THE Detestable Designs of FRANCE EXPOSED.  
Or, the True SENTIMENTS OF THE Spanish Netherlanders: The Injustice of the King of FRANCE BY HIS DECLARATION Of War against His Catholic MAJESTY, And the Justice of the COUNTER-DECLARATION of the Marquis of Gastannaga his Governor General of the Low-Countries.  
London, Printed for Robert Clavel at the Peacock at the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard. 1689.   

THE TRUE SENTIMENTS OF THE SPANISH NETHERLANDERS, etc.  
FRANCE sets herself against all the World; and therefore it is but just that all the World should declare against Herald She it is that makes the first Onset, and we can do no less than defend ourselves. Since the Germans in a little Treatise entitled the French Herald, have so successfully refelled the Declarations of War made by he most Christian King against the Emperor and the Pope, the Flemings are no less obliged to their Sovereign, and the Marquis of Gastannaga their Governor. Nor are they in a worse condition powerfully to refute all the weak and pitiful Arguments, with which the most Christian King endeavoured to support his Pretensions. After he had declared War against the Emperor, and at the same time against the Empire (for he seeks the utter extirpation of the House of Austria) he has also declared War against the Catholic King by an Act of the fifteenth of this present year 1689. and at the same instant, has exercised all manner of Hostility upon his Dominions, as well in Flanders and the Low-countrieses, as in Catalonia. 'Tis very true, that before he fell to work, there was no Stone which the Court of France left unturned to corrupt the Spanish Council, on purpose to draw them from their own Interests, and divide them from the Emperor. For She well knows that while the House of Austria continues firmly united in the two Branches of Spain and Germany, she need not be afraid of any other Power: and therefore it is, that she has attempted to divide them. So that after she had declared War against Spain by the Exercise of most dismal Hostilities, she has laboured to the utmost of her Power, to prevent the King of Spain from sending succour to his own Blood and his own Family. This is absolutely to tie one Arm to hinder the relief of the other which they are maiming at the same time. But be sure that after Spain has sat quietly to see the Empire devoured, France them will turn her Arms upon him and perfect his destruction. 'Tis true, that Lewis XIV. finding himself burdened with King James of England, who has thrown himself into his Arms, and drawn upon him a terrible War through the Union of the Forces of England and Holland, would fain lull Spain asleep, and cajole the Emperor with vain hopes of peace, and by motives of Religion. His Ministers have spared no Flatteries at the Court of Spain. He has offered the King of Spain to make him Arbitrator and Mediator of the Peace between him and the Empire. He has caused his Ministers to lay before the King of Spain, that it is the Interest of the Catholic Religion before all things, to see the King of England re-established in his Dominions, besides that it would be a work of infinite Charity. That the differences between the Emperor and him might be easily determined by way of Negotiation, upon which Heaven would never fail to shed down a Blessing, so soon as their Interests were linked together, by so pious a work, as would be that of restoring a Catholic King, dispossessed for the sake of his Religion. The Ministers of France at the cost of Spain made use of all their Engines which were employed in Germany to disunite the Princes of the Empire. They laid before them, That it was a real War for the sake of Religion; That there was a League between the Lutheran Princes of Germany, the Hollanders and the English revolted from their lawful Sovereign, and that they menaced no less the ruin of all the Catholic States, than of the Catholic Religion itself.  
And besides all this, they made use of all those persons who had the nearest Access to his Catholic Majesty, to insinuate into him the great Advantages that would accrue to Both, if he and the Emperor should join their Forces to those of France against the Common Enemy. They farther whispered him in the Ear, That the Hollanders were not altered in their Inclinations by the Treaties of the Truce and Peace that had been brought to pass since their Rebellion: That after all, they were but Rebellious Subjects, and that it always became him to make it his business to reduce them under their former Yoke: that their Master offered his Majesty the Assistance of his Forces to tame and bring them under subjection and their old Obedience. That England and Holland made a Union formidable to all such Princes who had any Territories bordering upon the Sea: That the King of Spain had great reason to fear the loss of the Netherlands: That the English who had been in possession of Dunkirk, not long since, would not be wanting to make themselves Masters of Newport and Ostend, which when it should come to pass, they should soon be Lords of Brussels and Antwerp: that there would be no security for Spain itself. That her Coasts lay naked and open as well upon the Ocean as the Mediterranean Sea, and that she would be always exposed to the Invasions of the fierce and haughty English; and the Attempts of Holland always covetous, and seeking after nothing but Gain: That the two faithless Nations being Mistresses of the Sea, would make an Eternal separation between the Dominions of the King of Spain in the new discovered World, and those which he has in Europe: That his Galleons would import no more Bullion into his Territories, but be snapped by the way to gratify the Luxury of the English, who never think they have enough to supply their Debaucheries and Effeminacy: or else to assuage the Avarice of the Hollanders, who never believe they have Gold and Silver sufficient in their Coffers: That they would never content themselves with putting a stop to the flowing Rivulets, but would suddenly go to the Fountain itself, and that the two Insatiable and faithless Nations would wrest even Peru itself from the King of Spain. But luckily for us, all these great Engines were broken to pieces by the constancy of the Spanish Council. Thereupon the Court of France being incensed by the ill success of their Intrigues, has declared War against the King of Spain, and grounded their Declaration upon ridiculous Reasons, not much more solid than those contained in their Manifesto against the Emperor, to justify their taking Arms a second time.  
Let us a little examine this Declaration, and the better to discover the vanity of it, let us compare it with the Counter-Declaration of Monsieur the Marquis of Gastannaga our Governor.  
