of Philip IV. his Successor will have enough to do and a scurvy War to maintain The Queen who is altogether French both by her Birth and Inclinations has her Faction in the Kingdom and when the King is dead will much rather trust her Couzen-Germain than a Prince who is a Stranger at least would be so were it not for the Marriage which will be a great strengthning to his Party The Marriages of the Infanta's of Spain with Kings of France have ever been the cause of great differences between the two Crowns and very fatal to Spain but the Marriage of Maria Theresia with Lewis XIV compleats the misery which is inevitably falling upon Spain and how stifly soever the King of France may have denyed his designs yet he never intended to keep either his Word or Oath as to that matter We are sufficiently satisfied by the obstacles he puts that the Pyrenaean Treaty may not be registred in Parliament as also by his Manifesto's which have run all the World over of the Queen of France's Just Pretentions What good can Spain get by Marriages and Alliances with France On the contrary very great Mischief for 't is by reason of the last Marriage that France layes claim to all this the wiser Philip II. preferr'd the Arch-Duke Ernest and afterward Albert. The Truce which France has now made is design'd only to amuze and lull Spain and its Allies asleep Thus to make them lay down their Arms and in the mean time the French King has at least a Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men a foot who dance up and down sometimes towards Alsace sometime toward Cologne and pretty often toward the Low Countries All this is only to make them us'd to him that so they may think he has no design upon them and lay by all jealousie and suspition But when he finds a good opportunity you shall see him fall upon them as a Hawk upon her quarry and carry them off too if he pleases for what should hinder him when there 's not a Man in Arms and by that time the Allies can be prepared the King of France has done his business Thus this Truce is only to bear in hand and amuze the Princes of Europe that they may not make War upon him and that he may be constantly in a condition to take possession of the Dauphins Right so soon as ever the King of Spain is dead without any other legal Process but that of Dragoon Law The Spaniards will find themselves miserably deluded in relying upon this Truce 'T is a broken reed which will pierce through their hands and if unhappily the Emperour should be still ingaged in a War with the Turks what should hinder the two French Armies the one in Catalonia the other in the Low Countreys from being Masters of all where they go I know very well that the Interest of England and Holland are both concern'd to defend the Spanish Netherlands as the sequel will shew us But in the one the French have so true a Friend who has so much business beside upon his hands at home that he will concern himself no more for the Low Countreys than his Predecessor did for Luxemburg As for the States they have but Men enough to defend their own Country and are naturally very good Husbands As for Cologne and Munster his Majesty will probably put some Men into their Towns for them as he has done heretofore I think it a vast mistake in the Spaniard to send Men into the Low Countreys for Governours who for the most part go thither only to fill their Purse as the saying is and so return and to do this effectually they don't scruple to rob both King and Countrey pay neither Landlords nor Men which makes them desert so that instead of One Thousand Men in a Regiment perhaps there is Fifty and once I saw a whole Regiment which was going to change Garrison carried in a Waggon In short a Man need only to have been once in Flanders to see this that I tell you the Soldiers upon the Guard hold out their Hats to you for an Alms and the very Officers are fain to live with the Capuchins upon the Alms which the good Men beg The three last Irish Regiments which the King of England granted the King of Spain for the service of the Low Countries which were effectually raised are wasted like Snow before the Sun and now I don't believe there 's Fifty Men left Spain in my poor judgment is very much in the wrong for another thing that is to rely upon its Allies for the keeping of the Low Countries and upon that score to neglect having what Men are requisite for the Countreys security Besides they may be sure that France knowing the temper of the Governours so very well do often feel their Pulse and takes advantage of their weakness Understanding Men will never be beat out on 't but that the Marquis of Grana was made a Tool and put a helping hand to the taking of Luxemburg the thing is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day Four or Five Millions which he has left behind him are a shrewd sign of it I tell you no improbable matter and nothing but what happens every day there are very few Men in our Age who are proof against a Million of Money I confess there are some but you must grant me they are very rare The Low Countreys are no Inheritance to the Governours so that they get all they can out of it as if they hired it I wont say that all who come there are of the same stamp God forbid 't would be sad indeed if Spain had no Subjects that were honest but 't is very certain that for these last Ages France has gallanted the Low Countries and thinks them highly obliged if not depending upon her There 's no trick