Church and the next day the Election of Prince Clement was proclaimed Upon this dispute the French Troops began to move nearer The Cardinal took possession of the Palace and both parties sent to the Pope to be confirmed and approved in the Election However the Election of Liege coming on the Cardinal departed to Bonne and from thence to Liege in hopes to be elected there But the French Gold it seems had not a sufficient Opperation For here he fared worfe than before for the Baron of Elderen Great Dean of the Cathedral was chosen in the 17 of August Bishop and Prince of Liege having 20 Voices and the Cardinal but 18. And after the Election had been proclaimed he was accompanied by the Prince of Neuburg Great Master of the Tutonick Order to his Palace where he received the Complements of the Chief of the Country So that the Cardinal sinding himself deceived retired to Bonne and proceeded to strengthen himself in that Place privately drawing in some French Troops that were advanced in order thereto And Lewis XIV fretting to see his Projects prosper no better prepared for Hostility ordering a new Leavy 10000 Foot and 6000 Horse to be speedily raised giving out Commissions for that purpose making a great many new General Officers as Lieutenant Generaâ—â—â— Mareschals de Camp and Brigadiers of Horse and Foot commanding the Gendarms and Light-horse to form a Camp at Acheres and the Mareschal d'Humiers was sent to Flanders to form an Army of 25 Men near Mabeuge How this agrees with the Memorial of his Ambassador we make the Reader judge Upon notice that the Pope had declared in favour of Prince Clement of Bavaria the French Ministers at Cologne pressed that City to a Neutrality offering it if they would take no more Troops in But they were too wary to trust to such Pretences when they could expect nothing more than to be suddenly invested Whereupon they permitted the Mareschal to advance on the 11 of September with 2600 Foot and 100 Dragoons of the Circle of Westphalia So that having left part of these Forces that made the Garrison 5000 strong and viewed the Fortifications he returned to Wesle About this time we had Notice that the Dutch Fleet was about to set Sail for England which made Monsieur Albeville the French Ambassador at the Hague set forth by a Memorial amongst other things how desirous his Master was to observe the Peace of Nimegnen when at that time his Armies had entered the Palatinate under pretence of securing the Right and Pretensions of the Duchess of Orleance and General Monclar Invested Philipshuâ—â— in which Count Maximilian of Staremourg was Governour with a Garison of 3000 Men and Keyserlanter after two Assaults was taken and Oppenheim Altzheim and Worms were compelled to receive French Garrisons They made themselves Masters likewise of Neustadt Spires and many other Places and put the Countries of Wertemburg Franconia and Suabia under Contribution and that the Dauphin might partake herein he was sent to the Camp before Philipsburg which Place was defended with much Bravery a great number of the French and many of note were killed in the Attacks and vigorous Sallies of the besieged Yet whilst the Siege went on the French found an opportunity to surprize and Garrison Treeves and Mayence and put the Counties of Hanau Darmstadt Solms and the adjacent Countries under Contribution They likewise seized on Heidelburg and on the 29 of October aster all that could be expected of a small Garrison against a powerful Army and despairing of Relief Philipsburg was surrendered upon very Advantageous Articles viz. That the Garrison which then consisted not of above 1800 Men should march out with Arms and Baggage Drums beating and Colours flying and four Pieces of Cannon the Garrison to be Conducted to Ulme Nor had it been so easily taken had not the Governour been disabled from giving necessary Orders by a dangerous Sickness Nor were the Articles any better observed that what has been usual with the French or as some will have it by the Turks This strong Hold being in their Hands they soon possessed themselves of almost all the Towns and Villages upon the Rhine relating to the Palatinate committing great Spoil and many Outrages They took Frankendale and Manheim entering the Electâ—â—ate of Câ—lâ—gâ—e and demanding Two hundred thousand Crowns of the Country of Juliâ—rs to be paid in Eight Days upon pain of Military Execution and the like Contributions from the Country of Liege which put the poor People who had so often been ruined by the War into the greatest Surprize imaginable These Proceedings obliged the Marquess of Baden the Emperor's Plenepotentiary and Principal Commissioner at the Diet of Ratisbone to represent to them the State of Affairs in the following manner viz. That he doubts not but that the Envoys Counsellors and Deputies of the Electorate Princes and States of the Empire are fully satisfied and informed in what manner the Crown of France besides the former Acts of Hostility has lately for want of Succour taken the Fortress of Philipsburgh and afterwards in a Hostile manner attack'd and besieged the remaining Places of the Palatinate to wit Manheim Fredricksburgh Frankendale as likewise the Fortress of Coblets in the Electorate of Tryger as likewise made Incursions into the Circles of Suabia and Franconia That since the said Crown does every day carry the Fire of the War farther into the Empire having already possessed it self of almost the four Electorates on the Rhine by Force and of other Lordships and Towns so that the whole Empire is in danger to be intirely Desolate And since that the extream Necessity to which things are now reduced plainly shews That the Deliberations of the Diet upon the Grievances complained of and the Assistences demanded are no longer to be waited for it ought with all speed to be taken into deliberation in the Colleges of the Empire to declare without any delay these Irruptions to be a War against the Empire and to resist the Hostilities of France with their whole and united Force and that accordingly his Imperial Majesty out of the paternal Care he has for the Empire had commanded him to inform and assure the Diet that he will not be wanting on his part to contribute thereunto all that is possible for him to do Lewis XIV having thus openly Violated the Treaty and being no longer able to dissemble the Matter proceeded to thunder out his Denunciation of War against the States General of the Vnited Provinces which for the better understanding of Matters and to what he mainly pretends we have thought fit to take notice of Lewis XIV in his Declaration of War against the States General published at Paris in December 1688. after he has set forth That he has done strange things to give Peace to Europe he comes to the main Point that most of all grieves him viz. That the States drawing their Army together under the Command of Prince Waldeck
Naval Preparations were made before it was publickly known to what Intent The Duchess of Orleance dying suddenly and not without Suspicion of evil Practice the Duke by the persuasion of Lewis XIV was Married to the Daughter of the Prince Palatine of the Rhine Upon which Country no doubt and it since has but too plainly appeared he had an Eye In the Year 1672 on the 7th of April the French King's Declaration was put forth prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with the States of the Vnited Provinces And out of a Bravado he marched in person at the Head of an Army of 150000 Men. By which surprizing Invasion he like a Torrent carried all before him So that many looked upon the Low Countries to be lost if no speedy Stop was put to this Progress But it has always been observed that though the first Motions of the French are impetuous yet the least discouragement makes them Recoil They had on a sudden filled with their Troops the Duchy of Cleves the Electorate of Collen the Duchy of Limburg the County of Zutphen Vtreitcht and its Territories with many other places and got into their hands several strong Towns and into this Combination the Bishop of Munster was drawn who took Groll and some other places though not very considerable They passed the Rhine likewise and did considerable damages in such places as were found unprovided Committing great Outrages Which so puffed up Lewis XIV that being returned to Paris he was congratulated with Flatteries and Applauses from all the Societies of the Kingdom And in Imitation of the Heathen Idolaters the Queen caused a Chapel to be built at Roan dedicated to our Lady of Victories The King was styled the invincible Hero though he was always so tender of himself that he neither engaged in any Battel or Skirmish or seldom came within Cannon shot of any place that resisted doing what best suited his Valour which has not overmuch of the Hero in it But indeed the Progress of his Arms had a Recoil for the Provinces being recovered out of the Amaze this sudden Attempt put them into and the Prince of Orange now King of England confirmed in his Patrimonial Offices and honourable Trusts as Stadtholder Admiral and General of the Vnited Provinces he presently took the Field with an Army of 24000 Men recovering several places and causing the French to retire and performing many other Exploits worthy himself and the Glory of his Ancestors But having taken a view of the French King's Affairs hitherto at Land let us cast our Eyes a little upon the Ocean The Fleets being Abroad in May 1672. on the 28th of that Month a sharp Ingagement ensued the then Duke of York commanding as Admiral It continued a long time bloody and doubtful during which many brave Men were lost as the Earl of Sandwich c. who would not leave his Ship though all in Flames till it was too late to succour him His Body was found sloating and afterward honourably buried but we cannot learn that the French did any thing considerable in this Action or that any more than their Reer-Admiral Monsieur de Rabiniere Trees les Bois came up to a close Fight who behaving himself like a man of Courage was slain and afterward honourably Interred at Rochel the rest lying off in a Line and firing at a Distance and many times greatly endamaging the English especially in their Rigging though they perceived only the Blue Squadron Engaged the Red not being able to come up in time So the French stood rather Neuters or Lookers on than any ways concerned in the Battel From this there grew a suspicion that they had Orders to keep from Engaging as much as possible that the two Fleets of England and the Vnited Provinces might batter each other that through their weakness the French King might become strong at Sea which more visibly appeared the following Year 1673. This Year the Valiant Prince Rupert Commanded the English Fleet where the French joining him he made One hundred and twenty Sail of stout Ships The Dutch were Commanded by Du Ruytter and Van Trump so that a sharp Engagement happened But the French no sooner heard the Bullets begin to rattle