the Ratifications of the Peace with Spain and Holland whether any other of the Allies on each side were included or no And the Negotiation had been managed in that manner till the very Day before the Treaty was to be Signed without any apparent Thoughts of a clear Explanation of the Points when the Marquess de les Balbases having either found or made some occasion of enquiring more particularly into the Intentions of France concerning it bethought himself of an Explanation as to the Time of the Restitution of the said Places And in order thereunto went first to the Dutch Embassadors to sound their Opinions upon that Snbject who made Answer That if the French pretended to delay the Restitution beyond the Exchange of the Ratifications it was a Thing not meant by them And thereupon going immediately to the French Embassadors to give them their Explications which they would send to the States-General by an â—xpress The latter made no Difficulty of declaring That the King their Master being obliged to see an entire Restitution made to the Swedes of all they had lost in the War could not evacuate the Towns in Flanders till those to the Swedes were likewise restored and that this Detention of Places was the only Means to induce the Princes of the North to accept of the Peace without demanding that the same Powers who only accepted the Conditions of the Peace That they might as soon as they could disingage themselves from the Misfortunes of the War should engage any other Means for procuring that Satisfaction The Dutch Embassadors having received the States Answer hereupon did June 25. declare to those of France That they could not Sign the Peace without the King did remit his Pretensions and evacuate the Towns upon the Ratifications of the Treaty But the French Embassadors on the other side were firm and said Their Orders were to insist upon the Satisfaction of the Swedes This strange Procedure of theirs made the States send to Monsieur Van Lewen at London to acquaint the King with it and to know his Resolution upon so momentous a Point who was at first hard to believe it but finding the same confirmed by the French Ambassador he was surprized and angry and thereupon sent Sir William Temple into Holland with a Commission to Sign a Treaty with the States by which they should be obliged to carry on the War and he to enter into it in case France did not consent within a certain Time limited to evacuate the Towns which Treaty after he had once fallen into the Negotiation he concluded happily in the Space of 6 Days and the Particulars whereof because I never saw them yet in English and that they may give some Light to this Affair I shall here insert HAGUE July 26. 1678. AS the States-General of the Vnited Provinces after having declared by their Letters to the most Christian King That they consented to the Conditions of Peace as far as in them lay which he had offered them and that his Catholick Majesty who was also of the same Sentiment was willing on his part so far as it regarded him to embrace the same Treaty and having upon that Head used all the Facility that could be and to that End ordered his Embassadors at Nimeguen to set their Hands to those Conditions so far as it related to them as well as the other Allies who were also willing to be comprehended therein have nevertheless understood with much Concern of Mind that the Ministers of France have opposed the same and refused the Restitution of the Places which belonged to Spain and the States without they would first and for the Satisfaction of Sweden restore also those Places which had been taken from them during the Course of the War This so unexpected a Change having obliged the States to believe That Pretensions so ill grounded were rather an Effect of the Repugnancy that might be in the Plenipotentiaries than the real Intentions of his Majesty who had otherwise explained himself and as the said States did besides inform his Majesty of Great Britain of the Essential Point that obstructed that important Negotiation praying him to support so just a Cause and to endeavour to obtain of his most Christian Majesty all that might remove the Obstacles which retarded that Work And adding withal That if his Endeavours should prove fruitless in so just a Work he would be pleased to protect and assist them with all his Forces and that his Majesty did thereupon re-assure them that the Peace was neither just nor feasible upon those Conditions and gave them his Promise That he would defend them if the most Christian King refused it under any Pretence whatsoever Upon that the States gave Orders to their Plenipotentiaries to desire those of France That without making those exorbitant Demands or insisting upon Satisfaction to Sweden they would forthwith conclude and sign the Treaty which they were also ready to do in the Name of the States if his Majesty after the Ratification and Publishing of the Peace would give up unto them all those Places without precending any Restitution to the Swedes of what they had lost since the War With this View and in order to prevent those dangerous Consequences that may arise from such Delay it is agreed between his Britannick Majesty and the States That if their Offices and Endeavours do not surmount these Remora's and if they cannot get the most Christian King to declare before the 11th of Aug. that he will really restore those Places after the Ratification and Publishing of the said Treaty without any further insisting upon these Pretensions of the Swede by a speedy Evacuation of those that ought to be restored by Virtue of that Peace It is then agreed and these Two Powers do agree to declare War against France and to compel her thereto with their joint Forces according to the Conditions stipulated underneath or such as shall be hereafter established between them or with other Princes who shall enter into this Engagement And as his most Christian Majesty hath often declared to his Britannick Majesty as a common Mediator between the Parties in Difference That he would readily embrace a Peace that could be made upon reasonable Terms yet his good Offices and Hopes have not been able to produce the Fruits wished for through the new Pretensions that have been continually raised His said Majesty and the States-General assembled July 26. 1678. believing and being perswaded that Repose cannot be given to Christendom if the Princes who are in War should accept of those Conditions and if as to what concerns Spain and France the latter do not render to the other Charleroy Aeth Audenard Courtray Tournay Conde Valenciennes St. Gistain Binch the Dutchy of Limbourg c. with their Bailywicks Chatellines Governments Provostships Appurtenances and Dependances so as to restore them and put them into the Hands of Spain And as for what concerns the Emperor the Empire and its
about the latter End of Sept. surrendred up to the Imperial Army for want of Provisions having been blocked up and besieged from the Beginning of June And this indeed happened as much against the common Opinion and Expectation as the contrary Event did in the Siege of Maestricht The Affairs of Denmark and Brandenburg prospered all this while against Sweden who was in Alliance with France and that with much Advantage in most of the Sieges and Encounters that passed between them this Summer and the first part of the succeeding Winter So that the Swedes seemed to be losing apace all that they had been so long in Possession of in Germany But the Imperial Forces tho' joined with those of the several Princes upon the Vpper Rhine had for all that made but little Progress in their designed Conquests there and were forc'd to seek their old Winter-Quarters upon the German side of the River which was no less a true and indisputed Decision of the small Success of this Campagne than it was a powerful Motive to incline some of the Confederates to think more seriously of a Peace and particularly the Dutch who began now to grow very impatient after it especially in that they found France would make no great Difficulty in granting them any thing in Contest between them seeing they privately made Offers by their Emissaries especially at Amsterdam of such a Reglement of Commerce as they themselves could wish for the Restitution of Maestricht and all the Satisfaction imaginable to the Prince of Orange that he could pretend to upon the account of his Losses and their Seisure in the Course of this War year 1677 To return therefore to the Business of the Peace It was about the middle of Feb. 1677. N. S. before the Assembly was compleatly formed the King of England's single Mediation by all Parties accepted and that of the Pope's finally rejected the several Acts signed put into the Hands of the Mediators and by them exchanged among the several Parties And all these Preliminaries of the Treaty being thus dispatch'd the respective Embassadors did also by Agreement put into the same Hands their several Propositions or Pretensions which on the Emperor's part were That the King and Kingdom of France should restore to him and to the Empire and to all his Allies whatever they had taken from them during the Course of this present War make Reparation for all the Damages they had suffered and that a Peace should be established upon the best and surest Grounds that could be devised France in theirs seemed to demand little of the Empire only they said That the King having desired nothing more passionately than the Religious Observation of the Treaties of Westphalia his Majesty would gladly see Germany a second time owe the Re-establishment of its Repose to the Observation of the same Treaties and for that Effect he demanded they might be fully and entirely re-established The Spaniards insisted upon the Restitution of all the Places they had lost and Reparation for all the Damages they had sustained from France since the Year 1665 whether by Sea or Land by demolishing burning or otherwise and that the French King should give compleat Satisfaction to all the Confederates and by three different Articles demanded the same thing of the Swedes Whereas France on the other side said That their King being contrary to Justice and the Obligation of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle attack'd by the Catholick King his Majesty had reason to pretend that in respect to that Crown all things should remain in the Condition the Fortune of War had put them without Prejudice to the King 's Rights which were to continue still in full Force and Power The Danes insisted That France should give them compleat Satisfaction and reimburse all the Charges of the War and by Four Articles required of the Swedes That betwixt the Two Kings and Two Kingdoms all Things should be restored in the same State they were in before the War that was ended between the Two Nations by the Treaties of Westphalia That the Treaties of Rochilde and Copenhagen should be abolished That all the Provinces which had been dismembred from Denmark and Norway should be restored to the Danes That all that the Swedes possess'd in the Empire should be taken from them That Wismar and the Isle of Rugen should remain in the Possession of the Danes And that for the Security of his Danish Majesty and his Kingdoms they might be allowed to put Garrisons into all the strong Places of Sweden that lay upon the Frontiers of the Two Kingdoms But France on her side proposed That seeing the King had not declared War against the King of Denmark but that his Danish Majesty running contrary to the Treaty of Copenhagen made in the Year 1660 for Performance whereof the King was Guarrantee had attack'd Sweden his most Christian Majesty was willing to desist from all Hostilities on his part provided that the foresaid Treaty and those of Westphalia were re-established As to what concerned France and the States-General tho' in truth Things were as good as agreed between them before the latter demanded that Maestricht Dalen Fangumont with all the Dependancies of the first should be restored to them A Reglement of Commerce with a Renunciation of all Pretensions each Party might have upon the other And as for the greater Damages they had sustained and whereof they might demand Reparation they were willing for the publick Tranquility to sacrifice them all provided Satisfaction might be given to their Allies To this were added Sixteen Articles concerning a full Satisfaction to be made the Prince of Orange in regard to what depended on the Crown of France and particularly the Restauration of the Fortifications of the City of Orange that were ruined in the Year 1660 and of the Castle demolished in 1663 the Rights of Toll upon Salt and other Commodities as well upon the Rhosne as through the Principality of Orange the Prerogative of Coining Money of Laick Patronage for Nomination to the Bishoprick together with the Exemptions Priviledges and other Immunities granted to the Inhabitants of the said Principality and particularly by Lewis XIII And as for Sweden they required no more but that the future Treaty might contain some Regulations for obviating the frequent Inconveniencies that happened concerning Commerce between the Two Nations To which France on her part answered That seeing the Union that had always been between the Crown of France and the States was only interrupted upon account of some Causes of Discontent which were easie in the present Posture of things to be removed and for the future prevented His Majesty was very ready to restore the States to his former Amity and to hearken favourably to all Propositions that might be made to him on their part both in respect to their Demands of Restitution Treaty of Commerce and the Re-establishment of the Prince of Orange tho' the French Embassadors occasionally opposed
the Pretentions of the Count d'Auvergne thereunto demanding That his Marquisate and Town of Bergen-op-Zoom should be restored to all the Rights of Sovereignty which the other Towns of Holland enjoyed conform to the Treaties of the Pacification of Chent The Elector of Brandenburg demanded That France should make Reparation for the Damages his Territories had suffered by the French Forces during the Course of this War That all Security should be given him for the same Territories And that all his Allies should be comprehended in the general Treaty But the French had no Propositions to make to the Elector besides those that were made to the Emperor and the Empire which comprehended the full Performance of the Treaties of Westphalia And as what concerned the Swedes in all the Proposals they made to the Emperor the Kings of Spain and Denmark the States-General and the Elector of Brandenburg besides the Renovation of their former Amity and good Correspondence their whole Demands consisted in the Execution of the Treaties of Westphalia and Copenhagen which in effect contained the Restitution of all that had been taken from that Crown The Duke of Lorrain's Pretensions were also put into the Hands of the Mediators Seal'd as the rest were but they did not open them upon the French his acquainting them That they had not received any Counter-Pretensions from Court in relation to that Duke whereof they believed the Reason to be that no Minister of his had yet appeared at the Congress Tho' another Pretence was afterwards started for the Rejection of the Duke's Offers from the Confederates refusing to admit of the Sieur Duker the Bishop of Strasburg's Envoy into the Assembly whereas the Danes did the same by the Ministers of the Duke of Holstein Gottorp for his being an Ally of Sweden protected by France and so standing dispossess'd by the King of Denmark Indeed their Pretensions against Lorrain had never yet been made since the Death of the late Duke and would have been hard to draw up by the ablest Ministers or Advocates themselves and therefore they thought fit to decline and reserve them for the Terms of a Peace when they should be able to prescribe rather than to treat upon them However they came afterwards to be known and were to this Purpose That as Heir to his Predecessors the Duke hoped from the Justice of the King that he would restore to him the Dutchies of Lorrain and Bar with their Dependencies his Titles Records Movables and Effects taken from him and make Reparation for the Towns Boroughs Castles and Villages that were ruined throughout all his Dominions Neither were the Propositions of the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunemburg made publick because the Ministers of those Princes kept incognito pretending to the Character and Rank of Embassadors But notwithstanding all the Instances that ever they made no Crowned Head would give way to their Demands From all which Proposals put together it easily appeared to the World what wise Men knew before how little Hope 's there were of a Peace from the Motions of this Treaty in the present Circumstances of Affairs and how wholly dependent it seemed to be on the Course and Influence of future Events in the Progress of the War In the mean time the Dutch's Pulse beat high for a Peace notwithstanding the joint Efforts of the Prince of Orange the Pensionary Fagel c. at Home to stave it off in the present Circumstances of it and the former's Endeavours by the Intervention of Sir William Temple to enter into such a Confidence with the King of England his Uncle in relation to it as might bring it about upon better Considerations and with greater Security to the Spanish Netherlands But it was his Misfortune to find little Security or Sincerity on that side and the Project that was sent him from thence gave so little Satisfaction that he resolved rather to continue the War at any rate saying That tho' he expected a very ill Beginning of the Campagne and to make an ill Figure in it himself and to bear the Shame of Faults that others would commit yet if the Emperor performed what he had promised the Campagne would not end as it began that however he was in and must go on and when one is at High Mass one is at it He must stay till it is done because of the Greatness of the Crowd which will not let him get out sooner But how slow soever the Confederates were in the Advances they made towards finishing this Work the French thought fit to quicken them towards the very beginning of the Year by blocking up of Cambray and Valenciennes and having provided sufficient Magazines in the Winter for the Subsistance of their Troops they began to break into Flanders and those Parts of Germany that are on the other side of the Rhine with such Devastations of burning and destroying as not only had not been used by either Party since the Commencement of the War but such as can hardly be parallel'd in History and yet they softned it with the Name of Putting the Frontiers of Germany out of a Condition of being able to furnish Provisions to any great Army with which they were from thence threatned and the Complaints of the Allies to King Charles of this new Manner of making War while a Peace was treating under his Mediation signified just nothing For the Thing was done and their Point was gained which was to prevent the early March of the Germans into Alsatia that would divert those Forces the French resolved to employ this Spring in Flanders before the Dutch could take the Field and march to the Relief of those Places they intended to attack Valenciennes having been for some time blocked up as abovesaid the Trenches were opened before it the 9th of March following the French King being at the Siege in Person and after the usual Approaches there were Orders given to attack the Counterscarp with the two Half-Moons that flanked a Crowned Work and that the Men should make a Lodgment on the Front of that Work which covers another that is before the Gate of the Town But the Troops marching cross those Half-Moons attacked that great Crowned Work both on the Front and â—ides and after some Resistance enter'd it on all Hands slaying 〈◊〉 before them and pursued those that fled so far that they gained the Bridge and Second Work and by a Wicket where they could not pass but singly made themselves Masters of the Town-Gate So that in about half an Hours time that considerable Fortress fell into the French Hands which was on the 17th Eight Days after the opening of the Trenches From hence the King marched with a mighty Army and with one part of it laid Siege to Cambray which after Five Days Trenches open was surrender'd to him upon Articles as the rest of the Spanish Towns had been tho' the Cittadel held out some Days longer While the other part of his Forces under the Command
of his Brother the Duke of Orleans invested St. Omers In the mean time the Dutch having received their Payments due from Spain and finding the French vigorous in the Prosecution of their Designs upon Flanders whilst the Treaty of Peace served only for an Amusement resolved to go on with the War for another Campagne being kept up to this Resolution by the Vigour and Constancy of the Prince of Orange in pressing them to the Observance of their Treaties and pursuit of their Interests in the Defence of the Spanish Netherlands The French had no sooner made a Motion this Season but the Prince prepared to do the same by that of the Dutch Troops and pressed the Spaniards to have theirs in a readiness to join him and with all imaginable Endeavours provided for the Subsistence of his Army in their March through the Spanish Territories which the other took no care of But notwithstanding all the Application that could be used he was not able to come time enough to the Relief either of Valenciennes or Cambray However not to be wanting what in him lay to save the rest he marched with the single Forces of the States and without either Troops or so much as Guides furnished him by the Spaniards directly towards St. Omer bent upon raising the Siege with the Hazard of a Battle tho' labouring under never so many Disadvantages for it which the Duke of Orleans on his part did not decline For having left a few Troops to defend the Trenches he marched with the rest of the Army to meet the Prince and in the way was reinforced by the Duke of Luxemburg with all the Troops the French King could spare out of his Army leaving only enough behind to continue the Siege of the Cittadel of Cambray which was not yet surrender'd Both Armies engaged with a great deal of Bravery at Mount Cassel where after a sharp Dispute the First Regiment of the Dutch Foot began to break and fall into Disorder but the Prince rallied them again several times and renewed the Charge yet he was at last bore down by the plain Hight of his Men whom he was forced himself to resist like Enemies and fall in among them with his Sword in Hand and cutting the first cross over the Face cried aloud Rascal I 'll set a Mark on thee at least that I may hang thee at last But all that ever he could do could not inspire any Courage into his dispirited Countrymen and therefore being forced to yield to the Stream that carried him back to the rest of his Troops which yet stood firm With them and such of the rest as he could gather together he made a Retreat that wanted little of the Honour of a Victory However the natural Consequence of this Battle was the Surrender of St. Omer and the Cittadel of Cambray which happened about the 20th of Apr. and a more eager Desire in the Dutch Provinces after the Conclusion of a Peace seeing they had been left alone by the Spaniards in this Brunt and that they conceived no great Hopes of the Conference that had been held at Wesel between the Elector of Brandenburg the Danish Embassador Pensionary Fagel Admiral Van Trump the Envoys of the Electors of Cologn Treves Palatine of the Princes of Brunswick and Bishop of Munster besides the Duke of Newbourg who was there in Person concerning the Operations of the Campagne on the German side However France observing every Motion both of her Friends and Enemies and more particularly the Temper of the English Parliament who were mightily allarm'd with the Progress of her Arms and had Addressed the King to concert Measures for the Preservation of Flanders had so much regard to the Jealousies raised both in England and Holland of their designing an entire Conquest of the rest of Flanders that the King after having gained those three important Frontier Towns so early in the Spring and dispersed his Army into Quarters of Refreshment went to Dunkirk from whence he sent the Duke of Câ—equi to Compliment Charles II. and to carry him a Letter containing in substance That tho' his willingness to come to a Peace did not at all promote the Conclusion thereof yet he was ready amidst the Prosperities wherewith Heaven was pleased to favour him to agree to a General Truce for some Years as the surest means of restoring Tranquility to Europe in case his Ally the King of Sweden was of the same Mind And seeing he could have no free Correspondence with that King he pray'd his Britannick Majesty to inform himself of his Intentions not doubting but he was sufficiently perswaded of the sincere Desire he had to second the good Offices of his Mediation yea and to contribute all that in him lay for the procuring a General Peace tho' he might have Ground to expect considerable Advantages from his Armies There were various Constructions made of this Letter and it was generally believed to have been a Politick Fetch of the French King to put the King of England upon waving the Declaration which his Parliament so urgently sollicited and Monsieur Beverning the Dutch Plenipotentiary who was the most forward of any for a Peace yet resented it to that degree that he said openly the French were to be commended who never neglected any thing of Importance nor so much as Amusement That France had given her Blow and would now hinder the Allies to give theirs That the Reserve of Sweden's Consent would be always a sure Pretence of staving off the Propositions of a Truce if the Allies should accept it That this it self could not be done because Flanders would be left so open as to be easily swallowed up by the next Invasion having now no Frontier on either side That the Towns now possess'd by France would in the time of a Truce grow absolutely French and so be the harder to be restored by a Peace or a War That for his part he desired to see the Peace concluded contrary to the Politicks of Monsieur Van Benningham and the other Ministers of the Allies in England affirming always That notwithstanding all their Intelligences and Intrigues there he was well assured That the King of England would not enter into the War to save the last Town in Flanders In pursuance of this Confidence of his he made all the Paces imaginable to compleat the Work and such as were thought by some to be forwarder than his Commission and very ill concerted with those of his Allies So that about the beginning of the Month of July all Points were adjusted between the French and Dutch and Monsieur Beverning began to play the part of something more than a Mediator pressing on his Allies towards a Peace in a somewhat rough manner tho' but with very small effect for there was little more done of any moment towards it the rest of this Summer save the Messages that were carried to and fro about the Business of the Duke of Lorrain
whose Cause the whole Body of the Allies interested themselves in so far as to press for an Answer to his Pretensions delivered in by President Canon But the French finding now that their former Exception of his wanting a Minister at the Congress would not do raised another to stave off the foresaid Instances and declared They could give no Answer about Lorrain till the Bishop of Strasburg's Agents were received by the Allies Upon this the Emperor made an invincible Difficulty declaring He would never treat with a Vassal of his own and in these Conferences about Lorrain the French Embassadors began to insinuate to the Mediators That their Master never intended that Matter to be treated as a Principal but only as an Accessary to the Treaty As they did also shew themselves positive in having full Satisfaction and Restitution made to the Swedes before they would conclude the Peace It was believed since it was much discoursed of that there was a new Alliance entred into between those two Crowns at Paris and that it was by Concert between them that this Attenite was given by the Swedes to the Congress Neither was there any Decisive Action in the course of the rest of this Campagne which was ended in Flanders by a successless Attempt made by the Prince of Orange to surprize Charleroy And if on the German side the French thought they had the Advantage by taking of Fribourg in Octob. this Year by a Feint of the Mareschal de Crequi before the Duke of Lorrain could come up to relieve it the City of Stetin's falling into the Hands of the Duke of Brandenburg this same Month after a most vigorous Resistance of its Garrison left the Scales even as they were before between the two Leagues The Campagne being ended as aforesaid the Prince of Orange who had long desired to take a Tour into England and had to that purpose the June before sent Monsieur Bentink over to make way with the King for such a Journey who at length granted him leave tho' with great Indifferency and Difficulty enough did upon the 9th of Octob. Land at Harwich and rid Post from thence to New-Market where the Court then was and where he industriously declined to enter upon any Conferences about the Peace or War as being resolved first to see the Young Princess which made the King to humour him leave that place sooner by some Days than he designed The Prince upon his Arrival in Town had no sooner set sight on that Incomparable Princess our late Sovereign Lady but he was so pleased with her Person and all those Signs of such an Humour as had been before described unto him that he immediately made his Suit both to the King and Duke which was very well received and assented to but upon Condition That the Terms of the Peace abroad might be first agreed on between them which after many Contestations on both sides the Prince would ne'er agree to saying The World would believe he had made that Match for himself at their Costâ— and that he would never sacrifice his Honour to his Love He grew at last to be so sullen upon the matter that he desired a Friend to tell the King That he designed to stay but two Days longer in England if things continued still on the same Foot That it repented him he had ever come over And that the King must choose how they were to live hereafter for he was sure it must be either like the greatest Friends or the greatest Enemies This so wrought upon the King who at the same time expressed the great Opinion he had of the Prince's Honesty that he ordered Sir William Temple the Messenger to go immediately to carry hâ—m the News That he should have his Wife Accordingly the Match was declared that Evening at the Committee before any other in Court knew any thing of it The Marriage was no sooner consummated but they very quickly fell into Debate upon the Terms of the Peace and had various Discourses of the Ambition of France the Necessity of a good Frontier to Flanders and it was at last agreed upon these Terms That all should be restored by France to the Emperor and Empire that had been taken in the War the Dutchy of Lorrain to that Duke and all on both sides between France and Holland and to Spain the Towns of Aeth Oudenard Courtray Tournay Conde Valenciennes St. Gillaine and Bince That the Prince should endeavour to procure the Consent of Spain and the King that of France To this Purpose he was to dispatch away a Person immediately over with the Proposition who should be instructed to enter into no Reasonings upon it but demand a positive Answer in Two Days and then forthwith return and my Lord Duras a Favourite of the Duke's was at last the Person pitched upon and sent But he after the Delivery of his Message was prevailed with to stay longer than his time and after all came away without any positive Answer From which manner of Procedure we may discover foul Prevarication somewhere and so the Business came to be drawn out into so many Messages and Returns from France that at last it dwindled into nothing especially after the Departure of the Prince for Holland who had spirited the Vigour of the whole Resolution which Departure happened to be with his Princess on the 21st of Nov. However the News of the Match had got to Nimeguen some time before and if the Confederates did before this begin to hope more than ever that it would not be long before England declared in their Favours they made no doubt of it now But it had quite another Effect in Holland especially at Amsterdam where the French Emissaries found the Secret of raising Jealousies of the Measures taken between the King and Prince upon this new Alliance as dangerous to the Liberty of their Country and to make it there believed that by the Match the King and Duke had wholly brought over the Prince into their Interest and Sentiments whereas the Prince went indeed away possess'd of having drawn them into his tho' they were all equally mistaken But how different soever their Apprehensions abroad might be of Things the King in England quite receded from his Engagements to the Prince of entring into the War with all the Confederates in case of no direct and immediate Answer from France upon the Terms of the Peace and contented himself to send Mr. Thynne over into Holland with a Draught of an Alliance to be made with the Dutch in order to force France and Spain into a Compliance with the Propositions agreed on year 1678 and to consign the same into the Hands of Mr. Hyde then at the Hague which was done and the Treaty Signed on the 16th of Jan. tho' not without great Difficulties and much Dissatisfaction on the part of the Prince of Orange who was yet covered in it by the private Consent of the Spanish Minister there in behalf of his
Princes that France shall give up to them all that she has taken from them at present and that the rest remain as it was before the War That Lorrain be restored to the Duke of that Name in the State it is in now or if that cannot be done in the State it was when seized by France his Majesty and the States mutually and really obliging themselves to the Observation of this Point I. His said Majesty and the Lords the States-General promise to do their utmost and if it may be to use all sorts of Means to constrain the most Christian King to give Satisfaction in these Terms without being at Liberty to make a Peace with him if he do not give his Consent to them or to some others as shall be agreed on between his Majesty and the States according to the Success of the War II. His Majesty and the States-General do engage themselves further for the obliging France to consent to these Conditions or to such as the Princes concerned shall find convenient and in short for bringing of that Crown to comply with it that his Majesty shall furnish One Third more by Sea and a Third less by Land in the Low-Countries than the Lords the States all by a Provisionary Way till it be otherwise provided by the Allies III. It is also stipulated That if his Majesty of Great Britain and the most Christian King make War upon one another one of the Confederates cannot separate from the other by any particular Treaty without that other's Consent IV. But if the Negotiation of the Peace which is held at Nimeguen comes to be broke up and that the Parties should agree upon any other Place to treat of it or of a Truce that cannot be done without the Consent or Agreement of the other Allies and without at the same time one of the Parties in the Confederacy procure also to the other the necessary Pasports to pass freely and without Danger to the Place appointed for the Treaty where he ought also to communicate to him all that passeth in that Negotiation And in the mean time they shall not have Power to consent to any Peace or Truâ—e but according to the Conditions stipulated by the 1st Article or such other as they shall agree upon and without his Aâ—y be re-established in the full and entire Possession of all the Lands Towns Places and Immunities which he enjoyed at the Signing of this Treaty in Europe if it be not otherwise agreed on between his Majesty and the States V. But if the Peace in Hand terminate happily between the most Christian King on the one Hand and his Catholick Majesty and the States General on the other whether by the Propositions which France hath made her self or by such other as they can agree to his Britannick Majesty and the States will not only be Guarrantee in the best and surest Form that may be but also its free for other Kings and neighbouring Princes who shall have any Interest in the Repose of Christendom and the immutable Tranquility of the Low-Countries to be so 'T is with this View that his said Majesty and the States would agree upon the Troops and Means that are necessary to bring the Party who shall violate the Peace to make Satisfaction for the Damages he shall do another any manner of way VI. These Articles and the full Contents of them are to be Signed and Ratified within 3 Weeks or sooner if it may be and the Ratifications exchanged at the same time Given at the Hague the 26 th of July 1678. Signed W. Van Henkelom de Van Wiugaerden Fagel D. Van Heyden Van Leewen J. de Maregnault Jean Baron de Reed A. ter Borght Temple After the Treaty had been thus concluded and signified to France all the Artifice that could be was used on that side to elude it by drawing the matter into a Treaty or at least a greater length which had succeeded so well in England that they offered to treat upon it at St. Quintin then at Ghent where the French King himself proposed to meet such Embassadors as the Dutch should send into either of them Towns But the States were stanch not to recede from their late Treaty and continued in that Mood till about 5 Days before the Expiration of the time then came one De Cross from England with a Packet for Sir William Temple commanding him to go forth with to Nimeguen and there to endeavour from the King to perswade the Swedish Embassadors to let the French know That for the Repose of Christendom they did not any longer desire the French King to insist upon the Detention of the Towns and consequently hinder the Peace upon the sole Regard and Interest of the Crown of Sweden and to assure them that after the Conclusion of the Peace the King would employ all his Endeavours that the Towns and Countries which their Master had lost in the War should be restored unto them How this Dispatch of Du Cross was gained was never known but 't is sufficient to believe that France had the greatest Hand in it since 't was transacted all one Morning in Portsmouth's Apartment by the intervention and pursuit of Barillon the French Embassador Yet for all this when Sir William Temple arrived at Nimeguen which was but 3 Days before the Expiration of the Term fix'd by the late Treaty between our King and the States either for the French to evacuate the Towns or for carrying on the War conjointly against France there was but little Disposition that the Peace would be Signed but rather the quite contrary appeared by the Stiffness shewed on both sides to adhere firmly to their respective Demands And the Dutch Embassadors remained peremptory That there could be no Deputation for the securing of the future Satisfaction of Sweden as the French demanded before the Term expired and no other Remedy upon that but that the War must go on With this View and Expectation all the Parties seemed to be when the fatal Day came wherein either a suddain Peace or a long and bloody War was to be reckoned on in Christendom on the Morning whereof Monsieur Boreel who had been sent from Amsterdam to the Dutch Embassadors at Nimeguen went to the French Embassadors and after some Conference with them they immediately went to those of Holland and declared they had received Orders from their Master to consent to the Evacuation of the Towns and thereupon to Sign the Peace but that it must be done that Morning At this the Dutch seemed to be surprized but immediately entred into a Conference with them thereupon which lasted for 5 Hours and ended in an Agreement upon all Points both of Peace and Commerce between France and Holland It was certainly thought the French Embassadors had received no Power to Sign the Peace and 't was said Sir William Temple himself did advise those of Holland to press them to it out of a real Belief as well as the
all the Sentiments of Respect for his Majesty and of Acknowledgment for the Obligations and considerable Advantages which they have received from his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors it is at last come to pass that these good Dispositions seconded by the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most mighty Prince the King of Great Britain who during these troublesom Times wherein all Christendom has been in War hath not ceased by his Counsels and good Advertisements to contribute to the Publick Weal and Repose induced as well his most Christian Majesty and the States-General as also all other the Princes and Potentates that are concerned in the Interest of this present War to consent that the Town of Nimeguen should be made Choice of for the Treaty of Peace to which end his most Christian Majesty named for his Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries the Sieur Comte d'Estrades Mareschal of France and Knight of his Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissi Counsellor in ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur Mesmes Knight Comte d'Avaux Counsellor also in his Councils and the said States-General the Heer Hierosme Van Beverning Baron of Teylingen Curator of the University of Leyden late Counsellor and Treasurer-General of the Vnited-Provinces Heer Van Odyle Cortgene and first Noble and Representative of the Nobility in the States and Council of Zealand and the Heer Willem Van Haren Griedtman Van Bildt Deputies in their Assemblies on the behalf of the States of Holland and Zealand c. Which Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries duly instructed with the good Intentions of their Masters were to repair to the said Town of Nimeguen where after a mutual Communication of their Plenary Powers the Copies whereof are inserted Word for Word at the end of this Treaty it was agreed upon Conditions of Peace and Friendship according to this ensuing Tenour viz. I. There shall be for the future betwixt his most Christian Majesty and his Successors Kings of France and Navar and his Kingdoms on the one part and the Lords the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries on the other part a good firm faithful and inviolable Peace and all Acts of Hostility of what kind soever shall hereafter cease and be forborn betwixt the said King and the said Lords the States-General as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land in all their Kingdoms Countries Lands Provinces and Seigniories and for all their Subjects and Inhabitants of what Quality or Condition soever without exception of Places or Persons II. And if any Prizes are taken on either side in the Baltick-Sea or the North-Sea from Terneuse to the Channel 's Mouth within the space of 4 Weeks or from the said Mouth of the Channel to the Cape of St. Vincent within the space of Six Weeks and further in the Mediterranean-Sea and as far as the Aequinoctial within the space of 10 Weeks and beyond the Line and in all Parts of the World within the space of 8 Months to be computed from the Day on which the Peace shall be published at Paris and at the Hague the said Prizes and the Dammages that shall happen on either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be brought to Account and whatever shall have been taken shall be restor'd with Recompense for the Damages that shall have happened thereby III. There shall be moreover betwixt the said King and the said Lords the States-General and their Subjects and Inhabitants mutually a sincere firm and perpetual Friendship and good Correspondence by Sea and Land in all Things and in all Places within Europe and without and no resenting of the Offences or Damages that have been received either in Time past or by reason of the said Wars IV. And in Virtue of this Friendship and Correspondence as well his Majesty as the said Lords the States-General shall faithfully procure and further the Good and Prosperity of one another by all Support Aid Counsel and real Assistances upon all Occasions and at all Times and shall not consent for the future to any Treaties or Negotiations that may be to one anothers Damage and shall break them off and give notice of them to one another with Care and Sincerity as soon as ever they come to their Knowledge V. They that have had any of their Goods seized and confiscated by reason of the said War their Heirs or Assigns of what Condition or Religion soever shall enjoy such Goods and take them into Possession of their own private Authority and by Virtue of this present Treaty without standing in need to have recourse to Law and that notwithstanding any Appropriations to the Exchequer Engagements Gifts in Writing Sentences Preparatory or Definitive given by Default or Contumacy in the Parties Absence or without their being heard Treaties Accords and Transactions and any Renunciations that may have been made at such Transactions to exclude the right Owners from any part of such Goods and all and every the Goods and Rights which according to this present Treaty shall or ought to be restor'd on either side to the first Proprietors their Heirs and Assigns may be sold by the said Proprietors without obtaining any particular License so to do And likewise the Proprietors of such Rents as shall be settled by the Exchequer in lieu of Goods sold as also of such Rents and Actions as stand on Charge in the Exchequer may respectively dispose of the Propriety thereof by Sale or otherwise as of their other proper Goods VI. And since the Marquisate of Bergenopzome with all the Rights and Revenues thereunto appertaining and generally all the Lands and Goods of Monsieur le Comte d'Avergne Colonel-General of the Light-Horse of France that were under the Power of the said States-General of the Vnited-Provinces have been seized and confiscated by reason of the War to which the present Treaty ought to put an happy End it is agreed That the said Sieur Comte d'Auvergne shall be restored to the Possession of the said Marquisare of Bergenopzome its Appurtenances and Dependances and also to all the Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives that he enjoy'd at the time when the War was declar'd VII Each shall continue seized of and shall actually enjoy the Countries Towns Places Lands Islands and Seignories within Europe and without which they now hold and possess without being disturb'd or molested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever VIII But his most Christian Majesty willing to give back to the Lords the States-General his Principal Friendship and to give them a singular Proof thereof upon this Occasion will immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications put them into Possession of the Town of Maestricht with the Comte of Vronof and the Comtez and Countries of â—auquemond Aalhem and Rolleduc beyond the Maes together with the Villages of Redemption Banc d' St. Servais and whatever is belonging to the said Town IX The said Lords the States-General promise That whatever
obtain not such Security When the Prince of Orange was made acquainted with this Procedure of England by Mr. Hyde who went on purpose to Hounslerdike to do it he was no sooner withdrawn but the Prince lift up his Hands two or three times and said to Sir William Temple then present Was ever any Thing so Hot and so Cold as this Court of yours Will the King that is so often at Sea ever learn a Word that I shall never forget since my last Passage When in a great Storm the Captain was crying out to the Man at the Helm all Night Steddy Steddy Steddy If this Dispatch had come 20 Days ago it would have changed the Face of all Things in Christendom and the War might have been carried on till France had Yielded to the Treaty of the Pyrenees and left the World in Quiet for the rest of our Lives but it is my Opinion as it comes now it will have no Effect And indeed the Event proved answerable to the Prince's Judgment It s true all Appearances for the present seemed very different from both the Proceedings of the Dutch and Spaniards too whereof many of the Deputies of the former appear'd so ill satisfied with their Embassadors having Signed the Peace that they inclined to the King's Proposals and framed severral Articles against Monsieur Beverning's Proceedings the five Principal whereof were these First That in the Preface the French King seemed to be the Protector of the States Secondly That the Neutrality to which the States-General were engaged by that Treaty was indefinite and by consequence might be extended beyond the present War Thirdly That he had exceeded his Commission in having obliged the States to warrant the Neutrality of Spain Fourthly That he had omitted an Article of Amnesty and Oblivion which ought mutually to be stipulated in all Treaties of Peace And Lastly That he had forgot to mention the Barrier which the French King granted to Spain in Consideration and for the Security of the States-General As for the Embassadors of the latter notwithstanding the French after several Debates and Conferences did demit in their Pretentions yet they raised new Scruples about the Castellany of Aeth and other Things their Confederates upon the Continent and the daily Transportation of English Forces into Flanders heightning their Stiffness as well as the Expectation they had of the States going on again with the War upon this new Turn of Things But after Matters had continued for about 3 Weeks in this uncertain State France thought the Conjuncture of too much Importance to let it hover so long and therefore first dispatch a Courier to their Embassadors at Nimeguen with leave to satisfie the States as to those Clauses in their Treaty wherein they seem'd justly to except against Beverning's Conduct And therefore to cover the Credit of that Minister who had been so affectionate an Instrument in the Progress of it and so gradually softning their Rigour as to the remaining Points contested by the Spaniards they at last dispatch'd a Courier who brought Letters to Nimeguen on the 8th of Sept. impowering their Embassadors to remit all the Differences that obstructed or retarded the Conclusion of the Treaty between that Crown and Spain to the Determination and Arbitrage of the States themselves which was a piece of Confidence towards them on the part of France that several Towns and Provinces proceeded with a general Concurrence to their Ratifications that they might lie ready in their Embassador's Hands to be exchanged when the Treaty with Spain was Signed which was done on the 17th at the Dutch Embassadors House and wherein Sir Lionel Jenkins the Kings Mediator had no part and so the Designs of the Court of England were once more Eluded and Mr. Hyde had the Mortification to return re infecta This Treaty with Spain is very long and for that Reason I had Thoughts once to leave it quite out but considering the Treatise would have been imperfect without it and that a much better Estimate may be made by it of the present Posture of the Spanish Affairs upon the late Peace than otherwise could be done I have altered my Mind and given my Reader the Particulars The TREATY of PEACE betwixt France and Spain Concluded at Nimeguen Sept. 17. 1678. IN the Name of God the Creator and of the most Holy Trinity To all present and to come be it known That whereas during the Course of the War that arose some Years since betwixt the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God most Christian King of France and Navar and his Allies on the one part and the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Charles II by the Grace of God Catholick King of Spain and his Allies on the other part their Majesties have desired nothing more vehemently than to see it end in a good Peace And whereas the same desire to put a Stop as far as in them lay to the Ruine of so many Provinces the Tears of so much People and the shedding so much Christian Blood hath induced them to comply with the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince the King of Great Britain to send their Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to the Town of Nimeguen So it is come to pass through an Effect of the Divine Goodness that hath been pleased to make use of the intire Confidence that their Majesties have always reposed in the Mediation of the said King of Great Britain that at length the said Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to wit on the behalf of his most Christian Majesty the Sieur Count D' Estrades Marshal of France and Knight of his Majesty's Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissy Councellor in Ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur De Mesmes Knight Count De Avaux Councellor also in his Majesty's Councils and on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty the Sieur Don Pablo Spinola Doria Marquess de les Balbases Duke of Sesto Lord of Gminossa Casalnosetta and Ponteucrone Councellor in his Council of State and chief Protonotary in his Council of Italy Don Gaspard de Tebes and Cordova Tello Guzman Count de Venazuza Marquess de la Fuente Lord of Lerena of the House of Arrucas of the Isles of Guadalupa and Matalione Perpetual Master de la Victoire Perpetual Major and Recorder of the Town of Sevil Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Imperial Majesty one of his chief Council of War and General of his Artillery Don Pedro Ronquillo Knight of the Order of Alcantara Councellor in his Council of Castile and of the Indies and Don John Baptisse Christin Knight Councellor in the high Council of Flanders near to his said Catholick Majesty's Person and one of his Council of State and of his Privy-Council in the Low-Countries by Virtue of Letters and Commissions which they have communicated to one another and the Copies whereof
