so growing a Posture that such a Tripple Conjunction seemed only seasonable upon this Account in that the same tended to our Safety But by what Methods these our Neighbouring-Nations have attained to that Greatness it will be necessary to enquire into And first we shall begin with Spain which upon the Declension of the Roman Empire fell into the Share of the West-Goths and other barbarous Nations who for a Time laboured under the same Inconveniencies of a divided Dominion as the Saxons did in Britain But towards the Year 586 their Empire was arrived to the highest Pitch of Greatness as comprehending not only the Neighbouring-Provinces of France and part of Mauritania in Africa but also all Spain except a small Part possessed yet by the Romans who held not that long neither From thence the Gothick Empire declined apace and all fell into the Hands of the Saracens But their Affairs began to revive again about the Year 726 and one Pelagius who was said to have been descended from the Race of the Gothick Kings prevailed mightily both against the Moors and Saracens as divers of his Successors did also However these turmoiled Times gave Original to several Kingdoms within the Boundaries of Spain For besides the Kingdom of Oviedo or Leon which were all one in Effect there arose also others as those of Navarre Arragon and Castile But all these Kingdoms which also professed Christianity were united in the Person of Sanctus Major II. whereby an Opportunity was given the Christians to root out the Moors now divided amongst themselves and to restore Spain to its ancient State yet Sanctus tho' otherwise a brave Prince had no more Wit than to divide them amongst his Sons and gave each of them the Title of King These not being able to confine themselves to their respective Proportions made War upon one another with various Success as it gave the Moors also some Advantage in their Proceedings till in a manner all was united again under Alphonso VIII who play'd the same Trick of dividing Castile Leon and Gallicia between his 3 Sons so that they and their Successors had so much to do with the Moors within Spain and such mutual Jealousies of one another that they could be able to do little any where else under the Notion of Conquest Things were at length brought to such a pass that Spain to say nothing of Portugal and the Kingdom of the Moors in Granada was reduced into Two Kingdoms only to wit Arragon and Castile and these again were united by the Marriage of Ferdinand the Son of John II. King of Arragon whom his Father had declared King of Sicily to Isabella Sister to Henry IV. King of Castile By this Conjunction Spain became mighty Powerful And Ferdinand after he had set his Affairs in Order began now to entertain great Thoughts And well knowing it would be in vain to undertake any Thing Abroad while he had a powerful Enemy within the Body of Spain it self at his Door he undertook an Expedition against the Moors of Granada which cost him so much Time and Expence to conquer being no less than 10 Years engaged in the Work that he could perhaps have sat down contented herewith at least for a time had not something else fallen in his way But Ferdinand by aiming to make sure of his Conquest deprived his Country in some succeeding time of the Benefit of it for he thereupon banished no less than 170000 Families of Jews and Moors out of Spain and thereby dispoiled his Country not only of vast Riches but a great Number of Inhabitants wherein consists the Power and Support of a Nation But whatever Designs Ferdinand might after a little breathing Time have concerted to have undertaken Abroad now he was freed from the Evil that had hitherto diverted him from any Foreign Expedition the French who now found themselves under the same Circumstances as being rid of the English that had stuck so long and so close upon the Skirts of them as not to be able to move elsewhere thought to be before-hand with Ferdinand in the Reduction of the Kingdom of Naples which the other notwithstanding they gave him up Rousillion in order at least to let them proceed unmolested being not able to brook it came to an open Rupture And after divers Conflicts Ferdinand carried the Day and with it the Kingdom of Naples to which if we add the Discovery of America and the rich Mines there about this time and the Kingdom of Navarre which Ferdinand possest himself of upon the Pope's Excommunicating John d' Albret King of that Country at the other's Instigation we shall find this Monarchy grown to a prodigious Grandeur In this State Ferdinand left it to his Grandson Charles who being as well elected Emperor of Germany as he was Hereditary King of Spain and withal a very active Prince Tho' he did very great Things whilst he held the Rains of Government yet it may still seem a Wonder he had not done much more This was indeed an Age fruitful for several brave Princes and here I cannot but admire the Wisdom of God that this Charles V. who was so vastly Potent should have for his Cotemporaries a Harry VIII in England a Francis I. in France and a Solyman the Magnificent in Turky who were all Men of great Souls as well as Power and especially the last of them not inferior to Charles upon any account However such was the Conjuncture that Charles to his vast Dominions added still more by routing Francis and taking him Prisoner and thereby bringing him to make a Surrender of the Dutchy of Burgundy to renounce the Sovereignty over Artois and Flanders and to quit all his Pretences upon Naples and Milan which last the French had for some time been in Possession of But Francis having got his Liberty disclaimed the Agreement and this occasioned a new War which ended in Francis his being forced to confirm the Main of the said Treaty and left Charles at Liberty to add to the Conquests his Grand-father Ferdinand had made in Africa of Bugia and Tripolis that of Tunis and Goletta to which if we add the Sovereignty of Vtrecht of the Provinces of Over Issel Geldren Zutphen Groninghen c. consigned about this Time into his Hands it must still be allowed a mighty Accession of Strength to that vast Empire Wherefore to compleat as he thought his great Work of attaining to an Universal Monarchy in these Western Parts he cunningly lays aside the Contest about the Divorce between Henry VIII King of England and his Aunt Katharine and entred into a League with the said King of invading France the Emperor by the Way of Champaigne and the King thro' Picardy to compleat the Conquest of that Noble Country In order to which the Emperor advanced as far as Espernay which occasioned such a Terror and Confusion in Paris that the Citizens were for leaving the City if the King by his Presence had not incouraged them
That the Treaty of Nimeguen did confirm that of Westphalia and consequently that the said Towns ought to be restored to the Enjoyment of the Rights and Priviledges which they stipulated for them That for the 5th and 6th Points they likewise directly contravened the said Treaties That as for the 7th they expected further Information on it As for the 8th they could not imagine what Right the French had to fortifie Schlestadt considering the Promises with relation to those Free Towns For the 9th and 10th That the French had acted notoriously contrary to the Westphalian and Nimeguen Treaties For the 11th That Homburg belonged to the Count of Nassaw as appeared by the Treaty of Osnalbrug That as for what concerned Bitsoh they expected further Information And Lastly They hoped the French King would not prejudice Strasburg in its Rights and Priviledges and particularly in that of fortifying Kiel that was so necessary for its Security But for all these Remonstrances the French were 〈◊〉 far from giving the proposed Satisfaction that they began â—ery Day to enlarge their Limits in Alsatia and set up a new Pretension upon Santerburg belonging to the bishoprick of Spire and Monsieur Verjus the French Minister at Ratisbone spake very big upon the Matter which made Things very uneasie on that side at the present And a Paper that was some time after printed and dispersed in those Parts containing several Conditions offered as was pretended by the French King in case the Dauphine were chosen King of the Romans did not lessen you may be sure the Apprehensions they had of Danger from that Quarter the Contents of which Paper were these that follow That the most Christian King and the Dauphine his Son would make good the Imperial Constitutions That the Dauphine would bear all due Respect to the Emperor That Burgundy Lorrain the Lower and Upper Alâ—ace the Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun with other Lands and Places should be restored to the Empire and the City of Friburg to the Emperor That 60000 Men should be maintained in Hungary to be employed against the Turks without any Charge to the Empire which should only maintain a Body of 16000 Men That all the Places which should be taken in Hungary should be put into the Emperor's Hands That a considerable Fleet should be employed against the Turks towards the Dardanello's That Two Universities should be erected in Germany for the Use of the several Religions there And Lastly That the French King would renounce all Pretensions to the Lands possessed by Charles the Great But what Effect soever these Proposals were like to have upon the Empire in general the Elector Palatine felt the Effects of the French Arms about this time in particular for they attacked the Castle of Falkenberg and after some small Resistance made themselves Masters of it All which with a great many more put together made the Emperor and Empire put forth their Complaints in every Court where there was any hopes of Relief And particularly the Emperor's Minister in Holland represented to the States-General That by Order of His Imperial Majesty he was to acquaint them that the Officers of the most Christian King had already seized a great part of the Territories of the Elector Palatine and it was to be feared they would do the like by the rest of his Countries on Pretence of Dependances and other Rights which they took upon them to search Antiquity for even to the Time of King Dagoberte That the Elector of Trier had already suffered the like Treatment And that other Princes of the Empire were exposed to the same Dangers and particularly the City of Strasburg which being directly contrary to the Peace of Nimeguen the Preservation whereof was not only necessary to the Tranquility of Germany but likewise to the Good of that Republick whose Interest was no less to have a good Barrier towards the Rhine than towards Flanders He therefore desired the said States would effectually employ their good Offices at the French Court to the end those Contraventions might for ever cease and be abolished But whether the States thought it to no purpose to sollicite France on this behalf since after all the Caresses of the French King upon their Motion to him of being easie with Spain in respect to the Title of Duke of Burgandy before-mentioned and in his Saying He should always have a very great Regard to what the States should desire of him they met at last with so little Success and Spain was forced to demit her Right or that they thought others more immediately concerned than themselves they took but little Care of it But Germany was not the only Country that thought her self injured by the French Proceedings since the Peace for the new Pretensions that were set up every Day upon some Place or other in Flanders made them very uneasie on that side also and so much the more because they were not in a Condition to hinder it and right themselves For the French in the Spring of this Year not only possessed themselves of the Abbies 〈◊〉 Thiery and St. Gerard with above 40 Villages in the Province of Namur under Colour of their being Dependances upon Charlemont lately yielded to them but also of the Abby 〈◊〉 Molyn and its Dependancies obliging the Inhabitants 〈◊〉 those Places to swear Fealty to France and threatning them 〈◊〉 case of Refusal with Military Execution And the Princes 〈◊〉 Italy however they might take it had no less Reason to be alarm'd at the Extension of the French Dominions on their side than either Flanders or Germany for now it was after sometime of Treaty that the Duke of Mantua's Ratification concerning the giving up of Cassal into the French Hands foâ— 4000000 of Livres arrived and that their Troops marched to take Possession of the Place This was the State of Things abroad when the Parliament in England met which was upon the 21st of Oct. and to whoâ— the King made a Speech importing That the several Prorogations he had made had been very advantageous to our Neighbours and very useful to him For he had imployed that Time in makinâ— an Alliance with Spain suitable to that which he had a little beforâ— made with the States of the United Provinces and they also 〈◊〉 with Spain consisting of Mutual Obligations of Succour and Defence That he desired Money of them for the Relief of Tangler which had already ebâ—hausted his Purse That he would not have them meddle with the Succession of the Crown in the Right Line but proceed in the Discovery of the Plot and to the Trial of the Lords As for the Alliance with Holland I have already given you an Account of it and indeed it was well managed as well as a good Point gained and deserved more Notice should have been taken of it by the Parliament and perhaps they would have done it another time But as for the other with Spain I can give you no
King of Great Britain provided no Complaint shall be received on this Subject three Months after the Exchange of the Spanish Ratifâ—cations VII The Contributions shall be continued on both sides till the Day of the Exchange of the Spanish Ratification and the Arrears then due shall be paid within three Months after and during that time there shall be no Military Execution on that Account provided the Places give good Security to pay the same and if any Difference arise concerning the said Contributions it shall be referred to the Arbitrage of the King of Great Britain VIII The most Christian King obliges himself to cause from this present time all Hostilities to cease in the Low Countries against the Places belonging to the King of Spain and even in the open Country in case the Spaniards do abstain from them IX In case the King of Spain do not accept the said Truce within the said Term of 6 Weeks and cause the Ratifications to be furnished in due Form the States-General do oblige themselves immediately afterwards to withdraw their Troops out of the Spanish Netherlands and not to give the Crown of Spain any Assistance during the present War and do further oblige themselves not to commit any Hostilities against his Majesty or his Allies and his most Christian Majesty likewise obliges himself not to attack or possess with his own Troops or those of his Allies any Place in the Low-Countries and even not to make War in the open Country if the Spaniards do abstain from it X. In case the War shall continue and that his most Christian Majesty shall make any Conquest upon Spain his Majesty promises not to accept any Equivalent in the Spanish Netherlands for the Conquests he shall make elsewhere during the present War and that he will not during the said time possess himself of any Places in the Low-Countries either by Revolt Exchange voluntary Cession or any other way whetever XI His Majesty obliges himself to give a Month longer to the Dyet at Ratisbone to accept the Truce upon the Conditions already offered them XII The King of Great Britain and generally all Princes that are willing to enter into a like Engagement may be Guarantees of this Treaty XIII Nothing shall be innovated in the said Treaty concluded at Nimeguen between his most Christian Majesty and this State XIV This Treaty shall be ratified by his Majesty and the said States within 3 Weeks from the Date thereof At the same time that this Truce was proposed in Holland there was also another put to the Dyet at Ratisbonne importing in a manner the same thing and was accepted of by them the more readily to be sure because of the War the Empire was now deeply engaged in with the Turks In both which we find the Republick of Genoua mentioned but for what Reason it is time we should here mention it being the same as was transmitted from the place it self when the Occasion happened The French Fleet arriving about the 17th of May before that City the Fort on the Mole saluted them with 11 Guns which was answered by the French Admiral with 9 when the Fort a little after saluted the Admiral again with 20 Chambers and 10 Guns which he returned with 7 so that they seemed yet to be in the dark what to think of it Next Morning the Senate sent 6 Deputies on Board the Admiral to complement him and to know the occasion of the Fleet 's coming thither which