THE POLITICS OF THE French KING, LEWIS the XIV.  
DISCOVERED: With Respect to 

Rome.  
Emperor, and Princes of the Empire.  
Spain.  
England.  
United Provinces.  
Northern Princes.  
Suisse Cantons: And of Savoy.    
With a short Account of His RELIGION.  
Translated from the French.  
Licenced according to Order.   

THE Policy of France, And the MAXIMS of LEWIS the XIV. Discovered to all EUROPE.  
IT is not Birth which chief distinguishes Princes from other Men, but their Parts and Abilities: How many of them find we in History; who having but an indifferent share of them, make no other figure, but to fill up Genealogy; and whose Birth-days, and the days of their Death, are the only two which make any noise in the World. 'Tis according as this Spirit or Genius is disposed in a Sovereign, that he acts for the good and welfare, or for the misfortune and undoing of his People. woe to thee O Land, saith the Wise Man, when thy King is a Child, and thy Princes eat in the Morning: Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due season for Strength, and not for Drunkenness.  
The Jewish Nation were happy under David and Solomon, but Rehoboam spoke to them in this manner, My little Finger shall be thicker than my Father's Loins; for whereas my Father put an heavy Yoke upon you, I will put more to your Yoke: My Father chastised you with Whips, but I will chastise you with Scorpions.  
Augustus Caesar was called Pater Patriae, Father of the People of Rome; but Nero their Hangman. Philip II. was born of a wise Father, who Reigned with general applause; but yet he was a Bloodthirsty Man, who spared not his own Blood, and squandered away what Charleses V had preserved with so much Glory and Prudence. Francis the First was the Idol of the French, and Darling of the Nobility; he acquired the Title of a mild, gentle Prince in peace, Victorious in War, the Father and Restorer of Learning and liberal Arts; but Charles IX. that of Murderer.  
Henry iv was surnamed the Great, by reason of his great Actions, he was the Darling and Father of his People, and his beneficent sweet disposition seemed to promise a happy Reign, if a cursed Hand had not put a stop to the course of his Life. Lewis XIII. was surnamed the Just, grounded without doubt upon the Gospel, which assures us, That blessed are the poor in Spirit, and that theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. It was rather richelieu's Spirit that reigned than his.  
Lewis XIV. did not discover his Inclinations whilst he was under the Tuition of his Mother and Mazarines' lash, but so soon as ever this latter was dead, he shown what he was.  
His Flatterers in imitation of his Grand father gave him the Name of Great, although he had not as yet deserved it. 'Tis true indeed, He is Great, as to his Ambition, a great Usurper of the Territories of his Neighbour, a great Enemy to the Holy See, to the Pope, and a great Persecutor of the Hugonots, His Reign is full of nothing but great Monopolies, and his Lovis d'ors are the only pass par touts, or Keys that open the Gates to his Conquests. He was born Armed, and his first nourishment was the Blood of his Nurses which he drew himself, that ambitious Spirit he is possessed withal, would willingly sacrifice a good part of his Subjects to his Passion and Greatness: Woe be to thee O Land that groans under the burden of such a Prince! woe to that People enslaved under his Dominion! Under the Reign of Antiochus the Illustrious, the Jews often cried to God, that he would deliver them out of the hand of their Oppressor: Why may not the French put up the like Petition; nay, and all Europe besides to be delivered out of the hands of that Usurper. Lewis the Great thought he already held in his hand the Sceptre of the Monarchy of all Europe, when Vienna was besieged; yea, he thought it within two hairs breadth of its destruction, which he supposed inevitable, grounded upon the Prophecies of Drabitius; but perceiving this way stopped up, he betakes himself to his first Errors and former Road, he waits with great impatience to see what the Snares which he laid at the time of the Queen of Spain's Marriage, will produce: Man purposes, but God disposeth.  
Time impairs the Mind as well as the Body, and Princes are oftentimes fain to let their Successors do what they were not able to do themselves, and so much the more, because that same Divine Providence, on which Princes depend as well as the rest of Mankind, doth not meet here below by the measure of their Ambition: Ambitious Men build Castles in the Air, and by their good will would possess the whole Earth beside. This itch reigns at this day in France, and this is it which quite takes up the mind of Lewis XIV. as we shall see by the sequel, and the course he takes to accomplish his Designs.  

The Policy of France, and its Maxims in respect of all Europe in general.  
HEretofore Men accused Spain for aspiring to an Universal Monarchy: If it was so, I suppose Philip II. begun to lose this hope, when he perceived the Sea and Winds oppose his designs, and that the Armada, which he called Invincible, (on Board of which he thought to have brought into Spain the British Isles, etc.) came to nothing, and that his choicest Troops who were embarked therein, served only to fight against the Waves, and feed the Fishes of the Sea; moreover, when he saw, that during the whole War of the Netherlands, (a small handful of People whom he called Gueux or Beggars, in derision) were always able to hold up their Head against him, nay, and to beat him in several Encounters, until such time as in the Year 1609, he was fain to cry Quarter, make a Truce with the United Provinces, and acknowledge them for Free States.  
This was a very bitter Pill, and would scarce go down with a Prince who was so highly ambitious: But it behoved him to swallow it, and it wrought so strongly upon him, that he lost Seven Provinces at a clap by it, and part of the Indies: Insomuch, That this longing desire after the Universe began to abate by reason of his Age which had already lost the first heat of Youth, and by reason of the bad success of all his Erterprises. Philip III was as little fortunate as he, and Philip iv had great disappointments towards France and the Low Countries and was very glad by clapping up a Peace to acknowledge those who had been his Subjects for a Free and Sovereign Commonwealth, holding of none but God Almighty. Charles XI. Reigning at present is a good Prince, who loves his ease, and would willingly quit all the Claims and Titles of his Ancestors to an Universal Monarchy for a Son and Heir to the Crown of Spain to succeed him. Malherbe told us long since, that if it were true, that Spain aspired to an Universal Monarchy, he would advise his King to beg of God to prolong the World as much as he can. This Malady ceasing in Spain, hath passed into France; but France being wiser doth not grasp so much, and her King's Ambition is only confined to Europe, a wish worthy of such a great Prince; and who, if we consider him aright, could scarce demand less; his Neighbours ought narrowly to watch his water; for certain it is, France cannot aggrandise herself without encroaching upon her nearest Neighbours; as she doth really every day already. When the House of Austria made broad signs of her design upon the Universe; all the Princes of Christendom risen up against her, and entered into an Association to prevent her. Charles' V after the Battle of Pavia, where Francis was taken Prisoner; thought himself above all, but he found business enough. The Pope, King of England, the Venetians, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Swiss made a League against him, to hinder this Emperor from bringing France, and consequently the rest of Italy under his subjection. It was not for any kindness the Pope and King of England bore King Francis, that they combined together to relieve him, but because Charles V became so great, that he would by his good Will have made himself Master of the World. Now at present, forasmuch as this Itch is passed into France, All Princes of Europe for some time have run counter to whatsoever their Ancestors did in the Reign of Charles V, and Philip II. and instead of opposing they have abetted and concurred with the designs of France, some out of base compliance, others out of fear. There are none but the Princes of Nassau alone who have always been fatal to whosoever had a mind to aspire to this sublime Monarchy of the Universe: Do not Men admire with me the wretched Policy of several Princes and States in the World, who look on with their Arms a cross, and behold the French King to advance so fast, and take Luxemburg, a City of such grand Importance to Europe; only the Prince of Orange presented himself upon the breach with the Low Countries but who not being in a capacity to do any thing by himself, was forced to retreat: The French King would never have taken it, had England and the States, withstood it, he hath no cause to brag of it; it is a truth all the World knows but too well; he was so cunning to get the King of Great Britain on his side, that he consented to take what was not his own, and to baffle the rest by illusory promises of an Universal Peace, after the taking in of Luxemburg, which they suffered him to do; and this gross valiant Captain (of a Trencherman) the Marquis of Grana, Governor of the Low Countries, who was not promoted to this place, but upon his demonstrating the means of being able to preserve this most Important place to the Court of Spain; a place, I say, so necessary to Spain for the preservation of the Low Countries by the assistance of Germany; and albeit, he should have minded nothing else, but the preservation of that same City, his own Honour, as well as Duty to, and interest of his King his Master, being all engaged therein: Instead of doing which, this Fatgut put into it only a pitiful Garrison of Twelve, or Fifteen Hundred Men, instead of Four Thousand, and was wholly taken up in fortifying the City of Namur with his Regiments, and some other places which were Cities on the boundaries which France would not have dared so much as to touch: Would you not swear such a Fellow conspired to aggrandise France, and concurred with the Designs of Lewis XIV. When the King in 1667 would have undertaken the Conquest of the Spanish Netherlands, England, Swedeland, and the United Provinces, associated together by the Triple League, forced him soon to quit his hold; they obliged him to re-procure, and make a Peace with Spain; and to restore to it, some part of what he had usurped and taken away. It would have been just so, if the Neighbouring Princes had done the same at such time as he attacked Luxemburg: Resist the Devil, and he will fly from you: But France cunning and subtle had sufficiently tried how prejudicial this League was to her; she could never be at rest till she had plucked this Thorn out of her Foot; and so soon as ever the term was expired, she could not be satisfied till she had found out a way to hoodwink England, and so got her disengaged from the Tripple-knot. The Duchess of Portsmouth like another Dalilah came over out of France into England, to lull asleep the Samson of this Kingdom: France found out the way to act, and speak so fair, that she hooked in Dunkirk by Promises and Money, at the beginning of the Reign of Charles TWO, King of Great Britain: A Town of so great Consequence to England, in as much as it affords a good entrance into Picardy, and Flanders. 'Tis no new thing for France to be troubled with this itching mind to seize on the places of her Neighbours, and to enlarge her Dominion from one end of Europe to the other. The Duke of Rohan told us heretofore, that Princes commanded People; but that Self-Interest commanded Princes. (Without question he would have added something else had he lived in this Age,) and especially Lewis the XIV. We may see Examples of it, day by day, and to secure his Ambition, all times and seasons are good for him; in Peace, in War, in Cessation of Arms. Interest is the evil Angel hath so long reigned through France, we are taught out of History, how Godfrey of Bulloign having a mind to take a Journey for the Conquest of the Holy Land; and coming short of Money to put himself in a capacity to do it, sold many of his Cities and Lands; amongst others, the City of Metz with the Country adjoining, which its own Citizens and Inhabitants purchased of him for the Sum of an Hundred Thousand Crowns. They enjoyed this their purchase till the Year of our Lord 1551, in which Charleses V did so evilly entreat the Protestants of Germany. Henry II. King of France, under a pretence, seemed forward to send Relief to the said Protestants of Germany: In effect, he dispatched the Constable of Monmorency with Four Thousand Men, in all probability for this Expedition; but it was quite and clean for another design, as the sequel will make appear: He demanded passage of the City of Metz; who were for the most part of the same Religion with those who were molested in Germany; between whom, and the Emperor, there was no good understanding: They granted to the King with abundance of joy, whatsoever he required of them in reference to his Troops passage; and in testimony of their good will, they caused Tables to be set up in the Streets, to make the Soldiers eat and drink on their passage, with huge demonstration of Friendship and Rejoicing. But alas! Their Laughter was soon changed into Weeping; so soon as ever the Constable (who was received by the Magistrates with all Tokens of Honour and Benevolence) had entered the City, he feigned himself to have a fit of the Gout, and to feel intolerable pains; he declared his great desire to have his Will made, not knowing what might befall him, in the War he was about to commence; and entreated the Magistrates of the City, and all the Nobility that they would assist as Witnesses of it. In the mean time he had given order to two Colonels to seize, one of them upon the Gate by which the Troops entered, and the other on that, by which they went out. To the first, He gave order to cause part of the Army, which was still without to advance; and to the other, to bid those who were already gone out to enter in again: Now the Constable seeing the Magistrates and chief Nobility round his Bed, expecting his Orders; up starts he like a Lion enraged, and sheathed his Poniard in the Mayor's Breast, and at the Signal given, his Guards rushed in, and Assassinated all the Nobility they met with in his Chamber; whereupon the Army that had entered the City at the same time, cried up and down the City, The Town is won: It was plundered, and subdued to the Bloody Dominion of the King, and of an Ally as it was, soon became a Subject. This was the Bloody Conquest of Henry II. And there is your French Policy.  
Lewis XIII. not knowing how to get possession of Lorain, by the Advice and Counsel of that most Subtle and Crafty Politician Cardinal Richlieu, comes to Lions with an Army under pretence of some design against Savoy. The Cardinal gave notice beforehand to Duke Charles of Lorraine, that he should make his personal appearance before the King, to pay him his respects, and assure him by word of mouth of his good intentions towards his Person. This Duke thinking no harm, suffered himself to be persuaded to it in earnest, departs from Nancy to salute the King at the head of his Troops: After he had complemented him, thinking he might return home again, he found it to be a Lion's Den, arrested he was upon pretence of some old claims. His Eminence at that time performing the Office of Mediator, propounded that to make his peace with the King, and that he might enjoy his Liberty, to put into the King's hands Nancy his chief City, and the Key of his Duchy: Thus far he must go to be freed from his Arrest: Well Nancy was delivered up, the King entered into it like a Conqueror with his Army at his heels: Observe the Policy of France in this particular.  
The demolishing of the Castle at Orange is just such another trick, shows their temper, for upon some little difference that arose between the two Princesses, Royal, and Dowager, Lewis XIV. King of France, as usually he doth, would intermeddle with it, and that he might make them agree, and that the young Prince (then under Age) avoid the Expenses of maintaining a Garrison there; he caused the Bastions of the Castle to be pulled down, and left nothing but the Dungeon, which together with the Town he could take at pleasure, as since he hath done. What the same King did at Strasburg is much the same: This City looked upon its self secure after the Treaty at Nemegen, confirmed by the powerful Letters the King writ to them time after time, after the assurances his Resident then in the City gave them, that his Master desired nothing more than to live in a fair correspondence with the Emperor, and with the Cities of the Empire; last of all by the suits and importunities of the same Resident, a Traitor was Elected Burgomaster, who did nothing but by the Council of France. The Magistracy and Citizens thus lulled asleep by all these fair promises and protestations, dismissed the Swisseses their Guards; but they were no sooner without doors, but Mr. Louvois with a puissant Army began to invest their City; obliges them to surrender on what conditions soever he thought fit to prescribe them; even at this present they make no Conscience to violate those sorry Articles which were granted to them, and to misuse them like Slaves, as he does all the rest of his Subjects. Take notice of your Humour of France, which is always restless.  
After the peace at Nemeghen, how many Cities and Towns hath he taken in Flanders? How many of them hath he burnt and pulled down to the Ground, to occasion the people's revolt, to cause them to rely wholly upon him to defend them from utter ruin, and to get free from all those great Contributions wherewith he loads and oppresses them. Take notice of the French Policy.  
After the Pyrennean Treaty, which was but just signed, whereof this present King's Marriage was, as it were the Seal and Condition, notwithstanding all those Oaths and Promises this King took and made to his Father in Law, Philip IU. not to assist Portugal; no sooner did he return to Paris, but he sent Mounsieur Schomberg with some Regiments and Money, and all this to weaken Spain; which made a balance with him of the Empire of Europe, so that neither Peace, Truce, nor Promise, nor Protestation are able to sway him, when his Interest is at stake; no, nor Religion itself: How zealous a Catholic soever he would fain seem to be, is not a Fence strong enough to restrain him, as we shall make appear in the following Discourse  
When Lewis XIV. sent an Ambassador to the King of Siam, under the pretence of converting him, do you really believe this King endeavoured to extend his Mission so far? No no, he works no Conversion, but where he may send his Dragoons, who are his booted Apostles: It is to spy the Country by his Jesuits, to endeavour by means of the Sieur Constance, a Venetian by Nation, and Chief Manager of that King's Affairs, to drive out other Nations, to settle some sort of Commerce in that same Country; that he may there have certain Emissaries, who may ever and anon put Jealousies into the King of Siam's Head, by reason of the Hollanders growing Greatness in the Indies, to make the business of Bantam serve as a pretence, making another construction of it. Observe the Policy of France: She hath her politic tricks which succeed wondrous well: This is the reason why she sends none but notable Men into all the Courts of Europe, and such who are wonderful quick sighted and versed in Affairs; whom its all one to her whether she fetch from the Camp, the Bar, or from the Church itself, as occasion serves; according to the places wherein she would have them employed: But more especially, it is requisite they should be dextrous and cunning, brazenfaced, that they have the knack of promising fair; that they don't insist too much upon certain petty scruples, which honest men ought to have: In a word, to express it more intelligibly, they must be Cheats and Knaves; as for Spain, they most an end send thither one of the Clergy, by reason that every one knows, that persons of their Character have great credit there, and in considerable esteem.  
In England at such time as the Parliament were more powerful than they be at present: Thither they sent the Marquis De Rou'vigni, who was of the Reformed Religion, and their Delegate General at Court, and was of the very same temper that all the other Ministers are, and swayed by the same politic designs.  
Into Holland they usually send some well-spoken Man, who one would think would ruin his Master, by promising, from which the King never gets off, but by standing to nothing; who does what in him lies to insinuate himself into the favour of your Dutch Ladies, either by play, or a liberal entertainment, and as they have a mighty influence upon their Husband's temper and mind, they cast about to learn of them what they were not able to know from the Husband himself: Now seeing they began to give no credit to him who resides there at present; the King, as himself confesseth in his destiny of Princes, was foret to send him his Holy Spirit of France in all haste; so that by this means he might be looked upon as sincere and infallible in whatsoever he should say.  
To the Courts of Germany they dispatch your Brawny Fellows, who are able to bare Wine well; thereby, that they may be made fit Table Companions for the Prince, whither their Commission sends them; for at the time when the third Course comes up, when the Wine gins to operate, they speak divers things which they would not have divulged at another time: As saith the Proverb, In vino veritas. Don't believe that France sends a Churchman to Rome, and why? Because they are all inferior to the Pope, and there is not the pitifullest Priest, but is confident, he shall be one day Cardinal; as Soldiers are, that they shall one day be Captains. Thither is sent a Nogaret, who bauls aloud; and to the Pope's Infallibility, opposes the Power and Strength of his Master, the King.  
Into other Courts, where greediness of Money prevails over their own Interest, there is not wanting presents, and such a Prince there is, who is betrayed even to his Pillow.  
