THE CONDUCT OF FRANCE Since the PEACE AT NIMEGUEN.  
Written lately in French by a Person of Quality, made English.  
LONDON, Printed by H. Hills Jun. for William Cademan, at the Sign of the Popes-head, in the New-Exchange in the Strand. 1684.   

THE PREFACE TO THE Reader.  
I Can't well tell of all Mankind, how I come to be giving to the Public what I now present them with; was neither by my Birth, nor Profession, cut out for an Author, and without vanity could much better draw up a Regiment, than writ a Book: Have made one however before I was ware, heard by some Friends of mine to discourse pertinently enough, or as they thought I did, of the present conjuncture of Affairs, engaged me insensibly to couch it them in a Memoire to the End, as I suppose, they not all speaking so good French, as I perhaps might do, not having been the time I was in the Country, should by the means be better understood by that Nation, as they happened to have converse together. But as 'tis observable plurality of words steals from a Man's Mouth when Tongue is once upon the Wheel, fluency of Ink too is generally occasioned, when once People take their Pen in hand: The remembrance of one thing brings another into Mind, and when one thinks to be drawing to conclusion, wonders to see we again are to begin afresh.  
A Book then 'tis I have writ, as I told you, when I thought nothing less, and more, have let the Book appear in Print; vast Field I had for subject, and could still have had something yet to say, would I say all I knew: But I conceived this sufficiently enough to let the designs of a Crown be understood, whose Ambition reaches at more than it can grasp: Now as I make no manner of Question, Ocean of Faults will be found in this small Tract, I beg the Reader will forgive, considering as I have all my days professed Arms, may be better at my Sword than Pen.   

THE CONDUCT OF FRANCE Since the Peace of NIMEGUEN.  
THere is not any though but little versed in Public affairs ignorant, what 'twas some years since induced France to make a Peace; She than saw the better Part of Germany United against Her, and Spain with Holland agreed to the same purpose, And though till then their Arms had all along met with favourable Success, being more than they could promise the continuance of, was glad to prevent with caution those Possible misfortunes, which might have happened in case once their Good Fortune should begin to leave them: But what most powerfully obliged to the taking of those measures, was, finding ●er self loudly threatneed from England, whose Weighty Arms in Conjunction with so many others, were capable of Sinking Her to as low a Pitch, as She then seemed Flourishing in a topping Condition.  
It had been Remonstrated by more than one hand to the Kingdom of England, that of all Things they should lay hold of the Fair Occasion to invade France, where they had formerly been the Masters of many Fair and Rich Provinces, that whilst France had her Forces employed without, and her hands full abroad, those of England would meet with no resistance, means not only to an accession of Dominion, but also of Glory.  
These Considerations, or the Jealousies rather that people had of the Growing Greatness of the French, swayed with them to resolve to do something more, than the bent of some Private Interests had a mind they should: There being then a good understanding between the Court of France, and that of England, a Rupture of this Kind went much against the hair: The French no sooner sensible how far those reasons I now touched upon were prevailing, presently satisfied England they not only were ready to lay down their arms, but even to submit to Terms. Store of good Guineas cleverly bestowed in the right place, and amongst those most violent for a War with France, rebated immediately the passion, and rendered their propositions for a Peace the most reasonable imaginable; upon the point of declaring, England was now become a Solicitous Mediator of an accommodation. Proposals were accordingly made on either side, and whilst each insisted upon the matter of their right, which was long in debate without Redressing of the mischief in matter of Fact, France, whose Aim it was to take Holland off from her other Allies, handsomely in the mean while insinuated by her Agents thither express sent amongst the Common Sort of People, How their State was not to be Retrieved in Nature, but by the means of a Peace, that their only Shoulders had hitherto born the burden of the War, and must expect to bear on so long as War continued: That trade never flourished in a time of desolation and misery, and since in Trading their chiefest welfare, as that of their State itself did absolutely consist in, the regaining of their Peace again, which had made that State once so flourishing, ought now to be the scope of their utmost endeavours.  
The strength of these reasons carried a poison not to every Eye perceivable, for though a truth it was the United Provinces did really stand in need of a Peace, they should however have had regard to the proper Interest of their respective Allies, who for their only preservation had engaged in the War. But as reflections of that kind went not with the Grain of the People, who longed for nothing so much as the return of their dear Trade, they made no impression. They were besides extremely harrast now, and weary of War, for as the French had right enough observed to them, that State of theirs was forced to pay a good part of the Emperor's Brandenburgs, and other of their Allies Forces, which occasioned of necessity an Augmentation of Subsidies, & Subsidies so extraordinary heavy that the whole thing it was raised out of, did not answer: And indeed a Man of Four hundred Pound a Year Rent was obliged to pay the State Five hundred, and to see himself undone, and mouldered to nothing, without the possibility of a remedy: Every Body then sensible of their particular inconveniencies, thought of nothing but present redress, without the least concerning for what might be hereafter: Of the whole Body of that Commonwealth, none but his Highness the Prince of Orange truly penetrated the consequences of the Peace, which in that present face of things must of necessity to all the Allies in general prove very disadvantageous; since without lending hand to deceive ourselves, we could not flatter with the hopes of Restitution from France, high, and haughty, in the glories of her Conquests; and common sense might tell us, we first ought to have obliged it to one by force of Arms, before so much as the proposal of any thing like it could be proper. Now to leave France in the actual possession of so many important places, bordering upon Germany and Flanders so close, and so many Baits to its usual Ambition, was properly by leaving him one foot in the Country, to give him the opportunity of placing the other, as they saw occasion; 'twas a thing not unnoticed the great difficulty occurred in the uniting of the Germane Princes, which neither more nor less, but just like an Engine of many Springs, was brought into motion, but with all the pains and trouble in the World: It was rational then Enough to fear, if once suffered to knock off, they were not when one would have them to be got together again; the Prince of Orange had represented all this at large in the Assembly of the State's General, where some he never missed of, opposing his Opinion, 'twas flatly told him there, the Charge of the War was not a thing supportable, the excess of which had quite already drained their Bank, and reduced the People to the last degrees of Indigence; that a respite of necessity must be given, or resolve in a very little to see the utter ruin of the Nation: That Prince would have replied the respite not at all like to last, and France seeking but to sever them from their Allies, having, once wrought their Ends, would again be playing over her Old Pranks within a Year or two: But Burgimaster Ofteè, of Amsterdam, stopped his Mouth, in telling the Provinces were indeed consenting with all their Hearts to the carrying on the War, if his Highness could but hit the way of doing it without▪ Money, that the Province of Holland would give not a Stiver more towards it, or at least the City of Amsterdam would not, as whose Representative he was commissioned to speak: Now you must know all the Subsidies whatever, raised upon the Seven Provinces, that of Holland furnishes almost the half, and of that half more than the two Fifts are paid by the City of Amsterdam. That in the Quota of Subsidies if the Province of Holland be reckoned to pay Fifteen Millions, of that Fifteen, Seven is near paid by that City.  
