French Kings Manifesto, PROPOSALS of PEACE with the Emperor and Allies. Propounded on the Behalf of France.  
Translated from the Dutch Original, Published at the HAGUE, by the Authority of the States of Holland and West-Friesland.  Licenced according to Order. 

SIR,  
I Have at last procured what you have so long desired of me, viz. An exact Copy of the French King's Manifesto, which he caused to be dispersed all along the Rhine, by the Officers of the Dauphin 's Army, to invite the Emperor and Empire to a speedy Peace; it is published here by the Sieur ...... in this Monthly Remarks, with the State's Licence.  
Several Princes of the Empire earnestly desiring, that the Most Christian King would unbosom himself, upon what reasonable and just Conditions, he would be willing to agree to a Peace, and speedily stop the shedding of Christian Blood; His Majesty finds himself obliged no longer to defer the making known, as well by the Interest of the King of Sweden, who first offered his Mediation, as by other Princes most desirous of the Public Peace, the Terms upon which it may be re-established, with all the securities that can be reciprocally desired, to render it everlasting, and to prevent its being disturbed, by any Persons whatsoever.  
To which purpose the King desires, that the Treatise of Westphalia and Nimeghen may remain in full Force and Vigour. That that which was agreed on at Ratisbonne, in Aug. 1684. under the name of a Truce for 20 years, may be changed into a Treaty of Peace Defensive, with such Conditions as shall be hereafter explained, and which ought to serve for a convincing Proof to the whole Empire, that His Majesty does not in the least think of making any new Conquests, but only to establish anew, and confirm, as well for himself as his Successors, a good and entire Correspondence, as well with the Empire, as with the Princes and States of Germany; having this in his Thoughts, that in lieu for the City and Citadel of Strasburgh, which the Most Christian King is in Possession of, and which he expects to keep unchangeable to himself and his Successors; first that Trarback and Montroyal shall be raised, and restored to the Prince, to whom they appertain, and that neither of those Two Posts be Fortified again. 2dly. That all the Fortifications of Fort Lewis and Hunninghen that are beyond the Rhine, shall be likewise destroyed. 3dly. The most Christian King offers to surrender Phillipsburgh, Fortified with the Fortress, and Friburgh in the same Circumstances they are in at present. His Majesty is persuaded, that all the States and Princes of the Empire who 〈◊〉 Peace, will be persuaded that ●uch advantageous offers will not only be a sufficient to recompense for the City and Fortress of Strasburgh; but also to serve as a Pledge and Assurance of His Majesty's sincerity to hold an entire Correspondence with them, and to remove for the time to come, all occasions of Disturbance and Distrust; they cannot truly desire a greater demonstration of it, than th● quitting a Place of such Consequence, as Montroyal, which His Majesty has caused to be made almost Impregnable, by the Fortifications, which he has raised about it, thereby sacrificing to the good of Peace, those immenced Expenses he has been at to deliver all the Neighbouring States from the just Disturbance which that Fortress might give them. That of Philipsburgh, which His Majesty possessed near Twenty Years by Virtue of the Munster Treaty, is of no less importance; and as he has added strong Fortifications to it since he took it last, at present, that it is returned to him by Right of War, he might reap great Advantages, if he were not convinced that the Peace which he offers to make would never be altered on either side: 'Tis on that account also that the Most Christia● King is willing to destroy the Fortifications which are beyond the Rhine, as well Fort Lewis as Hunninghen, and to r●tore to the Emperor Friburg; the Fortifications of which want nothing to render it almost Impregnable. Besides all these Conditions the King is willing to restore to the Elector Palatine the Possession of Heidelbergh, and all the Dependences o● he ●●●●inate, 〈…〉 on his part, that although he has sufficiently demonstrated, that the Claim of 〈◊〉 Step-Sister, by reason of the Succession of the two last Electors, her Father and Brother a●● well established to several Lands and Fiess of the said Palatinate; notwithstanding His Majesty is willing absolutely to take upon him to quit his Claim, and repair the Losses sustained, so that the said Elector may continue the peaceable Possessor of all the said Country; ●nd though that after the last Duke's refusal of what was agreed upon in his favour by the Treaty of Nimeghen, the Empire has no farther Right to concern itself any more in that Affair: Notwithstanding the Most Christian King is ready to grant the Prince's eldest Son, the same Advantages which the Emperor and the Empire caused to be inserted in the Treaty of Nimeghen, except Sarre Lovis, Biche, and