In fine, All Weapons are convenient to this Policy of France, provided they can but bring about their Design: You see in all Courts Roman Catholic Officers, and all for sooth, for having fought Duels; but retiring out of their Country is not their chief business, that indeed is their pretence; but they have other aims and good instructions, and you see them after some time expired, return into France, to receive the reward of their employ; who bring along with them information concerning the strength or weakness of the places from whence they come, which in due season may be advantageous and useful to France; yet what is most deplorable, is the blindness of several Princes to intrust such like Men with Employment, even among Protestants. Mounsieur Vauban the present chief Engineer of France followed this Trade particularly in Holland; 'tis confessed, we must say, he serves his Master; but it behoves other Princes to have a special care of him. You are in the right, you say true, and it were to be wished all other Potentates would do the same for the quiet of Europe.  
Another Maxim of the Policy of France is, that when any Prince or Princess is to be Married, that may be for their turn, he causes Marriages to be proposed, and doth his utmost to place French Princesses in the Houses of Foreign Princes, whom they never fail to teach their Lesson, and tell them it is their Duty, when time serves; and before their departure, to make them acknowledge how much they are obliged to the King; and the means whereby they may render him their acknowledgements: But yet it is of fresh date, how the King of Portugal escaped him; not but that the French King by his Ministers and Emissaries did what lay in her power; and to his comfort, he neglected nothing. Spain has been too hard for him at this time: At present the Policy of France is set a work to match the Royal Prince of Poland no question with some Natural Daughter of the Kings, since they have had the boldness to dare to present such an one to the Duke of Bavaria, who values himself as much, not to mention his Right to value himself more than the Prince of Poland: Nay, I believe it had been a thing already done, had they but been sure he would have succeeded to the Crown; for failing in that, he would have brought no great Advantage to France. 'Tis very improbable the King of Poland would have refused her with a considerable Dowry; for he is already much obliged to the King of France, Two Hundred Thousand Livers a year bestowed on one of his Sons, by giving him the Abbeys of St. , and St. Dennis, deserved well to be harkened to: Besides, the Queen ought to be well satisfied therewith; her Father is made Duke and Peer of France, and they have promised to receive her as Queen, in case she comes into France, although she be born Subject to the King of France: So that it is not at all to be questioned, but that if the Crown were secured to the young Prince, the business would have been done e'er now: There are Princesses enough in France to be chosen ready for this Match. Is it not to exalt himself, like the Chief Monarch of Europe to erect at Metz a Souveraign Court, before which the King makes all Kings and Princes be cited, who possess any Lands, whom he styles his Dependants for the Territories that no ways belong to him; they upon default of appearing, not owning this False, Tyrannical, Universal Tribunal, he gets the Lands adjudged to him, taketh possession of them without any form of Process, but by his Cannon Law. If any one contradict this, the King of Sweden, the Princes of Monthelliard, Pettite Pierre the Duke of Lorraine, and a great many other Princes will tell you, what a Monster this Chamber is, that it devours whatsoever comes in its way; and what is yet more unwarrantable, is, that he dares ground his Right at this day to some Lands in Germany, upon the final determination this Chamber of Metz made in his behalf, as we shall shortly see in a Memorial he hath lately sent to the Diet at Ratisbone. France hath besides a notable Advantage to frame her Pretensions and Titles: I mean, there are so many cunning Fellows in Paris, knowing so exactly to imitate the Ancient Gothick Character of Five or Six Hundred Years date, that one would swear they were in reality Authentic: Now by this means they hammer out a Dependence far fetched, which the Devil himself, as cunning as he is, could not contradict: And than who knows what is still behind the Curtain, and not come to light; which will not appear but in due time and place; when a favourable opportunity shall require it. Can a Man forbear laughing when he hears the praises which these flatterers bestow on Lewis XIV. persuading him he hath procured peace both to his Enemies and to all Europe. These Tales are very fit to be told to the Kingdom of Siam, as Mounsieur de Chaumont, the French Ambassador was not backward to do in his Speech to that King, which is to be found at large in a Book Entitled, A Voyage into Siam; and they have not been wanting in like manner to put off such sort of Trifles to the King of China; such like stories, are good for nothing else but to be obtruded on those countries', though not here in Europe, where our Eyes have seen, and Ears heard the contrary: Is it not strange to meet with such Writers who commit such impertinent Trifles as these to paper? Don't we know what the proceed of the King of France have been to procure a Peace with the States of the United Provinces? For seeing Fortune began to change, he Agreed as touching the City of Nemeghen, which belonged to the Hollanders; so that no body went to Versailles, to demand it of him: He offers them Mastricht, which was still in his hands: Yea, If the States had not been so very hasty to grant him what he demanded, with so much importunity, and for which he made so many fair promises, he would have been glad to have defrayed all the Expense of the War: Pray who can tell what it hath cost him under hand to obtain this Peace, which he sued for with so much instant Entreaties, sparing nothing that he might endeavour to get the States to slip their Necks out of the Collar, and forsake their Allies; he went so far as to surrender divers places to Spain to serve for boundaries between his Kingdom, and the United Provinces. In saying, that if the States had not been too forward to hasten on the signing the Peace, France would have paid the Expenses of the War. I hope I do not speak without good grounds for what I say; several Reasons obliged them to clap up this peace in all haste separately, because they saw their strength decreased daily: It is certain that after the Battle at St. Dennis, which was not fought out, by reason of a Peace, the Prince of Orange would have marched on into France with his Troops: Moreover the King knew full well, that being forced to agitate a General Peace, it would never be effected till he should surrender to the Duke of Lorraine all his Lands; and that he could not possibly induce the Elector of Brandenburg to restore to the Sweed, what he had taken from him according to his obligation thereto, when the Peace in particular with him was in agitation: France had a great mind to make him restore to the King of Sweden his Ally, what he had lost in taking up Arms for the service of France; so that here are your sufficient reasons for demanding particular Peace with the States; and that it was not he that procured it for Europe, as he boasts and publisheth up and down: If any one was the cause of Peace to the Empire, 'twas the States of the United Provinces; for when they had made peace at the instant supplication of the King, the General Peace followed immediately, ushered in by the mediation of the State's General: 'Tis most certain, the King made this Peace by compulsion; he began to do things, but by halves; the States and his Allies reinforced themselves daily. The Hollanders were recovered out of their Lethargy; the Prince of Orange day by day became more experienced; the Duke of Luxemburg's familiar Spirit grew feeble, and began to forsake him; part of the French Troops perished, the remainder were much harassed and worn out, Swedeland had done her worst, and was at her last shifts; so that it was absolutely necessary to afford some respite and relief to the French Troops by a Peace, being that this Peace was partly but a forced one, the King was obliged to give up whatsoever he had taken; so also it continued but a short while, and just then, when the Emperor had his hands full of the Turk; and when the Spaniard and his Allies had laid down their Arms, and did acquiesce upon the strict performance of the Treaty of Nemeghen, the most Christian King like a Lion, falls foul upon the Low Countries. Now it was convenient to stop this Torrent, to deliver up a good many places, and to give ground, and to patch up a Truce in the midst of Peace, which will continue no longer than his Interest will permit; a body may say, and that truly, that France makes but small difference between her Subjects and her Neighbours. Genova may bear me witness of the truth of this; he treads them under foot, and fleeces them all alike, when occasion serves; and when his Will and Pleasure is, who is he that dares assure us, that the Truce will be a stronger Bank to put a stop to his Ambition, and his own private Ends, than the two Treaties of Peace of the Pyrenneans and Nemegen: That Numerous Army, that amounts to near One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men, which he maintains as well in Peace, and in time of Cessation of Arms, as in time of War; sufficiently declares the French Policy that hath always one foot up ready, a going to march; and sits on thorns, having ever more Armies in a readiness to execute her designs: They make them Camp, and de-Camp, continually to be in motion, that they may use and accustom their Neighbours to it, for fear they should give them occasion of suspicion, when they march in good earnest to fall upon any place, or surprise it.  
One of the King of France his Maxims, is to hinder these Neighbours, lest they should augment their Forces, but remain always in a condition, not to be able to do them harm on the sudden, except they have a mind to have them about their Ears; as we have observed at such time as the United Provinces were partly resolved to levy Sixteen Thousand Men; what Solicitations, what delusory Promises, nay, how many Journeys did the Comte D' Avaux take to hinder it: He did nothing but talk up and down of the sincerity and reality of the Covenants on his part, just as if no body beside his Master had any Honesty; and as if he were the only Man for keeping his word in Treaties: All that was, because he saw plainly that this new Commission given out, would obstruct the taking the City of Luxemburg, promising that there his Master would stop, and put an end to all his Claims and Demands: But he is still as ready to take another, as he was before the taking of this City, as we saw lately at Mons; it would be all one whether the States should oppose this proceeding, or no; it would be so long as the Princes of Europe should suffer themselves to be hoodwinked by base fear, or complaisance, wonderful advantageous indeed to promote the designs of France in Europe; no body taking notice that France is as sordid as her Master; and that both of them are afraid of cold Iron.  
All these new Conversions of some, and Persecutions of others which we see in France, is nothing but to blind the Catholic Princes, and to amuse them so long, till he fall upon some City or State, professing the Protestant Religion: The House of Austria knows too well this Stratagem; she practised it herself heretofore, when she had higher designs on foot than now she hath; when she attacked a Protestant Prince, her pretence then was that she would Extirpate Heresy: This is the French King's trade at this day; it was expedient for him out of mere necessity to begin at home with his own Subjects; and as that could not choose but have weakened him, he solicits others to do as much as he: What pains hath he taken to set the Swiss at variance, and induce the Catholic Cantons to fall out with the Protestants, and then afterwards, when they are at odds, to fall upon them? But the Pope hath redressed that, and accommodated the matter betwixt them. France hath brought it so to pass, that she hath forced the Duke of Savoy to rid himself of his best Subjects, the Inhabitants of the Valleys being under a premunier as he is, he could not go back with his word; nay, I am fully persuaded, France would be extremely glad that England would do the like; by that means to weaken her to such a degree, that she shall not be able to do any thing, when Lewis XIV. has a mind to fall upon the Low Countries, and remove from the States of the United Provinces, all possible means to prevent it; and so by little and little, make himself Master of Europe; as we shall see by the following story of the French Policy, and its Maxims, in respect of Sovereigns in particular.   

The Policy of France, in respect of Rome, and His Holiness.  
ALL the World knows the Veneration and Respect all Catholic People have for the Holy See, and the Holy Father that they look upon him as Christ's Vicar upon Earth, St. Peter's Successor, Universal Bishop, and as we are taught by the Council of Trent, the most Holy Lord, to whom all Kings, Princes, and People own an entire Obedience; fail but in this Duty, and you smell rank of Heresy; according to the Council of Constance, it deserves Fire and Faggot. Would you not swear to see Lewis XIV. persecute the Protestants at that rate he doth; that he is the most Devout Son his Holiness hath, whereas others do but kiss his Toe; he would out of Devotion kiss something else: But it is quite contrary: He is a very Rebellious Son, who cares not a fig for all the Holy Father's Remonstrances and Declarations, who despoils him of his Goods, ravishes from him his State, and makes an entry into Rome by his Ambassador, as loftily and haughtily as Artaban. And here is the French Spirit to invade the Holy Father in his Patrimony, Authority, and Conduct: First, In his Patrimony of the Church, by depriving him of his Regalities in France; which is a Right the Popes have enjoyed this many Ages; which the Kings, Lewis the XIV. his Predecessors have granted to St. Peter's Successors: What Submission, what Remonstrance hath not the present Pope made to oblige the King not to encroach and seize upon the Rights of the Church; withal telling him, that such like Usurpations as these, have proved always satal to Kings and Princes Families? Yet all this hath had none effect upon him; only the King said sometimes, the Pope is a mighty good man, I would not vex him: But in the mean time, never restores what he had deprived him of. Just such another trick as he played with Spain, when in time of Peace he took from it part of the Low Countries; he protested every where that he had no Intent to break the Peace, but only took his Dependences, and what of Right was his own. You may turn the French Policy lose which way you will; it presently finds out a way to oblige his Holiness to permit an Assembly of the Clergy of his Kingdom in the year 1682, wherein it was declared, as we all know, that he was not Infallible; that he had no Power over the Temporalities of Kings, that he was subject to Counsels, and by himself he had not any power to make any one Article of Faith. Can he have thwarted the Pope more sensibly in his Authority than he did at that time; besides, he obliged all the Preachers, Monks and Jesuits themselves, to teach the same in the Pulpit, and in their Colleges to their Auditors. The Archbishop of Paris, who was Precedent of this Assembly, who as you may well think, was not too well beloved at Rome? thought at least it was fit to make himself feared, that they might come and offer him a Cardinals Cap. To this effect he writ into England, to be informed what course Henry VIII. took when he altered the Religion in that Kingdom; yet all this had not the least effect upon the Pope's mind, who knows his own Tribe better than so; and Mounsieur Archbishop was in great danger to stand bare a long time without a Cardinal's Cap, although he might catch cold: When this Prelate perceived that by this means his Affairs went rather backbard than forward, he bethought himself of another course, prefers himself, and takes upon him, not like a Converter, but Persecutor; in causing the Hugonots of his Diocese to be tormented, and those of all France by his wicked Counsel, hoping thereby to curry favour with the Pope, and regain his credit by his zeal and forwardness for the propagation of Religion. But his Holiness, who hath abundance of reason, and whose disposition is not violent, whose intent and meaning is, that Conversions should be effected by Reason, by good Examples; not by Dragoons and Racking, and by an Holy Life, which is not consistant with the Archbishop of Paris, who is taken with the Female Sex, and love their Company: This change of shapes procured him but ill will and disdain; he had no share in the last promotion, nor never will so long as Innocent XI. lives, nor perhaps after him; when of necessity there will happen great changes at Rome: In the mean time Mounsieur Camus, Bishop of Grenoble (whose unblameable Life and Conversation might serve for a Mirror to a many of your Court Bishops) hath been honoured with the Purple without ever seeking for it, without persecuting any body, nor so much as suffering it within his Diocese; this Prelate being not a-la-mode de la Court, this new Dignity he so lately received, cannot choose but be a great heartburning to the King, and greater to the Archbishop, to see himself shut out of doors? Last of all, Can a Man more visibly cross the Pope's behaviour, than the King doth at present in respect of the Franchises of his Embassador's Quarters, which served only for a Sanctuary for Robbers, Bankrupts, and several Assassinates; nay, more to fill the Embassador's, or his menial Servants Purses? Although the Pope be Master in his own House, yet he hath had the prudence to expect the death of the Count Destrees, Ambassador; and the departure of the Ambassador of Spain; yet what a clutter make they at the French Court about the regulation the Pope makes for security of his Subjects, and the quiet of his Capital City? I would fain know if the Pope intermeddles with what the King doth at Paris, or whether he did think it convenient, to speak against the Effigies of the King; which they have placed now in his Life-time, in the middle of Four Lanterns, in the place de Victor, with lewd Inscriptions, to which the Magistracy and Regiments of Guards did Obeisance, and Honoured as the King himself, even so far as to make Speeches to it. I would have any body satisfy me how the King would have taken their bare remonstrances of the Pope; without doubt he would have answered him, that he might meddle with his own business, and that every one is Master of his own. When his Holiness not approving the King's too familiar acquaintance with Madam de Montespan, and correspondence with Madam de Maintenon, when he signified to the General of the Jesuits, that he was much surprised, that Father La Chaize made no more of giving him absolution, the King appeared to be very much dissatisfied therewith; and said, he was bound to give an account to no body of his Actions. Why did he cause his Ambassador to make his Entrance as it were, with Sword in hand: All this doth make the temper of France to appear, which would domineer every where over all, even over the Altar itself.  
But let the King make what noise he will, as these Franchises bring him no profit, so there would be some way found out to pacify all things, if his Holiness would grant a Dispensation for a Marriage of the Eldest Son of the Church to a Daughter of Rome, (I mean the City of Liege) I would say, by means of a Bull for the Cardinal of Furstenburg, in case he could get himself elected Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Cologne, not being in a capacity to be Archbishop of Cologne himself; to avoid falling under the same Circumstances that the aforesaid Archbishop did upon the account of the Bishopric of Munster, for which he never could obtain a Bull, how instant soever the solicitations have been by the late Ambassador of France for obtaining the same; but it is enough for the French King, since no body at present can be admitted to it; who is averse to his Interests. Now if Fustenburg that Mercury of France should chance to be so dignified, it is odds, but that the zeal for his Master and Benefactor would be augmented, and that nothing but this Temper and Policy of France would Reign, by reason of him throughout the Electoral Dominions; nay, an hundred to one, but the King who would have a Garrison in the Fortress, would become Absolute Master. But 'tis to be hoped, that for the benefit of Europe, and the Church, that his Holiness will never make such a false step, so contrary to his own Interests, and to all Christian People, as to grant these Bulls to Cardinal Furstenburg: We all know very well, if once the King could be without the Pope, he could save himself the trouble of going to Rome, and could constitute and establish a Patriarch in France, after the manner of the Greeks; no question he would do it, considering what was resolved on these few years last passed by the French Clergy: There would be a twofold advantage by it; the Money that is carried to Rome, would not go out of France; the Patriarch would grant him whatsoever he should require (as Parliaments do at present) were it even a Dispensation to marry the Princess of Conty. But he cannot shake off the Court of Rome; besides, the Jesuits would be upon his back, if he should not appoint Father La Chaize, or some one of their Society, Patriarch. On the other hand, those Bishops that aspire to be Cardinals, would not be well pleased with this new invention, except the Archbishop of Paris, who could have some pretence to this Dignity; who in plain terms doth already say, That the Kings of England, since Henry VIII, till Charles II. have done well enough without Rome; besides, what the Northern Kings do at this time. That which makes the French King temporize so much, is, by reason he knows Popes are not as the King is said to be in the Inscription, viro immortali; that next after this Pope there may come another, who perhaps may not prove so honest a Man, yet may comply more with the Eldest Son of the Church; but new Lords, new Laws: Death may as well crush, and bring down diseased Kings, as crazy Popes. Be sure you may expect to see this politic Humour of France within a little while cock up in Avignon, and the Country of Venessin, as much as we see it at this day in Metz, Sedam, Franch Conte, Burgundy, Dombes, and last of all in the Principality of Orange. The King hath the same right of reunion, convenience of Situation over Avignon, and the County Venessin, as he hath over all the other Territories, I have but just named; for Q. Jane could not alienate the Crown-Lands to Pope Clement V so that the Popes to disburse Thirty Thousand Florins to keep it, signifies nothing. The Country of Venessin was taken from the Count de St. Gille, so that albeit the Holy Sea had had the possession of these two places for some years; yet be sure the King will one of these days find an opportunity, whether by breeding a Quarrel, or otherwise to get it into his Clutches: That once done, the Pope may cry out long enough, he will be in a fair way, if he hold not his Tongue to make his Son send some Troops against St. Peter, as hath been done not long ago; and if ever the French King make himself Master of Spain, as he pretends by right so to be, after the decease of Charles now Reigning; the Pope must not think that his Rights will be better preserved at that time in Spain, than they be now in France, and the Dignity of Exarchat of Ravenna, which Pepin granted to the Holy See, would soon change its Master, and who can tell whether Rome itself would be exempted, so soon as ever the Pope should begin to speak of Excommunication, the King would speak of a Patriarch, insomuch that the Pope ought not to flatter himself that the politic disposition of France will truckle to the Holy See, nor to make an estimate of the King, how much a Catholic he is by the Persecution he raises against the Hugonots within his own Realms and Dominions, and elsewhere; he knows well enough what he doth: If he persecutes them with one hand, he helps them with the other, he knows how to bring the Turk into Hungary, when he supposeth them fit for his Designs and Interests against the Empire; when he thinks they may be serviceable to him as assistants in advancing him to the Throne of Europe, to which our Great King hath confined his Ambition: But it often happens that Man purposes, but God disposes. France would have you believe her truehearted and real, that the Holy See, and every body besides should of her Ambition make an Article of their Creed: Let her do and say what she pleases; I do not for all that believe, that if so be Faith and Truth were lost, that any one would go look to find it in France: All her bypast Actions do but too much bespeak her, not to be any longer honest, and that Faith cannot agree with the King's Humour; so that a Prince failing in that, the Holy Father ought to beware of him; he is a close Enemy, counterfeiting the Devoto; a whited Sepulchre that dazzles the Eyes of those who approach him: He is an Orpheus, who charms Christendom by his kind promises and noise of his Lovises dor, but within he is a very sink of Falsehood, insatiable Ambition, of unparallelled Covetousness, and of barbarous Cruelty; from whose Cruelty, and out of whose Hands the Church should put it into their Litany, Good Lord, deliver us, for fear they Christians fall into the same miseries that the Jews did in the time of Antiochus the Illustrious.   