After Ofteè's having thus declared himself there was no likelihood of thinking to continue the War any longer, chief for that the rest of the Provinces conformed for the most part in Opinion much with that of Holland, was easily observable, and that though they yet had not explained themselves so fully upon the point as Holland had, their great inclination to Peace was like theirs apparently obvious. As the Emperor thoroughly understood at bottom, the French intentions drove of a long time at Universal Monarchy, at hearing what had passed in Holland was much concerned at the News: Yet to divert if possible those Provinces from the resolutions they had taken, had it told them, he required no more of them the Subsidies they used to pay him, offering to return them again upon the like occasion the same assistance: The Hollanders thanked the Emperor for his good will, but could not be induced for that to continue the War, adding that seeing his Imperial Majesty as well as the rest of the Allies produced every day some fresh Obstacles or other to the Peace then in Treaty at Nimeguen, warned him, that if he did not think good to conclude the Peace, and that very suddenly, they should be obliged to do it without him; what made the Dutch so pressing was, that as France laid the conditions of the Treaty very disadvantageous to the rest of the Allies, as advantageous and beneficial were the Terms she made for Holland, for Mastrícht they offered to restore, the only remaining place of all their Conquests, upon that State since the first of the War, so that though once reduced within an Inch of their Destruction entire, they were now in prospect of a re-establishment by Virtue of the Peace to the same it ever had in times of its greatest Prosperity: Something too there was over and above that caressed their Courage in the proposed Treaty, as they saw the King of France made it his business to distinguish them from the other Allies, they thence imagined they should retrieve their lost reputation amongst other Nations, who formerly held their Forces in such good Opinion, and should yet think very well of them, seeing they were able to make their party good, and to defend themselves against a prevailing Power so very formidable: To say the Truth 'tis wonderfully strange, and worthy without doubt of the admiration of Posterity for ever, that a little Nook of Land, as one may say, and Handful of People, has not been only able to withstand such mighty Armies, but likewise in condition to afford succour to her Neighbours. 'Twill be subject of surprise enough to them who shall succeed us, to read in History, that Hollanders, Spaniards ●rreconcilable Enemies, should be the People who have saved the Provinces to the King of Spain, nor the Spaniards heretofore so inveterate against ●●e Hollanders, to find no where a more firm support, nor a more ready assistance, then that they received at hands of their most Ancient Enemies: That by a fetch of Fortune so very strange, the Spaniards must have been ruined had those of Holland never revolted from the Spanish subjection, & should there come to find their safety, where they ever reckoned on as their certain Destruction: One may well enough say the Hollanders have twice scap't a scouring, by their freeing of themselves from the Tyranny of the Spaniards, for had they still continued under that Dominion, the whole Seventeen Provinces had equally been lost. And indeed there needs no stress of Politics to discover the safety, and well being, of the United Provinces, is merely to be owned to the prudent conduct of those who were at Helm, as a peculiar reward in store from Heaven, for what their Forefathers had endured for their Religion's sake:  
But to resume my Discourse, the Hollanders suffering themselves to be thus over-reach't by all those glossy appearances, signed cheerfully to the Peace apart, seeing their Allies remained obstinate in pursuing of the War, contrary to their Opinion; I shall neither say in doing so they did well or ill, one may judge enough of it by what since has happened: The Emperor, however and Spaniard, finding their strongest recourse had thus abandoned them, accepted of the Peace on their side too, and in like manner abandoned the Duke of Brandenburg, who could not be brought to admit of Conditions offered him so very prejudicial. France then directed her Arms that way, and as that Elector was not of himself to resist alone, did what seemed good in her Eyes in Treaty with that Prince, with this comfort at the least, what he was forced to by France, was with his Sword in his Hand, and that his last action did not derogate from a Thousand others, wherein he had during the War so worthily behaved himself: The Peace being then so happily finished to the content of France, as it rather had suspended then relinquished its design of Universal Monarchy, began now to manage those Princes she saw divided, where there was ground to hope she might do it to effect, The Duke of Brandenburg could not be well more discontented with the Emperor, than he then was, obliged to restore back all he had made Conquest of, without the least show of the Imperial assistance, France therefore proposes an Alliance with him, with high Promises of a more Honourable Faith then he had yet found with any of the other; at the same time the French Money was not wanting in its Benevolencies to that Court for the acquiring of some confiding Person proper for the backing their design, and soothed was that Elector with the assurance of a prop from such a Crown as shaked besides those of all its Neighbours, great things were offered him and to say in a word his resolutions in the Matter staggered by Thousand of advantageous tempting proffers. He did object though against the project of that Alliance his Disputes with Swede at that time siding with the Interest of France, & as those Disputes have often produced but ill effects, 'tis not foreign to our purpose for the Readers better instruction, to discourse it in a word or two.  
A certain Marquis of Brandenburg, made in former time some agreement with the Duke of Pomerania by which they settled their Dominions respectively upon one another, and to their Children after them of both Parties in case any who succeeded of either should happen to decease without Issue of his Body: The Entail taking place, and the Duke of Pomerania dying without Issue some Two hundred years ago, or thereabouts, the Marquis of Brandenburg by Virtue of the said Settlement succeeded to the Duchy of Pomerania remaining the peaceable Possessor thereof till the Great Gustavus took it from him by force of Arms: Gustavus or his Successors were confirmed in their possession of that Country by the Treaty of Munster, but as the Marquis thereunto consented but with regret and per force, a secret certain inkling of having it again has remained, which so often as the occasion presents him 'tis not to be doubted but he makes it his endeavour. When France then understood what 'twas stuck with the Duke of Brandenburg, and hindered his engaging in her Interests in favour of him she resolved to make a Sacrifice of Swede, but previous to it, made first sure of the King of Denmark for that Crown, then in conjunction with Brandenburg, found herself by the projection of that Confederacy of Strength enough in the North, not to fear what the rest of its Princes might be undertaking in opposition to the French designs: The King of Denmark who had a sample himself like others of the Puissant force of France in the last War, rejected not the Alliance; but as Brandenburg had before opposed the interferings too of his Interest with that of Swede, let France understand it only declined Proposals upon that account: France was otherwise not over satisfied with Swede, for its hover as one may call it so long about the Matter before it could finally declare itself in the late War, that after its declaring, had acted nothing answerable to that high Reputation the great Gustavus had gained his Nation by the great things he had done, that far from managing as formerly that People seemed to have no great regard of upon several occasions.  
The first token she gave of this was in the pretensions she made appear relating to Homage claimed for the Duchy of Deux-ponts of which she was got seized in the War time, even in the life of its late Duke, upon pretext of keeping it for the King of Swedes Use, who was then the presumptive Heir, but in effect to keep it for themselves, and to make their own uses of it, for the Promotion of their Designs: And since it here falls out to treat of the Fealty and Homage that Crown lays claim to from so many Sovereign Heads, 'twill not be improper to relate upon what bottom that Chimaera is grounded, & which at this very time is the coercive cause why the quiet of all Europe is so unhappily disturbed.  
At Metz there is a Sovereign sort of Court of Judicature, and a Solicitor General belonging to it, who having had commands from the King of France to give in an exact Memoir of all that ever was within the jurisdiction, limits, and precinct of that Parliament, and to remit up the same to Court, he presently fills his Paper with several Villages which never had been belonging, but withal with their remarks upon them, how they had been formerly separatd, & how they had acknowledged the jurisdiction of other Neighbouring Princes who had been very well satisfied to Usurp that Power. The Instrument was drawn with Argument enough, and though it might want a foundation, did not want for colour and pretext; the State Ministers relishing the Draft, Mr. Solicitor General is forthwith sent for to Court, to help clear some few Scruples, which yet remained upon their Mind, the Solicitor come not only maintained what he had before sent up, but pleasing of himself with the officious part of useful Man deposes he had found some old Records by which it was to be made out that the Duchy of Deux-ponts had ever held of the Bishopric, and that many more considerable Lands by the connivance, and contrivance of the several Bishops with their own private Relations had been alienated and dismembered, for that those Bishops being but Tenants for life, were well enough content in Estates of easy acquisition to accommodate their respective Families with the conveniencies of Church-Lands. The French Ministers savoured well the Opinion of Mr. Solicitor, and ordered him diligently to inspect all public Registers, for what might there be found of New, and thereof to forthwith make an Abstract with Care, to be afterwards made use of in time & place. But to avoid a partiality which all should do, who undertake a public Information; something there was of what Mr. Solicitor did allege for many of the Good Bishops to oblige their Kindred, had truly let them have some Lands within their particular Donation, but in exchange had received other Lands back again in lieu; so that those Lands in Justice ought to be restored again which had been given to the Bishops, or to what had been alienated and granted by the Bishops to make no pretence. But to the thread of my Discourse, the Solicitor General was no sooner returned home again to Metz, but fell a searching not only all the public Registers, but too of all the old Archives of Churches and Abbeys he could lay his Hand on, and as he was provided with Commission from above Express, swept them all away without the act of any Witness or making of the least Inventory in the point, which he ought not to have done, that every Body that way might have the better understood what properly pertained to them, and that the Jealousy since conceived of the great Antiquity of those Parchments, (not so very Old as made believe) might so have been removed; so be it Mr. Solicitor was observed long closeted close up about fixing his Memoirs, which having framed as he pleased himself returns again to Court swelled with the presumption of an Eminent Service, not doubting what he brought could be ill received: Now the Contents of those Memoirs are the pretensions which we have since seen break out, and at this day make such a rattle all Europe over.  
The Marquis of Louvois State-Secretary at Wars, who has a very great Interest in that Kingdom, whom Mr. Solicitor presented his Memoirs to, could not at sight of them forbear laughing, for though 'twas his Business more than any Bodies to disturb the Peace which turned not to that account time of War might do, perceiving little in them that would hold Water, was not so willing to expose his Master upon a light occasion, who when he had mind to be making of a War, wanted not variety of specious pretexts: He would needs know though of the Solicitor whence he had fished all those Discoveries; Mr. Solicitor General seeing him so hard of belief draws out of his Pocket another Schedule which contained the Dates of all the true and false deeds from out of which he had collected the Instrument he before had given in; as Mr. Solicitor proposed to himself the making of a great fortune from the success of that Affair he so closely plied Mr. De Louvois with the Scheme of so many useful things that at last prevailed with that Minister to promise, when at better leisure, the full perusal of his Memoir, and thereon to return his Answer.  
The Answer to Mr. Solicitor proved more in his Favour then off hand the first Reception had given him reason to expect: Mr. De Louvois directs him to pursue his undertaking, and after the Institution of a judicial Court for the Examining of such pretensions which the King of France might have to several Territories and Principalities; Mr. Solicitor for his pains was nominated of that Court Judge in chief which is no more than setting the concerned party in the Cause upon the Bench.  
I know not if I have exspatiated a little too far upon the subject, but I thought it an incumbent upon me to report here the Original causes of the Miseries which afflict us, and ready now to involve so many States in trouble and confusion.  
We revert then to where we left, which as I take it was, the King of France not caring greatly for his Swedish Alliance, Summons that Crown to do him Fealty and Homage for the Dukedom of Deux-ponts: The King of Swede being a young Prince, brave, and inferior to none in Resolution and courage, thought the Chimerical pretention very strange, but not willing to fall out with France upon a frivolous Matter, his Ambassador had Instructions to show that King the injustice done him. That the Dukedom of Deux-ponts had ever been a Sovereign State, and that they who had it acknowledged Fealty and Homage for it to no Man living, except they meant for a Fealty and Homage, the usual investures they were obliged to take at the hands of the Emperor.  
