all possible restrictions an Oath being taken of him that he might never seek to be Stat-holder of any of the Provinces nor accept of it if he should be desired to it Hereupon his Highness treated the Deputies of Knighthood and Cities of Holland with a Royal Feast March 1. March 4. The frost which this Winter was very long now ceasing here happily arrived a great and exceeding rich Fleet of Merchandise with their Convoyes having laid long at the Isle of Wight fearing they might have been there arrested 14. Dito The Ambassador Meerman was sent to England for to prevent if possible the breach feared of which there was some hopes because the Ships were suffered without any molestation to depart from the Isle of Wight and the Embargo of their Ships in England was made nul and especially because many English and Scotch Ships obtained Pas for Holland On the other hand the mighty preparations made both in England and France promised but little good to come from these overtures for peace the rather because our Ambassador being come thither was certified there was little appearance thereof it now being too late which perhaps if had come sooner might have been attained 20. Dito Digby declared in France that by reason of Downings mistake his Master the King of England would be forced to begin the work two moneths before it was intended and it easily deserveth credit that it was not their design to declare themselves so soon so many Ships having so lately obtained Pasportâ— for Holland and the season of the year not yet fit for a Field expedition 22. Dito the Smirna's Messina's and Mallaga's Convoy returning with 50. Ships richly laden among which also were five Convoyers from Gales to whom the Convoy from Lisbon adjoâ—ned being 20. in number by a Catch from Zealand in the Chanel were warned not to sail into any of the English Havens or to trust their Ships whereupon they also made all things ready for defence the very same night 4. English Ships appeared shooting but without Bullet but soon after 12. more who fired with shot lustily on ours continuing all the next day and the day after being reinforced with other Ships they fell upon the Merchant Men but were so saluted that with their battered Ships and many slain they were constrained to return home paying dearly for their prey taken viz. one Smirna's one Messina's with two other Ships of small value all the rest getting safe into our Harbors being a wonderfull providence of God thus gently to awaken us seeing the whole Fleet was in danger to have fallen into their hands or we might have been warned with a greater disaster And though the King by this unexpected and unjust attacque did manifest what his purpose was yet would they seem to colour it upon pretence of unwillingnesse to strike and to have satisfaction by constraint But they were Enemies in heart as our foregoing observations do sufficiently declare especially the Kings Declaration of War following hereupon the 29. dito His Majesties Declaration against the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countreys Charles R. WE have been alwayes so zealous for the Quiet of Christendom and so carefull not to invade any other Kingdome or State that We hope the World will do Us the Justice to believe that it is nothing but inevitable necessity forceth Us to the resolution of taking up Armes Immediately upon Our Restauration to Our Crowns the first work We undertook was the establishing of Peace and the setling a good Correspondence between Us and Our Neighbours and in particular Our care was to conclude a strict League with the States General of the United Provinces upon such equal Terms as would certainly not have been broken if any obligations could have kept them within the bounds of Friendship or Justice This League was maintained inviolable on Our part But in the year 1664. we were stirred up by the Complaints of Our People and the unanimous Vote of Both Our Houses of Parliament finding it a vain attempt to endeavour the prosperity of Our Kingdoms by peaceable wayes at home whilst Our Subjects were still exposed to the Injuries and Oppressions of those States abroad That whole Summer was spent in Negotiations and endeavours on Our side to bring them to reasonable Terms which notwithstanding all We could do proved at length ineffectual for the more we pursued them with friendly Propositions the more obstinately they kept off from agreeing with us BON LEGNIGH KERPEN KAREL DE II by de Gratie Godts KONINCK van GROOT BRITTANIE In the West-Indies â—hey went a little further For by an Article in the same Treaty we were to restore Surinam into their hands and by Articles upon the place confirmed by that Treaty that they were to give Liberty to all Our Subjects in that Colony to Transport themselves and their Estates into any other of Our Plantations In pursuance of this Agreement We delivered up the Place and yet they detained all Our men in it onely Major Banister they sent away prisoner for but desiring to remove according to the Articles Our Ambassadour complaining of this behaviour after two years sollicitation obtained an Order for the performance of those Articles But when We sent Commissionerâ— and two Shipt to bring Our Men away the Hollanders according to their former practice in the business of Poleroon for above fourty years together sent private Orders contradictory to those they had owned to Us in Publick and so the onely effect of Our Commissioners journey thither was to bring away some few of the poorest of our Subjects and the Prayers and Cryes of the Most considerable and wealthiest of them for relief out of that Captivity After this We made Our Complaints by Our Letter in August last to the States General wherein We desired an Order to their Governours there for the full observance of those Articles yet to this time We could never receive one word of answer or satisfaction But it is no wonder that they venture at these Outrages upon Our Subjects in remote parts when they dare be so bold with Our Royal Person and the Honour of this Nation so near Us as in their own Countrey there being scarce a Town within their Territories that is not filled with abusive Pictures and false Historical Medals and Pillars some of which have been exposed to the publick view by command of the States themselves and in the very time when we were joyned with them in united Councels for the support of the Triple League and the Peace of Christendom This alone were cause sufficient for Our displeasure and the resentment of all Our Subjects But We are urged to it by considerations yet nearer to Us then what onely relates to our Self the Safety of Our Trade upon which the wealth and prosperity of our People depends the preservation of them abroad from violence and oppression and the Hollanders daring to affront us almost within Our very