The Policy of France, in relation to the Emperor and Princes Electors of the Empire.  
Charles' V did manifestly weaken the House of Austria, by dividing it into two branches; bestowing the Empire on Ferdinand his Brother, and Spain to Philip his Son: I must needs confess that these are two Twins, so nearly related to each other by Blood, by Alliances, and common Interests, that one will have much ado to touch the one, without offending the other; or destroy the one, without debilitating and reducing the other to the utmost extremity: This House hath evermore held up her Head against France; she always counterpoized with France the Empire of the World: Spain took from Antony of Bourbon King of Navarre, the Kingdom he had acquired by his Marriage with Jane De Albret, Heiress of Navarre; so that 'tis easy to suppose, that at present the House of Bourbon being exalted to the Throne of France since Henry iv time, may be from its Cradle Enemy to the House of Austria; and if she could de-Throne both of them, no question she would with all her heart get into their place if she could, and thereby join the Empire to France, France to Spain, and the Low Countries; and then by and by very easily ascend to the Universal Monarchy of all Europe: If this project don't succeed, 'tis at leastwise the intent and purpose of the French Politic Spirit, and what Lewis XIV. drives at; who was not far from effecting it, when Vienna looked upon herself near destruction, and an hundred to one but had fallen into the Ottoman Chains: Scarce any one is ignorant of the Correspondence the King of France holds with the Ottoman Port, that it was upon his entreaty that the Grand Signior first violated the Truce concluded with the Emperor, that he might second and abet Count Tekely's Designs, whom France assisted with Money and Counsel. The Emperor and his Council knows better than any body the occasion that moved the Port to send back Count Caprara, together with the Propositions of Peace he brought along with him. The Marquis D'Seppeville, Ambassador of France, failed not with all expedition to send one Courier after another to his Master to give him notice thereof; who failed not forthwith to dispatch a Person to the Grand Visier, to oblige him to persist in his Siege of Vienna, he laying before him that his Honour was engaged, that the City was at the last gasp, that it stood him upon to take it at what rate soever for his own Reputations sake, and good of the Port; that this Siege having made such a noise in the World, he could not quit it, but with Eternal Infamy to the Ottoman Empire and Grand Visier, and for the better facilitating the taking of it, and to divide the Armies of the Empire, he was about to enter into Flanders with a powerful Army, which would undoubtedly force the Empire to recall his Forces to defend themselves; and the King did effectually make good his promise; for he entered of late years as we see into Flanders, burning, pillaging, and taking all before him after the Turkish manner, imitating therein his Ally, whom he was so forward to serve and second; and the King divesting himself of the Title of Most Christian, took upon him that of his Friend, and Ally the Grand Sultan; for places that ought to be most sacred to Christians, and the retirements of the Nuns fared no better: Several Virgins suffered Martyrdom by a Violation never before heard of in Christendom: But all this did much contribute to the King's Design, and the French Policy obtained its wish; there was Forty Thousand Men just ready in Alsatia to pour into Germany, to make himself be declared Emperor at the Head of this Army: His Manifestoes were already in print, ready to be spread abroad; that to prevent Christianity from falling into Slavery, he was forced to withstand it by a powerful Army, and by declaring himself Emperor to hold the Reins of the Empire, to defend it, as serving as a boundary to France, and to Europe itself; considering the incapacity of the Emperor, etc. for the King knew what he said when he tells us the Emperor was not fit to Reign: Without all question, had Vienna been taken, the Princes and Electors would have had recourse to him, and been of his side, for their own preservation; being the only Prince who had Forces ready, and who at that juncture was capable to retard the progress of the Infidels. But Vienna being relieved, we saw then the truth of what I have alleged, that their Spirit came down, and they became crestfallen, they cared not to join in the common joy of all the Universe, which could not sufficiently praise God for this Signal Victory, by their Bonfires, and Te Deums, wherewith the Air echoed again: None but France stood mute, and who forbidden divers Churchmen to give thanks for the same, upon pain of incurring the high displeasure of the most Christian King. Here you may perceive what Spirit France is of, in relation to the Emperor; who, that it might have an opportunity to keep him under, and throw him down from his Throne, and so take his place; The King of France hearty wishes that Vienna might shall into the hands of the Mahometans: But as our Thoughts are not as God's Thoughts, so this King of Kings has disposed of things otherwise; who by vouchsafing such grand Victories to the Christian Forces, France must be fain to change their Batteries and Assaults. We hope also that the Emperor's Council will stand better upon their Guard, and appear more vigilant than they have been hitherto; and that they will remove from France all means to pry into their undertake; yea, even into their Closet-secrets: For 'tis well known what courses they have taken to make the Resolutions be changed and falsified, when they were not relished by the King, nor for his Interest; and that the Emperor could neither speak, consult, writ, nor so much as make least proceeding, but it was presently penetrated, diverted another way, encumbered, watched and observed; and by the Jesuits good leave they are accused of having had a great stroke in all these Affairs; they always take the stronger side, expecting a change. No body can be ignorant but that the misunderstanding that arose between the Elector of Brandenburg, and Monticuculi, General of the Imperial Forces, during the Holland War; was occasioned by the cunning contrivance of the Jesuit changing the Emperor's Order, to engage Turrene with Brandenburg, in the counterfeit Order not to engage; which gave opportunity to the French Army to retreat; which was in very great danger to have made their Graves there, if it had been attacked by two so good Parties, being reduced to its last legs through sicknesses, running away from their Colours, and a Mortality amongst them.  
Then again, At the Battle at Sennif, Souches excuseth himself, that he could not make the onset for want of Orders; this was hammered upon the same Anvil: Yet we hope that Affairs changing their Face, the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits will have better thoughts of the Empire. I have much ado to omit two Affairs which happened during the Emperor's last Rupture with the King; one is the business of General Capelliers Steward of his Household; who carried on a correspondence with the French Ambassadors, and gave them a full account of whatsoever passed at home in his Master's House, that came to his hearing, or knowledge; the Letters of all the Matter were intercepted at the Posthouse in Frankfort; this Traitor indeed was clapped up, but the Jesuits who at that bout had taken too large a Dose of Spirit Gall, knew well enough how to make him come of, lest he should make a Discovery of some others. During the Siege of Philipsburg by the Imperial Forces, did not these good Men prevail with two Merchants to send in a supply of Powder, but that Mine was sprung, and vanished in smoke; the business was found out, and the Jesuits brought it so about, that the undertakers were not punished, for fear lest they should make farther Discoveries; I tell you this for truth; for one of these Persons was one of my Acquaintance, who told it me with his own mouth, that they came to fetch him as far as from Paris, where he was settled, to get him to do this business: You may see by this, that the Spirit of France animates a great many Bodies, actuates them strangely; and that those in whom his Imperial Majesty puts most confidence, are not always faithful to him. When France carried on a design underhand to induce the Emperor to bestow his two Sisters upon two Princes dispossessed of their Inheritance; it was not with an intent that businesses should succeed in this manner as we see they do at this day; for we cannot deny but that Lorraine is the Restorer of the Empire, an Hero of so many Great and Glorious Victories, the Subduer of so many Provinces, who will make the Grand Signior not only sue to him for Peace, as he doth already, but to grant whatsoever one demands of him to save his Head from the riot and fury of the Rabble, who will be sure to do it, if he conclude not a Peace, or a Cessation of Arms, and that speedily. But this Spirit of France had its aims; that is to say, by getting some body to counsel the Emperor to bestow his two Sisters on two Princes in the forementioned Circumstances, who despaired of recovering their Estates but by a Peace; they would always incline the Emperor to listen thereto, notwithstanding his Imperial Majesty might not have that advantage by it that might be expected; in hopes there might be some Article in it favourable to them, restoring them to their Estates by this Peace. The truth is, that hath been very successful to the one, as for the other, it is to be hoped, that he will open himself a passage to his Fortune by his Victorious Sword: 'Tis most certain that the misunderstanding which hath reigned between Prince Harman of Baden, Precedent of the Imperial Council, and the Duke of Lorraine, between the King of Poland, and the Emperor, are nothing but Eggs which France sits and hatches. The Marquis De Bethune is too well versed in the way to Poland; and his Sister hath still a French Soul, though Queen of that Kingdom. The kindnesses the King of France has done her Children, are faithful, and living Witnesses, and the transmitments that have passed through the hands of the Bankers of Hamburg and Dantzik are like so many rays of that great Sun of France, which disperseth his Light into a great many Courts. The Emperor cannot ignore that Itch of theirs is an old Distemper the Kings of France have so long been troubled with; they long to be mounting the Imperial Throne, because it is one step to the Universal; or at least, to the Monarchy of Europe. Henry II. made them draw him out the Model after what manner the Romans cut out their way through Italy; but those Countries have ever been Caemiterium Gallorum, and fatal to their Enterprises. In like manner Duplessis gave advice to Charles IX. never to venture upon Italy, but upon the Netherlands. Lewis XIV. is much of his mind, as shall appear by the sequel of the Story. After the Death of Ferdinand III did not the French King use his utmost endeavours to re-ascend the Throne of Charlemagne; he spared not to send into all the Courts of the Electors to procure their Votes; and such who were great with these Princes, did their business for them; for France is free-natured enough, when any one is to be brought over to their Party: One of the visible demonstrations of the King's designs is, that he caused an Eagle to be put upon his Money just above the Head of his Effigies; and that he speaks his mind freely, but much more haughtily, that the Empire hath been long enough in the House of Austria, and that it is high time it should return to his again; and that was just upon the Turks coming into Germany, in the year 1683. But Man purposeth, God disposeth: All the wise projects and contrivances of Men are but folly before God, who doth not guide the Oeconomy of the Universe according to the ambition of Lewis the Great: Now because this King knows very well that the Electors may prove a great obstacle to his design upon the Empire if they have a mind to be cross; therefore he makes much of some, threatens others. The Dolphin of Frances Marriage concluded with the Princess of Bavaria, was a bait to draw in the Prince of that Family to the King's Interest, and so inspire his Body with a French Spirit: That Pension the King allowed him for some time made him much in the King's Books, and devoted to his Interest; nay, over and above the Marriage every one was in the mind that this Prince would be perpetually devoted to his Benefactor; but the unbecoming unworthy Matches that France offered this Prince, made his Ministers look about them; who knew so well how to disabuse him, that he altered his mind, and tacked about to the better and more glorious side, whether we consider it in respect of the Marriage he contracted with the Emperor's Daughter, or by the Laurels he won in Hungary. This is a thing he durst not so much as have dreamt of, if he had remained in the French Interest; because the Conquests of the Imperial Army did not at all correspond with the King's designs, as we told you before: No sooner had Mounsieur Baviere forsaken the French Party, but the King to comfort himself up for that loss, entering Madam la Dauphine's Chamber, told her that he just came from winning Eight Hundred Thousand Crowns of her Brother. We all know how the Elector of Brandenburg is beset on all sides with the Emissaries of France, and how the chief persons of his Court, which discretion makes me forbear mentioning, have taken but too large a Dose of that same Spirit Gall; so that there is nothing transacted in the Electors Court, but the French Envoy hath presently notice of it, and by Mounsieur de Rebenack's good leave, Men are sufficiently informed of all his Intrigues, of all the Presents he bestows; if it were less secret, one might not perchance know it; but he wanting the retentive faculty to keep his own Counsel, he must give others leave to disclose it, who are not so much concerned to keep a secret. If the late Prince Lewis had been surer to the French Interest than he was, perhaps he might have been alive to this day: Well, I know the French Envoy had not an hand in the fact, but did suggest and promote it: I know that the Prince Elector is not ignorant neither, whence the Distemper proceeds; he hath reason to countermine them, and stand upon his Guard; but I could wish, he may not be too slow, and that he shut not the Stable door when the Horse is stolen. If so be the Elector of Brandenburg had an insight into his real true Interest and Forces; could but get rid once of these French Spirits that encompass her; he might safely say he was one of the most puissant Princes of the North, make others dread and stand in awe of him: Be sure which way soever he takes, he casts the scales, France knows it very well too, and that's the reason why they court him so much: Let him but stand Neuter, and espouse no Cause, she is satisfied. The Persecution of the Protestants of France had in a manner opened the eyes of the Elector; yet Mounsieur de Rebenack, backed by Mounsieur D'espense, managed things so finely, that people gave more credit to what they said, than to so many thousand Witnesses that arrived daily at Berlin. This i'll say, that the Elector hath this benefit, that all those that fly to him for refuge, people his Country: But France out of spite to thwart his designs to make the Electorship fall after the Decease of Frederick William to some Prince or other, who will be more favourable to him, than those who were born by the Princess Lewis of Nassau and Orange; and there is all the probability imaginable she will accomplish her designs in this matter; at leastwise they are in a fair way towards it, if God Almighty do not prevent it, by preserving the Prince Elector alive, to whom he may give Issue.  
As for the Elector Palatine of the Rhine, when France mediated a match between the Princess, and the Duke of Orleans; she had two things in her eye; the first was thereby together with a Pension to allure the late Prince Elector into her Interests; not being able to do that, he might evermore devise pretensions for the Right of Madam of Orleans.  
After that we know but too well how the Electors Palatines Father and Son were treated by Lewis XIV. how the Palatinate hath been trodden under foot by his Troops and the people of that Country ruined and laid waste: But last of all Death having deprived the World of these two Princes in a short time without Male Issue; and seeing that at present the Palatinate is fallen to the House of Newburg, (pursuant to a Treaty with the Emperor to that purpose) the King of France is persuaded there is no other resolution to take with the Elector now Reigning, that he is too near an Ally to the Emperor (to whom he is beholden for what he hath) ever to abandon his Interests, or quit his Party; so that it is not thereabouts neither, that France attacks it, the pretences of Madams Rights are now in debate: The Pope's meddling in the matter signifies nothing; the business is not ripe; it is a Gate France keeps open, for to enter into Germany by; and all the delays the Pope obtains do but keep off the Distemper a little longer, and do not cure it; and you shall see the next Spring (if any change happen in Europe, France will enter thereinto with Fire and Sword, as she uses to do. All the Elector must wish for is, that Peace may be concluded between the two Emperors this Winter, that the Death of a Prince happening, his success may afford work enough to Lewis the Great somewhere else: Now these seem to be the only means how this Elector may avoid falling into the clutches of France; and this reason ought much to sway with the Emperor, and be a principal motive to him to make a Peace with the Turk, as he may now do very advantageously: For he must know, that if ever the French King break the Ice, and gets footing in Germany; he will never return back: The French are very insolent and domineering, especially at the first heat, and in prosperity; and provided Fortune smiles upon them at the beginning, and in their first fury; wherewith they undertake all Exploits, that is a great incitement to them to drive on farther and farther, and then peace with the Turk not being made, I cannot tell whether the Emperor will be ever able to make it, if he would never so fain, at lest upon the same Terms and Conditions they offer him at this time.  
The Elector of Saxony never made much account of all the proposals of France: He is a Prince that doth not study all those cunning niceties and tricks that a great many other Courts are full of, but one who being well versed in what is good for himself, pursues it, without disputing, or making more ado: Now that's your best Policy which succeeds the best; wherefore France seeing he would not swallow the hook, breeds abundance of trouble in his Family, and sets him at variance with his Neighbours, against which the Emperor's Council hath made seasonable provision, which makes the Spirit of France that it becomes not so familiar in that Court, for their Ducatoons are better beloved than Lewisses: But to know what it done there, thither is sent such Persons who have skill to comply and conform to the humour of the Country, and more especially to quaff stoutly, and by that means render themselves fit Companions at Table; they must be of strong Constitution to bear Wine; there they may get acquaintance, make themselves familiar, and make bold to skip their Glasses. So likewise at the French Court, when an Envoy or Resident is to be sent to the Court of Saxony; they inquire in the first place whether he can hold out well at drinking, that's one Qualification, together with cozening, that is requisite.  
As for the Electors of Triers and Metz, as France are not afraid of them, as not being Princes that are capable of doing much mischief, so they let them alone till time serves; for she knows that standing in need of them, she will be able to attract them by the sweet charms of her golden rays; if not, she will proceed to threaten, and thereby make her do what she pleases. The King needs no more but send his Forces to Triers, he hath reduced it to such a condition as not to be in a capacity to dispute his entrance, and so he can make himself Master of it, when he thinks fit.  