and saw with what Fury and Violence the Dutch and English Engaged but almost all that Fleet stood away pretending to gain the Weather-gage the which when they had very favourably got they e'en kept it for the Glory of their Master's Arms for they never came up again during the Fight And those few Captains that had so much Sense of Honour as not to follow their Admiral who were but very few had secret Intimation that they were in danger of being hanged when they came into France for not following their Flag or Orders But how they came off has not yet occurred The Prince though he made good the Fight and came off with Honour and Bravery stormed to be thus deserted Whereupon when the French Admiral came on board him to make his Excuse which proved but a very lame one the Prince is reported to look upon him with Indignation and after reproaching him with Baseness told the Monsieur That had he been one of his Master the King of England's Subjects he would have killed him with his own Hand And to let the World see how much the English Valour surpasses that of the French and how much Lewis is beholden to it for his Greatness I need instance but one Particular viz. During this War the strong City of Mastreicht was besieged by an Army of about Forty Thousand and the King came as near as he durst venture that his Men might be the better encouraged It was invested on the Sixth of June and there was in it a Garrison of 7 or 8000 Men one Faro a Valiant Man being Governour The besieged made a stout resistence and many were killed on both Sides insomuch that the French began to saint At what time the Heroick Duke of Monmouth who was at the Head of the English in the height of Youthful Valour despising Danger went on to the Assault through Showers of small and great Shot and Commanding in the Trenches though Two or Three Mines were sprung to obstruct his Passage he and the few that followed him charged with such resolution that they carried the Half-Moon contrary to the Expectation of all Men in less than half an Hour though the Shot flew round him as thick as Hail maintaining it till he had delivered it to a French Collonel who was sent to relieve him But no sooner was the Duke and the English retired but the French though strongly possessed not being able to endure the fire of the Besieged quitted it This vexed the Duke to see that a Regiment could not keep when put into their hands what himself and a very few English had got Insomuch that he prepared to regain it which he did with such daring Resolution that accompanied only by Twelve Voluntier-Gentlemen he threw himself over
the Works and Trenches with his Weapon in his Hand and beat out the Defendents gaining the Half-Moon a second time and delivered it Monsieur de la Feuvilade whom then shame more than true Valour compelled to secure it And indeed it is conjectured by many that this strong Place had put a stop to the French Arms had not the English who bore all the brunt of the Siege done things to a wonder so that at last it surrendered upon honourable Conditions on the Thirteenth of June But the French fury like a blazing Comet having by this time spent it self and the Confederate Armies gathering like a black Tempest around them Lewis found that this had been but a kind of a Frolick to make him more known For he was not capable of Garrisoning the Towns he had possessed and keep an Army in the Field which made him spue them up as fast as he had swallowed them withdrawing his Garrisons and Abandoning them to their true Owners which occasioned a Comical Portraicture of Lewis the Great Spewing and Sh ing Towns and Castles However upon leaving those places many of them were dismantled and the Inhabitants obliged to part with almost all they had for their Contribution or Ransom at the discretion of the Soldiers King Charles II. of England by this time grown weary of a War into which he had been unadvisedly drawn and the which without any advantage to England had cost a great deal of Blood and Treasure whilst the French reaped the Profit a Peace was concluded with the States for himself on very honourable Terms So that the English Fleet being laid up the French durst be little at Sea yet at Land the War continued where the French Gold did the greater Service as indeed it has all along had the Luck to do And in this State things continued till the beginning of May 1674. Lewis XIV finding he had ingaged himself too far and that his violent Proceedings had drawn a great many Princes upon him for they found it high time to Confederate against the Disturber of Christendom some Overtures of Peace were made and a Treaty set on Foot in the City of Cologne where divers were assembled in hopes of bringing it to Perfection But upon the Emperor's seizing of the Prince of Furstemburg who worked the French Interest tho' a Subject of the Empire and ought to have done the contrary it greatly disgusted the French King and proved a Remora to this Treaty So that Hostilities continued and the Prince of Conde seized on Navaigne which after a short Siege was delivered up and the King himself laid Siege to Dole which made a stout resistence and killed him a great many Men. But not being timely succoured it at last fell into their Hands These proceedings made the Confederate Armies draw together to oppose them so that on the Fifteenth of June the Duke of Lorrain and the Count of Caprara gave Turin Battel but wanting Foot as having but One Regiment of Foot to Seven thousand Horse and hourly Expecting the Duke of Bournonville who was coming towards them the French on the other hand being Twelve thousand strong notwithstanding a desperate Fight they were forced to retire over the Necker many brave Men being killed and divers taken Prisoners The loss of the slain are held to be equal and had not the Duke wanted Foot the French had been utterly routed For he Charged with such Fury and Resolution at the Head of his Troops as if he had been weary of his Life and expected a Dukedom in another World rather than this Whilst these things passed the Dutch scoured the Seas with their Fleet the French not daring to peep abroad for now they had nothing to fear on the Ocean having made a Peace with the English Whereupon they braved the French in their Harbours and made a Descent on Bell Isle but could make no Advantage on that strong Place But the Dutch Forces at Land took the Grime a very strong Place after a hard Siege And now Lewis XIV betook him to the French Policy of tampering abroad And finding by his Agents that the Inhabitants of Messina in Sicily grew weary of the Spanish Government he encouraged them to Rebel and sent them Succours under the Command of the Duke de Vivone seizing that City and taking an Oath of Fidelity of the Inhabitants But when he had brought them to this Revolt and kept a Garrison there a very considerable Time contrary to the Expection of all Men and out of what Caprice none perhaps but himself knows to this Day he suddenly recalled his Forces leaving so many of the Inhabitants as would not leave all they had to Ship themselves and fly into France where they could rely upon no Succour to the Mercy of the Inraged Spaniards whom they had highly offended by this Revolt Nor had they above four Hours Notice Yet as many as could crowded on Board and afterward lived in Exile not daring to return King Charles II. of England having made a Peace with the States of the Vnited Provinces issued out a Proclamation on the Nineteenth of May 1675. commanding all his Subjects in the French Service as Soldiers since the Treaty of Peace to quit forthwith that Service and return Home and prohibiting any English-men to engage themselves in the like for the future which proved a great Detriment to the Progress of the French Arms as soon after appeared For the Army as not only overthrown but Turin the most Experienced General of France was slain But because this Action was very Memorable we shall not think it amiss to give a brief Account of it On the Eighteenth of July 1675 the Mareschal de Turin commanded out the Regiments of Horse of Campaigne and Orleance with Nine Squadron of Horse under the Command of the Marquess de Rone Mareschal to pass the River Renchau by the Means of Two Bridges he had laid over And being informed That the Imperialists had laid an Ambuscade on the other side he went in person to see if he could discover it from a certain Height near the Bridge When the Imperialists having planted Two small Pieces in a Wood hard by fired one of them without any considerable Execution but the secoud being Charged with Iron or Cartridge-shot put a period to Turin's Life killing likewise the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance and divers others of Quality about him though some Accounts say he was killed with a Cannon Shot However thus ended that great General who had been brought up in War as we may properly term it from his Infancy and seen many Rivers of Blood whose Death gave a great check to the French Affairs and the Army was so much discouraged that it immediately retired in some disorder when being pursued and hotly engaged by Montecuculi the Imperial General between Six and Seven thousand of them were slain and several Colours with some Cannon and Baggage taken the Count de Lorge who Commanded after the
Death of Turin being wounded and many Persons of Quality killed This was seconded by the Overthrow of the Mareschal de Crequi near Treves For the Confederates having besieged that place which had been surprized by the French the Mareschal came to Succour it but the Besiegers drawing off and giving him Battel his Forces were totally defeated with the loss of Three or Four thousand Men and of all the Baggage and Cannon c. the broken Army scattering and getting into the adjacent Town The Mareschal with sive or six men got into Treves and the Governour being killed took upon him to defend the place but the Besiegers having made Three Breaches so wide that Forty Men a-breast might enter the Officers finding the Ditches likewise filled up and the Storm ready to be made they Capitulated without Crequi who to regain in some measure the Credit he had lost suffered himself to be made a Prisoner of War Binch was likewise taken by the Dutch and many other Advantages gained So that Lewis the Great began to think that he had overstood his Markets and thought it high time to look out for Confederates Whereupon he drew the King of Sweeden into an Alliance with him to divert the War on that side of the King of Denmark and Duke of Brandenburg But the Sweeds had but little Success in his Quarrel as being worsted by Land and Sea and having nothing but the French King's Word for Reparation Insomuch that they were obliged to sit down by the Loss and thereupon Lewis XIV began to tamper with the States of Holland to clap up a Peace without the Consent of their Allies But whilst it was on Foot which made the King grant the larger Terms his Forces under the Duke of Luxemburg