Ports are the things which move Our just Indignation against them The Right of the Flagg is so ancient that it was one of the first Prerogatives of Our Royal Predecessors and ought to be the last from which this Kingdom should ever depart It was never questioned and it was expresly acknowledged in the Treaty at Breda and yet this last Summer it was not onely violated by their Commanders at Sea and that violation afterwards justified at the Hague but it was also represented by them in most Courts of Christendom as ridiculous for Us to demand An ungratefull Insolence That they should contend with Us about the Dominion of these Seas who even in the Reign of Our Royal Father thought it an Obligation to be permitted to Fish in them by taking of Licenses and for a Tribute and who owe their being now in a condition of making this Dispute to the Protection of Our Ancestors and the Valour and Bloud of their Subjects Notwithstanding all these provocations We patiently exspected Satisfaction not being willing to expose the Peace of Christendom for Our particular resentments whilest they ceased not on their parts to endeavour to provoke the most Christian King against Us of which they thought themselves so secure that for above these Twelve months their Ministers here have threatned Us with it At length hearing nothing from them We sent another Ambassador to them who after several pressing Memorials in Our Name could receive no Answer till after he had declared his Revocation Then they offered a Paper to this effect That in this Conjuncture they would condescend to Strike to Us if We would assist them against the French but upon conditiön that it should never be taken for a President hereafter to their prejudice Since the return of Our said Ambassador They have sent an Extraordinary One to Us who in a most extraordinary manner has given Us to understand That he can offer us no Satisfaction till he hath sent back to his Masters Wherefore despairing now of any good effect of a further Treaty We are compelled to take up Arms in Defence of the Ancient Prerogative of Our Crowns and the Glory and Safety of Our Kingdoms And We put Our Trust in God that He will give us His Assistance in this Our just Undertaking since We had no way left to defend Our People from the Artifice of that Nation in Peace but by the Valour of Our Subjects in War We have therefore thought fit to Declare and do hereby Declare That We will prosecute War both by Sea and Land against the States General of the United Provinces and all their Subjects and Inhabitants Hereby enjoyning Our most dear and entirely beloved Brother the Duke of York Our High Admiral Our Lieutenants of Our several Counties Governors of Our Forts and Garrisons and all other Officers and Soldiers under them by Sea and Land to oppose all the attempts of the States General of the United Provinces or their Subjects and to do and execute all Acts of hostility in the prosecution of this War against the said States General of the United Provinces their Vassals Subjects and Inhabitants Willing and Requiring all Our Subjects to take notice of the same Whom We henceforth straightly forbid on pain of Death to hold any Correspondence or Communication with the said States General or their Subjects those only excepted who are necessitated thereunto for the withdrawing their Persons and Estates out of the United Provinces And because there are remaining in our Kingdoms many Subjects of the States General of the United Provinces We do Declare and give Our Royal Word that all such of the Dutch Nation as shall demean themselves dutifully towards Us and not correspond with Our Enemies shall be safe in their Persons and Estates and free from all molestation and trouble of any kind And further We do Declare That if any of the Low-Countrey Subjects either out of Affection to Us or Our Government or because of the Oppression they meet with at home shall come into Our Kingdoms they shall be by Us protected in their Persons and Estates And whereas We are engaged by a Treaty to support the Peace made at Aix la Chappelle We do finally Declare That notwithstanding the prosecution of this War We will maintain the true Intent and Scope of the said Treaty and that in all the Alliances which We have or shall make in the progress of this War We have and will take care to preserve the Ends thereof inviolable unless provoked to the contrary Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 17. day of March in the 24. year of Our Reign 1672. This was published in London the 7. April and the very same day the French King Proclaimed War against this State which afterward was also done by the Bishop of Munster The frivolous reasons and idle pretences I referre to the judgement of the Reader it being sufficient barely to mention them LOUIS DE BOURBON DE XIIII by de gratie Godts KONINCK van VRANCKRYCK en Navarre etc The Declaration of the King of France by which his Majesty after resolution to make War upon the States of Holland forbiddeth all Correspondence or Trading with them 6. April 