which the French craft does not use to bring about their designs for they have ever found that little Countrey a hard bone to pick but their present King has given it devilish bites these years last past France knows very well too that if they were once Masters of it they might then bend all their strength toward Catalonia and Rousillon and having nothing left to fear or quarrel about in that Countrey march on quickly to Madrid which is no difficult matter when they have once made themselves Masters of some of the Frontiers to go in and out at 'T is for this reason that the Councils of Spain considering the strength of France should take other measures than they do for the defence of the Low Countries and I see but one only expedient in the posture that the Spanish Affairs are in at present which can give them present ease except they had rather have that Countrey fall into the French hands as without doubt it must if they don't prevent it speedily It is certain that nothing but an Army with a good General can prevent the ruine which is falling
years longer he would scarce see a Conclusion but must be fain to leave that business for his Successour So that the King had need stand upon his Guard while the people are thus dis-affected He not being in a Condition to send his Army abroad nor having Money to maintain them France in the mean time may do what she pleases may take the Low-Countries and all Spain too if the King of Spain happens to dye which is the thing France waits for so impatiently For the Second thing which is an Alliance with the Vnited Provinces and a perfect Harmony and Agreement between those two Potentates to oppose all Kings or Princes whatever who shall offer to violate the peace of Christendom 'T is an undoubted Truth that the States desire it of all things provided it be done so securely as they may venture to rely upon it and be back't upon occasion Of which there is small likelihood so long as things are as they are in England This is what France would not willingly see since the joyning of these two powers would probably divert her from many Enterprizes and make her lose her longing to undertake any thing contrary to the late Treaties of peace at Nimeghen and the Truce But France takes Care to hinder this and the mistrust and jealousie which she keeps afoot in England like magnifying Glasses makes the triviallest Objects look greater than they are both in publick and private Affairs We need go no farther than the business of Bantam which might long ago have been accommodated but France thinks it more useful to her that things be let alone as they are and neither go forward nor backward for fear of a happy Result An Union of England with the Vnited Provinces would give no great encouragement to the French designs upon the Spanish Netherlands for if England were so minded the King of France could never do any good if the late King would but have seemed to have stir'd the French had never taken Luxemburg but they knew his weakness and were so cunning to blind him that he good Prince never saw the mischief on 't till after the City was taken England acted very much against her own Interest when she parted with Dunkirk that City opened the Gate to go into France and the Low Countries But now 't will be otherwise if those Countreys fall under the yoak of Lewis le Grand and if he by his Conquests joins Neuport and Ostend to Dunkirk Flussing in a little time will be thought convenient for him and then he may very well begin to dispute the Dominion of the Seas with England and obstruct her Commerce and if at last the King of France Masters Holland which misfortune may happen the Low Countries being lost England may very well think 't is her turn next As 't was for this Reason that Queen Elizabeth told heretofore Mounsieur Sully the Most Christian Kings Embassador that neither France nor England nor any other Prince had any right to pretend to the Low-Countreys and further that she would never suffer that his King should so much as think on 't This very Sully in a Letter to Henry IV. sent him word That with a great Army for all what the Queen had said he might take a course to keep them in order and take possession of such Lands and Cities in the Low Countries as he should think fit for his turn and join France intirely with the United Provinces which is the only means says he to restore France to its Antient splendour and make her Superiour to all the rest of Christendom For if once by hook or by crook the Provinces of Luxemburg Juliers la Marck Mons Limburg Aix and Cleves were united to France without doubt all the rest of the Country would be forc't to follow their example being separated from any communication with the rest of the World. France has been fixt that way ever since she saw there was no good to be done towards Italy but all the Princes of Europe are highly concerned to put a stop to that Conquest And there are only those two Neighbouring Powers which are able and whose Interest it is most to hinder the progress that France makes in the Low Countries which will draw after it as I have said before dire effects As for Spain of it self 't is only a Body standing aloof off from its Members which has nothing left but her Tongue She is reduc't so low as even to say her Prayers to Notre Dame Charite and to beg her good Masters and Friends to take care of her and not forsake her England can do much toward the preserving the Low Countries and if