were beaten near Mons by the English Dutch and Germans In which Action his present Majesty of England signalized his Valour and Conduct to a wonder and the Duke of Monmouth being a Voluntier in the Army by his Example so animated the English that they let the French see they were capable of turning the Scale of Victory These Bad Successes making Lewis the Great fear he should be reduced to Lewis the Little he made such Offers which were seconded by many Promises and Crafty Insinuations that the States did conclude a peace and had all their Towns except Maestreicht delivered into their possession which made many wonder But those that have weighed the Matter give these Reasons for their making a peace when other Princes their Confederates were in Treaty for that of Nimeguen was still on Foot First They perceived the Ambassadors of their Allies had been several Years in debate at Nimeguen without bringing any thing to Perfection as to the Treaty with France and they had greatly wasted their Treasure in the War and found a peace was necessary to Recruit Secondly Their Trade on which the Provinces mostly depend was greatly obstructed by which means the People were Impoverished Thirdly They were Constrained to take up Moneys on the publick Trust to supply the Charge of the War which being of long Continuance could not but have consumed vast Treasures Fourthly That the Spaniard had not those Forces on foot in the Netherlands that was Expected which might have hindered the French from taking several Towns in Flanders of which without any considerable Opposition they had possessed themselves Fifthly That all things were restored to them that had been taken away which would have been difficult to have Recovered by other means Sixthly By this Treaty they caused to be rendered up to Spain part of what had been taken during the War Seventhly That the French Ministers assured the States that they would speedily make a Peace with their Allies and that they the States should be Arbitrators of that Peace These are given as Reasons And indeed considering how the Ministers of France pressed it with Eagerness and declared the Extream Passion and Desire the King their Master had to be at peace it might have been thought that he mean'd as he said The King himself during the Negotiation sent them a Letter wherein he styled them His good Friends Allies and Confederates promising wonderful things in the most obliging Flattery But no Words or Promises can bind this Leviathan for Lewis knew well enough what he did by making a Separate Peace considering if he should be brought to Strict Terms with all the Allies he must of Necessity part with Lorrain to the Duke its Rightful Lord and with the Franche Compte of Bourgogne to the King of Spain taken contrary to faith given since the Pyrenean Treaty But by not having the Dutch Army upon his back he sound himself able to deal with the rest and to tire them out by delays And indeed by taking these Measures he constrained the Duke of Brandenburg and the Prince of Zel to restore all they had taken from the Sweed since that King stood for the French Interest King Charles II. of England perceiving Lewis XIV delayed the Treaty to incroach upon Flanders found his Honour touched since he became a Mediator and was to be Guarrantee of the Peace And thereupon sent over five or six Thousand Men to defend the Spanish Netherlands where the French during the Treaty and daily Expectation of Peace were like so many Tartars or wild Arabians Ravaging and destroying the Country but the Terrour of the English put a Check to their Progress Lewis XIV having obtained a Peace with the States of the Vnited Provinces he more and more delayed the Treaty of Nimeguen as not doubting to bring the other Confederates to more Advantageous Terms than otherwise he could have been capable of doing And that which made the French King more urgent for a Separate Peace was that he knew well enough that it could not be Reasonably made with the Allies in Conjunction but that the Country of Lorrain would be required for that Duke and the Franche Compte for the King of Spain or what ever had been snatched from that Crown since the Pyrenean Peace which had been so openly violated by France And therefore he concluded to divide the Allies was to make his own Terms And indeed it so fell out to the great prejudice of the Confederaters Especially Spain and the Empire as in due place will appear And indeed Lewis XIV by this means preserved most of his important Conquests at that time whilst the Elector of Brandenburg and the Prince of Zell found themselves in a Necessity to Restore to Sweden all they had taken or by standing out run the Hazard of a French Army Ravaging their Countries whilst their Allies who had already made peace could not fairly give them any Assistence unless like him with whom they had made the peace they layed no Stress upon Leagues any longer than it tended to their purpose But the Emperor as well as Holland having concluded with France the rest found themselves too weak long to contend with a Monarch of such vast
French Gold Coin by which we may understand that the Poet such as he was insinuated That he gained more by his Gold than by Valour or Vertue The King was surprized at this and dissembled the Affront seemed to praise the Author and promise if he would discover himself not only to give him a pardon but reward him But it seems he had more wit than to trust himself in the Lyon's Paws upon such slender Security Yet not to give over his Poetical Whimsey there was soon after found in the same Place a Distich in English thus Lewis the thing cannot be known I writ it when I was alone Hitherto we have endeavoured to shew the World the State of Affairs relating to France since the coming of Lewis XIV to the Crown who has in all Parts answered the Prodigie of his Birth living as we may term it in a perpetual Tempest of War to the Scourge of Christendom Few Kingdoms or Estates there are that can boast themselves exempted from the Damage received by the Calamities that have frequently happened on that Occasion Nay where his own Power has not reached so effectually that of others has been imployed not to mention his engaging the Northern Crowns of Denmark and Sweden though Protestant Kingdom in a tedious and expensive War but even soliciting the Pirates of Argier and Tripoly to Invade the Traffick of the Christians by hindring Navigation and taking their Ships offering them his Ports lying advantageous for the purpose and as it were cajolling Nests of Thieves and the Off-scum of Mankind with whom it is not for the Glory of so great a Monarch as Lewis XIV would be thought to be to have any Converse withall But we see Ambition will stoop low when it hopes to soar aloft Lewis XIV when he committed these Outrages and disturbed the Repose of Christendom had little regard to his Oath and the Credit of his Ambassadors who concluded the Peace at Nimeguen nor of the Honour of the King of England Charles II. who was Guarrantee of that Peace nor were the States of the Vnited Provinces less abused who had so great a hand in bringing that memorable Treaty to pass wherein the Ministers of all the Princes of Christendom were concerned and at which place most of them were in Person But to give a farther Light into this Matter take the following Proclamation of Peace published by the States BE it known to all Persons that to the Honour and Praise of God the Lord Almighty to the Welfare and Furtherance of the Common Good of these Vnited Netherlands in General and the good Inhabitants thereof in Particular a good sure faithful and lasting Peace was made at Nimeguen the Tenth Day of August in this present Year 1678. betwen the King of France on the one side and the States General of the Vnited Netherlands on the other and that the Ratification on both sides were exchanged in due Form at Nimeguen aforesaid on the Twentieth of this Instant September And that in pursuance thereof all Acts of Hostility and Enmity as well at Sea and in fresh Water as at Land in all Cities and Places under their Respective Dominions without Exceptions as likewise between their Subjects and Inhabitants of what Condition soever they be must cease and determine after the respective Terms hereafter mentioned to wit after four Weeks to reckon from this Day the publication of the Peace hath been made in the Hague that is after the 26th of October next in the East and North Seas from the Ness in Norway to the Lands End of the Chanel and after Six Weeks that is after the 9th of November next from the said Lands End in the Chanel to the Cape St. Vincent and after Ten Weeks that is after the 7th of December from Cape St. Vincent to the Line and lastly after Eight Months that is after the 28th of May 1679. in all Places of the World Wherefore all and every one as well Subjects and Inhabitants of the several Provinces of the Netherlands as those that are under their High and Mighty Dominion and Obedience are expresly Charged and Commanded inviolably to Maintain the Peace pursuant to the said Treaty and not to Act in the least contrary thereunto on pain of being punished as Disturbers of the Publick Peace without Favour or Connivance Done in the Assembly of the States General in the Hague September 22th 1678. This may sufficiently demonstrate the good and honest Intentions of the States General who could not think but the Word of a King and the Most Christian King as Lewis the Great styles himself would continue Sacred and Inviolable But alass his Ambition and Interest weigh down his Words and Oaths and in Conclusion it appeared that he only did it to bind up their Hands whilst that he might the more securely prey upon the Spanish Netherlands a Country the most pleasant and fruitful in Europe and for which many of his Predecessors have heartily longed but never undertook the Methods he has observed to bring it under his Subjection However this Great Monarch has failed in his Expectation and has frequently been baffled when his numerous Armies have thought themselves most sure Yet by the way we may Mark out a peice of French Treachery though of an Elder date by which we may see it is in a Manner the very Genius of the Nation though more superabundant in Lewis XIV It so happened in the Year of our Lord 1551. that the Protestants in Germany being greatly oppressed by the Emperour Charles I. Henry II. King of France pretending to compassionate them sent Monmorency the Constable with four thousand Horse and Foot as it were to Relieve them who demanded with many Insinuations and Promises of Protection a Passage through the City of Metz a City under Protestant Government The People in hopes to be delivered from the Ravages the Imperial Soldiers committed in their Territories joyfully consented and in Gratitude spread Tables in the Streets ready furnished with Provision for the Soldiers to eat as they Marced through bringing Barrels of Wine and other Liquors to Accommodate them the Magistrates waiting upon the Constable with all Imaginable demonstrations of Kindness and Respect who seeing his time feigned to be troubled with a sudden Fit of the Gout and other Indispositions and thereupon intreated the Magistrates that he might have the opportunity of a Place of Retirement for some time and that he not knowing what might befal him in the Wars or by that Sickness was desirous to make his Will The Good-meaning Magistrates were highly satisfied with the Favour he would doe them and began to contend which of them should have the Honour of entertaining him But their Joy was soon turned into Mourning for when the Magistrates and most of the Gentry were assembled in his Chamber whilst the Scrivener was making his Will to which they were to be Witnesses he gave private Orders for seizing the Gates And as soon as