The sincere desire, says the Declaration, which the King has had to observe the Truce concluded in the year 1684. has inclined his Majesty to take no notice of the behaviour of the Spanish Ministers in all the Courts of the Princes of Europe. It is apparent, that when a Man renounces all other Virtues, he abjures also all Shame and Modesty. Of which if France had preserved but the least part in the World, she would never have had the Confidence to say, That the King had a sincere desire to observe the Truce concluded in the Year 1684. Who is it then that has broken this Truce for which France had such a profound Regard? Was it the Emperor, who had nothing else in his thoughts, but only vigorously to carry on his Affairs and Advantages against the common Enemy of Christendom? Was it the King of Spain, who never stirred since, nor committed the least Act of Hostility against France? And now at this present Juncture, who is it that declares the War, is it France or Spain? Is it not she that declares the War who also broke the Truce? There needs no more but to call to mind what was said in the Fecialis Gallus; and we shall easily find with what sincerity the Court of France could affirm, That the King had a sincere desire to preserve the Truce of 1684. There we shall observe, after the Conclusion of the Truce, a continued train of offered Violences, which were all of them so many Breaches. There are no manner of wranglings, Menaces, or Intrigues which the Court of France has not made use of, to force the States of the Empire to consent to this Truce; that is to say, to oblige them to renounce the Provinces of the Empire which the Violences and Invasions of France had ravished from them, on purpose to annex them to that Crown. It is the Marquis of Gastannaga who has most right to boast of the Fidelity of his King, and to say as he does, That all the Treaties of Peace and Truce have been religiously observed, on the King our Master's part, and broken upon slight occasions, and rashly violated by France. If it were lawful at any time to violate Treaties of Peace, it would be when the Peace was unjust, when they were made by the constraint of Force and Violence, or that they had been obtained by fraud and circumvention. Private Persons have a right to seek redress of the bad Contracts they have made, when they have been losers very never the full moiety. In truth, if Spain had not been sincere; if she had not had more respect to the Faith of Treaties than France, she would have had just reason to seek her own relief, considering the enormous losses which she had sustained. Being abandoned by her Allies, she was constrained to lose and let go three large Provinces, Franche Conte, Luxemburg, and almost all Flanders. What Claim could France lay to those spacious Countries? She had won them by Conquest. But can right of Conquest take place in an unjust War? He has then no more to do but to quarrel with his Neighbours, and to seize upon all their Estates for his own use by right of Conquest; and after all to restore them a small portion, and detain the greatest part to himself, and then to say, That he has a just Title to what he possesses, because he has won it by the Sword, and that he was very kind in restoring a part of what he had Conquered. Between private Persons such sort of deal would be looked upon as perfect Robbery: and indeed between Kingdom and Kingdom it is no less than absolute Highway-Felony, and mere Usurpation: and Spain being constrained by force to submit to Treaties so unjust, might have had grounds sufficient to look upon them as null and void.  
The most Christian King says, That the Ministers of Spain in the Courts of Europe, made it their sole business to excite them, to take up Arms against France, and that his Majesty was not ignorant of the part which they had in the Negotiation of the League of Auspur4gh. Once more, supposing this to be true, it was impossible to attribute this to Spain for a Crime: She did not concede that large and considerable Part of her Territories to France till constrained by Force: Now Force has nothing to do with Right. She had not parted with those spacious Provinces, but only because the Princes of Europe, being swayed by various Motives, and carried away by other Interests and Affairs, abandoned her Party. Was it a Crime in Spain to labour the reknitting of an Association together, which ought never to have been broken, till they had reduced France to Reason, and brought down her Pride?  
But besides this, all that France speaks to this purpose is mere supposition. Monsieur our Governor has much more reason to understand the conduct of Spain in foreign Courts, than the Ministers of France. He averrs and is ready to prove that the Catholic King has religiously observed the Treaties. The Ministers of Spain have maintained in the Courts of Europe, that it behoves them to be jealous of the Grandeur of France. This they could not do, without having a design to break the Truce, but 'twas only upon the consideration of preserving the Peace. This was that which was aimed at by the League of Auspurgh: By this League they intended to bridle France, oblige her to live in peace; and to preserve a Right in the Empire of redemanding what had been dismembered from it; when the Truce for twenty years should come to be expired. Now in the language of the Court of France this is said to be a Violation of the Peace and Truce: for whatever sets bounds and limits to her unruly Ambition violates all Divine and humane Laws. Lastly, in a word, that we may understand who speaks most Truth, whether the most Christian King, in saying, That he had a sincere Intention to preserve the Truce, or the Marquis of Gastannaga, who asterts have us to consider who it was, that after the Peace of Nimeghen first began to wrangle with his Neighbours, who issued forth his Processes concerning the Limits; who demanded Compensations for the Territories included with in the Spanish Flanders; who set up his Gallows at the Gates of Namur; who asserted his Right, by the burning and sacking of all the Country: who threw in his Bombs into Oudenard, in a time of settled Peace; who it was that caused the Chamber of Metz to adjudge him the two Thirds or three Fourths of the Dependences of Luxenburgh. If the King of Spain had acted any such thing, they had done him wrong, who said, That he had religiously observed the Treaties. But if it were the King of France who was the Author of all those Violences, it is a most unjust thing in him to Assert in the face of the World, That he has always had a sincere desire to observe the Treaties.  
But it is not enough for the Court of France to have accused in general all the Ministers and Governors of the Catholic King of having violated the Treaty, unless our Governor Monsieur the Marquis of Gastannaga be charged in particular. His Majesty says, the Declaration has been also informed of the part which the Governor of the Low-Countries had in the Enterprise which the Prince of Orange undertook against England.  