they knew no doubt well enough before and being returned they reported to the Senate that Monsieur Saignelay had told them the King was very much dissatisfied with the late Conduct of the Republick and that his Demands of them were That they should quit the Protection of Spain That they should join the 4 Gallies they had lately built with those of his Majesty That they would permit the French to have a Magazine of Salt at Savona That they should send 4 Senators on Board to beg his Majesty's Pardon c. The Senate resolved not to grant these Demands and therefore let the French know if they drew not farther off they would look upon them as Enemies But they taking no notice of it the Genoese about 3 in the Afternoon shot towards the Admiral without Bullet and an Hour after the several Forts fired with Shot which made the French Ships and Gallies draw further off But the 〈◊〉 Galliots continued all in a Row to fire one part of the City and began to throw their Bombs into the plate which put the People into a very great Consternation having never heard and much less seen and felt such 〈◊〉 thing before for I think this Action of the French was the first of Bombing any place by Sea before But it did not end here and they themselves have since felt the dire Effects of it On the 21th the Doge's Palace was quite beaten down and the Doge and Senate removed to the Albergho a great Fabrick built by the Publick where the Bombs 〈◊〉 not reach The next Morning being the 22th the French sent ashoar to let the Senate know That they were sorry to â—uine so fine a City and that they would yet give them 24 Hours to agree to the King's Demands Upon this the Great Council was called the 23th early in the Morning who resolved not to submit to the French Demands and this Answer was given them at the Mole the People now beginning to be couragious and with a great Shout crying Vive St. Georgio whereupon the French began again to shoot their Bombs into the Town and they from the Shoar fired upon the Fleet. The Inhabitants upon this occasion removed most of their movable Effects into the neighbouring Villages and to quiet the Rabble there was leave given them to break open all the French men's Houses and Shops which was soon done but it had an ill Consequence For the same Rabble began to rob and plunder what other Houses they pleased Whereupon the Senate gave the Serjeant General of the City leave to hang up whomsoever he should find stealing which after some Examples made of them brought all things quiet again On the 23th at Sun-set the French Ships and Gallies came very near and severely batter'd the Town for 7 Hours together and in the mean time landed 500 Men to the Westward and another Body on the East side of the City but they were so warmly received that they were forced at last to return to their Gallies excepting several they left slain and divers Prisoners behind them But on the 24th the Sea growing high the French Fleet weighed off which the Genoese were not a little glad of For besides the vast Loss they suffered by this Bombardment already they had dreadful Apprehensions of being entirely ruined which made them bethink themselves of giving the King Satisfaction before such another Return and therefore at last they were constrained sore against their Wills to send their Doge
blasted by both Houses of Parliament if there had been any need of it for it was very well known before that a Papist cannot have a Commission but by the Law is utterly disabled and disarmed Will you exchange your Birth-right of English Laws and Liberty for Martial or Club-Law and help to destroy one another only to be eaten last your selves If I know you well as ye are English Men you hate and scorn these Things and therefore be not unequally yoaked with Idolatrous and Bloody Papists Be valiant for the Truth and shew your selves Men. The same Considerations are likewise humbly offered to all the English Sea-men who have been the Bulwark of this Nation against Popery and Slavery ever since 1588. This Address is so plain as to need no Remark upon it and therefore I shall only tell you before I pass to Foreign Affairs that Colonel Talbot formerly mentioned was doing what he would all this time in Ireland while the King himself had settled Affairs so in Scotland when he was High Commissioner and now Argyle was cut off that he did not question but to carry on his Designs more bare-faced there than he had done in England And therefore tho' he did not call a Parliament in that Kingdom till April this Year yet in his Letter to them he took no notice at all of the Protestant Dissenters but recommended to them his innocent Roman Catholick Subjects who had with their Lives and Fortunes been always assistant to the Crown in the worst Rebellions and Usurpations though they lay under Discouragements hardly to be named These he heartily recommended to their Care to the End that as they had given good Experience of their true Loyalty and peaceable Behaviour so by their Assistance they might have the Protection of his Laws and that Security under his Government which others of his Subjects had not suffering them to lie under Obligations which their Religion could not admit of by doing whereof they would give a Demonstration of the Duty and Affection they had to him and do him most acceptable Service And this Love he expected they would shew to their Brethren as they saw he was an indulgent Father to them all This was very kind indeed on the King's part to those of his own Religion and in this kind Mood we will leave him at present and prosecute a little the mighty Affairs of the Campaigns abroad where their Armies were doing much better Feats than ours in England whose greatest Talent was Cursing and Swearing and Riding the Country as themselves pleased I shall make no Recapitulation in this Place of the Progress of the last Campaign in Hungary nor of the Siege of Buda with the ill Success of it the preceding Year viz. 1684 but come to tell you That the Duke of Lorain having joined the Imperial Army in June marched now again towards Buda and by the 21st in the Morning the Imperialists began their Approaches at about 500 Yards distance from the Walls of the Lower Buda making use upon this Occasion of their old Trenches and continued their Works all that Day and the following Night tho' with considerable Difficulty from the Badness of the Earth and the Enemies firing out of the Town from whence a Pole taken at the Siege of Vienna made his Escape with the Basha's Horse 2 Scymiters and his Commanding-Staff who reported to the General That their coming before Buda was very surprizing that the Garrison was not near so strong as when it was besieged before and that the Turks had Intelligence that the Christians had formed a Design upon Alba Regalis and Erla which was true in Fact for it was not concluded to attempt Buda till the 20th of June at a general Council of War hold at Comorra And 2 Days after the Pole came a Janizary out of the Town also and surrender'd himself upon a Dream he had had the Night before that the Christians would become Masters of the Place and put all the Sword as they had done last Year at Neuheusel and that if he fled to the Christians he might find Merty Adding withal that the Garrison was not above 6000 strong This Intelligence made the Germans re-double their Diligence so that the same Day with a Battery of 6 Pieces of Cannon which they had raised they made a Breach in the Wall of the Lower Town which was 5 Foot thick of about 15 Paces which made the Turks fear an Assault that very Night and they prepared for it accordingly but it was deferred till the Day following when after the Basha's Women and about 10000 Pounds in Money had been taken as going by Water from the Town to Belgrade there were a Party of Granadeers commanded to discover whether the Breach were accessible or not which upon their Report of its being so was stormed at Night with such Confusion that if the Turks had kept their Posts they might have cut off all the Assailants But they were so far from that that they not only retired into the Upper Town and by their Proceedings did not think themselves secure there neither for they made a Fire against the New Port that they might see if the Germans attempted any thing by Petard This the Germans did not do but only contented themselves to make a Lodgment upon the Breach From the 25th to the 29th the Besiegers were busie in raising more Batteries and making a Line of Communication between the Lodgment and the Angle of the Wall looking into St. Paul's Valley which they finished and placed 4 Mortars there notwithstanding the Turks in 2 several brisk Sallies endeavoured to hinder them and in their continual firing from the Town all manner of destructive Instruments upon them yet this did not hinder the Besiegers by the 1st of July to raise a Battery to fire upon the Angle of the Round Tower which looks towards St. Paul's Valley and to carry on their Trenches by the Help of that and another Battery so as to take in a Turkish Mosque from whence they returned with an Angle and Parallel Line with Buda till they came to the Right-hand Way leading to the North Part at which the 3 Lines met by the Favour of a Wall and a deep Road under which the Besiegers were covered who now mounted 4 Mortars more with which they continually played upon the Town Their Cannon also by this time had made a considerable Breach which by their advancing another Line from the Place where the 3 Lines met so as to flank the outermost of them and join the Wall of the old Town looking into St. Paul's Valley where they made a Place of Arms capable to hold about 300 Men they now by the 4th were got within 50 Paces of it where they covered themselves from the Enemies Fire The Brandenburghers the same Day arriving in the Camp they took up their Quarters to the Left of the Germans and advanced 2 Parallel Lines to communicate with the others
little that we were in a manner left disconsolate and next to Despair And what could that be alas but the Death of the best of Queens the best of Wives nay the best of Women our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Mary Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland which happen'd on the 28th of December at her Palace of Kensington after she had lain some few Days sick of the Small-Pox To attempt her Character would be Arrogance in me since it has been done so well by so many learned Pens But I cannot omit remarking the Answer as I have heard His Majesty who knew her best was pleased to make the Archbishop of Canterbury when he went to comfort him for his great Loss That he could not chuse but grieve seeing she had been his Wife for 17 Years and yet he never knew her guilty of an Indiscretion And to add what most People are apt to pass over untouched That she was certainly a Princess of real Piety which I should not say if I had not known some Circumstances my self concerning her upon that Account that were evident tokens of it Wherefore I shall end this unhappy Year with the Parliament and Nation 's Condolance of the King upon this great Loss as himself was pleased to express it and their Protestations to stand by him against all Opponents whatsoever both at home and abroad And the Truth of it is if ever Addresses were real and unfeigned they were those made upon this Occasion since it has been obvious to any Man of Observation that that sad Providence did very much heighten Men's Affections to His Majesty's Person which being before as it were divided between him and that beloved Princess were now entirely cemented into one year 1695 But tho' the Nation laboured under this great Sorrow for our unretrievable Loss as we did also from the Badness of our Coin which had been a long growing Evil upon us and began now to be very intolerable yet there was no going back And therefore the Parliament went roundly to work and besides some other useful Bills had by the 11th of Feb. prepared for the Royal Assent An Act for Granting 4 s. in the Pound to His Majesty And for Applying the Yearly Summ of 300000 l. for Five Years out of the Duties of Tunnage and Poundage and other Summs of Mony payable upon Merchandizes Exported and Imported for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour But what Zeal soever the two Houses in general shewed for the common Cause there was such a Brangle at this time among them especially in the Upper House about sending of the Fleet to the Streights that tho' some under the specious Pretence of Good Will towards the Government took upon them to shew the Inconvenience of it Yet the major part of that most honourable Assembly shewed themselves to have far different Sentiments by their Address of Thanks to the King for so ordering it And it happen'd â— little favourably as if it had been a Confirmation of their Lordships Judgments that News came soon after which gave an Account that some Frigats which Admiral Russel had sent out to cruise had taken 2 French Men of War of the bigger Size near Messina So that the other Party was now obliged to acquiesce and the Lovers of the Government to go on with the King's Business But it was the middle of April or thereabout before there were any more Mony-Bills ready when His Majesty signed among divers others An Act for enabling such Persons as had Estates for Life in Annuities payable by several former Acts therein mentioned to purchase and obtain farther and more certain Interests in such Annuities And in Default thereof for Admitting other Persons to purchase or obtain the same for Raising Moneys for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchellors and Widowers for the Term of 5 Years for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty several Additional Duties upon Coffee Tea Chocolate and Spices towards Satisfaction of the Debts due for Transport-Service for the Reduction of Ireland And then he was pleased to tell them that the season of the Year was so far advanced and the circumstances of affairs so pressing that he very earnestly recommended unto them the speedy dispatching of such business as they thought of most importance for the publick good because he was to make an end of the Sessions in a few Days which was done accordly after the signing of some other Bills which the Parliament had dispatched and among the rest An Act to grant unto the King certain Duties upon Glass-wares Stone and Earthen Bottles Coal and Culm for carrying on the War as before Then it was that he told them the necessity there was for his Presence abroad but that he would take care to have the administration of Affairs during his Absence put into such Persons hands on whose care and fidelity he could entirely depend and that he doubted not but they both Lords and Gentlemen in their several Stations would be assisting to them and that what it was he required of them was to be more than ordinarily vigilant in preserving the publick Peace In pursuance to this His Majesties Resolution he was pleased before his Departure which was on the 12th of May to appoint in Council the Lord Archbishop the Lord Keeper the Earl of Pembrook the Duke of Devonshire the Duke of Shrewsbury the Earl of Dorset and the Lord Godolphin to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Absence beyond the Seas where as before he was Commander in Chief of all the Confederate Forces which were this Campaign very strong and out-numbred the French 20000 Men which yet was no such odds as to act offensively as they did as the Duke de Villeroy was over the Armies of France in the room of the Duke of Luxemburg who died towards the beginning of this Year There were two Camps formed for the Confederate Army the one was at Arseel to be commanded by the King in Person and under him by the old Prince de Vaudemont to whom His Majesty had given last Winter the Command in chief of his Armies and the other at Ninove under the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Holstein Ploen The King after his usual Divertion went on the 27th of May from Breda to Ghent where the Inhabitants made great preparations to receive him with demonstrations of Joy suitable to what they owed to so great a King and the Protector of their Country and could not have done more to their own Sovereign the King of Spain had he come among them But though the King ordered the Rendesvouz of his Army in the foresaid place and that the Elector himself advanced towards the Scheld yet it is very likely that at the very beginning of the Campaign His