1672. By the King The dissatisfaction his Majesty hath had in the management of the States General of the United Provinces some years since in their actings toward him and it being come to that passe that his Majesty can no longer but with stain to his honour connive at the unworthinesse acted against him by such manner of doing which so little agreeth with the great obligations wherewith his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors have so liberaly filled up the measure unto them so that his Majesty hath declared and doth declare by these presents signed by his own hand that he hath arrested and fully resolved to make war with the said States General of the United Provinces both by Sea and Land To this end his Majesty commandeth all his Subjects Vassals and Servants to fall upon the Hollanders and hath doth forbid them from hence forward to hold any Correspondence Trade or Intelligence with them upon pain of Death And his Majesty to this end hath henceforward revoked and doth revoke all Permission Pasports Safegards or Free-passes which either by himself or his Deputies or other his Officers may have been granted contrary to these and accounts the same as null and of no worth forbidding all and everyone who ever they be to have any regard unto them And his Majesty commandeth and appointeth the Lord Earl of Vermandois Great-Master Head and Superintendent General of the Navigation and Commerce of this Kingdom The Marshà ls of France the Governors and Lieutenants General for his Majesty in his Provinces and Armies The Field-Marshà ls Colonels chief Officers Captains Heads and Leaders of his Soldiers whither Horse or Foot French or Strangers and all other Officers whom it may concern that they cause the Contents hereof to be executed every
the afternoon they departed from the Princes Leger to the King of France who yet lay encamped before Utrecht and followed the French Leger to the Bos being every where nobly entertained and complimented Where they the 16 dito renewed their treaty of Alliance thereby more nearly binding themselves to hearken to no propositions of Peace but with knowledge on both sides and to come to no agreement but with the satisfaction of both of which notice was to be given to the States by their Deputies as also by a Letter of the English Plenipotentiaries was done from Boxtel dito 17. the same being communicated to his Highness with an annex of the Articles upon which they might have peace Demands and Conditions on which his most Christian Majesty would make Peace with the States General of the United Provinces THat the Proclamations formerly put forth by the States General forbidding the French Wines and Brandewine with all the impositions upon French Wares and Manufactures be revoked That within 3. months a Treaty of Commerce between his Majesty and the said States shall be concluded wherein also shall be comprehended the regulating of the French and Holland East and West Indies Companies 2. That for the future throughout all the United Provinces not onely a full liberty But also shall the publick exercise of the Romish Catholick Apostolical Religion so that in all places where more than one Church shall be one be given over to the Catholicks To whom also it shall be permitted to build one where there is none and they shall have liberty untill such time as the Church shal be built openly to celebrate Divine service in such houses as they shall to that end buy or hire That by the States General or every Province in particular a reasonable maintenance out of the Goods which have formerly belonged to the Church or such like be allotted to the Pastor or Priest in every of the said Churches 3. And forasmuch as the Deputies of the said States sent to his Majesty have for special reasons desired that it would please him by the Peace to permit the Body of the United Netherlands to remain in the State so as hitherto it hath been and thereupon in change to give unto his Majesty for the Conquests wherewith it hath pleased God to blesse his just War they have offered to him in stead of the Provinces Cities and Places which his Majesty already possesseth to quit unto him other Lands Cities and Places which in Brabant and Flanders by the Spaniard have been delivered up to them His Majesty although he be now Master of three whole of the 7. Provinces in the United Netherlands together with some of the Places and Posts in Holland hath willed for to preserve the said seven Provinces in their first Union to restore unto them what by his forces he hath posessed himself of in the said Provinces excepting what here under shall be specified and upon the following conditions 4. That the said States shall quit unto his Majesty generally all the Provinces Cities and Places which they have in Flanders and Brabant and those that have been quitted to them by the Spaniard onely excepting Sluce and the Iland of Casant 5. The said States also shall quit to his Majesty the City Nimwegen with the depencdencies and all belonging to it The Fort Knotsenburg Schenckenscons and the part of the Province of Gelderland lying on this side the Rhijn as to France together with the whole Island of Bommel the Island and Fort of Voorne the Fort St. Andries and the Castle of Louvestein and the Fort Crevecoeur 6. The said States also shall quit to his Majesty Grave with its dependencies and all belonging to it and shall give unto him the propriety of the City and the County Meurs to dispose thereof according to his pleasure with condition that the said States shall indemnifie the Prince of Orange as to the said County and other Places Cities and Countries belonging to the said Prince but yeelded up to his Majesty 7. That the said States shall yeeld to his Majesty all such claim as they may have had or could pretend unto in those places which his Majesty hath taken from the said States in the Empire that also they yeeld the same in favour of the Prince and Earl