he knew it was done rising up in a fury he suddenly stabbed the Mayor of the City to the Heart with his Dagger which being the Signal to his Guards they fell upon the rest that were in the Chamber and put them to the Sword This being known the French Soldiers over-ran the Streets crying out The City is won and thereupon fell to plundering the Shops and Houses So that this City like the flying-Fish in the Indian Seas whilst it thought to Escape one Mischief fell into another as great if not greater For of this kind of Fish Sailors report that being pursued by the Dolphins and finding it self ready to be devoured by help of its long Fins that serve for Wings it shoots into the Air and flies a great many paces till the Fins grow stiff by dryness and then falls into the Sea but frequently whilst it is flying the Cormorants and other Ravenous Fowl that haunt those Seas catch them and by them they are devoured A Second Instance of Later Date we may mention in Lewis XIII Father to the present King when he designed to seize upon the Dukedom of Lorrain he by the Advice of Cardinal Richlieu sent for the old Duke to come to him at his Town of Lyons who dreading no such Treachery left Nancy the Place of Security and went to Complement the King who was at the head of his Troops and after he had payed him that Homage and respect he conceived was due to him he prepared to return but found himself mistaken for he was Arrested by the Captain of the King's Guards upon frivolous Pretences and Claims and made him deliver up Nancy into which he entered as a Conquerour the surrender of which occasioned the Loss of the whole Duchy Many Instances of the Like Nature even the French Historians give us who make the Actions of their Kings appear as fair and candid as they can But now we come to Lewis XIV The Peace as we have said being made and all Christendom Relying on it and firmly keeping it except the French King he thought this his time to play his Game as thinking he had Charmed the Princes or made them fear the Consequence of a Rupture He soon forgot his Word as appears by the Emperour 's early Complaint against his Proceedings by several Letters and Memorials That contrary to the Peace of Nimeguen 1. He continued his Troops in the Empire 2. Remaining possessed of Places they ought to Evacuate 3. Requiring Contributions 4. Obliging the ten Towns of Alsace to take a new Oath thereby pretending a Sovereignty over them Erecting a new Court of Appeals and forbiding any Addresses to be made to the Imperial Chamber of Spires 5. Requiring an Oath from the Vassals and Nobles of Alsace 6. Setting up Pretentions upon the Vassals of Metz Toul and Verdun as likewise upon other Imperial States and Countries 7. Consiscating the Rents and Revenues of the Chapter of Strasburg 8. Making new Fortifications at Sciestadt and Hunningen 9. Not Restoring Monpelgard 10. The slighting Daxburgh 11. The Taking Hamburgh and Bitseth And other Matters Upon this the Diet of Ratisbone to whom the Complaint was made after some Deliberation came to a Resolution That the proceedings of the French King were directly contrary to the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen that therefore the Emperor shall be prayed by Letter or by Embassie in the Name of himself and the Empire to demand of the Most Christian King Reparation for the same and that in the mean time the French Ministers residing at the Imperial Court and here shall be made acquainted with this Resolution of the Diet and that it shall be represented to them For what concerns the two first Points That the same are directly contrary to the 27th of the Treaty of Nimeguen and the First Second and Fourth Articles of the Instrument afterwards signed by the Ambassadors for the Executing the said Treaty that have been Religiously observed by the Emperor That the Third Point is contrary to the 30th Article of the said Treaty and the 8th Article of the said Instrument That for what concerneth the Fourth Point it is known that the Third Article of the Treaty of Munster says that the Countries of the Vpper and Lower Alsaces and the Lordship of Haguenaw shall be yeilded to France with an Express Exception of the 10 Imperial Towns and their Rights and Privileges and that the French King shall pretend no Superiority over them or require any Oath or Fidelity from them and in pursuance of the Agreement made at Nurenburgh in the Year 1650. Haguenaw Landaw and other Places and other of the said ten Towns more Actually Evacuated by the French without pretending then and several years afterwards to any Sovereignty over the said Towns or requiring any Oath of Fidelity from them That afterwards in 1665. Complaints were made to the Diet of the French setting up new Pretensions whereupon Arbitrators were chosen on the Part of the Empire and of France Amicably to determine the same who were several Years employed in that work which was put to an end by the French possessing themselves of the said Towns even before the War That the Treaty of Nimeguen Confirms that of Westphalia and consequently that the said Towns ought to have restored to them the Rights and Privileges which that stipulates for them That for the Fifth and Sixth Points they likwise directly contervene the said Treaties That as to the Seventh they expect farther Information in it That for the Eighth they cannot Imagine what Right the French have to Fortifie Sclechstadt considering what is abovesaid of those Free Towns For the Ninth and Tenth the French have acted notoriously contrary to the Westphalian and Nimeguen-Treaties For the Eleventh that Hamburgh belongs to ths Count of Nassaw as appears by the Treaty of Osnaburgh That concerning Bitseth they expect farther Information And lastly They hope the King will not prejudice the City of Strasburgh in its Rights or Privileges and particularly in that of fortifying Kiel so necessary for its Security This so Early Breach of the Peace that had been so long laboured for by the Princes of Christendom much displeased them and filled many with Detestation observing that Lewis XIV went beyond the Bounds of the Decree of the Council of Constance which says That no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks but he neither regards his Faith with those the Romans unchristianly term so nor with Roman Catholicks However having a mind to secure what he had belonging to the Empire or Princes dependent as appears by the Resolution of the Diet in his detaining some and imposing on others contrary to the Articles agreed on he sought to bring the States of the Vnited Provinces into an Offensive and Defensive Alliance against which all the Provinces but Groningen and Friesland Excepted who did not so long and their Resolutions were publish'd declaring They intended to keep inviolably the Peace and Esteem they had for his
Territories and one whose Flatterers style Invincible though the contrary has often appeared And according to the opinion of Politicians and those Experienced in war had that vast Army of the Confederates been unanimous and vigourously pushed on they might by entering the very Heart of France have reduced the Greatness of Lewis and have made their own Terms Sed divide et Impera The Peace as is already said being concluded with Holland at Nimeguen about the latter End of the Year 1678 was soon followed by his Imperial Majesty But before either of these were concluded it will not be amiss to shew the plausible pretences of Lewis XIV to the former in a Letter in Answer to a Letter to the States General presented him by their Ambassador the Heer Vain Beverning in these Words Most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates WE have with much Pleasure understood as by the Letter you writ us so by the Assurances which the Heer Van Beverning your Extraordinary Ambassador hath in your Name given us the Dispositions in which you profess your selves to be at Peace We cannot better let you know how firm and sincere our Intentions are to procure so great and so general a Good for Europe than by a Writing which we have Commanded to be put into his Hands You will see the new Facilities we offer to put you in a State to bring your Allies to consent to the Conditions which we cannot doubt but you will judge Equitable And having nothing farther to add thereunto we only assure you of the Satisfaction we shall have of giving you back with the Peace our old and real Friendship and in entering with you into the strongest and most capable Engagements for securing ever your Liberty which we have more amply explained our self upon to the Heer Van Beverning whose Conduct and Person hath been very acceptable to us There remains only That we pray God to have you most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates in his holy Keeping Given in our Camp at Wetteren the First Day of June 1678. Your good Friend Ally and Confederate LOVIS Underneath Signed Arnauld The Matter to which Lewis XIV refers them to is a Memorial delivered to the aforesaid Ambassador by his Order in these following Words THE King hath with Pleasure seen as by a Letter from the States General so by the Assurances which they have given him by the Heer Van Beverning their Extraordinary Ambassador that their Intentions to a general Peace correspond with the Desires his Majesty hath always had to procure the same and that they are ready to accept the Conditions that his Majesty hath offered them by his Ambassadors and Plenepotentiaries at Nimeguen But at the same time the Heer Van Beverning hath made known to him the Sentiments of the said States General he hath in their Names pray'd that his Majesty would grant a Cessation of Arms for six Weeks and hath represented to him that they had need of that time to Communicate with their Allies and obtain their Consent for the concluding so great a Work The Condition in which his Majesty's Arms are at present and the favourable Opportunity that would be lost in deferring their Acting would not permit him to consent to this Proposal if the desire of giving Peace to Europe did not much more prevail with him than that of enlarging his Frontiers by new