he would never Sign the Peace whilst the Affairs of France were in such a Condition as to have it Concluded to the Advantage of that Crown yet it is so far from being any Dishonour to that brave Man that it is the greatest Eulogium that could be given him since he has discovered there in the Affection he had for the publick Tranquility of Europe as well as for the Honour and Safety of his own Native Country I shall not recite the last mentioned Treaty at large but content my self to give an Abstract of it only which follows I. THAT there shall be a firm and lasting Peace between the Empire and France and an Oblivion of all injuries II. That the Peace of Munster be the Basis and Foundation of the present Treaty III. That France renounce all Pretensions to Phillipsburg and the Emperor on his Part was to do the like by Friburg and its Dependances IV. That France was to have a free and easie Passage at all times from Brisac to Friburg and the Provisions for the last Place go unmolested and untaxed V. Commissioners in a Year after the Treaty were to determine what Dobts Friburg was to pay VI. The French King was to restore to the Emperor the Writings found in Friburg at the Time of taking of it but as for such as concerned the Town c. the fore-mentioned Commissioners were to agree upon a Place where to keep them VII That all who were minded to depart from Friburg within a Year after the Ratification of the Treaty might freely do it and either retain or dispose of their Goods at Pleasure VIII Agreed however that Friburg and its Dependences shall be restored to the Emperor for a satisfactory Equivalent IX The Duke of Lorrain to be restored to the Possession of his Dominions in the same State as in 1670 when taken by France X. That Nancy c. be for ever incorporated with France and the Duke to renounce all Right to it XI That for the Conveniency of the French Troops there be 4 Roads of half a League broad marked out by Commissioners for the March of them to their Garrisons in Alsatia Burgundy c. XII That all Villages Lands c. lying within the said Ways do remain to France and no further XIII That the City and Provostship of Longuicer remain forever to France and that the Duke his Heirs c. do lay no Claim thereunto XIV In Compensation for Nancy France was to give up the City of Thoul c. to the Duke with the same Sovereignty over it as France had with a Promise in the next Article of further Satisfaction to the Duke in case that were not a sufficient equivalent XV. The French King did renounce the Right of Presentation of a Bishop of Thoul into the Hands of the Pope to whom the Duke was to apply himself for obtaining it XVI All benefited Persons put in by the King to continue in quiet Possession of their Livings XVII All Proceedings at Law Decrees c. finish'd in the Time of the French King's Possession of Lorrain and Bar to take place XVIII The Charters Deeds c. in the Exchequer of Nancy and Bar to be forthwith restored to the Duke XIX That Prince Egon of Furstemburg his Brother Prince William and Nephew Prince Antony their Officers c. should be restored to their former State Dignities c. and Prince William forthwith upon the Ratification of the Treaty to be set at Liberty XX. All Vassals Subjects c. of either Party to be restored to their Honours Benefices Goods c. as before the War with all Rights fallen to them during it and no notice taken what Party whether of this or that Prince they have taken XXI The Duke of Holstein Gottorp to be comprehended in the present Treaty That each Party shall imploy all their Offices towards terminating the War between Sweden Denmark Brandenburg c. and the French to keep Garrison in Chastelet Hiâ—y Aix la Chapelle c. till the same be accomplished XXII That the Evacuation of Places be within a Month after the Ratification of the Treaty XXIII That the Duke of Bouillon continue in Possession of the Dutchy and Castle of that â—ame and all Differences concerning them to be composed within 3 Months after the Ratification XXIV All Acts of Hostilities to cease within 14 Days after Signing of the Treaty XXV Contributions to be levied till the Ratification and the Arrears paid tho' not forcibly demanded within 4 Months after XXVI What had been stipulated concerning Montferat and the Duke of Savoy in the Treaty of Munster should be more particularly valid here The rest being meer Matter of Form I proceed to shew that the Danish and Brandenburg Embassadors were no sooner informed that all Things were agreed on between the Emperor and France but the very next Day which was the 3d of Feb. that they might not upon any account be wanting to themselves and to omit nothing that might have any semblance if not advantage yet of resentment made their Protestations against it and complained that the Emperor's Embassadors had consented to Matters which so nearly concerned the Princes their Masters that they had not only neglected all their Interests but also that they had given their Enemies Liberty to pursue the War even into the Heart of their own Country That they had Treated about the Rights of all the States of the Empire so far as to abolish some Decrees concerning them without the Knowledge of the Princes who were most interested therein And in a Word they Solemnly insisted against that Separate Peace which ought to be reckoned null and no way prejudicial to their Leagues nor to the Decrees of the Empire And that no Formalities might be omitted which they judged necessary for maintaining the Pretensions of their Masters they did also on the 4th make a Conditional Protestation against the Peace made by the Emperor and France They said That they could the less be perswaded that the Imperial Embassadors could do such a Wrong to the Princes their Masters for that Sweden had been Treated during the War as a State and Member of the Empire guilty of breaking the Publick Peace and in that Notion cited and condemned by the Empire in the usual Form So that in what manner soever the Emperor might reconcile himself to that Crown they had Reason to Protest against the Validity of that Peace and at the same Time for all the Damages their Masters might suffer thereby The same Thing was done by the Ministers and Plenipotentiaries of the Princes of Brunswick-Lunemburg against those two Treaties in the same Terms not knowing perhaps that the Princes their Masters were concluding their particular Peace at Home with France and Sweden whilst they complained so loudly at Nimeguen against that of the Emperor However that of the Emperor and France was Signed the next Day as before noted as was the Peace between the Emperor and
during the Course of the War to support to the utmost of their Abilities the common Interests That if the rest of the Allies had done the like Things might have had a better Issue That they were sorry they were forced thro' the Necessity of their Affairs to conclude the Peace upon the Terms they did but that when they saw the Spanish Netherlands ready to be lost themselves exhausted their Inhabitants ruin'd for want of Trade and no longer able to bear the Burden of the War they had been necessitated to accept of the Conditions offered by France as Spain likewise had done That since the Peace they had laboured all they could to obtain a Neutrality for his Countries of Cleve and Mark but to no purpose France having still refused it And in Conclusion desired he would continue his Friendship with them which they should always cultivate on their part as became sincere and true Allies This is all the Satisfaction that Noble Elector could have for all the Damages he had sustained Things were now in another Posture with the States being menaced with no apparent Danger from any Quarter However they did afterward make him some little sort of Compensation by paying some Arrears of Subsidies due to him upon the Account of his Assistance in the War with which he was forced to sit down and content himself to be quiet But it was not the Elector of Brandenburg alone that thought himself aggrieved by the Proceedings of the States and so wanted Reparation for the Spaniards also put in a great Claim and that was the Restitution of Maestricht up to them You are to understand that when the Spaniards who were one of the first came in to the States Assistance against France in this War it was stipulated between these Two Powers among other Things That Maestricht should be delivered to the Spaniards whenever the Dutch should be in a Condition to do so for it was then in the French Hands in Consideration of so timely a Relief from them against so formidable an Enemy But for all this the Dutch taking no notice of that Article after they had made their Peace with France the Spaniards now at length were pleased to mind them of it by several Memorials delivered in by their Embassador M. de Lyra Yet the Dutch knowing well whom they had to deal with in some time made no Difficulty to answer That they did very readily acknowledge the Assistance they had received from his Catholick Majesty in the Beginning of the War during the Course of which the States were not wanting to support the common Interests to the utmost of their Power That they were willing to own that by the Alliance made between the Crown of Spain and them in the Year 1673 they ought to deliver Maestricht to his Majesty but that the same Treaty likewise obliged him to the Observance of the Peace of Munster and all the Stipulations made in consequence thereof and that accordingly his Majesty lay under an Engagement to make good the Agreement concerning the Prince of Orange and to satisfie the Debt which with the Interest amounted to near 8000000 of Livres due to his Highness by Virtue thereof That the States had during the War caused a Squadron of Men of War to be fitted out for the Service of Sicily and that great Arrears were still remaining due to the Admiralties upon that Account and that therefore they prayed his Majesty to give them and the Prince Satisfaction in these Points and then they would be ready on their side to comply with the Obligation of their Treaty and to restore Maestricht The Spanish Minister not satisfied herewith shewed himself much surprized that after the Sollicitation of near 10 Months and so many Memorials put in by him he should receive an Answer so little suitable to the great Assistances even preceding the Treaty of 1673 given the States by the Crown of Spain in the Beginning of the late War That the Offer of Maestricht was then made voluntary by the States as an Acknowledgement of the same which they ought therefore the rather to make good For that which concerned the Prince of Orange the Debt had never been denied and great Sums had been paid upon that Account and that the Millions which the Crown of Spain had expended during the late War in Subsidies and Maintenance of Foreign Troops would more than have satisfied his Highness's Pretensions That the Crown of Spain did readily acknowledge the great Obligations they the States had to his Highness for the eminent Services he had rendred them on so many Occasions That in Satisfaction of his Debt the Crown of Spain had assign'd him an 100000 Crowns at each Return of the Galeons and 50000 Crowns of Annual Rents in the Low-Countries That as to what was owing to the Admiralties all Care should be taken to satisfie the same That Maestricht would be of very great Advantage to the Crown of Spain but none to the States being so far from their Frontiers And concluded all with telling them He knew not how the King his Master would resent this their Proceeding or what he might resolve upon in return thereof concerning the Dutch Effects For that he was ignorant whether his Majesty would act therein according to his Royal Goodness or according to the Justice and Right of the Thing The Minister indeed Don Emanuel de Lyra might resent the Proceedings of the States tho' to his own Damage as he did in refusing their usual Present to Embassadors but the Court of Spain proved of another Temper knowing well the crasie Constitution of their State at that time and that they were not in a Condition to procure Satisfaction for the supposed Injury However the States endeavoured the Year following to make them some Reparation by mediating between France and Spain a Remission of the former's Pretensions to the Title of Duke of Burgundy which the latter always possest till this Treaty of Nimeguen And which notwithstanding the great Deference the French King seemed to have to the Interposition of the States the Catholick King under the specious Pretences of being desirous to take away all Occasion that might be made use of to disturb the Peace and from the particular Regard he had to the Instances of the States who sollicited both Parties in that behalf totally remitted to the French King who from thence forward inserted among the rest of his Titles that of Duke of Burgundy There remained now no Negotiation undecided but that of Denmark and Sweden towards the compleating of which Conferences had been daily set on foot at Lounden in Schonen But the Negotiation which M. de Mayerkron had begun at the French Court gave the greatest Hopes that the Peace would e're long be concluded on that side also and the French to hasten it sent a considerable Detachment of Cavalry under the Command of the Marquess of Joyeuse through the Territories of the Elector of
in so bad a State But the former as has been related utterly failing and a visible Prospect of our weathering the Point as to our Mony there was now no Room for nor Occasion of Delay But of these Proceedings in relation to a general Peace we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter as we shall of the particular one that was at hand when we have first dispatched our English Affairs Tho' our Armies could do little for the aforesaid Reasons by Land this Campaign our Fleet was not altogether idle by Sea I confess the Bombarding of Calais which happen'd before the Spring of the Year was spent and as soon as we could get our Bomb-vessels ready had not that Success that might have been desired However the Damage was not so inconsiderable as the French Gazeteer would have made it some Letters at that time from France owning that there were 75 Houses burnt and spoiled besides the Church and Convent and some part of the Cazern However the Fleet had much better Success in their Attempt upon the Isle of 〈◊〉 where it arrived on the 14th of July under the Command of the Lord Berkeley when the Men of War came to an Anchor while the Galliots advanced within three quarters of a Mile of St. Martin's in the said Island and at Nine a Clock at Night they began to bombard it which set the Town on fire in five several places three of which the French made a shift to quench but the other two continued to burn with great Violence From Three next Morning till the same Hour in the Afternoon they forbore Bombing at which time the Tide serving they began their Work again which continued till Four next Morning whereby the Town was set on fire in several places and the greatest part of it consumed or destroyed as was also a Ship in the Road besides a Feluca laden with Salt and Brandy which they took at their coming away The French were in a manner surprized in this Attempt so that what with that and the dexterous Working of our Bombardeers there was greater Executice done upon this Town than any other we had attempted since the Burning of Diepe Tho' they could not succeed so well upon Olonne which was next attempted through a Mistake of the Situation of the Place yet there was considerable Damage done there also But while these things were doing by the Bomb-Galliots and light Frigats my Lord Berkeky landed in the Isle of Groa near Port Louis and in two others near Bell Isle where the Soldiers destroyed about 20 Villages burnt 1300 Houses and brought away a Booty of 1600 Head of Cattle Besides this the Fleet took 20 Barks and a Vessel from New-found-land and re-took one of our West-India Ships together with a small Frigat which the Privateers of St. Malo's had taken And so ended our Summer's Expedition which tho' perhaps somewhat exaggerated on our part yet certainly the Damage must be very great and all the Flourishes in the World could not make it appear to be otherwise Having spent some Time in this manner to give an Account of the Proceedings of our Fleet against those Ports of France which look towards Spain we shall see first what has been done there before we enter upon other Occurrences of the Year The Armies were pretty early in the Field on that side where the Spaniards were still content to be on the Defensive and perhaps would have been fully satisfied to have lain unmolested in their Camp near Ostalrick But the French were not willing it should be so and therefore the Duke de Vendosme having passed the Ter and understanding that the Spanish Cavalry who had been encamped within their Lines were advanced to observe him he resolved to attack them first which was done on the first Day of June The Spaniards finding none but Horse appear against them in the Beginning they stoutly stood their Ground and forced some of the French Squadrons to recoil But when they saw their Numbers increase and a good Party of the Infantry come up to support them the Spaniards thought it their best way to retire within their Lines which they did in very good Order making a Retreating Fight till they got under the Reach of their own Cannon where the French greedy of Pursuit were but illy entertained by the Artillery and forced to retire with considerable Loss But tho' the Spaniards own to have lost near 300 Men in all yet they will have the Loss of the French to have been greater which the other would by no means agree to tho' they did not seem very well satisfied with the Action it self I know of nothing else of moment that happen'd this way during the rest of the Campaign and therefore we will cross the Country and observe that on the side of the Rhine there was nothing memorable that came to pass The French in the Beginning of the Spring bragged of their passing that River and forcing the Prince of Baden to intrench himself in his Camp to whom they offered Battle which he durst not accept But now towards the latter end of the Year the Prince in his Turn passes the Rhine near Mentz and being joined by the Hessian Troops he advanced to Newstadt where the French lay so strongly encamped that there was no forcing their Intrenchments However he had the Honour for several Days to Cannonade them not only in Newstadt but in the very Trenches themselves It was also so contrived that General Thungen should have crossed the Rhine not far from Philipsburgh in order to have attacked the French in the Rear But they being aware of it sent the Marquiss d' Vxelles to oppose that Design So that the Germans failing herein as also in making an Incursion into Lorrain with Palsi's Hussars after they had got some Booty and divers Hostages for Contribution they repassed that River on the 8th of October and then marched into their Winter-Quarters But the main Business of this Summer seemed to be managed on the side of Italy not so much in the Prosecution of the War as in making up a separate Peace between Savoy and France the Duke it seems being resolved as he came last into the War to be the first that would get out of it without any Regard had to his Stipulations with the Confederates whereof we have already given an Account I do take it for granted that the French Army on that side under the Command of the Mareschal de Catinat was more formidable than usual and that they were much superiour in Number to the Confederates at the beginning of the Campaign But that there was some Understanding between the Duke of Savoy and the Court of France before this seems to be very by Catinat's Proceedings who notwithstanding his Strength and advancing near Turin unopposed gave the Duke Time enough to fortifie his Camp and re-inforce his Army before the said City and to draw a Line from the Doero to
Lorrain to the Duke of that Name in the same manner as it was offered in the Treaty of Nimeguen and the City of Nancy upon certain Conditions With the demolishing of divers Places such as Mont-Royal Trarbacâ— c. As for the Spaniards they offered to give up to them the City and County of Luxemburg and the County of Chinay or in lieu of them some other Places hereafter to be named for which there was at present a Blank left in the Project As to the Re-unions made the same Tender was offered as was to the Empire The City and Castle of â—â—inant to be delivered to the Bishop of Lieggeâ— And for all other Places taken either from the one or the other during the War the same likewise were 〈…〉 restored The Spaniards seemed in the main to have been pretty well satisfied with the French Concessions But the Emperor's Plenipotentiaries made a long and as some thought a some-what extravagant Answer to the Project which the others did not seem to regard so much their main Business being to make up with the rest upon what Terms they were willing to give to them and to save somewhat if possible of their great and long Acquisitions towards the Rhine since there was so little Prospect of saâ—ing any thing elsewhere Wherefore the French King finding much Time spent to little purpose by carrying on the Treaty in Writing and not knowing what Accidents might happen he ordered his Plenipotentiaries to receive no Pretensions nor Answers from the Allies in Writing but to treat viva voce with them And tho' the 10th of Sept. was the utmost Time the French would give to accept of their Offers yet it was observed that they began about this time to demit some-what of their accustomed Rigour Aug. the 16th was the first Day that an extraordinary Congress was held at Reswick which lasted almost the whole Day And next Day the Plenipotentiaries of the Allies were together for the first time in the great Hall of the Royal Palace Not long after this came the News of the Taking of Barcelona by the French after one of the most vigorous Sieges that had happen'd almost in any Age whatever This made the Spaniards very uneasie and very pressing to have the Peace signed upon the Conditions offered by France and more especially since by the Memorial given in to the Mediator on the first Day of Sept. there had been an Offer made of giving up this Place also to them upon a slight Consideration of a few Villages belonging to the Castelline of Aeth to be surrender'd to the French for the Conveniency of the Trade of the Inhabitants of Tournay But by how much the more easie the French seemed to be with the Spaniards they made so much the more bold with the Empire and now insisted positively upon the Detension of Strasburg and that the Emperor should rest contented with the Equivalent which they said would be more considerable to him since he would have the entire Sovereignty of those Towns France quitted whereas Strasburg it restored must have been set at its own Liberty as a Free Imperial City And if the Empire was startled at this new Pace they were not a whit less at the Definite Time fixed by France for their Answer which was the 20th of Sept. after which time they would be no longer obliged to those Offers And this was still the more mortifying since they began now to be superiour in Force to the French there and to act Offensively And to this that the Imperialists began also by this time to be a a little Jealous lest some of the Allies should sign a Separate Peace and leave them out and this occasioned some Heats between the Confederates which terminated in Conferences about the Subject Matter lying before them And tho' the Silence of the Allies concerning the Treaty did about this amaze the French Plenipotentiaries yet the Interview between my Lord Portland and the Mareschal de Boufflers at the Request of the latter occasioned various Speculations and was as a Dagger to the Hearts of our Jacks in England who still poor Fools flattered themselves against all common Sense and Reason that tho' a Treaty of Peace was held at the King 's own Palace yet he must be left out of it And if this and the succeeding Interviews that were between those two great Favourites of their Masters was so surprizing to most Men in general my Lord Portland who went from thence to the Hague his declaring by the King's Order to the Congress That as for what concerned His Majesty and his Kingdoms he was well satisfied that all Matters were so adjusted with France that his Concerns would occasion no delay in the General Peace and therefore he earnestly pressed the other Allies and particularly the Emperor to contribute all that in them lay towards concluding so great a Work was no less so At last the 20th of September came when either an happy Peace or a long and bloody War was like to determine the Fate of Europe when the English Spanish and Dutch Plenipotentiaries after a long Conference with those of France and having adjusted all Matters remaining in Difference between any of them mutually signed the Peace a â—ittle after Midnight and then complemented each other upon the finishing of that important Negotiation The Emperor and the Empire 's Plenipotentiaries were in the Hall the greatest part if not all the Time but they did not give their Consent to what was done nor in the least assisted iâ— bringing the Matter to a Period But on the contrary some of the Ministers of the Electors and other Princes of the Empire that were present required the Mediator to enter 〈◊〉 Protestation That this was the second time that a Separate Peace had been concluded with France meaning that of Nimeguen for one wherein the Emperor and Empire had been excluded And that the States of the Empire who as they said had been cheated through an Over-credulity would not for the future be so easily brought to make Alliances But the Spanish Plenipotentiaries and especially Don Beâ—nardo de Quiros excusing themselves replied That he haâ— for a long time been made acquainted with his Prince's Pleasure and that he had Orders for delaying the matter 〈◊〉 longer but to sign the Treaty which had been agreed on before And that if he had signed the same some time sooner according to his Master's Orders the French would not have taken Barcelona But that having been over-perswaded to it by the Imperial Ministers he had deferred the Execution of it and thereby not a little lessen'd his Master's Favour towards him I believe also the Spaniards perceived that the English and Dutch could have saved Barcelona this Year if they had pleased but that they rather declined it with an Intention to bring the Spaniards the more readily to comply with the Offers of the French and so much the rather since they said upon this
shall be lawful for 'em all in General and for every one in Particular without any need of Pardon or Acts of Oblivion in Writing to return in Person to their Houses and to the Enjoyment of their Lands and all their other Estates or to dispose of 'em in such a manner as they shall think fit III. And if any Prizes are taken upon the Baltick or North-Sea from Terneuse to the end of St. George's Channel within the space of Four Weeks and from the end of St. George's Channel to St. Vincent's Cape within the space of Six Weeks and from thence in the Mediterranean and as far as the Line within the space of Ten Weeks and beyond the Line and in all other parts of the World within the space of Eight Months to count from the Day that the Peace shall be proclaimed at Paris and at the Hague the said Prizes and Damages that shall be done on either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be reckon'd up and all that has been taken shall be restor'd and Compensation given for all the Dammages that shall be thereby sustain'd IV. Moreover there shall be between the said Lord the King and the said Lords the States General and their Subjects and Inhabitants reciprocally a sincere firm and perpetual Amity and good Correspondence as well by Sea as by Land and in all Parts and Places as well in as out of Europe without any Resentment of Injuries or Dammages as well for the time past as by occasion of the late War V. And in pursuance of this Amity and good Correspondence as well his Majesty as the Lords the States General shall cordially procure and advance the Good and Prosperity of each other by all the Ways of Support Aid Counsel and real Assistances upon all Occasions and at all Times and shall not consent for the future to any Treaties or Negotiations which may be prejudicial to each other but shall break 'em and give reciprocal Information thereof with Care and Sincerity so soon as they shall come to their Knowledge VI. They who have had any Estates seiz'd and confiscated by reason of the said War their Heirs or such who have right thereto of what Condition or Religion soever they may be shall enjoy the said Estates and shall take Possession of 'em by their own private Authority by virtue of this present Treaty without being constrain'd to have recourse to Justice notwithstanding any Incorporations into the Treasury Deeds of Gift Preparatory or Definitive Sentences given for Default and Contumacy in the Absence or without hearing the Parties Treaties Accords and Transactions whatever Renunciations may have been put in the said Transactions to exclude the Parties to whom the said Estates belong and all and every the Estates and Rights which according to conformity to this present Treaty shall be restor'd or ought to be restor'd reciprocally to the said Proprietors their Heirs or such as have right may be sold by the said Proprietors without any necessity of demanding particular consent so to do Also the Proprietors of Rents which on the behalf of the publick Treasury shall be constituted in the place of Goods sold as also of Rents and Actions being at the charge of the publick Treasury respectively shall dispose of the Propriety of them by Rent or otherwise as of their own proper Estates VII And in regard the Marquisate of Bergen op Zooâ— with all the Rights and Revenues that belong to it and generally all the Lordships and Estates belonging to M. the Count d' Auvergne Colonel-General of the Light Horse of France and which are in the Power of the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces have been seiz'd and confiscated by reason of the War to which this present Treaty is to put a happy Conclusion it is agreed That the said Count d' Auvergne shall be restor'd to the Possession of the said Marquisate of Bergen op Zoom its Appurtenancies and Dependancies as also to the Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives which he enjoy'd before the War was declar'd VIII All Countries Cities Places Lands Forts Islands and Signories as well in as out of Europe which may have been taken and possess'd since the beginning of this present War shall be restor'd on both sides in the same Condition as to the Fortifications as when they were taken and as to the other Buildings in the same Condition as theâ— shall be found nor shall any thing be destroy'd or embezzil'd nor shall any reparation of Damages be pretended to for what might have been demolish'd More-especially the Fort and Habitation of Pontichery shall be restor'd upon the foresaid Conditions to the East-India Company settl'd in France and as for the Artillery that was carry'd thither by the East-India Company of the United Provinces they shall still reserve it to themselves as also the Ammunition Provision Slaves and all other Effects to dispose of as they shall think fit as also of the Lands Rights and Privileges which they have acquir'd as well from the Prince as the Inhabitants of the Country IX All Prisoners of War shall be releas'd on both sides without Distinction or Exception and without paying any Ransom X. The raising of Contributions shall cease on both sides from the Day of Exchanging the Ratifications of the present Treaty of Peace and no Arrearages of the said Contributions demanded and agreed to shall be exacted but all Pretensions that remain upon that Occasion under any Claim or Pretence whatsoever shall be absolutely annihilated on both sides as also all Contributions on both sides in reference to the Countries of the Most Catholick and Christian Kings shall cease upon the Exchange of the said Ratifications of this present Treaty XI And for the better corroborating and establishing of this present Treaty it is farther agreed between his Majesty and the Lords the States General That this Treaty being fulfill'd there shall be made as hereby there is made a Renunciation as well General as Particular of all manner of Pretensions as well for the time past as present whatsoever they may be which one Party may have against the other to take away for the future all Occasions of stirring up and bringing to pass new Dissentions XII The usual Proceedings of Justice shall be open and the Course of Law shall be reciprocally free and the Subjects of both sides shall prosecute their Rights Actions and Pretensions according to the Laws and Statutes of each Country and thereby obtain the one against the other without Distinction all the Satisfaction that may lawfully belong to them And if any Letters of Reprisals have been granted on either side whether before or after the Declaration of the last War they shall be revoak'd and annull'd reserving to the Parties in favour of whom they were granted full Power to provide for themselves by the ordinary ways of Justice XIII If by Inadvertency or otherwise any Breach or Inobservance shall happen to the prejudice of this
But before I give you the Particulars of them let me premise in this place a short Scearch of Mr. Ponti's Expedition to the Spanish West-Indies from whence he returned about this time He set out from Brest towards the beginning of this Year from whence he directed his Course thither and in Fifty five Days arrived at St. Domingo from which Government he was considerably Re-inforced and being also joined by all the Bucanneers in those Parts he proceeded to put his Project in Execution he was much furthered therein by one Venner an English-man who had served the Spaniards many Years and drew him several Plans of Carthagena by which he saw there was a necessity of possessing himself upon his first Arrival of a considerable Post called Nostre Dame de la Pouppe or else the Spaniards would have an Opportunity to carry off whatsoever they were desirous to save But not being able to effect that through the Situation of the Place he fell upon the Fort of Boeca Chica with all his Fury and notwithstanding the difficult Approaches thereunto the dastardliness of the Buccaneers in his Service whom himself throughout his whole Narration makes to be the veriest Rogues Cowards and Villains imaginable and other Inconveniences he reduced to that streight in a short time as to surrender upon Discretion the Gate being thrown open unto him and old Sanchez Ximenes who had been Governour thereof above Five and twenty Years came and delivered the Keys into his possession From hence they proceed and took in the Fort of St. Lazarus and then attack'd Carthagena it self both by Sea and Land The Place was attacked and defended with a great deal of Vigour but the Spanish Succours not coming in time and some Breaches being made they began at last to Capitulate whereby they were to March out through the Breach with all those carrying Arms Drums beating and four Pieces of Cannon But for the rest all Silver without Exception or Reserve should belong to the Victor and that such of the Inhabitants as staid behind should enjoy all they had excepting their Plate c. In pursuance of these Articles the Governor marched out on the 6th of May and Ponti entred in who notwithstanding the Agreement of having all the Silver was in great perplexity how to come at it Wherefore for an Expedient he ordered it to set up on the principal Gates That he would give the Tenth to the Proprietors of whatsoever they honestly brought him and a Tenth to them that should inform him of any Persons that did not declare their Effects to which he added his Threats of Punishment for formal Disobedience which had the desired effect upon the generality of the People neither were the Churches and Religious Houses spared though the Monsieur is pleased to soften that part with saying They gathered only what was for the Decoration of them Tho' after all the Booty fell much short of their Expectations for the Place having taken the Allarum before their Arrival all the Women of Quality and Others with their Jewels and 120 Mules laden with Gold were gone a great way out of their reach And how basely soever the Buccaneers served him in this Expedition they had their assigned Proportion of the Spoil tho' they were not at all satisfied with it But notwithstanding the Importance of this Conquest they did not think it adviseable to hold it and therefore having demeaned themselves as Conquerors under such Circumstances used to do and ruined the Fort of Bocca Chica on the last of May they put out to Sea June 1st standing for Cape Tuberon when an Advice-boat from Petit Guâ—â—â— came and informed them that 13 English Men of War were arrived on the 27th of April at Barbadoes to look after them which made them alter their Course for the Streights of Bâ—hama till Six at Night when they fell in with them and proved to be much stronger than they were informed They presently took a Fly-boat of theirs on Board of which there was a considerable Quantity of Ammunition and Provision and also the only Traversier they had But while this was doing half of the English Fleet that were got within reaâ— of them seemed to decline Engaging till the others to Leâ—ward could come to the Action which gave the French aâ— Opportunity to get before them but the advanced part 〈◊〉 the English Fleet having yet got to Windward of them and within less than Cannon-shot the French who saw no Remedy now gave the Signal for Fighting But the English Admiral Nevill reckoning there was no safety for the French but to go before the Wind for the Streights of Bâ—hama slackned his way proposing to get so much a head oâ— them as to hinder their Passage Hereupon the French at the Closing in of the Night tacked about and found the success of their working next day for they could reckon 〈◊〉 more than 14 Ships following them in a Line and they not so high by far as the day before which made the French continue the same Board till they got within 20 Leagues 〈◊〉 Carthagena where they were on the 9th of June in the Evening whereof they made a Signal for holding the contrary Course and when 't was quite Dark gave three Guns for all their Ships to steer West directly before the Wind at what time there were but three of the English that kept within sight of them and them at a great distance so that next day they got clear off of them From hence the French having made so narrow an Escape not without some dishonour to our Commanders for want of better Management sailed for Newfoundland and put in for Water whereof they had not above what would have served them for six days longer to Conception-Bay on the 4th of August and afterwards sailed for that of St. John's where lay the English Ships under Commadore Norris who supposing the French now mightily weakned with Sickness to be much stronger than they were declined putting out to Fight them and so they escaped a scouring a second time but that they should do so in their Passage from hence to France where they arrived on the 19th of August from six English Men of War that attacked them is more they owned than themselves could have expected in the pittiful Plight they were reduced to and what I think now is like to remain a Mystery since there is no appearance of any farther Inquiry likely to be made into it But to return from this Interruption of War to the Articles of the Peace those between France and Spain were these that follow IN the Name of God and the Most Holy Trinity to all present and to come be it known That whereas during the Course of the most bloody War with which Europe has been so long a time afflicted it has pleased Divine Providence to provide for Christendom the End of all her Miseries by kindling and preserving a fervent Desire of Peace in
without any Expence or Trouble to the other Party for the said Demolition Likewise shall all the Archives Records Literal Documents be faithfully restored immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications as well those which belong to the Places that are to be surrendred and deliver'd to his Imperial Majesty's Empire and to its States and Members as those that have been remov'd and convey'd from the Chamber and City of Spires and other places of the Empire altho' there may be no particular mention made thereof in the present Treaty The Prisoners taken upon occasion of the War shall also be releas'd and set at liberty on both sides without any Ransom and in particular such who have been condemned to the Gallies or to any other publick Slavery LI. And to the end that the Subjects of both Parties may speedily enjoy the intire Benefit of this Peace it hath been agreed That all Contributions of Money Grain Wine of Forage Wood and Cattel or the like altho' already impos'd on the Subjects of the other Party and altho' they have been settled and stated by Agreement as also that all Foraging of what nature soever upon the Territories and Jurisdiction of one another shall totally cease upon the very day of the Ratification and what shall be due in Arrears for such like Contributions Impositions or Exactions shall be totally abolish'd In like manner the Hostages delivered or carried away during this War for what cause soever shall be restor'd without farther delay and that without being oblig'd to pay any thing for the same LII In like manner the Commerce prohibited during the War between the Subjects of his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and those of his Most Christian Majesty and of the Realm of France shall be re-establish'd presently after the Signing of this Peace with the same liberty as before the War and shall All and every One of them and more particularly the Inhabitants and Citizens of the Hans-Towns Enjoy all manner of Security by Sea and Land together with their Ancient Rights Immunities Privileges and Advantages obtained by Solemn Treaties or by Ancient Custom LIII Whatsoever is concluded and agreed upon by this Treaty shall be firm and inviolable to perpetuity and shall be observed and put in execution notwithstanding whatsoever might have been believed alledged or imagined to the contrary which remains altogether cancelled and abolished altho' it might be of such a nature that we might have been obliged to make a more ample and more particular mention of the same or altho' the cancelling and abrogation seem as if it ought to be lookt upon as null invalid and of none effect LIV. Each of the Stipulating contracting Parties shall be capable of confirming this present Peace and his observance of it by certain Alliances by Fortifications upon his own proper Ground except in the Places in especial manner above excepted the which they may build or inlarge put Garrisons into and use other means they shall judge most necessary for their defence It shall likewise be permitted as well to all the Kings Princes and Republicks in General As to the King of Sweden in particular as Mediator to give their Guarantie to his Imperial Majesty and Empire and to his Most Christian Majesty just as it was by vertue of the Peace of Westphalia LV. And forasmuch as his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and his Most Christian Majesty do acknowledg with Sentiments of Gratitude the continual Cares and good Offices that his Swedish Majesty hath used for re-establishing the Publick Tranquility both Parties agree that his Swedish Majesty shall by name be comprehended in the present Treaty with his Realms and Dominions in the best form and manner as possibly may be LVI There are also comprehended in the present Treaty upon the behalf of his Imperial Majesty and the Empire besides the Members of the Empire already named the other Electors Princes States and Members of the Empire and among others more especially the Bishop and Bishoprick of Basil with all his Estates Privileges and Rights Item the thirteen Swisse Cantons together with their Confederates namely with the City of Geneva and its Dependences the City and County of Neufchatel the Cities of St. Gall Mulbausen and Bienne the three Grison Leagues the Seven Jurisdictions or Dizaines of the Vallais as also the Abbey of St. Gall. LVII On the part of his Most Christian Majesty are in like manner comprised the thirteen Cantons of Switzerland and their Allies and namely the Republick of Vallais or Wallisland LVIII There shall also be comprehended within this Treaty all such who shall be named by common consent of the one and the other party before the Exchange of the Ratifications or within the space of six Months after LIX The Ambassadors of his Imperial Majesty and of the Most Christian King conjointly with the Plenipotentiaries of the States deputed by the Empire do promise to cause the present Peace thus concluded by the Emperour the Empire and King of France to be ratified in that same form whereof it is interchangeably here agreed on and to procure the Exchange of the Letters of Ratifications in this same place within the space of six Weeks to begin to reckon from this very Day or sooner if possible LX. In Witness and confirmation whereof the Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries as well Imperial as those of the King of France as also the Plenipotentiaries of the Electors and Deputies from the States of the Empire have to this effect subsigned this present Treaty with their own Hands and have annexed their Seals thereto Done at the Royal Palace of Ryswick in Holland the 13th of October in the Year 1697. L. S. D. A. C. de Kaunitz L. S. Hen. C. de Stratman L. S. J. F. L. B. de Silern L. S. De Harlay Bonnueil L. S. Verjus de Crecy L. S. De Callieres In the Name of the Elector of Mentz L. S. M. Frederic Baron de Schinborn Embassador L. S. Ignatius Antonius Otten Plenipotentiary L. S. George William Moll Plenipotentiary In the Name of the Elector of Bavaria L. S. De Prielmeyer Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary In the Name of the House of Austria L. S. Francis Radolphe de Halden L. Baron of Trasberg c. In the Name of the Great Master of the Teutonick Order L. S. Charles B. de Loe Knight of the Teutonick Order In the Name of the Bishop of Wurtsbourg L. S. John Conrard Philip Ignatius de Tustungen In the Name of the Elector of Triers L. S. John Henry de Kaisarsfeld Plenipotentiary In the Name of the Prince and Bishop of Constance L. S. Frederic de Durheim In the Name of the Bishop and Prince of Hildesheim L. S. Charles Paul Zimmerman Chancellour to his Highness Counsellour of the Privy Counsel and Plenipotentiary In the Name of the Elector of Cologn in quality of Bishop and Prince of Liege L. S. John Conrade Norff Deputy Plenipotentiary In the Name of
A Compleat History OF EUROPE OR A VIEW of the AFFAIRS thereof Civil and Military FROM THE Beginning of the TREATY of NIMEGUEN 1676. TO THE Conclusion of the PEACE with the Turks 1699. Including the ARTICLES of the Former and the several Infringements of them The Turkish Wars The Forming of the Grand Confederacy The Revolution in ENGLAND c. WITH A Particular ACCOUNT of all the Actions by Sea and Land on both sides and the Secret STEPS that have been made towards a PEACE both before as well as during the last Negotiation WHEREIN Are the several TREATIES at Large The Whole Intermix'd With divers Original LETTERS DECLARATIONS PAPERS and MEMOIRS never before Published The Second Edition Corrected and very much Enlarged Written by a Gentleman who kept an Exact JOURNAL of all TRANSACTIONS for above these Twenty Years LONDON Printed by T. Mead for Iohn Nicholson at the King's Arms E. Harris at the Harrow in Little-Britain and Andrew Bell at the Cross-Keys in Cornhill MDCXCIX THE PREFACE AS there is nothing that has been hitherto written tho' never so perfect not even the Sacred Scriptures themselves excepted nor yet in any Age of the World or Period of Time but hath been liable to the Cavils of some and Scorn of others no Man can suppose me so far bigotted to my own Performance and much less my self as once to think of a Possibility of escaping the common Calamity of Authors in this Kind Especially when I consider that the very Nature of the Vndertaking is such as not to exempt it from the Censures of the meanest Capacity who will take upon him to judge of the Transactions of his own Time in as Despotick a Manner as if himself had been actually concerned in them and privy to the most Secret as well as minutest Passages thereof How much more unlike then is it that I should pretend to surmount the Reprehensions of those who would be thought to be more critically vers'd in Historical Tracts And who will say the Revolutions of the succeeding Age will be little enough to make a Compleat Discovery of the Truths of the preceding One And that Time alone can give every Thing its true Light which the Authority of Superiors and prevalent Partiality of Writers must at present involve in too great an Obscurity to be trusted to And that tho' the daring Presumption of a few may have been thought to reach so far as to make a Reparation of this Deficiency yet that has been observed to have been usually no other than a glaring Light and such as has been borrowed either from a prejudiced Fancy or interested Self But how plausible soever these Objections may be I must assume the Liberty to say That besides the Authority of some of the most Celebrated Historians that have ever writ to justifie my present Practise I cannot see any such Inconveniency to arise as would be suggested from writing the History of the Age to the Age it self For tho' it should be allowed that some Things should necessarily lie dormant as to us and be reserved to the Discovery of future Generations yet surely there are many others that must be unavoidably lost if protracted to such an uncertain Period where not only a true Idea of Things and many Notions relating to the Humour of our Age upon emergent Turns and Occasions will be quite extinct But many Accidents and Circumstances as a late learned Author has noted which are no part of the Records of Time and which soon die and are forgotten are so interwoven in History as to make it entire and of one piece aud which not only enlivens it and creates Pleasure in the reading of it but without them History it self becomes disjonted and is made up of broken Pieces But though what has been now offered might be allowed for a Satisfactory Answer in relation to a full Compensation for future Discoveries there are yet a sort of Gentlemen of a nicer Palate who rather than the Work should pass untraduced will quarrel at the Method of it and utterly disclaim any thing that appears by the way of Annals as being necessarily broken Matter and and ill-concerted together that creates no manner of Pleasure in the reading of it but on the contrary makes the Matter it self to be nauseated because of the Manner of it Now I confess it will be a hard Task to give a plenary Satisfaction herein especially where there is not only so much Colour of Reason but some real Truth in what is suggested thereby But certainly if Things were duely weighed in all their Circumstances there would be perhaps much less Error found in the Method it self than the Management of it For the Want of a good Connection and suitable Disposition of Things will make that look monstrous and distorted that otherwise might prove beautiful and charming enough And as I have endeavoured with a studied Sedulity to avoid this great Inconveniency so if the Success should prove answerable thereto it will first remove the Objection and consequently satisfie the Readers Scruples and Curiosity But on the other hand were it taken for granted that all Annals after all cannot be so well concerted as other Methods of Writing are where the Liberty of Joining Dividing Contracting and Enlarging is nothing near so stinted as in the present Case Yet it must not be denyed but an exact beating of Time which is so peculiar and essential a Part of our Method and with which no other can pretend to vie to this Particular does undoubtedly over-compensate the other Deficiencies it may be liable to And to say It has been both an ancient and modern Practice should not in my poor Opinion lessen but rather encrease an Esteem of it It remains now we should give a succinct Account of the Treatise it self and so much the rather because tho' all the preceding Suggestions to the Prejudice of it were totally removed yet I cannot but foresee that there is Space enough left still for Cavilling and finding Faults which every Man would obviate according to the just Rules that are allowed him as well as in the best Manner he could I hope it will not be expected I should make a Enumeration in this place of every particular Author I have made use of towards the Compiling of this Book This I am sure would be to swell a Preface beyond all just and even tolerable Bounds and render the same as contemptible as some of those Authors I have made an Inspection to because I would see every Thing that could be thought to make for my Purpose tho' no otherwise used by me than to discover Falshood from Solid Truth And yet to be altogether silent upon this Head would appear too Dictator-like as if ipse dixit and no farther were enough to stop all Mens Mouths and make them acquiesce with it Our History then commences from the Time of the first setting on foot the Treaty of Nimeguen whereof Sir W. T. has given