her King had not promis't to sit still Luxemburg would have been at this time as 't was before a bone for France to pick. His Most Christian Majesty knows this very well and 't is for this reason that he takes so much pains to keep his Britanique Majesty firm to his Interests and if he wont declare for him at least that he will look on and accept a neutrality To bring this about he spares nothing neither Presents nor Pension nor Tricks and I may safely say that the Money which France gives is a venomous Serpent lurking under the Rose-leaves it smiles for the present but will frown severely afterward 't is an Iron Chain plaited over with Gold beautiful in appearance to attract and deceive the English but they will one day feel its weight and hardness if they don't make an early discovery of the base ends he has who offers it who will be their ruine at last since they can't subsist but by a due ballance between France and Spain I conclude then that 't is the King of Englands apparent Interest for self-preservation and advancing of Trade to oppose the King of France his Conquests in the Law Countries for if he does not and supposing that after the loss of that Countrey Fortune favours him and lets him be Master of all the Seventeen Provinces which may very well come to pass if the States are not seconded and stand only upon their own Leggs in what a condition will England be France will be stronger at Sea and more Potent in the Indies than she France will interfere with her in Traffique every day she will constantly have a brave Navy at Sea and especially in the Spring which will not let a mouse stir out of the English Ports without leave and upon the least resentment farewel England to all intents and purposes since there 's no body left who will or dare lift up a finger in her defence Moreover Englands best Policy is to keep France under not only to maintain her Dominion of the Seas but also to find a convenient opportunity for the recovery of her Antient Demesnes which France keeps from her for Example Britain Normandy Poitou Languedock and all France too which belongs to it by the Marriage of the King of England with Margaret
Daughter of Philip the Fair from this Match came Henry V. of England who had as much Right to France as the Dauphin has to Spain For the three Sons of Philip the Fair Lovis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair dyed all without Issue-male and it was after this when the King of England sued for his Right to the Kingdom of France that the Salique Law was first introduc't usher'd in by a Sermon which the Bishop of Beauvais preacht before the Convention of the States proving by the Gospel which sayes The Lillies spin not that by consequence the Flower de lis which represents France ought never to fall to the Distaff But that Law could only affect what was to come and not what was past Afterward Henry V. King of England came over into France with a Potent Army won several Victories and at last Married Catherine Daughter of Charles VI. and in the year 1421 it was sinally decreed and concluded that Henry should be King of France Now Isabel Queen of France Mother to Catherine Queen of England made her last Will in favour of her Son in Law and declared him Heir to all her Estate and to the Crown which in my judgment is a great addition to the Right which the Kings of England have to the Realm of France If the King of France had but had that Right to England which the King of England has to France what a Company of Manifestoes and Writings should we have flie about to demonstrate his just pretentions as he calls every thing he is pleased to lay a claim to So that let the King of England take a view of France which way soever he will he ought alway to suspect her and stand upon his guard as against one whom he certainly knows to be his Enemy He may justly be assured that he does not coaks him so without a design to get something out of him and because he knows him the only one who is able to counterpoize his Affairs Therefore 't is no wonder that Lewis XIV took so much pains to supply the late King Charles II. Necessities and satisfie his Pleasure Mounsieur Barillen and Madam Portsmouth can justifie what I say but I can assure you that the King of France regards neither Princes nor private Persons one jot farther than as they are for his turn Nay farther Even Vertue it self is only esteem'd by him so long as she squares with his Interest What value pray did he put upon either Princes or Princesses during Cromwel's Government Were they not obliged to retire not to say driven out of France What subsistnance or help had their Princes in their Exile from France No 't is to the Family of Orange that they are obliged which furnisht them with considerable Sums of Money but on the contrary France was the promoter of the late Troubles of England she gave the Princes no protection and never contributed the least toward the re-establishing of the late King in his Throne All this considered neither just resentment from the Royal Family nor the English Interest can decently allow of such close Alliances with France as shall be able to make England shut her Eyes or be a by-stander whilst Lewis XIV takes the Low Countries But on the other side she ought to be continually in a posture to hinder her in every the least attempt she makes towards it and to make use of the Six Regiments in Holland which the States won't refuse upon such an occasion to prevent