of East Friesland of all such claims as they have or may pretend unto in such Places as they possesse in his Land as namely the City Embden The Sconse van Leer-oort and the Ylersconse out of which they shall recall their Garrisons 8. That also it shall be permitted to the Subjects of his Majesty in all those Countries Cities and Places of the States General which have been yielded up to his Majesty to go in and out both by Water and by Land Rivers and Streams without paying any due or imposition or be subject to be visited as to their goods bagage munition of war and provision what soever 9. The said States shall oblige themselves to the Order and Religion of Malta to cause to be restored unto the said Order all the Rights which shall be found belonging unto them 10. The said States shall promise to cause the Children of the Earl of Bentem to be restored to him which by the authority and protection of the said States are by the Countesse wife of the Earl of Bentem detained from him notwithstanding his often requesting the same thereto also obtaining the Letters of the Emperor and of his most Christian Majesty for the restoring of them 11. The said States shall promise to indemnifie his Majesty of part of the excessive Charges he hath been necessitated to in this War and pay unto him within the time that shall be agreed upon the some of 20. millions and then his Majesty will acquit them of the three millions with all the intrest thereof which they owe unto his Majesty for the said sum his Majesties Father of happy memory had lent unto them Anno 1651. 12. That in acknowledgment of the Peace which his Majesty is willing then to grant unto them when he could have made his Conquests further in their Country The said States hall every year by an Ambassador Extraordinary upon a certain stipulated day cause to be presented to him a Golden Medal weighing a mark which shall contain that they hold the preservation of the same Freedom from his Majesty which the Kings his Predecessors have helped them to obtain 13. That although his Majesty doth declare to content himself with the foresaid Conditions in case they be accepted within 10. dayes after which his Majesty pretendeth to bee no longer obliged thereto neverthelesse herewith he gives to wit that although the same should be owned by the States they shall not be of any force and that his Majesty will enter upon no Treaty of Cessation or of Peace before such time as the King of England on his account shall receive satisfaction from the said States and that the Princes
of the Empire allied with his Majesty in this war shall likewise be content with the Condition that shall by the States be offered unto them Here followeth a further Amplication of the forenamed Articles ANd that it may appear by the choyce of more Conditions than one how uprightly his Majesty had been pleased to present to the said States General divers wayes for to obtain the Peace they desired of him and not to bring so far as was in his power the pretences which he justly might by force of Arms and the continuance of his Victories Therefore his Majesty declareth that without standing precisely to the offers which here before have by the said States been made as also the Conditions which by form of alternative he had required of them He will content himself with keeping all the Conquests his Majesty at present possesseth together of those he may further Conquer untill that the said States shall have consented to these Conditions to wit the whole Province and Dukedom of Gelderland belonging to the States the Province of Utrecht and County Zutphen all the Cities Places and Fortresses which are in the said Provinces their appendencies and what belongeth to them without exception the Soveraignties of the Provinces Lands Cities and Places conquered by his Majesty with the appendencies and all belonging thereto to remain for the future for ever to his Majesty And to the end the said Conquests Countries and Places delivered up to his Majesty may the better be brought to a capacity through the assistance of the Empire to be strenthened the said States shall renounce all Soveragnity over the Cities Mastricht and the Wijcke as also of what they now hold in Overmase Dalen Fouquemont and the Country belonging to the Bos together the City and Meyerije of the said Bos and all what belongeth to the appendices thereof with the Fort Crevecoeur And that the Treaty upon the last Terms might serve not onely to re-establish the friendships and alliance between his Majesty and the said States but to procure the rest and tranquility of the Empire which his Majesty as Guardian and conserver of the Treaties of Westphalia doth in speciall lay to heart his Majesty will promise after the Peace made to renounce in favour to the Princes of the Empire to all that right which by law of Armes may appertain unto him as to those Places which his Majesty hath taken from the States in the precinct of the Empire his Majesty reserving onely to himself the liberty to demolish the fortification thereof But forasmuch as his Majesty will of himself contribute to re-establis the Princes of the Empire in the free possession of the Cities and Places belonging to them therefore he hath also willed to procure that the said States General shall draw forth their Garrisons out of the Cities Places which they hold as yet in the Empire namely the City Embden the Fort of Leer-oort and Ilersconse which shall be delivered up to the Prince and Earl of East-Friesland with all the Priviledges appertaining in respect of the said County and to the end that the needfull correspondence between France the City Maestricht which is to be given up to his Majesty may be for the future no occasion of Contest It shall be by both parties estipulated to endeavour a grounded and free passage for the Troups of his Majesty from the French Frontiers to the said Maestricht from the Elector of Ceulen as Prince and