Conquests It is upon this Consideration of contributing to the publick Repose that he will agree at the desire of the said States General to a Cessation of Arms for Six Weeks such a one as was stipulated between France and Spain Anno 1668. But for as much as it would not be just if the Enemies of his Majesty should let the time pass fruitlesly and that instead of its serving to Advance the Peace they should make Advantage of it to avoid the Effect of his Majesty's Arms that he should have lost the advantageous Conjuncture that is at present in his Hands His Majesty desires of the said States General that they do promise him that in case during the Time of Cessation of Arms they cannot bring their Allies to accept the Conditions he hath offered that they will not assist them directly or indirectly against him or his Allies during the whole Course of the War In Exchange his Majesty will in such Case renew to them the same Engagements which he hath taken with them by his Letter of the Eighteenth of the last Month as well as what concerns these same Conditions which he will be always ready to agree to As for the security of the Places in the Spanish Netherlands his Majesty hath thought fit to make known unto the States General by this Memorial which he hath appointed to be delivered to the Heer Van Beverning the sincerity of his Intentions for a Peace And to give yet a greater Testimony thereof he doth Command the Duke of Luxemburg General of his Army to go and expect their Answer during this Month in the Neighbourhood of Brussels with Orders not to Attack any Place during that time In this we may observe no small piece of French Policy not so much desiring the Peace of Europe which has never been the aim of this Ambitious Prince as during the time of this Truce to draw his Army farther into Flanders which soon after proved almost the Ruine of many delicious places in that fruitful Country when Peace was in the highest Prospect And these Flatteries served only to render those he treated with somewhat more secure whilst he made his own Markets And indeed by these and such like Artifices he gained upon the Belief and good Intention of the Confederates more than by open sincerity he thought convenient to do For Lewis XIV having earnestly sued for Peace though under a Reserve or Mask of Disguise which was not then sufficiently looked through all the Princes and States of Christendom supposed they should remain at rest and those Countries that were at the brink of Ruine by being the Seats of a tedious War began to rejoice thinking the French King in good earnest and that he would after so much Waste and Desolation by Firing Plundering Quartering Exactions Contributions Slaughters and making the Fields white with the Bones of the Slain whilst the Rivers were discoloured and run red to the Sea with Christian Blood take pity on the languishing Estate of Europe there being a powerful Enemy in the East viz. the Ottoman Emperor But instead of Sincerity all proved but outside and formal For France rather coveted time to breath a little than to give over And Lewis who so often pretends to make War for the Glory of his Arms that he might with less trouble Invade the Netherlands secretly Negotiated with Teckely to Invade with an Army such as he could gather in the Turkish Territories the Emperor 's Hereditary Countries in Hungary c. furnishing him with Money and folliciting by his Ambassadors at Constantinople with Gifts Presents
that committed them were harboured and protected he thought the best way to prevent such disorder for the future was to deprive them of their shelter by taking away the Franchises of all the Ambassadors that none might have cause to complain And in order thereto he revoked those Privileges by a Bull bearing date the 12 of May Anno which was mightily opposed by the Marquess D' Lavardine Ambassador for Lewis XIV though none else opposed it as holding the Pope a Sovereign Prince in his own City But he proceeded not only to shelter Murtherers and Thieves even in the City of Rome but to Protect them and with armed Force stood upon his Guard to oppose the Officers that were sent to demand them sending a Dispatch to his Master to let him understand what had happened who in a Bravado fell to big Words against his Holy Father resolving not to part with any part of his Franchises However he seized upon the City of Avignion whch had been held for many Ages as part of St Peter's Patrimony and caused the Pope's Supremacy to be denied in the Parliament of Paris as appears by the Speech of Monsieur de Tolon Advocate General who likewise plays with the great Thunderbolt of the Roman See which has so long been a Bugbear to all the Roman Catholick Princes like a Tennis-Ball when he has this Expression And to add says he to that Bull meaning that by which the Franchises were taken away vain Threats of Excommunication that are not capable of creating the least Terrour in the most timerous Minds and in the nicest Consciences c. But neither these big Words nor his frequent Solicitations nor his many Purses of Gold distributed amongst Favourites could bring the Old Man to buckle to his Most Christian Son's Humour For the Ambassador persisting to contemn the Pope's Orders he Excommunicated him and Interdicted the Church of St Lewis in Rome for admitting him in the Night-time to the Holy Sacrament forbidding all manner of Persons to have Converse either with them or him But the Circumstances of this Matter we shall see in an Act of Appeal put in by the Attorney General of France to the Council upon the Subject of the Pope's Bull concerning the Franchises c. in these Words Before the under-written Apostolick Notory was present in his own Person Messire Achilles de Harlay Counsellor of the King in his Conncil of State and his Majesty's Attorney General who in the Presence and by the Advice and Counsel of Messire Denis Talon and Messire Fraâ—cois Critean de la Moignon also Counsellors of the King in his Council of State and his Advocates General in his Courts of Parliament has declared That having some time since seen Copies of a Bull given on the 12th of May last past by our Holy Father Pope Innocent XI concerning the Franchises which certain Persons are in Possession of in the City of Rome he could not have imagined that His Holiness could have conceived the Design of comprehending the Ambassadors the King was willing to send to him in the general Menaces of Excommunication which he judged convenient to insert therein contrary to the use observed by other Popes in the Bulls made by them He had hoped that if the remembrance of the sovereign Power which the King's Majesty's Predecessors exercised in Rome of their Liberalities to the Holy See and of the Protection they gave to several Popes could not induce this Pope to cause to be rendered to the King in the Person of his Ministers Honours and Testimonies of Acknowledgment proportionable to his Bounties At least his Holiness as visible Head of the Church would not be insensible to the Prodigies the King had performed before his Eyes for the Reuniting within the Bosom of his Good Mother so vast a number of Children that were gone astray from her by these he means the Dragoon'd Converts but that he would be Affected with the Piety of this Prince and the powerful Protection he continually gives to Prelates though he insists not on his Victories and Power and that he would not enter into Disputes with him about Rights that had not suffered any Invasion under his Popedom for many Years But being informed that His Holiness had given Orders to the Cardinal that is his Vicar in Rome to declare the Church of St Lewis in that City and the Ecclesiasticks that officiate in it Interdicted for having admitted to the participation of the Holy Mysteries of the Sacrament on the Night wherein is Celebrated the Solemnity of our Lord 's Nativy Monsieur Le Marquis de Lavardin the King's Ambassador Extraordinary to His Holiness and that it was supposed upon the Ordinance delivered upon this Subject that he was notoriously Excommunicated for pretended Contraventions to the Bull the said Attorney General did not think he could without being wanting to his duty remain any longer in Silence he hath hitherto kept Now if the matter which has given an occasion to so great an Excess did concern the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction that belongs to the Pope he would easily shew the Errours that have been committed by proceeding against a person that has not been particularly specified in that Bull to whom the State of the matter has not been signified since his being at Rome who might be ignorant of them in France where it was not published that the Pope could condemn him as an Ambassador though his Character ought to secure him from these Thunders in regard of his Functions yet His Holiness would not so much as hear him or own him in that Quality whatever Addresses he has caused to be made for that purpose and that in fine the very Rules of the Canon Law requires that Persons of so eminent a Dignity should be pointed out by Name in Bulls of that Nature before they incurr the Penalties they utter But the Pope in a matter purely Temporal as are these Franchises has made use of the Spriritual Arms which he is intrusted with only for the Conduct and Edification of the Church Here by the way the Pope might have demanded of Lewis XIV Why he used Temporal Arms in Spiritual matters as his Dragoon-Converts can testifie But to go on And having constituted himself Judge in his own Cause the Excommunication which his Holiness Cardinal Vicar declares to be Incurr'd is so Null that there is no occasion for any Proceeding to annihilate it and those that are therein comprehended ought not to receive Absolution though it were offered them even at their own homes And indeed the said King's Attorney does with all the French expect from his Majesties Single Power the Reparation which these Proceedings challenge and the Conservation of those Franchises which only depend on the Judgment of God as the Rights of this Crown which can admit of no Dominion but such as the King's Moderation and Justice may give them But as not any thing can Contribute more to lessen in the Minds of shallow