These Reasons the Court of France approved not of, proceeding on still in her unjust demands of a Homage, and after a canvas passed of pro and con between the Ambassadors and Ministers, the new Court of Justice pronounces roundly decree of Reunion, and that Duchy to be annexed to the Crown of France, unless within such a set time the King of Swede acknowledged for the same his Fealty and Homage: Now that the World might see it was not from any covet of our Neighbour's goods that Decree of Metz arised, the King freely offered the Investure of that Dukedom to the Duke Adolphus Uncle to the King of Swede in case the King his Nephew conformed not to the Tenure of the Decree which to be sure he was not like to do.  
Whilst Duke Adolphus halted between the hopes of getting that Dukedom and fear of disobliging the King his Nephew the King of France sends in the interim the Prince Palatine of Birkenfield, a Prince of the Palatine Family, to keep that Duchy in the Name of Duke Alfonsus his near Kinsman, promising in case that Duke accepted of it not upon the conditions proposed him, he himself should be then immediately invested; the Prince of Birkenfield having returned his thanks for the King's good will towards him, and having done him Fealty and Homage for the the Dukedom in name of Duke Alphonsus, he repaired accordingly to the Execution of his Commission, I shall be silent here in reflecting upon the Extravagancies of this way of proceeding. A Reader does not so much care to have the point decided to his hand, 'tis limiting his Fancy, and by reasoning first upon the subject, but giving Laws to his Faith in what he should believe: And indeed 'tis as much as is requisite for the Relator to tell of things as they nakedly are, and for the Reader to judge as he thinks good: But to close the small digression not unseasonable to the profession of Writers, the King of Swede had no sooner heard what had been transacted in France, but upon it immediately deserted the Alliance he had embraced during the late Wars at the hazard of his whole Country, and peril of his Life, having exposed himself the first Man in Person, in Three or Four several Battles for the sake and interest of that Crown, expecting another kind of usage for his pains from France then that he met with: Denmark and Brandenburg no sooner well assured what side the King of Swede would take, but both strike up with France, which had engaged to furnish the King of Denmark both with Ships and Men for the recovery not only of some Provinces which the Father of this King of Swede had taken from the Dane, but likewise for that of Lubeck, upon which City by virtue of some imaginary Titles Denmark of long hand had great Designs: Brandenburg did promise to himself too a beneficial Alliance; insomuch as these Three Potentates united but to the breeding a disturbance in the Northern Peace: France having thus made sure of these two leaning Staffs, by Virtue of the like Decrees I now mentioned, proceeds in the same way against other Sovereign Princes, requiring of them the submission of Fealty and Homage: Many who saw themselves not in condition to resist acquiesced in all they would demand, others showed themselves more stubborn, but smarted for their standing out by the Quartering, and Garisoning their Country, forced by fowl means, to do what by fair they had refused. But here I must give account what happened to the Rinegrave, his Authority in the Country being great, and his example of influence to others, France let him understand he had to comply immediately without a boggle, and that after they would replace him again in all his Rights & Privileges: The Rinegrave not suspecting the honourable Word of so august a Crown was overjoyed to be so advantageously distinguished among so many unfortunate sufferers, and having given his Obedience wrought in others the same acknowledgement, which as they thought was unavoidable, having without so much as hesitating seen the Rinegrave Count perform the like submissions, but when the Count on his side expected they should keep their Word with him, was told they were not the Masters, and that he must make his Applications to the Court, thither then must he take a Journey & little to the purpose, for instead of gaining the thing he made demand of, they even told him he might go as he came, and wondered in their Hearts such a petty Fellow as he should be unwilling to hold his Country in Fee of so great a King as was the great King of France: A little before such another Answer had been made to the Palatine Elector who sending to the Court of France to complain of his Country being made daily havoc of by the Licentiousness of the French Forces, to an infringement of the late Peace, the complainer was answered when a little Prince like that Elector had the Honour to be Neighbour to so great a King 'twas not for such as he to be that nice: Short and sweet this, hitherto Roses; but in conclusion we shall have Thorn and all.  
France still claims on their right of Dependencys, and finding Spain weak & apparently helpless, the County of Alost is demanded of them as an appertenance of the late Conquests; Spain troubled at the demand, because Oudermond with other Towns and Villages did all belong to the same County, let France understand the great Iniquity of her pretended right, but whilst this was under debate between the Spanish Ambassador and the Ministers they yet made more demands as intricate all out and as perplexed as their first: The County of Chini had been granted France by the Tenure of the Treaty with all its appertenancies, and as those Dependencies had not received their full Explanation in the wording of the Peace, France now become what Spain did use to be, to say, a wrangler, and full of her fetches, and quibbling tricks, alleged the Dependencies of Chini reached to the very Gates of Luxemburg, and therefore required to have possession thereof given them by the Spaniards, if not they would give it themselves: The Spanish Ambassador as very able Man as he was, was puzzled at the new quiddity, and demanded time to make his Master acquainted; the time he asked was granted him, but when expired, France finding Spain endeavouring to elude its pretensions causes Forces openly to march into the Country of Luxemburg, blocks up all the Highways that lead to the County, Town, raiseth Forts round about, and though then in the midst of a profound Peace, commits all the acts of an actual Hostility which could possibly be committed in a declared War; the Governor of Luxemburg sends his Trumpet to the Commander in chief of those Forces to know if France meant a Declaration of a War with Spain: But he was answered they meant no such thing, and that they only were about taking possession of what belonged to them. Mean while under the Notion of possession-taking they hindered every thing from coming into the Town of Luxemburg, and every thing from going out on't, and if any offered to pass their way, they sent them back to the Town again, pretending they came out as Spies upon their actions, and if there came any from the Country, such as their Market-people, or the like with Provisions to sell in Town as they were used to do, they sent them back too, having first stripped them of all they had, to teach them not to come again a second time, and if those Country People offered to pass them without Provisions were suffered to go by after a due Examine of all they had about them, but when they would repass home again, were driven back into the Town, that so the Provisions of the Place might be consumed the sooner.  
When for my part, I reflect upon these violent Courses I could not but be extremely surprised to see England the Mediator and Garanty of the Peace, troubled themselves no further in its due execution, they saw before their Eyes what passed, but without the least concern for the visible infraction; and as if France had made all sure upon that hand, pursued in their constant and daily acts of open Hostility; but yet offered still to make England the Umpire of their debate, which left Spain without all sort of hope; for upon one side not having confidence enough in England to trust its Interest in their hands, upon t'other knew not what well to say to the King of France so fairly offering to refer the Matter: Perplexed on both hands, Spain resolves to put something to the venture of a chance, and seeing the Town of Luxemburg must apparently be lost for want of Provisions sent the Governor of the place private Orders to open a passage by force come what will: The Governor who for a long time desired no better, sallies out at a time when the French lest expected him, and setting upon one of their Quarters, charged them home as they just were upon the point of making head to dispute the passage: The French made a great resistance, but overpowered by number, being forced to give way, the Governor advancing and joining his convoy which he of long hand held before in a readiness, put his relief into the Town. Some two hundred of the French were killed in the action, and about Eighteen or Twenty of the Spanish, but among all these not a Man of note lost, nor so much as one Officer.  