speak once more the Language of Nimeguen came hereby very far short of their Expectations However neither this nor the Siege of Barcelonâ— was designed by them to retard but rather to quicken the Spaniards pace towards a Peace So that the Conferences between their Plenipotentiaries and the Allies went on under the Mediation of the Young King of Sweden now his Father Charles XI of that Name had died on the 17th of April this Spring by the intervention of the Baron de Lillieroot his Ambassador who went between the one and the other for the said purpose After the Allies had made their Pretensions they drew up a large Deduction in justification of them of which they resolved to give the French Plenipotentiaries no Copy until they had Declared that they had received the King's Orders to make theirs But these same Plenipotentiaries having Declared that they had nothing to ask or pretend to and that they were ready to Answer the others The Allies changed their Thoughts the French Plenipotentiaries having in the mean time had several separate Conferences with those of the States General about Commerce and a Cessation of Arms which the former shewed themselves very eager for But there was but little appearance that this last point should then have been agreed to seeing the Peace was more likely to be Retarded than Advanced thereby Towards the end of May the Spanish Ambassadors presented their grievances to the Mediator who received them with a promise of having the same shortly Debated But the said Mediator did at the same time Declare that he was of Opinion that it would very much contribute to the advancement of the Peace if a Truce was agreed on by common consent seeing the Clamour and Fury of War did more harm than good to the Negotiation Mens minds being so much â—he less composed by how much they were Distracted and 〈◊〉 out of order by the daily â—venâ—â— of War This Opinion seemed then to be approved by silence but other things intervened and none of all the Allies made so much ado about having all the Names of the Confederate Princes exprest and particularly inserted in the Treaty as the Brandenburg Ambassador who insisted very much upon it as some of the Allies took it also very ill that both the one and the other pretentions of the Empire were proposed by the Emperor's Ambassador only in his Name but they had satisfaction given them in respect to these complaints for the said Ambassadorâ— replied that every one of the Allies was free to propose separate Articles concerning his own Affairs Several Princes did about the same time give in their Grievances to the Mediator while all Parties were in mighty Expectations oâ— News from divers parts that might favour their respective interests but more especially from Poland where the Frenâ—â— were Cocksure the Prince of Conti would carry that Crown whereas the Confederates had apparently all their Eyes turn'd upon Prince James but there was a third Person who ran away with the Bone in Contention whom no body eveâ— Dreamt to have any thoughts that way and that was the Elector of Saxony who in the end of the Spring took a Journey to Vienna under pretence of settling matters in Relatiâ—â— to the Campaign in Hungary where 't was given out he would Command the Emperor's Army again this Year But the Event proved that in reality the Design was to Concerâ— with the Emperor how the Elector might obtain the Crowâ— of Poland which his Religion could be no bar to since â—e was already privately reconciled to the Church of Rome 〈◊〉 at least given out so afterwards But whether in order 〈◊〉 the wearing of a Crown the Elector has obtained as mâ—â— Reputation and Glory by the Abjuration as the Gentlemeâ— of the Church of Rome are pleased to phrase it of the Proâ—â—stant Religion as his great Ancestor did in the Propagation of that Faith Preached by Martin Luther and the first Priâ—â— in Europe that avowedly tho' it was with the hazzard of aâ—â— took both him and it under his Protection I 'le leave otheâ— to Judge However it be the Design was certainly carried on with wonderful secrety and address for all of a suddâ—â— the Elector leaves Vienna which was attended with varioâ— Reports spread abroad immediately of some mis-understanâ—ing between the Emperor and Him which no body coâ—assign a cause for But when they saw the Elector muste◠〈◊〉 a Body of his Troops it wrought I know not what suspitioâ— and the Brandenburgers so far took the Allarm as suddenly 〈◊〉 get what Froces they could together to oppose any atteâ—â— that might be made that way But the Electors sudden maâ—â— towards Silesia and the Frontiers of Poland quickly ocâ—â—oned other Speculations and in Truth the next News thâ—â— had at Reswick was his being chosen on the 26th of 〈◊〉 King of Poland by a great majority of Voices above the Prince of Conti who was also Proclaimed King though the Expedition afterwards made into that Country by that brave Man proved little to his or the French King's satisfaction the Elector having in a manner weathered all his point before the other's Arrival The first news of it was a great mortification to the French Plenipotentiaries at Reswick however the Treaty went on and the Ceremonial part being in a manner all adjusted the French who had daily Conferences with the Ministers of the States General and of the other Allies made an offer of an Equivalent again for Luxemburg and Strasburg they being willing for the former to give up to his Catholick Majesty Conde Tournay Melen and Ipres as they were for the other ready to consign into the Emperor's hands Brisac Phillipsburg and Friburg But the French Plenipotentiaries had in the mean time sent the Pretensions of the Allies to their King while the Confederates protested That they would not be put by their right but that they should have liberty allowed them every one to present his Grievance to the Mediator The Princes of the Empire desiring also to â—e comprehended in the Treaty demanded the same things whereof neither the Imperialists nor the French made any great difficulty whether they were willing to have all their different Interests and concerns terminated together or every one of them by themselves in particular About this time it was the Plenipotentiaries of the States General Declared aloud with some sort of Indignation That it was an unjust and false Report that was spread abroad concerning their Masters having underhand concluded upon their Affairs with France And that they might still make a greater appearance of their just Comportment and Sincerity they openly diswaded the Ministers of the Allies from consenting to a Truce with France to which they were of themselves deaf enough and the rather for that the French had rejected the Pretentions of the Imperialists and Spaniards as being not willing to answer the same before the Confederates gave their Opinions concerning the
Occasion and that most truly to in their own Justification That they had bore alone the Burthen of the War by keeping of great Fleets and numerous Land-Forces which they had set out at their own Charge for the common Good and notwithstanding so many States and Princes of the Empire they had paid almost alone the Expences of the War all along the Rhine And that Trade not having its ordinary Course all this bore very hard upon them To this may be added the advantageous Conditions of Peace granted them and first to begin with that of the English for whom and himself no Man surely in his Wits will deny but King William made as honourable Terms as could in Reason under the Circumstances of things be expected But a better View hereof will be had by the Articles themselves which follow I. That there be an Universal Perpetual Peace and a Truce and Sincere Friendship between the Most Serene and Mighty Prince William the Third King of Great Britain and the most Serene and Mighty Prince Lewis the Fourteenth the most Christian King their Heirs and Successors and between the Kingdoms States and Subjects of Both and that the same be so Sincerely and Inviolably observed and kept that the one shall promote the Interest Honour and Advantage of the other and that on both sides a faithful Neighbourhood and true Observation of Peace and Friendship may daily Flourish and Encrease II. That all Enmities Hostilities Discords and Wars between the said King of Great Britain and the most Christian King and their Subjects cease and be abolished so that on both sides they forbear and abstain hereafter from all Plundring Depredation Harm-doing Injuries and Infestation whatsoever as well by Land as by Sea and on fresh Waters every where and especially throughout all the Kingdoms Territories Dominions and Places belonging to each other of what Condition soever they be III. That all Offences Injuries Damages which the said King of Great Britain and his Subjects or the said most Christian King and â—his Subjects have suffered from each other during this War shall be forgotten so that neither on Account of them or for any other Cause or Pretence neither Party or the Subjects of either shall hereafter do cause or suffer to be done any Hostility Enmity Molestation or Hindrance to the other by himself or others Secretly or Openly Directly or Indirectly by Colour of Right or Way of Fact IV. And since the most Christian King was never more desirous of any thing than that the Peace be firm and inviolable the said King Promises and Agrees for himself and his Successors That he will on no account whatsoever disturb the said King of Great Britain in the free Possession of the Kingdoms Countries Lands or Dominions which he now Enjoys and therefore Engages his Honour upon the Faith and Word of a King that he will not give or afford any Assistance directly or indirectly to any Enemy or Enemies of the said King of Great Britain And that he will in no manner whatsoever favour the Conspiraces or Plots which any Rebels or ill disposed Persons may in any place Excite or Contrive against the said King And for that end Promises and Engages That he will not assist with Arms Ships Ammunition Provisions or Money or in any other way by Sea or by Land any Person or Persons who shall hereafter under any pretence whatsoever Disturb or Molest the said King of Great Britain in the free and full Possession of his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions The King of Great Britain likewise Promises and Engages for himself and Successors Kings of Great Britain That he will inviolably do and perform the same towards the said most Christian King his Kingdoms Countries Lands and Dominions V. That there be a free use of Navigation and Commerce between the Subjects of both the said Kings as was formerly in the time of Peace and before the Declaration of the late War so that every of them may freely come into the Kingdoms Marts Ports and Rivers of either of the said Kings with their Merchandizes and may there continue and Trade without any Molestation and shall use and enjoy all Liberties Immunities and Priviledges granted by solemn Treaties and ancient Custom VI. That the ordinary Administration of Justice shall be restored and sâ—t open throughout the Kingdoms and Dominions of both Kings so that it shall be free for all the Subjects of either to claim and obtain their Rights Pretensions and Actions according to the Laws Constitutions and Statutes of each Kingdom VII The most Christian King shall Restore to the said King of Great Britain all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the English did possess before the Declaration of this present War And in like manner the King of Great Britain shall restore to the most Christian King all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever Situated which the French did Possess before the said Declaration of War And this Restitution shall be made on both Sides within the Space of Six Months or sooner if it can be done And to that end immediately after the Ratification of this Treaty each of the said Kings shall Deliver or cause to be Delivered to the other or to Commissioners Authorized in his Name for that Purpose all Acts of Concession Instruments and necessary Orders duly made and in proper Form so that they may have their Effect VIII Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides to Examine and Determine the Rights and Pretensions which either of the said Kings hath to the places Situated in Hudsons-Bay But the Possession of those Places which were taken by the French during the Peace that preceded this present War and were retaken by the English during this War shall be left to the French by virtue of the foregoing Article The Capitulation made by the English on the 5th of September 1696. shall be Observed according to its Form and Tenor The Merchandises therein mentioned shall be restored The Governour of the Fort taken there shall be set at Liberty if it be not already done The Differences arisen concerning the Execution of the said Capitulation and the value of the Goods there lost shall be adjudged and determined by the said Commissioners who immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty shall be Invested with sufficient Authority for settling the Limits and Confines of the Lands to be restored on either side by virtue of the foregoing Article and likewise for exchanging of Lands as may conduce to the mutual Interest and Advantage of both Kings And to this end the Commissioners so appointed shall within the space of 3 Months from the time of the Ratification of the present Treaty meet in the City of London and within six Months to be reckoned from their first Meeting shall Determine all Differences and Disputes which may arise concerning this matter After which the Articles the said Commissioners shall agree to shall be Ratified
end but the stubborn old Gentleman shew'd altogether as much Aversion on the other hand and ordered the Senators Lords and Gentlemen that were confedederated in the Rocosche to meet the 18th of February To encounter which in some measure the King thought of no better way than to issue out his Circular Letters to summon the Dyet of Pacification to Assemble on the 16th of April But this being thought not sufficient as soon as the Rocosche was met at Lowitz the King sent the Grand Mareschal of the Crown and the Great Treasurer of Lithuania as his Deputies thither with a Letter also from his Majesty to the Assemby But the Title of Commissioners and some Expressions in the Letter which were thought too smart offended the Rocosche to that degree that they not only refused to admit the Deputies but they were also forced to retire to the Castle of Lowitz after a narrow Escape from some Danger Nay the Common People grew so insolent that they fired upon the Windows of the Brandenburg Envoy's Lodgings notwithstanding his publick Character and the Prohibitions of the Cardinal Primate to the contrary The Deputies hereupon sent presently Advice of what had passed to the King who sent them another Letter with new Powers However after some Contestation they received the Letter and then drew up the following Articles 1. POsitive Assurances were demanded from Rome of the Change of the King's Religion 2. That the Queen should embrace the same Religion 3. That it should be also settl'd in Saxony 4. That the Provinces dismember'd from the Crown should be re-united 5. That an account should be given of the Money that had been expended 6. That the Pacta Conventa should be drawn up by themselves and presented by the Marshall of the Rocosche 7. That the vacant Employments which had been dispos'd of should be confirm'd by new Pattents 8. That all the Foreign Forces should be sent away 9. That in consideration of the Damages done by the Saxon Soldiers the Elector should grant Winter-Quarters to the Polanders in the Countries under his Dominion 10. That no Employments should be given to Foreigners 11. That the Indigenat granted to the House of Saxony should not extend beyond the Electoral Branch 12. That being acknowledg'd for King he should not assume the Title of Elector 13. That the Damages done by the Army should be repair'd at the Expences of the Grand General 14. That all the Officers of the Army and of the King's Guards should be Roman Catholicks 15. That all unprofitable Foreigners should be sent away 16. That the City of Danzick should have Reparation for the Damages sustain'd by the War upon the Account of his Electoral Highness 17. That a Decree should be publish'd against the Bishop of Cujavia by which he should be forbid to Crown any King 18. That Enquiry should be made into the Violence that was made use of in forcing the Treasury that the like Attempt may be prevented for the future 19. That the Ecclesiasticks shall not be molested in the Enjoyment of their Estates 20. That General Brandt shall be prosecuted in the Courts of Justice for the Damages done by his Men for which Satisfaction shall be given 21. That all Acts made during this Fraction or Division of the Republick shall be cancell'd and made void Some there were for all this who submitted to the King who notwithstanding the ill Success of the said Assembly and their exorbitant Demands resolved upon his Journey into Prussia And on the 17th of March arrived near Danzick into which