which of these Turks they ought most to fear Though Lewis XIV out of a seeming pretence for the House of Austria had made an offer to assist the Emperor but this was only shadow as appeared afterwards by his violent falling upon the Spanish Netherlands whereby the Forces of the King of Spain were hindered from Assisting in the common Cause And although most of the Princes of Europe used their Interest with him though all Christendom in a manner lay at stake nothing would prevail till he perceived the Turks could not effect what they purposed For in the Year 1683 they were totally Routed and beat off from the Siege of Vienna the principal City of Austria when it was at the last Crisis and could have held out but a few days longer It is no wonder that the Jesuits who on all Hands are detested and accounted the Incendiaries of Christendom by the moderate Roman Cotholicks have so great an Influence in France since Father Maimburgh and Father La Chese have had so great an Influence over Lewis XIV to whose fiery Spirit they labour to add Fuel and plunge him into Cruelty without Remorse or distinguishing Protestants from Roman Catholicks And these were the blessed pair that laid the Foundation of the Misery of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion by persuading him That by Rooting the Protestants out of his Kingdom he would render himself greater than his Ancestors who were never able to accomplish that matter and that if he could bring it to pass it would render his Name Immortal in the Roman Kalendar And no doubt as many Instances affirm these Locusts who seek to devour every thing that is pleasant have had as great an Influence in the Ruine of the Neighbouring Roman Catholicks For from the Wideness of his Conquests they could not but promise to themselves great Advantage where they have so great an Influence over the Conqueror as to have his very Conscience in their keeping and dispose We have not of late heard that any like Father Ante have reproved him for Exorbitancy of Lust or other Vices but rather encouraged him therein that they might reap the profit at the Price of his Eternal State And of this we may give some hints as we find it in a Letter that has of late been frequently Printed and held to be Authentick sent from La Chese Confessor to the French King to Father Edmund Petre late Great Almoner to King James II. though fatal in his Counsels to the repose of that unfortunate Prince Wherein amongst other matters undertaking to give the Jesuit directions to put forward affairs by his Counsels Interest and Power with King James and others great at Court he thus proceeds Most Reverend Father TO satisfie the desire I have to show you by my Letter the Choice you ought to make of such persons fit to stir up c. I will in few words since you desire it inform you of the Genius of the people of our Court of their inclinations and of them we make use of that by a Parallel you make between them and your English you make use of you may know them Therefore I shall begin with the Chief I mean our Great Monarch It is certain he is naturally Good and loves not to doe Evil unless desired to doe it This being so I may say he never would have undertaken the Conversion of his Subjects without the Clergy of France and without our Society's Correspondence abroad He is a Prince Inlightned who very well observes what we put him upon is contrary to his Interest and that nothing is more opposite to his great Designs and his Glory he aiming to be the Terrour of all Europe The vast number of Malecontents he has caused in his Kingdom forces him in time of Peace to keep up three times more Forces than his Ancestors did in the greatest Domestick and Foreign Wars which cannot be done without prodigious Expence The Peoples Fears also begin to lessen as to his aspiring to an Vniversal Monarchy and they may assure themselves he has left those Thoughts nothing being more opposite to his designs than the method we enjoin him His Candour Bounty and Toleration to the Hereticks would undoubtedly have opened the door of the Low Countries Palatinate and other States of the Rhine and even of Switzerland whereas things are at present so altered that we see the Hollanders at present free from any fear of Danger the Switzers and City of Geneva resolved to lose the last drop of their Blood in their defence Beside some Diversions we may expect from the Empire In case we cannot hinder a Peace with the Turks Sir His Majesty's Brother is always the same I mean he takes no notice of what passes at Court It has sometimes happened the King's Brothers have acted so as to be noted in the State But this we are sure will never do any thing to stain the Glory of his Submission and Obedience and is willing to lend a helping hand for the Destruction of the Hereticks by the Instance he makes to his Majesty who now has promised him to cause his Troops to enter the Palatinate the next Month. The Dauphin is passionately given up to Hunting and little regards the Conversion of Souls and therefore we do not care to Consult him how or which way the Hereticks shall be destroyed He openly laughs at us and slights all the Designs of which the King his Father makes great Account The Letter goes on to Characterize the Dauphiness in her witty Humour and Hatred to the Protestants as likewise Monsieur Lovois the Archbishop of Paris and others who labour to Agrandize Lewis XIV by following the Methods of the Society of Jesuits who have always been held the Foxes with Fire-Brands at their Tails who have laboured to promote Violence War and Bloodshed in all Places where they come Henry IV. Banished them France and demolished their Houses for setting one of their Pupils to kill him in his Presence-chamber amidst his Nobles because he would not hearken to their Counsels but detested their pernicious Ways Yet knowing them to be Sycophants fraught with Malice and Revenge after he had frustrated many of their Attempts that great Prince who had faced Death in all its Shapes fearing their wicked Purposes thought fit to make fair Weather with them and to recall them which being opposed by a Lord of his Council who alledged how pernicious they were in all Kingdoms States and Governments the King passionately broke out into this Expression viz. Secure me my Life then And indeed this King who had remained safe in forty Battels found his Death as has been said in the midst of his Capital City amongst his Friends and Guards Nor could the Obstinacy of the Assassinate and Paricide denote any thing else but that he was set on by these Men. For Raviliack the bloody Actor neither sought to fly nor excuse the Fact nor when his Flesh was plucked off with hot
c. In short is it possible continues he that a man that loves his God his Religion and his Prince could behold with dry Eyes so many Ruines as I saw in the Principality of Orange Hic Seges est ubi Troja fuit For this see the Book of this learned Man Printed at the Hague the last Year Page 61 62. Nor was it only the Buildings that suffered but the People also who for the most part as well Papists as Protestants were plundered of all they had and many of them Dragooned out of their Religion by the same barbarous Methods as were taken with his own Subjects of the Reformed Religion Lewis XIV is seldom without pretences to quarrel with his Neighbours for he has for that purpose and to exalt himself Chief Monarch of Europe set up a Chamber at Metz called the Sovereign Court before which he causes to be Cited Kings and Princes well knowing they will not appear then under pretence their Lands are Dependences or under the Claim of antient Titles or Claims for which himself can give no Reason he causes them to be condemned as forfeited And from this Court where himself is both Judge and Jury he will admit of no Appeal but proceeds to take possession by sending his Troops to quarter there and Leavy great Contributions upon the Inhabitants that so by Impoverishing them as he uses his own Subjects he may the better keep them under And by this means he adjudged part of the King of Sweeden's Terretories and seized on the Countries of the Primes of Montbelliard Pellite Pierre and divers others swallowing up Provinces like the Great Leviathan without making any Account of Rights or Justice though the time peradventure is at hand wherein he will be obliged to disgorge them with Interest His Eye has been indeed a long while up Italy soaring that way towards the Vniversal Monarchy which made him deal underhand with the Duke of Mantua for the strong Garrison of Cassel which serves as an Inlet over the Alps. Nor had Geneva escaped his Bombs had not the Swisse-Cantons fearful of their own Safety declared with much warmth to stand by that Protestant City with all their Forces The Peace being concluded with Spain Lewis XIV finding himself uneasie to be out of Action picks a Quarrel with that Nation about 500000 Crowns he pretended were to be restored for damages done in the West Indias and thereupon sent the Duke's D' Estree and Mortemer with a Squadron of Men of War to block up Cadiz and to take and destroy all such Merchants-ships and Galleys as they light on And indeed they did considerable Mischief against that Maritime Town by casting Bombs and sending Fire-ships into the Harbour Nor thought they this sufficient but they would have compelled the Dutch Men of War who were at Peace with Spain to assist them and by that Means Involved them in an open Violation of the League For the latter of the Dukes having with him Eight Sail of Men of War and happening to meet two Ships belonging to the States Commanded by Capt. Ewycke and Capt. Mevart he compelled them to Sail with him towards Cadiz However in the Night the former stood away and changed his Course upon which he was followed by the Seiur Belle Isle who being come up with him the next morning â—ired several shot at him whereupon the Dutch Captain returned him a Broad-side and began a sharp Engagement which lasted four Hours but then the Captain being killed with a Cannon shot as likewise a great many of the Men killed and more French Ships appearing in sight they sent on board the French to let them know they would make no longer Resistence This open Violation being highly resented by the Sates General Monsieur D' Avaux the French Ambassador at the Hague put in a dissembling Memorial to excuse it in which he complained That Captain Ewyeke had given the Duke his Word to go with him to Cadiz but changing his Course by Night he gave ground to suspect his Intentions and that the Sieur Belle Isle following him and he finding himself alone with one of his most Christian Majesty's Ships put out his Cannon and came with all the Sail he could upon the French man who sired three shot one after another as a Signal that he should not advance any farther to which the Hollander returned a whole Broad-side of 25 peices of Cannon whereupon the sight began That the Dutch Captain being killed the other Officers sent on board the Sieur D' Belle Isle to let him know that they would make good the Word of their Captain That the Sieur received the Messenger very kindly and after having Lamented the Loss of the Dutch Captain a very brave Man sent him back and gave them time till the Evening to repair their Ship of which the French had not less need having fourteen Men killed and six wounded And so he goes on to salve up the matter by endeavouring to make the Dutch Captain the Aggressor The Damage the French King did the Spaniards at Sea and upon their Coast were received but trivial by the King and therefore contrary to Oath and Promise he caused all the Spaniards Estates and Effects in the New Conquests to be seized