the King of France his bringing more Men down upon Flanders I am perswaded that those Six Regiments would be able to cope with double the number of the French and thus by Englands only showing of her Teeth Europe will be safe Resist the Devil and he will flie from you But if you are afraid of him he 'l soon master you France has cut out work for King James now Reigning The Enterprize which he has taken in hand is so great that many Men fear and others hope that he will never get quit of it with his Life 'T is no time to change Laws when the Enemy is at the Gate 'T is not convenient at all times to think of working great Conversions some Battles must be fought to let the World see a Character both of a Soldier and a Polititian All the World expected this and more from the King. His Mighty Courage put all Europe in hopes that he would be an Universal Comforter to them and would afford some respite to Spain But alas What can his Allies and Spain hope for whilst his sole business is to please the Jesuits kindles a fire in his own Kingdom which it may be he won't be able to quench when he pleases and so long as he does so he dares not call a Legal Free Parliament Spain lost her self by banishing the Moors out of the Kingdom France is weakned by the Conversions she has wrought and by driving out the Hugonots and she has a great mind that the King of England would follow her Example We must not rob God of his Right Conversions only belong to him and he is able to convert the whole World with one Word Therefore leaving the care of this to God the King of England ought to mind the safety of his States avoid being made the King of France his Cully and make him keep at home and not fall upon his Neighbours Lands which ought to be the Barrier between them Thus the King will do his Honour and Conduct but Justice and satisfie the expectation of all Europe The Politick Spirit of France and its Maxims in reference to the United Provinces THE States of the Vnited Provinces after they had constrained Spain by force of Arms to acknowledge them for Free High and Mighty States depending on none but God alone were for some time the admiration of their Neighbours and every one laboured to procure their Friendship and Alliance and it may be said that they were looked upon as the Umpires of Europe but since the War in 1672 this High Reputation hath been lessened and France hath been so cunning to play her Cards so well that she had well nigh reduc't them to nothing if by an unlookt for change the People had not put the whole management and command into the Prince of Orange's hands and if some persons of ill designs had not been brought to condign punishment But God whom it pleased by his Providence to protect and preserve this little Country did after the siege of Norden send such a panick fear amongst its Enemies that they broke up their Camp with more speed than they came yet the thing which did most contribute to these misfortunes besides the Treachery of France was their being unprovided of good Forces and a good Head for the Army These Provinces relyed wholly upon the Peace and treacherous deceitful promises of France which all a long in time of Peace carryed on a design against the said
most an end send thither one of the Clergy by reason that every one knows that persons of their Character have great credit there and in considerable esteem In England at such time as the Parliament were more powerful than they be at present Thither they sent the Marquiss De Rou'vigni who was of the Reformed Religion and their Delegate General at Court and was of the very same temper that all the other Ministers are and swaid by the same politick designs Into Holland they usually send some well-spoken Man who one would think would ruine his Master by promising from which the King never gets off but by standing to nothing who does what in him lies to insinuate himself into the favour of your Dutch Ladies either by play or a liberal entertainment and as they have a mighty influence upon their Husbands temper and mind they cast about to learn of them what they were not able to know from the Husband himself Now seeing they began to give no credit to him who resides there at present the King as himself confesseth in his destiny of Princes was foret to send him his Holy Spirit of France in all haste so that by this means he might be lookt upon as sincere and infallible in whatsoever he should say To the Courts of Germany they dispatch your Brawny Fellows who are able to bare Wine well thereby that they may be made fit Table Companions for the Prince whither their Commission sends them for at the time when the third Course comes up when the Wine begins to operate they speak divers things which they would not have divulged at another time As saith the Proverb In vino veritas Don't believe that France sends a Church-man to Rome and why Because they are all inferiour to the Pope and there is not the pittifullest Priest but is confident he shall be one day Cardinal as Soldiers are that they shall one day be Captains Thither is sent a Nogaret who bauls aloud and to the Popes Infallibility opposes the Power and Strength of his Master the King. Into other Courts where greediness of Money prevails over their own Interest there is not wanting presents and such a Prince there is who is betrayed even to his Pillow In fine All Weapons are convenient to this Policy of France provided they can but bring about their Design