Bishop of Luyck yet upon condition not to make use of the passages but with paying what charges they are at that the Country be not burthened Furthermore the Articles mentioned in the former notition shall remain in full as they are even that concerning the quitting of the City and County Meurs onely excepting those that concern the delivery up of other Lands and Places to be made by the said States to his Majesty Demands and Conditions upon which the King of England would consent to make Peace with the States General of the United Provinces 1. THe King of England understands that the Hollanders without any gainfaying shall give unto him the honor of the Flag yea so as their whole Fleet shall strike and let fall their Top-sail for any one English Ship bearing the Flag of his Majesty throughout the whole British Sea even to the Coasts of Holland 2. Free permission for a whole year to all English that remained in the Colony of Surinam to depart thence when they shall desire with all their goods of what nature soever they be according to the Treaty of Breda 3. Perpetual banishment out of all the Territories of the United Provinces of all the Kings Subjects that are declared guilty of Crimen Laesae Majestatis together with all other which shall be noted by his Majesty to have published seditious Libels or otherwise to have conspired against the Peace and tranquility of his Kingdoms 4. Restoring to his Majesty the expences of the war to the sum of one million of pounds sterling whereof 400000. shall be paid between this and the month October next ensuing and the rest by 400000. pounds sterling every year 5. A yearly pay for ever of 10000 pounds sterling for the grant they shall have from the King to catch Herrings upon the Coasts of England Scotland and Yreland 6. The present Prince of Orange and his Successors shall have the Souveragnity of the United Netherlands excepting of what shall fall to the share of the Two Kings and their Allies or shall at least enjoy for ever the honour of Admiral General and Stadtholder in the highest degree that hath by the foregoing Princes been enjoyed 7. That within three moneths after the Peace a Treaty of Commerce shall be made as well to the regulating of Trade in India according to demands formerly made as to the advance of the Subjects of his Majesty in their trading going coming or habituating in any of the Countries belonging to the said States and with such advantagious conditions as are agreed unto the Nations most in favour 8. The Island of Walcheren the City and Castle of Sluce with its dependencies the Island of Cassant that of Goeree and the Island of Voorne shall be put into the hands of his Majesty by way of Caution for the performing of the Conditions before specified 9. And however his Majesty declareth to content himself with the foresaid Conditions in case the same be within ten dayes accepted after which his Majesty understands himself no longer obliged Nevertheless he doth peremtorily declare that although the said States should accept them yet they shall be of no force nor that his Majesty will make any Treaty of Peace or Cessation before such time as the most Christian King shall in his regard by the said States have received satisfaction as also that the Princes of the Empire allied with his Majesty in this War shall be contented with the Conditions presented to them by the said States I believe there
one in his Place throughout their command and Jurisdiction for such is his Majesties pleasure who willeth that these shall be published and affixed in all his Cities and Sea-Coast Towns and in all Havens and other Places of his Kingdom where it shall be requisite that none may pretend ignorance hereof Acted in the Castle of Versailles the 6. April 1672. Signed Louis and yet lower Le Tellier It is ordered that Charles Canto sworn Herald of the King shall Proclaim and cause to be affixed in all places of this City Suburbs Provostships and Markgraefships of Paris where need shall require this Ordinance of the King of the 6. of this present moneth and year that no ignorance be pretended Signed De la Reinie Read and proclaimed at the sound of Trumpet together by affixion in all the common and extraordinary Cross-streets and Suburbs of Paris by me Charles Canto Ordinary sworn Herald of the King in the said City Provostships and Markgraefships of Paris in proclaiming whereof I was accompanied with five Trumpetters viz. Prosme Trousson Endime du Bos sworn Trumpetters of this King and three more on Thursday the 7. April 1672. Subscribed CANTO Now it was high time to hasten all warlike preparations the Ambassadors of the States the Lord Meerman and D'Groot returning from England and France re infecta and the Generals being chosen both of the French and our Armies The Generals of the French Army The Army of the King â—…nsieur the Duke of Orleans Gene-Mralissimo â—…arshal de Turenne Captain General Earl of Soisons Marquis de Rochefort Earl of Lude Earl or Gadaigne Duke de la Favillades Earl de Lorge Lieutenants General Chevalier de Loraine Marquis de Genlis Martinet de Montal Field-marshals The Army of the Peince of Conde Marshal d'Humieres de Bellefonds Captains General Foucault de St. Arbre Earl de Guiche Lieutenants General Earl du Plessis du Nogent Magalotti Field-marshals The Army of the Marshal de Crequi Mons de Nancre Lieutenant General Earl de Vaubrun Monsieur du Plessis Field-marshals Duke of Luxenburgh General of the Army of the Confederates Mons de la Valiere Field-marshal Mons le Brest Field-marshal towards Catalonia Mons d'Elbeuf General of a Body at the Sea-side The King before the setting forth of the Army having commanded the Marshals d'Humieres Bellefonds and Crequi that if the Armies come to be conjoyned or in absence of the Princes of the Bloud they should for the time of this expedition submit to the orders of Turenne which they excusing were put by in disgrace and Chamely Gadaigne and Navaile