By this it appears, that his most Christian Majesty had very good Eyes to see what no body else but himself could discover. But I would fain understand what part the Marquis of Gastannaga had in the Enterprise of the Prince of Orange; Did he right out any of his Master's Ships to join the Holland Fleet? Did he levy any Soldiers in the Netherlands, or send any Forces aboard to land in England? Did he lend any Money to the Prince of Orange or the Hollanders toward their getting ready their Fleet? Did he solicit the English to revolt and favour that pretended Invasion? In my opinion these are the only Acts, by which it may be presumed that he had any part in the Enterprise. Now it is as clear as Daylight, and notorious to all Europe, that the Governor of the Netherlands was never guilty of any of these Charges, and that he cannot be upbraided with any false step that ever he made either directly or indirectly to the ruin of King James: but I will tell ye the truth how it was.  
Some years since there was a Tribunal erected at Versailles altogether resembling the Judgment-Seat of God; where men were to answer for their Thoughts as well as their Actions. In this Tribunal, which understood the hearts of Men, it was, that they found that the Marquis of Gastannaga, was at the bottom of his heart very glad, that the King of England had work enough to do at home, since he minded so little those Affairs abroad that most concerned him. For King James was Garrantee for the Peace of Nimeghen, for the obtaining of which his Brother had been the Mediator. It behoved him also to be Garantee for the Truce that followed: and yet he sat still without ever concerning himself, while the King of France both openly broke the Truce and invaded the Empire. It is natural not to close too far with the Interests of those, who do not close with ours; especially when they are obliged thereto. It may be that the Marque4ss of Gastannaga, who is deeply engaged in the Interests of the Empire, not a little perplexed that the King of England so strangely neglected the peace of Europe, was nothing at all troubled to see him deprived of that Peace himself, which he would not preserve to others. This was a Thing divined in France, as it was divined that the Emperor would make a Peace with the Turk, to make War upon the Rhine. And this was the great Crime of the Governor of the Low-countrieses. He was a Friend to the Prince of Orange before the enterprise of England, nor has he yet abandoned his Friendship, but has always preserved the good Correspondence which was between the Prince and Him. This was another of his Crimes. For from this time forward the World is to be informed, that France is not only the arbitrator and judge of the general conclusions of Peace, but she is also the Mistress of private and particular ties and Obligations of Friendship: People of honesty and Integrity are no longer to have any other Friends but those whom she will allow them. Otherwise he must be a Criminal, a Violator of Treaties, and an Infringer of Alliances. It may be that the Marquis of Gastannaga, at what time there was no news in Holland of what passed in England, gave advice to the Spanish Minister residing at the Hague of what Intelligence he had by the way of Newport, and that the News was carried to the Princess of Orange and the States. And this was having a part in the Enterprise of the Prince of Orange according to the Interpretation of France: for that without this Intelligence the Prince of Orange's Enterprise could never have succeeded: this was that which terrified King James: this was that which caused him to abdicate his Kingdom: this was that which had such an influence upon his Army that they refused to fight; in a word, this was that which did the work.  
Thus it is, that France derides and laughs at all the World, and takes us all for a company of Beasts: Nevertheless these specious Pretences are the Ingredients of a Delcaration of War, and make up the principal Grounds and foundations of it.  
Now let us listen to the following part of the Declaration: His Majesty not being able to believe that the conduct of the Governor of the Low-Countries in this particular Affair, was every by the Directions of Order of the King of Spain, who by so many ties of Religion, Blood, and assurance of all Kings one toward another, was obliged to oppose a Usurpation of that nature; His Majesty was in hopes that he might have been able to persuade his most Christian Majesty to a Union for the Re-establishment of the lawful King in England and the preservation of the Catholic Religion against the Protestant League, etc. His Majesty was informed at the same time, that the Spanish Ambassador in England, was every day with the Prince of Orange, etc. And bad Counsels prevailing, his Majesty had intelligence that a resolution was taken to favour the Usurper of England, and to join with the Protestant Prince.  
Behold another most pious and most Catholic Article of the Declaration: and now after this who can ever accuse the King of France of not behaving himself answerable to his Title of Most Christian? It is clear from hence that the King of Spain is no longer to be accounted Catholic, since he is become a Friend and favourer of the Protestants. He refuses to secure a Catholic Prince dispossessed by an Usurper: he joins his Forces with those of the Enemies of the Church. Nevertheless, the Marquis of Gastannaga does not relish this specious Article. And therefore he finds himself obliged to tell the World in his Counter Declaration, That that same piece of the most Christian King is injurious to the Devotion and Piety of his Master, as being laboured with all the Art imaginable to render his Alliances wih the Princes and States his Neighbours, scandalous to the World.  
In the Declaration of the most Christian King, of which we have already repeated the words, it appears that his Majesty seems to have a peculiar abhorrence of Usurpers, and would by no means be thought a friend to Usurpations, but altogether a Zealot for the Rights and Privileges of lawful Sovereigns. For he calls the Prince of Orange a Usurper, and would have all the World to be his Enemy. King James he calls the Lawful King of England, and would have all the World to secure him. But it is an easy thing to look through all these feigned shows of his good Nature; for if they be real, 'tis to be hoped that the consideration of these things will bring him to look homeward, consult his own Actions, and that then he will suddenly make satisfaction to the Princes his Neighbours, for so many Provinces of theirs which he himself has usurped: He will restore Franche Conté, the Duchy of Luxenburgh, and all Flanders to the Catholic King. He will surrender Strasburgh, Friburgh, the Palatinate, and all the Rhine to the Empire, and Lorain to its own natural and lawful Prince and Duke. For how is it possible that the declared Enemy of Usurpers and Usurpations should himself continue to be the greatest Usurper of all? King James, he says, was lawful King of England;— it may be so— Neither do we concern ourselves whether he were or no.— But was not the Catholic King as much the Lawful Sovereign of both the Burgundy's? Is it because that Flanders which was wrested from him during the Campaignes of 1667. and the rest that followed, was not his by all manner of Right and Title? Is it because he was not the true and lawful Duke of Luxenburgh? which was came the Duke of Lorain to forfeit his Duchy? What right had the French to ravish Strasburgh for the Empire?  