so excellent an Account as to the Rise Progess and Continuation of it as has proved to the Satisfaction generally of all Men the French excepted who have wrote a Treatise also upon the same Subject Dedicated to Monsieur Colbert one of the Active Plenipotentiaries of France on that Occasion And which tho' it carries all those Affectations which are so peculiar to that Nation throughout the whole Body of it yet I must own it has given Light to some other Things that otherwise might have remained in the Dark to this Day From these two I have made up saving what refers to some particular Articles and intervening Passages relating to the War wherein They are generally very concise that Treaty entire which brought me of Course into an Enquiry into the Popish Conspiracy and what succeeded thereupon at Home more particularly in relation to the Humour as well as Demeanour of our then Court where I have not had Leisure to dwell over-long when the Contraventions and I may say Infractions of the said Treaty called me Abroad from whence I have passed into Hungary and after having given an Account of something preludious to the War there which will I belive remain still a Paradox I have in the respective Years of it traced the same as well as those managed by Poland and Venice the Emperor's Confederates therein against the Infidels throughout the whole Variety thereof to the final Period of it And herein I confess my self to have received great Assistances from divers Tracts written concerning particular Sieges and other memorable Actions as they occurred And as I have endeavoured to oblige the Reader with as many Original Papers as I could in relation to this War so it will be found I have not declined the same Practise in respect to other Occurrences and more especially have been very solicitous to omit nothing of that kind that was worthy to be perpetuated in Reference to our own Affairs to that grand Revolution that happened amongst us the secret Machinations used to unhinge our Settlements and the tedious and bloody War we have been since engaged in which I have made my Business to give as true a Light into as was consistent with the various and diversified Relations that by the contending Parties have been given of it And if I should intimate in this Place that I have made it part of my Business to keep a Journal of the Transactions of these Times and add thereto That I have had the Assistance of the best Authors in most Languages and that in consequence hereof not few Things have been rectified or supplied from my own particular Observations and Discoveries I should do my self no Wrong though I might incur the Censures of others for it But after all I am so far from pretending to have committed no Error herein that all I will say is I am not guilty of any wilful Mistake But as this Treatise would have been very lame and imperfect if amidst the Sound of War I had not observed the Overtures made from time to time of a Peace So I should have been much more inexcusable if I should not have been very particular concerning the last general Negotiation in all the Paces made till the final Conclusion of it and of which I am morally assured there is a much better Account given than is yet to be found any other where now extant amongst us But as it will be needless to insist upon the Vsefulness of the Introductory Discourse I have given to show the State of the World in respect to the Enlargement of Dominion and Conquest down to the Commencement of our History to say any thing for the Necessity of a Table to the whole Work will be much more so Wherefore to conclude As our History ends with the General Peace we now enjoy let our Value and Esteem of him who under God has been the particular Instrument of it our dread Sovereign King William be enhaunsed more and more who has so many Personal Excellencies both in Peace and War as to have no manner of Need to borrow any from the Vertues of his Ancestors whereof there has been such an unparallell'd Chain as is not to be met with in History And the Antiquity of whose Name for ought I can see may be as old as Julius Caesar who in the First Book of his Commentaries says A Body of Germans out of Suabia came under the Command of Two Brothers Nasua and Cimberius by Name and settled upon the Banks of the Rhine near Treves Now this is so much the more worthy of Observation that besides the Similitude of the Names of Nasua and Nasau which only differ in the Transposition but of one Letter there is an Estate upon that Spot of Ground which belongs to the Family to this Day But be it as it will I was the more desirous to take Notice of it upon this Occasion because I believe it is the first time it has been done by any other in this kind And because it may stir up the Curiosity of those Gentlemen that are skilled in Genealogies to make a farther Enquiry into it As for this Second Edition whereunto the Transactions of another Year are added which more particularly include the Negotiations of a Truce with the Turks and so leaves all Europe in Peace I have nothing to say but that what Mistakes or Deficiences thro' Haste or Inadvertency the former may have laboured under I have now endeavoured to rectifie and supply them with all becoming Diligence and Sincerity INTRODUCTION THERE has been almost as much Contest between the Learned about what Form of Government is best and was of Primitive Institution as there has been Endeavours used by the Princes and States of the World to propagate their Dominion and Power to the Diminution of that of their Neighbours This Itch of Superiority and Rule has in all Ages from the Beginning been the Property of all sorts of Governments And though it has been a general Assertion and and pretty common Observation of Latter Times that Republicks whether Aristocratical Democratical or otherwise constituted have not been so proper for Extending of Conquest as Monarchical Constitutions yet that it has not been always so is manifest from the Commonwealths of Rome and Carthage who enlarged the Bounds of their Dominions to a greater Degree than any other Kingdom or State whatever that we know of save somewhat more that was done by the Introduction of a single Administration into the former Republick which yet did not prove of any long Duration or fixed Settlement For tho' no Empire upon Earth could ever pretend to vye with that of Rome in this Particular and which therefore for that Reason we may call An. Vniversal Monarchy yet being at length tired out and crasie with Age she sunk under her own Weight being over-run and divided into divers Pieces by those Nations she ever termed Barbarous but proved neither so contemptible in their Arms nor
Master so that the War could not break out but upon France in case of their Refusal And if an imaginary Jealousie in Holland of the Prince's Conduct since his Marriage made them very uneasie among themselves and daily more and more disposed towards a Peace the News that came at this time of the French's taking from them the Island of Tobago with all the Vessels that were in that Port as well as their Ammunition in the Fort there besides the Death of Binks Admiral of Zealand and the utter Ruine of that Colony did no less sensibly affect them But what was a more formidable Blow than all the rest was the vast Progress of the French Army this Spring in the Spanish Netherlands where they carried all before them without any Opposition in whatever they attempted For towards the end of Feb. the French King marching at the Head of his Army and carrying the Queen and Ladies to Metz seemed to threaten either Lutzemburg Namur or Mons But having drawn the Spanish Forces that way all on a sudden and to the no less Surprize of the French themselves than of the Confederates he crossed the Countries and in so much haste that by the 4th of March he sat down before Ghent which by his Orders had been invested the 1st of the same Month and notwithstanding the Besieged cut down their Dikes and drowned part of the Country yet in a few Days both Town and Cittadel too were carried and the Town of Ypre run the same Fate before the end of the Month tho' the Garrison made a gallant Resistance However tho' all the Confederates exaggerated the Importance of these Losses yet they could not excite England to any speedy and open Declaration The Affairs of the Allies being thus so much perplex'd on all hands and the French now elated with so many Prosperities and perhaps fearful least England at length would fall into the Weight of the Confederacy in the Month of Apr. made a publick Declaration of the Terms upon which they were resolved to make the Peace a Copy whereof we have here inserted and is as follows A PROJECT of CONDITIONS of PEACE HIS Majesty's inviolable Fidelity in adhering to his Alliances hath induced him never to listen any Proposals of Peace other than such as shall give a full and perfect Satisfaction to the King of Sweden which likewise having been absolutely promised to his Majesty by the King of Great Britain who was earnest to gain this Point both for him and the States-General he now likewise makes it the first Article that he insists upon and without which he cannot come to any Conclusion upon the rest And because the Interest of the Duke of Gottorp is so united to the King of Sweden that it makes a part of the Treaty of Copenhagen for the Performance of which his Majesty gave his Guarranty to that Crown his Majesty desires that he may now likewise be comprehended within this Treaty upon such Terms as shall be satisfactory to himself As for the Prince and Bishop of Strasbourg the King doth precisely insist upon the Restitution of that Prince and of all his Family to all their Estates Goods Honours and Prerogatives and particularly upon the Restitution of his Brother Prince William of Furstemburg whose Liberty must be provided for by one of the first Articles of the Peace For what concerns the Empire as his Majesty doth still continue in the same Intention which he has expressed for its Peace that he has been troubled to see it disturbed that it was with much Concern of Mind he found himself compelled to carry the War thither So he does yet adhere to those publick Declarations which he has so often made That he will insist only upon the Restoring of the Treaties of Westphalia in all their Points and to have them once more to be the Means of restoring Peace to Germany Which induces him to offer this Alternative to the Emperor either that the Emperor shall restore Philipsburg and have Fribourg restored to him or else keep Philipsburg and let his Majesty continue in the Possession of Fribourg without making any the least Alteration in the other Matters contained in the said Treaties As for what concerns Spain since its Interest appears to be the most considerable in this War and both England Holland and some Estates bordering upon Flanders have further express'd their Desire that that Crown should retain such a Frontier in the Low-Countries as might be able to make that a Bar which they judge is so very important to their Safety his Majesty has been pleased at the Instance of the King of Great Britain to agree to the Means for the Settling of it And upon this Consideration it is as his Majesty declared himself to that Prince that he has offered already and doth yet offer to restore to Spain these following Places viz. Charleroy Limburg and its Appurtenances Binch and the Provostship thereof Aeth and its Chastellany Oudenard and its Chastellany there Courtray and its Chastellany the Verge of Menin only excepted Gand and its Dependances St. Guillain but with its Fortifications rased For so many Places of Importance and which his Majesty has taken so much Care and been at so great Expence to Fortifie he requires in exchange that the King of Spain quit his Right to those Places which his Majesty hath possessed himself of in this last War All Franche Compte The Town of Valenciennes and its Dependances Conde and its Dependances Cambray and Cambresis Air St. Omers and their Dependances The Town of Ypre and its Chastellany The Places of Werwick and Werneton on the River Lis. Bavay and Maubeuge with their Dependances Poperingue Bailleul and Cassel with their Dependances In a Word that he quit his Right to all such Places and Countries as his Majesty hath now in his Possession excepting those before-mentioned which his Majesty is willing to restore to Spain the Town of Charlemont he is willing to give up or in lieu thereof the Town of Dinant and Bouvines upon Condition that he at the Choice of the King of Spain will charge himself that the Bishop of Liege shall quit his Right to Dinant and that the Emperor and Empire shall give their Assent thereunto By this means the Spanish Frontier in the Netherlands would for the future begin from the Sea to the Meuse by Newport Dixmude Courtray Oudenard Aeth Mons Charleroy and Namur As for the Articles which concern the States-General they are so very favourable that they cannot but conclude that his Majesty doth fully purpose to receive them into the former Friendship after the Peace shall be concluded His Majesty is willing to restore them Maestricht and to agree to the Treaty of Commerce in such Form as it was framed at Nimeguen with the Sieur Beverning And to the End his Majesty may give the World the utmost Testimony of his sincere Intentions for the Peace his Majesty notwithstanding any Reason that might
induce him to continue in Possession of Lorrain is willing that Prince Charles be restored to it upon one of these two Alternatives of which he gives him his Choice First That he be restored according to the Articles expressed in the Pyrenaean Treaty without any Change or Alteration in any of them Or Secondly That he be restored generally to his whole Estate except the Town of Nancy which his Majesty will retain with Plenary Right of Sovereignty and excepting such a Way as was agreed upon at the Treaty of 1661 to pass from the Frontiers of France into Alsatia and all such Ways as shall be necessary to pass from France to Nancy and from France to Metz Brisac and Franche Compte upon Condition nevertheless that to make him some Compensation for the Town of Nancy his Majesty shall restore to him that of Toul considerable for its Extent and Situation and much more in respect for its Bishoprick His Majesty demands likewise That Long-Wic and its Provostship be quitted to him but offereth withal to recompense the Prince of Lorrain with another Provostship of equal Value of one of three Bishopricks And whereas Marsal having been quitted to his Majesty by a particular Treaty is not at present any part of Lorrain so it is not to be understood to be comprised in this Restitution These are the Terms which may and ought to make the Platform of a General Peace and upon which his Majesty hath long ago declared himself to the King of Great Britain His Majesty desires they may be imparted to the Assembly at Nimeguen and that his own Plenipotentiaries propose them to the Consideration of the rest as containing the lowest Conditions he can admit and upon which his Enemies may make Choice either of War or Peace Given at St. Germains the 9th of Apr. 1678. The Imperialists of all others seemed the least inclinable to yield to the foregoing Conditions and the Strain of requiring full Satisfaction to Sweden was insupportable to the Northern Princes yea the Spaniards and other Confederates looked upon them so hard that they said They would hazard all rather than accept of them Tho' after all those Articles that concerned Holland and Spain having been before privately agreed upon with some Leaders of the principal Towns they proved the Plan of the Peace both for Holland and all the other Confederates engaged in the War Yet when the French Embassadors carried these Conditions to Sir Lionel Jenkins then sole Mediator in order to be communicated by him to the Confederates he made Answer He could not do it as a Mediator but that he would atquaint the Parties with them in Discourse as a matter to which he promised no Answer and this he did because of the other Terms that had been agreed on between England and Holland for forcing of France to a Compliance on the 10th of Jan. foregoing which tho' they proved to be of little use in the Course of this Peace yet they had one good Effect upon the Affairs of Spain and this was That notwithstanding all the French Intriguing in England and Holland the Fears they had that the King at length might be in earnest and punctually perform the Conditions of this League and well knowing that if it came to that they should have occasion for all the Force they could make and perhaps find all little enough they abandoned Messina and all their Conquests in Sicily and that at a time when every body thought the Mareschal de Fevillade had been sent into that Kingdom with fresh Forces upon the Design of some new Enterprize Whereas indeed he went thither to fetch off the French Troops that were there which he did after he had first declared to the Senate the King's Orders and the present Necessity of them and with whom a vast Number of the Messines who dreaded the certain Revenge of the Spaniards took also the Opportunity to retire But that the French might stave off the Blow from England if possible they at length bethought themselves of a Srratagem that had more charming Obligations in it than any other made with the Prince of Orange when in England or with the States-General afterwards and that was an Offer of Money For you must know Mr. Montague the King's Embassador at Paris after a long Conference with M. Louvois by his Master's Orders wherein the Latter represented to him the Measures that had been already concerted for a Peace upon the French Terms in Holland and that since they were agreed there it was hoped his Britannick Majesty would not be against it but that however he had Orders to make him a Tender of a great Sum of Money for his Consent tho' a thing already accepted by the Dutch and wherein his Majesty consequently was not concerned was desired to give the then Lord Treasurer of England an Account hereof by a Packet which Offer tho' very relishing at any time with the Humour of our Court yet the violent Dispositions of the Dutch to run into the Peace at this time whatever came of it and such a fatal and mutual Distrust as there was both in Court and Parliament that it was very difficult to fall into any sound Measures between them made the King look upon it as a very profitable Proposal saying That since the Dutch would have a Peace upon the French Terms and that France offered him Money for his Approbation of that he could not help he knew no Reason why he might not get the Money and so required Sir William Temple to treat with the French Embassador about it But that Gentleman had more Honour and Honesty than to engage in so dishonourable a Thing and did thereupon retire from Court You have heard before that the 10th of May was the time limited by the French Project of Peace for the Allies to accept of the Terms or no and to which they appeared positively engaged but there being a Necessity of somewhat a greater Confidence between the Dutch and French upon this Occasion least such a Sâ—iffneâ—s might produce that Alteration in the Pace of Affairs at the Expiration of the Term that might prove a Disadvantage to one or the other side the Heer Beverning sent secretly to acquaint the French Embassadors That the States did accept of the King's Offer However that he might not by such a Pace allarm the Allies he gave the Count d' Avaux also notice That he was very desirous to discourse with him in private and for that end would fetch a Walk alone upon the Ramparts of the Town about 7 in the Morning where they met accordingly and between whom all Matters were in a manner fully concluded The Consequence thereof was the granting of Ten Days longer for the Dutch to endeavour to perswade their Allies to accept of the Conditions proposed as themselves had done In this time the Estates received a Letter from the French King from his Camp at Deinse wherein he made some further Concessions
and invited them to send Deputies to him at Ghent But because the Reader will be better pleased to peruse the Letter it self I shall here insert it DEINSE the 18th of May 1678. Most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates OVT of the sincere Affection which we have always born to the the promoting the Peace of Europe we are very much satisfied to understand by our Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen the Account given unto them in your Name by one of your Ambassadors concerning your Thoughts upon the Conclusion of so great a Work which you had imparted to them by one of your Embassadors We are glad to understand that the Terms which we proposed at that Assembly appear to you to be reasonable and that you are fully perswaded of the Sincerity of our Mind in a matter of so great Importance And it is with the greater Satisfaction to our selves that we confirm the same unto you by this Letter that notwithstanding those Advantages which we have already acquir'd by our Arms and may justly hope for by the Prosecution of the War yet we place our chiefest Glory in making all the Steps we can towards a Peace But because it appears by the Discourses that have been made to our Plenipotentiaries by your Order that how desirous soever you are to conclude the Peace yet there remains some Scruple with you concerning the 7th Article of the Treaty of Commerce which has been debated at Nimeguen between our Embassadors and yours and Trouble of Mind lest we should make an entire Conquest of the Low-Countries in case Spain should reject the Terms we have offered we are willing to impart our Thoughts unto you upon these two Points We cannot do it more favourably as to the 1st of them than by granting that the 7th Article should be as your selves desire it and in taking such Measures with you upon the 24 Point as may ease you of the Fear you express for the Loss of Flanders And this we will then do when Spain having refused to consent to the Peace there shall be a Treaty concluded between us and you upon such Terms as have been already propos'd with relation to your selves and that you shall have returned to our Alliance and shall oblige your selves to continue Neuters during the War We shall be always reddy for your sake to grant to Spain the same Terms with relation to Flanders which they are at liberty now to accept And we are further willing to assure you that in all that time we will not Attack any one Place in all those Provinces Thus ye shall always find us reddily inclined not only to form that Barrier which you think so necessary for your own Safety but to secure it and to let you enjoy together with the Re-establishment of Commerce whatever other Advantages you can expect from our Friendship And if for the Prosecuting this Negotiation you shall think it necessary to send Deputies to us they will find us near Ghent till the 27th of this Month and in the same Dispositions we have declared to you in this Letter In the mean time we pray God to take you most great dear Friends Allies and Confederates into his Holy Protection Your good Friend Ally and Confederate LOVIS Underneath was Signed Arnauld The States after 4 Days Consultation did on the 25th of the same Month send a Letter in Answer to the King 's by a Trumpeter of their own to his Camp and after having complimented him upon the Honour he had done them by writing to them and rejoiced at the sincere Desire they conceived to be in his Majesty for the Peace of Europe They pray'd he would be pleased to give Credit to the Heer Van Beverning their Extraordinary Embassador whom they would send to him to inform him how desirous they were on their part to give him fresh Assurances of their sincere Intentions also for Peace Beverning attended upon the French King accordingly and concerted Measures so well that he obtained a Cessation of Arms for 6 Weeks in Flanders to the end the Dutch might endeavour to get the Spaniards to enter into the Peace upon the Terms they proposed for them which Truce extended it self to the 15th of Aug. following and upon his return he told his Masters whether really or designedly is a Question That he found the French King as well informed of the Condition of his Enemies and of the Places he might attack as he was of his own Affairs England in the mean time was grown pretty indifferent in the Matter of the Peace and Spain seemed well inclined to accept her part of it But the Emperor King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenburg fell into the highest Declarations and Reproaches against the States that could well be invented ripping up all they had ventured and suffered in a War wherein they had engaged for the sole Preservation of Holland But that now they were abandoned by them under a Pretence of concluding a Peace and that upon imperious and arbitrary Terms for them without then Consent That they were not backward to treat with France and make a Peace upon any safe and equitable Conditions but would never endure to have them imposed as from an absolute Conqueror and would rather venture and expose all than accept them especially those for the Duke of Lorrdin whose Case was the worst treated tho' seemingly the most favoured by the Confederates and the least contested by France Yet for all these Storms from their Allies the States were little moved but held on their Course having little Regard to the Satisfaction of any other than Spain in what concerned the Safety of Flanders and the Necessities of that Crown made them easie tho' as little pleased as the rest Wherefore on June 22. they sent their Embassadors Orders to Sign the Peace with France before the End of the Month And the very same Day wrote to the French King by the Sieur Lanoy one of their Officers who passed thro' the Camp and delivered a Letter from them to the Mareschal de Luxemburg whereby they acquainted him That they had given the foresaid Orders to their Embassadors at Nimeguen about Signing the Peace and at the same time communicated to him the Sence of the Letter they wrote to his Majesty But notwithstanding all this Tendency both in Spain and Holland to give the finishing Stroke yet an unforeseen Accident fell out which had like to have overturned the whole Fabrick and renew the War with greater Vigour and more equal Forces by engaging England in a Share of it in Favour of the Confederates which they had been long practising without any Success and were quite out of Hopes thereof For in the Conditions which the Dutch had made for the French restoring the 6 Towns in Flanders to the Spaniard there was no particular Mention made of the Time of that Restitution the Dutch understanding as well as the Spaniards that it was to be upon
Points and Articles therein contained and declared have for our Selves our Heirs Successors Kingdoms Countries Lands Lordships and Subjects accepted approved ratified and confirmed and do accept approve ratifie and confirm the same and do promise upon the Word and Faith of a King to keep and observe the whole inviolably without ever acting to the Contrary directly or indirectly in any sort or kind whatsoever and thereto we oblige and mortgage all and every our Goods that are or shall be In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with our own Hand and have made our Seal to be set thereto Given at St. Germain en Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The ARTICLE concerning the Prince of Orange AS in pursuance of the War which for some Years has happened betwixt the most Christian King and the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries his Majesty caused to be seized all Things belonging to the Prince of Orange as well the Principality of Orange as other his Lands and Seignories lying in France and granted the Revenues thereof to Monsieur the Comte d' Auvergne who enjoys the same at present and since by the Grace of God a Peace is settled by the Treaty this Day concluded and so all the angry Effects of War ought to cease his Majesty hath promised to the said Prince and doth promise by this separate Act that immediately after the Ratifications exchanged his Majesty will take off the said Seisure and cause the said Prince to be restored to the Possession of the said Principality and of the Lands which belong to him in France Franche Comte Charleroy Flanders and other Countries depending upon his Majesty's Rule and to all his Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives in such Estate and Manner as he enjoyed the same till he was dispossess'd by reason of the present War Nimeguen Aug. 10. in the Year of our Lord 1678. Marshal D'Estrades Colbert De Mesmes H. Beverning W. de Nassaw W. Haren WE well liking the separate Article aforesaid in all and and every Point thereof have by these Presents Signed with our Hand allowed approved and ratified and do allow approve and ratifie the same promising upon the Faith and Word of a King to fulfil observe and cause to be observed the same truly and faithfully without suffering any Thing to be acted directly or indirectly to the Contrary thereof for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with Our Hand and have caused Our Seal to be put therto Given at St. Germain in Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The Day after the Signing of this Peace came over the Ratification of the late Treaty between the King and States with Orders to Sir Will. Temple to proceed forthwith to see the Exchange of them which he did accordingly tho' after the Counter-pace made by the Dispatch sent by De Cross and the Consequences of it the same seemed now as unnecessary as it had been at first unresolved at the English Court and unexpected by the Dutch who many of them now were as unsatisfied with the Peace and especially with the Precipitation of Monsieur Beverning to Sign it upon the sudden Offer of the French Ministers to evacuate the Towns and before he had acquainted the States with it and received new Orders thereupon as the generality of that Nation were weary of the War but the Thing was done and after some Contestation the City of Amsterdam declaring her Approbation of it the rest of the Provinces came soon to acquiesce also in the same But while these Matters were transacted in the Cabinet there was a Work of another nature undertaken in the Field Mons had been straitly Blocked up for some time by the French Army under the Command of the Duke of Luxemburg who was so confident of the good Posture he was in that he sent the Mareschal d' Estrades one of the French Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen word He was so Posted that if he had but 10000 Men and the Prince of Orange 40000 yet he was sure he could not be Forced whereas he took his Army to be stronger than that of the Prince But the Prince for all that and in spight of many Disadvantages from an Army drawn so suddenly together so hasty a March as that of the Dutch and Posts taken with so much Force and Fortified with so much Industry did upon Sunday the 17th of Aug. in the Morning Decampt with his own and the Confederate Armies from Soignes marched towards Roches and from thence resolved to advance towards the Enemy whose Right Wing was Posted at the Abby of St. Dennis and the Left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage of Situation that they were almost thought unaccessible for besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them and that by narrow Paths About 12 the Cannon began to play upon St. Dennis and the Prince went to Dinner in the open Field just as the Duke of Monmouth arrived in the Camp when Dinner was ended the Battalions under the direction of Count Waldeck began to act on the side of the Abby and about 3 in the Afternoon made their Attack the Prince himself being there present and that with extraordinary Bravery all the Regiments of his Left Wing seconding one another in excellent Order In the mean time the Spanish Troops under the Command of the Duke de Villa Hermosa acted on the side of Chasteau being assisted by the Prince's Guards who had the Van and the English and Scots Troops Commanded by the brave Earl of Ossory The Action lasted from 3 in the Afternoon till 9 at Night during which the Prince rid toward Chasteau where the Dispute was likewise very sharp the Guards behaving themselves with extraordinary Vigour and the Earl of Ossory with his Troops doing Wonders The Prince himself was Ingaged among the foremost of the French who on such an occasion were not well to be distinguished from the Confederate Troops and Monsieur Overkirk shot a French Commander who attackt his Highness At last after a great Slaughter on both sides the Confederates remained Masters of St. Dennis Abby having thought fit to quit the Post at Chasteau by reason of the great difficulty they found to second their Attacks on that side The Duke of Luxemburg finding how things went on his side thought fit to Retire in the Night leaving his Dead many Wounded his Tents c. behind him and the Prince next Morning went to view the Camp the Enemy had Abandoned taking up his Quarters at the Abby of St. Dennis where the Duke of Luxemburg had had his the Day before But Advice of Signing of the Peace coming to the Prince next Morning from the States hindred the prosecution of this Advantage which
very probably might have been as much Glorious to him in the Consequence as it was Honourable at the present according to the Confession of a brave Enemy that was in the Battle who said That he esteemed this the only Heroick Action that had been done in the whole Course or Progress of the War The Prince sent to give the Duke of Luxemburg notice of the Peace who thereupon desired an Interview with him which was agreed to and all things past with great Civilities on both sides the French crowding about a Young Prince that had made so much noise in the World and but the Day before given Life and Vigour to such a desperate Action as all Men esteemed this Battle of St. Dennis to be yet many Reflections were made upon it both by his Friends and Enemies some saying That he knew the Peace was Signed before the Fight began but that if it were true could not Prejudice him since he was not obliged to take notice of it till he received Advice from the States and that it was too great a venture both to himself and the States and too great a Sacrifice to his own Honour since it could be to no other Advantage others laid the blame upon the Marquess de Grana That he had Intercepted or Concealed the States Packet to the Prince but this was an uncertain Report However the Prince could not have ended the War with greater Glory and with more spight to see such a mighty occasion wrested out of his Hands by the sudden and unexpected Signing of the Peace which he had assured himself the States would not have consented to without the Spaniards But the Business was done and therefore he left the Army went first to the Hague then to Dieren to Hunt as having little else to do leaving the States at liberty to pursue their own paces as to the finishing of the Treaty between France and Spain wherein their Embassadors at Nimeguen imployed themselves with great Zeal and Application and no longer as Parties and Confederates but rather as Mediators the English declining that Function as being a Matter wherein our Court would take no part The Northern Confederates were still mightily chafed at the Dutch Proceedings and tho' with all their Remonstrances they were not able to stave off the Separate Peace of Holland yet they imployed their last Effort now to prevent the Spaniards agreeing to that part of the Peace as accepted for them by the Dutch and to that end exclaimed mightily against their Breach of Honour and Interest citing the very Articles of their Treaty with them for it and said That what was left the Spaniards in Flanders by those Terms was Indefensible and would serve but to exhaust their Men and Treasure to no purpose That France had no other Design than to break the present Confederacy by such Separate Treaties and so leave the Spaniards abandoned by all their Allies upon the next occasion which they could no less than expect if Spain should use them with as little regard of their Honour and Treaties as the Dutch Embassadors seemed to design these and especially some difficulties that did arise on the part of France about giving up the Country of Beaumont and the Town of Bovines to the Spaniards as being Matters not mentioned in the Dutch Treaty with the French upon the Score of Spain before the Peace was Signed made Matters very doubtful and uncertain whether the Dutch would Ratifie their Treaty or the Spaniards Sign theirs Whilst Mens minds were busied with various Conjectures and Presages upon the present Conjuncture about the middle of Aug. Mr. Hide was suddenly dispatcht over from England to the surprize even of all in Holland and more especially of our Embassador there who had not the least Intimation of it and if the Journey was surpriâ—ing the Message was no less which is included in the following Memorial That his Majesty having understood that a Separate Treaty of Peace had been Concluded and Signed between the Most Christian King's Embassadors and those of this State he was extreamly surprized at the Manner of the Procedure of the the States Embassadors at Nimeguen and having seriously reflected thereon he hath commanded my Lord Embassador to hasten hither with all expedition in order to represent the same to the Lords the States that his Majesty cannot find there is any Declaration or Promise made by the Most Christian King for the Evacuating the Towns upon the Ratification of the Peace Signed at Nimeguen That in the next place there is no Article between the Most Christian King's Embassadors and those of this State to assure the said Evacuation Thirdly That France has retarded the said Evacuation by the new Proposals she has made to the Spaniards whereof there were no mention made in their own Propositions which had been accepted by Spain particularly by a Detention of some Places till Dinant were yielded up by the Empire and by keeping the County of Beaumont and Bovines with other Places of which there had been no mention made in the said Proposals And as it has been agreed upon in the last Treaty which was concluded and ratified between his Majesty and this State that in case his Most Christian Majesty did retard or retract from the said Evacuation whether upon account of procuring Satisfaction to the Swede or for any other Cause whatsoever that the King and this State were obliged to enter into a Conjoint War against France his Majesty does believe that the Substance of that Treaty is come to pass by the fore-mentioned Conditions and that his Majesty and this State were equally obliged to pursue the said Treaty and to give the said Embassador Orders to demand of this State the Execution of it And as his Majesty does not at all doubt but this State has the same Sentiments with himself in respect to the Mutual Obligation that lies upon them from the said Treaty he has commanded the said Embassador in his Name and on his part to assure them that if the Lords the States will refuse to Ratifie that which was Signed by their Embassadors at Nimeguen his Majesty 3 Days after such a Declaration shall be notified to him on the part of this State will declare actual War against France and punctually put in Execution all the Contents of his last Treaty with this State And his Majesty having taken into Consideration those Representations which have been made unto him on the part of this State concerning a Neutrality for Cleve and Juliers his Majesty is so sensible of the great Danger that may befal this State without a sufficient Barrier on that side as well as on that of Flanders that he has commanded the said Embassador to assure the Lords the States that he is ready to Concert with them and enter upon all the Measures that can be taken for their Security on that side as well as on the other and that it shall be their Fault if they
whatsoever over the said Countries Places Castles Forts Lands Lordships Demesnes Castellanies and Bailiffwicks and over all Places thereon depending as hath been said notwithstanding any Laws Customs and Constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding though confirm'd by Oath From all which and from the derogating Clauses of derogating Clauses it is expresly derogated by this present Treaty in order to the said Renunciations and Cessions which shall be valid and take place without that the Particular expressing or specification of any one shall derogate from the General nor the General from Particular and excluding for ever all Exceptions upon what Rights Titles Causes or Pretences whatsoever grounded And the said Most Christian King declareth consenteth willeth and intendeth That the Men Vassals and Subjects of the said Countries Towns and Lands yielded to the Crown of Spain as aforesaid shall be and remain discharg'd and absolv'd from this time forward and for ever from the Faith Homages Services and Oaths of Allegiance that they may have made to himself or the Most Christian Kings his Predecessors as also from all Obedience Subjection and Vassalage which they owe him by reason thereof it being the Intention of the said Most Christian King that the said Faith Homages and Oaths of Allegiance shall be void and of no force as fully as if they never had been made or taken VII The said Most Christian King shall also cause to be restor'd to the said Catholick King all the Towns Places Forts Castles and Posts that have or may have been seized by his Arms in whatsoever Parts of the World to the Day of the Publication of the Peace And in like manner his Catholick Majesty shall cause to be restor'd to his Most Christian Majesty whatever Places Forts Castles and Posts may have been seized by his Arms during the present War in any Parts of the World unto the Day of the Publication of the Peace VIII The Restitution of the said Places as aforesaid shall be made by the Most Christian King or his Ministers Really and Truly without any Delay or Difficulty for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever to him or them that shall be deputed by the Catholick King in Time and Manner aforesaid in the Condition they now are without Demolishing Weakening Diminishing or Endammaging the â—ame in any sort and without pretending to or demanding any re-imbursement for fortifying the said Places or for paying what might be due to the Soldiers and People of War there IX It is further agreed That all Proceedings Judgments and Sentences given and made by the Judges and other the Officers of his Most Christian Majesty in such Towns and Places as his Majesty enjoy'd by Virtue of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle and quitted as above to his Catholick Majesty or by the Parliament of Tournay by reason of Controversies and Suits at Law prosecuted as well by the Inhabitants of the said Towns and their Dependances as by others during the Time they were under the Obedience of the said Most Christian King shall take place and be of as full Force and Effect as if the said King continu'd Master and actually possess'd of the said Towns and Countries Nor shall the said Judgments and Sentences be called in question or annull'd nor the Execution thereof be otherwise retarded or hindred nevertheless it shall be lawful for the Parties to seek Relief by Review of the Cause and Course of Law and Order prescrib'd by the Statutes yet so as the Judgments shall in the mean time remain in full Force and Virtue though without Prejudice to what is stipulated in that respect in the 21th Article of this present Treaty X. Whereas his Most Christian Majesty's Ministers after the Peace of Aix la Chapelle maintain'd at the Conference at Lisle That the Sluces both on the West and East-side of the Town of Newport and the Fort Vierboet at the end of the Western Sluce near the Mouth of Newport-Haven and one part of the Fort of Nieuven Dam built upon the Eastern Sluce with the Piers of the said Haven being kept in Repair by those of Furnes were within the Territory and Jurisdiction of the Castellany of Furnes and that consequently they belonged to his Most Christian Majesty And his Catholick Majesty's Ministers held the contrary that they did not and whether they did or did not that it ought to suffice that since the said Fortifications were made as well with respect to the Castellany of Furnes as to the Town of Newport his Catholick Majesty being a Sovereign Prince might Incorporate and Appropriate the said Parts thereof to the Haven and Fortifications of Newport and by that means make them inseparable from that Town It is agreed That the said Sluces and other Parts of the Fortifications of Newport above-mentioned shall remain to his Catholick Majesty as well as the Town it self without any Pretensions ever to be made to the same by his Most Christian Majesty by reason of the Town and Castellany of Furnes being his or otherwise And for the Draining of the Waters of the Castellany of Furnes it shall be continued and his Catholick Majesty shall enjoy the same in Manner and Form as hath been used till now XI The said most Christian King shall retain continue seized of and actually enjoy the whole County of Burgundy commonly called the Franche Comte and the Towns Places and Countries thereto belonging together with the Town of Bezaâ—con and the Liberties thereof and the Towns of Valenciennes and its Dependancies Bouchain and its Dependances Conde and its Dependances though heretofore pretended to be a Member of the Castellany of Aeth Cambray Cambresis Air St. Omer and their Dependances Ipre and its Castellany Warwick and Warneton upon the Lys Poperinghen Bailleul and Cassel with their Dependances Bavay and Maubeuge with their Dependances XII The said County of Burgundy the Towns Places and Countries thereto belonging together with the Town of Bezancon and the Liberties thereof as also the said Towns and Places of Valenciennes Bouchain Conde Cambray Aire St. Omer Ipres Warwik and Warneton Poperinghen Baileul Cassal Bavay and Maubeuge their Bailiffwicks Castellanies Governments Provostships and Territories Demesnes Lordships Appurtenances Dependances and all thereunto annexed by what Names soever called with all the Men Vassals Subjects Towns Boroughs Villages Hamlets Forests Rivers Plain-Countries Salt-Pits and all other Things whatsoever thereunto belonging shall remain by Virtue of the said present Treaty of Peace to his Most Christian Majesty his Heirs Successors and Assignes irrecoverably and for ever with the same Rights of Sovereignty Propriety Regality Patronage Guardianship and Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogative and Preheminence over Bishopricks Cathedral-Churches and other Abbies Priories Dignities Curacies and all other Benefices whatsoever within the Compass of the said Countries Places and Bailiffwicks so yielded up of what Abbies soever the said Priories hold Lands and have dependance upon and all other Rights that heretofore belonged to the Catholick King though not here
the Power of the late most Serene Infanta Catherina shall be observed without any hurt or prejudice by this particular Clause to the general Stipulation in this present Article concerning the Performance of the said Pyrenean Treaty and that of Aix la Chappelle XXVII Though their most Christian and Catholick Majesties contribute all their Cares towards the setling a General Peace and that so fair a Way towards it as that of a General Truce gives them Hopes that a Conclusion of whatever may secure the Quiet of Christendom will speedily ensue yet since the said most Christian King doth insist upon it that the Catholick King shall oblige himself not to assist any of the Princes that are now engag'd in War against France and its Allies his Catholick Majesty hath promised and doth promise to observe a perfect Neutrality during the Course of this War without being at Liberty to assist his Allies directly or indirectly against France or its Allies XXVIII And whereas their most Christian and Catholick Majesties do acknowledge the powerful Offices which the King of Great Britain has contributed without intermission by his Counsels and good Advertisements toward the Publick Safety and Repose it is agreed on both sides That his said Majesty of Great Britain and his Kingdoms shall be expresly comprehended in this present Treaty after the best Form that can be XXIX Within this Peace Alliance and Friendship on the part of his most Christian Majesty besides the King of Sweden together with the Duke of Holstein the Bishop of Strusburg and Prince William of Furstemburg as concern'd in the present War shall be comprehended if they please themselves all those that having refused to engage or declare themselves in this present War shall be nominated within 6 Months after the Exchange of the Ratifications XXX And on the one part of his Catholick Majesty shall likewise be comprehended if themselves please all such as having forborn to engage or declare themselves in the present War shall be nominated within 6 Months after the Exchange of the Ratifications and all others that after the said War ended shall likewise be nominated by his said Catholick Majesty XXXI The said most Christian and Catholick Kings do agree That all Potentates and Princes that shall be willing to enter into the like Obligation may give their Majesties their Promises and Engagements of Warranty as to the Execution of whatever is contain'd in this present Treaty XXXII And for the greater Security of this Treaty of Peace and of all the Points and Articles therein contained the said present Treaty shall be published attested and registred in the Court of the Parliament of Paris and in all other Parliaments of the Kingdom of France and in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris And also the said Treaty shall be published attested and registred as well in the Great and other Councils and Chambers of Account of the said Catholick King in the Low-Countries as in the other Councils of the Crowns of Castile and â—â—ragon according to the Form contained in the Pyrenean Treaty of the Year 1659. of which Publications and Enrollment Exemplifications shall be delivered on both sides within 3 Months after the Publication of this present Treaty All which Points and Articles above expressed and the Contents of every of them have been Treated Agreed Passed and Stipulated between the said Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of the said most Christian and Catholick Kings which Plenipotentiaries by Virtue of their Powers the Copies whereof are inserted at the bottom of this present Treaty have promised and do promise under the Obligation of all and every the Goods and Estates present and to come of the Kings their Masters that they shall inviolably be observed and fulfilled and that they will cause them to be ratified firmly and simply without addition of any thing thereunto and to produce the Ratifications thereof by Letters Authentick and Sealed wherein all this present Treaty shall be inserted verbatim within 6 Weeks to be accompted from the Day of the Date of this present Treaty or sooner if possible And the said Plenipotentiaries have promised and do promise in their said Kings Names that after the producing the said Letters of Ratifications the said Most Christian King as soon as possibly he can shall in the Presence of such Person or Persons as the Catholick King shall be pleased to depute swear solemnly upon the Cross the Gospel and Canons of the Mass and upon his Honour fully really and truly to observe and fulfil all the Articles contained in this present Treaty And the like shall be done as soon as possible by the said Catholick King in the Presence of such Person or Persons as the said Most Christian King shall be pleased to depute In witness or all which the said Plenipotentiaries have subscribed this present Treaty with their own Names and have caused their Seals of Arms to be set thereto Nimeguen the 17th of Sept. 1678. Le M. Dâ— Estrades Colbert De Mesmes D' Avaux Pabla Spâ—nola Doria Conde de Benazuza Marquesse de la Fuente Jean Baptiste Christin Thus you see France was left in Possession of the Peace with Holland and Spain and consequently Master of that of the Empire and of the North upon her own Terms and England left to busie it self about that Popish Fire that was breaking out at home the Stream whereof the Court perhaps designed to have diverted by a Foreign War in Conjunction with the Confederates against France on which they were now as eagerly bent as they seemed at any time before indifferent thereunto however of this we shall say nothing at present but prosecute in as concise a manner as we can the remaining Paces that were made together with the interâ—ening Accidents that happened for putting an End to the rest of the War After tâ—e Peace with Spain was Signed and that with Holland Ratified tho' the Embassadors of the Emperor at Nimeguen were sullen and those of Denmark and Brandenburg enraged yet by the Application of the Dutch Embassadors the Conferences were set on foot between them and the French But how enraged soever the Northern Confederates seemed to be they were now more inclined than ever to consent to a Truce tho' to this the Swedes would not absolutely agree For Pomerania they would willingly accept it because they had reason to fear that the great Losses they had there sustained might be followed by more considerable ones but they were not for it in Schomen where their Affairs were in a better Posture by their taking of Christianstadt which at last after much Difficulty they diadâ—made themselves Masters of However the Losses they sustained in Pomerania were of far greater Concern to them than all they pretended to gain elsewhere And notwithstanding the Death of the Bishop of Munster was a Mortification to the Confederates yet Denmark and Brandenburg go on vigorously with their Preparations against the Isle of Rugen and the Elector