so that after some Debates the Court of Spain found it self under a Necessity of complying with his peremptory Demands and thereupon the Marquess de Los Balbaces obliged himself to pay the 500000 Crowns at one entire Payment so soon as the Spanish Plate Fleet arrived and this Agreement was taken by the French as satisfaction yet it proved not so for the Men of War being yet Abroad took after a long and desperate Fight two of their Galleys which Monsieur D' Avaux undertook likewise to excuse by another Memorial to the State viz. That the Sieur Forran that had commanded a Squadron of his Most Christian Majesty's Ships not knowing of the Agreement and Accommodation concluded by the French Ambassadors at Madrid concerning the Five hundred thousand Crowns had met on the Coast of Biscay two Spanish Galleyoons mounted each with Sixty four Guns sailing towards Cadiz and that endeavouring to hinder them from going thither according to his first Orders there ensued a very obstinate Fight between them which lasted a Day and an half when two Ships of the same Squadron coming in and joining with the Sieur Forran the Galleyoons yielded and were carried into Rochell That his Most Christian Majesty having received certain Advice thereof had sent Orders for the discharging the said Galleyoons and had commanded him to tell the States that this Accident should not make any alteration in the Accommodation That the Count Stirum their Admiral being present at the end of the Fight and having answered the Sieur Forran who sent to him to know whether he would assist the Spaniards that he had no Orders to intermeddle with this Disserence and retiring thereupon after he had saluted the French Ships his Most
Christian Majesty had farther directed him to let the States know how well satisfied he is with the Orders they had given the Count de Stirum and with his prudent Conduct in pursuance of them By this we may see whilst the Dutch made a Conscience of the least Breach and had their hands tied from assisting their Allies by a Treaty they would not break with Lewis XIV who could never find any strong enough for his Conscience when he saw it advantageous to break it However Heaven does not wink at such Actions nor leave them unpunished for much about this time Lewis the Great fell into a raging Torture occasioned by an ulcerous Fistula in his Fundament and knew in some kind what it was to be miserable who had made many thousands so All the chief Chirurgions of France were consulted about this matter and concluded his Life was in danger unless his Royal Bum was Cut and Launced And in fine an Incision was made and after that divers others which kept him long in Bed and consequently put the thoughts quite out of his Head of plotting a farther Disturbance in the World at that time Yet his Creatures were not Idle for to pick a new Quarrel the Governour of Maeubuge set up the Arms of France in divers parts of the Spanish Netherlands under the old pretence of Boundaries and Limits of Dependencies and although Complaints were made yet little was returned in Satisfaction but a few Excuses and a Promise that it should be considered at a more convenient time and that Persons on either side should be appointed to adjust the Limits And at the fame time they proceeded to build strong Fortresses contrary to the Treaty near Huneguen and in the Territories of the Margrave of Baden of which the Emperor complained by his Ambassadors declaring how Religiously himself and all the Princes of the Empire intended to observe the Treaty But this little availed for the French went on with their Designs and upon the setting out the Boundaries in the Spanish Netherlands and on the Frontiers of the Empire made unreasonable Exactions of Places no ways belonging to them nor any where assigned in the Treaty of Nimeguen 〈◊〉 which the King of Spain was obliged to acquiesce as having Exhausted his Treasures in a tedious War and not in a condition to contend alone when the Confederates did not hold themselves obliged to take his part Lewis XIV not content with Matters and the Extraordinary Trouble he had given his Neighbours on this side the Alps began to breath towards the Dominion of Italy He remembred his Predecessors by making Inroads to that fruitful Country had snatched many a pleasant Morsel and not only satiated their Ambition but enriched themselves till the Time of Charles V. Emperor and King of Spain as likewise Philip II. King of Spain in whose Reigns the Spanish Monarchy was at the highest it ever was known to be when it was grasped from the French with a hard hand and they have since had little pretensions to any place beyond that vast ridge of Mountains But this King strikes in with the Duke of Mantua for his strong Fortress on the Frontier for an Inlet into Italy and though it was opposed by all the Italian Princes the French Gold out-balanced their Sollieitations to prevent that Duke's surreâ—dering a place which would at one time or other be the occasion of swallowing up his other Territories The French King having possessed himself of Cassel delayed not to threaten an Invasion of Italy This made most of the Princes combine in a strict League and sollicite the Pope to his immediate Protection and that he would become Head of the League These Proceedings stop the Ambitious Monarch at that time but hindered him not from framing several pretensions Nor did he defer to shew his angry Resentment by picking a Quarrel with the City of Genoa an Italian City and the Head of a famous Republick situate advantageously on the Sea upon a rising Hill there being a large Bay before it So that he conjectured that getting this Inlet and Harbour he might facilitate the large Enterprizes he had cast in his mind The occasion or Grounds of his Quarrel was about Ceremonies and trivial Matters but where the Power is and in a hand like that of Lewis XIV it is easie to find occasion of Offence or to suggest one Long he stood not to digest or debate the matter before a considerable Fleet was equipped which put some of the neighbouring Nations into doubt to what it might tend Discourses were given out it was designed against the Infidel Piratical Governments of Argier Tripoly c. though People of better Understanding considering how he had favoured and incouraged those Miscreants to make Spoil and Robbery upon the Seas whilst himself was doing the like at Land and shedding Streams of Christian Blood were of a contrary Opinion Nor did the wonder last for the Fleet being ready immediately set Sail and stood away for the Coast of Italy and his Threats were sent to the Doge and Senate of Genoua to comply with his demands of Satisfaction and Reparation which appeared to them so unreasonable that they were rejected and the City prepared for its Defence The French Fleet of about Thirty Men of War besides Fireships and Tenders being come to an Anchor before the Bay drew into a Line to block up the Harbour and fired very furiously which was answered from the Cannon of the Town those in the few Ships that lay under the Shoar and the Forts and other Works that lay as Curtains and Bullworks But the Cannon from the French Fleet doing little other damage than beating down some Chimneys the Tops of Steeples and a few of the Battlements they drew in under the Favour of the Night several heavy Galleys with Gabbions and Earth on their Decks gaurded by Men of War and Fireships from whence they played their Bombs without considering the Churches and Religious Houses that for the most part stood near the Sea and had with them such Fatal Success that a great part of that Famous City was layed in Ruines by their beating down and blowing up Yet the French attempting to Land were beaten off with considerable Loss who finding the Governour of Milain was preparing to come down with Forces to the Assistence of the Genoise and that in all likelihood the Princes of Italy would not stand neuter the French Admiral admitted those that were sent off to come on board him in order to treat of Conditions but was so extravagant in his Demands that nothing was concluded at that time But the Inhabitants finding the City almost ruined by the Bombs which played upon them continually and despairing of any Relief by Sea began to Murmur and Mutiny which hastened the Agreement very dishonourable to that State which had sometimes Lorded it over the Ocean and often defended it self against the most powerful of States and Kings For nothing would satisfie
Lewis the Great but that their Senators should come into France and beg his Pardon and humble themselves before his Greatness A strange sort of Acknowledgment when themselves had received the Injury which four Millions could not make Good Yet what must be must be Many other things were considered which mainly puffed up Lewis the Great who now slattered himself to be the Terrour of Europe as well by Sea as Land not imagining but this dreadful Example and the fear of bombing would make others cautious how they incurred the Fury of such a Fire-Drake But it seems his Terrour reached not so far as the Shoar of Africa For even the Pirates of Argiers whom he had so much countenanced and to whom he had allowed his Ports as a safegaurd of Retreat and for bringing in Prizes and thereby a better Opportunity to rob his Neighbours made no Scruple to break with him and brave him by taking his Ships even in the Mouth of his own Harbours This no doubt vexed Lewis the Great and made him think himself undervalued if he should put up such Affronts And though perhaps he was loth to shed Infidel Blood having so long deal'd in that of Christians which he had poured out in Rivolets he found the Eyes of the Neighbouring Princes were upon him and that his Greatness would suffer an Eclipse if he dissembled it and that he should become cheap to the World notwithstanding his being in League with the Grand Signiour under whose protection this Government is he set forth a Fleet to bomb it but had not the Success as before Genoa For the obstinate Turks being strongly fortified made a vigorous Defence whereby his Ships were constrained to keep off at Sea However having spent a great many of his Fireballs at a Distance without doing any extraordinary Damage and not daring to land any Force when Count D'Estrees the Admiral sent to demand the French Slaves and Reparation for several Ships taken and the breaking the Truce all the Answer that could be obtained was to have his Consul that resided there to negotiate Affairs halled out of Prison and Rammed into a Cannon or Mortarpeice and by its being fired shot towards the Fleet. So that this great Preparation was frustrated and the French could only boast of some few Slaves that scaped on boards as they lay before the City pretending they were Constrained to return by reason of the boisterousness of those Seas through the far Advancement of the Season when on the contrary it may be said to the Honour of the English Nation that a small Squadron of our Ships