France no sooner had the News, but thundered it against the Spaniards as much indeed to blame they quietly would not endure starving: Drew every where presently their Forces down towards the Towns that held for Spain, but at the instant of acting with them, England hindered from further proceeding by making France get full satisfaction in the point from Spain, who disowned not only all the Governor of Luxemburg had done, but offering even to discharge him of his Government, and in short so supinely weak, paid for the Damage in conclusion sustained by the French, for a certain Sum of Money agreed upon. After this delicate Treaty, the Blocus of Luxemburg was afresh begun again, and the French reinforced their Quarter, and patroled the Avenues duly for their greater security of being in haste catcht as they before had been: Truly I can't contain from a little digression here, and say Posterity will be hardly made believe that in the midst of Peace, the one side shall be allowed them to make War, but the other shall be punished because they submit not in every thing their Enemies would impose upon them. Howbeit the Luxemburg Garrison being large, and the Convoy not sufficient for a long supply began again to feel the same inconveniences it had before: The Governor being a brave Man, who had much rather have chose to die with his Arms in his Hand, then lead out a life so very shameful and so unworthy of any Man of Courage, was for all that necessitated to bear with a Thousand of their Insolences, and insults without the least daring to gainsay: For the French who well knew his Instructions, and whose Fingers itched to be doing, would frequently come within half a Mile sight of the Town, where having trodden down the Corn under their Horse's feet made show of a defying to engage. Whilst this was doing France Treats for Cazal, with the Duke of Mantova, which threw not a little Jealousy Italy all over: The Emperor too resented it in a high measure for Cazal; besides, being a Feif of the Empire, he was by descent too the presumptive Heir, and so doubly entitled as Emperor, and the next near Kinsman to the Duke of Mantova: It was not to be expected, the King of France would so much lessen himself to be sending to the Emperor, to demand investure as was customary to be done for all Feifs of the Empire, he was not a Prince to be prescribed the conformity of ordinary rules, and his uncontrollable power freed him in every thing; which indeed Mr. Solicitor General of the Court of Metz, of whom I have before spoken, did ingenuously confess as much one day, to some of his Friends taking freedom to be telling him they did not conceive the strength of his Decrees was of validity sufficient to be binding in the case of so many Sovereign Princes: Replied he served a Master who had at beck, a Hundred pieces of Canon, a Hundred thousand Men, and a Hundred Millions of Money to put those Decrees in Execution. The Taking of Cazal was not the only thing Italy was alarmed at, France, whose ambition nothing less than the subjection of the whole World could satisfy, began now to grumble too at the Republic of Genova, to have that colour of invading its liberty: They of Genova send their Ambassador to France at the same time, to excuse themselves in what they could, but as France was not without her Reasons, I mean good or bad, the Excuses of the poor Genoesses were ill received, took the occasion to pick a New quarrel in requiring them to make restitution of an Estate formerly of the House of Fieske, with the Interest of the whole for an Age before since accrued; now as every Body is well satisfied what the case of the House of Fieske is, and how they were, and for what expelled Genova would be here superfluous to mention: I shall but say, never Demand appeared more extraordinary than that did, not to say never a more unjust, and a more unreasonable. France would oblige a Greenshield State to restore to the Heirs and Successors of a Traitor, and Estate forfeited and confiscated for its delinquency, as if France never had herself confiscated, and daily did not confiscate Estates of such as she found faulty, and deficient in their duty: Mean while though the Matter has not been drove much further, 'tis not to be imagined notwithstanding wholly laid aside, 'tis a smothering Fire in Ashes, which one day will consume all Italy, if not prevented by the Hand of Heaven; and indeed 'tis not to be thought France has quitted therefore the Design of mastering that Commonwealth, because she defers the doing it to another time, for that the present was of more consequence to be looking to the Conquest of Flanders which hitherto had been so tedious a work, and now lay naked and exposed to his ambition through the unfortunate diversion of the Imperial Arms: 'Twas then ill Policy to draw so many Enemies upon her Hands at once, whose Business she the easier might all do, the one after the other: 'Twas an advice worth taking which a grand Politician once gave his Children upon the point of Death, caused a great many arrows to be laid before them, some of which in bundle, others lose, and bid the Children to try the breaking of those unbound, which they easily snapped in two, then commanded them to try the other, bidding them to break those likewise, but that being more than they were able, took his occasion from that Instance to admonish them to remain ever in Union with one another, if they expected their Enemies should take no hold upon them. Now France deals with most of the other Princes, as the Children by those Arrows not bound together, she easily subdues them one after another, which in case they were linked, and united as they should be, might perhaps be in a posture of reducing her again within the bounds of Reason: Indeed what hinders the setting Armies upon foot as well as France, and thereby an endeavour used for the resettling of things in that condition again, where every one concerned might find his security.  
It looks as if our Forefathers were much the prudenter People: For I remember well after the Battle of Pavia, where Charles the Fifth Triumphed over the Affairs and Fortune of Francis the First, they wisely considered not fit to suffer any more the growth and mightiness of that Power, which already was become but too formidable among them, and so retrieved again the State of France at that time much more desperate, & at a lower Ebb than is ours now. But 'tis not for want of every Bodies knowing what course was taken in the times of our Ancestors, but few they be make a true use of what they know.  
But all this while, I perceive not my deviation insensibly stealing me from my Subject, too far carried off by force of Truth: To come then to the point again, I shall tell you, that whilst Italy took the alarm at the surrender of Cazal, another business was then brewing in that Country, which might well occasion its further disturbance. Savoy, as every one knows, lies closed up between France on one side, and the Provinces of Spain: I mean between those Countries in Italy under Spanish Dominion: The Neighbourhood of these two Powers has been Reason enough in all former Ages, why the Dukes of Savoy enjoy little quiet: For at the same time that either of those two Crowns denounced War upon the other, he must of necessity side with one of the two, to prevent his Country from being overrun by both, as is the general case of all Neuters. Now as Savoy turned very much the Scale to the side it inclined to, the two Crowns strove their utmost which should have him of their party, that sometimes the Daughters of France, sometimes the Infanta's of Spain found Wives of State for that Duke, and the need both had of him, was still the Mediums of new advantages from either: France who knew at what dear rates that Alliance was sometimes to be purchased, projected a Treaty with him, such as for ever should debar him from being Spanish any more. The Cardinal Destrée they send to Savoy, a Relation of that Duchess, and as she Governed all during the Minority of her Son, proposes to her a Match between the young Duke, and the Infanta of Portugal, his Cousin German, Heir presumptive of that Crown, the then Prince Regent having no more Children: The Duchess of Savoy being Born in France, and French in all her Inclinations relishes the Proposal with pleasure: Thinking the Quality of a King of Portugal, was every whit Equivalent to a Duke of Savoy: But as they have a Law in Portugal, which Forfeits in a Daughter her right of Succession to the Crown in case of Marriage with a Stranger, that Law how to abolish must first be thought of; The Cardinal Destrée in Name of his Master undertook the thing: France sends then to Portugal to that effect, and as she was in a happy post of carrying all before her, did in that conjuncture too carry that Affair, insomuch as the having of that Law abrogated, and the Duke's Marriage with their Infanta finally agreed upon: The Grandees of Savoy, without whose advice this Business had been determined unsatisfied with the Match, which ended in a deprivement of their natural Prince, and the Subordination of a Governor, had their private Cabals to consult the breaking the Neck of the Marriage, and stop it from further going on. I cannot justly say, if they confederated for sake of public good, or merely for their private ends; howbeit the Portugal Match far from being of advantage to the Duke, one may truly say he was a loser by the Bargain, no less than the Princes in general of his Family; besides, whilst he was to have resided in Portugal who should have succoured Savoy, in case France had had a mind to set up right of Conveniency, a right which they endeavoured equally to establish as well as right of Dependency, and for no other Reason indeed was the Prince of Montbelliard drove out of his Country then that it did accommodate the Crown: But they heeded little all that could be said against it, and still went on their Road, where but a glimpse appeared of probable sucscess: Madam, the Duchess of Savoy smoked the drift, as well as any, but the powerful desire of Sovereign Rule, carried it above all other considerations; and as Alexander of Farnese, Duke of Parma sent off his Mother in former days, not to be obliged to share with her the Government of the Low-Countries: So the Duchess of Savoy was for packing away her Son, that she might remain still the absolute Mistress of that State: She knew well enough they would not fail detaining the Duke in Portugal to inure him to the ways and customs of a Nation which one day he was designed to govern; and by the shift secure to herself the Supreme Authority: In the mean while discontents amongst the Grandees increased daily, and have frequent meetings to advise upon what they had to do; could not for all that meet so in private, but the Duchess had Intelligence, willing to secure herself from the Designs her Grandees might well have of troubling the Government, caused Forces to be fetched from France in good store to be dispersed in the Neigbourhood about, under a pretence of covering Cazal.  
The Nobility of Savoy, though alarmed at the French assisting thus of the Duchess, gave not over for all that their Intentions of helping their young Duke, and having found her out in her Treaty with France, into whose hands she had agreed to deliver the most important places of strength in the Country, in Pledge of some Loans of Money she had borrowed of them, for the defray of her Son's Marriage, were unanimously resolved to hazard all than suffer thus a general ruin; and as they watched their opportunity to compass their design, the Duchess herself favoured them with one, which they conceived might serve their turn, for having left her Son at Turin, contrary to her custom, whilst herself stepped a Mile or two out of Town, the Grandees, took that Time to speak to their Duke: That he must look upon himself in French hands, every where surrounding him as now their Prisoner in a manner, that the Duchess his Mother had sold them his best Towns, and would yet be selling what remained if not prevented by his great goodness to his People: That she sent him to Portugal not to be the Sovereign there, but that at home she might be so: That in case he met with freedom to his Person there, he must at least expect to meet a Master, whereas if he vouchsafed to stay with them, he should meet with nothing but their entire obedience and dutiful respects, that the Portuguises naturally hated Strangers; and if they did assent to his marrying their Infanta, 'twas by constraint, and with regret: That he might rest assured the Prince Regent once dead, they would retract again from what they had done, and bar him of his Crown as formerly they had done to the King of Spain, that it was not easy to foresee what might then become of him, for that the French having once seized his Country perhaps might not be in humour to restore it him again.  
These remonstrances startled the young Duke, who yet had not Brains ripe enough to apprehend among a great many Truths they represented, there was Lies in an equal number, he asked them what best for him to act to shun so many threatening misfortunes: They answered no other way left, than the securing of his Mother; the expedient was surprising, but finding they had struck from the first an impression upon the young Prince, gave him no time to the recollections of a Natural affection, pressed him with telling his own safety lay for the future in his own power, to resolve for good and all of being a happy or unhappy Duke the remainder of his life; as for their parts resolved to be the lookers on of what every Day produced no longer, had designed retiring into some other Country, where at least they should gain that comfort of Knowing they had no kind of Hand in any thing that would be attempted against his Dignity or Person. A few Tears artificially shed, or out of compassionate good Nature, accomplished persuading of the Duke, calls for Pen and Paper, and signs a Warrant immediately for the seizing of his Mother: In the mean while before they could get together to take their measures for execution of their Order, the Duchess was returned into the Town, and being arrived at her Palais was extremely surprised to find her Son sad and pensive, and much beside himself, asked what he ailed, conjuring him to tell her, but finding him not answering, she adds to her entreaties the blandishments of a Mother, as she embraced him, perceived he wept, and Tears to trickle down his Cheeks which troubled her to the highest degree, sell then to a redoublement of muching, calls him her own dearest Child, falls herself a crying, and in the end so softens, he confesses to her they had surprised him, and that he had signed an Order for the commitment of her Person: The Duchess was herself struck with amaze at the sort of News, but having now no time to lose, and that every Minute was to her of highest consequence, sent for those about her immediately she could most confide in, doubles the Palace Guards, and causes those to be seized in fine who had resolved her ruin & makes her manifesto, those very Persons were intended to take away the young Duke, and carry him to Spain, which is more than I can say they meant, not knowing whether true or not, or whether only a Shame to render them the more odious to the People: Be it as 'twill, the Duchess having once retrieved herself from so very great a danger, ordered the French Forces to March into the Town thereby to show she trusted more to them, then to those of the Country.  