place he made his Publick Entry with great Magnificence was treated most splendidly and on the 25th received the Homage of the City after he had confirm'd their Privileges and taken an Oath to maintain them according to the usual Form But his Majesty all this while did not forget to notifie his Advancement to the Polish Throne in all the Courts of Europe and Major General Jordan was more particularly sent into France upon that occasion In the mean time Seignior Paulucci the Pope's Extraordinary Nuncio arrived at Warsaw And because the King was then absent at Danzick he sent to Lowitz to give the Primate notice of his Arrival and presently after went to Visit his Eminency at the same time consigning the Pope's Brief into his Hands whereby he was exhorted to employ his utmost Care to settle the Tranquility of Poland and to preserve and procure the farther Advantage of the Roman Catholick Religion Assuring him That he had ordered his Nuncio to omit nothing upon all Occasions that might tend to the Preservation of the Rights and Priviledges of his Eminency To which the Cardinal answered That he would always submit to his Holiness in Spirituals That if his Holiness after he had seriously examined the State of things were of Opinion the Roman Catholick Religion was safe he was willing to believe so too But as to what concerned the Temporal Interests of the Republick he could not quit them without Injury to his own Character and Dignity without drawing upon himself the Reproach of the Nation and without being brought under a Necessity of becoming answerable for it in his own Person However that he accepted the Mediation of the Holy Father with a filial Obedience This was a pretty good Pace for tho' the Dyet of Pacification upon the King's return meeting upon the time appointed made but a very small Appearance and that some of them flung out of the Assembly with a Protestation and persisting in their Demands of a Dyet to be held on Horse-back Yet the Cardinal Primate who was to have held the Assembly of the Rocosche April 15th put the same off till the 5th of May And when they then met there was but a very small Appearance and all the Opposition they pretended to make signified nothing For the good Offices of the Nuncio at length so far prevailed that on the 16th of May the Treaty of Accommodation was fairly writ publickly read with all its Explanations and then signed by the Commissioners as the King 's Plenipotentiaries by the Cardinal Primate Marshal of the Rocosche Deputies of the Palatinates that were present and by Seignior Paulucci as Mediator and Guarrantee of the Treaty The Articles consisted of twelve Particulars to this purpose 1. THat the King shall use his utmost Endeavour to bring over the Queen to the Catholick Religion and that he shall prove by visible uncontroulable and authentick Testimonies and such in a word which the Primate and the Pope's Nuncio shall deem proper that he has effectually embrac'd the Catholick Religion 2. That he shall dismiss all the Lutheran Ministers that are in his Army 3. That he shall give an Authentick Act to the Republick by which he shall consent that the Liberty of Suffrages and Elections shall be restor'd and promise never to re-demand the vast Sums which the Crown has cost him 4. That he shall pay all the Arrears which are due to
â—o unskilful in Government as the Name they gave them did import 'T is indeed not to be doubted but that the Division made of the Empire by Theodosius between his Two Sons Arcadius and Honorius into the Eastern and Western did very much precipitate the Ruine of it For tho' the former for many Ages after made a Shift to keep up yet it came infinitely short of the Ancient Roman Empire for Power and Splendour and was so harassed by degrees with the Insults of the Neighbouring Nations and diminished by the Conquests of the Bulgarians over one part of it by the Saracens subduing Palestine Syria Egypt and Cilicia by the City of Trebesond and the Neighbouring Countries withdrawing themselves from under the Obedience of it and chusing an Emperor of their own as Greece set up divers petty Princes to govern the different Parts of itâ— That the poor Remains thereof was not only swallowed up at length by the Turks but most of the said conquer'd or revolted Divisions to other very great Acquisitions of their own made both before and after fell under their Dominion also which made them for a Time more formidable in Power than any other single Dominion known to us in those Parts of the World But the Fate of the West Part of that divided Empire came on a pace the same becoming a Prey to the Germans and Goths who about this time came in prodigious Numbers to change their poor Habitations for the pleasant and fertile Provinces of the Romans Britain became a Prey to the Saxons Spain fell to the Share of the West-Goths The Goths Burgundians and Franks made bold with dividing France between them Rhoetia and Noricum were conquered by the Suevians A great part of Pannonia and Illiricum fell into the Hands of the Huns The Vandals fixed their Habitations in Africa And one part of the Goths set up a Kingdom in Italy and did not think Rome once Mistress of the World and the common Mother and Habitation of Mankind a fitting Place for their Kings to reside in The Empire being thus mangled and rent into so many different Pieces the next Thing according to the Course of a corrupted and vain World these Invaders went upon after some tolerable Settlement in their respective Acquisitions was to incroach upon their Neighbours and to endeavour to introduce such a Dominion again upon the Earth as might in Imitation of that glorious Empire which all of them in their several Turns had given an Helping-hand to overthrow over-top all others and merit the Name of a Supream and Universal One But there have hitherto in the Course of Divine Providence such Rubs been laid in the Way of this Design that it could never be accomplish'd tho' divers Princes have attempted it with the greatest Application and some seeming Probability of Success As Islands are not so liable to be invaded as those Kingdoms and States that lie upon the Continent So neither are they on the other hand so proper to make Conquests of others and to enlarge their Territories And if Great Britain has come in any respect short of other Countries in this Particular this is a sufficient Reason for it But there were other Causes and Considerations which we shall a little consider before we go any farther Tho' tho Saxons made an entire Conquest of the best and fruitfullest Part of Britain yet neither the most Northern Parts of the Island possessed by the Picts and Scots nor the Southern known since by the Name of Cornwall much less the ancient Habitation of the Britains wrongfully called Wales could they subdue in a long time nor the first indeed at all entirely Add to this That the Saxons themselves had no less than Seven Dynasties or petty Kingdoms amongst them known all together by the Heptarchy which took them up from their first Landing under Hengist by Alliances and the Power of their Arms not much less than 400 Years to unite them into one Monarchy which happen'd under K. Egbert about the Year 800. But tho' this Conjunction of Seven into One was very considerable and that now some grand Efforts might have been made for reducing the remaining Parts of the Island under one Head the Danes now a very Potent and Sea-faring People in the very same King's Reign invaded Britain Between whom and the English there were continual Wars for the Space of 240 Years and the former so far prevailed that Three of their Kings reigned successively over England for 26 Years when the Government returned again into the Hands of the English But it was so weak and feeble that in a short time it fell into the Hands of Will surnamed the Conqueror and his Normans in whose Son 's Reign Henry I. by Name the Dukedom of Normandy was annexed to the Crown of England This so considerable Accession of Strength upon the Continent came yet short of a Compensation for the still remaining Disjunction of Scotland and Wales from the rest of Britain which the succeeding Kings little minded to effect For tho' Henry II. was the greatest King at this time in our Western World as being besides K. of England and Duke of Normandy by Inheritance Duke of Anjou and by Marriage Duke of Aquitain and Poictou yet he was so far from going through stitch with his intended Conquest of Wales or reducing Scotland that his chief Aim was upon the Conquest of Ireland which tho' a noble Design and in a very great Measure effected yet it was misplaced and should have followed the Reduction of the other two Yet what came to Henry upon the Continent by Right of Inheritance his Son King John and his Grandson Henry III. in a manner totally lost But of all the Kings of England to this Time Edward I. was the only Prince that seemed to have a right Notion of Extending his Dominions and therefore he never gave over till what by fair and foul Means with an Intermixture of Policy he entirely united Wales to the Kingdom of England and made in a manner by the same Methods a perfect Conquest of Scotland which nothing humanely speaking but the Weakness of his Successor obstructed the Consummation of So that henceforward all the Thoughts of our Warlike Kings were the Recovery of that Right they alledged to have to the Kingdom of France whose Conquests there if they had been as wisely secured as they were valiantly made had added a much greater Glory to the English Name than our Annals would otherwise admit of But that which our Kings would not or could not add to their Dominions by Conquest within the Island it self I mean the Scotch Kingdom which always obstructed the Progress of their Arms upon the Continent at length fell in of it self in the Course of Succession So that England Scotland and Ireland were in the Person of King James I. united under one Head In the mean time one of our Neighbour-Nations was arrived to that Pitch of Greatness and another of them in
to stay Tho' the Emperor as believing himself much stronger thought to delude Henry of his projected Proportion the other grew too cunning for him for being in expectation that Henry would have advanced and so both of them hem in the French Army on each side he sent him Word He would not stir from Bologn and Monstreville till he had made himself Master of them which made Charles recoyl and clap up a Peace then he turned all his Thoughts upon the Reduction of the Protestants and with them the Liberty of Germany wherein tho' he went a great length yet he was at last so baffled by Maurice Elector of Saxony at Inspruck that he was glad to make a Peace with them also So that now being diffident of ever attaining his Ends and wearied with the Toils of Empire and the Infirmity of his Body he resigned up the Empire to his Brother Ferdinando who having been before chosen King of the Romans would not consent it should come to his Son Philip This Philip had at the same time all his Father 's Hereditary Dominions put into his Hands and being a Prince as Politick as Powerful and withal Married to Mary Queen of England had it not been for his Father's Error in dividing the Power of the Austrian Family by separating the Imperial Crown from the Spanish Monarchy I cannot see if we speak after the Manner of Men what could have hindred this Philip II. from attaining to the Dominion of Europe in a short time But besides this other Accidents quickly intervened and as Politick as this Prince seemed to be those very Methods he took to attain still to his desired Ends of Supream Sovereignty by introducing the Inquisition and an Arbitrary Power into the Netherlands and his Attempts to reduce the Kingdom of England under his Power proved to be the very Things that ruined his Empire and gave Rise to that State that for a long time gave an helping hand to bring Spain low but since the Peace of Munster in 1648. has proved the greatest Support of that Remainder of the Monarchy still continuing in the Netherlands against her growing Neighbours of any in the World We might here assign other Reasons for the Cadency of Spain as the bloody Inquisition the Depopulating of the Country by the Discovery of the West-Indies c. But waving this at present we shall enquire a little distinctly into the French Proceedings upon the said Account and take in somewhat of other Nations as they occur to our Purpose before we come to draw the whole into a Conclusion The Ancient Gallia which was of every extensive Bounds but subdivided into divers petty Kingdoms or Dynasties as indeed the State of the Infant World seemed every-where to be so fell under the Yoak of the Roman Empire under the Conduct of Julius Caesar and continued under the said Dominion till that vast Monarchy began to totter and then was one of first of those Countries that felt the Rage of those barbarous Nations the Goths and Huns but most of all the Franks out of Germany who about the Year 424 beginning to break in upon it did by degrees make themselves Masters of the greatest part of it and withal changed the old Name of Gaul into that of France The first Race of their Kings were valiant and brave Princes but some of them being too much taken up with the prevalent Humour of those Times made such a Division of the Kingdom as they had Number of Sons to govern them But being united again this Merovingian Family now at length strangely degenerating from their ancient Valour gave way to the Rise of the Carolovinian Race in the Person of Pepin and was so called from the Famous Charles Martel Mayor of the Palace in the last King's Reign and Father to this Pepin who proved a Warlike Prince and did great Feats in Italy against the Lombards He was succeeded by his Son Charles surnamed the Great who extended the French Monarchy beyond the Bounds even of the ancient Gallia For he made himself in a Manner Lord of all Italy by the entire Conquest he made of the Kingdom of the Lombards and overcame the Saxons and subdued Germany beat the Sclavonians Danes and Huns routed the Saracens and reduced Spain as far as the River Iberus under his Obedience and at Rome was proclaimed Emperor of the West And in Truth he was the greatest Prince that ever was in this Part of the World since the Dissolution of the Roman Empire and had his Successors been as Wise and Valiant as he and pursued the Steps he took I cannot see any Thing that could have hindred them in the Revolution of a few Years from erecting an Empire as extensive and formidable as that of old Rome it self But Charles his Successors falling into the Error of their Predecessors disjoined the Empire of Germany from the Kingdom of France and part of their Dominions being invaded and possest by the Normans and the Royal Authority decaying by degrees this Race also being enfeebled with Age tho' they were not yet 240 Years old made way for Hugh Capet to ascend the Throne This Man thinking to make amends for the Badness of his Title by the Goodness of his Concessions to the Nobles of his Kingdom that had been very Instrumental in his Advancement remitted a great many of the Ancient Royal Prerogatives and gave them the Titles of Dukes and Earls of the Provinces they govern'd upon Condition they should acknowledge themselves his Vassals but yet not to be obliged to depend absolutely upon his Commands Hence arose besides the Dutchy of Normandy on which also depended that of Britany the Dutchies of Burgundy Aquitain and Gascoigny the Earldoms of Flanders Champaign and Thoulouse to which if we add that the Counties of Vienna Provence Savoy and Dauphine belonged to the Kingdom of Arelate which was part of the German Empire we shall find the French Monarchy reduced from those most extensive Bounds it had in the Days of Charlemaign to a very narrow Compass and to reunite those again has been mainly the Struggle and Endeavour of the succeeding Kings of France About some of which they had a long and terrible Contest with the English which yet the French effected in a great measure by the Time of the Reign of our K. Henry VII when Charles VIII married Anne Inheritrix of the Dutchy of Britany tho' she had been solemnly married before to Maximilian K. of the Romans and afterwards Emperor And the Suffering of this to be accomplish'd was a foul Blot in K. H's Politicks and lesned very much the Reputation he had gained of being a Prince of great Wisdom and Foresight But though France thus strengthned her Vital Parts by the Acquisition of Britany which she took Care to retain even by the Marriage of Charles's Successor Lewis XII to this Ann of Bretaigne his Relict in Expectation of Issue though without Success and that notwithstanding this Francis I. Lewis's
