the Hopes of the Confederate Princes each Party therefore were not sparing in making Intrigues for or against the Interest of such a Person as they either wish'd to be elevated or excluded from the Throne of Poland Among the rest that pretended to the Crown was the present Czar of Muscovy His Empire is of a very vast extent Candidates for the Crown of Poland Czar of Muscovy reaching from the Boristhenes to the utmost Confines of the North and on the other side from the Frontiers of Sweden to the River Tanais It was represented to the Poles how glorious 't would be to their Nation to chuse a King who Commanded over so vast a Country but they wisely consider'd that their Liberty would be in no small danger under so Potent a Master who was able to bring them under Subjection by the Force of his own Arms. Duke of Lorrian The young Prince of Lorrain eldest Son to the late Prince Charles entred also the List of the Candidates not so much in hopes of succeeding in it as out of an Ambition of being put in the same Rank with the rest in his younger Years There was also much Discourse of Prince Lewis of Baden Prince Lewis of Baden This Prince was a great Master of the Art of War and had had great Success against the Infidels in Hungary whom he had vanquish'd at several times The Emperour in acknowledgment of his Services and the Prince of Orange K. William III. out of a particular Respect for his person would without all question have espoused his Interest if by joynt-consent of the Confederates it had not been judged more advisable to support the Faction of Prince James Sobieski Pr. James of Poland Brother-in-Law both to the Emperour and the Elector of Bavaria Every thing seem'd to concur for his Advantage He was eldest Son to the late King he wanted not Riches to purchase the Voices and Protection of the Great ones The Princes of Germany had espoused his Interest as well as the Dutch the Emperour and Prince of Orange K. William III. made use of all their Credit to promote his Elevation to the Crown But all these Advantages which in all outward appearance seem'd to be the most proper means to compass his Design prov'd perhaps the true cause of his Disappointment For his near Alliance with the House of Austria had raised a Jealousy in the Polish Lords lest he should when once their King improve it to their disadvantage and be encourag'd by the Neighbourhood of the Emperour to make use of his Power to the prejudice of their Liberty The pressing Sollicitations made in his behalf by the German Princes began to be suspected by the Populace by reason of a certain Jealousy and Emulation which is always to be observed betwixt two Potent neighbouring Nations He was as Liberal in his Promises to pay the Debts of the Crown in case he was elected King as profuse in his Money to gain the Hearts of the Poles but in vain nothing being able to remove the Aversion they had conceived against him The Confederates finding the Poles thus disposed began to despair of the Success of the Prince for which Reason they raised a new Faction for the Elector of Saxony The Elector promised to turn Catholick and there were not wanting those Elector of Saxony who assured them that he had abjured the Lutheran Religion two or three Months before notwithstanding that since that time he had made publick Profession of it He offered ten Millions for the Payment of Arrears due to the Army who during the time of the Interregnum had revolted for want of Pay He promised also to maintain at his own Cost fifteen thousand Men and never to make Peace with the Turks till he had restored all what they had taken from the Poles These specious Offers would perhaps have influenced the Poles to prefer the Elector before the rest if the Eyes and Hearts of the Polish Nobility had not been guided by the real Prospect of more solid Advantages The French Ambassador the Abbot Malehoor de Polygnack recommended to them Francis Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conty Prince of Conty the eleventh Prince of the Royal Blood of France who promised to pay their Troops all their Arrears in ready Money and to retake Caminieck without the least Expence to the Commonwealth The Prince of Conty had gained the Esteem of all Europe not only by his Courage but also by many great and generous Actions and his unparallell'd Moderation He had Signaliz'd himself in the War in Hungary and since his Return had given many Demonstrations of his Valour to the World At Steenkirk and in the Battle of Neerwinden he had shew'd himself both an expert General and a brave Soldier These great Qualifications which made very favourable Impressions in the hearts of a War-like People received a new Lustre by our King's Recommendation to the Chief Men of Poland But this Negotiation met with no small Difficulties as being opposed by almost all the rest of the Princes of Europe The Ministers of these Princes insinuated without intermission to the Poles that to chuse a French Prince would be to put all