put in their room but after some time the former were replaced yet with promise of submission to Turenne Generals of the Army of the States of the United Provinces The Prince of Orange Captain General Prince Maurits and the Lord Wirts Field-marshals The Rijngrave Senior General of the Horse The Lord of Zuilestein General of the Foot The Earl of Hornes General of the Artillery John van Welderen Earl of Nassau Lieutenant Generals of the Horse Alua The Earl Koningsmarck Lieutenants Generals of the Foot Mombas Steenhuyse Commissary Generals of the Horse Kirpatrick the Earl of Stirum Sergeant Majors Afterward was chosen for the third Field-marshal the Earl of Waldeck and Kuylenburg The 13. dito The State proclaimed a general fast against the 4. of May and so forwards to be kept upon every first Wednesday of the Month and it was resolved to encrease the Militia both for the State in general as also for Holland in particular of which capitulations were formed to raise them of outlandish Soldiers Also some of our Foot Regiments were sent over to the Spaniards to be in Garrison in Namen Valencijn and other places and on the other hand to us came some Regiments of Spanish Horse of which some Companies were sent to Mastricht 16. dito The Elector of Colen published a Manifest though his whole Country of Colen and Luyck was already a Magasin for France that he would maintain neutrality forbidding the acting of any hostility against the Subject of this State unto all in his Dominion but in truth this was onely done for to deceive us 26. dito Was the time appointed for the sitting of the Parliament at London which instantly was prorogued without doing of any thing to the 30. of Octob. and in place of Ayscue deceased Sr. Joseph Jordan was placed jin the Fleet to which the Duke of York went the 29. dito to set to Sea and the Duke of Monmouth prepared himself for France there to command those of the English Nation and in special his own Regiment in the Kings Army and soon after departed with many of the Gentry 27. dito After that the French King had for a long time been raising an huge Host which was esteemed to amount to above 300000. men which reckoning all the Pages Lacquyes Coachmen Carriers Boyes Krauwels Pioniers Women Trosses and Whores might well be for the Muster-rowles amounted to 146270. Soldiers at least with Mortepaise huge Artillery with an incredible quantity of Provision and Ammonition both at home and in diverse Magasins abroad Thus his Majesty having committed the management of the Kingdom to the Queen and her Council departed from Paris the 27. of April with the Marshal Turenne three dayes together being spent in transporting of the Treine and Bagage for which were imployed 40000. Horses with a sufficient number of Carts and waggons The 28. dito the Duke Orleans with many Grandees followed who took their march with his Majesty by Nantevil Soisons Lion Rocroy and the 5. of May arrived at Charleroy The same day the Prince of Conde passed by la Ferte and Reims and arrived the 30. at Sedan for to come down with an Army apart In the mean while much shipping came down the Moesel and Rijne for to bring all manner of necessaries past Colen unto their Magasin at Nuys great numbers also longst the Mase to Luyck and the Troups which lay spread abroad thoughout the Country of Colen were now called together to Nuys and the Bishop of Munster also gathered his Soldiery together preparing for the Field May the 6. at Colen on the Spree a treaty of mutual assistance and defence was concluded between Brandenburg and the Lord of Amerongen in which Brandenburg engaged to raise for the defence of this State 20000. men to wit 12000. Foot and eight thousand Horse to which Holland was to furnish the half of the levie mony viz. 120000. Rijcksdollers and for the pay of every Regiment consisting of 500. Horse 4977. Rijcksdollers to stulvers and every Regiment of Foot consisting of a 1000. 4214. Rijcksdollers 4. stuivers per Month besides for the Artillery and other inevitable expences 14841. Rijcksdollers per Month being together 79543. Rijcksdollers per Month with proviso that Brandenburg at his charges should provide 50. pieces with all the Ammunition and Artillery thereto belonging obliging himself 2 months after the receipt of the first
payment to have his Army in readiness There was a Treaty also with the Princes of Lunenburg but without effect in the mean while our Army gathered near the Yssel about Doesburg and the retrenchment alongst the Yssel was compleated whither the Prince with most of the chief Commanders came and the Forts at Staphorst and Rouveen were with all diligence forwarded and the Army mustered 9. dito The French King having made a review of his Army near Charleroy sent the Marshal Turenne with 15000. men 4000. Wagons and 27. Canons to march to the great Cassey by Luyck and Mastricht and himself followed with the gros of the Army and on the 11 12. and 13. dito having lodged in three several places of the Spanish bounds came the 14. dito into the countrey of Luyk passing near by Navagne and arrived the 18. dito at Visé where he stayed and beset Tongeren with French Soldiers In the interim dito 16 the Avantguard under Marshal Turrenne had surrounded and shot upon Maseyck requiring them to deliver it up and nothing regarding the Luyckish neutrality possessed himself thereof and Turenne entring it said that there a Magasin for the King must be erected and serve for a pas to the Armies so departing presently the French fell at work to fortify the Town demolishing whatever stood in their way Hereby Mastricht was as good as blockt up and the rather because Condé came on the other side of Mastricht with an Army of 35000. men which was come marching from Sedan through Ardennes longst the overside of the Mase so that it seemed they intended to assault Mastricht of which there was no great fear seeing it was well provided with all things necessary and had a