he would never Sign the Peace whilst the Affairs of France were in such a Condition as to have it Concluded to the Advantage of that Crown yet it is so far from being any Dishonour to that brave Man that it is the greatest Eulogium that could be given him since he has discovered there in the Affection he had for the publick Tranquility of Europe as well as for the Honour and Safety of his own Native Country I shall not recite the last mentioned Treaty at large but content my self to give an Abstract of it only which follows I. THAT there shall be a firm and lasting Peace between the Empire and France and an Oblivion of all injuries II. That the Peace of Munster be the Basis and Foundation of the present Treaty III. That France renounce all Pretensions to Phillipsburg and the Emperor on his Part was to do the like by Friburg and its Dependances IV. That France was to have a free and easie Passage at all times from Brisac to Friburg and the Provisions for the last Place go unmolested and untaxed V. Commissioners in a Year after the Treaty were to determine what Dobts Friburg was to pay VI. The French King was to restore to the Emperor the Writings found in Friburg at the Time of taking of it but as for such as concerned the Town c. the fore-mentioned Commissioners were to agree upon a Place where to keep them VII That all who were minded to depart from Friburg within a Year after the Ratification of the Treaty might freely do it and either retain or dispose of their Goods at Pleasure VIII Agreed however that Friburg and its Dependences shall be restored to the Emperor for a satisfactory Equivalent IX The Duke of Lorrain to be restored to the Possession of his Dominions in the same State as in 1670 when taken by France X. That Nancy c. be for ever incorporated with France and the Duke to renounce all Right to it XI That for the Conveniency of the French Troops there be 4 Roads of half a League broad marked out by Commissioners for the March of them to their Garrisons in Alsatia Burgundy c. XII That all Villages Lands c. lying within the said Ways do remain to France and no further XIII That the City and Provostship of Longuicer remain forever to France and that the Duke his Heirs c. do lay no Claim thereunto XIV In Compensation for Nancy France was to give up the City of Thoul c. to the Duke with the same Sovereignty over it as France had with a Promise in the next Article of further Satisfaction to the Duke in case that were not a sufficient equivalent XV. The French King did renounce the Right of Presentation of a Bishop of Thoul into the Hands of the Pope to whom the Duke was to apply himself for obtaining it XVI All benefited Persons put in by the King to continue in quiet Possession of their Livings XVII All Proceedings at Law Decrees c. finish'd in the Time of the French King's Possession of Lorrain and Bar to take place XVIII The Charters Deeds c. in the Exchequer of Nancy and Bar to be forthwith restored to the Duke XIX That Prince Egon of Furstemburg his Brother Prince William and Nephew Prince Antony their Officers c. should be restored to their former State Dignities c. and Prince William forthwith upon the Ratification of the Treaty to be set at Liberty XX. All Vassals Subjects c. of either Party to be restored to their Honours Benefices Goods c. as before the War with all Rights fallen to them during it and no notice taken what Party whether of this or that Prince they have taken XXI The Duke of Holstein Gottorp to be comprehended in the present Treaty That each Party shall imploy all their Offices towards terminating the War between Sweden Denmark Brandenburg c. and the French to keep Garrison in Chastelet Hiâ—y Aix la Chapelle c. till the same be accomplished XXII That the Evacuation of Places be within a Month after the Ratification of the Treaty XXIII That the Duke of Bouillon continue in Possession of the Dutchy and Castle of that â—ame and all Differences concerning them to be composed within 3 Months after the Ratification XXIV All Acts of Hostilities to cease within 14 Days after Signing of the Treaty XXV Contributions to be levied till the Ratification and the Arrears paid tho' not forcibly demanded within 4 Months after XXVI What had been stipulated concerning Montferat and the Duke of Savoy in the Treaty of Munster should be more particularly valid here The rest being meer Matter of Form I proceed to shew that the Danish and Brandenburg Embassadors were no sooner informed that all Things were agreed on between the Emperor and France but the very next Day which was the 3d of Feb. that they might not upon any account be wanting to themselves and to omit nothing that might have any semblance if not advantage yet of resentment made their Protestations against it and complained that the Emperor's Embassadors had consented to Matters which so nearly concerned the Princes their Masters that they had not only neglected all their Interests but also that they had given their Enemies Liberty to pursue the War even into the Heart of their own Country That they had Treated about the Rights of all the States of the Empire so far as to abolish some Decrees concerning them without the Knowledge of the Princes who were most interested therein And in a Word they Solemnly insisted against that Separate Peace which ought to be reckoned null and no way prejudicial to their Leagues nor to the Decrees of the Empire And that no Formalities might be omitted which they judged necessary for maintaining the Pretensions of their Masters they did also on the 4th make a Conditional Protestation against the Peace made by the Emperor and France They said That they could the less be perswaded that the Imperial Embassadors could do such a Wrong to the Princes their Masters for that Sweden had been Treated during the War as a State and Member of the Empire guilty of breaking the Publick Peace and in that Notion cited and condemned by the Empire in the usual Form So that in what manner soever the Emperor might reconcile himself to that Crown they had Reason to Protest against the Validity of that Peace and at the same Time for all the Damages their Masters might suffer thereby The same Thing was done by the Ministers and Plenipotentiaries of the Princes of Brunswick-Lunemburg against those two Treaties in the same Terms not knowing perhaps that the Princes their Masters were concluding their particular Peace at Home with France and Sweden whilst they complained so loudly at Nimeguen against that of the Emperor However that of the Emperor and France was Signed the next Day as before noted as was the Peace between the Emperor and
might remit nothing that might have any probability of tending to promote the Peace they accepted the Truce upon such Conditions as should on both sides be agreed on At length this Procedure and some little Contests ended in Signing a Treaty of Truce the last Day of March at Nimeguen to continue to the 1st of May. The Truce being thus Signed instead of advancing the Negotiation did on the contrary stop the Course thereof during the whole Time it lasted because the French Embassadors sticking immoveable to their Declarations there was no more to be said so that the two Princes who remained still in the War thought it more adviseable to Negotiate the Peace in France and gave their Envoys Mr. Meinder and Mr. de Mayerkron the last whereof had Orders to go thither from Holland without delay their Instructions accordingly but with as little Success as before either there or any where else so that the French Forces that were in the Country of Cleves and Juliers finding the Truce expired were so forward as not to slip any opportunity and therefore were ready on the 1st of May to pass the Rhine year 1679 over which they had made a Bridge at Ordinghen General Spaen who commanded the Troops of Brandenburg made a shew as if he designed to oppose their Passage with the few Soldiers and Trained-Bands he had with him on the other side of that River But finding the French Army had passed it on flying Bridges above and below Augerarts at the Confluence of the Auger and the Rhine he thought fit to Retreat and the Consequence of that was That that General and the Elector's Embassador procured a Conference with Monsieur Colbert to be held at Santhen a little Town 3 Leagues from Wesel Thither Mr. Blaspiet and General Spaen went as did also M. Colbert the 3d of the same Month the last having ordered Calvo who commanded the French Forces to be also present to the End that according to the Success of the Negotiation he might desist or pursue the Enterprize he had had in View Here it was agreed between them that the Truce should be prolonged for 15 Days more to begin the 4th of the Month which lengthened out the Cessation of Arms till the 19th but upon Condition that Wesel and Leipstadt should be put into the French King's Hands to be kept by him until the Peace betwixt his Majesty and his Allies on the one side and his Electoral Highness on the other should be Signed and Ratified which the Elector was so far from making a Difficulty to grant that he offered even to put Skinkenseance into his Power also as thinking perhaps by this extraordinary piece of Confidence to bring the King to be more easie in the Peace of the North and this not long after he also seconded by a Letter to the said Monarch written in so Excellent a Strain that not being willing to attempt to express the Force of it by way of Abstract I shall give the Reader an exact Copy of it POSTDAM May 16. 1679. My Lord IT is impossible but that your Majesty according to the Great Wisdom wherewith God has endowed you does easily perceive the Moderation and Justice of my Pretensions And it being so that you must offer Violence to that Generosity and Greatness of Soul which is natural to your Majesty in forcing me to Conditions of Peace that are not only injurious to me but ignominious also God who is Just seeing the Righteousness of my Cause hath prospered my Arms with the Conquest of all Pomerania and your Majesty makes me give back the greatest part of it which I put into your Hands that I may preserve the rest which is but a small Matter in respect of what I have gained with the Loss of my Blood and the Ruine of my Subjects Is it not just my Lord that since your Majesty obliges me to part from so great and fair Cities and so much of my Enemies Country you should likewise oblige the Swedes to leave me the rest and that your Majesty having so far concerned your self for the Party that had no Right to demand any thing should concern your self also for him who had Right to keep all but yields the greatest part meerly in Consideration of your Majesty I am informed that your Ministers object to me the Interest of your Glory and Honour and know that that is a powerful Motive to animate a Great Soul to Vndertakings But suffer me to put you in mind That Justice is the Source and Rule of Glory And that I having it on my side it is far greater and more solid Glory to Support a just and moderate Pretension than to favour one that is nothing less And could your Majesty but hear the Discourse of all Europe and weigh it with the Reasons that Interests suggest to you from my Enemies I am confident you would instantly decide in my Favour and so prevent the Judgment of disinterested Posterity Withal my Lord I am very sensible that the Match is too unequal betwixt your Majesty's Forces and mine and that I am unable to resist a King who alone hath carried the Burden of a War against the greatest Powers of Europe and hath with so much Glory and Success gone through with it But can your Majesty find any Advantage in the Ruine of a Prince who is so desirous to serve you and who being preserved may contribute to your Service more than a bare willingness Your Majesty will certainly be the first that will regret my Ruine since you cannot easily find in all the World besides one who is more really and with greater Respect and Zeal than my self Your Majesty's c. But for all this the French King seemed to be inexorable and his Forces began already to spread themselves in the Mark of Brandenburg and fresh Troops with Ammunition and Artillery came daily to Wesel to augment the Army which the Mareschal de Crequi was to command which upon the Expiration of the Truce drew near to the Neighbourhood of Minden beginning to streighten that Place where General Spaen pretended to make a vigorous Resistance Hereupon the Mareschal de Crequi ordered Monsieur Calvo to pass the Weser with a Party of Horse and Foot on a Bridge of Boats which he had caused to be made whilst he himself with a Body of Horse went to cross it at a Ford which with some Difficulty he passed over with an intent to make the Country pay the Contributions he had demanded but finding General Spaen was come out of the Town with a Body of about 3000 Men and some Field-Pieces he attack'd them vigorously and the Dispute was very sharp and ended with the loss of a great many Men on both sides and at last General Spain retired into Minden This was the 20th June 1679. and the last Action that put an end to so great a War and if the Negotiation of the Peace which was Signed at St. Germains the Day before
be adjudged to hinder the Sittings of Parliaments and be responsible therefore in Parliament Things being brought to this desperate pass between them without any visible Hopes of a better Understanding the Thoughts of the Court now began to think of a Prorogation or Dissolution and the Commons were it seems aware of it For on Monday Jan. the 10th before the Usher of the Black-Rod came into the House to command their Attendance on the King in the House of Lords they had resolved That whosoever advised the King to prorogue this Parliament to any Purpose than in order to the Passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York was a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France Which was no sooner done but they were Prorogued to the 20th of Jan. and upon the 18th he Dissolved them And so ended this Sessions of Parliament with which having run out a few Days into the new Year we conclude the Year 1680 only we shall note first two or three Particulars On the 30th of July this Year died at Whitehall the Right and truly Honourable Thomas Earl of Ossory Son and Heir apparent to his Grace the Duke of Ormond after some few Days sickness of a violent Feaver whose Heroick Bravery and forward Zeal to serve his King and Country on all commendable Occasions was manifested by many brave and generous Actions Which as they made him be honoured and esteemed by all while living made him dying to be as generally lamented He was the Father of his Grace the present Duke of Ormond who to his great Glory has been so far from degenerating from him that he hath to the Height express'd his Vertues and Excellencies both in Peace and Way and is a Person that deserves as much and if all Circumstances be considered a great deal more of his Country than any other Nobleman whatsoever Sept. following was remarkable for the Death of Two Electors of the Empire viz. on the 2d John George Duke of Saxony dying at Friburg after a long Indisposition in the 68th Year of his Age leaving only one Son by his Wife Magdaline Sibille of Brandenburg Ansbach John George the Third of that Name who succeeded him in his Dominions and Dignities And but 5 Days after departed also this Life Charles Lovis Count Palatine of the Rhine suddenly in the Way between Manheim and Frankendal after a light Indisposition of 2 or 3 Days he was 63 Years old and left by his Wife Charlotte Daughter of William Landgrave of Hesse one Son Charles then in England and to whom an Express was immediately dispatch'd to give him advice of his Father's Death and a Daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Wife to the now Duke of Orleans And towards the middle of Nov. appeared a Comet with a prodigious Stream of Light in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every Night afterward it appeared higher and higher in the Beginning of the Night and consequently setting latter and latter its Magnitude and Lustre also proportionably decaying year 1681 The Nation at the Dissolution of the last Parliament upon the 18th of Jan. as already mentioned were strangely amazed and began now in general to be very doubtful of any good Issue in their common Concerns which the Court was not unaware of and therefore in some measure to allay Things the King summoned another to meet on the 21st of March following at Oxford which was no sooner publickly known but it rather heightned than alleviated the Jealousies of the more intelligent Persons that there might be some hidden Design nourished in the Court that might have dangerous Influences both upon the Nation and Parliament Whereupon several of the Nobility after mature Consideration of the Matter resolved to petition the King against the Meeting of the Parliament at the forementioned Place which Petition was delivered by the Earl of Essex