has reduced those Barbarians frequently to such straits that they have been obliged to truckle under what Terms has been thought fit to have been imposed Lewis XIV having procured Cardinal Furstemburg his Creature to be Coadjutor to the Elector of Collogne and that Elector dying in June 1688 he immediately struck in to make a Party and to support the Interest of Furstemburg and to procure his being chosen as knowing himself should have the Advantage and supposing to hector others out of their Pretentions the Count D' Avaux on the 10 of June presented the following Memorial to the States General viz. That he was commanded to let them know that the King his Master desiring nothing more than to preserve the Peace of Christendom his Majesty was willing to prevent whatever might trouble it And seeing nothing is more capable of preserving the publick Tranquillity in the present Conjuncture than if the Princes Neighbours of the Electorate of Cologne should not leave the Chapter in an entire Liberty to proceed Canonically to the Election of a new Archbishop That his Majesty in such case could not refuse the Canons and Chapter the Assistence they might stand in need of for the Preservation of their Rights and for the Security of the Peace of the Country that depended on the Electorate And if any one should go about to cause any Troops to march towards the said Electorate under what pretence soever it may be and to force the Canons and Chapter in any Manner whatever or to use any force or violence against the Places or Country of the said Archbishoprick his Majesty will send thither at the same time all the Succor that is necessary to Maintain those that have the Administration thereof in all the Rights that belong to them But if the States neighbouring to the Archbishoprick do leave the Chapter in an intire Liberty to chuse a sit and worthy Person and in case there be no moving of Troops either in the Empire or in the Territories of this State or in the Spanish Netherlands to Intimidate the said Chapter those of his Majesty will not likewise doe any thing that may be able to trouble the publick Tranquillity or ever give the least Apprehensions to those that are well Intentioned for the Maintenance of the Peace These were the pretences of Lewis XIV to Amuse his Neighbours but they were too Apprehensive and knew him too well to be lulled into a Security For indeed he longed for this Electorate and knew no better ways to gain it than by placing a Person in it wholly devoted to his Interest and to accomplish this Parties were made and vast Treasures expended But finding the Pope not any way inclined to Furstemburg insomuch as he had not approved or confirmed his Coadjutorship and thinking he should fail in his Expectation he caused his Troops contrary to what had been proposed to march to the Frontiers and a great many French came privately Armed into the Cities of Cologne and Bonne and the Cardinal not like a peaceable Church man but like a Martial Prince came with Armed Troops at his heels which gave Apprehensions to some of the Danger that might befal them if they refused to give their Voice and on the 19 of July they proceeded to Election where after some Contest of the 24 Canons that have Voices 13 were gained for Furstemburg 9 gave their Voices for the Prince Clement of Bavaria Brother to the Duke of Bavaria and one for the Prince of Neuburg This puffed up the Cardinal's mind as thinking certianly he had carried the day and was capable of gratifying his Master to the full But then there arose other Scruples for those that had voted against him made their protest alledging that the Cardinal as being Bishop of Strasburgh could not without the Popâ—'s Dispensation be chosen but by Postulation which required two Thirds of the Electors to be for him and that it was sufficient for any other to have nine in case the Voices were divided between two but if they were divided amongst several it was necessary that he that was postulated should have double the number that any other had So that Prince Clement having 9 Voices and the Cardinal but 13 he was by virtue of his Holiness's Dispensation duly elected However the Cardinal and his Party went and Proclaimed himself in the Choire of the Metropolitan
Majesty's Friendship but could not enter into any such Alliance as he required However he persisted to encroach upon the Empire suffering his Troops that should have been withdrawn to quarter at discretion eating up that little the Inhabitants had left them to subsist withal winking at the many Complaints that were made and proving deaf to the Cries of the People This occasioned the King of England to complain by his Ambassadors but this prevailed little or nothing till he found a Defensive Alliance was carrying on against him and then under pretence of Winter Quarter he drew off some of his Troops Let us look a little back upon the Proceeding of Lewis le Grand in the Principality of Orange a place of Sovereign Right for some Ages belonging to the Illustrious House of Nassaw and the Inheritance of his present Majesty of Great Britain This Principality and City of Orange is very advantageously Situate exceeding fruitful and for the most part Inhabited by Protestants These Considerations made the French King Long to be Master of it for he seldom troubles himself to War on the Alps or in cold barren Countries Whereupon during the Minority of the Prince without the least Title or just Pretence to warrant his Actions he sent an Army to take Possession of it in the Year 1660. exercising a great deal of Cruelty and Inhumanities upon the Subjects contrary to the Law of Arms and of Nations demolishing the Bastions and strong Fortifications thereby purposing to himself if he should be obliged by the Princes who looked upon him as an Intruder and an Oppressor to relinquish it he might with more Ease repossess himself of it as he saw occasion Nay so far extended his Malice that he not only ruined the Cittadel but caused the Magnificent Monuments of Prince Maurice's Greatness to be laid in Ruines And indeed in the Year 1665. he was obliged to Relinquish that Principality and the Sieur Zuilychem to take Possession of it for his Master When in April that year as a presage of the Prince's good Fortune and future Greatness a Crown of Light darting Rays appeared over the City of Orange hanging as it were in the Air over the Palace or place of State appointed for his Reception to Consolate his distressed Subjects who for five years had groaned under the Tyranny of France But their Tranquillity lasted no longer than the Year 1673 for then the French King supposing to make his Arms the Terrour of Europe that so he might at pleasure become the great Arbitre of Peace and War he on a sudden and very unexpectedly entered it with his Troops And although after by an express Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen the Principality of Orange was restored and the King of England was Guarrantee of that Peace yet the unwearied Incroachments of the French Troops of Provence and the Intrigues of the Popish Bishop of Orange rendered daily the Subjects of the Principality more uneasie till in the Year 1682. Lewis XIV in a time of full Peace as well with the States as Confederate Princes commanded a powerful Army to take possession of it without any manner of colour or pretext but the Turkish Motto viz. Sic Volo sic Jubeo stat pro Ratione Voluntas This I will this I command My Will it does for Reason stand And thereby his booted Missionaries or Dragoons acted inhumane Barbarities on the Inhabitants unparallel'd in any Reign but his own And here for an Essay of his insupportable Vanity or rather of a Kindness unusual amongst Princes and derogatory to Majesty it self we must not omit That in a Breve in Favour of the late Prince of Conde as Administrator of the Duke of Long aville Lewis XIV had the foolish Confidence to treat his present Majesty of Great Britain with the Title of Messire William Count of Nassaw living at Amsterdam in Holland as if thereby he had entailed upon himself the Principality of Orange which at that time was the Supream Title of King William As for the Actings of the French King in this Principality we shall give you a brief Account in the words of Monsieur â—e Chambrun viz. The dismal Cruelties says he acted upon my unhappy Country and the City of Orange so famous by the Greatness of its Princes is at this day nought but a dismal Heap where one cannot enter without treading upon its Ruines She is at this day a doleful Monument of Cruelty and Injustice I cannot persuade my self that the Ruines of Troy or Carthage were more terrible than these I have mentioned since to one that beholds them at a distance they appear the Habitations of Ostriches and Owls If Posterity shall enquire the cause of this horrid Desolation as certainly it must the Account that shall be given of them will no doubt tend to the dishonour of France History will not forget to hand down to succeeding Ages the heroick Vertues of our Prince when she comes to relate the Ruine of his Territories and Desolation of his Subjects and when they shall understand that the Justice the Sincerity the Valour and indefatigable Care of maintaining the Liberty of Europe were the only Motives that induced the French King thus to treat an Illustrious Prince doubtless they will say This has been the most dismal and most corrupt of all Ages since that which ought to have been the Admiration of the Great Ones of the Earth was the Object of their Aversion and Hatred If this great Prince would have consented to the overturning of the Government of his Country as he was earnestly courted so to doe if he would have taken part with those that aim at the enslaving Europe In a word If he would have betrayed his Country and broken his Faith to his Allies he might have mounted a Throne then offered him But because he loved his Country better than his Interest and preferred his Honour to the richest Advantages and the Liberty of Europe to a Crown it behoved his great Actions should be regarded with Hatred and followed with the unjustest of Treatments But although this Conduct has been blamed in all the Courts of Europe yet nothing has been done to oppose it And I am forced to say 'T is the dishonour of all Europe to have suffered a great Prince to expose so often his Life with the greatest Bravery for its Good and Liberty and at the same time to abandon his Interest with such an unaccountable Neglect England was obliged to protect and assist this Prince not only as being the Guarrantee of the Peace of Nimeguen but from the Principle of Blood and Alliance And indeed what Honour can Accrue to England to see a Sovereignty wrested by unjust violence from a Prince that had Married the Heiress of Three Kingdoms As for me I cannot think of the Desolation of my Country without saying amidst my Tears with Jeremiah How doth the City sit solitary c. Is it nothing to you all you that pass by