Who shall endure the Gracchis complaining of Sedition?  
In good truth it is a thing altogether insupportable, that a prince usurping with so much Violence and Injustice the Estates of all the World, should complain so loudly of Usurpers, and of our being so strictly united with them. Nevertheless the Prince of Orange is a Prince of the Blood of England, he married the next Heiress; and he was called in by the Nation in General. He was declared King by the Three Estates of the Kingdom. Now had the French King any Veil like this to cover his Usurpation of several Provinces, which being joined together, are as good as a Kingdom? Our Eyes are not yet sufficiently open to see the difference between the King of France and a Usurper. He wrested those Countries from Spain, from the Empire, from the Duke of Lorraine, in open War and by the dint of Sword? What other way did Crowwel, the most Infamous of all Usurpers, ascend the Throne of England? Was it not by the force of open War, and with his Arms in his hand? By what means did the Turks usurp the Estates of the Christian Princes? Was it not by main force? Therefore they are no Usupers. And Excellent Definition of an Usurper. If fraud be required to make a Usurper, was there ever known a more wicked piece of Treachery than that by which he got Strasburgh, and all the reunited Countries? But some will say, the King of France is too Conscientious; he would not have despoiled a King, he would not have dethroned the King of England. A most apparent piece of Truth! It was the niceness of his Conscience, I warrant ye, that hindered high from taking Brussels and Antwerp as he did Gaunt; or as if he would not have taken Madrid, if it had been in his power, as well as Messina. While we see him devour, we see that he is Insatiable; let him but alone till his hunger is assuaged, and you shall see how far he will eat on. If Castille had called him, and made him King, he would have gone thither f possible he could, and would have conquered it was he conquered Sicily. After all this, you may, if you please, give ear to the most Christian King, when he talks so like a Christian against Usurpers.  
Nevertheless, we ought not to refuse him the Honour of being an Enemy to Protestant Usurpers. For that is a double Crime in a Catholic King to favour a Usurper and a Protestant Usurper: that's very bad indeed. Yet we see that the most Christian King has changed his Principles, and that we need not to be afraid, for the future, of his doing what he has done formerly. We might very well set before his Eyes tekely, the Usurper of Hungary, who obtained that Title to be given him by the Ottoman Port, and who has done his utmost endeavour to get possession of it. That Usurper is a Protestant, for he is a Lutheran. Nevertheless the most Christian King must not disown but that he has acknowledged him for one of his best Friends. Had France no other Veil to hid her Miscarriages than a Cobweb, yet she is so brazen-fated, that she would deny what she did behind that Curtain, with the same confidence as if she had had a wall of a hundred foot thick to conceal her. And therefore it is that you will find her perhaps denying all her strict ties of Friendship and Treaty with Tekely and the Turk. But what will she say to her Union with Cromwell? Here is an Example that nearly concerns England, where now the Dispute lies. Henry William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, Prince of the Blood of England, married to Mary of England, Eldest Daughter of James, called in by the English, Crowned King by the three Estates is a Usurper. He is a Protestant; Let every Catholic be anathematised that adheres to him.  
But Cromwell, a Person of mean Extraction, yet a Protestant; but the Abomination of all of his own Religion, the Murderer of his King, whose Head he had cut off upon a public Scaffold; The Tyrant of England, and sworn Enemy of all Catholics, is no Usurper. It is lawful for a most Christian King to make a League Offensive and Defensive with him, to give him Entrance into Flanders, to invite him to invade the Countries of a Catholic Prince, to deliver Dunkirk into his Hands, and give it to that same English Usurper. At that time the Motives and Inducements of Religion, Blood, and safety of all Sovereign Princes were but Chimeras: never any such things really known in the World till the most Christian King gins to be afraid of England under the Government of the Prince of Orange. 'Tis a Crime for a Catholic King to have any Alliance with such a Person. In good truth, it is apparent that the most Christian King derides Religion and Christianity; and laughs at all Europe beside.  
Let us suppose the Catholic King to be at a loss: behold him between two Usurpers; between the King of France; a Usurper without the least shadow of Pretence, of two Dutchies, two great Provinces, and several Cities and Territories, and between Henry William of Nassau, Usurper of England, as France pretends. The most Christian King invites him, by all the Motives of Religion, Blood, and safety of Kings, to unite with him in a War against the Usurper of England: at least if the Condition of his Affairs will not permit him to engage in such a Union, to observe and exact Neutrality. On the other side, King William of England promises him great Advantages, if he will join with Him. What shall the Catholic King do? In my Opinion, between one Usurper and the other, his Interest requires him to declare for the Usurper, that never took any thing from him, against the Usurper that has wrested from him by force so considerable a part of his Dominions. What can France say to This?  
But to say no more of the pretended Usurpation of England; who has told France that the Catholic King has joined with a Usurper? He has united with the Emperor his Kinsman and Ally; He has joined with the Pope, the Head of the Church: Against whom? Against the common Enemy of the Empire, against the general Enemy of Europe, against the declared Enemy of the Holy Empire. Where is the Scandal? The Prince of Orange, lawful Elected, King of England by the Three Estates of the Kingdom, is upon his March the same way. What sort of Morals has the Court of France found out to prove, that it is not lawful for the Catholic King to make an Alliance with him in defence of the Common Liberty of Europe? Is it for us to dispute the Rights of the People and Kings of England? We should take it very ill that the English should intermeddle with the Government of Castille or Arragon. If there be any wrong done, 'tis done by all the Nation: Now I cannot find that the whole Body of a Nation is answerable for its Conduct to any other than God himself. If King James have any right on his side, we will not take it ill, that he defend his Title. But this is a Quarrel to be disputed between the People and Him, wherein no body has to do to concern himself; much less the Catholic King, who never received any Kindness, but all the damage that might be from the late Kings of England, as being always in League with France to the ruin of the House of Austria. This is the first time for these two hundred years past, that the House of Austria has found England in a condition to be advantageous to their Interests: and France is mighty unwilling that they should lay hold of the Lucky Conjuncture. 'Tis very unjust: and the Accusation which the most Christian King raises thereupon, is a Pretence without any ground.  