with which he made a short pithy Speech and both which we have hereunto subjoined May it please your Majesty THE Lords here present together with divers others of the Peers of the Realm taking notice that by the late Proclamation Your Majesty has declared an Intention of calling a Parliament at Oxford and observing from History and Records how unfortunate many Assemblies have been when called at a Place remote from the Capital City as particularly the Congress in King Henry the II's Time at Clarendon 3 several Parliaments at Oxford in Henry the III's Time and at Coventry in Henry the VI's Time with divers others which have proved fatal to those Kings and have been followed with great Mischief on the whole Kingdom And considering the present Posture of Affairs the many Jealousies and Discontents that are among the People they have great Cause to apprehend that the Consequences of a Parliament now at Oxford may be as fatal to Your Majesty and the Nation as those others mentioned have been to them Reigning Kings And therefore we do conceive that we cannot answer it to God to Your Majesty or to the People if we being Peers of the Realm should not on so important an Occasion humbly offer our Advice to Your Majesty that if possible Your Majesty may be prevailed with to alter this as we apprehend reasonable Resolution the Grounds and Reasons of our Opinions are contained in this our Petition which we humbly present to Your Majesty TO THE KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble PETITION and ADVICE of the Lords undernamed Peers of the Realm Humbly Sheweth THAT whereas Your Majesty hath been pleased by divers Speeches and Passages to Your Houses of Parliament rightly to represent to them the Dangers that threatned Your Majesty's Person and the whole Kingdom from the mischievous and wicked Plots of the Papists and the suddain Growth of a Power unto which no Stop or Remedy could be provided unless it were by Parliament and an Union of Your Majesty's Protestant Subjects in one Mind and one Interest And the Lord-Chancellor in pursuance of your Majesty's Commands having more at large demonstrated the said Dangers to be as great as we in the midst of our Fears could imagine them and so pressing that our Liberties Religion Lives and the whole Kingdom would be certainly lost if a speedy Provision were not made against them And Your Majesty on the 21st of Apr. 1679 having called unto Your Council many Honourable and Worthy Persons and declared to them and the whole Kingdom that being sensible of the evil Effects of a Single Ministry or Private Advice or Foreign Committee for the general Direction of Your Affairs Your Majesty would for the future refer all Things unto the Council and by the constant Advice of them together with the frequent Use of Your Great Council the Parliament Your Majesty had hereafter resolved to govern the
against it basely or inhumanely but what would well consist with the Christian Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom And I thank God I have examined all my Actions in that matter with so great Care that I can appeal to God Almighty who knows my Heart that I went on sincerely without being moved either by Passion By-Ends or ill Design I have always loved my Countrey much more than my Life and never had any Design of changing the Government which I value and look upon as one of the best Governments in the World and would always have been ready to venture my Life for the preserving it and would suffer any Extremity rather than have consented to any Design of taking away the King's Life Neither had any Man the Impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to me And I look upon it as a very unhappy and uneasie part of my present Condition that there should be so much as Mention made of so vile a Fact though nothing in the least was said to prove any such Matter but the contrary by my Lord Howard Neither does any Body I am confident believe the least of it So that I need not I think say more For the King I do sincerely pray for him and wish well to him and to the Nation that they may be happy in one another that he may be indeed the Defender of the Faith that the Protestant Religion and the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom may be preserv'd and flourish under his Government and that himself in his Person may be happy both here and hereafter As for the Share I had in the Prosecution of the Popish Plot I take God to Witness that I proceeded in it in the Sincerity of my Heart being then really convinced as I am still that there was a Conspiracy against the King the Nation and the Protestant Religion And I likewise profess that I never knew any thing directly or indirectly of any Practice with the Witnesses which I look upon as so horrid a thing that I never could have endured it For I thank God Falshood and Cruelty were never in my Nature but always the farthest from it imaginable I did believe and do still that Popery is breaking in upon the Nation and that those that advance it will stop at nothing to carry on their Design I am heartily sorry that so many Protestants give their helping hand to it But I hope God will preserve the Protestant Religion and this Nation though I am afraid it will fall under very great Trials and very sharp Sufferings And indeed the Impiety and Profaneness that abounds and appears so scandalously bare-faced every where gives too just an Occasion to fear the worst thing that can befal a People I pray God prevent it and give those who have shewed a Concern for the publick Good and have appeared hearty for the true Interest of the Nation and the Protestant Religion Grace to live so that they may not cast a Reproach on that which they endeavour to advance which God knows has often given me sad Thoughts And I hope such of my Friends as may think they are touched by this will not take what I say in ill Part but will endeavour to amend their ways and live suitable to the Rules of the true Reformed Religion which is the only thing can administer true Comfort at the latter end and relieve a Man when he comes to die As for my present Condition I bless God I have no reâ—pining in my Heart at it I know for my Sins I have deserved much worse at the Hands of God so that I chearfully submit to so small a Punishment as the being taken off a few Years sooner and the being made a Spectacle to the Worlâ— I do freely forgive all the World particularly those concerned in taking away my Life and I desire and conjure all my Friends to think of no Revenge but to submit to the Holy Will of God into whose Hands I resign my self entirely But to look back a little I cannot but give some touch about the Bill of Exclusion and shew the Reasons of my appearing in that Business which in short is this That I thought the Nation in such Danger of Popery and that the Expectation of a Popish Successor as I have said in Parliament put the King's Life likewise in much Danger that I saw no way so effectual to secure both as such a Bill As to the Limitations that were proposed if they were sincerely offered and had passed into a Law the Duke then should have been excluded from the Power of a King and the Government quite altered and a little more than the Name of a King left So I could not see either Sin or Fault in the one when all People were willing to admit of the other But thought it better to have a King with his Prerogative and the Nation easie and safe under him than a King without it which bred perpetual Jealousies and a continual Struggle All this I say only to Justifie my Sâ—ir and not to enâ—lame others Though I cannot but think my earnestness in that matter has had no small Influence in my present Sufferings But I have now done with this World and am going to a Kingdom which cannot be moved And as to the conspiring to seize the Guards which is the Crime for which I am Condemned and which is made a Constructive Treason for taking away the King's Life to bring it within the Statute of Edw. 3. I shall give this true and clear Account I never was at Mr. Shepheard's with that Company but once and there was no undertaking then of securing or seizing the Guards nor none appointed to view or examine them Some Discourse there was of the feasibleness of in and several times by Accident in general Discourse elsewhere I have heard it mentioned as a thing might easily be done but never consented to as a thing fit to be done And I remember particularly at my Lord Shaftsbury's there being some general Discourse of this kind I immediately flow out and exclaimed against it and asked if the thing succeeded what must be done next but mastering the Guards and killing them in cold Blood which I looked upon as a detestable thing and so like a Popish Practice that I could not but abhor it And at the same time the Duke of Monmouth took me by the Hand and told me very kindly My Lord I see you and I are of a Temper did you ever hear so horrid a thing And I must needs do him Justice to declare that I ever observed in him an Abhorrence of all base things As to my going to Mr. Shepheard's I went with an Intention to taste Sherry For he had promised to reserve for me the next very good Piece he met with when I went out of Town And if he recollects himself he may remember I asked him about it and he went and fetch'd a Bottle but
the Horses Waggons and Carts that could be found were immediately hired and the Waggons and Carriages filled with all sorts of Persons who could take away with them only what was most valuable an took up the least room And in short nothing but Cries and Lamentations were to be heard in every Place as if the Turks had been already Masters of Vienna and this lasted all that Afternoon But while these Things were in Agitation they discovered from Vienna the Village of Vishamund where the Duke was encamp'd July 7. and another little Place hard by it all on a Fire which still doubled the Consternation of the Inhabitants so that as many as remained behind upon the Emperor's going away looked upon themselves now as quite undone However this Fear blew over again by the News that soon after came that the foresaid Places were not fired by the Enemy but by the Carlessness of the Suttlers and others that followed the Camp and at last they grew pretty secure when they saw the Duke of Lorain July 8. with Drums beating and Trumpets sounding come in good Order with his whole Cavalry by the Walls of the Town and passing the Bridge over a Branch of the Danube about half a Mile above Vienna which forms an Island there and where the Duke posted himself with his Cavalry But he was no sooner lodged there than that the very next Day a great Conflagration was seen both far and near all being in Flames especially towards the Frontiers of Hungary where not only all manner of Edifices but even the Fruits and Product of the Earth were consumed with Fire Neither did the Province of Austria it self fare better all being laid desolate as far as Newstadt beside the bloody Carnage made of the innocent Inhabitants and all this by the barbarous Tartars Things being in this Posture without and the Enemy still approaching all Hands were set on work to put the Town in a Posture of Defence by clearing the Ditches erecting Pallisadoes upon the Counterscarp and every Body appeared very active in the Matter and so much the more since Count Staremberg who had some Days before left the Foot and Artillery marching slowly towards Vienna took the Appearance of some Troops upon the Hill of St. Mark not for his own Men but for the Forlorn of the Enemy's Army sent before to make way for the main Body to form a Siege as they were in reality which put him also upon making further Preparations of Defence by setting the Suburbs on fire tho' that could not give the Inhabitants that Satisfaction as the Approach of their Foot did who July 13. and the Day following came up as did also several Bodies of the Enemy with this difference that the Turks encamped between the Town and the South-side of the Danube whereas the Imperial Foot marched on the other side of the River without Resistance and through the Island of St. Leopold entered Vienna about Midnight to the inspeakable Joy of the Inhabitants and as many of them as were necessary were distributed by Count Staremberg the Governour to their several Posts there being before not above 2000 Men in the Place The Turks posted themselves about the City on the 14th in the Form of an Half-Moon and 2 Days after when they had made their Trenches at least 2 Yards deep to secure themselves from the Shot of the Besieged they began to throw in their Bombs tho' with little Success However they continued to advance their Works and Trenches towards the Court and lebel Bastions and even by the 16th had got almost within 30 Paces of the Ditch notwithstanding the continual firing made upon them from within They raised at first 3 Batteries towards the Bastion aforementioned which in a little time they reduced into one great one from whence they played with great Fury as they did also with their Mortars So that on the 10th a great Bomb falling upon the Spanish Ambassador's Lodging destroyed all the Noblemens Stables that were built under that part of the Rampart where it fell but the Fire at length by the Governour 's Care was put out And to prevent as much as might be such a Conflagration for the future all the Roofs of Houses that were of Wood were ordered to be pulled down the Governour in his own Person giving Example of his Obedience thereunto And because they perceived the Enemy carrying on double Lines of Communication for the joyning of their Trenches the Governour ordered a Sally to be made under Count Guido of Staremberg which was executed with that Success that many of the Turkish Miners were killed or taken and amongst the rest one who gave the Governour Misinformation of many Things relating to the Enemies Camp However he was mightily concerned about giving the Duke of Lorain Intelligence of the State of Things and to that End promised publickly an 100 Ducats to any one that would undertake to carry a Letter over the Danube to him But there was none found that would adventure it at that time tho' the Duke had better Success on his part in a Thing of the same kind For on the 21st a Messenger arrived from him safe in the Town by swimming over the Branches of the Danube and escaping all the Sentinels of the Enemy that were upon the Shoar The Letters which he brought were fastned to a Bladder and hung about his Neck wherein the Duke encouraged the Besieged to be of good Cheer for that the Enemy would be shortly forced by a pitch'd Battel to raise the Siege great Succours being expected from the Empire and Hereditary Countries as also from the King of Poland who was on his March and already advanced as far as Olmutz But all this while the Turks were not idle for after they had possessed themselves of the Island of St. Leopold they terribly battered the Town from thence and did great Damage and carried on their Designs with great Caution and Secresie But on the 22d there were Letters brought to the Governour from Christopher Caunitz the Emperor 's Resident at the Port and who was now detained in the Turkish Camp that gave him some Information of Things tho' this Correspondence quickly ceased for the Thing was so generally talked of in Town that the Grand Viâ—ier came to hear it and so took care to secure the Messenger that went back with the Governour 's Answer who however cunningly dropp'd the Letters that were covered with a Ball of black Wax by the Way so that the very next Day every Family was ordered to provide a Man to watch in their Cellars and to give notice of any Noise of digging they should hear But the Enemy sprung 2 Mines that same Evening towards the outward Angle of the Counterscarp tho' without any considerable Effect On the 25th the Turks towards Evening began to keep Holy-day with an hideous Noise of Bells and Pipes their ordinary Musick which when some of the Christians heard from the Place