Sweden two Days after The Danish Embassador was so enraged at this Peace that he scrupled not the Day after to express his Discontent publickly at the House of the Mareschal de Estrades saying and several times repeating the same That if the French King pleased he had sufficient Authority to conclude a League with him and to get it ratified by his Danish Majesty who would oblige himself to make War against the Emperor in what Manner and for as long a Time as his most Christian Majesty should desire him But this Heat blowing over and finding there was no reliance upon the Disputes that happened and Doubts that did arise between the Imperial and French Embassadors between the Signing and Ratifying the Treaty so as to hinder the Effect of the latter they began to think of another Way Wherefore M. de Meyeâ—kron the Danish Envoy at the Hague had upon a View and Foresight how Things were like to go some Time since made some distant Overtures to the French Minister there for an Accomodation but now he seemed to quicken his Pace and to appear very willing to have managed a Negotiation with the Count d' Avaux yet the Offers were still so general that they gave but little Ground for a positive Answer at leastwise the French Embassador would have it so And therefore he made Answer in the same Manner as the other French Embassadors had done at Nimeguen that in order to a more favourable Hearing the King of Denmark must begin by releasing the Swedish Soldiers who since the Time they were Shipwrack'd upon the Isle of Barnholm were not only detained Prisoners contrary to the Priviledges of the Passports which they had but likewise exposed to Violence which they daily suffered on Design to make them engage in the Danish Service or at leastwise forsake that of Sweden That the King of Denmark should by so doing purge himself of that Shipwrack which the French King was nevertheless inclined to attribute rather to Chance and the mistake of the Pilots than any premeditated Design but that in the mean time the Inhumane Manner of detaining and using those Forces could not but be thought very strange The Duke of Brandenburg also on his part being willing to neglect nothing that might procure him the desired Satisfaction had sometime since got leave for Mr Meinders his Envoy to go into France to 〈◊〉 what could be done on that side to bring things to an amicable Composure and somewhat in his Favour But finding Matters did not answer his Expectation he now endeavours to imbroil the Affairs of the Empire in the Treaty with France and Sweden by Virtue only of the Conclusion of the Diet at Ratisbon 13th May 1677 The Embassador of Brandenburg produced a Copy of it at Nimeguen with a new Protestation alledging That that Conclusion of the Empire was not conform to the Sense that was put upon it in the 36th Article of the Emperor's Treaty with France and in the 12th of that of the Emperor 's with Sweden and that the Imperial Embassadors were so far from having by that means any sufficient Authority to Treat in the Name of the whole Empire that on the contrary the Emperor himself was thereby required to conclude nothing at Nimeguen without first submitting the same to the Deliberation of the Diet and that the Embassadors of his Imperial Majesty by adding in these Articles That all or any Protestations that might be made in the Empire against that Peace were to be void and of none effect had in so doing committed the greatest Violation and manifestly contravented the Golden Bull the Imperial Capitulations Constitutions of the Empire and the very Treaties of Westphalia on which they now pretended to settle the Peace of the Empire But this did no good neither yet the Disappointment thereof was nothing near so surprizing to the Elector as the French King by his Embassadors declaring on the 24th of Feb. to Sir Lionel Jenkins the English Mediator That if within the Month of March the King of Denmark and Elector of Brandenburg did not give full Satisfaction to Sweden his Majesty should be free then to demand new Conditions which would be That Leipstadt should be restored to the Elector of Cologne and that both those Princes should pay to his Majesty all the Charges of the War and that at a time too when his Arms had been very successful as having just then forced the Swedish Troops to quit Prusia and with Precipitation to retreat into Livonia much harrassed with Sicknesses and long Marches as well as Losses in several Skirmishes with Parties of the Elector's Forces which made the demanded Restitutions for Sweden still the harder to go down with the Elector and his Ally the King of Denmark And partly from these Considerations most of the Powers at Nimeguen and even the Mediators themselves openly declared That the entire Restitution of all that the Swedes had lost during the War would be an insuperable Obstacle to the Peace To this it was further added That it was not to be expected that Sweden would make too much haste to put an end to the War since the 800000 Crowns Subsidy which that King had allowed him by France were better to him than the Revenues of Pomerania and all that he possess'd in Germany and that if the French King did not by his Interest and Authority make the Peace of Sweden that Crown would never make the least Advance towards it especially so long as it was so well supported by the Men and Money of France Insomuch that the Mediator and the Embassadors of all the other Princes who had made Peace perceiving that the Month of March which the French King had set as the longest Delay to the Elector of Brandenburg was drilled on in Debates and Disputes in Writing without any serious Application to the promoting of the Peace They could think of no better Expedient for the present than to procure a Cessation of Arms during all the following Month not doubting but in that time all the Difficulties which obstructed the Conclusion of the General Peace might be removed This Motion was agreed to by the French provided the Embassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg accepted of it without Delay To which they said It was neither the Fault of them nor their Allies that that Truce was not granted at the Time that they Signed the Peace with the Emperor according to the Offers that were then made them But another Circumstance added by the French Embassadors to their Declaration viz. Of the Instances which they said were made to them by the Bishop of Gurk one of the Imperial Embassadors in the Name of the Embassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg for a Suspension of Arms made these two latter think themselves so sensibly touched in their Honour that they took a great deal of Pains to make the contrary appear affirming They had never either desired or rejected the Cessation of Arms but nevertheless that they
might remit nothing that might have any probability of tending to promote the Peace they accepted the Truce upon such Conditions as should on both sides be agreed on At length this Procedure and some little Contests ended in Signing a Treaty of Truce the last Day of March at Nimeguen to continue to the 1st of May. The Truce being thus Signed instead of advancing the Negotiation did on the contrary stop the Course thereof during the whole Time it lasted because the French Embassadors sticking immoveable to their Declarations there was no more to be said so that the two Princes who remained still in the War thought it more adviseable to Negotiate the Peace in France and gave their Envoys Mr. Meinder and Mr. de Mayerkron the last whereof had Orders to go thither from Holland without delay their Instructions accordingly but with as little Success as before either there or any where else so that the French Forces that were in the Country of Cleves and Juliers finding the Truce expired were so forward as not to slip any opportunity and therefore were ready on the 1st of May to pass the Rhine year 1679 over which they had made a Bridge at Ordinghen General Spaen who commanded the Troops of Brandenburg made a shew as if he designed to oppose their Passage with the few Soldiers and Trained-Bands he had with him on the other side of that River But finding the French Army had passed it on flying Bridges above and below Augerarts at the Confluence of the Auger and the Rhine he thought fit to Retreat and the Consequence of that was That that General and the Elector's Embassador procured a Conference with Monsieur Colbert to be held at Santhen a little Town 3 Leagues from Wesel Thither Mr. Blaspiet and General Spaen went as did also M. Colbert the 3d of the same Month the last having ordered Calvo who commanded the French Forces to be also present to the End that according to the Success of the Negotiation he might desist or pursue the Enterprize he had had in View Here it was agreed between them that the Truce should be prolonged for 15 Days more to begin the 4th of the Month which lengthened out the Cessation of Arms till the 19th but upon Condition that Wesel and Leipstadt should be put into the French King's Hands to be kept by him until the Peace betwixt his Majesty and his Allies on the one side and his Electoral Highness on the other should be Signed and Ratified which the Elector was so far from making a Difficulty to grant that he offered even to put Skinkenseance into his Power also as thinking perhaps by this extraordinary piece of Confidence to bring the King to be more easie in the Peace of the North and this not long after he also seconded by a Letter to the said Monarch written in so Excellent a Strain that not being willing to attempt to express the Force of it by way of Abstract I shall give the Reader an exact Copy of it POSTDAM May 16. 1679. My Lord IT is impossible but that your Majesty according to the Great Wisdom wherewith God has endowed you does easily perceive the Moderation and Justice of my Pretensions And it being so that you must offer Violence to that Generosity and Greatness of Soul which is natural to your Majesty in forcing me to Conditions of Peace that are not only injurious to me but ignominious also God who is Just seeing the Righteousness of my Cause hath prospered my Arms with the Conquest of all Pomerania and your Majesty makes me give back the greatest part of it which I put into your Hands that I may preserve the rest which is but a small Matter in respect of what I have gained with the Loss of my Blood and the Ruine of my Subjects Is it not just my Lord that since your Majesty obliges me to part from so great and fair Cities and so much of my Enemies Country you should likewise oblige the Swedes to leave me the rest and that your Majesty having so far concerned your self for the Party that had no Right to demand any thing should concern your self also for him who had Right to keep all but yields the greatest part meerly in Consideration of your Majesty I am informed that your Ministers object to me the Interest of your Glory and Honour and know that that is a powerful Motive to animate a Great Soul to Vndertakings But suffer me to put you in mind That Justice is the Source and Rule of Glory And that I having it on my side it is far greater and more solid Glory to Support a just and moderate Pretension than to favour one that is nothing less And could your Majesty but hear the Discourse of all Europe and weigh it with the Reasons that Interests suggest to you from my Enemies I am confident you would instantly decide in my Favour and so prevent the Judgment of disinterested Posterity Withal my Lord I am very sensible that the Match is too unequal betwixt your Majesty's Forces and mine and that I am unable to resist a King who alone hath carried the Burden of a War against the greatest Powers of Europe and hath with so much Glory and Success gone through with it But can your Majesty find any Advantage in the Ruine of a Prince who is so desirous to serve you and who being preserved may contribute to your Service more than a bare willingness Your Majesty will certainly be the first that will regret my Ruine since you cannot easily find in all the World besides one who is more really and with greater Respect and Zeal than my self Your Majesty's c. But for all this the French King seemed to be inexorable and his Forces began already to spread themselves in the Mark of Brandenburg and fresh Troops with Ammunition and Artillery came daily to Wesel to augment the Army which the Mareschal de Crequi was to command which upon the Expiration of the Truce drew near to the Neighbourhood of Minden beginning to streighten that Place where General Spaen pretended to make a vigorous Resistance Hereupon the Mareschal de Crequi ordered Monsieur Calvo to pass the Weser with a Party of Horse and Foot on a Bridge of Boats which he had caused to be made whilst he himself with a Body of Horse went to cross it at a Ford which with some Difficulty he passed over with an intent to make the Country pay the Contributions he had demanded but finding General Spaen was come out of the Town with a Body of about 3000 Men and some Field-Pieces he attack'd them vigorously and the Dispute was very sharp and ended with the loss of a great many Men on both sides and at last General Spain retired into Minden This was the 20th June 1679. and the last Action that put an end to so great a War and if the Negotiation of the Peace which was Signed at St. Germains the Day before
had been a little more hastned the News of it had come in time to have saved a great many brave Mens Lives by preventing that Engagement The main Purport of this Peace was The Re-establishment of the Treaties of Westphailia without any Derogation from them except in a few Particulars and that for avoiding those Differences which commonly arise among Princes about the Confusion of Limits But the Reader will be better pleased to have the distinct Particulars and they are these that follow I. THAT there shall be a firm and lasting Peace between them and free Commerce by Land and Water II. All Hostilities to cease within 10 Days after the Exchange of the Ratification III. A general Oblivion of all that is past IV. The Treaties of Munster and Osnuburg to remain in full Force V. The Elector to restore to Sweden all he has taken in Pomerin during this War as Stetin Straelsond c. VI. But that the Lands on the other side the River Oder shall remain in Sovereignty to the Elector VII That Golnow shall at present remain in the Hands of the Elector he paying 50000 Crowns to the King of Sweden who upon payment of that Sum shall have the same restored to him VIII The King of Sweden quits the Toll which he received at Colberg and other Places in Pomerania pursuant to the Treaty made at Stetin 1653. IX Quits likewise all Rights and Revenues of the Lands on the other side of the Oder which remains by this Peace to the Elector X. Frees the Inhabitants of the Oath of Allegiance by them taken to him XI The River Oder to remain in Sovereignty to Sweden and the Elector is not to build any Forts or strong Holds on it as far as the Territory of Sweden reaches XII The most Christian King shall presently after the Exchange of the Ratification draw his Forces out of the Countries and Places of the Elector except 1000 Horse who are to remain in Wesel and Lipstadt till the Peace be entirely concluded XIII That the Elector shall draw his Forces out of the Field but because the King of Sweden wants Troops the Elector shall keep Garisons in the Places in Pomeren viz. 2000 Men at Straelsond 1200 or 1000 in Stetin and so in other Places proportionable till such time as Sweden sends over Men to receive them XIV That the Elector may take away the Cannon and Ammunition he hath brought into those Places but must leave what he found there XV. That all Endeavours shall be used to make the Peace with Denmark and that in the mean time the Elector shall not give that Crown any Assistance XVI The most Christian King obliges himself to procure the Crown of Sweden's Ratifications of this Treaty in 3 Months and as long as it is wanting the Elector is not obliged to restore the Places above-mentioned The Ratification between France and the Elector to be exchanged in a Month. But France somewhat to sweeten these hard Conditions put upon this Gallant Prince the Elector of Brandenburg in parting with such large Conquests as he had made in the Course of this War upon the Swede promised by a Separate Article to pay or cause to be paid unto him the Sum of 300000 Crowns towards the re-imbursing in some manner the vast Charges he had been at in making and prosecuting the said Conquests The Elector had no sooner made up Matters upon these hard Terms with his Enemies but he bethinks himself of trying whether his forsaken Friends who were the main Occasions to bring him to it would at all consider him And therefore he writes a Letter to the States-General wherein he did set forth That in the deplorable Condition his Country's Interests in Westphalia were in at that present it might be easily judged whether he had more Reason to complain of those who as Enemies had thus fallen upon him or of those for whose sake All that had happened to him who instead of giving him the Assistance required by their Treaties had neglected them and made a Separate Peace thereby as well abandoning his as their own Affairs and laying upon him the whole Burden of the War in which he should have had no part had it not been for his Desire to help his Friends in their Misfortunes as if it had been a Consolation to their High and Mightinesses to see him who had endeavoured with all his Might to save them from utter Destruction as a Recompence totally ruined That he did not think it necessary to set before them more Particulars of what he had suffered for his assisting them and how his Countries of Cleves Mark Ravensberg and Minden in sight of their Armies had been quite ruined and desolated which they had already understood from his Ministers according to the Orders he had given them That he had expected they would have returned him an Answer to the Letter in which he advised them of the Dangers that threatned him and desired their Assistance that so at least he might have had the Comfort to see the Concern they had for his Misfortunes which he had the more Reason to expect for that it could not but be yet fresh in their High and Mightinesses Memory how in their greatest Necessity he had hazarded all for them and preferred their Friendship before the most advantagious Conditions that were offered him That their High and Mightinesses would according to their great Wisdom comprehend that he ought not to bear these inestimable Damages for their sake without Compensation and that according to all Right he ought to expect the same and his Indemnity from those who might and ought to have prevented them That therefore he wrote to their High and Mightinesses that Letter that they might not think that he had swallowed their unjust Proceedings or quitted the Obligations his Alliance with them laid upon them But that as he on his part had always performed his Promises and Engagements and done even more than they required so he expected the like from them or in Default thereof Satisfaction for the same and reserved to himself and to his Posterity all the Right belonging thereunto That he prayed God to preserve them from all Misfortunes and hostile Invasions for the future that so they might not to their great Prejudice come to know the Consequence of forsaking faithful Friends The States who had once before failed in that respect that was due to the Elector by not answering his former Letter would not offend further in that Particular by turning a deaf Ear to this also tho' in Substance the Elector had as good as have received no Reply at all However they acknowledged in the first place the great Services the Elector had rendred their State and particularly in the late War assuring him That they would always keep the same fresh in Memory and make all suitable Returns as it should be in their Power Then they let him see how that they themselves had not been wanting
given them such essential Proofs This was no sooner done but the States of Holland came to an unanimous Resolution not to accept of the Alliance which was proposed them by France and their Example soon after was followed by those of Guelderland Vtretch Zealand and Over-Issel c. But those of Gronningen and Ommelands were of another Opinion Though this proved of no Advantage to France for notwithstanding the Difference of those Provinces from the rest as they commonly used to do in most other Cases yet it signified next to nothing since in Matters of a Negative Plurality of Voices carried it And France finding Things would not drive as they designed it wisely let the same drop and took no further notice The French had no sooner got out of the War by which they had been so much Gainers but they began to think of another Method for the present of enlarging their Dominions and that was by marrying the Dauphine to some Princess or other that might afford them some Pretensions and at last pitched upon the young Elector of Bavaria's Sister to which Court Monsieur Colbert was dispatch'd and who upon his Arrival made the following Proposals I. That his most Christian Majesty out of the great Respect and good Will he had to his Electoral Highness made him an Offer of a Princess of his own Blood in Marriage II. That for a greater Testimony of that his good Will and to advance the Elector's Glory in case he had Thoughts of becoming Emperor and in order thereunto to be chosen King of the Romans his Majesty would not only assist him with his good Offices but with his Services also to compass that Design And Lastly In order to make the Union the more close between him and the Elector he desired his Sister in Marriage for the Dauphine his Son To these the Bavarian Ministers after some Deliberation made the following Answer That as to their Elector and the Lady offered him they were yet too young to speak of their Marriage That the Elector was very well contented with the Estates and Honours he possessed and had no Design of increasing them But as to the rest they were ready to enter into a Negotiation concerning a Treaty of Marriage between the Dauphine and their Princess Which Resolutions tho' they were not very pleasing to the French Court yet the Treaty went on and was at last concluded and the Marriage firmly consummated though it met with a considâ—rable Obstruction from an Article which they would have stipulated therein That in case of the Failure of an Heir Male of the Line of William Duke of Bavaria the Succession of the Dukedom should devolve to the Son of the Dauphine by the Princess now to be married to him if he had any But this the Bavarian Ministers would by no means give way to nor to any Pretensions the said Princess might hereafter make to any Right she might have to inherit any Part of the Goods or Estates of the Elector her Father but that she must make an entire Renunciation of the same upon this Marriage So that upon the whole there did arise no visible Advantage to France from this Match at present or indeed in the Consequence of it but that she proved the Mother of 3 Princes and then left the Dauphine a Widdower to better his Country by some new Alliance towards which hitherto there have been no forward Paces made whatever the Talk of the World has been in that particular I have been so particular in inserting most of the material Articles of the Peace concluded between all the contending Parties at Nimeguen that I shall always refer the Reader to them in the Series of this Discourse in all Things he meets with relating to any of them by way of Infringement or otherwise without any further Recapitulation And first you shall hear how far the Emperor and Empire have thought themselves aggrieved the former having by several Letters and Memorials acquainted the Diet at Ratisbone that the French had already and this was but in Feb. 1680. N. S. contravened the Peace in several Particulars As 1. By continuing their Troops in the Empire 2. Remaining possess'd of all Places they ought to evacuate 3. By requiring Contributions 4. By obliging the 10 Towns of Alsatia to take a new Oath thereby pretending a Sovereignty over them erecting a new Court of Appeals and forbidding any Address to be made to the Imperial Chamber at Spire 5. By requiring an Oath from the Vassals and Nobles of Alsace 6. By setting up Pretensions upon the Vassalage of Metz Toul and Verdun as likewise upon other Imperial States and Countries 7. By confiscating the Rents and Revenues of the Chapter of Strasburg 8. By making new Fortifications at Schlestadt and Huningen 9. In not restoring of Mompelgard 10. In slighting of Dacksburg 11. In taking of Homburg and Bitsch And Lastly In many new Pretensions upon the City of Strasburg The Diet after long Deliberation came at last to the following Resolution That these Proceedings of the French were directly contrary to the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen and that therefore the Emperor should be intreated 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 at Ratisbone should be made acquainted with the Resolution of the Diet And that it should be represented unto them for what concerned the two first Points that they were directly contrary to the 27th Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen and the 1st 2d and 4th Articles of the Instrument afterwards Signed by the Embassadors for the executing of the said Treaty which had been religiously observed by the Emperor That the 3d Point was contrary to the 30th Article of the said Treaty and the 8th Article of the said Instrument That for what concerned the 4th Point it was known that the 3d Article of the Treaty of Munster says That the County of the Vpper and Lower Alsace and the Lordship of Haguenau should be yielded to France with an express Exception of the 10 Imperial Towns their Rights and Priviledges and that the French King should pretend to no Superiority over them and that in pursuance of the Agreement made at Nuremburg in 1650 Haguenaw Landaw and other of the said 10 Towns were 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 afterward in 1665 Complaints were made to that Diet of the French setting up new Pretensions whereupon Arbitrators had been chosen both on the part of the Emperor and of France amicably to determine the same who had been several Years employed in the said Work and which was put an end to by the French possessing themselves of the said Towns even before the War
during the Life of the said James Duke of York this Act shall be given a Charge at every Assizes and General Sessions of the Peace within the Kingdoms Dominions and Territories aforesaid and also shall be openly Read in every Cathedral Church and Parish Church and Chappels within the aforesaid Kingdoms Dominions and Territories by the respective Parsons Vicars Curates and Readers thereof who are hereby required immediately after Divine Service in the Forenoon to Read the same twice in every Year That is to say on the 25th of Dec. and upon Easter-day during the Life of the said James Duke of York But the Lords Rancounter to the Commons in this Bill tho' they made a Sift upon the others Impeachment to Try and Sentence William Lord Viscount Stafford to Death for the Popish Conspiracy who on the 7th of Dec. was executed accordingly For after the Reading it the First time in the Upper-House the Question being put Whether it should be read the Second time it was resolved in the Negative by above a double Majority of Votes and so this great Affair dropp'd The Commons imployed much of their Time to prosecute and impeach all those that had countenanced the Popish Plot or were Abhorrers of Petitioning the King for the Meeting of the Parliament in the several Prorogations of it and voted That it ever had been the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England to Petition the King for the Calling and Sitting of Parliaments and Redress of Grievances And that to traduce such Petitioning as a Violation of Duty and to represent the same to his Majesty as Tumultuous and Seditious was to betray the Liberty of the Subject and contributed to the Designs of subverting the ancient Legal Constitutions of the Kingdom of England and introducing Arbitrary Power The first that fell under their Lash was Sir Francis Withens since a Judge a Member then of their own House whom they voted to be a Betrayer of the undoubted Rights of the Subjects of England and for that his high Crime expelled him the House receiving first the Sentence at the Bar upon his Marrow-bones Sir George Jefferys was the next then Recorder of London who for the present by Virtue of the House's Address to the King for that End was put out of all publick Offices tho' we have seen him since act the Tyrant in the highest Station the late King his good Master could advance him to but at last being left in the Lurch by him was found in a Seaman's Habit at Wapping and died in the Tower because he had not Courage enough to live a little longer to be hang'd Several others were censured upon the like Account and among the rest the House voted That it was a sufficient Ground for them to proceed against Sir Thomas Jones one of the Judges of the King's Bench and Sir Richard Westone a Baron of the Exchequer for high Crimes and Misdemeanors because they had advised and were assisting to draw up a Proclamation against Petitioning for the Sitting of the Parliament The like was passed against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas for the same who for murdering poor Stephen Colledge under Colour of Law at Oxford had the Great Seal of England committed to his Custody and therewith the Care of the King's Conscience who had none at all of his own All this while we hear nothing of the King's Business which was to get Money for the Preservation of Tangier and Perfecting the Alliance made with Spain But the Commons had Three Reasons why they would not comply with his Majesty in his first Demand One was for that the State of the Nation was such at that time that their giving any Money for that End might augment the Strength of the Popish Party and further endanger the Nation 's Safety Another was Seeing there were several Regiments besides Guards in England then in Pay they might be transported to Tangier with little Charge and be maintain'd there as cheap as at Home which Two Reasons they clench'd with this Third That that Garrison was the Nursery of Popish Officers and Soldiers And if Things went ill with the King on this Head he is like to fare no better with the other For the House had as many Reasons for not giving him Money for the Alliance of Mutual Obligations of Succour and Defence which he pretended to have made with Spain For first they seemed to be jealous of the King's Sincerity therein and the more because he had not declared to them what manner of Alliance that was and that it might be more to the Prejudice than Benefit of the Kingdom or if it should have been to the Advantage of it they could have no more Assurance of the Performance than they had of the Triple League That which was made with the Prince of Orange when he was in England Or that between the King and States of Holland by Mr. Hyde on the King's Part which were all broken almost as soon as made Besides it was impossible any great Benefit should arise to England and Spain by such an Alliance For if all Christendom after the separate Peace made by the Dutch at Nimeguen could not uphold Spain and the Spanish Netherlands from falling under the Dominion of France how could the King in the feeble and distracted State of the Nation be in a Condition to support it without them Add to this the Unreasonableness of giving Money upon such an Account For tho' the Kings of England have frequently demanded Supplies for maintaining vast Wars yet never any one of them before demanded Supplies for making Alliances And indeed whatever Alliance the King had made with Spain it will be found before his Reign has spun out that it was very ill performed on his part And if the Commons were not a little mortified at the Proceedings of the Lords and of the Court in respect to the Bill of Exclusion the King could not be well pleased to be sure with the Methods they took to answer his Demands of a present Supply in the ordinary way but was undoubtedly much more nettled at their Resolutions to hinder him from being relieved by extraordinary Methods afterwards For the House considering the weak and dangerous Condition of the Nation as well by the Debt the King had contracted by shutting up of the Exchequer as by his squandering away almost all the ancient Revenues of the Crown did in order to prevent the like upon the Revenue settled upon the King since his Restoration on the 17th of Jan. resolve 1. That whosoever should lend or cause to be lent by way of Advance any Money upon the Branches of the King's Revenue arising by Custom Excise or Hearth-money should be adjudged an Hinderer of the Sitting of Parlaiment and be responsible for the same 2. That whosoever should buy any Tally or Anticipation upon any part of the King's Revenue or whosoever should pay such Tally hereafter to be struck should
now a Traytor in the Tower Did not James by Coleman Throgmorton and others hold open Correspondence with the Pope and Cardinals And could Charles be ignorant of all this Nay he lik'd all so well that he hardly employed any about him but Papists as Clifford whom he made Treasurer or employed any Abroad but Persons of the same Stamp witness Godolphin whom he sent Embassador into Spain as he did others elsewhere What more obvious than that though the Duke's Treachery against the Kingdom and Protestant Religion be fully made out and the People and Parliament seek to bring him to a Legal Tryal yet Charles obstructs Justice and will not suffer it How can this be but that he is joyned in Will and Deed in all the Duke's Villanies and that he is afraid to be discovered and found out to be a Papist and a Betrayer of his People and the Protestant Religion If he was heartily concerned for our Religion would he not oppose a Popish Successor who will infallibly overthrow it Can there be any Thing more evident than that he continues the Duke's Adherents and those who were advanced by him in all Offices of Trust And hath he not turn'd out of his Councel the most zealous Protestants such as Shaftsbury Essex and others and introduced in their Rooms other meer Tools or those that are Popishly and Arbitrarily affected Hath he not modell'd all the Sheriffs and Justices throughout England in Subserviency to a Popish Design Was not Sir William Waller and Dr. Chamberlain and divers others turn'd out of the Commission in and about London meerly for being zealous Prosecutors of Priests and Papists Doth not Charles all he can to hinder the further Detection of the Popish Plot And doth he not to his utmost discountenance the Discoverers of it and suffer them to want Bread And doth he not in the mean time plentifully encourage and reward Fitz-Gerald and all the Sham-plotters Whereas Dangerfield had 8 l. a Week whilst a Forger of Plots against the Protestants he is cast off with scorn and in danger of his Life since he laid open the Popish Engineers Is not Ch. so much in love with his Popish Irish Rebeâ—s therein treading in his Father's Steps that he promotes Montgarret Carlingford Fitz-Patrick and others who were the Heads of the Rebellion to Honours and Preferment though Charles took the Covenant and a Coronation-Oath to preserve the Protestant Religion yet hath he not palpably broken them He made large Promises and Protestations at Breda for the allowing a perpetual Liberty of Conscience to Non-conforming Protestants but he soon forgot them all To what End was the Act which was made soon after his Restoration prohibiting any to call him Papist or to say he was Popishly enclin'd and rendring such as should offend guilty of a Praemunire but to stop the Peoples Mouths whenever he should act any Thing in Favour of Popery as he was then resolved to do Is it not manifest therefore that Scotch Oaths Breda Promises Protestant Profession Liberty of Conscience War with France saving of Flanders is all in Jest to delude Protestant Subjects Is it not apparent that breaking of Leagues Dutch Wars Smyrna Fleet French Measures to favour their Conquests Loss of Ships War in Christendom Blood of Protestants reprieving of Popish Traytors is all in Earnest and done in favour of Popery And are not his fair Speeches his true Protestant Love to Parliaments just Rights and English Liberties his pretended Ignorance of the Plot and his hanging of Traytors to serve a Turn but in meer Jest Are not his great Debaucheries his Whoring Courtiers Popish Councils Cheating Rogues Hellish Plottings his saving of Traytors his French Pensioners his Nests of Whores and Swarms of Bastards his Macks his Cut-Throats his horrid Murderrers his Burning of London and the Provost's House too his Sham-plotting his suborn'd Villains his Popish Officers by Sea and Land his Strugglings for a Popish Successor his Agreements with France his frequent Dissolutions of Parliaments his buying of Voices his false Returns all of them Designs to ruine us in good Earnest and in favour of Arbitrary Government And is it not in order to this blessed End that you see none countenanced by Charles and James but Church Papists betraying Bishops tantivy Abhorrers barking Touzers Popish Scriblers to deceive the People and six the Popish Successors illegal Title Are not Jesuits Councels French Assistance to conquer Ireland subdue Scotland win Flanders beat the Dutch get their Shipping be Masters of the Seas And are not forcing a Rebellion the letting the Plot go on the Endeavouring to retrieve the Popish Cause by getting a Popish Pentionary abhorring Parliaments who shall betray their Country enslave Posterity and destroy themselves at last Means only to save a Popish Trayterous Successor and a present Popish Possessor James and Charles are Brethren in Iniquity corrupt both in Root and Branch and who study to enslave England to a French and Romish Yoak is not all this plain Have you not Eyes Sense or Feeling Where is the Old English Noble Spirit Are you become French Asses to suffer any Load to be laid upon you And therefore if you can get no Remedy from this next Parliament as certainly you will not and if Charles doth not repent and comply with it then up all as one Man O brave English Men look to your own Defence e're it be too late rouze up your Spirits remember your Predecessors remember how that the asserting of their Liberties justified both by Success and Law the War of the Barons against wicked Councellors who misled the King And will you now let that go which cost them so dear How many oppressing Kings have been deposed in this Nation as appears in Records referr'd unto in that worthy Patriot's History of the Succession Were not Richard II. and Henry VI. both laid aside not to mention others and was there ever such a King as this of ours Was not K. John deposed for going about to embrace the Mahometan Religion and for entring into a League with the K. of Morocco to that Purpose Though Mahometanism and the King of Morocco were no such Enemies to our Rights and Liberties as Popery and the French King are Is it not time then that all should be ready Let the City of London stand by the Parliament for the Maintaining of their Liberties and Religion in an extream Way if Parliamentary Ways be not consented unto by the King let the Counties be ready to enter into an Association as the County of York did in Henry VIII's Time The Design you may see was to be carried on in the Name of the Non-conformists and fixt upon them and to be dispersed by the Peny-Post to the Protesting Lords and Leading Men in the House of Commons who were immediately thereupon to be taken up and searched Everard affirmed The Court had an Hand it and that the King had given Fitz-Harris Money and would give him more if it
intimate my Mind otherwise I do hereby require all my Vassals any where and all within my several Jurisdictions with their fensible Men within their Command to go to Arms and to join and concur with us according to the said Declaration as they shall be answerable at their Peril and that they obey the particular Orders they shall receive from me from time to time I need not tell the World the Fate of this brave Man it was generally believed at that time that Sir John Cockram who came over with him betrayed him as some Body else was thought to have done by the Duke of Monmouth but however that Matter was in Reality Thus it happened with the Earl that after several Marches and Countermarches his Men were at length lead into a Boggy sort of a Place on Pretence or with Intention to bring him off from the King's Army then upon the Heels of them where they all lost one another dispersed and shifted for themselves The Earl himself being taken by a Country Man and brought to Edenburgh he there suffered for his former unpardonable Crime in requiring Care should be taken for the Protestant Religion and the Explaining the Test conformable thereunto for the Legality of which he had the Hands of most of the Eminent Lawyers about the City He made a very pious End being beheaded at Edenburgh June 30. But this Business of Argyle was but like Thunder afar off to what happened soon after in the West of England K. James was so apprehensive not only before but even after his Ascension to the Throne of the Duke of Monmouth's Designs against him that he used his utmost Endeavours by his Envoy Mr. Skelton in Holland to get him secured and sent into England which Design could not yet he carried so covertly but that the Prince of Orange came to the Knowledge of it who having more Honour and Goodness in him than to suffer an innocent forelorn Man to fall into the Hands of those who had been the Occasion of his Exile and Misery did not only give the Duke Notice of the Plot against him but gave him Money to go privately to Brussels with a farther Assurance that if he would go to the Campaign in Hungary he would maintain him at his own Charge with an Equipage suitable to his Quality But his Fate led him to return again privately from thence into Holland where having concerted his Measures with such Refugiated English as he found there they embarked on 3 small Vessels and about June 12 lan ded at Lyme in Dorsetshire where the Duke in his own and the rest of his Followers Names put out his Declaration which because the State at that time were so far from thinking fit to publish as they were Argyle's that they made it Criminal to read it and used all their Endeavours to smother it we shall here give you Word for Word The DECLARATION of James Duke of Monmouth and the Noblemen Gentlemen and others now in Arms for the Defence and Vindication of the Protestant Religion and the Laws Rights and Priviledges of ENGLAND AS Government was originally instituted by God and this or that Form of it chosen and submitted to by Men for the Peace Happiness and Security of the Governed and not for the private Interest and personal Greatness of those that rule So that Government hath always been esteemed the best where the Supream Magistrates have been invested with all the Power and Prerogatives that might capacitate them not only to preserve the People from Violence and Oppression but to promote their Prosperity and yet where nothing was to belong to them by the Rules of the Constitution that might enable them to injure and oppress them And it hath been the Glory of England above most other Nations that the Prince had all intrusted with him that was necessary either for the advancing the Welfare of the People or for his own Protection in the Discharge of his Office and withal stood so limited and restrained by the Fundamental Terms of the Constitution that without a Violation of his own Oath as well as the Rules and Measures of the Government he could do them no hurt or exercise any Act of Authority but through the Administration of such Hands as stood obnoxious to be punished in case they transgressed So that according to the primitive Frame of the Government the Prerogatives of the Crown and the Privileges of the Subject are so far from justling one another that the Rights reserved unto the People tended to render the King Honourable and Great and the Prerogatives settled on the Prince were in order to the Subjects Protection and Safety But all Humane Things being subject to Perversion as well as Decay it hath been the Fate of the English Government to be often changed and wrested from what it was in the first Settlement and Institution And we are particularly compelled to say that all the Boundaries of the Government have of late been broken and nothing left unattempted for turning our limited Monarchy into an absolute Tyranny For such hath been the Transaction of Affairs within this Nation for several Years last past that though the Protestant Religion and Liberties of the People were fenced and hedged about by as many Laws as the Wisdom of Man could devise for their Preservation against Popery and Arbitrary Power our Religion hath been all along countermined by Popish Counsels and our Privileges ravished from us by Fraud and Violence And more especially the whole Course and Series of the Life of the D. of Y. hath been but one continued Conspiracy against the Reformed Religion and the Rights of the Nation For whoever considers his contriving the burning of London his instigating a Confederacy with France and a War with Holland his fomenting the Popish Plot and encouraging the Murther of Sir Ed. Godfrey to stifle it his charging Treason against Protestants suborning Witnesses to swear the Patriots of our Religion and Liberties out of their Lives his hiring execrable Villains to assassinate the late Earl of Essex and causing those others to be clandestinely cut off in hopes to conceal it his advising and procuring the Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliaments in order to prevent their looking into his Crimes and that he might escape the Justice of the Nation Such can imagine nothing so black and horrid in it self or so ruinous and destructive to Religion and the Kingdom which we may not expect from him The very Tyrannies which he hath exercised since he snatched the Crown from his Brother's Head do leave none under a Possibility of flattering themselves with Hopes of Safety eithor in their Consciencies Persons or Estates For in defiance of all the Laws and Statutes of the Realm made for the Security of the Reformed Protestant Religion he not only began his Reign with a bare-faced A vowing himself of the Romish Religion but call'd in Multitudes of Priests and Jesâ—its for whom the
both sides and a good Order and Regulation in this Kingdom and that our Reputation and that of those who shall have part in this Action may be spread all over the whole Earth by the Acclamations of the People seeing We desire not the Destruction of the Poor nor the Ruin of Countries What We now say as well as what We do in Pursuance of Our Word has been approved of for God would have it so by the Majesty of Our Resplendent Puissant and Formidable Emperor and King of the Superficies of the whole Earth Wherefore We have sent to You the said Achment Deschelebi to whom We have entrusted certain Things to impart to You by Word of Mouth if consequently You will send to Vs a trusty Person on Your Part to treat of a Peace and the Re-establishment of the Publick Quiet we hope to enter into Conference Whereupon salute in the Name of Your Fellows the true Direction Given in the Camp of Pâ—st IPRADIM After this the Aga prayed His Highness to contribute all he could on his part towards the putting an End to a War which had caused the Effusion of so much Blood and had been the Ruine of so many poor People and saying That he thought His Highness after so glorious a Campaign ought the more readily to consent to a Peace and offering in the Grand Seignior's Name to abandon Count Tekely and even to deliver to the Emperor the Hostages he had now at the Port. To this the Duke of Lorain answered That a victorious Army was not to be amused with Overtures of Peace and that he had no Instructions to hearken to any But that he would acquaint His Imperial Majesty with the Serasquier Proposals And so we leave this Matter at present and see what the Cermans have been doing in other Places all this time For if the Duke of Lorrain with the grand Army was thus active in Hungary General Lesley in Croatia was not idle on his side neither For having formed a Design against Esseck he left his heavy Cannon and Baggage at Virovitza and on the 9th of Aug. directed his March towards Monstarocina where he arrived on the 10th and that Evening he detached 500 Croats and some Foot to invest Michalowitz wherein were 60 Turks only who immediately surrender'd at Discretion and into which Place the General having put 200 Men he continued his March towards Caranissa while the Turks having made several Signals from the Castles they had near the Drave and sent out Parties to alarm those of Esseck made the Basha of that Place to advance with 600 Horse to charge the Count's Van-guard He bravely repulsed him and forced him to retire with considerable Loss so that the General by the 14th was got into the great Plain not far from Esseck when he discovered a Body of about 1000 Turkish Horse but their Foot whose Number the Christians could not exactly observe were posted nearer the Town This made him immediately draw up his Troops in Battalia and command the Croats of the 2 Wings to advance and charge the Enemy which they did with that Resolution that the Turks fell presently into Disorder and soon after fled the Foot at the same time making all the haste they could to get into the Town and Castle Hereupon the Count gave Orders to his Troops to attack the Town which they performed with wonderful Courage scaling the Walls which were of no great Defence and entring the Place with their Swords in their Hands the Turks all this while endeavouring to save themselves with their Wives and Children some by Water others by endeavouring to get into the Castle when of the former many were taken in little Boats The General gave the Pillage of the Town to the Soldiers and having posted Guards to secure the Avenues of the Castle he went to view the Bridge which was 80000 Paces in length on the other side of the Drave and 1100 Paces on this side and 12 broad but he found the Turks had broken down part of it on the other side of the River to hinder the Christians pursuing them and that it would be very difficult to burn it therefore he contented himself to burn that part of it which stood on this side the Drave which was quite destroyed And having thus executed his Design with the Loss of no more than 60 Men he returned to Michalowitz to refresh his Troops and to expect a further Re-inforcement in order to go upon some new Adventure But soon after he happening to fall sick and the Turks by this last Loss provoked to a greater Vigilance there was nothing further of moment performed that Way But as for Vpper Hungary what General Schultz failed in last Year he was resolved to perform this And therefore one of the first Things he did was to set down before Esperies by taking whereof he did not question but to straighten the Bounds of the Rebel-Party and enlarge those of the Imperialists very much But he found it an harder Task to reduce the Place than he was aware of For tho' after many Days Siege he gave Notice to the Burghers of the Emperor 's general Amnesty that was lately published and that it was now high time for them to think of indemnifying themselves and that such an Opportunity if let slip was not to be retrieved yet they were so far from taking the Advantage of it that they fell upon the Officer sent to them upon that Account whom they barbarously murthered which so enraged the General that he commanded the Town to be stormed But the Besieged made so desperate a Defence that the Germans after a Fight of 2 Hours and an half and the Loss of about 300 Men retired in expectation of a Re-inforcement from the main Army in order to perfect the Work But before that was done and somewhat to the Surprize of the General the Governour of the Town sent to desire a Parly it being the 10th of Sept. and a Cessation of Hostilities till next Morning that he might in the mean time call together the Inhabitants to deliberate with them concerning the Articles to Surrender The General believing his Design therein was to gain Time he would not grant it but demanded to have 2 Officers immediately sent to him for Hostages This the Besieged would not agree to and so on the Firing went on both sides But the next Day the Governour understanding the Besiegers would in a few Days be re-inforced with the afore-mentioned Detachment desired another Parley wherein after a little Contestation the Terms were agreed on and the Town actually put into the Germans Hands on the 12th Now if the Imperialists valued themselves much upon the Advantages that would accrue to them by the Taking in of Esperies the Consequences of it perhaps exceeded far their own Expectations For besides Tokay Potock Onotz and divers other Places which quickly fell into their Hands the City of Caschaw was also taken by General Caprara