Garrison of 12000. Soldiers besides the Citizens 14. dito Upon the advice that our Fleet was at Sea which at Schoonevelt yet waited for some of our ships and that the French Vice Admiral the Earl d'Estré was come to Wight The English Fleet under the Duke of York made out to Sea to joyn with them which had not our Fleet come a little too late might have been prevented one of them that followed falling in our hands was sent up to Rotterdam Our Fleet crossing there about some time and seeing the Enemies Fleet came not out returned back to our coasts 18. dito The Bishop of Munster desirous to share in the ensuing war published upon frivolous pretences a Westphalian Declaration of War against this State Declaration of his Grace the Bishop of Munster against the States of the United Provinces BE it known that forasmuch as by intercepted Letters and Persons detained in Prison and by many other wayes it is confessed and made evident that in the United Provinces many have been induced and misted through mony and great promises of reward to labour by themselves and their adherents to corrupt and by great soms of mony to entice the Servants and Officers of our Gracious Lord of Munster and Convey to fire the Forts Cities and especially the Magasins of his Highness and through such horrid crimes to make the Senses possessors of his Grades Forts and Cities and to debauch his Soldiers from their oath duty having stirred up â—…ellion CHARLEROY MAESTRIGHT and revolts by such damnable wayes yea have also not feared to conspire against the very life it self of his Grace committing Crimen Assasinatus against his Graces Person Which thing also horrible to relate hath in his Country Cities Forts Lordships Towns and Villages been practised many places set on fire as verily suspected to have been atchieved by these evill Doers as hath been confessed and ocularly appeared So as such horrid actions have scarce ever been perpetrated by Barbarians and Turks Wherefore his Grace both in care to his own Person as also to preserve asmuch as possible may be his Graces Cities Forts Lordships Towns and Subjects in the Country from further dammage doth command most graciously and earnestly all his High and Low Officers whiter Civil or Military all his common Soldiers and Subjects most strictly to take care that none of these incendiaries and traytors be suffered to enter his Grates Dominions which if any shall presume to seize upon them and deliver them to the nearest Garrisons and whoever shall bring in any one of these shall have a recompence of 100. Rijcksdollers But to the end that hereby other honest and well-meaning people be not hindred to come into his Highnesse Dominions for to Trade in his Graces Cities and Country they are required to signifie unto the Commanders and Officers where they first arrive the cause of their coming that so they may drive their trade and businesse in his Graces Dominions having before obtained a Pas from them His often before mentioned Grace doth also command the more carefully and with assurance to prevent all treachery upon the highest arbitrary and after conviction upon pain of corporal punishment as also confiscation of Goods that no man of what state or quality soever within his Jurisdiction thither Ecclesiastical or Laick Civil or Military person do without consent granted correspond with any of the said Netherlands by interchange of Letters or Commerce so as all trading with them is from hence forward unlawfull and that no man may pretend ignorance thereby to excuse himself these presents shall in all our Cities Towns Lordships and Villages as also in all Garrisons and elsewhere be publickly from the Pulpit proclaimed and afterward in usual Places affixed that every one may have knowledge hereof witnesse our own hand and printed secret Seal Subscribed at his residence in Ludgersburg the 18. May 1672. Christoff Bernhardt Locus Sigilli 18. dito Here happily arrived the Fleet from St. Ubal about 80. sail of which some that went towards the East Sea were taken by Scotch Capers The same dito the States did of their meer bounty set at liberty all the detained English and Scotch ships which about the time of the breach and some while after were with pas from the Duke of York come hither to the number of 70. Merchant men and more allowing them freely to depart with ships and lading which the States by their last agreement were not bound to do but might according to the Law of Arms have made them prize The day following the States chose Officers for the raising of four Regiments and gave the Commander Stockheim an order to raise one Regiment more also a part of our Foot that had been quartered in the Spanish Netherland returned home and the rest followed soon after All Holland through the Pesants were armed and mustered and 1375. of them were sent from North-Holland to the Yssel 18. dito in open field the King of France held a great Councel of War with all his High Officers and concluded to keep Mastricht blockt up with 20000. men and to march with the gros of the Army to the Rijn Whereupon Condé the 21. dito brake up with his Army passing through Gulicker-land