As for the Elector of Cologne, we all know what mettle he is made of; that he's a Prince that loves a quiet Life, and desiring to end his days in peace; gives himself wholly up to his Devotions, to work out his Salvation; this design being always commendable in a Prelate, and a Person of his Character. But a mild peaceable disposition doth no ways agree with that of France, which is turbulent, boisterous, and would always be in action: Now here is the reason why they have given the Archbishop a chip of the old block, who hath a good stock of the French Spirit: I mean the Cardinal Bishop of Strasbourg, who is as violent, and as great a cheat, as he that animates him; nevertheless this Bishop hath got the art so well, to influence the mind of the Archbishop, that he rules him with an absolute sway, and by means of the Bishopric of Munster, which France procured him with Two Millions of Crowns, cannot handsomely turn tail at present. I know the Pope upon very just considerations hath not been willing to dispatch the Bull hitherto; yet it is enough for France, that by this Election, during the Electors Life; the Chapter dare never let it enter into their thoughts, much less supply the place; so that France is sure that no one Prelate of a contrary party, shall ever be admitted to that dignity, and that sufficeth. How many Bishops are there in France without Bulls, who notwithstanding perform the Functions of their place, and enjoy the benefits of their Bishoprics. The Pope cannot live for ever, and the King will be sure to keep the Gate open, and Highways clear; that after the Archbishops decease, some other Emissary of France may come in at the same Golden Gate: This Bishopric being of great consequence as himself did acknowledge it to be in the year 1672. I told you that the Bishop of Cologne would have much ado to free himself from the French Interest, the King having taken care for that beforehand, in case of a change; and all that was done at Liege, was but a cunning stratagem, and that through the suggestion of that Prince, to foment misunderstanding between them, and to set before the Citizens of Liege the Idea of their discontent, by reason of the Citadel which they have again raised, whereof France is too much a Master, that will occasion the Archbishop of Cologns Repentance, at least that of his Successor after him, in case they begin to waver: Men were in suspense at that time concerning who should succeed him; for France saw at a distance, and she supposed by all that had passed, that she might be able to prevail with the Chapter of Liege, to confer the Coadjutorship of the Principality and Bishopric of Liege upon Cardinal Furstenburg; but those that composed the Chapter better advised than any one durst have believed or hoped for, had no mind to swallow the bait, but laughed at it, which made him have recourse to the Chapter of Cologne, where he hath had better success, and notwithstanding all the opposition the Pope and Emperor made; they went farther, and the Cardinal hath obtained what France demanded: They have been long about this business, and immediately upon men's saying, That the Cannons knew what Gold was. France prognosticated nothing but good to herself, and found the Road to Cologne easier than to Munster.  
France and the Cardinal know very well that the Pope will not give his Bull for it; but they may have the same comfort in that as they had for Munster, they will do well enough without it, no body besides being capable of pretending to it; and as I told you the Pope being aged, may chance to die, and another more easy Man may succeed him.  
Now then by what we see come to pass by the proceed of the Policy of France: Have I not great reason to say that the whole Empire, Electors, and other Kings, Princes, and States have great cause to withstand the designs of Levis XIV. to prevent his rising to an Empire for fear of becoming his Slaves, whereas at present he takes special care of some, and caresses them; he will then Lord it over them, he will put off the Fox's skin, and put on the Lions again; they'll talk of nothing then, but of tel est mon bon plaisir, such my Will and Pleasure is. Nothing but a Peace with the Turk can hinder him from growing Great; nothing but that can put the Emperor in a condition to oppose it. The King will be very cautious how he makes his limits at Ratisbon, during these Contests that give him an opportunity to build Fortresses, to defend what he shall usurp; as we see he hath done but too much already: It will be requisite to have an Army to drive him out thence. Have not we seen in the time of peace what the Spirit of France is capable of doing: 'Tis known, that amongst other good qualities, he is endued with the admirable gift of Usurping well, finds always reasons for the doing so; which he would have all Men receive for Articles of their Creed, as well as the just pretensions of the King upon the Empire, treated at large in a little Book, wherein the Wit of one called Aubri (Advocate in the Parliament of Paris) hath been exercised? But the King of France his Manifesto published newly at Ratisbone and other States of the Empire, to maintain the Usurping Fortification of Tarbrack, deserves to be inserted in this Book, to let these who have not yet seen it, understand the slender Reasons he alleges to palliate his infraction of the last Truce. Behold here what his Minister hath-published to all the World.  
The King having been informed of the complaints which the Ministers of the House of Austria make upon the account of some outrages committed at Tarbrack by his Majesty's Order, who throughout the Empire they charge with acting contrary, and call him an infringer of the Treaty concluded in the Year of our Lord, 1684. The which hath obliged his said Majesty to issue out Orders to the Count de Crecy, his Envoy Extraordinary, and Plenipotentiary at the Imperial Diet at Ratisbone, to represent to the Ministers of the Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire assembled in the said place, the small ground there is for such a complaint in itself, and the just occasions they administer to all those who have a desire to preserve the public peace; to believe that this is a pretence that they are willing to make use of to disturb the same peace and quiet.  
First of all, If it may be said upon good grounds that that Treaty ratified at _____ may not properly be called a Truce, its true definition being only a forbearance or sufferance, by virtue of which (although the War be still in being) we are to forbear all Acts of Hostility; there being at that time no rapture between France and the Empire; this toleration may be looked upon as a mutual promise of a good understanding and Union for the space of Twenty years; in consideration whereof the Emperor and Empire on the one part, are to lay aside, during the said term, their Sovereignty, Rights, Superiority, and Protection, or all other pretences whatsoever they may have upon Lands, Places, or Towns fallen to France before the first of August, 1681. His Majesty in like manner binds himself not to make any farther suit or prosecution in the Empire during the said time. These are the most material Covenants, by which they interchangeably assure each other of a long continuation of Friendship and good Intelligence; which afforded means to the Emperor's Arm is to conquer all Hungary, and to put themselves and Empire in a posture, and in a condition to undertake a War, which otherwise would not have waged but at great cost and charges; and peradventure at the hazard and ruin of the Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire. But further to demonstrate this weak pretext, altogether not to be tenible, nor can hold Water of itself, we need not run over the Articles of this Treaty, and though we might even look upon it as a Treaty barely concluded only for the security of the tranquillity of the Empire, and to procure for it the means whereby to employ its Armies against the common Enemy; yet one cannot for all that prove that it may deprive the King of his Power to fortify those places where his Majesty hath right so to do, as well by the possession he hath already had, as by the common consent of the Empire, granted by virtue of the same Treaty, nor that he cannot act in those places as he pleaseth; you need only peruse all the Treaties of Truce which have been made hitherto, to see whether a prohibition of fortifying is not expressly included therein at such time as both Parties cannot agree. By this toleration of the Truce of Bonvise in the year of our Lord 1537, 'tis said, that whilst the Cessation of Arms lasts in the Netherlands, King Francis I. could not send any Forces into the County of St. Paul, nor there raise any Fortification: This Exception gives us sufficiently to understand, that the King was impowered to fortify his places thereabouts, and elsewhere, during the said Truce; so that they were bound to insert a clause into this Treaty, to deprive France of this Liberty in the County of St. Paul only.  
The General Truce that was agreed upon at Nice, in the Year 1538, ratifies and confirms this same Article concerning St. Paul, but it doth no way hinder the two Princes to cause Fortifications to be raised any where else.  
The Cessation made in 1555, makes no mention of this point, but the Crown of Spain, and State's General of the United Netherlands upon their concluding a Truce in 1609, having a mind indeed to deprive each other of having the liberty of raising any new Fortress in the Low Countries, inserted this Clause; There shall be on neither side any Fortress in the Low Countries during the Cessation.  
When the Peace was in agitation at Munster between France and Spain, that they demurred longest upon and proved the greatest obstacle to the conclusion, was, that the Catholic King could not find in his heart to quit his claim to Catalonia, which caused them to agree upon a Truce for Thirty years for that Province alone; during which term both Kings should keep what he possessed at that time; but another difficulty emerged that the Spaniards could not endure that they should fortify during the Truce; those places in Catalonia, to which the French would not agree, alleging it unjust, upon this account that thereby this would put them in a posture of being Defendants only, and not Aggressors, which was permitted in all Ages, they would not so much as admit of the Expedient offered by the Ambassador of the State's General. The same case stands good now, as to the present Treaty. Every one knows that the prohibitions to raise Fortifications propounded by the Ministers of the Empire, in the Ninth and Tenth Articles of the same project of the Empire, and what was then and there interchangeably delivered by public Writing, was interjected by France: Besides, the Imperial Ministers would by no means give their consent that the Emperor should yield up to the King such places whereof he was in present possession, which his Majesty would not have meddled with, nor limited, nor encroached upon. The Emperor's Ministers not able to make good this demand, gave it over. 'Tis hard to believe that the Imperial Ministers will draw any Arguments to be a sufficient ground of complaint from the Eighth and Ninth Article of the Truce; forasmuch as the former contains only the settling the Lands upon the Proprietors again, who would take the Oath of Allegiance for them: The Sovereignty whereof was delivered to his Majesty. The other is, that his said Majesty shall permit the Inhabitants to have the free Exercise of their Religion. Moreover the reunion of Tarbrack having been irrecoverably adjudged by a decree of the Royal Chamber of Metz in the Month of April, 1681. It is hard to conceive what Title the Imperial Ministers can pretend to in accusing France of acting contrary to the Cessation of Arms, especially the King giving visible and daily demonstrations of the inviolable Observation of the least punctilio of them, helping and furthering what in him lies, the progress of the Imperial Forces against those Barbarians the Turks through his moderation and compliance, and what administers ground of suspicion concerning the designs of the Court at Vienna, (which his Ministers do but too much lay open upon all occasions) is their not being desirous of keeping the Truce any longer than they may be strong enough to break it.  
Notwithstanding all this, considering that this Truce hath offered to Christendom that happy Peace and Tranquillity it enjoys at this day; and hath supplied means to the States and Circles of the Empire by their assistance to bring upon the Ottoman Empire all those mischiefs wherewith they threatened the Hereditary Countries. We dare boldly and truly say, that the Emperor is beholding to him for the preservation of his Country, and for all those advantages he hath had over the Turks: His Ministers are as much to blame to complain that the King making use of his full power, hath caused his frontier places to be fortified, as standing in most need: Just as a Sovereign, for the security, repose, and prosperity of his Subjects, causeth the boundaries of his Territories to be fortified; would, not by so doing, make us believe, that he had the least thought of siezing upon his Neighbour's Country, or any mind to Commence a War, no more than any private Person busying himself in repairing the utmost Fences of his Lands to make them good, would thereby give but small proof of his desire to entrench upon his Neighbours. But yet his Majesty is not without hope but that the Wisdom and Prudence of the States of the Empire assembled at Ratisbone, will seriously reflect upon the just suspicions which the ill-grounded complaints of the Imperial Ministers have occasioned to him, and that they will bethink themselves of one way or other that the good Intelligence which his Majesty purposeth to maintain with the Empire, may not be interrupted, nor impeded. Given at Fountainbleau, Octob. 22th 1687.  
To hear this Manifesto, would not a Man judge that the Emperor is obliged to the King for all his Victories over the Turk, and without him the Empire had been quite lost, when all the World sees evidently by what we have said, that it was none but he that induced the Grand Signior to break the Truce, and to send relief to Tekely; but the Spirit of France is always deceitful.   

The Policy of France, and the Maxims, in relation to Spain.  
FRom the Empire I pass to Spain, which Kingdom and France have divided Europe between them some years last passed; all other Princes have listed themselves under their Banner; thereafter as their Interest required, but the most part agreed in that point to support the weaker, and endeavour a just balance between them. The late Mounsieur Sully, in a Letter to Henry iv concerning the Quarrel with Spain, says that the least growth of Power in the one is looked upon to be a weakening and lessening of the other. Until Philip iv time, Spain ever kept up its head, (though it began to decline in Philip the Seconds, by reason of the War in the Low Countries) but ever since that, and particularly after the last King Philip iv Death, France got the upper hand, and Spain humbly submitted.  
Upon the Festival of one of the Kings of Spain who was Sainted, the Preacher St. Ferdinand extolling the grandeur of his Mighty King in his Sermon, told 'em, that if his God was not God, the King Don Philip should be God; but I suppose something less than so, would satisfy his Successor, the case being altered since that. And yet Charles II. is King of Spain still, has the same Indies, and his Ships go thither, and come home laden with Gold and Silver as they use't to do heretofore; but still this Spain is not like that, which was once the Terror of all Princes in Europe, who were but justly jealous of her aspiring Greatness, and had reason to be Confederates against it for their common defence: Now 'tis in the same condition that a Thief is, when he's brought to his last shifts, and just ready to be taken.  
If Spain were not supported by its Allies, Lewis XIV. King of France would quickly be at Madrid: The Low Countries would bend under the French yoke, in less than one Campaign, though 'twould be effected more easily, because their own Prince has no Children, and is very sickly, and though they see utter ruin coming upon them, yet they dare make no opposition, for they could only make sport for the insolent French Troops if they should, having no prospect of succours from any body that's able to rescue them. France knows all this well enough, and 'tis very true, that France waits only for a fit opportunity to take possession of the Queens Right in the Dauphin's Name, for the Crown of Spain falls to the Female Sex, and it came to the House of Austria by a Woman, that is to say, by Jane, Ferdinand King of Spain's Daughter, who married a Prince of that Family.  
To let you see how much Spain suffers itself to be baffled by France, I need only show you two Examples, which will convince you that I have said nothing but what is true. The King of France sent a Memorial to the King of Spain, and to the States of the United Provinces, to this effect: That if the King of Spain should grant the Low Countries to the Duke of Bavaria, or but make him Governor (as the report was when he married the Archdutchess) that she would then without more ado break off the peace, since neither of those things could be done without manifest injury to the Dauphin's Right. Mr. Feuquier was the Man who gave the Memorial to the King of Spain, and Count D'avaux to the United Provinces; but were Paris over this, perhaps you'll say, that Spain did not consider it well, and they are so justly afraid of France, that it is no wonder if that puts 'em a little out of their Wits: But I am going to tell you a thing, which you'll own does sufficiently discover the weakness and poor Spirit of Spain; it happened at the Ceremony of making an Entry into London, that the Spanish and French Ambassadors met: The Baron Watville went before Mounsieur d' Estrade, France presently complains of this indignity; and Spain was so pitifully mean, as to disown that brave Action of their Ambassador: Thus by that scandalous procedure Spain suffered in its Honour, and gave place to France, though there was nothing like necessity for their doing it: I can see no other reason for't, but fear of Canon Law, and dread of the Troops which France keeps up to enforce its Commands, which are just ready too, in case the King of Spain should die suddenly. Let Charles II. take what care he can in settling the Succession, if he has respect for his own Family, and the last Will and intent of Philip IU. his Successor will have enough to do, and a scurvy War to maintain. The Queen, who is altogether French both by her Birth and Inclinations, has her Faction in the Kingdom, and when the King is dead, will much rather trust her Couzen-Germain, than a Prince who is a Stranger, at least would be so, were it not for the Marriage, which will be a great strengthening to his Party. The Marriages of the Infanta's of Spain, with Kings of France, have ever been the cause of great differences between the two Crowns, and very fatal to Spain; but the Marriage of Maria Theresia with Lewis XIV. completes the misery which is inevitably falling upon Spain, and how stiffly soever the King of France may have denied his designs, yet he never intended to keep either his Word or Oath as to that matter. We are sufficiently satisfied by the obstacles he puts, that the Pyrenaean Treaty may not be registered in Parliament; as also by his Manifesto's (which have run all the World over) of the Queen of France's Just Pretensions. What good can Spain get by Marriages and Alliances with France? On the contrary very great Mischief, for 'tis by reason of the last Marriage that France lays claim to all this, the wiser Philip II. preferred the Archduke Ernest, and afterward Albert. The Truce which France has now made, is designed only to amuse and lull Spain and its Allies asleep: Thus to make them lay down their Arms, and in the mean time the French King has at least a Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men a foot, who dance up and down, sometimes towards Alsace, sometime toward Cologne, and pretty often toward the Low Countries: All this is only to make them used to him, that so they may think he has no design upon them, and lay by all jealousy and suspicion. But when he finds a good opportunity, you shall see him fall upon them, as a Hawk upon her quarry, and carry them off too if he pleases; for what should hinder him, when there's not a Man in Arms, and by that time the Allies can be prepared, the King of France has done his business. Thus this Truce is only to bear in hand, and amuse the Princes of Europe, that they may not make War upon him, and that he may be constantly in a condition to take possession of the Dauphins Right so soon as ever the King of Spain is dead, without any other legal Process, but that of Dragoon Law: The Spaniards will find themselves miserably deluded in relying upon this Truce. 'Tis a broken reed which will pierce through their hands, and if unhappily, the Emperor should be still engaged in a War with the Turks, what should hinder the two French Armies, the one in Catalonia, the other in the Low Countries, from being Masters of all where they go. I know very well that the Interest of England and Holland are both concerned to defend the Spanish Netherlands, as the sequel will show us: But in the one the French have so true a Friend, (who has so much business beside upon his hands at home) that he will concern himself no more for the Low Countries, than his Predecessor did for Luxemburg. As for the States they have but Men enough to defend their own Country, and are naturally very good Husbands: As for Cologne and Munster, his Majesty will probably put some Men into their Towns for them, as he has done heretofore.  
I think it a vast mistake in the Spaniard, to send Men into the Low Countries for Governors (who for the most part) go thither only to fill their Purse, as the saying is, and so return; and to do this effectually, they don't scruple to rob both King and Country, pay neither Landlords nor Men, which makes them desert, so that instead of One Thousand Men in a Regiment, perhaps there is Fifty; and once I saw a whole Regiment which was going to change Garrison, carried in a Wagon. In short, a Man need only to have been once in Flanders, to see this that I tell you, the Soldiers upon the Guard hold out their Hats to you for an Alms, and the very Officers are fain to live with the Capuchins upon the Alms which the good Men beg.  