to abandon their Mines as being filled with Water and the chief Mines of the Imperialists being discovered by the Turks they were render'd useless These Considerations and a great Army of the Infidels being by this time got together under the Serasquier occasioned the sending of the Marquess Herman of Baden into the Camp where after several Conferences it was concluded that by reason of the bad Weather and the Cavalry wanting Forage for a long time together they should raise the Siege and march off thinking that more adviseable than to ruin the whole Army And therefore on Oct. 29 the Artillery was drawn off and shipped and two Days after the whole Army marched away in good Order But somewhat to sweeten the great Loss and Disapointment of the Germans in the Siege of Buda their Arms proved much more successful in other Parts during this Campaign And first in Sclavonia where Count Lesley having laid Siege to Vitovitza the chief City of that Country on the 11th of July and carried on the same with great Conduct till towards the 20th he then understood that the Turks after having drawn together all the Forces they could between the Save and the Drave in order to succour the Place were arrived under the Command of the Basha of Maratha who had the Guard of the Bridge of Esseck near Flatina about 4 German Miles from Virovitza making in all 2500 Men but were to join the Beg of Zerneg and the Governor of Grandischa who for that purpose were with 1400 more on their March towards him Whereupon the Count immediately commanded the Regiments of Croats making about 4000 Men to march under the Command of the Count de Trantmarsdorse with Orders to prevent the Enemy's Conjunction who therefore marched all Night and about 7 in the Morning attacked the said Basha in his Camp near Flatina whom they routed and pursued with considerable Slaughter as far as Turbinat In returning from hence they happily met with the other Party commanded by the Beg who knew nothing of the other's Defeat yet they made a very weak Resistance but many of them saved themselves in the adjacent Woods This Expedition being thus happily over the Count returned with 12 Standards and 20 of the most considerable Prisoners into the Camp besides all the Provisions he took which they had designed for the Relief of that Place In pursuance of this Defeat the Garrison of Virovitza capitulated and on the 25th the Germans took possession of the Place But Count Lesley was like to have paid very dear for this Conquest and Victory for while he was encamped at the Bridge of Turannovitz on the Drave the Serasquier being reinforced with several Troops from Bosnia decamped from Walpon with an Army of about 30000 Men and thought to have overpower'd him Yet the Count having timely Notice of his Design he posted his Troops which did not make above 14000 in all advantagiously between two Morasses and fortified his Camp and there received the Turks with such Warmth and Vigour that he repulsed them with Loss but did not think fit to pursue them he esteeming it enough to have made good his Post which upon further Informations of the Enemy's Motion he fortified yet more advantagiously and towards the latter end of Sept. he went to Vienna to give the Emperor an Account more particularly of his Affairs on that side But Sclavonia was not the only Country where the Emperor's Arms succeeded this Summer Vpper Hungary had a Share therein where General Schultz commanded and who about the beginning of Sept. having received Advice that Count Tekeley had put 150 Men and 2 Pieces of Cannon into a small Place called Zeben he decamped from Tarza and attacked the Place so seasonably that he carried it by Assault having put the Hungarian and German Deserters that he found therein to the Sword From thence he sent several Spies to Count Tekeley's Army by whom being informed of the Number of his Troops and the Situation of his Camp he resolved to attack him and accordingly leaving his Baggage at Zeben he marched on the 17th in the Evening with all his Cavalry and part of his Foot which the Horse-men carried behind them and being come about 3 in the Morning near the Enemy's Camp he drew his Troops into Battalia and fell upon them before they had time to put themselves in a Posture of Defence So that all they could do in the Confusion they were in was to think of making their Escape some one way some another insomuch that in less than an Hour's space he became Master of their Camp and Artillery consisting of 5 Pieces of Cannon and of all their Ammunition Tents and Baggage and even of Tekeley's Coach and Standard who himself had much ado to escape for he was in Bed and had hardly time to put on his Cloaths and had but 2 or 3 Persons to accompany him in his Flight But what was perhaps of worse Consequence to count Teckeley was that in his Tent were not only found his Sable Wearing Apparel Plate and Money but even his Papers also To which if you add the Loss of 4000 Men slain in this Action it may be reckoned as intire a Defeat as any that hath happened in the whole Course of the War Upon this General Schâ—â—ltz immediately laid Siege to Esperies but finding a great Garrison in it and well provided he quitted it and contented himself to take in first a Place called Barthseldt four Miles from the former and a large Town upon the Frontiers of Poland and then some other smaller Places and so retired to Winter-Quarters Having now traced through this Years War in Hungary between the Turks and Germans we are next to see what has been done on the Polish side before we enter upon the Affairs of the Venetians whose first Campaign it has been to make up the tripple Confederacy It was in the middle of Aug. before the King of Poland joined the Army at a Place called Bucksacs from whence he sent Detachments to attack the Fortress of Jaslowick which after a little Contention was surrendred to him It was expected after this that his Majesty would either have besieged Caminiec or march into Moldavia or Wallachia but neither of the two happened For as to the first he contented himself to pretend at first to block it up and then to throw a few Bombs into it And as for the other he was so far from advancing into the Enemies Country that the Turks and Tartars believing he was engaged in the Siege of the said Place marched to the Relief of it This when the King was informed of he marched to Kolenzan but then it appearing that there was no more than a Detachment of the Tartars come over the Niester to observe the Polish Army he ordered his Van-guard to charge them which they did with that Bravery and Eagerness that the Enemy immediately fled leaving a great many slain behind them
some computing 3000 while the Poles on their side lost about 100. And with this ended the Campaign in that Part of the World without any Thing that was Memorable or worth Recording Now we shall look a little into the Proceedings of the Republick of Venice upon this present Conjuncture After they had perfected their Alliance with the Emperor and the King of Poland in the Spring of the Year they gave the chief Command of their Forces to the Procurator Morosini who had formerly done them signal Service in the War of Candia with the Title of Captain-General who about the Month of June did rendesvouz with the Fleet at Lessina and from thence sailed towards Corfu where having staid some time he put to Sea again July 19 and next Day arrived before Sancta Maura which is a Portress situated at the Mouth of the Gulf of Prevesa on a little Neck of Land being very strong and was then very well fortified having the Sea on one side and a great Morals on the other However the light Vessels enter'd the Port of Damata on the 21st and the Forces landed on each side of the Place at the same time which being done the Captain-General sent the Governour a Summons to surrender threatning upon his Refusal to put all the Garrison to the Sword The other answered That the Fortress belonged to the Grand Signior who had given him Charge of it and that therefore according to this Duty he would defend it to the last But he deserted the Suburbs on the East at the same time On the 23d the Fleet began to batter the Place but with no great Success because of the high Wind yet next Day the whole Fleet was so disposed as to do most Execution with their Cannon and the Galleasses were advanced within Musquet-shot of the Fortress and they threw in a great many Bombs and Fire-balls with good Success tho' they themselves received some Damage from the Guns of the Enemy Neither were the Forces that landed idle on their part for by the 25th they had finished a Battery of 20 Pieces of Cannon and the next Day another somewhat nearer but both on the East-side of the Town as they raised one also to the Westward the Days following wherewith they made a Breach in the Wall wherein however they were disturbed in a Sally by the Turks who were quickly beaten back but yet so as that they took care to defend themselves within For by the 1st of Aug. they filled up the Breach with Sacks of Straw and Bales of Wool which yet the Christians ruined with their Cannon and advanced their Trenches to the Counterscarp and on the 2d thought to have advanced farther when they found the Breach again filled up This made them descend into the Ditch a third part whereof was filled on the 3d at Night with Faggots and in the Morning they made 2 Descents more into the Ditch their Cannon having not only made a large Breach but dismounted all the Cannon in the Place which greatly incommoded the Besieged who were excluded from all Relief every way since the Sieur Manata had been posted with 600 Men on the side of Prevesa to shut them up that way also Wherefore finding the Ditch quite filled up and receiving another severe Summons they sent out 3 Deputies on the 7th who being brought to the General cast themselves on the Ground praying he would grant them a Capitulation which be did so far as to allow them to march out with Arms and what they could carry about them to the Number of 600 and were convoyed to Prevesa And thus the Venetians became Masters of Sancta Maura wherein they found 80 Pieces of Brass Cannon 20 whereof had the Arms of St. Mark upon them and a great Quantity of Ammunition and Provisions But this Conquest was not gained without the Loss of near 500 Men. The Captain-General continued some Time at this Place to give the necessary Orders for the Repairing its Fortifications and the Security of the Island and then sailed away along the Coast and having caused his Troops to make a Descent a Dragomastra they were soon joined by 2500 Greeks who had taken up Arms and so marched above 50 Miles into the Country burnt two great Towns called Dragosi and Zapandi with a great many Villages and ruined the whole Country of Acarnania but gave Protection to several Greek Boroughs and Villages that desired it and promised an Annual Pension This Progress of theirs the Sangiac of the Province endeavoured to oppose and to that end drew all the Force he could together and attacked them but to no Purpose for they entirely defeated him and the Greeks that had joined them gave a particular Testimony of their Fidelity to the State upon this Occasion And that every Thing might contribute to the facilitating of this Incursion the Captain-General had ordered the Gallies to post themselves before Perasto and the Castle of Lepanto to keep in those Garrisons that they might not disturb them The Forces being re-imbark'd with a vast Booty the Captain-General steered his Course towards Prevesa with a Resolution to attack it it being of great Importance for the Securing of the Conquest of Sancta Maura because it is situated at the Entrance of the Gulph of Arta which it commands where he was no sooner arrived but he ordered 5 Gallies and 6 Galleasses to approach towards the Castles called Gemenizze which are almost in sight of Prevesa with a Design to amuse the Enemy and to oblige them to divide their Troops by sending Reinforcements thither which had the Success the General proposed to himself therein For Saban Basha believing the Venetians would attack those Castles sent thither the greatest part of the Troops he had drawn together for the Security of Prevesa Whereupon the whole Fleet Sept. 20 sailed from Damata reached that Evening to the Gulph's Mouth and next Morning Capt. Manetta with 24 Barks and several armed Brigantines entered the Gulph and landed part of the Troops safely in spight of all the Firing of the Turks with their great and small Shot upon them when the Gallies advanced at the same time within Musquet shot of the Place to make a Diversion and to facilitate the Disembarking of the Troops which having advanced by Land passed in Galliots an Arm of the Sea about half a Mile abroad under the Command of General Strasoldo while the Turks believing they designed to Land their Troops at the Place where the Gallies had posted themselves imployed their chief Care on that side to hinder it But finding their Mistake they sent 500 Spahi's in great haste to charge the Venetian Troops that passed the Arm of the Sea above-mentioned but this was too late for those Troops were already drawn up in order of Battel and received the Turks so well that many of them were killed and the rest fled in so much Disorder that the greatest part of them could not get into
Agria bombarded by the Baron de Merci and all the Country round it ravaged and destroyed and then the Troops went into their Winter-Quarters the Bounds whereof they had considerably enlarged in that part of Hungary this Campaign I have nothing to say concerning the Feats of the Poles this Season unless it be that they did suffer their Provinces of Podolia c. to be ravaged by the Tartars came themselves late into the Field not under the Conduct of the King but of the Crown-General and besides a Skirmish or two with some of the Enemies Parties and threatning to invade Moldavia or some of those Dynasties did nothing else but return again to their Quarters But the Venetians made far better Work of it for after considerable Preparations made and divers Consultations had at length the Captain-General Francisco Morosini considering the vast Importance of Coron could he take it for the Use of the Republick set sail in the Month of July for that Place But scarce had the Venetians approached the Place when a great Body of Turks came down from the Country and took their Lodgments within Pistol-shot of the Christians which wonderfully animated the Besieged who were already of themselves sufficiently bent to make an obstinate Resistance especially considering the Advantages they had by the steep and difficult Situation of the Town the Abundance of Provision and Ammunition they were stored with besides their own Strength and Number which was very considerable And indeed to say the Truth of them the Besieged and Turks without acted for the Preservation of the Place whatever might be expected from desperate and brave Men. They attempted several times to become Masters of a Bonnet which commanded the Venetian Camp but they were stil repulsed though it retarded the Besiegers and was an Hindrance for them to carry on their Works Then the General sprung a Mine wherein were an 100 Barrels of Powder which was perform'd on the 24th of July but it had not the desired Effect quite contrary to the Hopes of the Success of this Work which so encouraged the Turks that they broke into the Venetian Lines to gain their desired Object the fore-mentioned Bonnet Yet when they thought themselves secure of it the General poured in upon them a good Body of Horse and Dragoons which being seconded by the Maltese Forces attack'd them at the very Entrance of the Bonnet with so much Resolution and Valour for the Space of 3 Hours during which time the Combate very obstinately lasted that at last the Venetian Forces replanted their White Colours upon the Place the Turks that were driven from it endâ—avouring to shelter themselves under the Covert of the adjacent Trees but that Place was quickly made too hot to hold them also They lost in the whole of their Number 400 and had as many wounded but the Venetians had not above 130 killed and wounded in all on their side and even to sweeten that Loss they got by the Action several rich Spoils and amongst other Things 17 Standards When they returned into their Trenches they exposed 130 Turks Heads to the View of the Besieged thinking thereby to terrifie them into a Surrender â—ut for all this they continued nothing less obstinate in the Defence of the Place which provoked the Venetians on the other hand to give them more terrible Effects of their Resolution and Power by the most furious Discharge of their Cannons Bombs and Stones upon them while at the same time which was July 30 the Turks rallied again after their Flight their Strength being considerably augmented by a great Number of Soldiers they had drawn together from all Parts of the Morea and by the Forces of the Captain-Basha and attempted a second time with greater Fury than before to throw themselves into the Venetian Trenches yet they were bravely repulsed and encountred with a Shower of Musket-shot and Granadoes so that they were forced not only to retreat but were pursued by Col. Bianchli's Regiments with 200 Dragoons to their own Retrenchments with the Loss of 400 Men which was so much the more heightned in that a Cannon-Ball took off Kalil Basha Visier Commander General of the Ottoman Army However all these Disadvantages would not abate the Turkish Pride and bring them to yield for they knew still where to be recrulted with fresh Troops and omitted not daily to disturb the Venetians in their Trenches Which Obstinacy of the Turks together with the Venetians being in this manner from within and without much harrassed with continual Action greatly lessened their Numbers so that the General saw plainly there was no lingring on the Matter but that either he must make some bold Attempt or draw off Wherefore having first ruminated it in himself he then proposed the Design to a Council of War which was To adventure to force the Enemies Camp and which perhaps contrary to his Expectation was approved of by them Hereupon he drew out of the Gallies 1500 Voluntiers who under the Command of Lieutenant-General Magnani landed about Midnight and next Day being Aug. 7 1200 of them filed off to the Left of the Enemies Retrenchments by the Entrance of a Valley the rest of them at the same time moving to the Right while some other Troops were held in a Readiness to follow their Motions and give them speedy Succour as Necessity required in order to favour and promote the Design The Twilight of the next Morning being come 2 Barrels of Powder were fired as a Signal which was immediately followed with a Discharge of all the Cannon and furious Salvo's of all the Musketeers with a continual firing both on the Front and Flank of the Enemies Camp which brisk and unexpected Assault put the Turks into very great Disorder and the forwardest of them began to flinch and give back without being able to be heartned up by the Example of the most undaunted or Commands of their Officers So that the Venetians finding such weak Resistance they fell on with the greater Fury and made a great Slaughter among the Turks scare any escaping their Swords and all this with little Loss to themselves They found also in the Turks Camp a very rich Booty of Artillery Arms Ammunition and Provision with about 300 Horses Tents Standards and 6 Brass Guns 3 whereof were marked with St. Mark of Venice besides the Imperial Standard adorned with 3 Horse-Tails The Venetians after so fortunate an Adventure finding themselves free from the great Obstacles of the Turks that were encamped without the Walls and now Masters of the Field were big with Hopes of soon putting the Besieged out of all Thoughts of further Defence wherefore they prepared for a general Assault and for that End sprung a Mine whose Effect was to bring them to an Attack which lasted for 3 Hours together the Besieged withstanding them with incredible Valour and Opposition fatal to a great many Noble Venetians and Valiant Soldiers who perished there This considerable Loss