After all, what would be the benefit of that plausible Alliance into which his most Christian Majesty tells us, that he has laboured so much to persuade the Catholic King for the restoring King James? It would produce a bloody War. England environed with the Sea, united to Holland, and in Alliance with other Protestant Princes is able to maintain a War against all the other Princes of Europe. And in this War Spain would be a loser, the Empire would get nothing, and France would win all. For when the Allies were weakened by extravagant Expenses and a tedious War with England, then would France fall upon them and levelly all before him. This is a true Prospect of the Designs of France, so Religious, so Catholic, so Zealous for the Rights of lawful Sovereigns.  
And now, has not the Marquis of Gastannaga just reason to publish, That the most Christian King's Declaration is injurious to his Catholic Majesty, while it labours to render all his Alliances with the Princes and States his Neighbours scandalous to all the World, whose glorious Aim is only the repose of Christendom, and the reciprocal Grandeur of each others Dominions. The Scandal then being wiped away, as it is clear there is none in this case, it is as apparent that his Catholic Majesty cannot dispense with his entering into an Alliance with all the Enemies of France, let them be of what Religion they will. For this Union tends to the glorious End, which is the safety and repose of Europe, of which the most Christian King has been the Disturber for several years. His Ambition is boundless, nor will it admit of any Limits: and therefore it is requisite that Bounds should be set him in spite of his teeth, it being necessary, as the Marquis of Gastannaga says, for the reciprocal Grandeur of each others Dominions. Not that the Emperor or the King of Spain, or their Allies have any design of Conquest upon those Princes that acknowledge and worship Jesus Christ. That Honour is left for the most Christian King, to pillage and devour the Children of the Church. The Emperor is contented with conquering the Countries of the Christians out of the hands of Infidels. And as for his Catholic Majesty, all that he desires, is but to regain what has been so unjustly ravished from him. Nor does it appear that the Protestant States, the English and Hollanders either have or can have any prospect of Conquest, nor any other Interest than that of the public safety and the preservation of the Liberty of Europe. But to be an Enemy of France, to go about to stop the Career of her Fury, is to declare War against Heaven, if you will believe the Ministers and Council of Versailles.  
His Majesty was informed at the same time, that the Spanish Embassadonr in England was continually with the Prince of Orange. And thus for the future the Court of France it seems will take upon her to regulate the Visits and motions of Foreign Ambassadors in Foreign Courts, so that they shall not dare to pay common Civilities without her permission. Wherefore should the Catholic King forbear holding that good Correspondence with the Prince of Orange which he had always observed while he was at the Hague: Had the Prince of Orange given the King any occasion to order his Ministers not to see him any more? 'Tis very true, the behaviour of the Prince was quite different toward Monsieur Barillon, the most Christian King's Ambassador; for he sent him away packing with ignominy: and he had good reason so to do. For that Ambassador was sent into England for nothing else but to engage King James in a Conduct entirely opposite to the Interests of Europe and the public peace. 'Twas his business to cheat England, and to tie he Hands that she might not oppose the Ambitious designs of the most Christian King: and aster the flight of King James, he stayed behind for nothing else but to be a Spy and a Firebrand of Sedition. But the Spanish Ambassador was there to engage England to do her duty, by suppressing the Attempts of France. The Prince of Orange comes into England, and by the flight of King James becomes Master of Affairs, and turns the Tide, so that the Revolution proves altogether favourable to the Interests of his Catholic Majesty and of all Europe. What reason has the most Christian King to take it ill that we should lay hold of such a lucky Circumstance, for the restoring Christendom to peace, and that flourishing Condition which it formerly enjoyed?  
One of the King of France's Reasons for declaring War against the Catholic King is, That the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands we very busy in raising new Forces. Is not this very fine, that the King of France shall cover Land and Sea with Armies and Fleets, shall declare War against the Pope and the Emperor, threaten the Universe, make preparations as if he were to conquer all the East, and that he Princes of Christendom and their Governors must not dare to make moderate Levies for their own security, but that the King of France must take from thence and occasion to declare War against them? The Method of this Ambitious Prince is to strike without giving notice, and to take, and burn Cities and Towns without any Declaration, as was apparent by the burning of Genoa, and the seizing of Strasburgh and Philipsburgh which he has wrested from the Empire. However it behoves us to trust to his Honesty, we must neither stir, nor make any Levies in the Spanish Netherlands, because that at the Court of Madrid he is endeavouring to lull the People asleep with Proposals of Peace and Neutrality. It was also a very great Crime in the Governor of the Low-Countries to let in the Dutch and Brandenburg Forces into the principal Spanish Cities of Flanders. Is it not a wonderful thing that we should be so Cautious against a faithless Enemy? 'Tis true, that since there was no War declared between France and Spain, it behoved our Governor to live and sleep at his ease, upon the Faith and security of the Treaties, since there was no necessity for him, to put Foreign Forces into his fortified Cities. But who is there that does not know that there is no Faith or Trust in France; That Treaties of Truce and Peace, Capitulations and Promises are but Ropes of Chaff, which she breaks in the first fits of her Fury and Ambition, without giving warning to any body.  