The three last Irish Regiments which the King of England granted the King of Spain for the service of the Low Countries which were effectually raised, are wasted like Snow before the Sun, and now I don't believe there's Fifty Men left. Spain in my poor judgement is very much in the wrong for another thing, that is, to rely upon its Allies for the keeping of the Low Countries, and upon that score to neglect having what Men are requisite for the countries' security: Besides, they may be sure that France, knowing the temper of the Governors so very well, do often feel their Pulse, and takes advantage of their weakness: Understanding Men will never be beat out on't, but that the Marquis of Grana was made a Tool, and put a helping hand to the taking of Luxemburg, the thing is as clear as the Sun at Noonday; Four or Five Millions which he has left behind him are a shrewd sign of it: I tell you no improbable matter, and nothing but what happens every day; there are very few Men in our Age, who are proof against a Million of Money; I confess there are some, but you must grant me they are very rare: The Low Countries are no Inheritance to the Governors, so that they get all they can out of it, as if they hired it. I want say that all who come there are of the same stamp (God forbidden) 'twould be sad indeed if Spain had no Subjects that were honest; but 'tis very certain that for these last Ages, France has gallanted the Low Countries, and thinks them highly obliged, if not depending upon her. There's no trick which the French craft does not use to bring about their designs, for they have ever found that little Country, a hard bone to pick, but their present King has given it devilish bites these years last passed; France knows very well, too, that if they were once Masters of it, they might then bend all their strength toward Catalonia and Rousillon, and having nothing left to fear or quarrel about in that Country, march on quickly to Madrid, which is no difficult matter when they have once made themselves Masters of some of the Frontiers to go in and out at. 'Tis for this reason that the Councils of Spain considering the strength of France, should take other measures than they do for the defence of the Low Countries, and I see but one only expedient in the posture that the Spanish Affairs are in at present, which can give them present ease, except they had rather have that Country fall into the French hands, as without doubt it must, if they don't prevent it speedily. It is certain, that nothing but an Army with a good General can prevent the ruin which is falling upon their heads. We see after what fashion the Men, who are there now are paid; and the inconsiderable number of them, and to say the truth, there ought to be Twenty Thousand effective Men (beside what is there already, in Garrison to secure the Country, and Ten Thousand more, in case of a Rupture; and since Spain can't furnish them with so many Men: You must let the Towns there levy Men, and pay them who will be willing to do it, to secure themselves, and avoied falling under the barbarous Dominion of the French, or be quite ruined perhaps, before it comes to that, as many Towns and Cities have been before them, and that flat Country now of late, in which the most Religious places were not spared. I know very well that that proposal has been debated in Council long since, and that the Council of Spain has ever rejected it for slight reasons. A good careful Governor, especially the Duke of Lorraine, who is so brave a Commander, and adorned with Conquests at the head of Forty Thousand Men supported by the Prince of Orange, would make France shake. France has its Emissaries in the Council at Madrid, as well as at other places, to oppose every thing which may possibly thwart her designs; and I am of opinion that it will turn to better account for the King of Spain to secure his Low Countries with the help of a Militi a paid by the Cities (who want abuse him) than to lose that Country for want of Men to defend it: The latter of these is almost irretrievable, but that former would be effectual, were it not for an ill-grounded Jealousy, which possibly heretofore might have deserved consideration, but is now quite out of doors, for in my judgement we ought ever to take in hand the thing which is most urgent, when the one is inevitable, and the other may probably never come to pass. I say once more, that France can never compass her great design, but by being first of all Master of the Low countries': 'Twas for this reason that Du Plessis advised his Master to set upon it that way; and 'tis that pass alone which Spain and its Allies ought necessarily to stop with the same care and diligence, as they would the breach in a Bank, through which the raging Sea is ready to come in upon them, and this we shall see hereafter.  
The French Kings Ambition and Interest is a Torrent, whose Impetuosity neither Affinity of Blood, nor Alliance, Peace, Treaties, Truce, Swearing, nor even Mutual Oaths are able to withstand: I'll go farther, no not the very bounds which God by his wise Providence has set to the limits of every Monarchy, which seems to speak to each Monarch, Hither shalt thou go, and no farther. But Lewis XIV. has sworn not to rest satisfied with the Lot which the Supreme Monarch of the Universe has given him. Who can tell, had he once Conquered the World, but he would begin again another Tower of Babel, to scale the very Heavens? Ambition knows no bounds, but Pride goes before a fall.  
Oh that Spain would not suffer herself to be lulled asleep by this deceitful Truce! 'Tis a Dalilah, which all on a sudden cry out to the Spaniards, the Philistians are upon thee: But I am afraid it will be so as 'twas with Samson, who when he awoke, finding himself fast bound, could no longer avoid becoming a Prey and Conquest to his Enemy. The Grandees of Spain are a great help to France, and contribute (without dreaming on't) very much to the advancing of her Interest, and support of her Ambition, whilst they enrich themselves at their Master's Expense, and in the mean time disable him to keep up Men for their common defence; but if they were well advised, they should reflect seriously upon the Condition they are in at present, and upon that they are like to be in when they fall under the Tyranny of France: How happily would such a comparison obviate the misery which is coming upon them? For they must think when a French Man comes to the Crown, that the Spaniards will be but little considered, and at best be only pitied or despised: The natural antipathy between those two Nations want suffer the new King to trust himself with them, and all their stateliness will serve only for the French Court to laugh and jeer at.  
The Spaniards must not flatter themselves if that comes to pass, that the Dauphin after his Father's Death, will leave France to go and live in Spain: The King's of France will always value Versailles beyond the finest City in Spain: They will send Vice-Roys thither who shall be Frenchmen both by nature and disposition, Mortal Enemies to the Spaniards, that thus they may be secure that they want join in any thing with the Spaniards against the French Interest. These Governors and Vice-Roys will bring along with them, for their necessary use their French Tax, the Mal tote, which will in a little time bring forth a whole swarm of Impositions, as the Taille Taillon Aide, Grant, or Octroit, Preciput, Equivalent, Free Gift, Gratification, Aid upon Wines, Gabels upon Salt, Corn and Flower, Tobacco and Periwigs, on all sorts of Stuffs, Linnen-cloth, Le pied fourchu, Impost upon Flesh, the Mark of Paper, upon Silver and Tin, upon Milled and Silk Stockings, Impost upon Ice, Control des Exploits, Tax upon Fee-Farms, Tax upon the New Conquests, Quint and Requint, Mortmains, the price of Valuations, the Mark of Gold, the two Sols a pound, the right of Sealage, right of Control, of Register and Oath, La Paulette, abatement of Wages, Custom, appointment of a Governor, the Eighth Penny, Impost and the reunion to the Crown of whatsoever hath been given or sold, with some others not worth naming. Again, after that the Spaniards would have for their hosts some of those Devilish Farmers of the King's Revenue who would fasten upon them, as if they were a Conquered Country, and at first dash would lay a Tax upon the Sun, knowing they make use of that instead of a Faggot.  
Therefore I maintain that Spain should endeavour above all things, to dispose the Emperor to accept of a Peace, or at least a Truce with the Grand Signior: To look out while this present King is living, for a Prince to succeed him, and that this Prince may betake himself in time to Madrid to be well known to the people, and be in the Heart of the Kingdom; To Defend it, and get Crowned immediately upon the King's Death: To possess himself of the great Seal, and all Instruments relating to the Crown: And to make the Grandees of Spain side with him as their Lord and Master.  
Moreover by this means Spain may make an early provision for the security of the Low-Countries, and be justly undeceived in that pernicious Opinion which the Council of Spain has, that England and the United Provinces must necessarily defend them for their own Interest. I own 'tis true, they ought to do it; but if France loses England from her true Interest, and diverts her from thinking so (as without doubt we shall find) if this comes to pass in any reasonable time, the United Provinces, whatever good intentions, and whatever interest they may have in the preservations of the Low-Countries, 'twont be in their power to stop the fury of the French, which like an impetuous Torrent will in a moment sweep away the best part of Flanders. So that Spain ought to think of this in good earnest; and not lie asleep whilst the French policy is so active, and is preparing long beforehand for so important an Affair which will never be offered them again, if they let slip the opportunity of being Masters of it. France takes all ways imaginable to get one, and makes it her whole business; it behoves Spain to do so too, if she would avoid Ruin and not fall under the Yoke of France, which is the greatest plague that can be sent upon her, no less than the Destruction and Desolation of her people, the exposing and humbling all the Grandees of Spain, who will be forced to give place to the meanest French Gentleman. Therefore if the Spaniards are well advised, after the Death of their King, they ought not to suffer the Monarchy to go to Lewis XIV. but with the last drop of their Blood; and Banish for ever this Violent, Insolent Spirit of France.   

The Policy of France and her Maxims in Reference to England.  
HEnry VIII. King of England in his time made a Golden Medal, on which was Engraven a Hand coming out of the Clouds, holding a pair of Scales equally poised, the one Scale denoting Spain, and the other France, with a motto in Latin, to this purpose in English, I throw the Scales on that side I give my Friendship. Without doubt that Prince knew his power, but now I can compare England to nothing but an Ox, which knows not his own strength and suffers himself tamely to be yoked. That Kingdom has this great advantage, that it Guards itself, and an Enemy can't invade it but with vast difficulty. 'Tis not to be invaded without going often to and fro upon the Sea, they'll have Wind and Water to fight against, and a powerful Fleet to engage with before they set foot ashore: Insomuch that if the King of England be at peace with Holland, 'tis undeniable in his power to make the Victory lean to that side he is of: France has found this so true, (although there is a perfect Hatred and Antipathy between those two Nations) that she has spared no Cost, and compasses Sea and Land to withdraw England from its true lasting interest, and bring her over to their side, or at least make her stand Neuter, and look on with arms-across, while the King of France Acts his Tragedy upon the Theatre of Europe. In the mean time 'tis most certain that England can rescue this same Europe from being enslaved to France, better than any other Nation, if she pleases.  
If the King of Great Britain did but know his own Strength and Real Interest, he might be not only the Mediator and Umpire of the World, But might make Peace, when he pleases, between all the Christian Princes.  
There are but two things requisite to effect this, both which are very easy, nay are in the King's power whenever he has a mind to't.  
The First is, That the King of Great Britain take Care to be always beloved by his People, and that there be a good understanding between him and his Parliament.  
The Second is, To have a strict Alliance with the united-provinces, and live in perfect Amity with them, and maintain inviolably this Union and Correspondence in all that Concerns each other. The former of these is mighty easily done, and the King will obtain it effectually, when he once resolves to Require nothing of his Parliament but what is agreeable to the Laws of the Realm, as he already promised in his Coronation Oath. The latter will be done so soon as His Majesty of Great Britain leaves listening to the French Emissaries, and puts out of his head all Jealousies and Surmises which those Creatures continually try to possess him with, having nothing that he need be afraid of from the States, who don't wish to Aggrandise themselves, and Usurp their Neighbours Territories as France does; but only keep what God has given them, and be able to protect their Country in the enjoyment of that Liberty they have at present. France, who is satisfied of the Truth of what I have said, takes all occasions to obstruct it; She is never without some of those Hellish Restless Spirits in the Kingdom, to sow the Tares of misunderstandings between the King and his Parliament. Ever since the Kings of England have appeared to be Protestants, this Catholicon has wrought well, and the Spirit of France has been at work to set the Episcopal Party against the Presbyterian, and to insinuate into the Minds of the latter, that the Bishops were inclined to Popery, and that most of them were Jesuits in Bishops , Who would certainly seduce the people little by little, and be Turn Coats so soon as they have a good Opportunity, and dare discover their Opinion: That the King himself was Popishly-affected, and a thousand things of this nature, which exasperated the people, and made his Parliament jealous of him, for which reason they Granted nothing at all, or but very little of what the King asked, and by this means his own private Occasions grew so very urgent that he neglected the Public.  
In the Reign of Charles the First, 'twas France which kindled the first Sparks of the Civil War, which caused so much Bloodshed both to King and People; insomuch that when the French Ambassador returned home from England, he boasted how he had kindled a fire which would not be put out a good while, and that for one twenty years England should not be in a Condition to do France any harm. One Father Joseph a Capuchin was instrumental in fomenting the Division among the Catholics underhand, and I can assure you there were some of those Catholics in the Parliament Army: King Charles himself affirms it, and tells you that the Rebellion among them proceeded from his having denied them places, and as soon as War was declared between the King and Parliament, the King of France sent Cromwell Six Hundred Thousand Livres to pay his Army at the beginning. This is publicly known, and all who lived in that Age know it to be true. But at present the King of Great Britain having changed his Religion, France has changed her Battery too, and the Church of England is now her main Piece of Ordinance: The people are so exasperated against each other, that his Majesty of Great Britain must think of little else this good while, and will find work enough in his Kingdom to compass his Ends (even though he had got a Parliament at his Devotion) and if he should live Twenty years longer he would scarce see a Conclusion, but must be fain to leave that business for his Successor. So that the King had need stand upon his Guard, while the people are thus dis-affected; He not being in a Condition to send his Army abroad, nor having Money to maintain them, France in the mean time may do what she pleases, may take the Low-Countries, and all Spain too if the King of Spain happens to die, which is the thing France waits for so impatiently.  
For the Second thing, which is an Alliance with the United Provinces, and a perfect Harmony and Agreement between those two Potentates, to oppose all Kings or Princes whatever, who shall offer to violate the peace of Christendom. 'Tis an undoubted Truth that the States desire it of all things, provided it be done so securely as they may venture to rely upon it, and be backed upon occasion. Of which there is small likelihood so long as things are as they are in England. This is what France would not willingly see, since the joining of these two powers would probably divert her from many Erterprises, and make her lose her longing to undertake any thing contrary to the late Treaties of peace at Nimeghen and the Truce: But France takes Care to hinder this, and the mistrust and jealousy which she keeps afoot in England like magnifying Glasses, makes the triviallest Objects look greater than they are, both in public and private Affairs: We need go no farther than the business of Bantam, which might long ago have been accommodated, but France thinks it more useful to her, that things be let alone as they are, and neither go forward nor backward, for fear of a happy Result. An Union of England with the United Provinces would give no great encouragement to the French designs upon the Spanish Netherlands, for if England were so minded, the King of France could never do any good, if the late King would but have seemed to have stirred, the French had never taken Luxemburg, but they knew his weakness, and were so cunning to blind him, that he good Prince, never saw the mischief on't till after the City was taken.  
England acted very much against her own Interest, when she parted with Dunkirk, that City opened the Gate to go into France and the Low Countries: But now 'twill be otherwise if those countries' fall under the yoke of Lewis le Grand, and if he by his Conquests joins Neuport and Ostend to Dunkirk: Flussing in a little time will be thought convenient for him, and then he may very well begin to dispute the Dominion of the Seas with England, and obstruct her Commerce; and if at last the King of France Masters Holland, which misfortune may happen, (the Low Countries being lost) England may very well think 'tis her turn next. As 'twas for this Reason that Queen Elizabeth told heretofore Mounsieur Sully the Most Christian Kings Ambassador, that neither France, nor England, nor any other Prince had any right to pretend to the Low-countrieses, and further, that she would never suffer, that his King should so much as think on't.  
This very Sully in a Letter to Henry iv sent him word, That with a great Army (for all what the Queen had said) he might take a course to keep them in order, and take possession of such Lands and Cities in the Low Countries, as he should think fit for his turn, and join France entirely with the United Provinces which is the only means (says he) to restore France to its Ancient splendour, and make her Superior to all the rest of Christendom: For if once by hook or by crook the Provinces of Luxemburg, Juliers, la Marck, Mons, Limburg, Aix, and Cleves were united to France, without doubt all the rest of the Country would be forced to follow their example, being separated from any communication with the rest of the World. France has been fixed that way ever since she saw there was no good to be done towards Italy, but all the Princes of Europe are highly concerned to put a stop to that Conquest: And there are only those two Neighbouring Powers which are able, and whose Interest it is most, to hinder the progress that France makes in the Low Countries, which will draw after it, as I have said before, dire effects: As for Spain of itself, 'tis only a Body standing aloof off from its Members, which has nothing left but her Tongue: She is reduced so low, as even to say her Prayers to Notre Dame Charite, and to beg her good Masters and Friends to take care of her, and not forsake her: England can do much toward the preserving the Low Countries, and if her King had not promised, to sit still, Luxemburg would have been at this time as 'twas before, a bone for France to pick. His Most Christian Majesty knows this very well, and 'tis for this reason that he takes so much pains to keep his Britanique Majesty firm to his Interests, and if he want declare for him, at least that he will look on, and accept a neutrality. To bring this about, he spares nothing, neither Presents, nor Pension, nor Tricks; and I may safely say, that the Money which France gives, is a venomous Serpent, lurking under the Rose-leaves, it smiles for the present, but will frown severely afterward; 'tis an Iron Chain plaited over with Gold, beautiful in appearance, to attract and deceive the English, but they will one day feel its weight and hardness, if they don't make an early discovery of the base ends he has who offers it, who will be their ruin at last, since they can't subsist, but by a due balance between France and Spain. I conclude then, that 'tis the King of England's apparent Interest, for self-preservation, and advancing of Trade, to oppose the King of France his Conquests in the Law Countries; for if he does not, and supposing that after the loss of that Country, Fortune favours him, and lets him be Master of all the Seventeen Provinces (which may very well come to pass, if the States are not seconded, and stand only upon their own Legs) in what a condition will England be? France will be stronger at Sea, and more Potent in the Indies than she; France will interfere with her in Traffic every day, she will constantly have a brave Navy at Sea, and especially in the Spring, which will not let a mouse stir out of the English Ports without leave, and upon the least resentment, farewel England to all intents and purposes, since there's no body left who will or dare lift up a finger in her defence.  
Moreover England's best Policy is to keep France under, not only to maintain her Dominion of the Seas, but also to find a convenient opportunity for the recovery of her Ancient Demesnes which France keeps from her for Example, Britain, Normandy, Poitou, Languedock, and all France too, which belongs to it by the Marriage of the King of England with Margaret, Daughter of Philip the Fair, from this Match came Henry V of England, who had as much Right to France as the Dauphin has to Spain: For the three Sons of Philip the Fair, Lovis Hutin, Philip the Long, and Charles the Fair died all without Issue-male, and it was after this, when the King of England sued for his Right to the Kingdom of France, that the Salic Law was first introduced, ushered in by a Sermon which the Bishop of Beauvais preached before the Convention of the States, proving by the Gospel, which says, The Lilies spin not, that by consequence the Flower de lis which represents France, ought never to fall to the Distaff: But that Law could only affect what was to come, and not what was passed. Afterward Henry V King of England came over into France with a Potent Army, won several Victories, and at last Married Catherine, Daughter of Charles VI and in the year 1421 it was sinally decreed and concluded, that Henry should be King of France: Now Isabel Queen of France, Mother to Catherine Queen of England, made her last Will in favour of her Son in Law, and declared him Heir to all her Estate, and to the Crown, which in my judgement is a great addition to the Right which the Kings of England have to the Realm of France.  