A certain Print for all this remained with the young Duke of what had been remonstrated; insomuch that though his Equipage was gone already before to Portugal, and himself soon to follow after, he talked no more of the Voyage: And as still some body there was in place about him, who privately cherished the suspicion they had raised, broke him clean off, ordered his Family to return their ways home again, to the unspeakable satisfaction of his whole People; France only remained much mortifid, promising already to itself the conjunction of Savoy to that Kingdom, and to enchase it amongst the fairest Flowers of the Crown: The dissatisfaction conceived lay not long hid, the Count of Soisson who in case of decease of the young Duke was Heir presumptive to the Dukedom of Savoy, after the Death of Prince Carignan his Uncle, was then in love with a private Damosel in France, called Madamoseille de Beavais; all the Relations had thitherto opposed the thing, in fear of his design to marry her, the King himself had signified as much, and that he ought to think of bestowing himself some other way, but being thus disobliged by the Grandees of Savoy, he suffered Count Soisson to do what he had most mind to, to humble him, and that Count did do what his passion persuaded.  
This what passed in Piedmont, let us now go see a little what a doing in Germany; France for a long time had a Month's mind to the City of Strasburgh, it had defeated them a number of its measures during the late War, and France had so well felt the importance of that place to resolve upon the having it, cost it ne'er so much: To speak of having it by force, looked a little difficult, and to do that a War must be openly declared, and the adjacent Princes round about would have engaged in her defence. The easier way than seemed the getting it by trick: A Resident they kept at Strasburgh, in Character more of Spy then public Minister, whose Business was to observe all that past; he had given the King often times account no good was to be done till those Burgemasters of the Town in present station were out of place, when new came to be made, had by that time gained a great many of the Votes, got Persons elected to the Magistracy affectioned to the Interests of France, ready fitted to make sale of their Country for a piece of Money, with these after that, he strikes a Bargain for the delivery of the Town upon the first occasion, and they for their Reward to have each a Hundred Thousand Crowns a Man. The Market being thus set, these Traitors give the Town to consider the great Burdens of their Debt they stood charged with occasioned by her vast Expenses incurred in the late War, and that now in time of Peace they should reduce the Garrison which was too numerous: That the King of France, whom they had the most cause to fear, had his whole thoughts took up towards Italy, whither he had drawn the best part of all his Forces, and that before he could march them back again they should have time enough to implore the assistance of their Neighbours, whose proper concern in their preservation was too great not to afford them aid; happen what would they had the Winter before to look about them, which was now at hand: That the King was great way distant from them, as indeed he was, and Summer then near spent, there was no manner of likelihood, he durst undertake any thing actually that season, & by the means save a good Sum of Money in their Purses; that when Spring time came, they then should see what other measures were fittest to be taken.  
The advice took with the People, who were all for the sparing point, and for all the ablest men amongst them could formally oppose what the People once would have of necessity to be, there was no withstanding, one part of the Garrison must then be dismissed, and which was remarkable of those the Forces of the Eldest standing: But as the King of France lay perdue, but for the occasion, took Journey forthwith from Fountain-bleau at the same time caused his Men to draw down with expedition and invests the City, at a time they imagined him in the midst of his Kingdom. Some playing with the Cannon there was upon both sides, to take off all suspicion off Intelligence, which hindered not, but those of Strasburgh well enough understood themselves betrayed. And though they now understood so with the latest, they yet entertained thoughts of making a Defence: But a rabble of People hired at the same time by the French Resident, or it may be as well by the Burgemasters themselves came flocking to the Townhouse, crying out for a surrender of the Town, which otherwise would be suddenly consumed by the Fire of the Booms, and by the red hot Bullets. The Burgemasters soon listened to that demand, cause beat a Parley, set up the White Colours for token of a general readiness to capitulate, and in a word to say all, yields up the Town.  
I do not condemn France, for an act of this importance, since not of humour to matter much her Faith in point of Treaty; but what I am most scandaled at, to have the Face to colour it with a show of Justice. The Emperor indeed having sent Count Mansfeld to complain of the Breach of Peace, was answered that they much wondered the Emperor would concern himself, where he had not to do, that it was but lawful for the King to reduce a rebellious City: That Strasburgh, as the Capital of Alsace did belong to him, by Virtue of the Munster Treaty, and if he did not lay hold on't sooner 'twas because he had more pressing work in Hand: But any would but answer me, if that City had been granted him as pretended, why entertained he there his public Ministers so long time, why did he in the last War treat with her in Order to her remaining Neuter, and why so often complaining of her not remaining so? But all that France can say upon the subject, is indeed not so much as worth an answer, & so I proceed to her Erterprises elsewhere: The taking of Strasburgh opened the Eyes of a great many Germane Princes, lulled for a long time like England in a profound Sleep. Every one was for revenging the injury, but when they came to act according there was none but met with a Difficulty and Lion in the way, one had not Money to begin a War, another for not hazarding his Men, which he reserved for some other time, another he would first know, to whom the Town should fall when retaken; in short, if any seemed to be accorded together 'twas but as they conspired each by their mutual ill conducts in the twisting of Cords for their own Bondage. In the mean while France lost not her good time thus in unuseful Discourses: During the last War had all along kept a correspondence with Teckely, by the help of one Bohan of Ardenn by Nation, and whom I remember to have seen a Lieutenant of Horse in the French Army. He afterwards was in Service with the Pole, but being reformed upon the Peace made between the Port and that Nation, went to seek his Fortune with Teckely, who took care to advance him, for that besides being a Man of good parts, was very likely to make a good Officer; some three or four years since he had been in France, discoursed the Ministers, & settled there correspondence with them, that being called upon to make good his Word he had given them, ordered so his matters, as to content their expectations, and to the purpose; Teckely engages to give diversion in Hungary, and that he might be the better in condition to bring in the Turks, has granted him great supplies of Money, and far greater promised him, if once able to put in execution, the thing he had undertaken.  
This Business has been so generally known, that 'tis not to be doubted, by any who have had the least instruction of what passes in the World: Letters went from France to Germany, from Germany to Bohan by the means of a Secretary, to a certain Envoy the King there entertained, and from Bohan to Teckely: The Secretary lay long by the heels for this Business, and had not the King of France clapped up Count Mansfeld's Secretary in requital, he had not been freed upon so easy a reckoning; but he being committed to the Bastille, and told he might be sure to have the same usage, whatever the other had at the hands of the Emperor, obliged him quickly to post some a way to Vienna to give notice: The Emperor upon that stopped any further proceed, and rather chose to forgive the Guilty, then destroy the Innocent; yet to let see how sensible he was of the Injury, had the Prisoner let lose, but at Brisac, where for the greater Marks of Infamy he was brought upon a Cart, bolted with Irons Hand and Foot, and under Guard sufficient; 'twas feared France provoked by the Treatment, might do as much to Count Mansfeld's Secretary; but whether out of a better knowledge of herself, or that she feared offering violence to the Right of Nations, of which I must needs say she is a most Religious Observer, he was let go out of the Bastille, without using of any Reprisals in the case, and even suffered to continue in Paris, where I have been told he yet remains.  
The Mighty Huff that followed after the taking of Strasburgh being vanished into Air: France as I said before, whose Stomach still mended at the sight of a fresh Dish, began again in Right of her Dependencies, which in proportion to her greedy Belly she extended, to demand one part of Liege, even to the Moiety of its Capital City, mean while as a Country frontier to Germany, as well as the Low-Countries, and for the designs she had on both it was expedient for her purpose to meet with no resistance, she had during the late Wars, thrown down all the Forts, and dismantled the Walls, already was in possession of the Castle of Dinan, by force of an Article in the Nemiguen Treaty by which the Spaniards lay under an Obligation to procure them the Propriety of from the Elector of Cullen, Prince and Bishop of Liege, to whom it of Right pertained, and the same to get ratified at the Diet of Ratisbonne, or otherwise to give them Charlemont in stead. The Spaniards not able to prevail with the Bishop of Cullen, to dismember the place from off his Country, or rather France having underhand hindered him from dismembering to have always pretext in hand to be tormenting of the poor Spaniard with, when they so pleased: Besides, the Diet of the Empire would consent to no such alienation; France finding all these obstacles lay daily pressing of the Spaniards to put Charlemont into their Hands, according to the Tenure of the Treaty; the Spaniards they hung back all they could, as if they had foreseen what would come on't. But at last seeing France, who well knew how to make her use of the misunderstandings of one and tother, threatened to fall downright upon Flanders if they made not good their Engagements, Charlemont was delivered, which is one of the best places France is this day in possession of, though possessing of a great many good ones. When once Charlemont was in their Hands, the redelivering of Dinan, was no more mentioned, and so blocks up Namur by the , that when she pleases, can hinder any thing from coming to it by Water carriage: For as Mistress of the whole Liege Country, I know not which way Namur can receive relief, but on the Land side. The Spaniards might complain their Heart out of being thus dealt with France, was ne'er the more concerned, but the contrary, the first to cry out, The Spaniards had not performed to them their Peace of Nimeguen, since as yet they could not oblige them to a rendidition of the County of Alost, which of Right did to them belong.  