France also has found out another great Motive to declare War against Spain, for that she has discovered, That the Agent of the Prince of Orange have received considerable sums at Case diz and Madrid. In good truth we are become very happy-and now the Credit of the Crown of Spain is again restored. The pretended weakness of the Catholic King, the Poverty of is exhausted Treasuries, and the slowness of his Returns for the Low-Countries were the subjects of the Scoffs and Raillery of France. Now, thanks be to Heaven, Spain is in a condition to furnish Foreiners with considerable Sums. And what is this to the King of France? Who ever heard it said, that when Men pay their Debts, or borrow money of their Friends, that they incur the Crime of Infidelity toward those with whom they are otherwise at Peace. This very Act of Spain in paying money to the Prince of Orange, is a sufficient proof that she never intended to break the Truce first. For upon Emergent occasions every body has need of his own.  
In short, France has found out that the Catholic King deserved the utmost of her Indignation, and that he should be proceeded against with Fire and Sword, because at least, He would not oblige himself to observe and exact Neutrality, and not promise to succour-her Enemies either directly or indirectly.  
'Tis a very strange thing that France will take upon her to bind up other States by Treaties upon Treaties, and observe none herself. What need was there of a Treaty of Neutrality, since the Truce of 1684. was still in force in respect of the Catholic King? And if France intended to make any satisfaction to the Empire for the dismal Invasion of Germany, would not things be in their former condition without any need of a Neutrality? But France refusing to give the Emperor and the Pope satisfaction; was not this an uncivil, dishonest and ridiculous Demand, that the King of Spain should look on quietly and without stirring while France pushed forward her furious Attempts against the Emperor and the Pope, against whom the most Christian King had declared War? Can this be any occasion to break a Treaty of Peace, because France would not stay to see which way the Catholic King intended? For seeing France had Enemies enough to deal with, though the Catholic King had forborn to meddle in the Affair, and that he had waited to see the end of the Quarrel and the success of the War without having any hand in it, the most Christian. King had what he could desire. The Truce had been in force, and the Neutrality by consequence. If his Catholic Majesty had at length declared War against France, he had had time enough then to think of defending him himself. So that this Declaration of War against Spain had not engaged the most Christian King in new Expenses: seeing that having a War with Holland he was obliged to have an Army in the Netherlands. But the King of France thought to perform an Act of great courage and boldness, by being beforehand with the Male contents, and foremost in declaring a War against all the States which he foresaw could give him any trouble, as in the gaiety of his Heart, he declared War at one time both against the Pope and the Emperor, fearing they would make a Peace with the Turk to fall upon him. Presently after he declared War against the Hollanders, who were busy about their own affairs, because he foresaw, that in the conclusion, it would not a little perplex him, should they engage in the Interests of the Empire. And at length he declared War against his Catholic Majesty at a time when he observed the Truce, because he thought he could not prevent his assisting the Emperor, his Kinsman and Ally. 'Tis a wonder that this Magnificent Braggart suffered England to get the start of him. and that he let King William be the first that declared the War. We shall see how this Hectoring and Bouncing will thrive with the most Christian King. He has had the pleasure of declaring War against all Europe, and to give the first Blows; we shall know shortly who will strike hardest and continue longest in breath. And thus much for the reasons upon which the King of France grounds his Declaration of War. There are others but I omit them, because they are so very weak, that they are not worth repeating.  
Our Governor in his Counter-Declaration does not bring so many; but they are much better and more satisfactory. He grounds his Counter-Declaration only upon two Arguments:  
The first, That the Arms of France inhumanly and with all manner of cruelties and unheard of Barbarisms lay desolate all the States of the Empire, without any regard to the Laws of Religion or War, or the sacred Right of Capitulations.  
The Second, That the Ministers of France make use of all the tricks and slights of Negotiation, and of all other means to disturb the Harmony of Christendom, and to bring in the whole Ottoman Power to the Destruction of Hungary, and at the same time to ranverse the Peace concluded between his Imperial Majesty, his Illustrious Allies and the Ottoman Port. Upon this second Reason we could enlarge very much, if all had not been said already that is to be spoken; that is to say, how justly and how truly we have Reason to complain of the Infamous Alliances between the Court of France and the Turk, to the Ruin of Christendom. We are convinced of it by Letters intercepted, and undeniable proofs of the private Correspondence, which they have always held with the Rebels of Hungary; and their furnishing them with the Assistance both of Men and Money, and all this, since the General Peace of Nimeghen. We know that it was France that solicited the Port to invade the Emperor's Dominions, and to undertake the Siege of Vienna. We know that it was France that practised whatever could be devised to break the Peace between the Emperor and the Turk. All this is so notorious, that there is no necessity to prove it: the Court of France moreover makes her brags of it. We accuse her, and she glories in it. We agree the matter of Fact; the dispute is only concerning the Nature of it: Let the World judge whether it be just and honest for a Christian Prince that would be thought so zealous a Catholic, to solicit the Forces of Infidels to overthrow and extirpate Christianity; and whether the Emperor and the King of Spain have not more than sufficient reason to abhor Peace with a Prince that declares War against Jesus Christ, by uniting with the professed Enemies of the Cross.  