If the King of France had but had that Right to England which the King of England has to France, what a Company of Manifestoes and Writings should we have fly about? to demonstrate his just pretensions, as he calls every thing he is pleased to lay a claim to.  
So that let the King of England take a view of France which way soever he will, he ought always to suspect her, and stand upon his guard, as against one whom he certainly knows to be his Enemy. He may justly be assured that he does not coaks him so without a design to get something out of him, and because he knows him the only one who is able to counterpoise his Affairs: Therefore 'tis no wonder that Lewis XIV. took so much pains to supply the late King Charles II. Necessities, and satisfy his Pleasure, Mounsieur Barillen, and Madam Portsmouth can justify what I say, but I can assure you that the King of France regards neither Princes nor private Persons one jot farther than as they are for his turn: Nay farther, Even Virtue itself is only esteemed by him, so long as she squares with his Interest: What value pray did he put upon either Princes or Princesses during Cromwel's Government? Were they not obliged to retire (not to say driven) out of France? What subsistnance or help had their Princes in their Exile from France? No, 'tis to the Family of Orange, that they are obliged, which furnished them with considerable Sums of Money; but on the contrary France was the promoter of the late Troubles of England, she gave the Princes no protection, and never contributed the least toward the re-establishing of the late King in his Throne.  
All this considered, neither just resentment from the Royal Family, nor the English Interest can decently allow of such close Alliances with France, as shall be able to make England shut her Eyes, or be a by-stander, whilst Lewis XIV. takes the Low Countries: But on the other side, she ought to be continually in a posture to hinder her in every the least attempt she makes towards it, and to make use of the Six Regiments in Holland, which the States won't refuse upon such an occasion, to prevent the King of France his bringing more Men down upon Flanders: I am persuaded that those Six Regiments would be able to cope with double the number of the French; and thus by England's only showing of her Teeth, Europe will be safe: Resist the Devil, and he will fly from you: But if you are afraid of him, he'll soon master you. France has cut out work for King James now Reigning: The Enterprise which he has taken in hand is so great, that many Men fear, and others hope, that he will never get quit of it with his Life. 'Tis no time to change Laws when the Enemy is at the Gate: 'Tis not convenient at all times, to think of working great Conversions, some Battles must be fought, to let the World see a Character both of a Soldier and a Politician. All the World expected this and more from the King. His Mighty Courage put all Europe in hopes, that he would be an Universal Comforter to them, and would afford some respite to Spain. But alas! What can his Allies and Spain hope for, whilst his sole business is to please the Jesuits, kindles a fire in his own Kingdom, which it may be he won't be able to quench when he pleases; and so long as he does so, he dares not call a Legal Free Parliament.  
Spain lost herself by banishing the Moors out of the Kingdom. France is weakened by the Conversions she has wrought, and by driving out the Hugonots, and she has a great mind that the King of England would follow her Example. We must not rob God of his Right, Conversions only belong to him, and he is able to convert the whole World with one Word: Therefore leaving the care of this to God, the King of England ought to mind the safety of his States, avoid being made the King of France his Cully, and make him keep at home, and not fall upon his Neighbour's Lands, which ought to be the Barrier between them: Thus the King will do his Honour and Conduct but Justice, and satisfy the expectation of all Europe.   

The Politic Spirit of France, and its Maxims, in reference to the United Provinces.  
THE States of the United Provinces, after they had constrained Spain by force of Arms to acknowledge them for Free, High and Mighty States, depending on none but God alone; were for some time the admiration of their Neighbours, and every one laboured to procure their Friendship and Alliance, and it may be said that they were looked upon as the Umpires of Europe; but since the War in 1672, this High Reputation hath been lessened, and France hath been so cunning to play her Cards so well, that she had well nigh reduced them to nothing; if by an unlooked for change, the People had not put the whole management and command into the Prince of Orange's hands, and if some persons of ill designs had not been brought to condign punishment. But God whom it pleased by his Providence to protect and preserve this little Country, did after the siege of Norden send such a panic fear amongst its Enemies, that they broke up their Camp with more speed than they came, yet the thing which did most contribute to these misfortunes, besides the Treachery of France was their being unprovided of good Forces, and a good Head for the Army. These Provinces relied wholly upon the Peace, and treacherous deceitful promises of France, which all a long in time of Peace carried on a design against the said Provinces. We see that amidst Peace, the Militia Forces grew slothful: Ease smiles for a little while, Men quite forsake the care of Arms, and give themselves only to something profitable and gainful: When the Enemy approacheth, Men fly oftentimes to their shame (far from that Glory which was heretofore the prevailing Passion) as we might have observed in the late Wars. France was sure so long as the United Provinces had no Captain-General, the Militia would be but ill provided, and no ways upon their Guard, and this is the reason why she was so very careful to hinder the Prince of Orange from being advanced to those Dignities and Commands which he at present enjoys, by strengthening and poisoning the contrary Party: By this means the States grew weaker and weaker every day: Their Forces were dispersed, their Fortifications neglected, and their strongest places fell to decay; their Magazines but ill provided with Ammunition, whilst France levied Men unawares, entered into secret Alliances with England, Archbishop of Cologne, and Bishop of Munster.  
Du Plessis saith very well, that every State is not thought strong or weak, but in comparison to the strength and weakness of their Neighbours; that 'tis for that end that wise Princes always keep a counterpoise as much as possible, that they may remain in peace and amity together, and so soon as ever that fails, peace and amity is dissolved, not being grounded upon any thing but mutual fear, or respect for one another: Now this is so true, that every Prince is jealous of the least Levy or Motion of his Neighbour, even amidst Peace, or Cessation of Arms; and do perpetually observe it, and labour to get a true Information of the designs of his Enemy or Neighbour even before they be hatched; for thereby his resolutions are spoiled; now this is the thing wherein abundance of Princes and States (who stand upon cost and charges) are to seek: This is a piece of Covetousness that sometimes costs its Master and his People dear, and at last occasioneth a War, which perhaps might have been prevented with a small matter. France is so well assured of the Truth of it, that she lets nothing slip upon such occasions: Her Ambassadors in all the Courts of Europe have Money for that purpose; and they can do their Master no better service, nor sooner win his favour, than by corrupting one or more of that Prince's Council at whose Court they reside: It is their chief study Night and Day, and spare nothing to accomplish it: When they come short of the good Man, they are sure to win the Wife, that she may now and then ask her Husband; (nay, rather than fail, one of the Children may serve the turn) whether or no he was successful in such and such a business: They apply themselves in like manner to the Servants, whom they reward according to their services. These Maxims prove very lucky to them in States where there are many Heads, as in the United Provinces, who are a great rub in the King of France his way in his Conquest of the Spanish Netherlands, for he knows that having some of them, he may make sure of the rest, so that his main business is to lull the United Provinces asleep by a Truce which he breaks at pleasure, supposing at that time they may neglect their Militia, as heretofore they did, and busy themselves only with Trading, for the King knows that the States having their Wits about them, and upon their Guard, they will never consent to the taking of the Spanish Netherlands, at least that they ought not to do it, since that there lies the bounds between France and them, which they ought to have a care of, as of their Neighbour's House lest it be set on Fire. So that to bring about his Design what hath not the Count d'Avaux done to divide one Province against another, nay even the Cities of Holland, and especially Amsterdam.  
What did he not promise, what did he not engage, to accomplish his Designs? However they were not managed with such secrecy, but that the very Boys in the streets smoked them out, through the frequent Journeys this Ambassador so often made to this great City, neither is Mombas to be thought the only Actor in this Affair, for when he retired to France, he left many Agents behind him, to further the design in the Night, not daring to appear in the Day: but the best was, Count d'Avaux became at length to be better understood, the People began to suspect his Doctrine, for his abusing the easiness and good nature of many of them, made them sensible of his practice, and illude his Designs: but the Policies of France are more perspicuous, in fomenting the differences between England, and the United Provinces, well knowing the uniting of both their Forces together might give France it's Mortal Wound. How sweet therefore must their Divisions be to France, and especially when they spring from among themselves? The last War between these two, arose from some differences in point of Traffic, and whilst the King of England was preparing for the War, the King of France offered his Assistance towards an accommodation with the States, on purpose only to delude them, as they well perceived afterwards being amazed that when they drew near to a Conclusion, France on the sudden sided with England, and at the same time the one gave the Assault by Sea, the other by Land: and so assuring to themselves an entire Conquest of the United Provinces, they divided their Spoils, the one taking the Maritime places, and France the other, but they misunderstood one another about Amsterdam, each imagining to possess that himself; but there was no occasion for their casting Lots for it, for God suffered it not to fall into their hands: afterwards each drew home their Forces, according to the Peace which the English were the first movers of. Then did France labour what it could to strip the States of their Allies, it's King foreseeing the Dice would turn, and that the Dutch might rally, their Soldiers being in great Discipline under an experienced General, then did the King give up Mastricht, and did whatever else lay in his power to promote the peace at Nimeghen: Since which time he has always barked at a distance, and did so much dread the States levying the last 16000 men, that Count d'Avaux used all Stratagems to prevent it, as he will do at all times whenever the States discover an inclination to arm; because that would prove some hindrance to his encroaching designs, and here I must repeat again, how much it is the Interest of the States, to prevent their Frontiers from being swallowed up, which certainly in a short time will become a prey to the Usurper, upon a more specious pretence than that King has usually made use of: He may publicly declare upon what right his pretensions are grounded, how that, without the least dispute these Provinces did formerly belong to Mary of Burgundy, to Philip the First, to Charles the Fifth, and after that to Philip the Second, and that these were in rightful possession of them till they afterwards Rebelled, and by force extorted their Liberty: He will offer them, in case they will freely submit themselves to his Dominion, to maintain their Ancient Privileges, and reserve to them the free Exercise of their Religion, and also exempt them from all impositions as he does his French Subjects; which if they shall refuse to do, then will he attack them with his Army, as he did in the year 1672. fearing no opposition from any of the Catholic Princes, before whose eyes he hath all along cast a mist with the specious pretences of Religion; but if the House of Austria continue still to be lulled asleep, she with all her Catholicism will be irrecoverably undone.  
But I perceive the Estates of the United Provinces, next to God, must depend wholly upon their own strength, and need only be afraid of France, and to levelly their whole Forces against her, whose design for these many years has been to suppress them, and if not wholly to destroy them, yet at least to reduce them so low, as they should wholly depend upon her.  
The King would willingly agree with them after the same manner as we read in the Fable the Wolf would have done with the Sheep, dismiss your Shepherd and your Dog, cries the Wolf to these poor simple Creatures, and then will we enter into a strict Friendship and Alliance together, and live peaceably one with another; thus says Mr. King, Cashier your General, disband your Veterane Soldiers, 'twill be good Husbandry now in this time of peace, and you may assure yourselves of my Friendship, and take your ease during this Cessation, and so we will live Friendly and quietly together; but the Italian tells us, Trust not, and you will never be deceived: Thus as I laid down before, 'tis best for them to rely wholly upon their own proper strength, and be ever provided with a substantial Navy, both for Cruising up and down and for Convoy's, and also to have another ready to put to Sea, their strength at Sea is the right-hand of the States, and which will easily disperse the storms which France do often threaten her neighbours with: and if the States would ever be persuaded to train up a sufficient number of Seamen, to be in constant readiness to Man their Frigates whenever necessity required, it would produce this double advantage; 1. The State would be ever furnished with men ready for her Defence, without the Trouble of seeking where to levy them, and these will be skilful enough by the continual service. 2. She would draw from neighbouring Havens many Mariners that would proffer their services, but especially such of the States subjects as were in Foreign service would choose rather to return home when they should be sure to be in service upon the Land or the Water, the whole year round; those who are abroad, need not be frighted to return home by sharp Proclamations: 'Tis certain France can't brag much upon this account, for I am sure most of the ships she sends out but especially the Pilots are all Dutch, she confiding more in the skill and experience of them than of her own men, who never dare venture upon long Voyages; and if ever the States, should resolve upon so beneficial a method, the Policies of France would immediately be perceived to rouse, and Count d'Avaux, hound-like would hunt from Town to Town to oppose it: but he gins now to grow very angry, because of the small effect which his large promises have hitherto produced, and merely for want of their being duly tempered with Truth and Honesty, the main supporters of the Credit and Reputation of a Minister of State in a Foreign Country, but the King is obliged to this great Man for putting several stories of their High and Mightinesses into his Head, that they have no cause to thank him for.  
France notwithstanding is mightily assisted in the United Provinces, by the Jesuits and other Foreign Priests, who are hired to sift out, and divert the good intentions of the People, they are crept into the Prince of Orange's Court, where they find private Friends to serve them on all occasions; they have the impudence to brag of their Intelligence of things done in his private Chamber, and they omit nothing that tends to the well acting of their parts; they swarm in his Troops and Garrisons, whence they transmit their intelligence to the Hague the common Office of address, and as it were the Receptacle of the other Cities and Provinces; the greater caution therefore aught to be used, for all these Vermin are warmed by France, who is ever in action, and will deny nothing to any one whom she thinks can be serviceable to her: I myself remember, that not long ago, a Footman of one of the States Deputies was offered Four Ducatoons a week, to betray whatever his Master should speak of, either at his own Table, or in Discourse with the other Deputies, but the Valet with reason and height of indignation refused the baseness.  
Thus we may observe the French Policy, make use of all ways, how much therefore ought they to be upon their Guard, to keep off her blows: I myself observe the chief Cities about the Hague infested with Spies, who hunt every Table, and daily change their Dining-places, except they find some good bit or other to divert them, how cautious then ought they to be, who are obliged to frequent Ordinaries: Others of these little Fellows screw themselves into all Companies, others of them into the Court, at such times when the Prince and Princess Dine and Sup publicly, and all this only to observe what is said, and to make report of every small accident, even of the very Fire and Fuel: Whenever these little News-Carriers happen upon any thing of moment, away they scour like the Basques to the French Ambassadors, where they are sure of a Dinner, his Table being generally filled up with these kind of Cattle: I could name a dozen of these Animals, who to my knowledge are thus maintained, besides others who manage these concerns with more privacy, acting only in the dark: The Count de Caravas, was one of the chief of them; a Man very much esteemed of, though in my mind only like a chip in pottage, not being so cautious as he should have been, for he went about at Noonday, and through the great Gates to carry his news: Two others whom I know to be Jesuits, are daily disguised in Officers Habits at the Prince's Levy, his times of Dining and Supping, haunting the Court all the day long, where they are engaged in so many Intrigues, and have such numbers of Acquaintance, that they well understand what advice to give to their Friends the Catholics, for after all they are French Emissaries, and wholly devoted to that Service; others of this sort get to be employed in the Kitchen, where these Cattle are too too dangerous: The conclusion therefore is Natural, to keep a watch on all sides, in all times, in Peace, in War, upon the Motions of France, whose Maxims are destructive and Antichristian, whose King is both perjured and a Liar, who, under the colour of establishing universally the Catholic Religion (which he himself in his Life and Faith renounces) has no other end than the Extent of his own Dominion over all Europe; first over the Protestant Princes if he can, and then over the Catholic; and thus not only to be declared Roman Emperor, but also Universal Emperor of Europe, and 'tis lamentable to behold with what a Covetous Eye from Versailes he looks upon the United Provinces: 'Tis therefore advisable for the States and People of these Provinces, to put in practice what our Saviour once advised the Jews, Watch, for ye know not the hour in which the Thief will come: So, say I, be ever in a readiness to oppose him, whenever he shall endeavour to possess himself of their Houses, and usurp upon the Territories of his Neighbours, and by degrees upon that which God Almighty has disposed of to the wise Government of the States, for France must be looked upon in these days as the common Enemy to all Republics, as the Scourge of all that deny his Power: True it is, that his fear of the United Provinces, by much exceeds his love for them, 'tis very convenient to keep him in this fear, by repelling him whenever he advances beyond his own Territories, and not so much to trust to Count D' Avauxes deceitful Remonstrances, and his being against their putting themselves into a posture of defence, ought assuredly to persuade them that it is also contrary to his Master's desire, otherwise why should he trouble himself to oppose it. The States are more particularly engaged to be upon their Guard, and to neglect nothing which may tend to their defence, because of their too near Neighbour the Cardinal of Furstemburg, who is lately Elected Co-adjutor of Cologne, a dangerous and active Man, and already possessed with the Daemon of France, whom the King can raise with his Money when he pleases, to the more easy reducing the Frontiers of the Provinces, and upon all occasions will buoy up France in quarrelling with Holland upon the first notice given. The Spirit of France appears in all his Actions, so that he is equally as dangerous a Neighbour as the King himself, for his high Obligations to his Master will oblige him also to concur in his designs of becoming the Universal Monarch, by swallowing up his Neighbours round about him, as will be seen in time, if some Course be'nt taken.   

The Policies and Maxims of France, in respect of the Northern Princes.  
I Place the Kings of Swedeland and Denmark among the chief of the Northern Princes: These are two Powerful Kingdoms, and although they are Neighbours, and nearly allied by Marriages, yet notwithstanding are so far from loving, that like France and Spain, they mortally hate one another; and although their Interest, Trade, and narrowness of Revenue ought to persuade them to live amicably together, yet notwithstanding all, their antipathy will prevail; 'tis of high importance to France to have ever one of these Kings at his beck, that so she may give a diversion to the other, whenever the one should have a mind to assist the Low Countries, or the United Provinces against her Encroachments. The Swede being the stronger, suits best with this design of France, between whom therefore there hath been a strict Alliance, but the Swede being disappointed of his Pension, and treacherously dealt with in respect of the Duchy of Deux-Ponts, which descended to him after the Death of that Duke, but was miserably impoverished by France in the Life of the Duke: These things the Swede cannot put up, but for the present 'tis not so convenient to discover his resentments, but reserve them for a fairer opportunity, neither will France do any good now if she should present her Lovis' d'or's put up like a barrel of Olives, as she did formerly to his Ambassador to soften him at the Treaty of Nimeghen, which she herself hath since bragged of: All this will be to small purpose, for the Swede has already tasted sufficiently of the bitter Spirit of France, and has resolved to have nothing more to do with her. Therefore France goes now to the K. of Denmark, who had a mind next to see what kind of things these Lovis' d'or's be, and therefore never stuck to side with her; when immediately Count de Roy was dispatched in quality of Generalissimo, with several other French Officers, at whose arrival the French Tricks forthwith discovered themselves, for Count de Roy immediately demanded on behalf of the King his Master, part of the supplies sent from France, pretending that they were squandered away to no purpose. The like Compliment was formerly done to the Elector of Brandenburg, but Kings and Princes must consult the Honour of their Posterity and the Ages to come, as well as the present. What a cipher in History will a Mercenary Prince and an Hireling of France appear in future Ages, who is led like a Bear by the Nose, and thus gives a Tarnish to all his other Actions, which otherwise might be worthy commemoration; he must not imagine such baseness will die with his Person, there are ever found some that will be Friends to truth, all Pens are not so Mercenary as Varilla's and Pellisson's.  