Capitulated And now the General finding the Winter Season advancing and his Forces much diminished by the many Detachments he had been obliged to make to Garrison so many conquered Places he was constrained to lay aside the further Prosecution of his good Fortune till he had received new Supplies of Men and other Necessaries from Venice which we leave him at present in expectation of Thus we have seen two of the Tripple Confederacy acting their Parts with equal Glory and Advantage to themselves in Conformity to their Stipulations Now we are to see what was done by the Third Ally the Polander who made great Preparations this Season to bombard Caminiec which they executed for 2 Days together viz. The Last of Aug. and 1st of Sep. under the Command of Prince James His Majesty of Poland's â—â—ldest Son being accompanied by 2. Generals Some Days before it was resolved on in the King's Council That the Forces should march towards that Fortress and that not having been able to block it up so as to famish it they should at least use their utmost Endeavours to lay it desolate by a great Number of Bombs and Mortaâ—s Prince James after having received these Orders marched that way and myested the Place just as if he had a Design to lay a formar Siege to it He found the Basha encamp'd without it and hindâ—ing the Approaches by continual firing by which means 25 or 30 Polanders were killed upon the Spot Nevertheless Prince James caused the Town to be batter'd as we said with the Cannon and at the same time a World of Bombs were thrown into it one of which set fiâ—e to the Basha's Hoâ—se The Basha being acquainted with this and that some Officers had ordered several People to go to extinguish the Fire tho' they were appointed to attend other Business he made Answer That he had a great deaâ— more to lose than a World of others who could not be assisted while they were employ'd at his House That they should only save his Stable and that he was not concerned for the rest In the mean while he sent to entreat Prince James to let him know where were his Quarters and that he would hinder any firing that way The Prince sent him back Word That he was obliged to him for his Civility but that he had no fixed Quarters and that he was every-where as he judged necessary And indeed in going and coming from one side to the other there came a Cannon-Bullet that made its first bound so near him that it covered him all over with Dust He seemed not in any wise concerned tho' this was his Tryal of Skill which wonderfully pleased the Poles that were near his Person He gave further Instances of his Courage upon a Sally the Turks made a Moment after and he had been the first to have made Head against them if he had not been withheld The Turks presently made an Onset upon the advanced Guard and likewise caused a Squadron to buckle that came to its Succour But a fresh Body of Polanders making up they retreated in good Order the Poles were hindred from pursuing them far by some Pieces of Cannon charged with Chain-shot In the mean while the Serasquier who had some time before put Succours into the Place and who was still hovering thereabouts to observe their Motions had no sooner Notice of what had passed but that he sent for a Body of Tartars that were at some distance to come and join him immediately This News being come to the King of Poland's Ears who was advanced towards the Neister to assist the Prince his Son in case of Need he sent him Order to draw off his Troops from before Cammiec and to come and join him Prince James having hereupon informed the Two Generals of the King his Father's Pleasure he gave a Discharge of all his Cannon by way of Farewel and having drawn them off placed himself in their Rear The Basha of Caminiec detach'd some Squadrons after him but they contented themselves with giving certain Tokens of Contempt and Derision at the late Enterprize But for all this formal Bustle the Damage done was inconsiderable insomuch that some turn'd the Action into a handsome Ridicule by saying That the Bombs of the Christians had a secret Vnderstanding with those of the Infidels and so did them no harm Having done with the Poles it might be expected I should say something of the Muscovites but you are to note their time of Action is not come yet 'T is true they took the Field with a very numerous Army but returned Home without doing any more than threaten the Tartars and whose General Galtizen to cover his own Credit charged the Fault of all the Miscarriages of the Champaign upon Samuclowitz General of the Loyal Cossacks as being guilty of holding Correspondence with the Tartars and whom for that Reason or at least Pretence together with his Son he took into Custody confiscated their Estates and had them both carried Prisoners to Moscow and I do not remember to have ever heard of them afterwards This Year was fatal to divers learned Persons particularly to Father Rapin a most celebrated Critick and a Person very â—amed in the Commonwealth of Learning to our great Mr. Waller the most Famous Poet of the Age to Mr. Francis Turretin of Geneva a most Eminent Professor in Divinity and to divers others of different Faculties and Quality year 1688 Now we are come to a Year of Wonders wherein happened such Changes and Revolutions in the Face of Things within the Confines of our European World as can hardly be parallell'd in any Age whatever since the Dissolution of the Roman Empire A mighty Monarch thrust from his Throne A cruel War began in all the Parts almost of Europe And a Way â—haâ—hed out in the Course of the All-wise Providence of God for the Rise of a Prince who otherwise than as to his Personal Merits was not so considerable in Power so far as not only to attain to the Possession of 3 Crowns but to become the Head of the most Serene Allies not only in the Management of the War but in the Prosecution and Accomplishment of the Peace that ensued with equal Glory to himself as Advantage to his Confederates and it s reasonably hoped will prove most of all so to his own Subjects But to be a little more Particular we shall begin with England first before we enter upon new Accidents that happened Abroad and the Operations of the various Campaigns when we shall return to see how far and in what manner they have affected our Nations with whose Aâ—fair we shall conclude as well as begin the Year I need not repeat what the Transactions of the last were amongst us nor how far the Dispensing Power was then carried on I shall therefore now proceed and shew that as the King thought he had then laid a sufficient Foundation tho' it proved but a very Sandy one for his
Doge who shall have 500 Ducats a Month and Entertainment and shall act and do as the Doge may do receiving his Revenues defraying his Charges and reserving what shall be due to him till he returns But as if Fortune had been now glutted in heaping up of her favours upon Morosini by adding to the many Victories and Conquests he had made the highest Dignity his Country could confer upon him he did nothing that was memorable this Campaign having been beyond most Mens expectations extreamly baffled in the Enterprize he undertook upon Negropont nor indeed ever after this comparatively to the great feats he had done in the preceding part of his life So that besides the taking of Chir in Dalmatia by General Cornare about the beginning of Sept. and that small Victory which the Albanians who had now put themselves under the protection of the Republick got over some thousands of Turks Commanded by the Basha of Scutari and their taking the Town of Maduna thereupon there was nothing else of any great consideration that fell out on that side And as for Poland he that can find any thing extraordinary there for the breaking up of the Diet held at Grod now this Year in Confusion and the Incursion of the Turks into the Province of Pocusia I do not take to be such let him do it and I shall pass on to somewhat of greater Moment Now it may be remembred in what uncertain state and imminent danger we left both the Civil and Religious Rights of Britain there were some concurring causes that made those of Europe appear to be little less so France by the Interval of the Peace was grown wonderfully potent and if the Altercations between the Imperial and French Ministers about the later's Fortifying of Traerback foreboded no good to the Empire the Death of the Elector of Cologn which hapned June 2d this year manifestly tended to an open Rupture The two Candidates for the Electorate were young Prince Clement of Bavaria the Elector's Brother of that Name whose interest was supported by Germany and the Cardinal de Fustemburg whose pretentions were backed by the Crown of France But though the former made a shift to carry it and that his Election was confirmed afterwards by the Pope who was at no good terms with France at this time yet the French K. concerned himself so far in the matter as to make it an occasion to begin the cruellest War that ever happn'd in this part of the world this was seconded with a Manifesto from the French K which indeed in the right course of things should have been first setting forth the Justice of his cause But I hope the world is still at liberty to believe as little of it as they please However it cost Germany this Season besides the incredible sums paid for Contribution no less than the loss of the Fortress of Phillipsbourg taken by the Dauphine in Person Manheim Spire Mentz Creusenack Baccarack Heidelburg and several other places as far as Hailbron besides Bonn secured by the Cardinal de Furstemburg towards the beginning of the dispute about the Election But before all this happened and even soon after the foresaid Elector's Death there was an interview and even a long Conference held at Minden in Westphaliâ— between the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg the Landâ—grave of Hesse Cassell the Princes of the House of Lunemburg and the P. of Orange under pretence of the Affair of Cologn as it was in part but much more about concerting methods to divert the Storm hanging over our British Isle without disjoynting of which from the French interest and securing of its Religion and Liberties there was but little likelihood of preserving the rest of Europe and confining France to the Bounds set unto it by former Stipulations and Treaties The Consequence of this Interview was the making mighty Preparations in Holland both by Sea and Land without any visible Appearance who they designed to make War upon And tho' it was said the Heer Van Citters the States Ambassador at London assured the King England had nothing to fear from it and did insinuate that France had much more Reason to be allarm'd than he the Design was penetrated into another way Mr. Skelton while Ambassador in Holland had gained some Glimmering of it by the Interception of some Letters to a certain Person in the Family of the Princess of Orange But being soon after sent in the same Quality to France he got a much clearer Light thereof from one Verace a Genevese by Birth The Story whereof is such as deserves a more particular Recital This same Person had been formerly Captain of the Guard to the Prince of Orange but happening to kill a Man in a Duel he was put out of his Master's Favour However Mr. Skelton found a Way by the Interest of the Earl of Clarendon who had bred up his Son my Lord Cornbury at Geneva and was obliged to Verace for many Services he had done him there to make his Peace again The Genevese being thus re-established in his Master's Favour he had a greater Share of it than ever and was more particularly intimate with Monsieur Bentink the Prince's Favourite I could never learn how he put himself out a second time But so it was that he withdrew and was upon his Journey to Geneva when upon the Noise of the Preparations in Holland he writ to Mr. Skelton then at Paris that he had something to communicate to the King his Master that concerned nothing less than his Crown and to let him know a Son-in-Law whom he was not mistrustful enough of But for the rest he would not explicate the Secret to any other than the King himself if he were pleased to send him Orders to come and wait upon him Upon this Mr. Skelton writ several Letters to England but did not receive an Answer suitable to the Occasion which made both himself and the French Court much concerned at it Yet when they had in a manner entirely acquiesced and left the King to take his own Measures since he seemed to reject theirs and the Assistances offered him it hapned one Day that Monsieur de Croissi being in Discourse with Mr. Skelton and interrogating of him concerning the then State of Things in England the other answered He had nothing more to do in the Matter and durst not inter meddle any farther But added That he believed if the Most Christian King would order his Ambassador to declare to the States the Part he took in the Affairs of the King his Master and to threaten to attack them in case they attempted any thing against him that he would quickly put a Stop to them and break the Measures of the Prince of Orange thereupon c. Monsieur de Croissi took the Proposal presently and he no sooner acquainted the King with it but he sent Orders to the Count d' Avaux to acquaint the States-General with his Mind And this occasioned
forth a Declaration of War against the French King which was to this purpose Their Majesties Declaration against the French King WILLIAM R. IT having pleased God to make Us the happy Instrument of Rescuing these Nations from great and imminent Dangers and to place Us upon the Throne of these Kingdoms we think our selves obliged to endeavour to the uttermost to promote the Welfare of our People which can never be effectually secured but by preventing the Miseries that threaten them from abroad When we consider the many unjust Methods the French King hath of late years taken to gratifie his Ambition that he has not only invaded the Territories of the Emperor and of the Empire now in Amity with us laying waste whole Countries and destroying the Inhabitants by his Armies but declared War against our Allies without any Provocation in manifest Violation of the Treaties confirmed by the Guaranty of the Crown of England we can do no less than joyn with our Allies in opposing the Designs of the French King as the Disturber of the Peace and the common Enemy of the Christian World And besides the Obligations we lie under by Treaties with our Allies which are a sufficient Justification of Us for taking up Arms at this time since they have called upon us so to do the many Injuries done to Us aud to our Subjects without any Reparation by the French King are such that however of late years they were not taken notice of for Reasons well known to the World nevertheless we will not pass them over without a publick and just Resentment of such Outrages It is not long since the French took Licences from the English Governour of Newfound-Land to Fish in the Seas upon that Coast and paid a Tribute for such Licences as an Acknowledgment of the sole Right of the Crown of England to that Island and yet of late the Encroachments of the French upon our said Island and our Subjects Trade and Fishery have been more like the Invasions of an Enemy than becoming Friends who enjoy'd the Advantages of that Trade only by Permission But that the French King should invade our Charibbee Islands and possess himself of our Territories of the Province of New-York and of Hudson's Bay in a hostile manner seizing our Forts burning our Subjects Houses and enriching his People with the spoil of their Goods and Merchandizes detaining some of our Subjects under the Hardship of Imprisonment causing others to be inhumanely kill'd and driving the rest to Sea in a small Vessel without Food or Necessaries to support them are Actions not becoming even an Enemy and yet he was so far from declaring himself so that at that very time he was negotiating here in England by his Ministers a Treaty of Neutrality and good Correspondence in America The Proceedings of the French King against our Subjects in Europe are so notorious that we shall not need to enlarge upon them his countenancing the Seizure of English Ships by French Privateers forbidding the Importation of a great part of the Product and Manufactures of our Kingdom and imposing exorbitant Customs upon the rest notwithstanding the vast Advantage he and the French Nation reap by their Commerce with England are sufficient Evidences of his Designs to destroy the Trade and consequently to ruin the Navigation upon which the Wealth and Safety of this Nation very much depends The Right of the Flag inherent in the Crown of England has been disputed by his Orders in Violation of our Sovereignty of the Narrow Seas which in all Ages has been asserted by our Predecessors and we are resolv'd to maintain for the Honour of our Crown and of the English Nation But that which must nearly touch us is his unchristian Prosecution of many of our English Protestant Subjects in France for Matters of Religion contrary to the Law of Nations and express Treaties forcing them to abjure their Religion by strange and unusual Cruelties and imprisoning some of the Masters and Seamen of our Merchants Ships and condemning others to the Gallies upon pretence of having on Board either some of his own miserable Protestant Subjects or their Effects And lastly As he has for some years last past endeavoured by Insinuations and Promises of Assistance to overthrow the Government of England so now by open and violent Methods and the actual Invâ—sion of Our Kingdom of Ireland in support of our Subjects in Arms and in Rebellion against Us he is promoting the utter Extirpation of our good and loyal Subjects in that our Kingdom Being therefore thus necessitated to take up Arms and relying on the help of Almighty God in our just Undertaking We have thought fit to Declare and do hereby Declare War against the French King and that We will in Conjunction with our Allies vigorously prosecute the same by Sea and Land since he hath so unrighteously begun it being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of our Subjects in support of so good a Cause hereby willing and requiring our General of our Forces our Commissioners for executing the Office of High Admiral our Lieutenants of our several Counties Governours of our Forts and Garisons and all other Officers and Soldiers under them by Sea and Land to do and execute all acts of Hostility in the Prosecution of this War against the French King his Vassals and Subjects and to oppose their Attempts Willing and Requiring all our Subjects to take notice of the same whom we henceforth strictly forbid to hold any Correspondence or Communication with the said French King or his Subjects And because there are remaining in our Kingdoms many of the Subjects of the French King We do Declare and give our Royal Word That all such of the French 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 Given at our Court at Hampton-Court the 7th day of May. 1689 in the first Year of our Reign God save King William and Queen Mary I shall not meddle with the Declaration nor pretend to defend the Justice of it for I think it carries its own light with it but return to the late King who upon his Arrival in Ireland found himself not mistaken as to the Number of his Party which was indeed very strong and almost all the Country at his Devotion the greatest part of the Protestants having before upon their disappointment of Arms Ammunition Commissions and some Forces from England either deserted it or those that staid behind very unable to make any Resistance However they made some shew of forming an Army but were quickly routed by Lieutenant General Hamilton at a place called Drummore Mar. 15th which gave occasion to the late King and Tirconnel to take away the Arms and Horses of the rest of the Protestants except those that fled to Londonderry and some few that went towards Iniskilling who about
Grand-Seignior should never more claim any right therein 2. That Moldavia Walachia and the Republick of Ragusa which had put themselves under the Emperor's Protection should be comprized in the Treaty of Peace and not to be disturbed by the Turks in any manner whatsoever 3. That all the Tartars should depart the Countries 4. That the Port should pay 6000000 towards the Expences of the War immediately after the Conclusion of the Peace and 2000000 every Year for free Passage to Constantinople 5. That all the Christians that had been taken during the War which were above 1000000 should be set at liberty lastly that Tekeley and all his Adherents should be delivered up to the Emperor The King of Poland demanded the restitution of Caminiec and 4000000 in Silver And for the Venetians they required 1. The restitution of all the Islands that formerly belonged to them and particularly the Island of Negrâ—pont 2. The restitution of the Dukedom of Athens 3. The Exchange of Lepanto for Tragusa 4. The restitution of Dulâ—igno and Mahona 5. A Regulation of the Limits of the conquered Cities and Countries And lastly that the Grand-Seignior should pay to the Republick 400000 Ducats But these Propositions seemed so unreasonable to the Embassadors that they tore their Beards upon it However they delivered a Letter to the Imperial Commissioners which the Grand-Seignior had written to the Emperour Within which it was thought some Offers and Proposals tending to a Peace might be met with But they were surprized to find nothing but Complements and the Imperial Court was so incensed at it that they sent Orders for the Ottoman Embassadors to be gone but while they were preparing for their departure word was sent them that they might stay till the Return of the Couriers from Poland and Venice to know the final Resolutions of those two Republicks At last depart they did but stopped at Commorra and after a long stay there got leave at length to return leaving the Peace that way desperate and the War to be prosecuted with as great fury as ever But how high soever the Demands of the Venetians were in their Proposals of Peace they must have proceeded from another Motive whatever it were than the Operations of this Compagne which proved very unsuccessful to them as the last had done For the Siege of Napoli di Malvasia a City in the Morea which their Forces undertook did not go forward with that Success that was desired their Army being only worn out before it and a great Number of brave Officers lost And therefore being reduced to this bad plight and the Garrison obstinately refusing to hearken to a Surrender tho' the Place was very much ruined by the Bombs they resolved at length to change the Siege into a Blockade To this end they put 2000 Men in Garrison into the two Forts which they had raised on the Land-side and left some Frigates at Sea to endeavour the prevention of any Relief that way Which being effected they drew off the rest of the Army to Napoli di Romania to take up their Winter-Quarters Neither did their Affairs in Dalmatia meet with any better Success than those in the Morea For Seignior Mclino Proveditor-General of that Countrey having advanced towards Narenta to make himself Master of la Gabella and some other Posts met the Turkish Horse near the Bridge that leads to that Place The Vanguard composed of Morlaques was charged so vigorously that they were forced to give Ground However Molino stood firm with 600 Horse and his Infantry but finding the Turks were reinforced he was not willing to engage in a Fight the Success whereof was so much the more doubtful by how much his Men had been somewhat discouraged by the Defeat of the Morlaques wherefore he retreated in good Order and with the Loss of no great number of Soldiers The rest of Italy was hitherto pretty quiet save for the Troubles of the poor Vaudois whose Persecution is now at an end and with which doth a Cloud gather that in a little time shall overcast a great part of this Countrey But of this we shall have occasion to speak in the succeeding Years and take notice here that this as it hath been remarkable upon many other Accounts so upon that of the Death of one of the greatest Popes that lived since Gregory the Great 's Days the famous and renowned Odeschalchi by Name and Innocenâ— XI upon his Assumpsion of the Papacy who departed this Life upon the 12th of Aug. between 3 and 4 in the Afternoon He was born at Como in Italy in the State of Milan was made Clerk of the Chamber under the Pontificate of Vrban VIII and of Innocent X. by whom he was made a Cardinal in 1645. after which he was preferred to be Legate of Bologna and Bishop of Novarra and Clement X. dying the 22d of July 1676. he was advanced to the Pontifical Chair the 22d of Sept. following Some have called him the Protestant Pope for what Reason I know not unless it be that when France was exercising her Severities upon her Reformed Subjects they were highly opposed by him at the same time upon another Account and that some said that he in one of his Letters exprest a Dislike not only at the one but the other of their Proceedings at least-wise as to the manner of it But be it as it will he was certainly a very great Man for all the Satyrs that were made upon him in France and it cannot be taken ill by the Publick if with a judicious Person I encounter all their Calumnies with what an Impartial Author wrote of him when he was yet but a Cardinal saying Odeschalchi is most certainly a very great Man and a Person of Worth and Integrity not to be corrupted Exemplary Charitable Disinterested Disingaged from the World without Pride without Vanity without Pomp Zealous with Moderation Austere only to himself His Kindred are Persons of Worth his Brother died at Como some Years since Canonized by the People for his signal Works of Piety and Charity there is nothing to be blamed in his Conduct and of all the Colledge he is the most fit to be Pope for his Honesty and Vertue But whether the vacant See was supplied with a Person worthy to succeed so great a Man may appear hereafter we shall only here note That Peter Ottoboni a Venetian by Birth and Bishop of Porro was on the 6th of Oct. following promoted to the Papal Dignity being aged 80 Years within a few Months year 1690 The Affairs abroad being terminated as we have above related for the Year 1689. we shall enter upon this with the Affairs of Britain The Parliament of England happily ended their most important Affairs towards the beginning of it and in regard they had found the Aim and Drift of the preceding Reigns to have been absolutely to annihilate the Authority of Parliaments and that King James in particular had gone a great
or their Losses thereupon the States recruited theirs with admirable Celerity by several Detachments drawn out of their Garrisons and otherwise and Count Tilly General of the Troops of Liege joined them on the 22d of July with near 10000 Men of that Bishoprick and Brandenburgers and some Hollanders Prince Waldeck therefore finding himself so numerously re-inforced decamped from Diephen where he had been ever since the Battel And having advanced as far as Walswavre he was there joined by the Elector of Brandenburg with all his Forces by which Conjunction the Army being deemed to be near 55000 strong they moved on to Genappe and so to Bois Seignior Isaac The Duke of Luxemberg re-inforced his Army also on his side and yet not trusting to his Numbers took care to fortifie his Camp so as not to be forced to fight So that there was no farther Action on Flanders-side this Campaign and therefore we will see how things have gone in Germany Though the Emperor towards the latter end of the last Year was very urgent with the Protestant Electors to meet at Ausburg and not only sent Envoys to importune them but writ to them with his own Hand yet he could not bring them to However the Electoral Colledge met together with the Envoys of those that were absent to whom the Emperor delivered himself in a most excellent Speech upon the Occasion for which they were Assembled which consisted of 3 Principal Heads The first was the Security of the Empire against the Designs of France Then the Necessity there was of choosing a King of the Romans And lastly he earnestly recommended unto them to cast their Eyes upon Arch-Duke Joseph his Son and King of Hungary for advancing him to that Dignity In short what care soever was taken to provide for the Security of the first they proved pretty unanimous in the Choice of the last as supposing and no doubt it was so there could be no one better method to be taken for obviating the Designs of France upon the Empire than to invest a Prince of the Austrian Family with that Dignity which was always given out the Dauphin gaped after or his Father for him And therefore Arch-Duke Joseph was chosen King of the Romans Jan. 24th and crowned the 25th following to the no small Satisfaction of the Emperor and most of the Empire as it was a Disappointment to France who has still more Enemies coming upon her For the Memoir which the Duke of Lorrain presented to the Diet at Ratisbone towards the close of the preceding Year about his being restored to his Dutchy was now attended by a Manifesto from the same Prince where he declared War against France and set down his Reasons for it Declaring how unjust it was in Lewis XIV to detain his Territories from him under vain Pretences Promised to himself to enter Lorrain the following Summer at the Head of 40000 Men and exhorted all his Subjects to shake off the Yoke of France and all the Gentry to come and join with him and assist him to regain his ancient Patrimony under the Penalty of being degraded of their Nobility and deprived of all their Priviledges But alas brave Man he never lived to attempt what he might propose to himself to effect the following Campaign For as he was upon the Road to Vienna he was seized with a Quinzy in a small Village named Wells about 4 Miles from Lintz which took from him the Use of his Lungs and his speech in a short time so that he was forced to write down part of his Confession And perceiving himself near his End he wrote a Letter to the Emperor wherein after he had testified his Sorrow for not being longer able to serve him he recommended his Wife and all his Family to his Imperial Care Then wrote another to the Queen his Lady to comfort her for her Loss Which two Letters he gave to his Confessor with Orders to deliver them immediately after his Death After this the Imposthume that was in his Throat bursting within-side stifled him so that he expired in the Arms of his Confessor the 18th of April in the Evening The Death of this great Man could not but allay two different Passions in the Courts of Vienna and Versailles since the one had alike Reason to be sorrowful as the other had to rejoyce before the News came for there were mighty Jollities in the Imperial Court at this time for the Marriage of the Princess Dorothea Sophia of Neuburg with the Prince of Parma Whereas in France they were putting on their mournful Weeds for the Death of the Dauphiness who departed this Life within a Day or two of the Duke of Lorrain but that did not retard the Dauphine her Husband's Journey into Germany for he set out the 17th of the next Month from Versailles after he had been shut up with the King for several Hours in his Closet and received his Instructions on the 28th arrived at Strasburg and from thence went to Landau where the French Army lay that was to act on that side The Command of the Imperial Army on the other hand was given now the Duke of Lorrain is dead to the Elector of Bavaria with whom at last joined a good Body of Saxons headed by the Elector himself with his two Sons who held a Conference at Eppinghen together with the Field-Mareschalls Caprara and Serini after which there were very great Expectations the principal Part of the Army would have fallen upon Hunningen which perhaps might take its rise from a Story whether true or false I know not of General Souches who commanded part of the Army on Hunningen-side his going to attend the Duke of Bavaria at this time and from him Incognito to Basil where he would not suffer the Magistrates to pay him the Honours due to his Character because he would not have his Journey make a noise in the World And that in his Passage he had viewed and examined the Fortress of Hunninghen of which he took a Draught and from thence privately returned to the Army But however it was there was nothing put in Execution on that side nor indeed any where else of any moment For the Imperial Army having encamped for some time in the Marquisate of Baden-Durlack all Men were surprized that instead of continuing their March towards the upper Rhine they fell down of a sudden towards Mentz the Elector of Saxony at the same time being posted near Phillipsburg and General Dunwall Commanding the flying Army toward the Garrison of Fort Lovis and General Zouches at his former Post Of which motions the Dauphine was no sooner informed but he passed the Rhine at Fort Lovis to maintain his Army in the Enemy's Country and that in Battle-array as expecting some Opposition in his March though he had none Aug. 16th he encamped in the Plain of Strotbeffon having the Mountains on one side the Rhine on the other and a large Morass before him being
as to offer the Enemy Battel which the other did not decline For upon the 18th Catinat gave the Signal and by 11 in the Morning ordered the Italians to be attack'd by the way of the Morass which he had caused to be sounded before and found firm enough to bear his Men So that the Duke 's Left Wing not expecting to be attack'd in Flank the Morass being to the Left of them made not such a stout Resistance as they might have done had they been forewarned However they killed several of the Enemy but at length the Cavalry began to give way being maul'd both with the firings of a Body of Reserve and with the great Cannon that plaid directly upon them But the Right Wing stood firm till 3 in the Afternoon when being not able to bear the whole brunt of the Enemies fire they were constrained to betake themselves to flight and several of them thinking to facilitate it by taking the Po in their way were drowned The Duke himself retired with part of his Troops to Carignan to compute his Loss which the Enemy affirmed to be 4000 slain out-right 11 great Guns good store of Baggage some Colours and a considerable quantity of Ammunition taken and that themselves had not above an 150 killed and about 100 wounded This Account tho' it be not altogether probable yet the Advantage every way was the French's past all doubt and what was intended to have been saved by the Duke of Savoy in hazarding this Battle was the Consequence of Catinat's Victory who the very next day possessed himself of Salusses as he did soon after of Savillana a large City 15 Miles from the former Villa Franca and divers other Places and then march'd with his Army to Raiconoggi with a Design to set upon the Duke of Savoy's Men that were retired to Carignan after their Defeat or at least to make himself Master of Carmagnoli But the Duke not finding himself in a state to abide his coming retreated to Monclair to recruit his Army and to wait for the German Troops that were coming to his Assistance after he had put 4000 Men into Carignan and secured Carmagnola The Germans or at least part of them some time after joyned the Duke with which Reinforcement besides some Milanese Troops being near 20000 strong he decamp'd on the 16th of Sept. from Monclair and advanced towards Catinat who also having been strengthened with some Regiments from France was not at all startled at his Approach but stood his Ground while Monsieur St. Ruth was reducing Tartantasia and Morienna with all Savoy excepting Montmelian under the Obedience of the French King whose Cities swore Allegiance to him and whereof Monsieur St. Ruth for his good Services was made Governour with an annual Pension as 't was said of 40000 Livres And as the French Forces had in a manner made a compleat Conquest of the Dutchy of Savoy this Season you have already an account how far a Progress they have made in Piedmont the most valuable part of the Duke's Dominions and now you will hear of what was more afflicting to his Royal Highness than any one thing that perhaps befel him since the Rupture Suza is a City very considerable for its Situation as being that which opens a Passage out of the Dauphinate into Piedmont whenever the French should think it requisite For every time the Kings of France design'd a War in Italy they always coveted to be Masters of that Post Now Catinat had had an Eye upon it for some time and made some secret Paces towards accomplishing his Design which yet he could not carry so covertly but that the Duke had notice of it so that he did all he could to prevent the misfortune To this purpose he sent away the Count of Lovigniez with 6 Batallions of Foot and some Horse to secure the Place Of which Monsieur Catinat being advertised he did not take the ordinary Road but hasted towards the Mountains marching his Men with wonderful Application and Celerity for 6 Days together without Intermission This Motion of his when the Duke heard of he mistakingly thought the Siege of Suza had been a feign'd business but that the true Design of the French was to give him Battle and therefore sent Orders to Lovigniez to leave Suza and forthwith to joyn him with all his Forces This was no sooner done but the French immediately begirt the City where there was only 6 or 700 Men in Garrison under the Count de Lande who seeing no likelihood to defend himself in such a weak Post with such an inconsiderable Force against a numerous Army or rather being of a base and dastardly Nature made shew of putting himself first in a Posture of Resistance but presently after surrendred the City upon Terms of marching out with Arms Baggage and 3 Cannon and to be convey'd to the Gates of Turin With this Action the Campaign ended in Italy for Catinat divided his Army thereupon sending one part of them into Winter-Quarters in Savoy and the other into Provence But while the Duke of Savoy was struggling in this manner with his adverse Fortune at home without its having been in the Power of his new Allies the Germans and Spaniards hitherto to bear him up under the Weight that oppress'd him he bethinks himself of making Application to some other oâ— the Confederates and therefore first sends the Count de lâ— Tour his Envoy into Holland who was kindly received by the States and promised some Support tho' this was the first that ever came from a Duke of Savoy to them ever since they had been a State and had Orders from thence to go into England to congratulate the King and Queen's Accession to the Throne having done his main business with the King's Envoy before at the Hague and delivered himself to the King in the following Terms which I am the more inclined to takâ— notice of because of something in consequence and whereâ— you will have an Account in due place that quite contradict what in substance is contained herein SIR HIS Royal Highness congratulates Your Majesties glorious Access to the Crown due to your Birth merited by your Vertue and maintain'd by your Valour Providence ordain'd it for your sacred Head for the Accomplishment of Heavens Designs from all Eternity that Providence which after long forbearance raises up chosen Instruments at length to suppress Violence and protect Justice The wonderful beginnings of your Reign are assured Presages of the Blessings which Heaven is preparing for the Integrity of your Intentions which have no other Aim than to restore this flourishing Kingdom to that Grandeur which it anciently enjoyed and to break off those Chains under the Weight of which all Europe at present groans This magnanimous Design so worthy the Hero of our Age soon fill'd his Royal Highness with unspeakable Joy tho' he were constrain'd to keep it undisclosed for a time in the privacies of his Heart and if afterwards he
the Irish and their Army For freeing the said Lord Lucan of the said Engagement past on the publick Account for Payment of the said Protestants for preventing the Ruin of the said John Brown and for Satisfaction of his Creditors at the instance of the said Lord Lucan and the rest of the Persons aforesaid it is agreed That the said Lords Justices and Lieutenant General Ginckle shall interpose with the King and Parliament to have the Estates secured to Roman-Catholicks by Articles and Capitulations in this Kingdom charged with and equally liable to the Payment of so much of the said Debts as the said Lord Lucan upon stating Accompts with the said John Brown shall certifie under his Hand that the Effects taken from the said John Brown amount unto which Accompts are to be Stated and the Ballance certified by the said L. Lucan in 21 Days after the Date hereof For the true Performance hereof We have hereunto set our Hands Charles Porter Tho. Coningsby Present Bar. De Ginckle Scravenmoae H. Maccay F. Talmash Lucan Gallmoy N. Pursel N. Cusack Theob Butler John Brown Ger. Dillon The other Articles I. THAT all Persons without any Exceptions of what Quality or Condition soever that are willing to leave the Kingdom of Ireland shall have free leave to go beyond the Seas to any Country England and Scotland excepted where they think fit with their Families Household-Stuff Plate and Jewels II. THAT all the General Officers Colonels and generally all other Officers of Horse Dragoons and Foot-Guards Troops Dragoons Souldiers of all kind that are in any Garrison Place or Post now in the Hands of the Irish or encamped in the Counties of Cork Clare or Kerry as also those called Rapparees or Voluntiers that are willing to go beyond Seas as aforesaid shall have free Liberty to imbark themselves wheresoever the Ships are that are appointed to Transport them and to come in whole Bodies as they are now compos'd or in Parties Companies or otherwise without having any Impediment directly or indirectly III. THAT all Persons above-mentioned that are willing to leave Ireland and go into France have leave to declare it at the Places and Times hereafter mentioned viz. The Troops in Limerick on Tuesday next at Limerick the Horse at their Camp on Wednesday and the other Forces that are dispersed in the Counties of Clare Kerry and Cork the 18th day of this Instant and on none other before Monsieur Tumeron the French Intendant and Colonel Withers and after such Declaration so made the Troops that will go into France must remain under the Command and Discipline of their Officers that are to Conduct them thither And Deserters of each side shall be given up and punish'd accordingly IV. THAT all English and Scotch Officers that serve now in Ireland shall be included in this Capitulation as well for the Security of their Estates and Goods in England Scotland and Ireland if they are willing to remain here as for passing freely into France or any other Country to serve V. THAT all the General French Officers the Intendant the Ingeniers the Commissaries at War and other Artillery the Treasurer and other French Officers Strangers and others whatsoever that are in Sligo Ross Clare or in the Army or that do Trade or Commerce or are otherways employed in any kind of Station or Condition shall have leave to pass into France or any other Country and shall have leave to Ship themselves with all their Horses Equipage Plate Papers and all other Effects whatsoever and that General Ginkle will order Pass-ports for them Convoys and Carriages by Land and Water to carry them safe from Lymerick to the Ships where they shall be imbarked without paying any thing for the said Carriages or those that are employed therein with their Horses Carts Boats and Shallops VI. THAT if any of the aforesaid Equipages Merchandize Horses Money Plate or other Moveables or Houshold-Stuff belonging to the said Irish Troops or to the French Officers or other particular Persons whatsoever be robb'd destroy'd or taken away by the Troops of the said General the said General will order it to be restor'd or Payment to be made according to the Value that is given in upon Oath by the Person so Robbed or Plundered And the said Irish Troops to be Transported as aforesaid And all Persons belonging to them are to observe good Orders in their March and Quarters and shall restore whatever they shall take from the Country or make Satisfaction for the same VII THAT to facilitate the Transporting of the Troops the General will furnish 50 Ships and each Ship Burthen 200 Tuns for which the Persons to be Transported shall not be obliged to pay and 20 more if there shall be Occasion without their paying for them and if any of the said Ships shall be lesser Burthen he will furnish more in number to countervail and also give two Men of War to imbark the Principal Officers and serve for a Convoy to the Vessels of Burthen VIII THAT a Commissary shall be immediately sent to Cork to visit the Transport-Ships and what Condition they are in for Sailing and that as soon as they are ready the Troops to be Transported shall March with all convenient Speed the nearest way in order to be imbarked there And if there shall be any more Men to be Transported than can be carried off in the said 50 Ships the rest shall quit the English Town of Lymerick and march to such Quarters as shall be appointed for them convenient for their Transportation where they shall remain till the other 20 Ships are ready which are to be in a Months time and may imbark in any French Ship that may come in the mean time IX THAT the said Ships shall be furnished with Forrage for Horses and all necessary Provisions to subsist the Officers Troops Dragoons and Soldiers and all other Persons that are shipped to be Transported into France which Provisions shall be paid for as soon as all is disimbarked at Brest or Nants on the Coast of Brittany or any other Port in France they can make X. AND to secure the Return of the said Ships the Danger of the Seas excepted and the Payment for the said Provisions sufficient Hostages shall be given XI THAT the Garrisons of Clare-Castle Ross and all other Foot that are in Garrisons in the Counties of Clare Cork and Kerry shall have the Advantage of this Capitulation and such part of the Garrisons that design to go beyond Seas shall march out with their Arms Baggage Drums beating Ball in Mouth Match lighted at both ends Colours flying with all their Provisions and half the Ammunition that is in the said Garrison Towns with the Horse that march to be Transported or if then there 's not Shipping enough the Body of Foot that is to be Transported ne◠after the Horse General Ginckle will order that they 〈◊〉 furnished with Carriages for that purpose and what Provision they shall want
of the River of Limerick to give notice to the Commanders of the English and French Fleets of the present Conjuncture that they may observe the Cessation of Arms accordingly XXVIII THAT for the Security of the Execution of this present Capitulation and of each Article herein contain'd the Besieged shall give the following Hostages And the General shall give XXIX IF before this Capitulation is fully executed there happens any change in the Government or Command of the Army which is now commanded by General Ginckle all those that shall be appointed to command the same shall be obliged to observe and execute what is specified in these Articles or cause it to be executed punctually and shall not act contrary on any Account whatsoever Octob. 91. Baron De Ginckle To say nothing of other things in this Place you see that â—s many of the Irish Army as were willing of themselves to â—e transported into France might freely do it But the General on the 5th of Oct. receiving a Letter from a Lieuâ—enant-Colonel in the Irish Army wherein he complained â—e was imprisoned for denying to go into France he took it â—ery ill and ordered 4 Guns to be carried down immediately and planted upon Bolls-Bridge saying in some Heat He would teach them to play Tricks with him which Sarsfield hearing he came to the English Camp and several sharp Wordâ— passed between the General and him Sarsfield saying aâ— last That he was then in the General 's Power Not so replied the other but you shall go in and do the best you can But at last all things were quiet and the Prisoner enlarged and as many of the Irish as would go were some time after shipped off for France where upon their Arrival they were saluted with a comforting Letter from the late King James directed to Lieutenant-General Sheldon then the Oâ—ficer in Chief with them which was to this Effect JAMES REX HAving been informed of the Capitulation and Surrender 〈◊〉 Limerick and of the other Places which remained to 〈◊〉 in our Kingdom of Ireland and of the Necessities which foâ—â— the Lords Justices and the General Officers of our Forces theâ— unto We will not defer to let you know and the rest of the â—â—â—ficers that come along with you that we are extreamly satisâ— with your and their Conduct and of the Valour of the Soldieâ— during the Siege but most particularly of your and their Decâ—â—ration and Resolution to come and serve where we are And 〈◊〉 assure you and order you to assure both Officers and Soldiers 〈◊〉 are come along with you that we shall never forget this 〈◊〉 Loyalty nor-fail when in a Capacity to give them above othâ—â— particular Marks of our Favour In the mean time you are 〈◊〉 inform them that they are to serve under our Command and 〈◊〉 our Commissions and if we find that a considerable number is 〈◊〉 with the Fleet it will induce us to go personally to see them 〈◊〉 Regiment them Our Brother the King of France hath alreâ—â— given Orders to Cloath them and furnish them with all Necesâ—ries and to give them Quarters of Refreshment So we bid 〈◊〉 heartily farewel Given at our Court at St. Germâ—â— the 27th of November 1691. And thus ended this famous Irish War with so much 〈◊〉 more Glory and Advantage to the English in that the 〈◊〉 were so powerfully supported in it by the French Kiâ—â— who thought it much to his Interest to divert their 〈◊〉 that way whose Ancestors had done such terrible things 〈◊〉 his Country and had sent a good Fleet of Men of War 〈◊〉 Store-Ships to the Relief of this last Town which arriâ—â— in Dingle-Bay but a day or two after the Articles were 〈◊〉 The Scotch Affairs were so inconsiderable this Season thâ— there is nothing worth mentioning from thence neithâ—â— was there any thing extraordinary hapned by Sea tho' the Fleets on each side were very powerful and that one should think the French elated with their last Years Success might have adventured a second Fight now But they knew what they did well enough for they had another-guess Force and Admiral too to deal with now and they had another Game to Play which was to intercept our Turkey Fleet which was exceeding Rich and to that end cruised a long time upon the Irish-Coast But as Providence would have it they had been gone but about 10 days from hovering about Kingsale before the other came having all that time been held back by contrary Winds in their Passage from Cales The English Grand Fleet all this time kept another Course but it was not for want of Zeal or Fidelity in the brave Admiral but of Intelligence Yet as soon as the brave Admiral Russel now Earl of Oxford understood that they were got safe into Kingsale he took all the care imaginable for their being convoy'd safely to their respective Ports whither they were bound and then set sail in quest of the Enemy whom he was inform'd were turn'd to their own Coasts But being come within some Leagues of Brest he understood they lay at Bell-Isle secured in such a manner that it was impossible to attack them and so returned towards the English Shore but met with such tempestuous and stormy Weather that the Coronation a brave Ship and to the best of my Remembrance one or two more Ships of less Consideration were lost and the Admiral himself had much ado to get the rest of the Fleet safe into Harbour where now we leave them and come to see where King William was all the while We have already given you an account of the Congress at the Hague the Progress of the French Arms in the Spring both in Savoy and in Flanders and how the King could not engage them then in the latter and so he went for England where he made no long stay before he returned again into the Netherlands to head the Confederate Army which in Foot was somewhat superiour to that of France but in Horse the latter was stronger But tho' his Majesty did all that Man could do to bring Monsieur Luxemburg to an Engagement by several Marches and Countermarches he made as well as Umbrages he gave him of attacking Maubâ—ge or Mons yet all would not do the other as industriously avoiding fighting and would give no Opportunity for it but upon the greatest Disadvantage so that the King after he had first blown up the Fortifications of Beaumonâ— marched the Army towards Aeth from whence he parted on the 16th of Sept. for Loo leaving the Forces under the Command of Prince Waldeck who continued about the aforesaid Place for some time But moving off about the 17th of Sept. towards Benair Monsieur Luxemburg thought it a good Opportunity to fall upon their Rear with a good Body of Horse and the best in France and continued his design'd March so swiftly that upon the 19th he came up with their Rear-guard as they were marching towards