All the Electors, bordering upon the Rhine, had a Crow to pull with France, about her Right of Dependence by the help of it pretending to swallow all places that lay commodious for her purpose, but when the thing demanded was had, or indeed the thing she would give herself, like the Fire which having consumed all near to it insensibly spreads itself to places more remote, so she having laid her clutches upon an infinite Tract of Country bushes on her designs upon the very Capital Towns of the Electoral Princes; to that effect alleged she that the ground where stood the Stables belonging to the Elector of Mayence did appertain with all the Hame, Country Soil, remarkable for the excellent Rhenish that there grows: Her pretensions upon the City of Cullen, and upon that of Mayence, bounds not with so small a Business; France maintained that as these two Cities were much increased by length of time, all that had been built for Four or Five preceding Ages; was built upon what was granted her by Virtue of the Treaty, that therefore the buildings must be demolished, and the City restrained again to its Ancient limits, or the Proprietors of those Houses from thence forward to pay Allegiance to the Crown of France.  
These Things thus acted by that King, nothing more could show how extremely they were deceived who said he aimed so much at having his Son chose King of the Romans, so far was he from designing that he should ever arrive at the Empire, that 'twas his Business to give it rather an absolute overthrow; and so began first with the Electors, that for the future such a thing as Emperor might be no more in Nature.  
The Emperor, the Princes of the Empire, the Spaniards, and in fine, all those of the Cordial Allies saw but too plain the tendency of all these Designs; but it seems such was the Fate of Europe, whilst they lost whole years in deliberating about trifles, France brings them under in the mean while, and prepares their Chains, whose weight is known by none, but by those they load: For in fine, her own Ancient Subjects, and those very Men, who daily spend themselves to the last drop of their Blood in assisting them to compass their intentions meet with the same sort of Treatment is met to others, and to begin with those who serve in their Armies must be understood are all obliged to make a profuse Expense till their all be whole run out, when she Knows they have nothing left them, they pick a Fob-quarrel as one may call it, are after all glad to take to an Hospital for the final recompense of Service. 'Tis for that end, has she truly built, and that a most sumptuous one, but which stands them not in no great matter of keeping, having laid hold on certain Lands which the particular Devotion of some People had given towards the relief of Lepers, and converted to the use of that Hospital, but as those Rents suffice not for the maintenance or at least will have it so supposed, she detains in her Hands a certain Sum from both of the pay of Soldier and Officer, and that way makes them purchase their Places beforehand which each is very well pleased to do for that they are satisfied, thither they all must come and lay their Bones. And those out of her Service have not a much better time on't, for though not obliged to so great an Expense as others are, they squeeze them to little by little till they have squeezed out the last of what they have. And though they have continued some time in Peace, they have diminished nothing of their Taxes, so that their King is the only Gainer by the War, all besides losers.  
The Franch County he has added to his Provinces with a great many more several Conquests, which have very much augmented his Revenue, which by his several new impositions he has greatly added to, readier to lay more on then to suppress the Old. Now if they who serve, and who serve him not have so much to suffer, there yet remains another sort of People in that State who certainly are yet much more to be pitied: I mean those of the Reformed Religion, who must endure on all sort of outrageous violences, for though they do not outright put them to death by the Hands of a Hangman, as they are daily made to perish by little and little, their death is but the crueler in that it is the more languishing, and have for all that never given but Eminent proofs of their Fidelity and Allegiance; and though when Henry the Fourth came to the Crown did he desert them, it came not into their Thoughts to do as much by him, which at that time had wholly ruined his Affairs; some time they did remain quiet, and enjoyed the benefit of their Edicts, but just it was they who were the great disturbers of Europe, should too disturb a company of poor unhappy wretches, excluded for ever from all Marks of Honour and places of trust, have this however to comfort themselves, that for their Religion 'tis that they suffer. Amongst the many of all sorts France thus undoes, whether within or without the Kingdom, the Prince of Orange was the only, as one may say, that nosed them. And though his power was no more than what the Commonwealth of Holland were pleased to limit him, his great Heart was not so bounded, and was incomparably greater than his Fortune, he never gave over remonstrating to some, that rather they should choose to perish, then submit to Power so terribly dangerous, to other some the absolute necessity of arming against her: many things that Prince had retrencht himself to raise a Fund for the subsistence of some well deserving Officers, which that State at making of the Peace had reformed, that so through necessity of Bread, they might not be obliged to seek Employment elsewhere, and when he had occasion for them, might know where to find them. France which knew she had in him an Enemy she most of all feared, resolved he should feel in his Personal concerns, a touch of her Resentment, not to say of her Injustice, his Principality of Orange lies between Languedoc and Avignon, which as Sovereign of, he had enjoyed, he, and his Predecessors from the time it passed out of the House of Chalon into that of Nassaw. But that King who was for suffering no Sovereign in France, nor in Europe neither, besides himself, had the Town of Orange dismantled; and the Prince of Orange left without any reparation, what complaint soever at that time he made of it to the King never so Instant: But the King stopped not there in relation to his Affairs, for having resolved to strip him absolutely of that Sovereignty, he makes the Duchess of Nemours put in, who by colour of some foolish and idle pretences, had the Prince cited at Law to their Courts of Judicature, where not giving his appearance, the Principality of Orange was adjudged her; no body can, no more than I, tell upon what bottom that Decree could ground: For if by Virtue of some pretended old Entail from the House of Chalon, to which they will say the Predecessors of the Prince of Orange did not comply with, as it is easy to give proof sufficient to the contrary, 'tis not without a likelihood of Truth to say, that though Madam de Nemours could make out the Title, her time was lapsed in point of claim; for that by the Laws of that Kingdom, such at least as I have seen them in case of Custom, the prescription of Thirty years' Possession was sufficient to quiet a Title, and that the Prince of Orange, I mean, the Prince and his Predecessors together have enjoyed for above a Hundred and fifty years: But whether this be so or not, it hindered not, but Madam de Nemours obtained her Decree, which tho has for all that been since revoked, in the mean while the Prince has sent Mr. Hemsius to Paris, to show the King the wrong done him: The State's General upon their part have particularly recommended that Affair to their Ambassador in France, but hitherto ineffectually; and though 'tis now six Months that Mr. Hemsius is working at it, it yet appears not to have made any progress; but let us pass to some other matter, this being but trifle in comparison with what I have yet to say.  
The King of Poland had ever been a Friend of France, 'twas by her means he got the Crown which every foot was sending him presents, in token of her Friendship, had given him her Order of Holy Ghost, and the only Prince she in fine, thought well of in Europe besides. Now let us see how they came to break with him, and at whose Door lies the fault; 'tis indeed with difficulty I must discover this, but out it must being got so far there is no going back: The Money sent by France to Teckely was no useless supply, he had for it engaged the Turks to fall upon the Emperor; and France having due Intelligence of all that past, both of time and place, and of the other side preferred the carrying on of her Intrigues to all other concerns, made no Bones of Soliciting the King of Poland at that time to attack the Emperor's Country upon his side, as the right of conveniency was an attractive sort of right in her Eyes, which swayed with her, imagined it might do the same with the King of Poland, and proposed to him the Conquest of Silesia, where in probability he was not like to meet with any great resistance from the Moment the Ottoman Forces had made their descent into Hungary, the King of Poland who is a sharp Prince, and who needs no prompters to teach him his Lesson, thought it improper to his own Honour, as to that of his Crown, to make use of the advice, on the contrary, he accepts of an Alliance with the Emperor then proposed him by which they mutually engaged by League Offensive and Defensive to assist each other against the Turk: France had no sooner learned what the King of Poland had done but her former Kindness was immediately changed into an irreconcilable hate, sends to the Marquis of Vitry her Ambassador in that Court a Man of Parts, and good at an Intregue, to employ his skill to set all at work in creating misunderstandings betwixt him and his people, and Morstein high Treasurer of Poland, who was a Pensioner of France, and where he had thoughts to settle himself, and where he already had purchased great possessions, assists Vitry in his design; already had they tampered with some of the discontented Senators, who talked at no lower rates then the obliging the King of Poland to relinquish the Government. For the purpose already cast their Eyes upon a Person they had designed the Throne to in his stead; When as good fortune would have it, the King of Poland intercepted a Letter of Morstein's writ in Ciphers, he sends for him forthwith, and having enquired of him the meaning of the Letter, and finding he endeavoured to shift the Truth, bid him give the Key, Morstein replied 'twas with his Wite, which forced the King to send for her, when she came, and found for what the King had sent for her, told, she had burnt the Key, and not being able to get out any better account, commanded the Commitment of them both under a strong Guard till he sifted the affair a little more narrowly: I shall say no more upon this Chapter; every one knows the French Ambassador convinced of Tampering in the Business, a certain Senator out of pure love to his King and Country was bold enough to say in full assembly, speaking of Morstan, that for attempts of a less nature the Turks had given Two hundred Bastinadoes to an Ambassador of France, and 'twas his Opinion, Mr. De Vitry deserved four hundred: The King of Poland, a sagacious Prince, and great Politician, would suffer him to say no more, for fear the heat he was in might transport him too far, hindered also the Entry of his Opinion upon their public Records, contenting himself to let Mr. De Vitry know he had strained his Character of Ambassador; Mr. De Vitry remained not long after this in Poland, and if ever he have Embassy elsewhere, I make no doubt the Princes they fend him to, will take due care to watch his Water. I have formerly touched upon some circumstances of Luxemburg, but as insensibly I fell to other subjects, 'tis yet not unseasonable to relate what was the success, though to have done things, exactly methodical it should have been before handled. As the Conquest of Strasburgh, and the acquisition of Casal had strangely alarmed both Emperor and Spaniard, had been instant with all their Neighbouring Princes to use their Endeavours for their regaining of them again, but as some were feeble in all respects, others gained by the French, they remitted all to the Diet of Franckfort, where whole Months were spent in canvasing a Passport, four or five Months more took up in a debate whether they should speak Latin, high Dutch or French, that so far from hopes of some Redress that way our Disease became the more incurable. These delatories then making the Imperialists and Spain despair of gaining their point by means of the Diet, they by concerted Measures march their Forces towards Strasburgh and Casal, which the French was then beginning to fortify, & which lay almost every where open for that the old works had been thrown down to put new in the room: The Emperor & Spaniard were but in an ill condition to go through with any thing they undertook. But the King of France newly settled in his Conquest of those two places, imagining they marched not their Forces but with some design, and might not be without holding some private Intelligence in both the Towns, raises the Blocus of Luxemburgh to have Forces in readiness to oppose.  