As soon as France has made as much use of the Dane as she can, and finds any other to be of more advantage to her, she will forsake him as one too much for his own ends, pretending some sham-quarrel or other, (as the Turks do) to fall out with him about his Pension, as she formerly served the Swede: and if the House of Lunenburgh would have swallowed the Bait, the Dane should not have warmed himself by France so long as he has already done.  
But besides the Ignominy which will follow a Sovereign, who instead of depending solely upon the King of Kings, Blushes not in becoming a Vassal to his Equal, and giving occasion to France to boast like the Centurion in the Gospel, I bid my servant do this, and he doth it, and to another, go, and he goeth, and to another, come, and he cometh. I say, besides this Baseness, its most pernicious Policy, (though I doubt the Dane's too heavy to discern it) for a small dirty sum of Money, and which serves only to maintain his extraordinary Troops, to render himself an Enemy to all Europe, and in particular to his potent Neighbours, without the assistance of whom both Denmark and Norway must fall to the ground. For I do maintain, that it lies in the power of the United Provinces, by a Remonstrance to do more Mischief to those two Kingdoms in one year, than they can ever recover in ten by all their Subsidies and Pensions from France: I confess, by the shelter from France, he easily became Master of Holstein; but alas, good man, can he imagine to keep it, for surely that Country will take ca●e to oblige him to quit it, as soon as ever his Master the K. of France shall be routed out of the United Provinces.  
Were there but once a Peace concluded between the two Emperors, the victorious Christian Army would certainly make the Usurper disgorge, and reduce his Stomach to temper: Soft and fair goes far. Had it not been for the Alliance with France, the Dane had never made that Assault upon Hamburgh, which became the Grave to so many brave Danes and French that served in that Attempt; the unlucky Fort of the Star stopped them in their Career, from whence with the loss of Two Thousand men, they were obliged to retreat with shame and confusion thereby becoming the laughingstock to all Europe besides.  
The King of Denmark as well as many others, is not really sensible of his own Interest, but suffers himself to be dazzled by this Golden Sun, which France immediately displays to such as she has a mind to corrupt; she ever has in reserve her Nimigen Olives to gratify such, whose assistance she shall stand in need of: But 'tis a thing much to be hoped for, that his Majesty of Denmark's Eyes may be opened, as well as the Swedes; and that he would retrieve himself from these Shackles, and have recourse to his other Allies, in whose power it is to make the Trade of his Kingdoms to flourish, and his Revenues to increase, without being obliged to keep up such a number of useless Troops as he does at present: But France well knows the necessity of having at her beck one of those Northern Princes, for fear they should unite in a strict Alliance, and so league with her Enemies: This Policy of France is the Apple of discord, and she not being able to be without a Northern Ally, if Denmark had stood off a while, France must have purchased her Friendship at a double rate: The Marriage which France proposed for P— G— with the P—s A— was only to strengthen her Party, and to make her Alliance the surer, this made her willing to defray the Charges thereof; P— G— himself, nor the King his Brother having not much Money to spare for that purpose, this cost France a Hundred Thousand Crowns to secure to her side, as she thought, a Creature in England, who should on all occasions further her designs; and to knit this the stronger, he would have had him believe, he should succeed to the Crown after the Death of King James II. to the apparent prejudice of the next undoubted Heiress, To make which the more feasible, he would have fomented Jealousies between the two Sisters and their Husbands, well foreseeing a terrible blow if Affairs should change, and the Succession be kept in the right Line. 'Tis true, the King of France might think to engage P— G— into a Scurvy business, by contriving a Civil War in England, after the Decease of the King now Reigning; but I cannot devise after he should have involved him in this Labyrinth, how he will extricate him: The Duke of Monmouth (for all he was the Son of a King) is a caution to every Subject.  
'Tis well known the French King is very earnest with the King of England by his Jesuits, to demand of the First Parliament he can get at his beck and Devotion, the Power to choose a Successor after the Example of Henry VIII. and once gaining that, to advance the P—s A— to the Crown before any other; but many weary step, and a far Compass must be taken before he get so far: First of all, The King of England must have a Parliament at his Devotion: Secondly, This Parliament must grant his Request: Thirdly, The King must choose (nay who can tell but Death may prevent all these:) In the Fourth place, 'Tis meet the People consent to this Choice: Nay last of all, 'Tis absolutely convenient that the P—s of O— as Lawful Heiress acquiesce in such determinations.  
The French King who is no admirer of Virtue, but as it keeps pace with his Interests, understanding those Noble Qualities, and Great Virtues the Princess of Orange is endued withal, that she will no sooner shine upon the Throne of her Ancestors, but she will attract and win the Hearts of all her Subjects, both by her Wisdom, and also strict Alliance with her Neighbours: He sees that these Ties and Bonds may in time make him disgorge what he hath swallowed, and repent of all the sorrows he hath caused, and still doth cause Christendom to suffer: Who knows but God may have marked out this Great and Virtuous Princess as a second Judith to put this Blasphemous Holofernes to Death: Yea, this is what this Usurper and Disturber of Christendom is so sensibly apprehensive of, and endeavours to hinder, by seeing and corrupting the Great Men of England, by making sure of all the Catholics, and of Ireland itself, thereby to give them relief in case of necessity.  
But P— G— and his Consort P—s A— will look better about them, and will not suffer themselves to be deluded by this deceitful Spirit of France: They see all its pernicious and deceitful Maxims, and will wait for the time Providence hath determined for their Succession to the Crown; they have already gained the People's Hearts, the Esteem and Reputation of Europe; and of their Allies; and by this means may be assured to back and justify their rightful Titles at that time, in case any one should dare to oppose it.  
As for the Princes of the House of Lunenburg, they are taken notice of and watched, they are encompassed with French Emissaries on all sides, who do nothing but continually set before them the Advantages that may accrue to them by accepting of the French Kings Pensions; or to speak the truth, make themselves Slaves to Lewis le Grand, just following the King of Denmark's Example, to dance after his pipe. The French pence often stick too close to the fingers of the Ministers of those Courts, Bois-David and his Kinsman St. Povage could tell us fine stories of their tricks, and certain too, they could deliver brave Memorials concerning that Court, had not Bois-David been for the King's turn, he durst never have had the face to have come home into France as he did, being found guilty upon the score of a Duel with Aubjou; for there is no fault how heinous soever, but the King pardons, if the Malefactor be judged needful for his Interest and Ambition: We are confident the King proffers vast Sums to withdraw the Princes of the House of Lunenburg from their true Interest, and so bring them under the French Yoke; but I would have them disabused: 'Tis no ways Honourable nor creditable for Free and Sovereign Princes to stoop so low as to be Mercenary to France, and 'tis certain all these offers are for nothing else but to loosen themselves from their honest true Allies, viz. the Swedes, the Elector of Brandenburg, and the States of the United Provinces, whose pecial Interest it is to hold fast, and be firmly united, as well by reason of the nearness of their States, as upon the account of Trading; and that fair correspondence which hath always reigned amongst them: So that a Man may safely avouch they serve to maintain, and mutually preserve one another. Now France hath a design in it, in meaning to oblige the Princes of Lunenbourg to come over to her Interest; for should the King of England, or Spain chance to die suddenly, she would have occasion for those three forementioned Powers to be able to oppose them with the French Troops joined to theirs, in case any one of them should be in action.  
'Tis most evident, that Lewis XIV. aught to labour as he doth to procure himself Allies to second his Designs upon the same score as he doth for Denmark, whether it be to hinder the Prince of Orange's passage into England, or when he means to fall upon Holland in good earnest; these two concerns go to his heart, and is his sole grief considering the Grand Conquest of the Emperor, who will be like to grieve him to the heart with his Victorious Army after peace made; nay, and perhaps make him lose his longing, to put some of his great designs in Execution, for which he labours tooth and nail, and now gins to cool upon it, to the end he may so well order his business, that he may neither meet with any impediment, or at least that he may divert and busy those who mean to withstand it.  
I dare safely affirm, that the Prince of Orange is the only Man the French King dreads, and that the very thoughts of the Succession of a Royal Princess to the English Crown puts him in a deadly fright, which gives him a Stool without a Pill, knowing withal that this as great a Politician as Captain (not knowing what Corruption means) perfectly versed in the true interest of Europe, will say as Q. Elizabeth did, that none had any thing to do to pretend to the Low Countries, and will not endure that either the King of France nor any other should make himself Master of it, which will be very feasable when he shall be advanced to this Dignity, and this is the reason why the Spirit of Lewis the Great encompasseth the Earth, and would fain associate himself with as many Princes as possibly he can to shelter himself from the impending Storm and Tempest, and secure him from that Thunder that is ready to break out against him.  
Poland is at a great distance from France, can neither hurt it by Sea or Land, but can do him great service indirectly, as crossing the Designs of the Emperor, or by falling upon Swedeland, especially Swedeland when France thinks good; for there wants not a plausible excuse when a Prince means to make an attempt. Casimir Son of Sigismond had a lawful one indeed; for this Sigismond being as yet King of Sweeden, was elected King of Poland: He kept nevertheless his first Kingdom, until Prince Charles his Uncle was proclaimed King in the absence of his Nephew King Sigismond, who sent a Senate consisting of Forty Jesuits to have full power of deciding all State-Matters, and were to reside at Stockholm, being dispatched with full instructions by Patent, impowering them with Royal Authority: But when the Senate was arrived in Stockholm Road, Prince Charles with all the Nobility went out to meet them with Twenty or Thirty Ships to do the more Honour to these new Senate. This Squadron coming round about the Vessel of their Reverend Senators, gave them a broadside, seeming to welcome them: Their Ships immediately sprung divers leaks, and the Jesuits went down to hold their first Session in Quality of Senators at the bottom of the Salt Sea, none using any means to save one of them. In the upshot, Prince Charles was Elected King, the Archbishop dispensed with the Subjects Oath of Allegiance, which they took to Sigismond and his Uncle was proclaimed King.  
The French King thinks himself concerned in the Election of a King of Poland; thither he usually sends an Ambassador with some Lewisses to carry on the Election in favour of some Prince of his Faction, but especially that he may not be true and steadfast to the Faction of the House of Austria. King John now Reigning, his Queen being a French Lady, hath contributed very much to the Bishop of Beauvais the French Ambassador, to solicit in her behalf, because the Most Christian King always thought that by the Queen's Intercession he should prevail with the King to come over to his Interests, and he was not altogether mistaken. True indeed the repulse she suffered from the King of bestowing the Titles of Duke and Peer upon the Marquis D' Arquier her Father, and acknowledging her to be his Daughter, and of giving her the honour of Queen in case she should come into France, had a little cooled her; but when it will cost the King but a little sheet of Parchment to please a Prince, the King is extraordinary liberal of it at Court, especially if he have need of him. So likewise out of acknowledgement of these favours you see the King of Poland doth whatsoever his Benefactor will have him; and St. Lewis is in great power in that Realm. Yet I don't look upon it as the true interest of Poland to make such a stop, the ways being so good since the deliverance and relief of Vienna, the issue and result of his great exploits would have Eternised his memory by giving a peace to the Grand Signior upon advantageous terms for Poland; but the best of all was, he might have secured the Crown upon his Son's head, for questionless they could not in Justice have denied it him, as an acknowledgement of all his Victories. We are not ignorant that the Spirit of France, very prodigal of promises, and fertile in cunningness, do ascertain the King and Queen, that Prince Alexander their Son shall not fail of a Crown, and your Golden Lewisses work wonders: But who pray will give Lewis a lease of his Life till then? I must needs say he caused to be put under his Statue, Viro immortali, but I have found also in the same place, Cum fistula in ano. So that he may die before the King of Poland; and if he do die, it may so come to pass that his Successor may have so many Irons in the fire at home, that he will never think of seeking any more abroad.  
But now France offers the young Prince Royal of Poland for pledge of their Truth and Friendship the Princess de Conti la Valliere, whom they also offered to the Prince of Bavaria, as if there were no more Legitimate Princesses in Europe: I am persuaded the King of France thinks he doth the Polonians a great deal of Honour, by offering them one of his Natural Daughters for to be their Queen. This would be fine to employ the Pens of those Droll-Wits, Pasquin and Murforio: 'Tis certain, if the King of Poland should give way to this awkward Contract of Alliance, it would be as much as to declare plainly, that he no longer pretended to have the Crown of Poland for his Son, and that this Marriage was an act wholly disclaiming it: I would have him rather follow the King of Portugal's example; he was cunning enough to get himself disentangled from the importunities of France, to strengthen himself by his alliance with the House of Austria and the Emperor, by his Marriage with the Princess Palatine of Newbourgh; he knew too well, that if ever Lewis XIV. got footing in Spain, that his Kingdom would depend on his disposal. One of the two Teeth this same Lewis was born with, is called Usurping, the other Cruel; from the one proceeds dependence, decorum, or convenience of Situation, from the other, Treachery and Persecution; you need not question, if the King of France should become King of Spain, but Portugal would be first of all invested, because the Spaniard possessed that Kingdom from Philip II. until Philip iv time, which was about the year 1640, when the Portugueze shook off the Spanish yoke; Threescore years of possession may plead prescription, whereon to ground his right of dependence (there needs only thirty for a private man), besides the right of decorum, or commodious Situation; for Portugal joins upon the Kingdom of Castille, Arragon and Granada; he had not so good a Title to the Kingdom of Austrasie; nay he hath quite turned out the Princes who possessed one part of the Lands of that Kingdom for near 600 years. Fear keeps the Vineyard, as the French say, and distrust is the mother of safety. If I had to do with Savages, or with the King of Bantam or China, not knowing occurrences in our parts, it would be requisite to enter upon an Historical Relation of all the slippery tricks France hath played this last Age, of all the Deceits, Cheats, Usurpations, Injustices and Cruelties this present King hath put in practice to be Master of the Estates and the Possessions of his Neighbours: But I speak to Europeans, and they Christians too, who have seen with their Eyes, heard with their Ears, and have daily before them, Princes despoiled and stripped of their Possessions, so many People ruined, so many Cities taken, so many Houses, now nothing but ruins and rubbish, Thousands of Christians reduced to Beggary; nay, and the Blood of his own Subjects still a gushing out in mighty streams all over the Country; These I say are speaking Books, where all up and down you may find in huge Characters, Lewis the Great, Sacrifices all to his Ambition and Interest. Now although all the World knows it, and though scarce a Prince but hath been cozened by him, yet he is so skilful to hush them asleep by the mild gentle rain of Lewisses, that some part of them cry, Lord what wouldst thou have us do, and run headlong insensibly, and with a kind of delight, to the ruin and destruction of their Issue. O how much need hath Europe of a good Oculist, to remove the Scales from the Eyes of a great many Princes, and once in their lives to open them for them, to the end, that every one knowing what's good for himself, may lay aside, and forsake the interest of France; they ought all unanimously to endeavour with might and main to procure him a Competitour to balance him, and retain and bind him up within his just bounds, and so disable him, that he may no more trouble the earth by his ambition. One blow is sufficient to do it; what need I tell you, all Europe sees it: This will come to pass when it shall please the Divine Wisdom of the true Universal Monarch, King of Kings, to make it evident. We cannot but wish Lewis XIV. long life, that he may be witness of all these things, and may have another Joshua to stop the course of his Sun, for which the people of the earth so much long and put up their continual Prayers for.   

The Spirit or Policy of France, and its Maxims, in regard of the Suisse Cantons his Allies, and of Savoy.  
THE Cantons of Switzerland being free and absolute are governed by themselves, hold of none but of God and their own valour; they are partly reform, and partly Roman Catholic; 'tis by reason of this difference of Religion, that they have often variance amongst themselves, and give the King of France occasion to lay hold on the opportunity, who makes good use of the easiness of the latter to sow the seed of dissension among them. In time passed they did no way border upon France, which was a great happiness for the Cantons, but since the peace Hen. IU. made with the Duke of Savoy, the Country of Gex belonged to that Prince; then after that France which always gets ground, did make encroachments in Alsatia, Franche Conte, and towards Burgundy, is at this time Neighbour to the Swiss on three several sides: But Lewis XIV. not content with that, had a mind to be a nearer Neighbour to his fellows, by the Fort of Huninghen within Canon shot; as we all know, from Basil, the Governor hath lately attempted it, the Suisse were too much overseen in being a little to well acquainted witsi the King of France, who thereby hath found out where their strength and weakness lies, and which way soever their affairs turn, whensoever they are forced to quarrel with these Princes, it will always far with them as the Fable tells us, it did with the Earthen pot and Iron pot. Secondly, To lend so many Regiments to France, are as so many men lost out of the Cantons, who, it may be, one day, may like young Vipers, destroy their common Mother, their Country; there are few Swiss Officers in the French Kings Service, but let themselves be corrupted by Marriages, then suffer their Eyes to be dazzled by good places, and your Lovis do'r, and so at once renounce both their Religion and Party, sacrifice as Stoupa the Lieutenant General would have done twice sixteen Cantons to the Interest of France: He is not alone in his own gang, he hath, God knows, too many Disciples; you'll find but very few who imitate the Sieur Dasselover of Berne heretofore Captain in the King's Service, who choosed rather to give over his employ, and break his Pike then do any thing contrary to the Treaty which his Superiors had entered to, about the passage of the Rhine against the Hollanders; they have also committed a notable fault in tying up their own hands, that they cannot send to Spain the like number of Soldiers, as they do to France: This restriction hath more of the Frenchman in it than the Cantons are ware of: They cannot but grant that they have suffered themselves to be curbed by the Fort at Huninghen, which but too much discovers the King's design; every chink in it are like so many open Mouths, crying out upon them, Awake, awake ye sluggish People, and behold me, as the Emblem of the Usurper, as a Monument reared in remembrance of your Liberty lost.  