You see in all Courts Roman Catholick Officers and all for sooth for having fought Duels but retiring out of their Country is not their chief business that indeed is their pretence but they have other aims and good instructions and you see them after some time expir'd return into France to receive the reward of their employ who bring along with them information concerning the strength or weakness of the places from whence they come which in due season may be advantagious and useful to France yet what is most deplorable is the blindness of several Princes to intrust such like Men with Imployment even among Protestants Mounsieur Vauban the present chief Enginier of France followed this Trade particularly in Holland 't is confest we must say he serves his Master but it behoves other Princes to have a special care of him You are in the right you say true and it were to be wisht all other Potentates would do the same for the quiet of Europe Another Maxime of the Policy of France is that when any Prince or Princess is to be Married that may be for their turn he causes Marriages to be proposed and doth his utmost to place French Princesses in the Houses of Foreign Princes whom they never fail to teach their Lesson and tell them it is their Duty when time serves and before their departure to make them acknowledge how much they are obliged to the King and the means whereby they may render him their acknowledgments But yet it is of fresh date how the King of Portugal escaped him not but that the French King by his Ministers and Emissaries did what lay in hir power and to his comfort he neglected nothing Spain has been too hard for him at this time At present the Policy of France is set a work to match the Royal Prince of Poland no question with some Natural Daughter of the Kings since they have had the boldness to dare to present such an one to the Duke of Bavaria who values himself as much not to mention his Right to value himself more than the Prince of Poland Nay I believe it had been a thing already done had they but been sure he would have succeeded to the Crown for failing in that he would have brought no great Advantage to France 'T is very improbable the King of Poland would have refused her with a considerable Dowry for he is already much obliged to the King of France Two Hundred Thousand Livers a year bestowed on one of his Sons by giving him the Abbies of St. Germain and St. Dennis deserved well to be hearkned to Besides the Queen ought to be well satisfied therewith her Father is made Duke and Peer of France and they have promised to receive her as Queen in case she comes into France although she be born Subject to the King of France So that it is not at all to be question'd but that if the Crown were secured to the young Prince the business would have been done e're now There are Princesses enough in France to be chosen ready for this Match Is it not to exalt himself like the Chief Monarch of Europe to erect at Metz a Souveraign Court before which the King makes all Kings and Princes be cited who possess any Lands whom he stiles his Dependants for the Territories that no wayes belong to him they upon default of appearing not owning this False Tyrannical Universal Tribunal he gets the Lands adjudged to him takes possession of them without any form of Process but by his Cannon Law. If any one contradict this the King of Sweden the Princes of Monthelliard Pettite Pierre the Duke of Lorrain and a great many other Princes will tell you what a Monster this Chamber is that it devours whatsoever comes in its way and what is yet more unwarrantable is that he dares ground his Right at this day to some Lands in Germany upon the final determination this Chamber of Metz made in his behalf as we shall shortly see in a Memorial he hath lately sent to the Diet at Ratisbone France hath besides a notable Advantage to frame her Pretensions and Titles I mean there are so many cunning Fellows in Paris knowing so exactly to imitate the Ancient Gothick Character of Five or Six Hundred Years date that one would swear they were in reality Authentick Now by this means they hammer out a Dependance far fetcht which the Devil himself as cunning as he is could not contradict And then who knows what is still behind the Curtain and not come to light which will not appear but in due time and place when a
advantagious indeed to promote the designs of France in Europe no body taking notice that France is as sordid as her Master and that both of them are afraid of cold Iron All these new Conversions of some and Persecutions of others which we see in France is nothing but to blind the Catholick Princes and to amuse them so long till he fall upon some City or State professing the Protestant Religion The House of Austria knows too well this Stratagem she practised it her self heretofore when she had higher designs on foot than now she hath when she attacked a Protestant Prince her pretence then was that she would Extirpate Heresie This is the French King's trade at this day it was expedient for him out of meer necessity to begin at home with his own Subjects and as that could not choose but have weaken'd him he solicites others to do as much as he What pains hath he taken to set the Swisse at variance and induce the Catholick Cantons to fall out with the Protestants and then afterwards when they are at odds to fall upon them But the Pope hath redressed that and accommodated the matter betwixt them