Now as he was willing to have the thanks of that action, sends for the Marquis of Fuentes Ambassador of Spain, to tell him, that upon the advice he had received the Turk was falling upon Hungary, he thought good to withdraw his Forces from Luxemburg, that so the King of Spain might have the greater liberty to assist the Emperor: The Marquis of Fuentes who knew well enough what to think of the Business, made his Compliment of thanks to his Majesty notwithstanding, as an act of great grace and favour, but amongst Friends where he could be free, would be telling them what was the real cause of so great a change, which was in every Body's mouth already who had but the least smackering in public Affairs: And indeed if I may be allowed a little to argue the point, who is it does not see the art of this management was too too gross to pass upon good Eyes? For if true, France had such good natured, and such pious considerations, why has she since contradicted them by so many of her actions to the contrary? why a correspondence with Teckely? why Intrigues carried on in Poland? why those Alliances with Denmark and Brandenburg? why Princes so warmly plied to draw them to her side? And in short, why those Huffs at the Imperial Diet, if they consent not to her pretensions? I know before hand what answer I shall have, I know nothing less will be allowed neither in regard to Teckely nor to the King of Poland, that to what concerns the rest will be answered, it was the Masterpiece of a Politic King versed in Kingcraft, and the Arts of Government to be making sometimes such sort of Alliances which have their use, not so much in order to the support of War abroad amongst his Neighbours, as to hinder his Neighbours from carrying the War home to his own door. I do know, as I said, the unthinking part of Mankind may be put upon in disowning of the one, and in giving some kind of gloss to palliate the other, but I would a little fain know if they can answer this too which I am now about saying, France was willing to raise the Blocus of Luxemburg a whole year before the Turks came down upon Hungary, and when effectually they came with a Vengeance he frames a Camp in Alsatia, to hold the Emperor in play, makes another in Flanders, to oblige Spain to be upon her Guard, a Camp upon the River Soare he orders, to frighten the Electors, and in fine, has another Camp drawn upon the Saonne to keep the rest of Europe in a Jealousy: France would show to the World she becomes less rapacious upon the considerations of the great misfortunes that hung now over the Head of Christendom, and when those misfortunes are actually befallen her, it then Thunders, Threats and Rants, and lets the Diet be roundly told he only will give but such certain short day to grant her injust pretensions in and if not then granted would do herself that right by force of Arms: And to be doing as well as saying, presents with a great Army upon the Frontier, ready at a mouthful to swallow several of the Spanish Provinces; War indeed they can't be said to make, but make altogether as much mischief, by their hindering those Princes which she just dreaded as she did the Turk, from employing their Forces in favour of the Emperor: The Emperor indeed himself obliged to leave his to guard the Rhine, whilst a Company of Infidels invades his Dominions, ravages to the very Heart of his Country, and carries off for Slaves a hundred Thousand Souls, burns his Palaces, lays waste the Country round, and in conclusion claps Siege to Vienna, his Capital City, and place of Residence.  
But I perceive not all this while, that having but now documented others, I insensibly fall into the same Error myself I would have them avoid: I fall off arguing the point, as if every one could not do it as well without me, let us have done then with these kind of entertainments, and go on to our Examine of other places whether France aspiring to the Universal Monarchy be Truth, or Fiction, or rather let us see if she already usurps not upon the right of Sovereigns as if she actually were the Mistress of the World: Let us see what she is about, with her Mines in all the Courts of Europe; not that I pretend to say Policy is a thing forbidden amongst Princes, but that her meaning may no more be doubted of, every one can tell what an Errand she sent the Republic of Genova, whose Coat she fain would pick a hole in, sends word she will not have her put her Gally's out, lest they should come to join with those of Spain, if otherwise should take it for an act of Hostility, and should use her accordingly as an Enemy declared: The Hollanders just so dealt with about a Month or two since, upon the intent they had of sending some new Ships to the King of Swede: So that over those two Commonwealths, where she hath nothing to do, she already Lords it as absolute Sovereign, she will not suffer Free States, who have bought their Liberty with the Price of their Blood shall think to make Alliances, and secure their Allies, and they that call themselves the eldest Sons of the Church can yet suffer an Alliance with her most mortal Enemy: But then let us see how she deals with those that leave her Interest, and those itself, who are mean spirited enough to adhere to her, let us look a little upon the different Springs she sets at work to bring her matters about; what says she not of the Duke of Bavaria, for deserting the side, and his so very generously embracing that of the Emperor; what does she not at Liege, where she makes it her Business to foment the Rebellion of that People against their lawful Prince, that so the Prince not able to master them, may not with the assistance of other Princes be in a post to make a Barrier of that City, and stop her passage that way into the Territories of other States? What does she not act at Cullen, where the Inhabitants are all banding one against tother, and cutting one another's Throats, whilst the Enemy is at their Gates, ready to devour? What not at Hamburgh and Lubec, where Intrigues apparent as the Sun are carrying on to the ruin both of their Liberty and Country? What leave they undone in the Courts of the Lunebourg Princes, where People banished France are most in Credit, but banished after such a fashion as to return again into that Kingdom, when they will, and privately to see, and discourse the Ministers? Indeed what is she not brewing in the Emperor's Court itself, where she foments' Jealousies among the chief, where she opens the very Cabinet Counsels with her Silver Key, where not one resolution can be taken, but she gets notice of, at the same time? Some may say, I discourse but of these affairs conjecturally: I shall most willingly leave them to their own thoughts after, saying, what I have in answer.  
After the routing the Marshal of Crequi at the Siege of Treves, France lay open to the prevailing side, there then stood no more Forces in their way, and had they been so minded might well have carried the Terror of their Arms into the Heart of the Country: The French were much afraid they would, and begun to pack their most valuable goods within the walled Towns, when Mr. De Louvois told a certain Person with whom I had particular acquaintance during the time I was in France, and whom I have it from, that the Enemy would act no farther that Campagne, and were then upon their drawing off; I willingly would ask now if this was news one could reasonably well credit in the then present posture of Affairs, if one ought not to be supernaturally gifted, if one needed not a spirit of Revelation to be believing the contrary to what every one else had reason to believe: But what will not a Man do, as a certain old Author has remarked, who devotes his whole thought to become rich? To that very effect have the Swisses took the Bridle in their Mouths by the Fort of Huninghen, and made sale both of Liberty and Country; a Counsellor of their State might remonstrate his Heart out in full assembly, the Interest those People had to be early in their opposition to a power, who in her ambitious thoughts devoured Europe, the Pensioners of France soon stops his Mouth, and as they struck the greatest stroke with that Commonwealth, must submit to what they pleased to do: That way 'twas that Nation suffered without opposing the Franch County to be seized by France, from whence it might have hoped the speedy assistance of a Neighbour: I speak not of a great many more things happened of the same batch in the time of the late Wars, will seem too superannuated, and too trifling: For in fine, who is't, but right well knows that to be the opening Key the French have with unlocked the Gates of so many Towns; every one can tell 'tis with that Instrument she renders all undertake to her prejudice Abortive, and did retard the Siege of Phillipsburgh; but 'twere too much work to say here how very useful their Coin has been in their regard, and how very prejudicial to the World besides. And yet can't hold from speaking of a late passage happened in Denmark, to show she is no such squanderer neither of her Money, as one would well imagine, Denmark becoming Pensioner to France, or say rather took Her Money to act as France would have her, Mr. Colbert, through whose hands the Money went designed for that Court, having fancy to try, how the Dane would take it to have his Pension retrenched, caused write to that effect to the French Ambassador in Denmark by the Hand of Mr. Colbert De Croissy his Brother, whose Province 'tis to take care of Foreign Affairs; the Ambassador having received his Instructions went immediately to wait upon the King of Denmark surprised in the highest Nature, at the proceeding told him, he had no answer to return, but should give the King of France, one by the hands of his own Envoy then in Court, and at the same time send Directions to his Envoy to speak to the King in the Business, and to let him know how ill he took it at his hands: The King told the Envoy of Denmark, that he understood not what 'twas he spoke to him about, that his Ambassador our had acted without order, that 'twas never his thought neither to add nor diminish any thing in the Treaty he had made with the King his Master, and should call home his Ambassador to teach him undertaking thus things of his own Head, so the poor Ambassador was Sacrificed just like the Governor of Luxemburg, disowned by the Spaniards, as before related: France too disowns her Ambassador to preserve Amity with the Crown of Denmark.  