The next Reason which the Marquis of Gastannage alleges is founded upon the unheard of Inhumanities', Cruelties and Barbarisms, perpetrated in the States of the Empire by the French Forces, by the peculiar Order of the most Christian King. This was a sound Argument, when our Governor produced it: but it is very much improved since that time, in regard those Cruelties are multiplied since at a strange rate. There was enough then to privilege our Governor to speak what he said. But what might he not now have said, had he seen what since has befallen us? The fair Cities of Worms, Spire, and Oppenheim, and all those other Towns that lie upon the Rhine, from Philipsburg to Mayence, have undergone the same Fate. That lovely Canton of Germany, the Delight of the Earth, and true Terrestrial Paradise, is now a dreadful Desert; where there is nothing to be seen but smoking Ruins, the Cries of which mount up to Heaven. Spire, the Seat of Imperial Justice, where God voiced forth his Oracles to determine the differences between Man and Man, and preserve the Peace of private Families, is at present a heap of Ashes. The very Names of considerable Lineages are annihilated, the Seeds of Eternal Discord are sown in the Ground, and the effects of the French Fury have extended themselves even to future Ages, by the Destruction of so many Germane Families. Worms, a spacious and renowned City, is now become an Object that terrifies the Sight. Nothing but Ruins are there to be seen, which bespeak the most execrable Cruelty that ever was committed. The whole Country round about presents nothing to your view but Desolation, not to be imagined. Neither Trees, nor Vineyards; no planted Orchards or Gardens: no Corn, no verdant Fields or Meadows, nor any hope of Harvest. All is become one dreadful Object all alike: Conflagration, Fire and Ashes: Depopulation, intermixed with smoking heaps of Ruin and Rubbish. And what occasioned these Extravagant Outrages? Perhaps they might be done upon the first motions of an Indignation, not easily mastered. Perhaps it might be the effect of sudden Rage, upon the Sacking of a City taken by Storm, where the Soldiers incensed by the dangers they have escaped, and greedy of Plunder, put all to the Sword. No— it was in cold blood that these horrid Inhumanities' were exercised; and upon Cities and Provinces, of which they had been in Possession for several Months; upon People that endured their slavery with Patience, and of whom they had not the least reason in the World to complain. It was done after mature Deliberations and Resolutions taken in the Cabinet and Cabal at Versailles, consisting of the King, Louvay, and de Croissy. Did ever the whole Senate of Devils fix upon Resolutions so horrid and Infernal? Lucifer and his Angels never imagined or executed any thing so dismal, to the Destruction of Mankind. Suppose you saw the Inhabitants of that spacious and lovely Country hurrying out of the midst of Fire and Flames; Mothers with their Infants in their Arms, bathing their Cheeks with Tears, and sending up their piercing Cries to Heaven; disconsolate Husbands dragging their Wives and Children after them; old Men slowly creeping from the danger, tottering at every step, and bewailing the Loss and Desolation of a Country, where they had enjoyed Tranquillity and Pleasure for so many years together; young Men abandoning the hopes of those Fortunes and Estates they were just ready to inherit by the Death of their Parents, whom old Age was about to dispose to a better Life. Set before your Eyes this numerous Multitude dispersed among the Woods, wand'ring over the Mountains, laden with those small remains of that same fatal Shipwreck which every one could save; consumed with Weariness, overwhelmed with Grief, surrounded with Affliction, and making the Banks of the River echo with the Plaints and Lamentations.  
Lastly consider, that as an Accumulation of Cruelty, they refused these miserable Creatures the Consolation of seeking Sanctuary and Relief among their fellow Countrymen beyond the Rhine. All that they desired was to die Freemen, and to breath forth their last gasp in the Arms of their Friends and Relations. But they constrained them only to change the Place of their Captivity, and to retire into the Cities, which the French as yet are Masters of upon the Rhine; on purpose to redouble their Affliction, in seeing their abodes newly assigned them, destined to the same Desolation as their native Soil.  
In these sirs of general Fury there was nothing spared. Things the most Sacred were profaned. The Bishops and they that officiated at the Altars were dragged about the Streets in Pomp and Triumph. They were constrained to save those sorry Remnants which the Soldiers left, and what they could rescue out of their Churches, among the Rocks and Forests. The Religious Orders were haled from their Solitudes, and the Spouses of Christ were exposed to the Insolences of the Victorious Soldiers. Those Churches that were formerly the Sanctuaries of the unfortunate, were laid level with the Earth; the Devotion of our Ancestors that reared them, not being able to preserve them.  
Who would have thought or Age could have produced such dreadful Extravagancies? And yet for all this, we are Debtors to the King of France. There needs no more to distinguish him from all the Princes in the World. Tho he was well enough known before by his new Law, while he pretended, that whatever had belonged, or had formerly been annexed to the Countries which had been conceded to him by the Treaties of Munster and Nimeghen, ought to return to him. Observe a Maxim of War, which is no less new, but very terrible: That there is a necessity of burning, destroying, and annihilating whatever cannot be kept, lest the Enemy should make any benefit of it. Never was any conception of Hell so dreadful. What would have become of the world if this Maxim had been in force two Ages ago? What would have become of Germany, during a War of fifty Years, from the unfortunate Overthrow of Frederick Elector Palatine, who aspired to the Crown of Bohemia, to the Peace of Munster. There is not a City in Germany that was not subjected several times to the change of various Masters. If a War were made upon their foundation, that nothing is to be left for the Enemy to make a benefit of, all the Cities in the World would be reduced to Ashes.  
The Hollanders are happy in this, that that same Devil which now possesses France, did not enter her sooner: For then the great City of Vtrecht, the Cities of Arnheim, Nimeghen, Campen, Zwoll, Deventer, Doesburgh, Bommel, Thiel, and in a word, all the Towns of Gelder's, Overyssel, and the Province of Vtrecht which France abandoned, had been utterly destroyed; the famous City of Messina had been like the top of Mount Gibello, not far distant from it.  