to bethink themselves of a new Captain General and this Trust and Honour they unanimously devolved on the serene Doge Morosini who had formerly served the Republick so successfully and which nothing now but his great Age made him seem unwilling to accept of As for the Polish Army I think they made a shift to get into the Field by Sept. and in Oct. to block up Caminiec and 't is well had they done that to purpose for as to any thing else they never went about it And now having run thro' the several Transactions of Europe it 's time to close this Year with a few Particulars About the beginning of the Year died the famous Robert Boyle Esq who was a Philosopher under a particular Character as being addicted to the Study of Natural Philosophy and perhaps never any Man dived so deep into the Knowledge of Nature as himself which yet was so far from being attended in him with that Atheism that is too too usual for such speculative Heads that he was always in his Life time esteemed a very pious Man and sincere Christian of which he gave a most convincing Testimony at his Death by the Legacy he left to have a Monthly Sermon preached against Atheism On the 7th of June hapned a most terrible Earthquake in the Island of Jamaca in the West-Indies which did most prodigious Damage especially at the Town of Port-Royal the best of all the English Plantations and the greatest Mart in that part of the World which was in a manner entirely ruined and not only so but 't was computed no less than 1500 People perished in it And upon the 8th of Sept. following about 2 a Clock we felt an Earthquake also in England and particularly in London the like no Man living knew before but blessed be God it did no harm with us nor upon the Continent where it was felt in the same time and manner On the 24th of Dec. died the most serene Electress of Bavaria at Vienna in the 23d Year of her Age after she had undergone several Discomposures from the 28th of Oct. when she was brought to bed of an Electoral Prince This Year was also fatal to Prince Waldeck Camp-Master-General to his Imperial Majesty and the States and on whom the Emperor conferred the Dignity of a Prince by reason of his Merit for he was a Politick and Able as he was unfortunate and the Services he had done him in Hungary and other places but the same died with him Neither ought we to forget that this Year the Duke of Hanover a Protestant Prince had been advanced to an Elector of the Empire and so a Ninth Electorate constituted thereby year 1693 It may be remembred we left King William in the close of the Campaign going to his Diversions in Holland from whence he returned into England before whose Arrival things were so managed in Ireland by my Lord Sidney Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom that the Parliament there made not only an Act of Recognition of their Majesty's title to that Crown and another to get other Protestants to settle in that Kingdom but one for an additional Duty of Excise upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for the Support of the Government And Scotland seemed very zealous and forward to contribute new Levies or whatever else their Majesties desired And to be sure the Parliament of England that had hitherto on all occasions been ready to promote the King's just designs would not be behind-hand now but took his Majesty's Speech so effectually into their Consideration that before the end of Jan. they passed the Act of Granting to their Majesties an Aid of 4 s. in the Pound for carrying on a vigorous War against France and soon after another that granted certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer Ale or other Liquors for securing Recompences and Advantages in the said Act mentioned to such Persons as should voluntarily advance 1000000 l. for the purposes declared in the Act by paying into the Receipt of his Majesties Exchequer the fore-mentioned Summ before the 1st of May 1693. upon the terms expressly mentioned in the said Act neither did they stop their Handâ— here but proceeded chearfully to other Methods for compleating the necessary Supplies and by the 14th of March the King among others signed two Mony Acts more viz. An Act for Granting to their Majesties certain additional Impositions upon several Goods and Merchandizes for prosecuting the present War with France and an Act for a Review of the Quarterly Pole granted to their Majesties the last Session of Parliament After this the King made a Speech to thank them for what they had done to recommend the Publick Peace to them and Equity in levying what they had so freely given then prorogued the Houses to the 2d of May and in the mean time went himself for Holland But before his Departure did by what Advice I will not determine lay aside Admiral Russel who had beaten the French Fleet last Year and received the Thanks of the House of Commons for it whereof he was then a Member but since made a Peer by the Stile and Title of Earl of Oxford and last Year one of the Lords Justices of England and constituted Henry Killigrew Esq Sir Ralph Delavall and Sir Clovesley Shovel to command the Fleet this Summer The Fleet was numerous and ready pretty early as was also a great Fleet of Merchant-men near 400 Sail in all of English Dutch Hamburgers c. prepared to sail to the Streights under the Convoy of Sir George Rook with a strong Squadron of Men of War with whom the grand Fleet was to keep company till they came to such a Latitude or as was given out in those times by some till they had certain Information where the French Fleet was Which made their Orders discretionary and Sir George who seemed to have some foresight of the Danger exprest himself very loath to part with them But however seeing he could not help it he sailed on and leaving by the way the Vessels bound for Bilboa Lisbon Sr. Tubes and other Ports under Convoy of 2 Men of War which made Sir George have no more with him than 21 now The account of his Expedition as himself sent an Express of it was briefly thus That indeed he had discovered the French Fleet about 20 Leagues short of Cape St. Vincent which made him call a Council of War wherein it was resolved that the Wind being fresh Westerly and giving a fair opportunity to hasten their Passage to Cadiz the Merchants should make the best of their way That upon the Discovery of the Enemies whole Fleet upon the 16th he brought too and stood off with an easie Sail to give what time he could to the heavy Sailors to work away to the Windward sending away the Sheerness to order the small Ships that were under the Shore that they should endeavour to get along the Shore in the Night
good View of it and got out again without any Damage tho' warmly fired at by Camaret-Fort they returned and gave the Lord Berkeley an Account of the Posture of the Bay and the Situation of the Castle which was very advantageously placed to defend the Landing-places against any that should attempt to set Footing on Shore Thereupon it was thought convenient that the Monk of 60 Guns and the Diamaten of equal Force should go in for that purpose But the Marquess who had viewed the Place not believing that those two Men of War would be sufficient to cover the Boats at their Landing from the Shot from the Fort nor to assist the Land-Forces at their Landing by playing upon the Enemy who were better prepared and more numerous than was expected and ready to be seconded upon all Occasions with 14 Squadrons of Horse all regular Troops so far as they could discern by their Habit Therefore upon the 8th after a Consultation of the English and Dutch Flags and the General-Officers of the Land-Forces it was resolved That 6 more Men of War should be added to the 2 former viz. the Greenwich of 54 Guns the Charles-Galley of 32 the Shoreham of 32 the Darkenstein of 44 the Wesep of 30 and the Wolf of 30 Guns All which the Marquess undertook to post so as to bear upon the Castle to the best Advantage and to perform those other Services for which they were designed This was a Work of great Labour Difficulty and Danger for no sooner was the Monk come within reach of the Enemy's Mortars but the Enemy began to fling their Bombs at her from Point des Fillettes and the Western Point of Camaret-Bay insomuch that when she came within 3 Quarters of a Mile of the latter one of the Bombs broke just over her and a great piece of it striking through her Poop and two Decks more flew out again into the Water near one of the Stern-Ports and killed 2 of the Marquess's Marine Company and wounded a third who stood close by him on the Poop So soon as she got into the Bay and came up a-brest with the Western Point Camaret-Fort fired thick and threefold at her and she being forced to stand with her Stern right upon it the Shot from thence raked her fore and aft and did her a great deal of Damage More than this after all the Ships were got pretty well into the Bay they were surprized with three Batteries more all firing upon them which they never perceived till they felt their Shot But notwithstanding all these Difficulties the Marquess made a shift to post the 8 Ships in such a manner as gave great Succour to the Land-Forces and did the Enemy considerable Mischief For these Ships so soon as they had dropped their Anchors in the Bay fired continually upon the Enemy and forced the French to run twice out of Camaret-Fort From these Ships it was easie to perceive the Enemy very advantageously entrenched at every place where there was any possibility of Landing and great Numbers of Foot drawn behind the Trenches On the Other side Lieutenant-General Talmash with a small Number of Well-boats went a-shore in a confused manner under a little Rock on the South-side of the small Bay Nor was there any Prosecution of that regular Way of Landing which the Lord Cutts proposed and had been agreed on Here his Lordship excuses himself for not being able to give an Account of what passed close by the Shore and goes on That when he saw the Boats and small Vessels in which the Land-Forces were embarked had made their Retreat from thence excepting such as stuck fast wherein a great many were killed and taken Prisoners and the Signal given to bring off the Ships he applied himself to undergo the greatest Difficulty he had in all the Action for that all their Rigging was cut in pieces and most of their Sails and Yards disabled The Shoreham not so much disabled as the rest got clear out of Danger with little Assistance But it cost the Marquess a world of Labour and hard Venturing to get off the rest but more especially the Charles-Galley and the Monk that was within half her length of dashing against a Rock as having no other Motion but what the Sea and Tow-boats afforded her But at length he being indefatigable in his Labour and undaunted in his Courage performed what he undertook and brought of all clear but the Tesep a small Dutch Man of War of 30 Guns which he found with 12 Foot Water in her Hold and all the Men killed that were left with the Lieutenant but himself a Drummer and one Man more As for the Loss sustained at Sea his Lordship acknowledges 400 Men lost in the 3 English and 4 Dutch Ships under his Command As for the Loss of the Land-Forces he says he was not acquainted with it But the Report was That the Killed Wounded and Taken amounted to about 700 more But what Error soever that brave Man Lieutenant General Talmash might have committed in his Landing he paid very dear for it with the loss of his Life as did I doubt a much greater number of Men killed and wounded than my Lord talks of in his unfortunate Expedition which for my part I think could not be otherwise than so since the French by such strong Works Batteries and great Forces had taken so much Precaution to defend themselves against this Attempt of which and the place of Landing they had no doubt timely information enough which they could not well be without since it was no secret in England but a Town-talk at this time that Brest was the place we designed to Land at But how unsuccessful soever we proved in this Expedition the King had managed his Affairs so well both at home and abroad this Season that he began now to beard the French and this since the beginning of the War was the first time they seemed to be upon the decline in Flanders Its true the Death of the Bishop and Prince of Liege towards the beginning of this Year gave the French a mighty Prospect to imbroil the Affairs of the Confederates on that side For as the Death of the Elector of Cologn in 1688 and the Contests between the Empire and France in the two Persons of Prince Clement of Bavaria and Cardinal Furstemburg gave the first Occasion to the Flame of this War to break forth in Germany that soon after by divers concurring Accidents spread it self over the Face of almost all Europe So if the French could have got the Cardinall de Bovillon to have been advanced into the Principality of Liege they did not doubt but to have brought the Confederates to be more humble and to have accepted of the Conditions of Peace the French King would allow them but this did not happen neither For notwithstanding all Bovillion's Protestations the major part of the Chapter first made Choice of the Elector of Cologn and the other of the
little that we were in a manner left disconsolate and next to Despair And what could that be alas but the Death of the best of Queens the best of Wives nay the best of Women our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Mary Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland which happen'd on the 28th of December at her Palace of Kensington after she had lain some few Days sick of the Small-Pox To attempt her Character would be Arrogance in me since it has been done so well by so many learned Pens But I cannot omit remarking the Answer as I have heard His Majesty who knew her best was pleased to make the Archbishop of Canterbury when he went to comfort him for his great Loss That he could not chuse but grieve seeing she had been his Wife for 17 Years and yet he never knew her guilty of an Indiscretion And to add what most People are apt to pass over untouched That she was certainly a Princess of real Piety which I should not say if I had not known some Circumstances my self concerning her upon that Account that were evident tokens of it Wherefore I shall end this unhappy Year with the Parliament and Nation 's Condolance of the King upon this great Loss as himself was pleased to express it and their Protestations to stand by him against all Opponents whatsoever both at home and abroad And the Truth of it is if ever Addresses were real and unfeigned they were those made upon this Occasion since it has been obvious to any Man of Observation that that sad Providence did very much heighten Men's Affections to His Majesty's Person which being before as it were divided between him and that beloved Princess were now entirely cemented into one year 1695 But tho' the Nation laboured under this great Sorrow for our unretrievable Loss as we did also from the Badness of our Coin which had been a long growing Evil upon us and began now to be very intolerable yet there was no going back And therefore the Parliament went roundly to work and besides some other useful Bills had by the 11th of Feb. prepared for the Royal Assent An Act for Granting 4 s. in the Pound to His Majesty And for Applying the Yearly Summ of 300000 l. for Five Years out of the Duties of Tunnage and Poundage and other Summs of Mony payable upon Merchandizes Exported and Imported for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour But what Zeal soever the two Houses in general shewed for the common Cause there was such a Brangle at this time among them especially in the Upper House about sending of the Fleet to the Streights that tho' some under the specious Pretence of Good Will towards the Government took upon them to shew the Inconvenience of it Yet the major part of that most honourable Assembly shewed themselves to have far different Sentiments by their Address of Thanks to the King for so ordering it And it happen'd â— little favourably as if it had been a Confirmation of their Lordships Judgments that News came soon after which gave an Account that some Frigats which Admiral Russel had sent out to cruise had taken 2 French Men of War of the bigger Size near Messina So that the other Party was now obliged to acquiesce and the Lovers of the Government to go on with the King's Business But it was the middle of April or thereabout before there were any more Mony-Bills ready when His Majesty signed among divers others An Act for enabling such Persons as had Estates for Life in Annuities payable by several former Acts therein mentioned to purchase and obtain farther and more certain Interests in such Annuities And in Default thereof for Admitting other Persons to purchase or obtain the same for Raising Moneys for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchellors and Widowers for the Term of 5 Years for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty several Additional Duties upon Coffee Tea Chocolate and Spices towards Satisfaction of the Debts due for Transport-Service for the Reduction of Ireland And then he was pleased to tell them that the season of the Year was so far advanced and the circumstances of affairs so pressing that he very earnestly recommended unto them the speedy dispatching of such business as they thought of most importance for the publick good because he was to make an end of the Sessions in a few Days which was done accordly after the signing of some other Bills which the Parliament had dispatched and among the rest An Act to grant unto the King certain Duties upon Glass-wares Stone and Earthen Bottles Coal and Culm for carrying on the War as before Then it was that he told them the necessity there was for his Presence abroad but that he would take care to have the administration of Affairs during his Absence put into such Persons hands on whose care and fidelity he could entirely depend and that he doubted not but they both Lords and Gentlemen in their several Stations would be assisting to them and that what it was he required of them was to be more than ordinarily vigilant in preserving the publick Peace In pursuance to this His Majesties Resolution he was pleased before his Departure which was on the 12th of May to appoint in Council the Lord Archbishop the Lord Keeper the Earl of Pembrook the Duke of Devonshire the Duke of Shrewsbury the Earl of Dorset and the Lord Godolphin to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Absence beyond the Seas where as before he was Commander in Chief of all the Confederate Forces which were this Campaign very strong and out-numbred the French 20000 Men which yet was no such odds as to act offensively as they did as the Duke de Villeroy was over the Armies of France in the room of the Duke of Luxemburg who died towards the beginning of this Year There were two Camps formed for the Confederate Army the one was at Arseel to be commanded by the King in Person and under him by the old Prince de Vaudemont to whom His Majesty had given last Winter the Command in chief of his Armies and the other at Ninove under the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Holstein Ploen The King after his usual Divertion went on the 27th of May from Breda to Ghent where the Inhabitants made great preparations to receive him with demonstrations of Joy suitable to what they owed to so great a King and the Protector of their Country and could not have done more to their own Sovereign the King of Spain had he come among them But though the King ordered the Rendesvouz of his Army in the foresaid place and that the Elector himself advanced towards the Scheld yet it is very likely that at the very beginning of the Campaign His
Confederates a breathing time for the Siege of the Castle and see how it fared with the French else-where But if the Confederates seemed thus to grow over the French by Land the latter were much more despicable by Sea where they had no Fleet in the Channel and the English and Dutch at full Liberty to insult them in their own Ports as they did divers ways And first they began with St. Malo's where the Lord Berkley with the Fleet under his Command arrived on the 4th of July gave the Signal next day for the Frigats to stand in to the Channel with the Bomb Galliots and to attack the Town Whereupon Captain Bembow going on Board the Charles Gally by 6 in the Morning was ready to Sail as Captain Durley at the same time Commander of the Fire-ship called the Charles and a Dutch Fire-ship had Orders to bear up with the Rock de la Coucâ—ee and attack it and afterwards to set fire to the Vessel which was vigorously put in Execution and a little after the Fort took Fire but whether by the burning of the Fire-ships or the fall of the Bombs is uncertain However it were the Fire lasted for two Hours but this was not enough for our Galliots and Frigats having got in about 7 in the Morning the former stood in so near that in charging the Bombs they were forced to lessen the weight of the Powder otherwise they would have gone beyond the Mark So that about 10 the Fire took in several parts of the East-end of the Town and about 2 in the Afternoon they could see a great Fire kindled in the middle of the Town that continued burning till Night and could not be quenched without blowing up several Houses that were near They threw no less than 900 Bombs into the place a great part of which was reduced to Ashes and the English were perhaps the more forward in putting this design in Execution because we had suffered more in our Traffick and Navigation by the Privateers of this place than from all the Ports of France besides But though the English might and really did Exaggerate in some measure the French loss they on the other hand made it so diminitively little as to appear in it self very ridiculous Granville another Town not far from it ran the same fate and some of the French themselves have frankly acknowledged this place to be reduced to Ashes But how different soever the Relations may be in respect to these places as they were afterwards as to the Bombing of Calais which hapned to be about the middle of Aug. and the design upon Dunkirk the French Court did not like them as we shall see by and by to whose Army under Mounsieur Villeroy we are now returning and see whether their Acquisitions did in any degree counterballance the Losses they had already sustained and whereof more was to follow After the Mareschal had failed in his Design upon Prince Vaudemont as also against Newport as we have before Noted he chose rather to play at a small Game than to stand out and therefore he order'd Montal to lay Siege to Dixmude which though of it self but a very weak Place yet considering the Goodness of the Garrison it might have made a better Defence or at least have got better Conditions than to be made Prisoners of War But if there was any Treachery in the matter the Governour Major General Ellenburg paid dear for it with the Loss of no less than his Head and the Garrison with hard Usage and a tedious Imprisonment by the French who would not release them according to the Cartell till another Accident hapned that brought them to a better Temper Deinse also a Defenceless place and its Garrison ran the same Fate but though this came vastly short of Namur yet the Damage done to Brussells as it was of the same nature with our attacking the Maritime Towns of France so the same was very considerable But Monsieur Villeroy being come to Anderleck would first to shew his Civility and his Master's Goodness send a Letter to the Governour the Prince of Berghen Dated Aug. 13th to this Purpose THE King being full of Goodness towards his Subjects and Care to contribute to their Defence seeing the Prince of Orange sends his Fleet upon the Coasts of France to Bombard his Sea-Port Towns and endeavour to Ruin them without getting any other Advantage by it has thought that he could not put a stop to such Disorders but by using Reprisals which is the Reason that His Majesty has sent me an Order to come and Bombard Brussels and at the same time to declare that 't is with Reluctancy that the King has put himself upon it and that as soon as he shall be assured that the Sea-Ports of France shall be no more Bombarded the King likewise will not Bombard any Places belonging to the Princes against whom he is at War reserving nevertheless the Liberty on both sides to do it in such Places as shall be Besieg'd His Majesty has resolved upon the Bombarding of Brussels with so much the more Pain that the Electress of Bavaria is there If you will let me know in what part of the Town she is the King has commanded me to forbid to fire there I shall stay for your Answer till Five of the Clock in the Evening after that I shall obey the Orders the King has given me without delay The Contents of this Letter were looked upon very strange and as it gave an evident Proof of the Damages done their Sea-Port-Towns by our Fleet and that the same did very much affect them so the Compassion pretended for the safety of this City was irreconcileable to the Course of their Actions during the whole Management of the War However the Prince after having Communicated this Letter to the Elector of Bavaria who was come in great haste to Brussels upon this Occasion from the Camp before Namur sent the following Answer THE Declaration you have sent me of the Orders you have from the King your Master to Bombard the Town of Brussels and the Reason which his said Majesty does alledge upon which you demand an Answer it cannot be given by his Electoral Highness who is just now arriv'd since it regards the King of Great Britain who is before the Castle of Namur but his Electoral Highness will acquaint him with it to have an Answer in 24 Hours if you agree to it As for the Consideration his Most Christian Majesty has for the Electress she is at the King's Palace I need not tell the World the Fate of this poor City the French Bombs having had but too much Success in reducing a great part of it to Ashes But with this they were not yet satisfied to relieve Namur was their great design to which end Villeroy being reinforced with all the Troops that could be spared out of the Garrisons and the Forces from the Sea Coasts and in Expectation
that I should have been very glad to have had a Horse but never had any And as for being concern'd in any Bloody Affair I never was in my Life but have done my Endeavour to prevent as much as I could on all Occasions and if the Killing the most miserable Creature in the World or greatest Enemy would now save my Life restore the King and make me one of the greatest Men in England I first would chuse to die because against the Law of God If any who are now Sufferers on this Account think I have been too forward and a Promoter of this Design I do now declare it was never my Inclination to do any rash thing However I beg their Pardons and of all the World I have offended either in Thought Word or any Action whatsoever and do freely forgive my Enemies and hope through the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have Remission of all my Sins Good God preserve the King Queen Prince and Princess and all that Royal Blood of Stewards and may England never want one of that direct Line to Govern them and make them once more Happy I have had the Honour to serve my Royal Master in several Commissions and the last as Major and strove ever to serve him to the best of my Power and even to be Just to those who I had the Honour to Command Lord Jesus into thy Hands I recommend my Spirit O Jesus receive my Soul Robert Lowick Brigadier ROOKWOOD's Paper HAving committed the Justice of my Cause and recommended my Soul to God on whose Mercies through the Merits of Jesus Christ I wholly cast my self I had once resolved to die in Silence but second Thoughts of my Duty to others chiefly to my True and Liege Soveraign King James moved me to leave this behind me I do therefore with all Truth and Sincerity declare and avow That I never knew saw or heard of any Order or Commission from King James for the Assassinating the Prince of Orange and Attacking his Guards but I am certainly inform'd That he the best of Kings had often rejected Proposals of that Nature when made unto him Nor do I think he knew the least of the particular Design of the Attacking the Guards at his Landing so much talk'd of in which I was engaged as a Soldier by my immediate Commander much against my Judgment but his Soldier I was and as such I was to obey and act according to Command These twelve Years I have served my true King and Master King James and freely now lay down my Life in his Cause I ever abhorr'd Treachery even to an Enemy If it be a guilt to have complied with what I thought and still think to have been my Duty I am guilty No other guilt do I own As I beg all to forgive me so I forgive all from my Heart even the Prince of Orange who as a Soldier ought to have consider'd my Case before he Sign'd the Warrant for my Death I pray God may open his Eyes and render him sensible of the much Blood from all Parts crying out against him so to prevent a heavier Execution hanging over his Head than what he inflicts on me Amb. Rookwood But I confess after all that the Shouting of the People at the Execution of some of these wretched Assassins was cruel and inhumane and two base a Triumphing over Misery which always deserves our Christian Compassion As soon as the News reached Flanders that the King was safe and England happily delivered from the two bloody Tempests that threaten'd her the Generals and it was thought to be the particular Contrivance of Prince Vaudemont bethought themselves of making an extraordinary Bonfire for Joy by burning the French Magazine at Givet To which End after several Orders and Countermands given to the Garrison of Namur the greatest part of them were ordered to march with Provision for six Days and being joined by several other Troops they crossed the Meuse on the 12th of March and were followed the next Day by the Horse under the Conduct of the Earl of Athlone and Major-General Cohorne and having crossed the River Leile the Earl with one part of this Body marched towards Dinant while Cohorne with the rest sate down before Givet And having got all things ready by the 16th in the Morning he began his Work about Seven a Clock with Bombs and Red-hot Bullets which first set fire to the Forage and at the same time a certain Number of Soldiers were commanded to enter the Town with lighted Flambeaux in their Hands who fired the Cazerns and other Edifices where the Magazines of Oats and other Provisions lay So that that vast Magazine was utterly consumed and all this performed with the Loss of not above 9 or 10 Men. But notwithstanding this considerable Advantage to the Confederates the Conspiracy in England and other more than ordinary Affairs before the Parliament had spun out so much Time that the King could not be so early in the Camp this Year as was designed who was himself also unwilling to leave his Kingdoms till the Arrival of the Fleet from Cales under Sir George Rook who had upon occasion of the first breaking out of the Plot Orders sent him to return home and safely came upon the Coast towards the latter end of April to the dissipating of the great Fears we were in lest the French Fleet from Thoulon should overtake and ruine him And indeed they were not far behind for before the Junction of those Men of War we had then in the Downs with some of Sir George's Squadron and that he could get upon the Coast of Brest in order to intercept and fight them they were got safe into that and the other Harbours of France So that the French took the Field before the Confederates to whom they were superiour at first in number till the Junction of the German Troops who ever came late which was at all times a prodigious Disadvantage to the Confederates So that what with these things but most of all for the extream Want of Mony to pay the Army now our Coin was called in the Confederates could not act Offensively as they had done the preceding Year But about the time that the King arrived at the Hague there happen'd something to fall out which began to savour of somewhat else than the Toils and Inconveniences of War for Monsieur Caillieri was come thither from France with Proposals towards concluding a general Peace by setling such Preliminaries as might be a sufficient Basis to ground a Treaty upon I do not know whether there was any real Disposition in the French Court to a general Peace before the Year 1695 but the loss of Namur Casall and other Disadvantages did without all doubt powerfully operate towards it and nothing could have retarded their Motions in order to it but the Plausibility of the Invasion against England and that in such an hazardous Juncture when our Coin was
effectually and sincerely as he hath done in the fore-mentioned Articles all the Engagements which he might have had with the Enemies doth likewise hope that his Majesty will answer thereunto with all the Sentiments which his Royal Highness craves and wishes for and that having the Honour to be so nearly related to the King and of entring into a new and glorious Alliance with him his Majesty doth Grant and Promise to his Royal Highness as he doth demand his powerful Protection as formerly in all its Extent and as his Royal Highness is desirous to maintain a perfect Neutrality with the Kings Princes and Sovereign Powers who are at present his Allies his Majesty doth promise not to put any manner of Restraint on the Inclinations which his Royal Highness hath of continuing and using towards them all the external Measures of Decency and Freedom that are becoming a Sovereign Prince who hath Embassadors and Envoys at the Courts of those Princes and receives and entertains at his own Court Envoys and Embassadors from them and that the King shall in no ways take ill his so doing comprehending under that Word Princes the Emperor Kings and Sovereign Powers of Europe V. His Majesty doth ingage and declare That the ordinary and extraordinary Embassadors of Savoy shall receive at the Court of France all the Honours without Exception and with all the Circumstances and Ceremonies that are paid to the Embassadors of Crowned Heads that is to say they shall be received as Embassadors from Kings and that his Majesty's ordinary as well as extraordinary Embassadors in all the Courts of Europe without Exception and even the King's Embassadors at Rome and Vienna shall likewise treat and use the said ordinary and extraordinary Embassadors and Envoys from Savoy as they do those from Kings and Crowned Heads But in regard that this Addition of Honour as to the Treatment of the Embassadors from Savoy has been never hitherto settled nor raised to that Degree that his Majesty doth now allow it his Royal Highness is sensible and doth acknowledge that it is in Consideration of this Treaty or Contract of Marriage of the Duke of Burgundy with the Princess his Daughter and his Majesty doth promise that this Augmentation of Honour shall take Place from the Day that the aforesaid Treaty of Marriage is Signed VI. That the Trade between France and Italy shall be renewed and maintained in the same manner as it was settled before this War from the time of Charles Emanuel II. his Royal Highness's Father and the same shall be observed and practised in all Points and in all Places between the Kingdom and the several parts of his Majesty's Dominions and those of his Royal Highness's which was used and practised in all things in the Life-time of the said Charles Emanuel II. on the Roads of Suza in Savoy and Pont Beauvoisiâ— and Villefranche every one paying the Duties and Customs on both Sides the French Ships shall continue to pay the ancient Duties at Villefranche as it was wont to be paid in the time of the said Charles Emanuel about which there shall be no Contest or Opposition made any more than used to be done in those Days The Couriers and ordinary Poâ—â—s of France shall pass as formerly through his Royal Highness's Estates and Countries and according to the Regulations there they shall pay the Duties for the Merchandizes wherewith they shall be charged VII His Royal Highness shall cause an Edict to be published by which he shall upon the Penalty of severe corporal Punishments forbid the Inhabitants of the Vallies of Lucern called Vaudois to have any Communication in Matters of Religion with the King's Subjects and his Royal Highness shall engage not to suffer at any time from the Date of this Treaty any of his Majesty's Subjects to make any Settlement in the Protestant Vallies under Colour of Religion of Marriage or for any other Pretence of Settlement Conveniency taking Possession of Inheritances or any other Pretence whatsoever and that no Protestant Minister shall come thence into any of his Majesty's Dominions without incurring the severest corporal Punishments That however his Majesty shall take no Cognizance of his Royal Highness's Usage towards the Vaudois in regard of their Religion yet his Royal Highness shall be bound not to suffer the Exercise of the Reformed Religion in the City of Pigneroâ— nor in the Territories that are restored to his Royal Highness in like manner as his Majesty neither doth nor will allow the Exercise of it in his Kingdom VIII That there shall be on both sides a perpetual Act of Oblivion and Indemnity of all that has been done since the beginning of this War in what Place soever the Acts of Hostility have been committed That in this Act of Grace all those shall be comprehended who have served his Majesty in what Station soever although they were his Royal Highness's Subjects so that no Prosecution shall be made against them neither shall they be molested either in their Persons or Estates by Reprisals Executions or Judicial Processes or upon any pretext whatsoever and the King's Subjects that have served his Royal Highness shall be used in the like manner IX That Ecclesiastical Benefices in such parts of his Royal Highness's Country as hath been conquered by the King having been filled up by his Majesty from time to time as the same became vacant during the time that his Majesty possessed the said Countries it is agreed that the said Collation to Benefices shall be valid and the Persons who have been promoted by the King and invested by Authority of the Pope's Bulls shall remain in full Possession thereof But as to the Promotions to the Livings belonging to the Military Order of St. Maurice or to the Places of Judicature or Magistracy his Royal Highness shall have Liberty to alter the Nominations made by the King and all Grants made by his Royal Highness of Offices in the Law become vacant by the Person 's leaving them during the War shall remain good and valid X. As for Contributions that were imposed on the Lands of his Royal Highness's Dominions altho' they are lawfully imposed and are become due and that they amount to considerable Sums his Majesty does out of his Liberality fully discharge his Royal Highness of them so that from the Day of this Treaty's Ratification the King will not pretend to nor require any of the said Contributions leaving his Royal Highness in full Possession of his Revenues throughout his Dominions as well as in Savoy Nice about Pignerol and Suza his Royal Highness on the other side not demanding any Contributions of the King XI As to the Pretensions of the Dutchess of Nemours on his Royal Highness his Majesty leaves those Controversies to be determined among themselves by due Course of Law without concerning himself further therein XII That it shall be lawful for his Royal Highness to send Intendants and Commissaries into Savoy the Country of Nice the
His Royal Highness for his part will contribute all in his Power thereunto who likewise flatters himself that this Treaty lately signed with his most Christian Majesty may be a Means to divide these Princes whose Vnion will infallibly oppose your Majesty's Return to your Dominions which may facilitate a general Peace the first Effects of which will undoubtedly be your Majesty's Re-establishment on your Throne This has been the Occasion Sir of his Royal Highness's withdrawing from the Allies and which he hopes will be thought fully to answer his promises to your Majesty's Ministers seâ—t to sollicite him in that behalf This he would have perform'd sooner but Your Majesty may be inform'd from the most Christian King what Reasons inclined him to the contrary These Sir are the sincere Protestations of his Royal Highness which he will endeavour to make appear by his continued Prayers for the Prosperity of your Sacred Majesty But to return the French King in Conformity to his Articles made a formal Resignation of all manner of pretentions to Savoy and the Dukes Territories whilst his Royal Highness upon the expiration of the Truce on the 15th of Sept. put himself at the head of the French and his own Troops to drive his Friends the Allies out of Italy or to accept of a Neutrality for it A strange Metamorphosis and such as I think cannot be parallel'd in any History Ancient or Modern that one and the same Prince who equals himself to Crown'd Heads should successively in one and the same Campaign Command the two Armies of two Enemies This was a pace none of his Ancestors ever made though they shewed themselves unconstant enough between the French and Spanish Crowns upon divers occasions But so it was that the Duke marched at the head of his Army and laid Siege to Valentia a Citty in the Dutchy of Milan belonging to the King of Spain which was carried on with much Vigour while the Treaty was agitated on both sides by the Prince of Fundi from the Emperor Marquess of Leganez on the part of the Spaniards the Lord Gallaway for the King of England and the Marquess de St. Thomas for the Duke of Savoy and many Conferences were held before they could be brought to any Conclusion But though the French and Savoyards were so eager to take Valentia they found an harder thing of it than was expected having lost above 3000 Men before it and the approach of the bad Weather and the Winter Season made the matter very Dubious at last and things on all hands were brought to this Crisis on both sides whether the French should run the hazzard and Dishonour that would accrue to them of raising the Siege or whether the Confederates would venture the losing of it and with that protract the War in Italy But all Parties having considered the advantages and disadvantages the Neutrality was agreed to and signed upon the 7th of October containing chiefly the following Articles I. That there shall be a Neutrality or Suspension of Arms in Italy till a General Peace II. That the Imperial and French Troops shall depart out of Italy and return into their own Countries III. That in lieu of Winter Quarters which the Princes of Italy were otherwise oblig'd to allow the Imperialists they should furnish them with 300000 Crowns that is to say One third before their Retreat and the remainder at a time prefix'd upon sufficient Security IV. That so soon as the Imperialists should begin to March off with some part of their Troops the French should proportionably do the like V. That the Treaty should be ratifyed within two Days by the Duke of Savoy by the Emperor within a Month and within two by the King of Spain Hereupon the Count of Thesse and Marquess de Vins were sent Hostages to Turin by the French is were also the Prince of Trivultio and the Marquess de Burgomaniero by the King of Spain and the Marquess of St. Thomas to Milan by the Duke of Savoy Things being thus concluded on in Italy in respect to that particular Peace there was a mighty Discourse all the while of a general One with the rest of the Confederates and Monsieur Dickvelt's going about the same time to the King's Camp when News came to him of the former made the same hotly Discoursed of People supposing he came to His Majesty to give an Account of his Negotiations about that important Affair And that which confirmed Men more in this Opinion was That Monsieur Dickvelt made this Journey more than once between the Camp and the Hague but this matter we shall pursue no further at present it being time we should proceed to see the Operations of the Campaign in Hungary this Year The Armies on each side were Commanded by the same Generals as the preceding Year the Grand Seignior pretty early in the Summer came to Belgrade at the head of very numerous Troops while the Elector of Saxony about the beginning of June joined the Imperial Forces whom he found to be so good that according to all the Intelligence at that time of the Enemies Numbers he might be able to fight them or if they refused to sit down before some considerable place Whereupon several Counsels of War were held according to Custom wherein it was resolved at length to Besiege Themeswaer but whether it were really designed for a formal Siege or that it was only a feint to draw the Mahometans to a Battle is uncertain However the Duke approached the place viewed it raised Batteries and in some measure made a formal Attack upon the Town while advice came in the mean time thick and three-fold that the Sultan was preparing to cross the Danube with his whole Army which made the Elector glad of the News rise from before Themeswaer and immediately to set forward to meet the Infidels But this proving to be a false Rumour the Elector returned to attack the place again though this was thought to have been done that the Turks might be more eager to follow him and indeed the Stratagem took For the Sultan to divert him from the Siege came on amain which made the Elector to make some small motion towards the Enemy to the end he might take his measures to observe their Countenance and the Scituation of their Ground So that the Imperialists continued their march when on the 21st of August by break of Day they found the Turkish Chavalry begin to appear in very great Numbers which made the Elector and General Capara to cause the Army to march in order of Battle But at the same time the Infidels came pouring down upon the Christians from several parts with extraordinary Fury But they met with such Vigorous resistance from every Quarter that after a sharp Recounter they were forced to retreat and the Germans pursued them close at their Heels with an intention to drive them upon their Infantry in hopes to have come up with them the same Day and
Propositions France had made which were That the Plenipotentiaries of the Allies should treat upon the Foundation proposed on the 10th of Febr. last and advance no other Points save those whereof there had been mention made before to the end there might be a Basis and Foundation made for a Treaty the which Proposals being not yet agreed upon seeing the French gave out the Neutrality in Catalonia was concluded on the Imperialists did afterwards make answer That these Propositions were but preliminary ones and not absolute and that they were allowed of but upon this Condition that in case any one point were found to be imperfect or faulty the same ought to be amended by the succeeding Treaties To this was also added That they were very desirous to know the answer of the French as to every particular point proposed by the Emperor and his Allies These Articles were allowed of but not to be inserted in the first project of the Emperors Plenipotentiaries and the same was admitted at the importunity of the States Ambassadors as being some what more particularly relating to their Interest and that of England But the Spaniards were of Opinion theâ— ought to keep close to the points that had been once agreed on and that to do otherwise would but retard the Negotiation And seeing that the first preliminary point agreed on did import that the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen should be the Basis and Foundation of this Negotiation according to the express consent of the French King It was consequently very evident that those Preliminary Positions could not be the foundation of all pretensions that the Allies could have upon France But on the other hand if the preceding Treaties had no Effect at all it was then in vain that they had made choise of a place to confer in That the French had better have staid in Paris and that it was to no purpose that Pasports had been granted and the assistance and mediation of the King of Sweden desired That the Imperialists were amazed that so unnecessary a Difficulty should have been raised in so clear and evident a thing to which was also added That they did not doubt but that the Mediator and the States were of the same Opinion that same point having been long enough Debated in the Preliminaries and terminated in a general and unanimons Consent This was no sooner over but that the French dispatched a Courier to their Master on whose part there were Proposals made again concerning a Truce and a free Trade as being the first step towards a Peace But these things came to nothing so that the French Embassadors now replying to those Answers made by the Imperialists and Spaniards said that they were so strictly limitted to their Instructions that they durst not any manner of way exceed or change any thing from the Treaty of Nimeguen as the Basis proposed unto them by their King and that consequently it was in vain for the Allies to require any thing beyond the Articles of the said Treaty seeing their King would grant them no power for it with which Declaration of theirs the Allies were so far from being satisfied that they gave them to understand by the Mediator that their answer was frivolous and had no other tendency in it than to break off the Treaty or at least to protract it This their Declaration being directly contrary to what had been fully regulated and absolutely agreed on in the Preliminaâ—ies and the Mediator himself being of the same Sentiments he did thereupon lay the full Pretentions of the Allies before the French Plenipotentiaries who made him answer That the retarding of the Negotiation should with much Reason be attributed to the Allies the last Instrument that had been presented on the Emperor's part being conceived in such Articles which they foresaw France neither could nor ought to accept Besides this they said the Spaniards thought it more convenient to take the Pyrenaean Treaty for the Basis of this which proposition said they was the cause that made the French insist upon that of Nimeguen To this the Mediator replied That he could not believe that the French King was offended That all and singular the Allies had joined together in the last Answer as in an Affair that was common to them all That they were of Opinion France would have declared the same thing were she in the same Condition Spain found her self in to wit that the Peace of the Pyrenaees should be renewed in its full force The Allies also offered it as their Opinion that for the avoiding of all these Difficulties and Disputes they thought it would be better the French should answer each of their Propositions a-part which was at length agreed unto The Imperialists in pursuance to this Resolution presented to the Mediator a Project of the Method to be used of Treating by Word of Mouth without any difficulty which being read first to the Confederates and a Copy of the said being afterwards delivered unto them before it was shewed to the French Plenipotentiaries but that same Copy being some-what delayed the other discontented Allies took an unanimous Resolution to Remonstrate to the Imperialists that themselves had also a share in the Alliance and consequently they ought to have Deliberated with them concerning the Points proposed as well on the Emperor's part as on that of France Yet things could not be brought so to bear but the Embassage of the Empire agreed on at Ratisbonne was frustrated of the Effect of its Vote About the same time the Mediator at the Request of the Imperialists proposed to the French Plenipotentiaries the making choice of some other Days besides the ordinary Ones to hold their Conferences on in order to hasten the finishing of the Negotiation But the latter supposing the Allies had some particular End in the same Proposal made answer They were not at Liberty to Comply with this Request but that they were always ready to Appear at the Appointed Times The last Instruments presented by the Imperialists were not pleasing to divers of the Allies who affirmed they had just Complaints to make in order to Redress The Elector of Hanover's Plenipotentiary insisting he ought to have a place in the Assembly as an Electoral Minister occasioned also some Dispute but the same being left to the Decision of the Mediator he gave it in favour of him Soon after the Imperialists and the French gave in respectively their Projects of Peace but all the Articles of the French being drawn word for word from the Treaty of Nimeguen the same were rejected by the Allies as being too opposite to the Interests of the Empire with which they could never Acquiesce as also because there was often mention made not only of the Allies of the Empire but also of those of France It being notoriously known they had no such in the War unless the Turks were meant by it wherefore it was insisted upon that the French should more fully Explain themselves