It now remains to inspect the cause why France so potent in her Arms, and knowing how disunited and divided were all her Neighbours, has for all that been so long without engaging. To this a reason is given with much facility, nor is there in it much of puzzle.  
The private Alliance she had made with the Turks, was the String to her Bow she most trusted to, but that Alliance could not be expected should produce the wished effect of a sudden, for the Truce than a foot between the Emperor and the Port expired but in the Year 1682. and had a mind it should expire first before any thing was to be undertaken, was not over sure whether the Turks, whose Faith in that affair could not be well relied on, would effectually declare against the Emperor, or whether would accept those very advantageous Terms proposed by the Imperialists, ont'other hand she was upon the fortifying of a world of places, where much time was requisite to finish the works, and was against the Rules of common Policy, not to enter upon a War, till she had seen those places in some probable Perfection, and thitherto truly one might do her that right she had let slip no favourable occasion, but on the contrary had been imprudently done to act otherwise: And indeed to show clearly her Design was to draw her men into the Field from the very critical Minute: The Turks began the dance with theirs, that no sooner had advice they had fallen upon Hungary, but the King parts froms Versailles to head their Army, at the same time a Detachment had already been drawn of those encamped upon the Saone, with orders for their March towards the Frontier, and nothing now in Mouths of the French, but the beseiging of Cullen or Philipsburgh, when all of a sudden a very extraordinary piece of news altered the resolutions of that Prince: he had heard the Hungarians had abandoned the pass at Raab, and that the Turks without the least of stopping at Raab, or Comorra, as was pretended they would have stopped at, advance on with an innumerable, vast Army towards Vienna, which they had determined to beseige: Now France was well enough satisfied the Turks should make Diversion, but sorry they should make themselves Master of the Empire which he now looked on as his proper Patrimony: France trusted to their beseiging Raab and Comorra places of great strength both by Art and Nature, and that they would spend both their time and pains before they gained their point, in the interim made sure of doing his own Business, and to oblige the Electors seeing themselves on all hands so surrounded with Enemies to condescend to what she pleased herself: Hoped after the reinforcing his own, with the Forces of the Empire, to march them strait up to the Turk, & force him to a Battle or to retire home again: Noble designs of a great Prince, and brim full of Ambition; But learning as I said, the Turks had laid Siege to Vienna was obliged to take new measures: To that effect he found it was no more to his purpose to set upon the Empire which another was about taking the possession of by the taking of a single Town: For as that was the only place of Defence it was possible for him indeed to have caused a great deal of desolation, and terror of his side, but was the wrong way to settle in the Throne.  
France then chose rather at a distance to take her prospect of what might be the event of the Siege of Vienna, and send her Creatures about still representing to all the Princes of the Empire, how the Emperor was but a weak Prince, fit to hold beads then a Sceptre, and to fit in a Cloister by much then at Helm: That the Empire was Tottering, and even now ready to fall under his conduct, that henceforth they would need rather a stout, vigorous Prince, which with a Thousand good qualities besides understood perfectly well that of Leading of an Army: That if the Turks come once to get Vienna, they ought all to expect no better then absolute destruction: That their true and only means to be secured from so imminent a mischief was to implore the aid of the King of France, who would soon listen to it, provided they elected the Dauphin King of the Romans, as 'twas a thing he had been instant with them for of a long time, they should no sooner have answered his desire in that particular, the Face of their Empire should soon see changed, that the King's Forces lay ready at their Gates for their nearer assistance, and would in short retrieve the Empire again into that flourishing condition it had ever yet been in under its greatest Emperors.  
Prince William of Furstenburgh Bishop of Strasburgh de voted wholly to the Interests of France, who for some Years has been labouring to deliver up his Country, was one of those most powerfully endeavoured to insinuate these kind of things: But the aversion the Empire had for the French in general, was so great, and so universal, so far from calling of them into their help, would have much sooner called in the Turk: And indeed the Turk troubles no Body for his Religion sake, leaving every one to his Liberty of Conscience, keeping strictly to their word, where they once give it, and provided their Tribute be but paid which you promise them, Exact no more, no Leeches there preying upon the Blood of the People to be seen as in France swarming under the Name of Partisan, or Farmers of the King's Revenue, there no laying of new Taxes upon every sort of thing, or when necessity obliges them to lay any are taken off again, as the necessity ceases, the Soldier is not there ill handled, nor the Ministers at every turn threatening to lay them by the heels; on the contrary the Swordman is in great esteem amongst them, and a brave Fellow there is not without his Mark of Distinction: In a word they had heard so much of the French Domination and way of Government that they had resolved as one Man to stand it out to the last then ever have submitted.  
In vain then did all these good French men take the pains in giving out as I was saying they did: The King then seeing he lost his time that way, resolved upon the employing it somewhere else to better purposes, whilst the occasion was opportune; his Pretensions to the County of Alost he still kept up, and so marches to Flanders side with his Forces, proceeds to nominating of his general Officers, which he is never accustomed to do but upon the neck of a War, and in fine making all ready to enter upon the Country: But just upon the point of putting his design in execution, God was pleased to take out of this World the Queen his Wife, one of the best Princesses upon Earth, after a sickness of two or three Days.  
Her Disease appeared not visibly dangerous, and was but a swelling, which kindly enough inclined to suppuration, but the Doctors instead of letting Nature have her Course which was even ready to throw off the malignity as I was saying, having through Ignorance let her Blood, contrary to the Opinion of Mr. Fagon her chief Physician, it struck in again to the Heart, and killed her: So soon as the Queen's condition was perceived Dangerous, the King had notice, who came presently to her Chamber, and seemed most extremely sensible, threw himself upon her Bed, with the Tears in his Eyes speaking to her in Spanish, but the Queen's Eyes now setting in Head, and Death approaching died in his Arms without being able to answer: They had an Hour or two before given Emetic Wine but had not strength enough to bear it, that instead of doing her good, served only but to shorten her time, they forced the King away from her, who lay taking on like wild in her Arms, and the Queen they left upon the Bed of State, till the next Day, than put her into a Coffin of Lead, placing instead of the Body a waxed Image made in resemblance, which for Nine days together was served up as if yet alive, or rather as if it was the Queen herself: She was afterwards carried to St. Dennis the ordinary Burying place of the Kings of France, with a Magnificence truly Royal: Sixteen thousand Flambeauxes, Six hundred poor People clad in Black, besides the Servants of her own Family, and those of all the Princes, and Princesses of the Blood Royal, an infinite of other Persons of the first quality, with an endless train of Coaches. Her Heart had been carried some days before to Valde grace, and placed in the Nun's Choir, right against the Chapel, where is kept that of the Queen Mother.  
Two or three days before the Queen died, there happened a thing of an odd Nature enough: That Princess who was extremely addicted to her Religion, having called for an Almanac to her Bedside to see when such a Holiday would fall to which she had a particular Devotion, perceived the Composer of the Almanac in his Predictions upon the Month July, foretold the withdrawing of a Prince, and Death of some great Lady who would be much regretted, and as the Prince of Condy's leaving the Court, showed perfectly he had hit extreme right, She turns herself to Madam La Marshalle de Humiers Lady of her Bedchamber, who stood at her Beds-head and asked if 'twas not she they meant; The particular of this I had from Madam La Marshalle d' Humiers herself, and since have had the curiosity to view the Almanac, where those very two things are literally to be found. However the grief of the King slopped his Flanders expedition, retired immediately to St. Clou, his Brothers the Duke of Orleance's Country House, from thence to Fountain-bleau, where in vain they strive to divert him, as the Queen took great pleasure in that place made him often call to mind his Queen, tears are frequent in his Eyes, and nothing but length of time can make him forget her.  
Notwithstanding they give out, he persists still in his great designs the Truth of which we shall soon Know with a little patience: But for me, I think God sent him that affliction to move him, and that in a little time, he not only will leave Europe in Peace, but by joining his Arms with the Christians will force the Turk to leave the Empire in quiet, which we ought all to wish.   
FINIS.  

THis Book was given to the Bookseller, the Fifteenth of August, by which 'tis to be seen, the Author must be well enough acquainted with the Business of Alost, the manifesto in Relation to it being to come out upon the Saturday, and her Majesty dying but the day before, etc.