France hath brought it so to pass that she hath forced the Duke of Savoy to rid himself of his best Subjects the Inhabitants of the Vallies being under a premunier as he is he could not go back with his word nay I am fully perswaded France would be extreamly glad that England would do the like by that means to weaken her to such a degree that she shall not be able to do any thing when Lewis XIV has a mind to fall upon the Low Countreys and remove from the States of the Vnited Provinces all possible means to prevent it and so by little and little make himself Master of Europe as we shall see by the following story of the French Policy and its Maxims in respect of Soveraigns in particular The Policy of France in respect of Rome and His Holiness ALL the World knows the Veneration and Respect all Catholick People have for the Holy See and the Holy Father that they look upon him as Christ's Vicar upon Earth St. Peter's Successor Universal Bishop and as we are taught by the Council of Trent the most Holy Lord to whom all Kings Princes and People owe an intire Obedience fail but in this Duty and you smell rank of Heresie according to the Council of Constance it deserves Fire and Faggot Would you not swear to see Lewis XIV persecute the Protestants at that rate he doth that he is the most Devout Son his Holiness hath whereas others do but kiss his Toe he would out of Devotion kiss something else But it is quite contrary He is a very Rebellious Son who cares not a fig for all the Holy Father's Remonstrances and Declarations who dispoyles him of his Goods ravishes from him his State and makes an entry into Rome by his Embassador as loftily and haughtily as Artaban And here is the French Spirit to invade the Holy Father in his Patrimony Authority and Conduct First In his Patrimony of the Church by depriving him of his Regalities in France which is a Right the Popes have enjoyed this many Ages which the Kings Lewis the XIV his Predecessors have granted to St. Peters Successors What Submission what Remonstrance hath not the present Pope made to oblige the King not to incroach and seize upon the Rights of the Church withal telling him that such like Usurpations as these have proved alwayes satal to Kings and Princes Families Yet all this hath had none effect upon him only the King said sometimes the Pope is a mighty good man I would not vex him But in the mean time never restores what he had deprived him of Just such another trick as he played with Spain when in time of Peace he took from it part of the Low Countreys he protested every where that he had no Intent to break the Peace but only took his Dependances and what of Right was his own You may turn the French Policy loose which way you will it presently finds out a way to oblige his Holiness to permit an Assembly of the Clergy of his Kingdom in the year 1682 wherein it was declared as we all know that he was not Infallible that he had no Power over the Temporalities of Kings that he was subject to Counsels and by himself he had not any power to make any one Article of Faith. Could he have thwarted the Pope more sensibly in his Authority than he did at that time besides he obliged all the Preachers Monks and Jesuits themselves to teach the same in the Pulpit and in their Colledges to their Auditors The Arch-bishop of Paris who was President of this Assembly who as you may well think was not too well beloved at Rome thought at least it was fit to make himself fear'd that they might come and offer him a Cardinals Cap. To this effect he writ into England to be informed what course Henry VIII took when he altered the Religion in that Kingdom yet all this had not the least effect upon the Popes mind who knows his own Tribe better than so and Mounsieur Arch-bishop was in great danger to stand bare a long time without a Cardinals Cap although he might catch cold When this Prelate perceived that by this means his Affairs went rather backbard than forward he bethought himself of another course prefers himself and takes upon him not like a Converter but Persecutor in causing the Hugonots of his Diocess to be tormented and those of all France by his wicked Counsel hoping thereby to curry favour with the Pope and regain his credit by his zeal and forwardness for the propagation of Religion But his Holiness who hath abundance of reason and whose disposition is not violent whose intent and meaning is that Conversions should be effected by Reason by good Examples not by Dragoons and Rackings and by an Holy Life which is not consistant with the Archbishop of Paris who is taken with the Female Sex and love their Company This change of shapes procured him but ill will and disdain he had no share in the last promotion nor never will so long as Innocent XI lives nor perhaps after him when of necessity there will happen great changes at Rome In the mean time Mounsieur Camus Bishop of Grenoble whose unblameable Life and Conversation might serve for a Mirrour to a many of your Court Bishops hath been honoured with the Purple without ever seeking for it without persecuting any body nor so much as suffering it within his Diocess this Prelate being not a-la-mode de la Court this new Dignity he so lately received cannot choose but be a great heart-burning to the King and greater to the Arch-bishop to see himself shut out of doors Last of all Can a Man more visibly cross the Popes behaviour than the King doth at present in respect of the Franchises of his