Occasion and that most truly to in their own Justification That they had bore alone the Burthen of the War by keeping of great Fleets and numerous Land-Forces which they had set out at their own Charge for the common Good and notwithstanding so many States and Princes of the Empire they had paid almost alone the Expences of the War all along the Rhine And that Trade not having its ordinary Course all this bore very hard upon them To this may be added the advantageous Conditions of Peace granted them and first to begin with that of the English for whom and himself no Man surely in his Wits will deny but King William made as honourable Terms as could in Reason under the Circumstances of things be expected But a better View hereof will be had by the Articles themselves which follow I. That there be an Universal Perpetual Peace and a Truce and Sincere Friendship between the Most Serene and Mighty Prince William the Third King of Great Britain and the most Serene and Mighty Prince Lewis the Fourteenth the most Christian King their Heirs and Successors and between the Kingdoms States and Subjects of Both and that the same be so Sincerely and Inviolably observed and kept that the one shall promote the Interest Honour and Advantage of the other and that on both sides a faithful Neighbourhood and true Observation of Peace and Friendship may daily Flourish and Encrease II. That all Enmities Hostilities Discords and Wars between the said King of Great Britain and the most Christian King and their Subjects cease and be abolished so that on both sides they forbear and abstain hereafter from all Plundring Depredation Harm-doing Injuries and Infestation whatsoever as well by Land as by Sea and on fresh Waters every where and especially throughout all the Kingdoms Territories Dominions and Places belonging to each other of what Condition soever they be III. That all Offences Injuries Damages which the said King of Great Britain and his Subjects or the said most Christian King and â—his Subjects have suffered from each other during this War shall be forgotten so that neither on Account of them or for any other Cause or Pretence neither Party or the Subjects of either shall hereafter do cause or suffer to be done any Hostility Enmity Molestation or Hindrance to the other by himself or others Secretly or Openly Directly or Indirectly by Colour of Right or Way of Fact IV. And since the most Christian King was never more desirous of any thing than that the Peace be firm and inviolable the said King Promises and Agrees for himself and his Successors That he will on no account whatsoever disturb the said King of Great Britain in the free Possession of the Kingdoms Countries Lands or Dominions which he now Enjoys and therefore Engages his Honour upon the Faith and Word of a King that he will not give or afford any Assistance directly or indirectly to any Enemy or Enemies of the said King of Great Britain And that he will in no manner whatsoever favour the Conspiraces or Plots which any Rebels or ill disposed Persons may in any place Excite or Contrive against the said King And for that end Promises and Engages That he will not assist with Arms Ships Ammunition Provisions or Money or in any other way by Sea or by Land any Person or Persons who shall hereafter under any pretence whatsoever Disturb or Molest the said King of Great Britain in the free and full Possession of his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions The King of Great Britain likewise Promises and Engages for himself and Successors Kings of Great Britain That he will inviolably do and perform the same towards the said most Christian King his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions V. That there be a free use of Navigation and Commerce between the Subjects of both the said Kings as was formerly in the time of Peace and before the Declaration of the late War so that every of them may freely come into the Kingdoms Marts Ports and Rivers of either of the said Kings with their Merchandizes and may there continue and Trade without any Molestation and shall use and enjoy all Liberties Immunities and Priviledges granted by solemn Treaties and ancient Custom VI. That the ordinary Administration of Justice shall be restored and sâ—t open throughout the Kingdoms and Dominions of both Kings so that it shall be free for all the Subjects of either to claim and obtain their Rights Pretensions and Actions according to the Laws Constitutions and Statutes of each Kingdom VII The most Christian King shall Restore to the said King of Great Britain all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the English did possess before the Declaration of this present War And in like manner the King of Great Britain shall restore to the most Christian King all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the French did Possess before the said Declaration of War And this Restitution shall be made on both Sides within the Space of Six Months or sooner if it can be done And to that end immediately after the Ratification of this Treaty each of the said Kings shall Deliver or cause to be Delivered to the other or to Commissioners Authorized in his Name for that Purpose all Acts of Concession Instruments and necessary Orders duly made and in proper Form so that they may have their Effect VIII Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides to Examine and Determine the Rights and Pretensions which either of the said Kings hath to the places Situated in Hudsons-Bay But the Possession of those Places which were taken by the French during the Peace that preceded this present War and were retaken by the English during this War shall be left to the French by virtue of the foregoing Article The Capitulation made by the English on the 5th of September 1696. shall be Observed according to its Form and Tenor The Merchandises therein mentioned shall be restored The Governour of the Fort taken there shall be set at Liberty if it be not already done The Differences arisen concerning the Execution of the said Capitulation and the value of the Goods there lost shall be adjudged and determined by the said Commissioners who immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty shall be Invested with sufficient Authority for settling the Limits and Confines of the Lands to be restored on either side by virtue of the foregoing Article and likewise for exchanging of Lands as may conduce to the mutual Interest and Advantage of both Kings And to this end the Commissioners so appointed shall within the space of 3 Months from the time of the Ratification of the present Treaty meet in the City of London and within six Months to be reckoned from their first Meeting shall Determine all Differences and Disputes which may arise concerning this matter After which the Articles the said Commissioners shall agree to shall be Ratified
both sides and mutually and duly exchanged at the Royal Palace of Ryswick in the Province of Holland within the space of three Weeks to be reckoned from the Day of the Subscription or sooner if it may be In Testimony of all and every the things before mentioned and for their greater Force and to give them all the Vigour and full Authority they ought to have the Underwritten Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries together with the Illustirous and most Excellent the Extraordinary Ambassador Mediator have Signed and Sealed the present Instrument of Peace Done c. Signed by the English and French Ambassadors and by the Metâ—iator Separate Article Besides all that is Concluded and Stipulated by the Treaty of Peace Signed this present Day the 20th of Sptember it is moreover agreed by the present separate Article which shall have the same Force and Effect as if it was inserted word for word in the said Treaty That the most Christian King shall convenant and agree that it shall be free for the Emperor and Empire until the first Day of Novemher next to accept the Conditions of Peace lately proposed by the most Christian King according to the Declaration made on the first Day of this present Month unless in the mean time it shall be otherwise agreed between his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and his most Christian Majesty And in Case his Imperial Majesty does not within the time prefixed accept those Conditions or that it be not otherwise agreed between his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and his most Christian Majesty the said Treaty shall have its full Effect and be duly put in Execution according to its Form and Tenor And it shall not be lawful for the King of Great Britain directly or indirectly on any account or cause whatsoever to act contrary to the said Treaty Having thus premised the English Articles we shall next add those of the Dutch IN the Name of God and of the Holy Trinity Be it known to all present and to come That whereas after a long continuance of the most Bloody War that Europe time out of mind has been afflicted with it hath pleas'd Divine Providence to prepare for Christendom the end of her Miseries by cherishing a fervent Desire of Peace in the Heart of the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God Most Christian King of France and Navarr his Most Christian Majesty moreover not having any other Intention then to render it solid and perpetual by the Equity of the Conditions and the Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries being no less desirous sincerely and as much as in them lies to concur toward the Establishment of the publick Tranquility and return to the ancient Amity and Affection of his Most Christian Majesty have consented in the first place in order to it to acknowledge the Mediation of the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Chares XI of Glorious Memory by the Grace of God King of Sweden the Goths and Vandals but a hasty Death having cross'd the Hopes that all Europe had justly conceiv'd of his Counsels and good Offices His Most Christian Majesty and the said Lords the States General persisting in their Resolution to stop as soon as may be the Effusion of so much Christian Blood thought they could not take a better Course than still to acknowledge under the same Character the Most High Most Excellent and Thrice Potent Prince Charles XII King of Sweden his Son and Successor who on his side has also continu'd the same Cares for the Advancement of the Peace between his Most Christian Majesty and the said Lords the States General in the Conferences held for this purpose in the Castle of Ryswick in the Province of Holland between the Extraordinary Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries appointed on both sides that is to say On the behalf of his Most Christian Majesty the Sieur Nicholas Augustus de Harlay Knight Lord of Bonnueil c. the Sieur Lewis de Verjus Knight Count of Crecy c. and the Sieur Francis de Callieres Knight Lord of Callieres c. And on the behalf of the Lords the States General the Sieurs Antony Heinsius Counsellor Pensionary of the States of Holland and West-Friese c. Everard de Weed Lord of Weede Dickvelt Rateles c. and William de Haren Grietman of Bilt c. who having implor'd the Assistance of Heaven and respectively imparted to each other their full Powers Copies of which shall be inserted at the end of this present Treaty and made Exchanges thereof in due form by the Interposition and Mediation of the Sieur Baron de Lillierooâ— Extraordinary Embassador and Plenipotentiary of the King of Sweden who acquitted himself of the Function of Mediator with all requisite Prudence Capacity and Equity agreed to the Glory of God and for the Welfare of Christendom upon the following Conditions I. There shall be for the future between his Most Christian Majesty and his Successors Kings of France and Nâ—varr and his Kingdoms of the one part and the Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countriâ—â— on the other a good firm faithful and inviolable Peace in pursuance of which all Acts of Hostility shall cease 〈◊〉 be forborn of what Nature soever they may be betweeâ— the said Lord the King and the said States General as 〈◊〉 by Sea and other Waters as by Land in all their Kingdoms Countries Territories Provinces and Signories and between all their Subjects and Inhabitants of 〈◊〉 Quality or Condition soever they be without any Exception of Places or Persons II. There shall be a general Oblivion and Amnesty of 〈◊〉 that has been done on either side upon occasion of this 〈◊〉 War whether by those who being born Subjects of Fraâ—â—â— and engag'd in the Service of the Most Christian King 〈◊〉 their Employments and Estates which they possess'd 〈◊〉 in the Extent of France enter'd into and remain'd in 〈◊〉 Services of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces or by those who being born Subjects of the 〈◊〉 Lords the States General or engag'd in their Service by the Employments and Estates which they possess'd within the Extent of the United Provinces enter'd into and remain'd in the Service of his Most Christian Majesty and the said Persons of what Quality and Condition soever they may be without any Exception may re-enter and shall re-enter and shall be effectually re-admitted and re-establish'd in the peaceable Possession and Enjoyment of their Estates Honours Dignities Privileges Franchises Rights Exemptions Constitutions and Liberties without ever being prosecuted troubl'd or molested either in general or particular for any Cause or under any Pretence whatever by reason of whatever pass'd since the beginning of the said War and in consequence of the preseâ—â— Treaty and after it shall be ratify'd as well by his Most Christian Majesty as by the said Lords the States General it
at the time when it was taken as also the Banlieu and Provostship Appurtenances and Dependencies of the same City in all its Consistencies as the Catholick King enjoy'd it then and before the said Treaty as also the City of Aeth in the Condition it was at the time of its being last taken without breaking demolishing or weakning any thing or impairing its Works with the Artillery which was there at the same time together with the Banlieu Castlewick Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes of the said City as they were yielded by the Treaty of Nimeguen the Places following excepted viz. The Bourg of Anthoin Vaux Guarrain Ramecroix Bethune Constantin the Fief de Paradise the last being intermingled within the Limits of Tournaisis and the said Fief of Paradise so far as it contributes with the Village of Kain Havines Meles Moncourt Kain le Mont de St. Audebert call'd de la Trinitie Frontenoy Maubray Hernies Caluelle and Viers with their Parishes Appurtenances and Dependencies without reserving any thing shall remain in the Possession and Soveraignty of his Most Christian Majesty nevertheless without any prejudice to what has been granted to his Most Christian Majesty by the Preceding Treaties VIII The City of Courtrary shall be surrender'd back into the Power Demesne and Possession of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition as now it is with the Artillery which was there at the time when it was taken together with the Castlewick of the said City the Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes conformable to the Treaty of Nimeguen IX The said Most Christian King shall also cause to be restor'd to the Catholick King all the Cities Places Forts Castles and Ports which his Armies have or might have possess'd till the Day of the Peace and also since that in any place of the World where-ever situated as likewise his said Catholick Majesty shall cause to be restor'd to his Most Christian Majesty all the Places Forts Castles and Posts which his Arms may have possess'd during this War till the Day of the Publication of the Peace and in whatsoever Place situated X. All the Places Cities Burroughs strong Holds and Villages which the most Christian King has possess'd and reunited since the Treaty of Nimeghen within the Provinces of Luxemburg Namur Brabant Flanders Hainault and other Provinces of the Low-Countries according to the List of the said Reunions produc'd on the part of his Catholick Majesty in the Acts of that Negotiation a Copy of which shall be annex'd to this present Treaty shall remain to his Catholick Majesty except the Eighty two Cities Burroughs Places and Villages contain'd in the List of Exception which has been also produc'd on the Part of his Most Christian Majesty and to which he lays claim by reason of the Dependencies of the Cities of Charlemont Maubege and others surrender'd to his Majesty by the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeghen in respect of which Eighty two Places only a List of which shall be annex'd to the present Treaty it is agreed on both sides that immediately after the Signing this present Treaty that Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides as well to regulate to which of the two Kings the said Eighty two Cities Burroughs Places or Villages or any of them shall belong as to agree upon Exchanges to be made for the Places and Villages intermix'd in the Countries under the Dominion of either Prince And in case the said Commissioners cannot agree their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties shall refer the Ultimate Decision to the Judgment of the Lords the States General of the Vnited Provinces whom the said Kings have reciprocally consented to take for Arbitrators without prejudice nevertheless to the Plenipotentiary-Embassadors of the said Most Christian and Catholick Kings otherwise to agree the Matter in friendly Manner between themselves and before the Ratification of this present Treaty if it be possible so that all Difficulties as well touching the said Re-unions as Limits may be totally ended and determin'd In pursuance of which all Prosecutions Sentences Separations Incorporations Forfeitures Judgments Confiscations Re-unions Declarations Regulations Edicts and generally all Acts what-ever put forth in the Name and behalf of his Most Christian Majesty by reason of the said Re-unions whether made by the Parliament or Chamber settl'd at Metz or by any other Courts of Justice Intendants Commissioners or Delegates against his Catholick Majesty or his Subjects and shall be revok'd and annull'd for ever as if they had never been and moreover the Generality of the said Provinces shall remain to his Catholick Majesty except the Cities Towns and Places yielded to his Most Christian Majesty by the preceding Treaties with the Appurtenances and Dependencies XI All the Forts Cities Burroughs Places and Villages Circumstances Dependencies and Annexes hereabove restor'd and surrender'd back by his Most Christian Majesty without reserving or with-holding any thing shall return to the Possession of his Catholick Majesty to be by him enjoy'd with all the Prerogatives Advantages Profits and Revenues that depend upon 'em with the same Extent the same Rights of Property Demesne and Soveraignty which he enjoy'd before the last War at the time and before the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeghen and altogether as he might or ought to enjoy them XII The Restitution of the said Places shall be perform'd on the behalf of the most Christian King cordially and sincerely without delay or scruple for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever to Him or Them who shall be appointed by the said Catholick King immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty without demolishing weak'ning or diminishing any thing in any manner within the said Cities nor shall there be any Pretensions or Demands for Reimbursments for the Fortifications Publick Edifices and Buildings rais'd in the said Places nor for the Payment of what may be due to the Soldiers that shall be there at the time of the Restitution XIII The Most Christian King shall cause to be remov'd out of all the said Places which he restores to the Catholick King all the Artillery which his said Majesty caus'd to be carry'd into the said Places after they were taken all the Powder Bullets Arms Provision and Ammunition which shall be therein at the time that they shall be restor'd to his said Catholick Majesty and they who shall be entrusted by the Most Christian King for that purpose shall for Two Months make use of the Waggons and Boats of the Country they shall have free Passage as well by Water as by Land for the Transportation of the said Ammunition to the Places belonging to his Most Christian Majesty which shall be nearest adjoining The Governours Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the Places so restor'd shall afford all Accommodations in their Power to facilitate the Carriage and Transportation of the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers and Soldiers who shall march out of the said Places shall have Liberty to remove and
carry away the moveable Goods that belong to 'em nor shall they be permitted to exact any thing of the Inhabitants of the said Places or of the Flat Countries nor to endamage the Houses nor to carry away any thing belonging to the Inhabitants XIV The Prisoners of what Nature or Condition soever shall be set at Liberty on both sides and without Ransom presently after the Exchange of the Ratifications paying what they have call'd for and what they may otherwise justly owe. And if any have been sent to the Gallies of their said Majesties by Reason or by the Misfortune of the said Wars only they shall be forthwith releas'd and set at Liberty without any scruple or delay upon any account whatever nor shall any thing be demanded for their Ransom or Expences XV By virtue of this Peace and strict Amity the Subjects of both sides whatever they be observing the Law Usages and Customs of Countries may go come reside traffick and return to their several Countries like good Merchants and as they shall think convenient as well by Land as by Sea and other Waters and may Treat and Negotiate together and shall be supported protected and defended as the proper Subjects of either Prince paying the reasonable Duties in all accustom'd Places and such others as shall be impos'd by the said Kings or their Successors XVI All Papers Letters Documents that concern the Countries Territories and Signories which shall be restor'd and surrender'd back to the said Kings by the present Treaty of Peace shall be produc'd and sincerely deliver'd on both sides within Three Months after the Ratifications of the present Treaty shall be exchang'd in whatever Places the said Papers and Documents shall be found even those that were taken out of the Cittadel of Gaunt and the Chamber of Accompts at Lisle XVII The Contributions settl'd or demanded on both sides Reprisals Convoys of Forrage Corn Wood Cattle Utensils and other sorts of Impositions upon the Countries of either Sovereign shall cease immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty and all Arrearages or Portions of Arrears that may be due shall not be exacted on either side upon any Claim or Pretence whatever XVIII All Subjects on both sides as well Ecclesiastick as Secular Bodies Corporations Societies Universities and Colleges shall be restor'd as well to the Enjoyment of the Honours Dignities and Benefices with which they were provided before the War as to the Enjoyment of all and every one of their Rights Moveable and Immoveable Goods Rents Hereditary or Annunities seiz'd and possess'd since the said time either by occasion of the War or for siding with the contrary Party together with all their Rights Actions and Successions them befalling even since the beginning of the War yet so that no Demands shall be made of the Incomes Fruits or Revenues receiv'd or forfeited during this War from the seizing of the said Rents Immoveable Goods and Benefices to the Day of the Publication of this present Treaty XIX Neither shall any thing be demanded or pretended to of Debts Effects and Moveables which have been confiscated before the said Day nor shall the Creditors of such Debts or Trustees of such Effects their Heirs or any other pretending Right thereto commence any Prosecutions or pretend to recover the same Which Re-establishments and and Restorations in Form aforesaid shall extend in Favour of those who shall have sided with the contrary Party so that by virtue of this Treaty they shall be restor'd to the Favour of their King and Soveraign Prince as also to their Estates such as they shall find 'em at the Conclusion and Signing of this present Treaty XX. The said Re-establishment of the Subjects of both sides shall be made according to the 21st and 22d Articles of the Treaty of Nimeghen notwithstanding all Donations Concessions Declarations Confiscations Forfeitures Preparatory or Definitive Sentences pronounc'd by reason of the Contumacy or Absence of the Parties and they unheard Which Sentences and their Judgments shall be null and of no effect as if never given or pronounc'd with full and absolute Liberty for the said Parties to return from the Countries whither they were withdrawn personally to enjoy their Estates and Moveables Rents and Revenues or to settle their Hâ—bitations out of the said Countries in such Place as they shall think convenient it being at their own Choice and Election so that they shall be free from all Constraint in that respect And in case they rather choose to abide in any other Place they may depute or entrust such Persons as lie under no Suspicion whom they shall think fit for the Government and Possession of their Estates but not in respect of Benefices requiring Residence which shall be personally administred and serv'd XXI The 24th and 25th Articles of the said Treaty of Nimeghen concerning Benefices shall be observ'd and consequently they who were provided with Benefices by either of the Two Kings who at the Time of the Collation possess'd the Cities and Countries wherein the said Benefices were situated shall be maintain'd in the Possession and Enjoyment of the said Benefices XXII The Subjects on both sides shall have Liberty and full Power to Sell Exchange Alienate or otherwise dispose of as well by Deeds between the Living as by their last Testaments the Estates and Effects Moveable and Immoveable which they have or shall have under the Dominion of the other Soveraign and any one may buy 'em Subject or not Subject without any necessity of any Licence for the said Sail or Purchace or any other Permission then this present Treaty XXIII In regard there are some Rents which belong to the Generality of certain Provinces of which one part is possess'd by his Most Christian Majesty and the other by the Catholick King it is covenanted and agreed That each shall pay his Share and Commissioners shall be appointed to receive what each of the said Kings shall pay for their particular Shares XXIV The Rents legally settl'd or due upon the Demesnes by the preceding Treaties and of which the Payment shall be made appear in the Accompts given in to the Chambers of Accompts by the Receivers of their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties before the said Cessions or Surrenders shall be pay'd by their said Majesties to the Creditors of the said Rents under whose Dominion soever they may be French or Spanish or any other Nation without distinction XXV And in regard that by the present Treaty there is a good and lasting Peace made as well by Sea as Land between the said Kings in all their Kingdoms Countries Lands Provinces and Signiories and that all Hostilities ought to cease for the Future it is stipulated That if any Prizes are taken on either side in the Baltick or North Seas from Terneuse in Norway to the end of the Channel within the space of 4 Weeks from the end of the said Channel to Cape St. Vincent within Six Weeks and from thence in the
our Reasons may appear both now and for the future in the Acts of the present Negotiation We the Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries whose Names are underwritten earnestly desire their Excellencies the Embassadors Mediators that this our Remonstrance may be inserted in their Protocol or Register and that they may have an Act given 'em to confirm the presenting it Protesting also at the same time that their Masters are no less Zealous for the Peace then the rest of the Princes of Europe and that it is great Grief to 'em that they cannot sign in their Master's Name by reason of a Difficulty that was no way foreseen The Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries here present have sign'd the present Declaration and thereto fix'd their Seals in the Names of the Electors Princes and States of the Sâ—cred Roman Empire of the Confession of Auspurg who sent us their Deputies to the Treaty of Peace At the Hague 15th October 4 November 1697. In the Name of the Elector of Saxony Christopher Dieteric Bose the Younger Dutchy of Deux Ponts George Frederick de Snoilsky Saxon Gota Adolph Christian Aveman Duke of Brunswick Zell E. Klinggraffe Landtgrave of Hesse-Cassel William Vultesius Elector of Brandenburgh W. de Schmettau N. E. L. B. de Dankâ—lman Duke of Sauon Coburg Henry Richard L. B. de Hagen Margrave of â—â—â—eith E. L. B. de Stein Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbutel John William de Mansberg Dutchy of Holstein Gluckstar Dethlevus Nicholus de Lewencron But to return the Conferences still continued at Ryswick and all things were agreed on by the 30th of Oct. and the Treaty Signed then being Two Days before the time limitted by France to accept of her Offers The Articles were to this purpose IN the Name of the most Holy Trinity Amen Be it known unto All and every One that a cruel War attended with the Effusion of much Christian Blood and the Devastation of several Provinces having been waged for some Years last past between the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Leopâ—ld elected Emperour of the Romans always August King of Germany Hungary Bohemia of Dalmatia Croatia and Sclavonia Archduke of Austriâ— Duke of Burgundy Brabant Stiria Carinthia and Carniola Marquiss of Moravia Duke of Luxemburg of the Upper and Lower Silesia of Wirtemberg and of Teckay Prince of Suabia Counâ— of Habâ—bourg of Tyrol Kybourg and Goritia Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire Burgaw of the Upper and Lower Lusatia Lord of the Sclavonian Marches of Port-Naon and Salins c. and the Sacred Roman Empire on one part and the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Lewis XIV the most Christian King of France and Navarre on the other part Now his Imperial Majesty and his most Christian Majesty having most seriously apply'd themselves to terminate and put an end as soon as possible to those Mischiefs that daily encreas'd to the Ruine of Christendom by the Divine Assistance and by the Care of the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Charles XI King of Swedeland Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of Finland Duke of Scania Esthonia Livonia of Carelia Bremen Perden of Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Râ—gâ—n and Lord of Ingria and Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliens Câ—â—ves and Bergues of Illustrious Memory who from the very beginning of these Commotions did not cease effectually to sollicit the Christian Princes to Peace and afterwards having been accepted as Universal Mediator never desisted gloriously to labour even to his dying Day to procure the same with all imaginable speed having to this purpose appointed and settled Conferences in the Palace of â—yswick in Holland and after his Decease the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Câ—arles XII King of Sweden Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of 〈◊〉 Duke of Scania Esthonia of Livonia Carelia Bremen of Ferden Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and of Vandalia Prince of Rugen Lord of Ingria and of Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliers Cleves and Bergues Inheriting from his Royal Father the same longing Desire and Earnestness to procure the publick Tranquility and the Treaties having been brought to their perfection by the foresaid Conferences the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries lawfully appointed and established by both Parties being met to this effect at the aforesaid place that is to say on the Emperor's part the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Dominic Andrew Kaunitz Count of the Holy Roman Empire Hereditary Lord of Austerlitz of Hungarischbord Marischpruss and Orzechan the Great Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece intimate Councellor of State to his Sacred Imperial Majesty Chamberlain and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Empire the Sieur Henry John Stratman Sieur de Puerbach Count of the Holy Roman Empire Lord of Oâ—th Schmiding Spatenbrun and Carlsberg Imperial Aulique Councellor Chamberlain to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and the Siuer John Frederick free and noble Baron of Seilern Imperial Aâ—lique Councellor to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and one of the Plenipotentiaries in the Imperial Diets And on the part of his Sacred most Christian Majesty the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Nicholas Augustâ—â— de Harlay Knight Lord of Boneuil Count of Cely Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State The Sieur Lewis Verjus Knight Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State Count de Crecy Marquiss of Freon Baron of Couvay Lord of Boulay of the two Churches of Fort-Isle and other places together with the Sieur Francis de Callieres Lord of Callieres of Rochechellay and Gigny By the Mediation and Intercession of the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Charles Bonde Count de Biornoo Lord of Hesleby Tyres Toftaholm of Graffteen Gustavusberg and of Rezitza Councellor to his Majesty the King of Sweden and President of the supreme Senate of Dorpat in Livonia and of the Sieuâ— Nicholas free Baron of Lillierooâ— Secretary of State to his Majesty the King of Sweden and Extraordinary Ambassador to their High and Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces both of them Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries for confirming and establishing a General Peace who have faithfully discharg'd their Duty of Mediatorship with Integrity Application and Prudence The Plenipotentiaries of the Electors Princes and deputed States of the Holy Roman Empire being Present Approving and Consenting after the Invocation of God's Holy Name and the Exchange of their full Powers made in due manner and form did agree for the Glory of God's Holy Name and the Welfare of Christendom upon Conditions of Peace and Concord the Tenor whereof is as followeth I. THere shall be a Christian Universal Perpetual Peace and a true Amity between his Sacred Imperial Majesty and his Successors the whole Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdoms and Hereditary States their Vassals and Subjects on the one part It shall be faithfully and sincerely maintain'd so that the one shall not undertake
may not demand any thing back again upon occasion of Fruits or Revenues received or Pensions granted after the taking or detaining until the Day of the Ratification of the present Treaty Provided nevertheless that Merchandize Debts and Moveables shall not be re-demanded if confiscated during or upon account of the War or converted to other Uses by publick Authority nor shall the Creditors of the said Debts and Moveables or their Heirs or Executors ever sue for them nor pretend to any Restitution or Satisfaction for them The said Restitutions shall also extend to those who have followed a contrary Party who have thereupon been suspected and who have been deprived of their Estates after the Peace of Nimeguen for having absented themselves to go to inhabit elsewhere or because they have refused to pay Homage or such like Causes or Pretences which said Persons consequently by virtue of this Peace shall return into their Prince's Favour and into all their ancient Rights and Estates whatsoever such as they are at the time of the Conclusion and Signing of this Treaty and all that hath been said in this Article shall be executed immediately after the Ratification of the Peace notwithstanding all Donations Concessions Alienations Declarations Confiscations Faults Expences Meliorations interlocutory and definitive Sentences past out of Contumacy and Contempt the Persons absent not being heard to speak for themselves which said Sentences shall be null and of none effect and look'd upon as though they had never been pronounc'd they all of them being left to their Liberty to return into their Country to enter upon their aforesaid Estates and enjoy them as well as their Rents and Revenues or to go sojourn and take up their Habitation elsewhere in what place they shall think fit and such as they have a mind to make Choice of without any Violence or Constraint And in such a Case it shall be permitted to them to cause their Estates and revenues to be administred by Sollicitors or Proctors that are not suspected and may peaceably enjoy them excepting only Ecclesiastical Benefices that require Residence which shall be regulated and administred personally Lastly It shall be free for every Subject of either Party to sell exchange alieniate and convey by Testament Deed of Gift or otherwise their Estates Goods moveable and immoveable Rents and Revenues which they may possess in the States or Dominions of another Sovereign so that any ones Subject or a Foreigner may buy them or purchase them without having need of further Permission from the Sovereign besides that which is contained in this present Article XLVII If any Ecclesiastical Benefices mediate or immediate have been during this War conferr'd by one of the Parties in the Territories and Places that were under his Dominion upon Persons qualified according to the Canon or Rule of their first Institution and the Lawful Statutes general or particular made on this behalf or by any other Canonical disposal made by the Pope The said Ecclesiastical Benefices shall be left to the present Possessors as likewise the Ecclesiastical Benefices conferr'd after this manner before this War in the Places that ought to be restored by the present Peace so that henceforth no Person may or ought to trouble or molest them in the Possession and lawful Administration of the same neither in receiving the Fruits and Benefits nor upon that account may they at any time be presented summoned or cited to appear in a Court of Judicature or any other way whatsoever disturbed or molested Upon condition notwithstanding that they discharge themselves honestly and perform what they are bound to by vertue of the said Benefices XLVIII Forasmuch as it conduceth much to the publick Peace and Tranquility that the Peace concluded at Turin the 29th of August 1696. between his Most Christian Majesty and his Royal Highness be exactly and duly observed it hath likewise been found expedient to confirm it and to comprise it in this present Treaty and to make it of the same Value and for ever to subsist and be in Force The Points that have been regulated in favour of the House of Savoy in the Treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen re-established above are confirmed in particular and judged as here repeated word for word yet so nevertheless that the Restitution of Pignerol and its Dependences already made may not in any case diminish or alter the Obligation wherein his Most Christian Majesty hath engaged himself to pay to the Duke of Mantua the Sum of Four hundred ninety four thousand Crowns for discharge of the Duke of Savoy as is explained more at large in the Treaty of the Peace of Westphalia And to the end that this may be more fully and more strongly confirmed All and every One the Princes that participate of the General Peace do promise to the Duke of Savoy and will reciprocally receive from him the Promises and Securities that they stipulate among themselves for a more firm Assurance of the Matter XLIX Upon the whole it is not meant that by whatsoever Restitution of Places Persons Estates Rights made or to be made by France there is acquired any new Right to such as are or shall be so re-establish'd But that if any other have any Claim or Pretension against them they shall be propounded examined and decided in a convenient place after the making of the said Restitution which for this reason ought by no means to be deferred L. So soon as ever the present Treaty of Peace shall have been Signed and Sealed by the Lords Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries all Hostilities and Violence of what Nature soever shall cease as also all demolishing of Edifices all Devastations of Vineyards and Forests all felling of Trees immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications all the Troops shall be made to retire from the unfortified Places belonging to the other Party And as for what concerns fortified Places that are to be restored by the present Treaty they shall within Thirty days after the Ratification of the Peace or sooner if possible be surrendred to and put into the Hands of those that are nominated in the preceding Articles or if not expresly nominated then to those who did possess them immediately before their being taken without any demolishing of Fortifications or Edifices either publick or private without making them in a worse Condition than they are at present or without exacting any thing for or by reason of any Expences in the said Places and the Soldiers shall not exact any thing upon this account or for any other cause whatsoever nor carry any thing away of the Effects belonging to the Inhabitants or of what ought to be left there in pursuance of this Treaty As for all sorts of Demolitions to be made pursuant to the Agreements above it shall be wholly and effectually performed in respect of the less considerable things within a Month if possible and in respect of the more considerable within two Months if it may be done
Arbitrators shall adjudge to her in case they do adjudge any thing at all but if so be they adjudge nothing or less than the said Sum then there shall be a restitution and this compensation allowance or restitution as also the fund and charges of the Process shall be regulated by the Sentence of the Arbitrators But if Madam the Dutchess of Orleans do not give satisfaction to the form of the Compromise either in the Instruction of the Process or in the Answer that shall be produced by the Elector Palatine or if she delays it the course of the said yearly payment shall be interrupted only during that same time the Process going on still according to the form of the Compromise Done at the Palace of Ryswick the 30th of October 1697. 'T is not my Business to answer the foolish Objections some ill-willed Persons have made against the stability of this Peace However I shall observe That tho this Peace with the Empire was not so advantageous to it and the Restitution of Lorrain not in so ample a manner as could have been wished for yet if it be considered that France has given up very considerably on this side and some places she had long been possessed off particularly Brisac which hath appertained to that Crown for very near 60 Years That by the Taking of Casal and the Peace with Savoy she is entirely precluded out of Italy that the same Barrier is left in Catalonia as before And that there is a stronger Frontier in the Low Countries by her Restitution of all she took since the beginning of the War with the Addition of Dinant and Luxemburg If these be put together it 's not likely that Crown will begin another War in hast whatsoever our Male-contents at home or any Enemies we have abroad may â—atter themselves with especially considering the inward weakness of that Kingdom and the strong Union there is between the Crown of England and the Republick of Holland whose Naval Powers are so Formidable and Interests so great in all the Parts of the World Over and above all this we are to note His Most Christian Majesty is now in an advanced Age which is usually attended with an ill Habit of Body and too wise a Prince easily to be brought to engage himself in the Toils and Uncertainties of another War especially in that there was so little gained or I should have rather said so much lost by this To say nothing of that Regard he will undoubtedly have to the Interests of his Posterity as well as his Dominions whose Affairs at his Death he will be very unwilling to leave embroiled with those of their Neighbours It remains therefore now that I take notice that his Majesty King William staid in Holland till all was over and after having very Honourably paid off all the Forreign Troops who by this time were Marching to their respective Homes after the Toyls of this long War He returned to England and upon the 16th of November at the Citizens request made His Publick Entry thro' London being attended by all the Men of Quality in very great State and never I am sure in one Day saw so many People and all of them His own Subjects in all His Life-time and in whose Affections He Triumphed as much as ever he had done at any time over His Enemies and may He always do the first and never have occasion for the second but may we long live under the Benign Influence of His Reign who hath Rescued our Religion and Liberties out of the Jaws of Hell and Destruction so intrepidly â—ought our Battles for us and now at length restored unto us the Comforts and Blessing of a Firm and Honourable Peace Having now run thro' all the Transactions both of War and Peace that fell out within the revolution of this Year we shall draw towards a closure of it with the meeting of the English Parliament December the 3d And see how his Majesty was pleased to deliver himself to them upon this Conjuncture and this he did in these Terms My Lords and Gentlemen THE War which I Entred into by the Advice of my People is by the Blessing of God and their Zealous and Affectionate Assistance brought to the End We all proposed an Honourable Peace which I was willing to Conclude not so much to Ease My Self from any Trouble or Hazard as to free the Kingdom from the Continuing Burden of an Expensive War I am heartily sorry My Subjects will not at first find all thâ— Relief from the Peace which I could wish and they may expect but the Funds intended for the last Year's Service have fallen short of Answering the Sums for which they were given so that there remain considerable Deficiencies to be Provided for There 's a Debt upon the Account of the Fleet and the Army The Revenues of the Crown have been anticipated by My Consent for Publick Vses so that I am wholly destitute of means 〈◊〉 support the Civil List and I can never distrust you 'll suffer thâ— to turn to My Disadvantage but will provide for Me during my Life in such a manner as may be for my Honour and for the Honour of the Government Our Naval Force being increased to near double what it was at My Accession to the Crown the Charge of maintaining it wilâ— be proportionably augmented and it is certainly necessary for the Interest and Reputation of England to have always a great Strength at Sea The Circumstances of Affairs Abroad are such that I think My Self obliged to tell you My Opinion that for the present England cannot be safe without a Land Force and I hope We shall not give those who mean us ill the Opportunity of Effecting that under the Notion of a Peace which they could not bring to pass by a War I doubt not but you Gentlemen of the House of Commons wil take these Particulars into your Consideration in such a manner 〈◊〉 to provide the necessary Supplies which I do very earnestly Recoâ—mend to you My Lords and Gentlemen That which I most delight to think of and am best pleased 〈◊〉 own is That I have all the Proofs of My People's Affection th◠〈◊〉 Prince can desire and I take this Occasion to give them the 〈◊〉 Solemn Assurance That as I never had so I never will nor 〈◊〉 have any Interest separate from theirs I Esteem it one of the greatest Advantages of the Peace that I shall now have leisure to rectifie such Corruptions or Abuses as may have crept into any part of the Administration during the Wâ— and effectually to discourage Prophaness and Immorality and I shall employ My Thoughts in Promoting Trade and Advancing 〈◊〉 Happiness and Flourishing Estate of the Kingdom I shall conclude with telling you That as I have with the Hazard of every thing Rescued your Religion Laws and Liberties when they were in the Extreamest Danger so I shall place the Glory of My Reign in preserving them
Entire and Leaving them so to Posterity The Hearty Addresses of Both Houses to his Majesty hereupon could not be more acceptable to him than it was then strange to the generality of People to read it in our Gazette that his Majesty had received Letters from the French King and the Dauphine acquainting him with the Duke of Burgundy's Marriage and that the Duke of St. Albans was thereupon ordered for France to return the Complement seeing there had been no Communication between England and France now for so many Years and such a rooted Enmity between both Nations to say nothing of those at the Head of them that the so sudden disappearances of it made it to vulgar Minds in some sort unconceivable And as the Year thus happily began to close in England it did the same also in Ireland where after that Parliament had past divers good Bills and among others one for granting an Additional Duty upon Tobacco besides a supply granted to his Majesty by way of a Poll they were Prorogued to the 10th of May ensuing And for Scotland all things went there also Easy and Peaceable So that we have nothing more to observe save two Things the Death of Queen Eleanor Dec. 17th in the 45th Year of her Age She was Married to Michael Wisnowiski King of Poland and afterwards to the late Duke of Lorrain She was Daughter to the Emperor Ferdinand III. and Sister to the Emperor now Reigning it was the Conjecture of some that the Grief She conceived to find her Son the young Duke was not to be restored to the Inheritance of his Ancestors in as ample a manner as She expected might hasten her End but however it were She died lamented by all for her rare Qualities and Endowments 2d The Czar of Muscovy Peter Alexowitz his beginning his Travels into Forreign Courts this Year for the Improvement of himself and too barbarous Subjects in Arts and Sciences a rare Example in a Prince but whether a Pattern for other Princes to follow I cannot determine but of this Prince we shall have occasion to say some more before we close up this Treatise year 1698 It was some mortification to us the beginning of this Year to have one of the King's Pallaces consumed for on the 4th of January White-Hall by what accident is vaâ—iously reported took Fire in one of the Lodgings in the Body of the Structure and in a short time got to such an Head that it could not be mastered till the whole Body of the Pallace with several other adjoyning Lodgings was laid in Ashes However this was but a Flea-bite to what the Nation had gone thro' in the course of the War and so our Parliament went tightly to work upon the Affairs of the Nation and finding the business of our Coin pretty well remedied as also the currency of any hammered Silver Mony would be any longer a grievance they made an Act to prevent it and for the Recoining of such as was then in being as also for making out new Exchequer Bills where the former Bills were or should be filled up by Endorsements It was moreover farther considered by them that whereas now by the Peace there would be a free intercourse between England and France it was enacted there should be no Correspondence held with the late King nor his Adherents upon any account They also took care to discharge and satisfie the Arrears of several Annuities that incurred between the 17th of May 1696. and May 17th 1697. But that you may not think they forgot the disbanding of the Army paying of Seamen and such things they gave to his Majesty no less than the Sum of 1484015 l. 1 s. 11 d. 3 1 f. to which we may add the granting of several Duties upon Coal and Culm The Continuation of Duties upon Coffee c. to pay off the Transport Debt for the Reduction of Ireland Besides a great many other useful Bills They further settled the East-India Trade and thereby raised two Millions of Money at 8 per Cent. and that in less time than any Nation in Europe could pretend to at that time of day And that all due regard might be had to his Majesty's Honour and Support they granted a Subsidy upon Tunnage and Poundage for the raising of Seven Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year for the Service of his Houshold Abundance of other Business was indeed done by this Sessions which terminated upon the 5th of July When his Majesty was pleased to tell them he could not take his leave of so good a Parliament without publickly acknowledging the Sence he had of the great things they had done for him and his People recapitulated to them what every Session had done by the Association Remedying the Coin restoring such Supplies for the War as produced an honourable Peace Provision for satisfying the publick Debts with as little burden as could be All which would give a lasting Reputation to that Parliament and be the Subject of Emulation to them that should come after He thanked the Commons also for the Establishment of his Revenue profess'd the Esteem and Love he had for his People for whose Sakes he had avoided no Hazzards in War and should make it his Study and Care to continue unto them the Advantages of Peace This being done the Houses were for the present prorogued and July 7th dissolved by Proclamation another Parliament being at the same time called to meet at Westminster August the 24th but by several Prorogations they did not sit till November But while these things were transacted mutual Embassies passed between England and France in which last Country no Embassador perhaps ever carry'd it with greater Prudence Honour and Magnificence than my Lord Portland did or was ever so much carress'd and respected And the French themselves instead of pretending that Count Tallard ever came up with him have endeavoured occasionally to put it off with siftless Excuses The Business of Parliament was but a few days over when his Majesty was pleased to declare in Council his Intention of going for a short time into Holland and constituted the Abp. of Canterbury the L. Chancellor the L. Privy Seal the L. Steward of his Houshold the Earls of Dorset Marlborough Romney and Orford with Mr. Montague first Commissioner of the Treasury to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Majesty's Absence On the 21st of July his Majesty landed safe in Holland from whence we leave him to go to and return from the Court of Zell and will not pretend to unravel the Mystery of that Journey being content to esteem it as a performance of a Promise the King had made to visit the old Duke who he was wont to call Father tho' by the Orders given the French Embassador here to attend him it should seem they should suspect some-what more than that in it but return to tell you that in the mean time viz. July