Now if this be not sufficient to make the Cantons seriously reflect upon Lewis XIV. his proceed in respect of them, at least that Cannon which the Fort of Huningen discharged upon the City of Basil might open their Eyes, for the Usurper gets ground every day, and I'll warrant you no sooner shall he find a favourable opportunity, but he will improve his quarrel with Germany against them. Prince's never want pretences: He will begin in good earnest, to Will and Command, that the Bishop and others of Basil be restored, and that their Arrears be paid them from the time that they have been forced to forsake the Town; and if he be to enter by Force of Arms, and if he have obtained the least Advantage, as the Cantons are tame enough to obtain Peace he would demand every year a Medal as a mark of Homage for Tribute (as he did of the Hollanders) together with a great many Forces which the Swiss would be glad to supply him with upon his first Demand, and would place Bishops as so many Emissaries in every City.  
I told you the French King takes advantage by the difference of Religion in the Cantons to foment discord amongst them, as we have lately observed in the business of Glaris, which setting aside the Pope's Nuncio's stirring in it, would have proved the first spark of Fire and Dissension amongst them, than which he desires nothing more the better to further his Affairs, and his pretended Reign over Europe. The Roman Catholics in those parts are commonly ignorant in their Religion, and being very stupid at the bark, and with the outside, without ever searching into Fundamentals; the only name of Catholic actuates, moves, and incites them, without enquiring any farther; but I would have them once for all be undeceived; not suffer themselves to be imposed upon under the false Notion of Catholic: 'Tis a false mask under which he lurks the better to deceive them, and bring them to his Leure; thereby to set them at odds amongst themselves, and having once done that, he will come pouring down upon Basil or Geneva, yea, perhaps upon both together. These are bars and boundaries which ought to be in a manner Sacred; the Cantons should take care that they be never suffered to be meddled with nor touched; they are to defend them with their Sword in their Hand to the last drop of Blood; for this passage being cleared, and the discord breaking out amongst them, farewel they, they are undone to all intents and purposes, of free Swiss they'll become French Slaves: But now if the generality of the Swiss be but true to one another, and united, and but show the Usurper their Teeth, intimating their resolution of defending what's their own, they may be sure the French King will only bark at a distance, on the other hand, if they show no more eagerness for these two Cities than they did for Franche Compte: If they make no stouter a resistance than they did there, they will unavoidably post on to their total ruin and destruction. I know France will not bring them under their yoke, but make them tributary. They are now free and absolute, but let them take heed they suffer not their Necks to be brought under their yoke; let them call to mind their Ancient Valour, that their Country has proved a Sepulchre to the French, and that they have forced them to a dishonourable retreat: Geneva is a delicate bit the French have a Month's mind to, since she hath appropriated to herself the County of Gex, methinks that Republic too lies very commodiously for her purpose: They have a long time muttered at the French Court, that they meant to resettle the Bishop a Savoyard who is nominated by the Duke of Savoy, whom he makes to reside at his Court to make his Right appear: If it were as easy for the French King to settle a Bishop there as it has been for him to settle a Resident, he would have accomplished it long ago: Now since this Resident comes in our way, let us speak a word or two by the by concerning his Residence. You must know he is as necessary a Man there, as the Fifth wheel in a Chariot, for he is good for nothing but to receive the Swiss Packet of Letters for the Court, which a Merchant formerly received, so that the Salary, and the Abode of such a Minister would be useless, if there were not something else in it. I dare say he would have but a poor pittance, had he no other come in but what France allows him, and if he had not the best part of it from the Clergy: I do remember that the first Man that filled this worthy place, was one Charigni, a poor pitiful Fellow, whom Mounsieur De Pompone had often released out of Fort L'evesque whither he was committed for Debt, and sent him thither to get him disintangled: There he made a Trade of the Catholic Religion, for every Sunday and Holiday was his days of Receipts; every Savoyard that came to Mass, giving to the Offering Five or Six sauce, under pretence of maintaining the Church and Priest, but rather Mounsieur the Resident, who besides kept a kind of an Ordinary where they might dine, the poor Wretch was fain to catch at any thing, for he was no better than a Beadsman living upon Alms at Paris, being forced to quit Province upon the account of some false pieces of Five sous he would have put off, where he was reduced to Extremity, and all the stir he kept at Geneva was only to make the Magistrate to greese his fist, and present him with something by the by, as no body knew. But since the time his Secretary has changed his Religion, and since he gave his Almoner a box on the Ear, because he spoke in behalf of the Protestants, upon a Sermon that he and the Resident came from hearing: I say, from that time he hath laid open his folly, he is countermanded, and another of better sense and more discretion supplies his place. Considering the design the King has in hand of dividing this City, it seems to be in a manner necessary at present to have a Resident to acquaint him with all concerns, to find out wherein their strength and weakness consists; yea, to corrupt some Magistrate or other, as at Strasbourg; the enterprise of the Duke of Savoy in the year _____ aught continually to be before their Eyes as a warning; for it is certain, that the French King with what amusement soever he may seem to divert them; doth but wait a fair opportunity to spring his Mine, give fire to his Train, and play his old game as he did at Strasbourg; so that it mightily behoves the Citizens of Geneva to stand upon their guard, and endeavour to dispose their Allies to afford them secure so soon as ever they find that grand Usurper to advance; for he is now taking his aim, and so well played his Cards, that he hath made the Duke of Savoy to sneak and truckle, not daring so much as to put his Nose towards France: In times past, the Duke's Ancestors did defend the City of Geneva as well as the Inhabitants; they had a great deal more reason for it then France now a days, upon the account of the pretensions to it, and the rights the Counts of Geneva have yielded up to the Duke of Savoy. Charles' iv Proclaimed that Duke Prince of Geneva, and of all the Territories thereunto belonging, and they have inherited it till the Year, 1532. But the present Duke is so far from making any opposition against France, that he would rather deliver up all his Rights and Claims to it, and let himself be cullyed out of it under pretence of reinvesting the Bishop; now although that Prelate should be settled, and France master of it, what course would the Duke of Savoy take, if the King would not remit to him? Would he have recourse to Menaces or Reprisals? If he should do so, the King of France would jerk him sound, like a Boy, and would make him kiss the Rod to boot. So that I would not have Geneva to flatter herself with the treacherous promises of the French King, nor yet with the Assistance; which Policy and Reason might oblige the Duke of Savoy to send them. Let her e'en rely on her Allies the Swiss Cantons, upon her own, though slender Forces, and upon so many French Officers who have fled for refuge thither, who will be sure upon the first news of it, to run to her assistance, or otherwise they must have lost common Sense, and all sentiments of Honour and Thankfulness. Again, if so be the Emperor make his Peace with the Turk, he must send for the Duke of Lorain to help him, who is a great Captain, and even laden with Victorious Laurels, whose very name will make France quake. I, and he may serve him for a inlet whereat to enter into his Duchy of Lorraine; where his Subjects quite spent with the Tyrannical Dominion of France, expect him as their Moses and deliverer.  
The King is a Lion in a Fox's Skin, he is not so formidable as men believe him; his only end is to make himself be feared, and he obtains his desire by threaten; but shake off this panic fear, look upon France nearer, mind her soberly and seriously, consider the continual running away of her Inhabitants, the punishment and imprisonment of another part of them, is as so much Blood flowing from her Veins, which by little and little weaken her. Add hereto the just complaints of the Catholics, the decrease of her Revenues, and what is worst of all for her, the death and the going away of so many Generals within these few years, and so suddenly one after another, doth she not seem to behold that Scene Heaven hath contrived on purpose to humble her, for indeed she is at a lower ebb than one would imagine: I'll engage she is as sick as her King, and that they be both smitten to the heart.  
The first Enemy that sets upon her will not be long alone, he will be soon seconded; but it will be just as in the Fable of the Counsel of Rats, who consulted together to go hang a Bell at the Cat's neck their sworn Enemy, but not one of them durst venture to do it first. Who would ever have said the Pope would have contributed his assistance to the Union of the Swissers? Yet 'tis true he did so, as we may have observed in the business of Glaris, which I have above recited: Nay his Nuncio is very intent, at his leisure hours, to open the eyes of the Catholic Cantons; for those silly people, provided the King tell them of intending to re-establish a Bishop, 'tis enough for them, that's all they care for, but they are not sensible of what is behind the Hill, that the grand Usurper lies hid under the Bishop's Mitre.  
I have but one Admonition more to give the Right Honourable Cantons of Switzerland, that is to say, the King hath no respect nor good will towards them. He takes them for Scaffolds to be made use of when need requires, and when that is over, he looks upon them as no body. I desire no other proof of what I say, than what of a fresh date happened to the Ambassador, which the Cantons not long since sent to the French King: After he had wrangled with them about their Commission not being in general Terms, on purpose to refuse them Audience; well, this difficulty once removed by a second Commission dispatched to them, they were e'en fain to go away as they came, without so much as seeing the King, or obtaining one only Audience. This is the greatest undervaluing, and most sensible affront that ever Freeborn men had given; and if the Cantons pass by this, and done't show their just Resentments of it, they'll be despised by all the Princes of Europe; and it will not be the last ill turn of this nature that will befall. But that I may fully certify you of the truth of what I here deliver, see here word for word the Harangue, or rather Compliment, these Gentlemen passed upon Mounsieur Colbert Croissi Minister of the Foreign Affairs at their departure.  
Sir, Our Lords and Superiors sending us hither to do what in us lies, and make use of all importunities to endeavour to win the King's affection, to the end he might be inclined to uphold the City of Geneva their Ally, in the possession of what they have hitherto been above One Hundred and Eighty Years grounded upon Authentic Treaties.  
But his Majesty being resolved to commit to his Parliament of Dijon, a business which is plainly acknowledged for an affair of State, which depends upon Treaties of Peace, Covenants and Alliances; the which said Parliament our Superiors will never acknowledge as just, no, nor give their Allies, the Citts of Geneva, counsel to yield to their Treaty, which is theirs also. Moreover his Majesty giving us to understand by your Excellency, that he would no more than you confer with us touching this matter; and because we are afraid that a longer stay here might be as unwelcome as our coming; we could not do better then withdraw home again to make a faithful report of what hath passed to our Lords and Superiors.  
We are come to take our leaves of your Excellency, and to give you many thanks for the patience you have had in several Conferences, beseeching you that in pursuance of the reiterated Orders we have had given us in behalf of our Lords and Superiors, who notwithstanding they be much troubled at the bad success of this Embassy (seeing they take more into consideration the prosecution of 25 Canons, than the fidelity of many thousands of the best and most steadfast Allies of that Crown, who have shed their Blood, and sacrificed so many brave men, for the service, grandeur, and maintaining of that State) yet that nevertheless they will stand to their Treaty of Peace and Alliance, in the hopes they have always entertained, and do still entertain, that his Majesty, (to whom with the Royal Family they wish all happiness) will on his part be responsable. As for our part in particular, though we have not had the happiness to see his Majesty, yet we cannot choose but wish him all Personal Health, and do assure your Excellency, of the esteem and high value we put, and all ways shall, upon your deserts and incomparable virtue, protesting to you, that we are more particularly your most humble Servant.  
After such a base affront, who would not undervallue such Ambassadors the Representatives, and their Superiors also, who durst present them with a Golden Chain of 500 Crowns value? One would think they had an hand in it, and that they were covetous of Money and Presents: If an Ambassador after taking such an affront should have accepted it, he would have deserved to be hanged with that Golden Choler. By the refusal of Audience you may well understand what France is made of, and its designs: Whoever heard or saw a free and absolute Republic referred to a Parliament under his Authority, as the King refers Geneva to the Parliament at Dijon; it would have been more legal and just to have referred them to the Parliament at Turin. Now behold the equity of this great King, who would always be both Judge and Party in his own Cause, who would make all Europe depend on his Judges; some upon those of Metz, others on those of Dijon and Aix in Provence, as he forces the people of Orange to do; but we hope those of Geneva will not submit to those unjust Judges; and supposing they do, they will not miss losing their Cause, and after that, they will make a new pretention upon them, till they have fettered them, and losing their City and Liberty, they become the slaves of France; a Victim offered up to the Jesuit, and the Conquest of Lewis the great, and it is odds, but that will be so indeed if they don't look about them betime, and prepare themselves for its coming upon them; for he'll come and give them a visit, as he did the Genoveses. Let them not flatter themselves with the contrary, when he shall make them resolve to sacrifice themselves for their Liberty, rather than to a Prince who would be their Antiochus, their bloody Master, and would snatch the Children from their Mother's embraces to deliver them into the hands of the Jesuits; make them forsake Relations, Religion, and all duty of Christians, and refusing to obey this ambition, would hale them to the Scaffold, and throw their Carcases to dogs; nay, if so be they should deal more gently with them, it would be only to make them bear company with his own Subjects in Dungeons, in the Galleys, and in the West-Indies. Now take notice of this Spirit of France, and beware of it.   

That Lewis XIV. is no good Christian.  
I Shall finish this Treatise in demonstrating that this King is no good Christian, that it is but a cloak for his Knavery, the better to play fast and lose, the better to bring about his ambitious designs, that albeit he makes a great clutter with the title of most Christian King at Rome, yet we find him to be nothing less: All who are baptised are not Christians, for than we might reckon Julian the Apostate and Arrius to be such, whom men look upon as Apostates and Antichrists. I am persuaded the Marquis de Montespan will justify what I say. I cannot think that Prince worthy the name of a Christian who covets his Neighbour's Wife; nay before all the World takes her from her Husband, makes use of her, and begets Children of her, whom he would fain get declared natural, never before Lewis his time practised in France: He cannot assume the name of Christian who makes little Conscience to break the most solemn Oaths and Engagements made at the Communion, as he did at the Peace concluded at the Perinees, upon his Marriage with the Infanta of Spain. And then the Oath taken at his Coronation, to observe the Edicts of pacification, are they not daily violated and retracted upon every frivolous pretence? Good Christians are such who live up to those Vows they have made, even to very Infidels.  
The Marquis de Laverdin making his public entrance into Rome, did choose rather to do it like a Fox than a Lion, (as since it appears) without ever determining any thing positively concerning it, when they demanded him to explain himself before he made his entrance; so that engaging himself neither pro nor con, it will always be time enough, and seasonable to make his Master's will to stand him in stead, as we shall see hereafter, when the Provencal Fleet shall be before Civita Vechia, and other Ports of the Pope's Dominion; besides that, it was convenient to carry it fair to obtain the Bull for the Cardinal of Furstenburg, whom France was assured would be nominated to the Coadjutorship of Cologn; the Dean and Chapter, as 'tis credibly given out, fingered the King's Money; to that in effect it was registered and their Votes sold, so that it was not possible to go back with their word. When the Marquis de Lavardin entered Rome, the business was as good as done, and the King made sure of it, but he found himself mistaken, as to the Bull, for he believed the Pope, who is wise and good natured enough of himself, not loving noise, would yield at the Ambassadors arrival, that the Spiritual would give place to the Temporal; but he was deceived in his account, meeting with such stiffness and vigour in an old man, which it may be one durst not have hoped for in a young man. In the mean time behold the Marquis de Lavardin keeping watch and ward night and day, and that round about the Palace of Farnese, just as if it were a Fort surrounded with enemies, before the Pope and the Conclave of Cardinal's Noses: By all these riots and indignities done to the most eminent person of the Church, Vicar of Christ, and St. Peter's Successor, is nothing in comparison to that which Talon the King's Advocate hath belched forth against his Holiness, and the Cardinals his Counsellors, accusing the former to be a favourer of Heresy, Jansenisme, and of Quietists, and a thousand other impertinences, which is to be seen more at large in the demand of the abovesaid Talon to the Parliament of Paris, and by the Ambassadors protestation publicly affixed at Rome, the expressions therein are scandalous, that they might deservedly procure the fire for a private person; but when one hath the power in his own hand, he thinks he may Lawfully say and do whatsoever likes him: But the Pope who is grave and wise will let him go on, yea peradventure his great modesty and prudent behaviour may make the King come to himself again, and acknowledge the wrong, and that the Pope is Master at home in his own House, and may be able to disannul and take away the Franchises of the Ambassadors quarters, when he shall see it convenient for the repose of his People, and his own Conscience.  
It is not his frequenting Mass which is a Characteristical mark of being a Christian, or for being kind to the Jesuits; for fear awes Princes sometimes to make much of Jesuits, and show much respect to them. Hen. IU. was not free from this fear, when he would have restored them in France; for when the Duke of Sully advised him to the contrary, he started up and replied, secure me my Life then; for 'twas more than probable, that those who sued for their return had assured the King, that if he did not do it he would be in imminent danger of being Murdered: When Life is at stake what will not a man do to save it? Who can tell but these good Fathers have told the King now Reigning, if in case he did not root out all the Huguenots out of his Dominions, this must come in always, ad majorem Dei Gloriam, that he would endanger his Life.  
What sign of a Christian was there in the King when he made a League with Cromwell to fall upon the Low Countries, and to banish Charles II. from his Kingdom, who was rightful Successor to the Crown of England, and a good Catholic in his heart, although afterwards out of Policy he was fain to appear otherwise.  
Again, what sign of Christianity doth there appear in a Prince who assists Count Tekely in league with the Turks against the Emperor? A King who forbids all Bishops and Curates throughout his Dominion to cause Te Deum to be sung for the Victories of the Christians obtained over the Turks, who impedes by force of Lewisses the progress of the King of Poland's Forces against the same Turks, that they may have the opportunity to employ all the Ottoman Forces against the Emperor, thereby to make him abandon what he hath got at the dear rate of so much Christian blood.  
What Christianity do you observe in the Kings proceeding at the Cities of Genova and Orange, where he hath no right at all: So that by all that I have alleged, all these Titles of most Christian and Catholic Zeal the King is so much taken with, and affects, is only a deceitful mask of hypocrisy to lull the Catholic Princes asleep, the better to play his game, and make himself Master of them one after another. Although the King of England would hinder him, as being the only man that could best do it, he would endeavour to cause an insurrection of the Church of England men against him, he would send them Money and Officers as he did to Cromwell; so that one may say of the French King that he becomes all things to all men, when his interest is at stake: He enters into Covenant with Turk or Huguenot, Pagans or Infidels, against Catholics themselves, if it be necessary for promoting his greatness, and to attain to the Monarchy of all Europe. And for a conclusion this is the King's Religion, and your Wit and Policy of France.   
FINIS.