at the time of the besieging of Groeningen the Fort Delf-zijl had the hap to be furnished with powder and shot out of East-India the better to defend the ships Suddenly many Smack-boats were sent thither to take out the finest Wares and to bring them home over the Wadden and our Ships of War went to the Eems to fetch off these India Ships all which by a special providence arrived at their several Ports without any hinderance and the Fleet returned again to Zealand And it is very remarkable that the English who had so long lurked for to prey upon our East-Indie ships themselves of which the certain news came the 17. August lost a very rich Indie ship of their own called the Faulcon being taken by a Zealand Caper and brought up at Bergen in Norway esteemed to be worth 1500000. gildens After this nothing was done by both Fleets the design of the Enemy which was to Land on our Coasts being continually hindered by hard weather in the mean while our Capers which at the beginning of the War were not permitted with many other that had Commission from Zealand went out to Sea and yet daily do which already have so much endammaged the French and especially the English that their losse is rated at many millions The condition of the remainder of our Country we left under the sad tumult of the Inhabitants by which all things were like to come into a lamentable confusion and if I judge not a misse in greater peril than through the Armies of the French every moment we being in danger to strand upon the blind Rocks of the incensed vulgar of which the effects were so many and diverse that it would be too confused and tedious a work to rehearse or read them it will be sufficient to relate the chiefest by which may easily be judged of the rest Upon the general insurrection of the Citizens against the Magistrates it was in some Cities published and Letters from his Highnesse divulged dated the 9. July wherein the Citizens were commanded to abstain from such manner of proceedings and to let things remain as formerly they were upon pain of displeasure and to be punished as disturbers of the common peace it being an intrenchemend on his Highnesse authority as Stadholder whose office it is to dispose of the concerns of the Magistracy wherefore if any in the Regency were guilty they might be orderly charged and being found guilty should be according to desert punished Hereupon the Citizens expected that his Highness would make a general reformation in the Government but nothing came of it and no wonder for this Iron was too hot for him to lay hold on the time not be suitable to begin a work of such consequence Nevertheless the Commons would so have it and therefore they set upon the work again Rotterdam and Dort displaced the most part of the Magistrates and nominated others in their room and in many other places by threatning Petitions the restitution of their Old Priviledges laid by were required Delf was taken in by the Pesants of Maesland and the Magistrates constrained to give them and the Citizens satisfaction The like was done at der Gou and at der Tholen the Pesants came to alter the Magistrates At Zierickzee they brake the windows of the Town-house but the Citizens shut out the Pesants that were entring themselves emptying the Town-house shutting it up and displacing all the Magistrates At Middle-borough the Citizens and common people had set upon the Magistrates till such time the Pefants came brake open the City gates and lifting up the Doors from off the Bars drew 7. of the Lords without the City whom they would not let go till they had received satisfaction Vlissingen and ter Vere also turned all upside down and at ter Goes the Citizens rose up against some whom they termed Traytors Leyden was deep in the reformation deposing all their Lords and shut up the Town-house Haerlem did not much lesse In North-Holland the Women themselves very busy to have things ordered to their mind At Amsterdam also were meetings at their Doelens some of whom not satisfyed to have occasioned great trouble in the Church by following of Labadie who now is said to be married with the Lady of Sommelsdick were ring-leaders also to do the like in the Policy But the Magistrates according to their wonted wisdom desirous to prevent the storm approaching resigned the whole Government and every one his charge to the free disposal and pleasure of his Highness who seeing the unavoidable necessity for the common peace did according to the resolution of the States General in date of 7. August take in hand the altering of the Magistracy disposing thereof in some Cities as he thought best himself in others he chose out some of them that were upon nomination in some he did it by Commissioners which notwithstanding gave not full content to all but much dissatisfaction still remained which was not a little fomented by such as imagined themseves injuried by this alteration But blessed be God this drew no further disaster along with it and that the Government was in some measure brought to a more setled posture by putting by such as the commons suspected What concerns the plundrings and personal assaultings they were diverse whereby also the greatest of the Land were in jeopardy as Burgemaster Graaf the Ambassador de Groot the Lord of Beverning yea the ancient Prince Maurice himself yea such was the rage of the vulgar as they threatned to plunder the house of Admiral de Ruyter which also was really done to many of the Magistrates houses in diverse Cities but it shall suffice to note in its place one example thereof happened at the Hague the 20. August After the King of France his departure the quitting of the siege before the Bos the breaking up of Turrennes Leger and the delivery of Groeningen no great matter of concern passed between us and the Enemy except some skirmishes of which I will note the principal as they fell out 22. July the Ambassador de Groot who was the chief of the Commissioners sent to the King of France silently departed the Land with his Family as perceiving that the change of time would not permit the transactions with France to go forward his Highnesse not being altogether satisfyed with him therein but disavowing the same declared that he was ready to defend his Country to the utmost and to hazard life and all for the same De Groot wrote a Letter to the State in way of excuse that he was onely retired for to escape the machinations of his enemies and the rage of the vulgar by which for some while he had been in perill of being overwhelmed That all his services had been improved for the good of the Land neither would yet undertake any thing to the prejudice of the State GRONINGEN 26. dito The Frieses under Alua were unawares assaulted by 13. Standards of the Bishop between