the 19th the Parliament of Scotland met and during the short time of their sitting which was but to the beginning of September made several good Acts and were then prorogued to the 25th of November following Neither were the Lords Justices in Ireland wanting in their Duties to his Majesty and the Country for they took a Progress this Summer in order to view the State of several Places in the Kingdom and give such Instructions as theâ— saw convenient for the Security of the Government and good of the Subject But how Prosperous soever things went with us at home the Apprehensions of the Death of the King of Spain who was sick more or less for a great part of this Year made all Europe uneasie for fear of another War It will be impertinent for me to enter upon the particulars of the King's Sickness and Distemper that being fitter for a Physitian 's Diary than an History However it is my part to observe that a Fleet of French Men of War and Gallies coming into Caâ—iz-Bay and afterwards their giving out they would Winter there to say nothing of those Gallies that went to Naples gave no small Umbrage to their Neighbours And tho' I will not say the Arrival of the English and Dutch Squadron in Cales-Bay some time after made them think fit to return to their own Ports yet it is certain that that with the King's Recovery made their Affairs in that Country look quite with another Aspect than they had done a little before when nothing was less expected than that the Duke of Berry should succeed the Marquess of Harcoâ—â— the French Embassador valuing himself much upon the Paces he thought he had made to that end But while all this was in Agitation towards Spain the French were busie in the North to perfect an Allyance with the Crown of Sweden which at length was brought to bear and the same was notified by M. de Lissenheim his Swedish Majesty's Minister to the Envoys of other Courts residing at Hamborough and other Places The main Intention of what was made publick of this Allyance is to preserve the Repose of Europe and the Articles were to this purpose I. THat the Ancient Alliance is renew'd between the two Kings their Heirs and Successors II. That the Aim and Intention of this Treaty is to preserve and secure the Common Peace by such means as shall be adjudg'd most proper and convenient III. If it should come to pass that it should be disturb'd by any Breaches and Hostilities that the two Kings will make it their Business to repair the wrongs in an amicable way IV. And if their Cares prove ineffectual they will joyntly consider of ways to defend the Rights of the Country injur'd V. In case any Prince or State will enter into this Treaty within a Year they shall be admitted by the consent of both Kings VI. Neither the one nor the other shall make Peace or Truce without comprehending the other therein VII The Articles of the Treaties formerly concluded by either of the two with other Kings Princes or States shall remain in their full Strength and Vertue so far as they shall not be contrary to this VIII The Freedom of Commerce between the Subjects of the two Kings shall be preserv'd as formerly without any Impeachment as well in time of War as in Peace paying the usual Duties IX In pursuance of which all Ports Cities and Provinces shall be open to the Subjects of both Crowns according as the Laws and Customs shall permit both to sell their Commodities in those Places and buy others X. This particular Treaty shall continue Ten Years with Liberty to prolong this Term if it be judg'd convenient by the two Kings who by consent shall have a watchful Eye upon the means to preserve the Peace against the Dangers that threaten it XI This Treaty shall be exchang'd by both sides within three Months after the Signing or sooner if it may be Given at Stockholm the 9 th of July O. S. 1698. I shall not meddle here with the Mock-Battle at Compeign nor the more violent persecution of the Reformed since the Peace both of them being Subjects ungrateful to my Pallate but pass on into Germany where to say nothing yet of the Discourse concerning the Marriage of the King of the Romans with the Princess of Hanover we find a mighty disposition in the Emperor and his Confederates also to a Peace with the Turks after the continuance of a War for above fifteen Years wherein perhaps there has been as much variety of Action as in any other whatsoever but now it seems to draw to a period and things look in the World as if Janus his Temple was once more to be shut up And tho the Armies in Huâ—gary on both sides were considerable in number and Strength yet there seemed no great disposition in either for Action but much more in the Parties concerned to set up a Treaty of Peace under the Mediation of his Britannick Majesty and the States General by their Ministers the Lord Paget and M. Colliers who towards the middle of August arrived in the Turkish Camp near Belgrade and by their good Offices got the Place to hold the Conferences to be between Peter Waradin and Salankemen the Emperor and Confederate Ministers being to reside at Câ—rlowitz the Sultan's at Salankamen and the Mediators between the two Places The Emperor's Plenipotentiaries were the Count of Ottengen General Sâ—â—lick and the Count de Marsigli those of the Port were the Effendi or Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and Mauro Cordato for Venice came Signior Ruzzini Embassador in Ordinary from the Republick to the Court of Vienna and Seignior Wicolasi Secretary of the said Republick for Poland appear'd the Sieur Malokowski Palatine of Posnania and for the Moscovites Procopius Pogdanowitz Vosnicin I shall now leave the Plenipotentiaries to meet and not enter upon the Particulars of the Negotiation my design being to reserve that for the closing up of this Work nor shall I take any Notice of the Conspiracy which was said to have been formed by the Army under General Rabaâ—in in Transilvania to kill him and the rest of the Officers and then to go over to the Turks because I believe there was more Noise than Truth in it But I shall return where I left off last Year with the Polish Affairs and observe that tho' the King's Competitor was now gone without any likelihood of ever returning again and that the potent City of Danzick were firm to his Interest yet other Difficulties from the Obstinacy of the Cardinal Primate and his Adherents and from the present Necessity he lay under to be guarded in Poland with his own Troops made his Affairs much perplex'd However he set forward and arrived at Warsaw January the 14th in great State The King us'd all imaginable Endeavours to bring the Primate to submit and the Offices of the Brandenburg Minister were indefatigable to this
Coaequation and that his Pension be reserved to him That for the Sum which he promised to pay some Ensigns out of his own Money the same should be taken out of what should arise from the four Quarters The Artillery was to be paid out of the Revenue of Lipiuski Germoreski and Winosopski till the succeeding Dyet of which the General of the Artillery was to give an account to the succeeding Dyets at hand That the Artillery should be laid up in the Arsenal of Wilna from whence it was not to be taken out but to be employ'd against the Enemies of the Republick That Protection should be granted to the Lithuanian Tartars as well for their Estates as Persons upon Condition that they took forthwith the Oath of Fidelity to the King and the Republick Having thus dispatch'd the Affairs of the North I shall not amuse the Reader in this place with the Naval Fight that hapned between the Venetian and Ottoman Fleets in the Waters of Mitylene on the 20th of September since I cannot with any Certainty assign what Loss was sustained or the Victory to either side so various have the Reports been tho' the former laid a Claim to it but design now to resume the Negotiations of the Peace with the Turks already mentioned but because the same has spun out into the new Year before the final Conclusion of it I shall here according to my Custom briefly touch upon the Remarkables of the last Towards the beginning of February dyed Frederick Casimir Duke of Courland at Mittau the place of his Residence who was succeeded by his Son Frederick Casimir a Child of of about Six Years Old During whose Minority Prince Ferdinand his Uncle who has embrac'd the Popish Religion would have taken the Guardianship and Administration upon him But the States have interposed and the young Prince is to be bred up a Protestant The third of the same Month was also fatal to Ernestus Augustus Elector and Duke of Hanover and Bishop of Osnaburg who departed this Life at Hernhausem He was born November the 10th 1629. being third Son to George Duke of Lunemburg and Anne Eleonora Daughter of Landgrave Lewis of Hesse-Damrstadt He was married in 1659. to the Princess Palatine Sophia Daughter to Frederick Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart Daughter of King James I. and Sister to King Charles I. by whom he had several Children and whereby it appears the present Elector his Son is next in Succession after the Royal Family here by the present Constitution of the Government that no Roman Catholick shall inherit to the Crown of England By the Peace of Westphalia the deceased Elector was designed Bishop of Osnabrug which is a very considerable Country when the Alternative was settled for one time a Roman Catholick and next time a Prince of the House of Lunemburg of which he took Possession in 1668. upon the death of the Cardinal of Wirtemburg the last Roman Catholick Bishop The Emperor was no sooner informed of the Elector's death but that in pursuance to the said Treaty he dispatch'd away a Commissioner to be present at the Election of a new Bishop for which there were divers Candidates and about which the Capitulars were extreamly divided But at length April the 14th they all united in favour of Charles Joseph Ignatius of Lorrain Bishop of Olmutz the Duke of that Name 's Brother who was advanced to that Dignity And now we have mentioned the Death of two Illustrious Persons we shall take notice of as many marriages One was in the North at the Swedish Court between the Duke of Holstein Gottorp and Hedwig Sophia Princess Royal of Sweden which was Consummated at Carelsbourg on the 12th of June without any Solemnity But the other between the present Duke of Lorrain and Elizabeth Charlotte Daughter to the Duke of Orleans the French King's Brother was performed upon the 12th of October at Fontainbleau with so much Pomp and Ceremonious Observances that I have no great Stomach to relate the Particulars and as little to call to mind the death Ferdinand Joseph Electoral Prince of Bavaria who departed this Life February 16th N. S. 1699. not long after as was given out and that very probably the King of Spain had settled the Succession of that Crown upon him and the French King 's Memorial at Madrid upon that Subject was a manifest Confirmation of it And the Truth of it is if there was a Right of Succession any where it must be in the Person of this young Prince by vertue of the Seventeenth Article of the Pyrenean Treaty Which undoubtedly must have stood good in Point of Justice whatever others have said against it in favour of another Person else we must account Don Lewis de Haro one of the wisest Ministers of State that ever Spain bred a â—ool and no Treaties how solemnly soever made of any Validity But now to draw to a Closure we are to remind you that the Plenipotentiaries on either side both Christian and Turk with the Mediators met at Câ—rlâ—â—itz in order to terminate so long and expensive a War by a Peace or at least a Truce for some term of Years It was the â—th of November when the Mediators delivered to the Turkish Plenipotentiaries the Preliminary Articles which mainly in Substance contained That each Party respectively should retain what he had got and the following days till the 12th were spent in preparing Matters upon which they were to enter in Conference that day On the 13th the Imperial and Turkish Plenipotentiaries caused several fair Tents to be set up on the sides of the House appointed for the Conferences and by Nine in the Morning the first arrived at the Mediators Lodgings whither the Turks also repaired at the same time and from thence went altogether to the House of Conference where after mutual Civilities they took their Places in the midst of the Tent which had four Doors two whereof being opposite to one another served for the Entrance of the Mediators and the other two for the Imperial and Turkish Plenipotentiaries The Count of Oâ—â—inghen had the right of the former and Reis Effendi of the latter The Mediators Secretaries and those of the Imperial Embassy were placed behind and the Turkish Secretary who stood up-right before sat down upon the Floor And this was the manner of the opening of the first Conference after pronouncing of these Words God-Grant an happy Pâ—â—ce There was a Table in the midst between the Mediators and Plenipotentiaries And the Conference lasted from half an Hour after Ten till Three in the Afternoon when the Mediators and Plenipotentiaries went out in the same order as they entred But all the while they were within the Emperor's and Turkish Guards besides a great Number of Officers of both Nations environed the Tent. The Conferences were renewed in the same manner the three succeeding days with good Success And among other things they conferred about the Regulation of
will permit The Fortress of Chonin will present her Flank on that side next Croatia as far as the Confines of the Emperor's Territories without doing any Prejudice to the Three Potentates whose Confines shall join to the said Limits But they shall be oblig'd inviolably to observe the Right which belongs to every one of the Three Potentates according to the Agreements of this Universal Peace Both Parties shall be equally bound to observe the said Line and if it should happen that in the Neighbourhood of the said Line or in the Line it self there should be any Fortress depending upon the High Empire the Territory seated behind that Place shall remain entire to the Empire and in Front a Space of Ground taken in the Circumference of the said Line shall be mark'd out in a Circular Line and which shall also have the Extent of an Hour's March As for the Fortress of Ciclut there shall be in like manner assign'd it in Front the Circuit of a League without the Line drawing out a strait Line to the Seaward and when the Limits shall be once fix'd and the Bounds and Territories settl'd in Manner and Form aforesaid they shall be inviolably observ'd without the least Alteration And if any one shall have the Boldness to violate the said Bounds and Marks of the said Frontires or to pass beyond the said Limits or that the Officers themselves should fail in their Duty and Care in that particular by punishing the Offenders according to their Deserts they shall themselves be severely punish'd on both Sides And in case the Commissioners shall meet with any Difficulties or should not agree among themselves they shall faithfully and exactly inform their Masters thereof to the end such Differences may be amicably compos'd by the Good Offices and Interposition of those that represent his Imperial Majesty and the Lords Mediators at the Ottoman Court. 9. The Territory and Dependencies of the Signory of Ragusa shall be annex'd to the Territories and Cantons of the High Empire and all Obstacles that hinder the joining and Communication of the Lands of the said Signory with the Lands of the High Empire shall be taken away 10. Castelnovo and Lisano which are in the Neighbourhood of Cattero being actually in the Possession of the Republick of Venice she shall remain in the peaceable Enjoyment of those Places and Territories Which is likewise to be understood of some other Fortress whatever it be seated in that Canton and of which the same Republick is in actual Possession And the Commissioners which shall be chosen on both Sides shall be Persons of known Integrity without Passion or private Interest to the end they may determine this important Affair with all possible Equity by making a Separation of the Limits of the Country by evident and undeniable Marks 11. The Commissioners shall give reciprocal Notice of their meeting and shall meet in a Place proper and convenient for their Business with an equal Number of armed Attendants Men of Peace and not given to create Trouble and they shall begin their Conferences upon the first Day of the Equinox that is to say the 14 22 of March of this present Year now running on 12. Neither Party shall give Sanctuary or Protection to Fugitives on either side but shall cause 'em to be apprehended and imprison'd that they may be brought to condign Punishment 13. Both Parties shall be permitted to repair and fortifie the Fortresses in their Possession but not to build any new ones upon the Frontiers not to rebuild such as are demolish'd The Subjects also of both Parties are permitted to build Towns and Villages in order to live in Peace and as good Neighbours one with another 14. As for what concerns Religion the release and exchange of Slaves and matter of Trade and Commerce the Conditions of the last Treaty shall be observ'd according to their Form and Tenor and the Sacred Imperial Edicts formerly granted to the Republick are confirm'd by this present Peace 15. All Hostilities to cease from the Day of the signing the Treaty concluded between the High Empire and the Republick and for the Information of the Governours of the Frontiers Thirty Days are allow'd for the Provinces of Bossina Albania and Dalmatia and Forty for Candy the Morca c. And a general Amnesty is to be allow'd to the Subjects of both Parties for any Action or Crime committed during the War 16. The Duration of this present Peace shall be determin'd upon the Delivery of the Acts of this present Treaty By these respective Treaties may be seen the several Acquisitions of the Confederates from the Turk during this long and bloody War now fully terminated How vastly the Emperor has increased his Territories no Man that understands any thing of Geography but must agree to it The Poles cannot but be satisfy'd with the Restitution of Caminiec in its present State with other Advantages The Moscoviâ—es have been also Gainers by the Detention of Asoph and other Places and Countries leading to it And tho' the Venetians seemed to have fared hardest in this Negotiation as indeed is usual with those who make their Terms last witness the German Empire in the late Treaty of Ryswick Yet how many strong Fortresses and what vast Tracts of Land are hereby conceded to them is exceeding manifest the Morea to say nothing of the rest wherein there had been so many famous Kingdoms and States being now entirely theirs So that upon the whole if you consider the Extent of Land the Fertility of the Soil and the Numbers and the Strength of the Garrisons which the Turks have lost and set them against the Nakedness of their Frontiers the cold Climate of Thrace the Barrenness of Macedon and other Parts and indeed against the whole they have now left in Europe It will appear they lost little less than one Moiety of their Dominions on this side the Tâ—racian Bosphorus and I cannot think a Truce of Five and Twenty Years will be sufficient to put them into a Condition to regain them again but should rather incline to believe that another War should drive them over to the Asiatick Shoar as a step on their way to those Barren Desarts from whence they first came But while this our European World may now justly sing a Râ—quiem for the Universal Peace that is establish'd between the several Nations that compose its Inhabitants what a pitty is it and how worthy of Lamentation that the poor Protestants abroad should fare the worse for it their Calamities encrease and as it were a new War proclaimed against them both in France Savoy and Germany I wish we may not hear the same in a short time from Hungary and Traâ—silvania from the foolish Bigottry of those Princes whose true Interest it is to protect and tolerate them and who after all can never sit easie in their Throâ—es nor one should think in their Consciences neither till they have learnt that true Principle that Conscience
the Peace with the Emperor 61. sollicites Peace in France with little success ib. Derry the Siege of it 323. Diepe bombarded by the English 498. Diet of Ratisbonne's Result on the Emperor's Memorial 88. Dixmude surrendered to the Fr. 520. Doge of Venice his Death 255. Dulcigno besieged by the Venetians in vain 580. Dundee slain 317. Dutch at Nimeguen inclinable to a Peace 8. E. EBeremberg taken by the Germans 631. Electorate the Ninth 476. Elbing invested by the E. of Brandenburgh 684. Articles of Surrendry 685 c. Eleanor Queen her death 673. Embassadors Turkish press for a Peace 357. Emp-prepares against the Turks 131. gives the Command to the Duke of Lorrain 132. retires from Vienna to Lintz 133. returns to Vienna 146. his Letter to the late K. James 318 c. his Proposal of Peace to the Turks 357. his Answer to the Polish Envoy's Complaint 488 c. Empire's Complaint of the French Incroachments 89. English die-a-pace at Dundalk Camp 328. their Attempt upon Brest 495. Esperies besieged by the Germans in vain 160. besieged a second time ib. surrendred 191. Esseck the Town taken and the Bridge burnt by the Imperialists 190. abandoned by the Turks 234. besieged by 'em in vain 412 c. Essex the Earl of his Speech to K. Charles II 97. his Murther in the Tower 116. Extract of the Peace between the Muscovites and Turks 692. between the Poles and the Turks 693 c. between the Emperor and the Turks 695 c. between the Venetians and the Turks 699 c. F. FEnwick Sir John the Bill of Attainder against him 585. Parliaments Proceedings upon it 586 c. his Paper at his Execution 589 c. Feversham E. of his Letter to the P. of Orange 296. Fitz-Harris Edw. his Libel 102 c. concerned in the Meal tub Plot 106. discovers the Sham 107. impeached by the Commons to prevent his trial ib. tryed condemn'd and executed 109 c. Five Churches besieged and taken by the Imperialists 213. Fleet French beaten and burnt by the English c. 458 c. Flerus the Battle there 394 c. French make Devastations in Germany 8. take Valenciennes 9. comply with the Spaniards 41. invade Juliers 56. invade it again 65. propose odd Conditions to the Court of Bavaria 86. enlarge their Limits in Alsatia 89. their Encroachments in Flanders 90. their Carriage upon the Turks invading Hungary 131. begin the War upon the Rhine 257. burn and ravage the Palatinate 333. beat the Confederate Fleet at Sea 361. prevail in Catalonia 400. attempt a separate Peace with the Emperor 420. opprest with Famine offer Peace to the Confederates 488. fight the Spaniards in Catalonia 562. attack the Smyrna Fleet 477. Friend Sir John his Paper at his Execution 554 c. G. GAlloway surrendred to the English 433. Genoa bombarded by the Fr. 152. submits 153. George Prince his Letter to King James 288. Germans march toward Buda and rout the Turks 155. Ghent besieged and surrendred to the French 14. Givet the Magazine burnt 560. Godfrey Sir Edmundbury Murdered 73. the Discovery of it ib. c. Gran besieged by the Imperialists 148. taken ib. besieged by the Turks 186. relieved and the Battle there 187. Grandval the Sieur de his Trial and Execution 467. Great Waradin blockaded by the Imperialists 455. besieged and surrendred 476. H. HAlliwell Baron worsted and slain by the Turks 154 c. Hanover Elector of his death 689. Havre de Grace bomb'd by the English 498. Heidelburg taken and destroyed by the French 483. Heusler General beaten and made Prisoner in Transylvania 409. Holland Preparations there for England 258. Holstein Gottorp Duke of restored to his Territories 72. Hough Dr. chosen President of Magdalen Colledge 202. Huy taken by the French 479. besieged and taken by the Confederates 500. I. JAmaica an Earth quake there c. 473. James II. King his Speech to the Council 165. Crown'd and his Speech to the Parliament ib. his Practises against the Duke of Monmouth 169. his proceedings in respect to Ireland 182. his Speech to the Parliament about the Popish Officers 183. thanked for it by the Lords 184. his proceedings in respect to Charters 196. sets up the Ecclesiastical Commission ib. his Usage of the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge 202. his Letter to the Scotch Parliament 205. grants toleration of Religion 223. instructs the Judges going the Circuits â—b c. commands the Declaration of Indulgence to be read in Churches 245. the Bishops petition to him upon it ib. his Answer 246. restores London Charter 260. dissolves the Ecclesiastical Commimission c. 263 c. enters Salisbury 284. forsaken by divers of the Nobility 288. returns to London 289. issues Writs to call a Parliament 290 his Proposals to the P. of Orange 294. his Letter to the E. of Feversham 295. withdraws ib. returns to London 301. withdraws into France 303. his Reasons for withdrawing ib. c. abdicates the Throne 306. lands in Ireland c. 319. flees for France 375. his Letter to the Irish Troops arrived in France 446. his Letter to the Fr. King 459 c. Jefferies Chief Justice his proceedings and cruelties in the West 180. takes Money 181. made Lord Chancellor 196. Jenkins Sir Lionel refuses to sign the separate Peace with Spain 41. Imperialists successful in Vpper Hungary 191. Innocent XI his Death and Character 357. Johnson Samuel whip'd 203. his Address to the English Soldiers 204 c. Joseph Archduke crowned King of Hungary 235. chosen K. of the Romans 397 c. Ireland entirely reduc'd 323. Irish routed by the Iniskilliners 446. defeated again near Sligo which they took 327. routed by Woolsly 362. K. KEys his Paper at his Execution 554. Keyserwaert besieged and surrendred to the Elector of Brandenburg 330 c. King of France's Letter to K. Ch. II. and Message 10. his project of Peace 14. c. refused by the Mediator 17. his Letter to the States General 19. ratifies the Peace with Holland 36. prefixes time and condions of Peace to Denmark and Brandenburg 62. his Letter to his Army 499 c. King his Paper at his Execution 553 c. Kingsale besieged and surrendred to the English 386 c. Kirk Major General his cruelty in the West 181. L. LAnden the great Battle there 481. Lepanto abandoned by the Turks 241 Lesley Count routs the Turks in Sclavonia 159. takes the Town of Esseck 190. Letter to the States General from Turin 533. of General Veterani's defeat 535 c. Liberachi Basha embraces the Venetian Interest 579. Liege the Pr. of dies 497. Limerick besieged in vain by the English 379 c. besieged a second time 434 c. surrendred and the Articles 436 c. Lippa taken by the Imperialists 249. retaken by the Turks 535. Lithuania Troubles there 682. appeased and the Articles 688. London the Charter of it question'd 116. taken away 115. the Bishop of it suspended and the Reason of the Courts displeasure against
him 202. Lords Justices of England the Names of the first of 'em 509. Lorrain D. of retreats with the Imperial Army out of Hungary into Austria 134. his Letter to the Emperor concerning his Beating the Turks 157 c. overthrows the Turks at Gran 187. his answer to the Turkish Aga 189. marches towards Esseck 228. his endeavours to draw the Turks to fight 231. deheats the Turks 234. marches to Transylvania and reduces it ib. besieges and takes Mentz 331 c. his death 398. Louvis Monsieur his death 457. Lowick Major his Paper at his Execution 558 c. Luxemberg the Duke of his Saying upon the Battle of Flerus 396. falls upon Waldeck's Rear 448. his death 509. Luxemburg the City of besieged by the French and surrendred 150. M. MAestricht besieged by the Pr. of Orange in vain 3. 4. Mahomet IV. deposed 194. and the manner of it 235 c. Mainotes submit to the Venetians 194. Marsaglia an Account of the Battle fought there 435 c. Memorial English to the States 39. Spanish about Maestricht 69. of the Emperor to the Diet at Ratisbonne 89. Mentz besieged and surrendred to the Confederates 331 c. The Elector's death 540. Messina abandon'd by the French 18. Minden an interview between divers Princes there 258. Modon besieged and surrendred to the Venetians 217. Mohatz the Battle there 232. Mongatz surrend to the Imperialists 247. the Articles of surrendry 248 c. Monmouth Duke of routs the Scotch Covenanters 79. banished by the King but returned 81. Lands in England and his Declaration 170 c. His Letter to K. James 178 c. Beheaded 179. Mons besieged 423. surrendred to the French 424. Montmellian Fortress surrendred to the French 451. Morosini Capt. Gen. successful against the Turks 195. made Doge of Venice 255. his death 505. Muscovites rout the Turks and take Asoph 581. Mustapha Sultan takes Lippa and Titul 535. defeated at Zenta 633. N. NAmur besieged by the French 460. surrendred 461. besieged by the Confederates 511. its Siege continued to the surrender of the Town 516 c. It s Castle and Fort surrendred 529. Nants the Edict of revoked 196. Napoli di Malvasia blockaded by the Venetians 356. supplied by the Turks 416. besieged and taken by the Venetians Ibid. Napoli di Romania besieged by the Venetians 218. surrendred 219. Navarino Old surrendred to the Venetians 216. Navarino New taken by the Venetians 217. Nowheusel besieged by the Imperialists 132. and its Siege raised 132. besieged a second time by them 181. taken by storm 188. Nice besieged and taken by the French 422. Nimeguen the Description of it the Treaty and the Congress formed there 1. Nissa taken by the Imperialists 353 surrendred to the Turks 410. O. OGingski defeated in Lithuania 682. Omer St. besieg'd by the French 9. surrendred 10. Orange Pr. of his Resolutions to continue the War 8. Fights the D. of Orleance at Mont-Cassel 10. arrives in England 12. K. Charles's Opinion of him is married 12 13. Concerts the Terms of the Peace ib. Returns for Holland ib. dissatisfied with K. Charles's Embassie 14. Deâ—eats Luxemburgh at Mons 36. How censured for it 38. His Censure of the English Court 40. Promotes the League of Ausburgh 131. Takes the Field 150. His Offers to K. James râ—jected 177. Lands in England 269. His Declaration 270 c. His additional Declaration 281 c. His Letter to the Officers of the Army 283 c. The third Declaration 291. c. Prevails both in England and Scotland 290. His Answer to the King's Proposals 295. His Message to K. James 301. Arrives in London 303. takes the Administration of the Government upon him 304. His Letter to the Convention 305 c. Proclaimed K. of England 311. Proclaimed K. of Scotland c. 317. Osman Bassa of Aleppo his Letter to the Elector of Bavaria 253. Ossory the Earl of dies his Character 96. P. PActa Conventa of Poland 636 c. swore to by the King 638. Palamos taken by the French 501. Palatin the Elector of his death 97. Another's death 421. Parliament long dissolved 75. Another sits and is dissolved 77. Meet 90. prosecute the Abhorrers 94. Reasons against giving King Charles Money 95. Vote against lending him Money upon the Revenues 96. Meet at Oxford 107. dissolved 108. Prodigal in giving King James Money 166. dissolved 184. Prorogued and dissolved and another called 358. Meet 457. and Adjourn 476 c. Their Proceedings more 492 and 508. Dissolved and another called 538. Their Proceedings upon the Coin 540. upon the Association 551. Farther Proceedings and against Sir John Fenwick 583 c. more 674. Patrass abandon'd by the Turks 241. Peace separate at Nimeguen between Holland and France obstructed by the French Pretensions 21. Protested against by the Allies 28. Signed with Spain 41. Difficult to conclude it between the Empire and France 57. Agreed to by the Imperialists and French 58. Protested against by the Danes and Brandenburghers 62. Signed between England Holland and Spain and France at Reswick 602. Concluded 671. Peers their Orders about the Irish 300. Perkyns Sir William his Papers at his Execution 557. Peter-Waradin deserted by the Turks 250. Phillipsbourgh surrendred to the Imperialists 4. Plot Popish discovered 73. Plot pretended Presbyterian discovered 116. Podolia ravaged by the Tartars 191. Poland King of relieves Vienna 144 Takes Jaslowick 161. Routs the Tartars ibid. Invades Moldavia 221. routs the Turks and Tartars 222. Tempted to make a Peace with the Turks c. 415. Invades Moldovia again 456. His death 581. Ponti Mons an Account of his Expedition 617 c. Portland Earl of Interviews between him and M. Boufflers 602. Preliminary Articles of Peace 591 c. Prevesa besieged by the Venetians 163. surrendred 164. Primate of Poland submits to the new King 680 his Speech to him 681. Q. QUeen Mary her Death and Character 507 508. Queen Mother of Spain her Death 583. R. REswick the Treaty there 592. Re-unions Chambers of how set up and managed by France 130 c. Rheinfield besieg'd by the French in vain 472. Rocosche of Poland their Proposal to the new King 678 c. their Articles of Agreement 680 c. Rookwood Brigadeer his Paper at his Execution 559 c. Rugen the Island of taken by the Brandenburghers 56. Rupert Prince his Death and Character 115. Russel Lord tried condemned and beheaded 117. His Speech ibid. c. His Paper to the Sheriff 118 c. Russel made Admiral 447. His Letter to the Earl of Nottingham 458. Beats the French Fleet ib. Sails with the Fleet for Spain 494. S. SAint Malo bombarded by the English 520. Saint Martins bombarded by the 61. Saint Ruth Monsieur General of the Irish 427. His Speech to them 428. Killed 432. Salankemen the great Battle there 453. Salusses the Battle there between the French and Confederates 404. Surrendred to Catinat 405. Sancta Maura besieg'd by the Venetians 162. Surrendred ib. Savoy Duke of
and other Proceedings of the Parliamentsf The Affairs of Scotland The Jacobites Plot. The Irisâ— Affairs Col. Woolsâ—ey routs the Irish Charlemont Castl blocked up Charlemont surrendred K. William landed in Ireland K. William wounded The Battle of the Boyne L. G. Hambletâ—n hâ—s Character at the Boyne D. Schâ—mberg's Character and Age. The late K. James 〈◊〉 for Fraâ—â—â—e 〈…〉 Athlone besieged in vain by L. G. Dâ—uglass Waterford surrendred The Kings Proceedings in Ireland The Army march to 〈◊〉 2. The first siege of Limerick The English Train surprized by the Irish Thâ— Siege raised and the King goes for England 〈◊〉 besieged and 〈◊〉 Coâ—k surrendred Kingsale beâ—sieg'd Surrendred The Duke of Savoy enters into the Confederacy and the manner of it The Treaty between the Emperour and the Dâ—ke of Saâ—oy The Treaty between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy The Campagne in Flanders The Battle of Flerus Arch-duke Joseph chosen King of the Romans The death of the D. of Lorrain The Campaign in Germany The Insurrection of the Catalins The Freâ—ch prevail in Catalâ—nia The French repulsed at Carignan The Vaudoâ—â— roâ—t the French Caâ—ours taken by Catinat The Battel of Salusses Suza besieged and taken by the French Canisia surrenâ—red Nissa and Widin besieged by the Turks Teckely possesses himself of Transilvania and routs Heuster Nissa surrendred Widin surrendred Belgrade besieged by the Turks The Turks take Belgrade by storm Esseck besieged by the Turks in vain P. of Baden reduced Transâ—lvania and expels Tekeley The King of Poland tempted to make Peace with the Turks The Tartars harrass Poland The Poles unactive in the Prosecucution of the War Neapli di Malvasia besieged by the Venetians and taken Vallona besieged by the Venetians Vallona deserted by the Turks The Venetians beat the Turks at Sea Attempts made by France for a Peace with the Emperor The Remarkables of this Year The Congress at the Hague The King's Speech to the Congress The Resolution of the Congress Nice besiâ—ged and taken The siege of Mons. Mons surrendred The War in Ireland Baltymore surrendred to the English The English Town of Athlone taken The English pass the Shannon The Irish Town of Athlone taken The Battle of Aghrim Galloway surrendered Limerick besieged K. James's Letter to the Irish The Irish War ended Our Sea-Affairs noted The Campaâ—gâ— in Flanders The Campaign in Catalonia The Campaign on the Upper Rhine Carmagnolae besieged and taken Coni besieged Coni relieved Carmagnola retaken Montmelian Fortress surrendred The Battle of Saâ—ankemen Duke of Croy succesfull in Sclavonia Great Waradin blockaded The King of Poland's Campaign Pope Alexander VIII his Death Monsieur Louvois Death The Elector of Saxony's Death Parliament meets Parliament adjourned Conspiracy in England Admiral Russel's Letter The French Fleet beaten K. James's Letter to the French King Namur surrendred The Battle of Steenkirk The English Forces imbark English Forces 〈◊〉 in Flanders The Campaign on 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Rhine The Siege of Reinfâ—ld The Duke of Savoy invades the Daupbinate and his Progress The Duke of Savoy's Sâ—ckness The Duke recovers Great Waradin besieged Great Waradia surrendered Câ—nea besieged by the 〈◊〉 The Siâ—ge rais'd The Pâ—â—es do little Mr. Boyle's Death Earthquake in Jamaca and England Ninth Electorate The Proceedings of the English Parliament The Smyrna Fleet attach'd ' by the French The Campaign in Flander's Huy taken by the French The Battle of Landen Charleroy besieged and surrendred to the French Roses taken Heidelburg taken and destroyed by the French The Dauphine inclined to attack the Prince of Baden A Letter from Turin to the States General of the United Provinces about the Battle of Marsiglia Belgrade besieg'd by the Imperialists The Siege rais'd The King his Speech to the Parliament The Proceedings of the English Parliament Sir Francis Wheeler lost Acts of Parliament signed Admiral Russell with the Fleet â—ails for Spain The death of the Prince of Liege and Choice of another The Campaign in Flanders Diep and Havâ—e de Grace Bombâ—rdâ—d by the English The Confederates and French in motion towards Flanders The French King his Letter to the Army Huy besieged by the Confederates and taken The French Progress in Catalonia The French Fleet confined to Thoulon The Campagne in Germany The Campagne in Savoy The Affairs of Poland The death of the Elector of Saxony The death of Queen Mary The English Parliament's Proceedings Th◠〈…〉 Flanders Namur Besieg'd by the Confederates 〈◊〉 Fortifications P. Vaudemont's gallant Retreat The King his Letter to Prince Vaudemont The Siege of Namur continued to the Surrender of the Town The Maritime Towns of France Bombarded by the English Dixmude and Deinse Surrendred to the French Brussells Bombarded Villeroy fails to relieve Namur The Fort and Castle of Namur surrendred The Campaign on the Rhine inconsiderable Casall besieged and taken by the Confederates Sultan Ackmet's Death Sultan Mustapha takes Lippa and Titull A Letter concerning the Defeat of General Veteranâ— Scio quited by the Venetians The Battle of Magâ—s Parliament Dissolv'd and another call'd The King's Speech The death of the Elector of Mentz An Act to remedy the ill state of the COin The Assassination discoverâ—d The King's Speech to the Parliament The Parliaments Pâ—ocâ—â—dings there upon The Confederates buru the French Magazine at Givet The Bombing of Calais St. Martins c. The Fight between the French and Spaniards 〈◊〉 Cataâ—onia The Campaign in Germany The separate Peace of Savoy and the Management of it The Envoy of Savoy's Harange to the late K. James Valentia Beâ—ieged by the French and Savoyards The Articles of Neutrality for Italy Themeswaer Besiegâ—d by the Imperialists and quitted The â—attle between the Imperialists and the Turks Liberachi brought over to the Venetian◠〈◊〉 Dulcigno Besieged by the Venetians The Seâ—ge raised Tâ—e Venetians Beat tâ—e Tuâ—ks by Sâ—a The death of the King of Poland The Czar of Moscovy routs the Turks by Sea and takes Asoph The Substance of the King his Speech to the Parliament The death of the Qu. Mother of Spain The Parliaments Proceedings The Preliminary Articles The Treaty at Reswick Aeth taken by the French The Spanish Aâ—bassaâ— râ—present thâ—ir 〈◊〉 The Elector of Saxony chosen King of Poland Alterations about the Basis of the present Treaty Other Altercations about the Bâ—sis of the present Treaty An Extraordinary Congress held The Lord Portland and the Mareschal de Boufflers their Interview and the Consequence thereof The Peace signed between England Spain Holland and France The Articles of Peace between England and France Mr. Ponti's Expedition Takes Carthagena Descryes and Escapes Admiral Neville * A Jurisdiction three Leagues in Compass Eberenburg â—aken by the Germans And a Cessation of Arms. The Battle of Zenta * Is the XLVI †Is the L. * Is the LI. * It is the XLVI The Parliament Addâ—ess the King Whitehall burâ—t Parliament proceedings King's Speech Parl. dissolved another called K goes for Holland The Affairâ— of Spain Articles of Alliance between France and Sweden Overtâ—res of Peace with the Turks The troubled Affairs of Poland The Proposals of the Rocosche The Nuâ—cio his Mediation Brings the Primate to submit The Primare's Speech to the King The Troubles of Lituania A Fight in Lithuania The Czar's Travel 's A Fight between the Poles and Tartars Elbing invested by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Electors Letter to Elbing The Articles of Eâ—bing Sapieha defeated The Lithuanian Troubles appeased The death of the Duke of Courland The death of the Duke of Hanover The Dukes of Holstein and Lorrain married Conference of Peace with the Turks Altercations between the Venetians and Turks
extraordinary Vigour and good Success and so on till the 27th when the Fort on which the Turks had planted Cannon from whence they play'd with great Fury on the Besiegers was utterly ruined And this encouraged the latter to work hard on a Battery which they had begun to raise on the Left Hand to ruine the Out-works of the Turks on that side and though the Turks made stout Resistance and made no less than 14 Mines 11 of them were discovered and the Besiegers discontinued their Works till they had found the other 3 which yet did not discourage the Turks who hourly expected Relief to come up Of this the Imperialists were sensible also so that on the 31st of Aug. a Council of War was held and Two Expresses sent away one to General Veterani and the other to Colonel Kiba with Orders for the latter to march with all the Men under his Command near Minoviza for the Security of that River and in the mean time the Siege went on and on the 7th of Sept. a General Assault upon the Counterscarp was resolved on But all things not being ready till it was late though the Attack was made with wonderful Bravery the Turks who had in the mean time Intelligence of it and had made Provision accordingly made such an obstinate Defence that what with that and the Darkness of the Night they failed to carry it Whereupon the General understanding the Grand Visier with 80000 Men was marching up it was on the 10th resolved in a Council of War to raise the Siege which was done accordingly and the Retreat made without so much as the Loss of one Man though the Enemy failed not to pursue them The Grand Visier having thus gained his Point sat down contented without undertaking any Enterprize And so the Campagne terminated without any other Action saving that the Ban of Croatia was said to have taken a considerable Town in Bosnia which I do not find named any where and that the Count of Heidersheim routed a considerable Body of Turks and Tartars near Guila killed several of them burnt all their Provision and took above 2000 Camels and Horses from them We have made so little a Digression about the Affairs of Europe on the Turkish side that it will be needless here to recapitulate what has been already said of things nearer Home in order to a better View of the little that is yet remaining only I desire it may be remembred how successful the Frenâ—â— King's Arms have been by Land and unfortunate our Fleeâ— at Sea which the States of Holland were so sensible of thaâ— they took an early Resolution considerably to augment boâ—â— their Army and Navy for which the King thanked them 〈◊〉 their Assembly before his coming over for England and after his Arrival to shew particularly the Dislike he had of the Sea-Proceedings did the Day before the Meeting of the Parliament declare in Council That he had appointed the Right Honourable Edward Russel Esq to be admiral of the Fleet and on the 7th of Nov. which was the Day of the Parliament's meeting delivered himself to them in the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen I Am always glad to meet you here and I could heartily wish that Our Satisfaction were not lessened at present by Reflecting upon the Disadvantage We have received this Year at Land and the Miscarriages in our Affairs at Sea I think it is evident that the former was only occasioned by the great Numbers of our Enemies which exceeded Ours in all Places For what relates to the latter which has brought so great a Disgrace upon the Nation I have resented it extreamly And as I will take care that those who have not done their Duty shall be punished so I am resolved to use My Endeavours that Our Power at Sea may be rightly managed for the future And it well deserves Our Consideration Whether We are not defective both in the Number of Our Shipping and in proper Ports to the Westward for the better Annoying our Enemies and protecting Our Trade which is so essential to the Welfare of this Kingdom My Lords and Gentlemen I am very sensible of the good Affection wherewith you have always assisted Me to support the Charges of this War which have been very great And yet I am perswaded that the Experience of this Summer is sufficient to convince Vs all That to arrive at a good End of it there will be a Necessity of encreasing Our Forces both by Sea and Land the next Year Our Allies have resolved to add to Theirs And I will not doubt but you will have such regard to the present Exigency as that you will give Me a suitable Supply to enable me to do the like I must therefore earnestly recommend it to you Gentlemen of the House of Commons to take such timely Resolutions as that your Supplies may be effectual and Our Preparations so forward as will be necessary both for the Security and the Honour of the Nation The House of Commons quickly came to an unanimous Resolution to support Their Majesties and likewise shewed a good Disposition to comply with the King's Desires in the Increase of his Forces both by Sea and Land But at the same time they did not forget to spend some time in the Examination of the Mis-carrying of the Smyrna Fleet conâ—erning which they came to this Resolve That the House was of Opinion that there had been a notorious and treacherous mismanagement in that Affair But it is great pity the Rogues had not been found out and hanged for their Pains However Bembow's Bombing and Burning some part of St. Maloes about this time gave some sort of Contentment to Mens Minds tho' it was no Reparation of the Loss With this Action we shall close up the Year on the last day whereof the brave Prince Lewis of Baden landed at Gravesend from whence he went to Whitehall and thence to Kensington to wait upon his Majesty who received him with great Civility and Respect year 1694 His Majesty while the Parliament was deliberating upon Raising the necessary Supplies for the Navy and Standing Army and such Additional Force as was to be levy'd was pleased to entertain this Prince with the Diversions of Hunting Hawking and other the like innocent Recreations to say nothing of the weightier Affairs of the War concerted between them And the Bill of 4 s. in the Pound for carrying on a vigorous War against France being ready he gave the Royal Assent to it on the 25th of Jan. as he did some Days after to a Bill for Granting several Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for Securing certain Recompences to such Persons as should voluntarily advance the Summ of 1000000 l. towards carrying on the War against France But before the Signing of any more Acts came the unfortunate News of our Loss in the Mediterranean which tho' a most melancholly Story yet it is not
to be omitted And thus it fell out Sir Francis Wheeler was Admiral of the Squadron of Men of War who with the Fleet of Merchant Ships under his Convoy sailed on the 17th of Febr. from Gibraltar towards the Streights with a good Wind at N. W. But oâ— Sunday about 10 in the Morning there arose such a violent Storm with Thunder and Lightning and great Rain that hardly any Man in the Fleet ever saw the like which continued all that Day and the following Night the Wind blowing at E. and E. N. E. so that upon Monday the 19th about 5 in the Morning Sir Francis Wheeler's own Ship the Sussex was founder'd and all her Men except two Moors were lost and the Admiral 's Body was on the 21st found on a Sand-Bank near Gibraltar in his Shirt and Slippers which made People believe that he seeing himself in such imminent Danger had stripped off his Clothes with a Design to save his Life by swimming But tho' the Loss was already too great it had been well if it had stopped here But alass the Cambridge Lumley-Castle Men of War the Serpent Bomb-Ketch and the Mary Ketch together with the Italian-Merchant the Aleppo-Factor the Great George and the Berkshire bound for Turkey the William for Venice and the Golden-Merchant for Leghorne all English were driven ashoar and lost on the E. side of Gibraltar and most of the Men drowned As were also 3 Dutch Ships of good Value But Reer-Admiral Neville with 2 Dutch Men of War had the good Luck to be blown out of the Streights and put safe into Cadiz as the rest of the Fleet did on the 19th into Gibraltar to repair the Damages they had sustained in the Storm But tho' this Loss was heavy in it self yet God be thanked it did not so affect the Nation but that they went chearfully on still with their Business The finishing of our Men of War upon the Stocks was pushed on with great Diligence And the Parliament lost no Time in their Work neither for besides the new Levies ordered to be made by the 23d of March they had among other Bills passed one To grant to their Majesties certain Rates upon Salt Ale Beer and other Liquors for Securing certain Recompences and Advantages to such Persons as should voluntarily advance the Summ of 1000000 l. toward carrying on the War And then the King having told them how forward the Enemy was and what Necessity there was of their being ready to meet them both by Sea and Land he earnestly recommended to them the Dispatch of those important Affairs they had still under their Deliberations and protested to them he had nothing so much at his Heart as the Ease and Happiness of his People and that it was with great Reluctancy he was forced to ask such large Supplies from them but their present Circumstances made the same unavoidable Neither was it long before His Majesty's Expectations were fully answered for in April the following Acts among others were ready for his Signing viz. An Act for Raising Money by a Poll payable Quarterly for one Year An Act for granting to their Majesties several Rates and Duties upon Tunnage of Ships and Vessels and upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for Securing certain Recompences and Advantages to such Persons as should voluntarily advance the Summ of 1500000 l. towards carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to their Majesties several Duties upon Vellom Parchment and Paper for 4 Years And also An Act for Licensing and Regulating Hackney and Stage-Coaches This was no sooner done and that the King had thanked them for the great Proofs they had given him of their Affections this Session and his acquainting them with the Necessity there was of his being absent for some time out of the Kingdom but the two Houses were Prorogued to the 18th of Sept. following And so we leave them and his Majesty for the present going to make the Campaign in the Netherlands and see a little what the Consequence was of the mighty Preparations for Sea which we had been making all this Spring But tho' our Fleet was so early out this Year they were neither able to block up that of France in Brest nor to come at them to fight them at Sea than which the English desired nothing more and the French as much declined it so that they would first venture a Caper into the Mediterranean whither they actually went rather than hazard a Battel But the Truth of it is they had concerted such vast Designs against Spain both by Sea and Land this Campaign that had it not been for our Fleet 's going into those Seas I cannot see what could have hindered the French to have made an entire Conquest of Catalonia before the Army went into Winter-Quarters But before Admiral Russâ—â—â— had entirely left the Coast and sailed with the Fleet foâ— Spain he upon Information that there was a Fleet of French Merchant-men in Bertraume-Bay bound to the Eastward detatched Captain Pickard and the Roe-Buck Fire-ship either to take or destroy them Which Orders Captain Pickar executed so successfully that of 55 Sail of them he burâ— or sunk 35 besides the Man of War that was their Coâ—voy which ran among the Rocks and soon after blew up with her two Sloops of between 10 and 15 Guns After this Captain Pickard re-joined the Fleet which we shall noâ— leave making its best way to the Mediterranean and heâ— give you a Relation of the Descent which the English attempted to make upon France and even upon Brest it self Of which take the following Relation as abstracted by a learned Hand from the Account given of it by the Marquess of Carmarthen which has been generally allowed to be the best extant upon that Subject On the 5th of June the Lord Berkeley Admiral of the Blue Squadron parted from Admiral Russell with 29 Sail of Line of Battel Men of War English and Dutch besides small Frigats Fire-ships Well-boats Bomb-vessels c. in order to the Attacking of Brest and upon the 7th he came tâ— an Anchor between Camaret-Bay and the Bay of Bertrauâ—â— by 7 in the Morning tho' as the main Fleet tacked froâ— Shoar to Shoar which they were forced to do to come 〈◊〉 the place where they intended to Anchor they had a World of Bombs thrown at them first from Camaret Western Pointâ— then from a high Castle upon a high Rock in Bertrauâ—â—-Bay then from two Forts on each side of the Isthmus going into Brest-Road the one called Point Minoux the otheâ— Point des Fillettes But neither the one nor the other diâ— any harm tho' they continued throwing Bombs from all the places before-mentioned till 10 at Night While the whole Fleet was thus preparing to come to an Anchor the Lord Cutts and the Marquess of Carmarthen in his own Galley taking several other Persons along with them stood in a considerable way into the Bay and after they had gained a