Has not our Governor reason enough to say, That the French have no regard to the Laws of Religion or War? We know that the Laws of War do authorise many Acts, which in Peace are looked upon to be wicked and villainous. when we quit a City that we cannot keep, we carry away whatever may render it formidable to those that are forced to leave it: We demand Ransom, and take the chief Inhabitants for Hostages. Nor were the French ignorant how to make the best Advantage of these Privileges during the Dutch War. Thus also when we abandon any strong Garrisons, we take care to ruin the principal Fortifications. Lastly, when we are sorely pressed upon by the Enemy, Necessity constrains us to destroy whatever may be serviceable in the Country to the Enemy's Army; We burn up the Hay, carry away the Corn, set on fire what we cannot carry away, and destroy all the Mills. But to fall without mercy upon Cities and Houses, and to burn them and lay them in Ashes, is a monstruous and unparallelled Extravagance, contrary to all the Laws of War: And then consider the time, at the beginning of a War, before any Brush or Defeat received. So that it could be no fear of urging Mischief that occasioned these Madnesses. And now to what purposs is all this? Would the Germans and their Horses have eaten the Walls of the magnificent Castle of Heydelbergh, or the Houses of so many Cities, had they been left standing? Are these the Provision and Ammunition that maintain Armies? What though the French had left the Cities of Heydelbergh, Manheim, Frankendale, Spire, Worms, and Oppenheim, with their Houses entire, but empty however, without Corn, Wine, or Cattle, would the Enemy have been a whit the better; or at least, would not they themselves have been though to have some moderation in their Anger. But these Stones and these Houses will remain eternal Witnesses, that the Spirit of the French Cabal is a thousand times worse than that of the Turks, since the Infidels were never guilty of the like. 'Tis such a reproach to the Christian Name, that when the News of it shall reach the Ottoman Port, there is no doubt but all the Divan will lift up their hands to Heaven, and give God thanks for revenging them upon the Christians by the Christians themselves, who commit those heinous Impieties which their Janissaries and spahis would be afraid to do. And therefore, I wish that all Europe would make the following Reflections upon these enormous Irregularities of France.  
The first is, That France neither desires, nor hopes for Peace, as Affairs stand: For she leaves no room either to hope for, or to ask. Can we make a Peace with France without reparation of our Damages? What satisfaction can she give us for so many Wrongs? The Revenue of France for ten Years together, will never come near what we have reason to demand for above forty or fifty Cities burnt, and thirty Leagues of a fruitful and populous Country laid waste and desolate. Therefore France never desires any Peace. 'Tis true, she complains as if we intended to perpetuate the War by Alliances, wherein we engage ourselves not to lay down Arms, till France be reduced to that condition wherein she was after the Peace of Munster. But indeed it is she that would perpetuate the War, and render Peace impossible, by such dismal Desolations. And then, since Peace is not the desire of France, it behoves us never to give over till we have subdued her by War.  
The second Reflection is, That since France is thus disposed, all the Allies must resolve upon this, either to die or vanquish, for there is no Medium. Therefore Generous Germans, be assured, that whatever Cities you suffer her not take, will be only a Prey to her devouring Flames; and for that reason defend them to the last extremity. If you are besieged, bury yourselves under your own Ruins, and perish nobly.  
As for you Hollanders, whose Cities are the Wonders of the World: Consider likewise that if you are too sparing of yourselves, you will become a Prey to an Enemy that will not be sparing of You, but lay your goodly Palaces all in Ashes.  
And thou, the conquered Part of Flanders, and you Cambray, Valenciennes, S. Omer, Lisle, Tournay, and Dovay, and the rest that groan under the Bondage of France, behold in the Mirror of others Sufferings your own approaching Fate. For if the French are constrained to draw out their Garrisons to reinforce their Armies, be assured they will set ye all on Fire, to the end you may be useless to their Enemies: Therefore take your opportunity betimes, to shake off so terrible a Yoke, and prevent so dreadful a Misfortune.  
And you the Cities of Brabant and Flanders, still remaining under the Dominion of your Lawful Sovereign, and make up one of the most lovely Ornaments of the Christian World be afraid of the same Fate, and be ascertained that you will not escape it, if you fall into the hands of the French; and therefore be not Niggard's either of your Money or Lives to answer the Expectations of that illustrious Governor, who is your Tutelar Angel.  
But as for you French. Men, accustomed to Servitude for so many Years, in whose Breasts there is nothing remaining of the old Generosity of the Ancient Franks, do you believe yourselves secure from these Outrages? Assure yourselves you live under a Monarch who looks upon himself to be All in All, and all the World to be nothing. At this time he burns and ransacks Germany. He tells you, 'Tis to save the State. But know, that he looks upon himself alone to be the State: And therefore, for his own preservation he will burn you as he now burns his Neighbours. When the Germans shall be entered into Lorraine, be assured he will reduce Champagne to the same condition with the Countries upon the Rhine; if they enter through Picardy, he will burn that also to secure himself; if we land an Army, he will burn Normandy to secure Versailles. Neither are these Conjectures, for we have good Intelligence, and are well assured of it. Consider therefore how to prevent the Crew of Firebrands, set yourselves at Liberty, and lend your hands to those that are ready to set you free.  
My last Reflection is, that as he makes War without giving any Quarter, so we ought to use as little Mercy in making War upon him. Not that we would counsel the Allies to deal by France, as the French have dealt by Germany (God forbidden) We ought not to punish the Innocent for the Crimes of the guilty. We ought to spare the People, to deliver them from the Thraldom under which they groan, and to gain them by all manner of gentle Usage. But as for those that shall be found in Arms, those Firebrands in pay under the most destructive Burner in the World, by no means have any pity upon them, but burn all those Incendiaries without compassion. Let us not forbear chase them, till we come to the very Gates of that bloody cruel and fiery Cabal; that so those detestable Counsellors may be forced to pay the full Penalty for all those Calamities which their accursed Counsels have brought upon all Europe. By this means we may be serviceable to the most Christian King himself; by delivering him out of the infamous Clutches of those that tarnish his Glory, and render him the common Enemy of all the Earth.  
The END.   

Books Printed for ROBERT CLAVEL.  
AN Account of the present State of Ireland, giving a full Relation of the new Establishment made by the late K. James, as it was presented to the Right Honourable the Earl of Shrewsbury, His Majesty's principal Secretary of State, and others of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council. With an Account of what Sums of Money, Arms, and number of Officers arrived there from France; together with the State of Derry and Eniskilling, and several other Affairs relating to that Kingdom, particularly of the Proceed of the Parliament there.  
The Journal of the Proceed of the Parliament in Ireland with the Establishment of their Forces there.  
The Charge of subduing the Irish Rebellion, in 1641.