Homburgh, for which His Majesty is willing to condescend to an equivalent of equal Revenue. The Most Christian King also farther agrees, that if any Re●union have bee● heretofore made, which are not conformable to the Treaties, that Commissioners may be appointed on both sides to examine anew the Reasons of those that shall make their complaints; and in case the said Commissioners cannot agree, His Majesty will refer himself to the Arbitration of the Republic of Venice. And in consideration the King desires a Peace with all the Potentates, with whom he is at War, he will readily agree to such reasonable Propositions as shall be offered to regulate the Differences between other Confederates, Princes, and States; so that all Contests may be brought to an end. These are the Terms upon which the Tranquillity of the Empire may be quickly Re-established, and consequently the Peace of all Christendom, which the Ambassador of France at Stockholm, has Orders to impart to the King of Sweden, with Command to let him understand, that these Conditions are to be looked upon as the ultimate Determinations, upon which His Most Christian Majesty is willing to explain himself to the King of Sweden, to the end that if he think it meet, he may communicate 'em to the Emperor, and to all the Princes and States of the Empire, that so they may with the first be informed of the benefits they may reap by a speedy acceptance of these Terms; and which if they refuse, they can impute it to none but themselves, the effusion of Christian Blood, and all the Calamities and Mischiefs of a War, that spreads still more in the Empire, through the Number of those Forces, which are under the Command of the Dauphin.  
'Tis a Truth now well known to the whole World, that the People of France are almost quite exhausted, the most certain forerunner of a Kingdom's downfall; and yet the King of France sets up his Auctions for Offices and Employments, as if his Subjects had the Spanish Indies in their Pockets: But the Most Christian King knows better things, whatever outward shows he makes: and this is one of the main Reasons for which he is so weary of the War, and which obliges him to flatter his Subjects, that they shall suddenly see an end of it, all his Letters to the Archbishop of Paris at St. Dennis, all the swelling Declarations of his Battles and Victories, in a word, all the Writings he causes to be dispersed abroad, tend only to make the People believe that he is in a fair way to a Peace, though nothing at present is more remote from his afflicted Kingdom. The Confederates know too well the King of France desires that Blessing only to take a little Breath, that he may be able afterward to devour them one after another.  
Whatever Advantages France has Reserved or Acquired during this War, they are not so Great as the Charge he is at, in regard those Advantages are only the Monarches, but the People bear the Expenses; Whose Sufferings and Miseries cannot extend so far as the King's Ambition. 'Tis a real Mischief, of which every body is sensible, and which increases every Day with the Additions of Conquest.  
Secondly, These Advantages are Uncertain, and depend upon the Event of this War; the greater they are, the more are the Backblows of Fortune to be feared, and a single Misfortune may change the Face of Affairs: There are a Thousand Accidents not to be foreseen, and inevitable; and other, foreseen, that may be avoided, but cannot always be prevented.  
Thirdly, The Fear of losing them, requires that France should secure what she has at present, and not trust to the Future, since all past Advantages remain in suspense, and liable to the Decision of a new Peace.  
Fourthly, So much the rather, because hitherto France has made greater Effects against the Confederates, than she has ever been forced to withstand on their side: Besides, that she has had the good Luck to make her Advantages of several Disapointments and Diversions, which may probably Surcease; as the War which she has fomented between the Emperor and the Turks.  
Fifthly, He is therefore concerned to talk of Peace, and to endeavour to procure it before the Confederates get the Upperhand, and are in a Condition to enforce him to receive Conditions more moderate than that of the Truce.  
Sixthly, It is Policy in him to offer and conti●●e this League, to possess 〈◊〉 people that he really desires a good Peace, and that it is the Confederates Fault that they do not see an End of the War: For while he Conceals his intended Iniquities under the Name of Peace, he gains the appearance of Right on his side, and throws upon his Enemies the Blame of all those odious Calamities which he has been (and still continues to be) the Cause of. And this Delusion serves h●● no less, both to make the People Patient, by showing them how seemingly Willing he is to shorte●●●ir Sufferings, and to throw from time to time (as Occasion offers) some Apples of Discord among the Confederates.    

London, Printed for J. Wallis near Fleetstreet, 1693.