their baffling rather than beating of the Turks at Sea the Army in the main had no great Occasion for it having lost abundance of Men by the Flux and other Distempers reigning in the Camp caused as was thought by the great Heats and eating of Fruits but it proved to be at last a Sickness that seemed to be the Effect of above than ordinary Cause which put an End to the Campaign on that side but it did not do so in Dalmatia It cannot be expected I should treat of every Minute's Action and Circumstance of this War in such an History and Compass as this is and therefore to pass over them little Skirmishes and Rencounters which happen'd between the Turks and Christians that way I shall content my self to recount the Particulars of the Siege and Taking of Sign and the intervening Circumstances thereof Seignior Cornaro Proveditor-General of that Country and the Prince of Parma having drawn together near Scalona 1000 Horse and 3000 Foot of regular Troops and 5000 Morlaques commanded by the Chevalier Janco with the Artillery and Ammunition necessary for a Siege held a Council of War wherein it was unanâ—mously resolved to attack Sign before which after a very difficult March they arrived Sept. 23 and found it not only situate on a Rock but fortified with a good Wall and a strong Castle However they broke Ground before it the same Day and raised 2 Batteries of 2 Pieces of Cannon and one Mortar each with which by the 25th they began to batter both Town and Castle and in a few Hours dismounted the Enemies Cannon that were planted on the great Roundel The Proveditor-General in the mean time sent the Governour a Summons offering the same Conditions as had been granted to Navarino and Modon But the Commandant who was a Dalmatian Runagado answered He would defend the Place to the last and would lose his Life with what the Grand Signior had intrusted in his Hands adding That he expected speedy Relief from the Basha of Arcegovina who was within 12 Hours march of the Place Upon this the Besiegers began to fire again from their Cannon and Mortars which they continued till the 26th when finding the Breaches were large enough and that the Pallisadoes and other Defences the Enemy had made behind them were beaten down the Prince of Parma appointed 500 Foot under the Command of the Marquess de Borri accompanied by divers Voluntiers and supported by a Reserve of 400 Men to make an Assault upon whose approach the Turks put themselves into a Posture of Defence and with Granadoes and Stones withstood the Efforts of the Assailants for 3 Hours and upwards But these at last prevailed and gained the Breach which made the Enemy retire into their second Entrenchment and the Castle where they put up a White Flag which the Commandant pulled down with his own Hand yet this did not at all daunt the Assailants who pushing on to the second Retrenchment took both it and the Castle and cut in pieces all the Garrison sparing only some few Women and Children which Slaughter all the Endeavours of the Marquess de Borri could not prevent because the Chevalier Janco to revenge the Death of some of his Relations killed in the Assault would give no Quarter The Venetians found 8 Pieces of Cannon and a considerable Number of other Arms as also great many Mules in the Place together with a very good Magazine of Powder But tho' the Plunder was inconsiderable to the Soldiery the Turks having before the Siege removed their best Effects to other Places yet the Town was of very great Consequence to the Republick since they became thereby Masters of the fertile Province of Zettina Now we have done with the Venetian Affairs it may be expected we should say something of Poland where the last Year was passed without any thing memorable but the King himself taking the Field it will be expected there should be something of Action especially seeing he had now concluded an Alliance offensive and defensive with the Two Czars of Muscovy He joined the Army in July and marched at the Head of them towards Moldavia erecting Forts in divers Places as he advanced to secure his Convoys and Retreat which together with the Difficulty of the Ways and Desart Countries throngh which they passed made it the middle of Aug. before they could get into the Neighbourhood of Jassi the Capital City of Moldavia whither the Hospodar of Moldavia sent Deputies to him to excuse his retiring from Jassi and his not joining his Forces with those of his Majesty seeing he could not now openly declare himself without exposing his Children whom he had been forced to give as Hostages to the Turks to certain Destruction To whom the King made Answer That the Hospodar could never meet with a more favourable Conjuncture to cast off the Ottoman Yoak he being come in Person to free him from it That he expected the Performance of his repeated Promises and that if he did now manifest the Sincerity of the them he would treat him as his declared Enemy But this would not do with the Hospodar who continued firm to the Ottoman and Tartarian Interest during this whole Expedition which was a great Disappointment to the King who would not yet be discouraged but continued his Maâ—ch on this side the River Pruth and on the 26th of Aug. encamped at a Place called Falsun But the Court-Marshal who commanded the Van-guard of the Army was engaged the Day before with 8000 Tartars for near 2 Hours together the latter having at first the Advantage who pressed very hard upon the Poles Yet these being seconded by some fresh Troops repulsed the others and put them to flight with the Loss of 800 of their Men slain many Prisoners and one of the Cham's own Standards They had divers other small Rencounters from time to time which yet did not hinder the King 's advancing to Falxin with an Intention to continue his March to Budziack but being informed he must pass over several great Mountains and that the Towns and Villages were burnt and the Forage destroyed by the Tartars he held a Council of War where it was resolved that for the better Subsistance of the Troops the Army should pass the River Pruth the Country not being yet ruined on the other side which was done accordingly But upon Advice that the Tartars had likewise passed that River and burnt and ruined all the Country and destroyed all the Springs of Water it was resolved to march towards Jassi which they did in 6 Days time having the Enemy continually in sight of them on the other side of the River commanded by the Serasquier and Sultan Nuradin and Cannonaded one another several times However the Polish Army got safe to their Camp near Jassi but the Turks Tartars and Hospodar's Men had no Design they should continue long so for they kept the Troops in a perpetual Alarm and frequently cut off the
King's Foragers which greatly perplexed him So that understanding at last that the main Body of the Tartars commanded by Sultan Nuradin was come near his Camp yet without being able precisely to learn the Place where they were he caused it to be published among the Moldavians That whoever brought him certain Intelligence of them should have the Reward of 200 Crowns Whereupon one that was well acquainted with the Country went into the Enemies Camp and having observed it returned and gave the King an Account that they lay within a Mile of his Army and that a Party of 4000 Tartars was advanced at some distance from the rest The King being thus informed of the Posture the Enemy were in detached the Court-Marshal and the Court-Treasurer about Midnight to attack those advanced Troops and followed himself with the whole Army This Detachment with the Help of the Moldavian who was their Guide came upon the Enemy before they had time to retire to their main Body and after a sharp Dispute entirely routed them taking about 300 Prisoners among whom were several Murza's and other Persons of considerable Note among the Tartars While this was doing the King also advanced and attacked the Serasquier and Sultan who not knowing of the Defeat of their advanced Troops expected they would have fallen upon the Poles in their Rear and Flank and with this Encouragement they put themselves into a Posture to oppose him However they were deceived and after a short fight were routed and forced to flee leaving a great many Slain and Prisoners behind them but not without Loss also on the Poles side there being several Officers and Persons of Quality and particularly the Palatine Podolskie among the Number of the Slain But while these Things were doing by the Polish Army abroad the Country nearer Home was cruelly ravaged by the Garrison of Caminiec who made frequent Incursions into the Polish Territories Which together with the King 's marching homeward after this last Action and demolishing the fore-mentioned Forts in his Return which he had raised as he went onwards made this Expedition to be little thought of and as little Advantage to redound to the Poles from it as they hitherto had reaped by their Alliance with the Moscovites who made a mighty Smoak this Campaign but very little Fire of whom we shall have more Occasion to talk hereafter year 1687 Now we are come to another Year and the Affairs of England fall of Course under our Consideration And as we left off with taking Notice of the King's Kindness to his Roman Catholick Subjects in a more particular Manner in the Letter he wrote to the Parliament of Scotland we are now to tell you of a more general Act of his and that was upon the 12th of February to issue out his Proclamation for a Toleration of Religion unto all Wherein by the by you are to observe that he exerted his Absolute Power which he said his Subjects ought to obey without Reserve But the Toleration he allowed his Roman Catholick Subjects in Scotland he would scarce allow to his Protestant Subjects in Ireland for Tyrconnel so did Talbot merit for reforming the Army was not only made an Earl but Lord-Lieutenant in Ireland to boot in the room of my Lord Clarendon and one Fitton an infamous Person detected for Forgery not only at Westminster but Chester too was brought out of the King 's Bench Prison in England to be Chancellor and Keeper of the King's Conscience in Ireland Sir Charles Porter being turned out to make way for him Now Talbot being thus advanced in Honour and Office began to exert his Authority and his first Proclamation towards the End of Feb. imported a Promise to defend the Laws Liberty and Established Religion but fairly left out the Preservation of the Act of Settlement and Explanation However though at first he only left them out being resolved to out the Protestants first and to let the Irish into their Forfeited Estates yet he did not stop there We told you last Year what Efforts were made to propagate the King's Power in Westminster-Hall and what Instructions the Judges had in their Circuits to dispense with the Penal Laws and Tests against Dissenters from the Church and now these Things being brought pretty well to bear upon the 25th of April out came the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience which was conceived in the following Terms His MAJEETY's Gracious DECLARATION to all His Loving Subjects for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE JAMES R. IT having pleased Almighty God not only to bring Us to the Imperial Crown of these Kingdoms through the greatest Difficulties but to preserve Us by a more than ordinary Providence upon the Throne of Our Royal Ancestors there is nothing now that We so earnestly desire as to Establish our Government on such a Foundation as may make Our Subjects happy and unite them to Us by Inclination as well as Duty which We think can be done by no Means so effectually as by granting to them the free Exercise of their Religion for the Time to come and add that to the perfect Enjoyment of their Property which has never been in any Case invaded by Us since Our coming to the Crown Which being the Two Things Men value most shall ever be preserved in these Kingdoms during our Reign over them as the truest Methods of their Peace and Our Glory We cannot but heartily wish as it will easily be believed that all People of Our Dominions were Members of the Catholick Church yet We humbly thank Almighty God it is and hath of long time been Our constant Sense and Opinion which upon divers Occasions We have declared that Conscience ought not to be constrained nor People forced in Matters of meer Religion It has ever been directly contrary to Our Inclination as We think it is to the Interest of Government which it destroys by spoiling Trade depopulating Countries and discouraging Strangers and finally that it never obtained the End for which it was employed And in this We are the more Confirmed by the Reflections We have made upon the Conduct of the Four last Reigns For after all the frequent and pressing Endeavours that were used in each of them to reduce this Kingdom to an exact Conformity in Religion it is visible the Success has not answered the Design and that the Difficulty is invincible We therefore out of Our Princely Care and Affection unto all Our Loving Subjects that they may live at Ease and Quiet and for the Increase of Trade and Incouragement of Strangers have thought fit by Virtue of Our Royal Prerogative to issue forth this Our Declaration of Indulgence making no doubt of the Concurrence of Our Two Houses of Parliament when we shall think it convenient for them to meet In the first Place We do declare That We will Protect and Maintain Our Archâ—bishops Bishops and Clergy and all other Our Subjects of the Church of England in the free
to continue him at the Helm there being no other of the Imperial Line But the now Camaican suspecting the Treachery ordered the Kisâ—ar Aga to go into the Streets near the Walls of the Seraglio and admonish the Grand Signior not to make any Attempt against his own Blood and to forbear giving any Suspicion by seeking to enter into the Apartments of his Sons and Brother because that the Janizaries had surrounded the Seraglio and would surprize him if he did not continue quiet This Enterprize being thus interrupted he found himself now excluded from all Means of maintaining himself in the Sovereign Power and the next Stroak that presaged his invitable Fate was his being given to understand that his Sons were taken from him and put under a safe Guard with the greater Security to co-operate for the Brother's Safety After this he found himself coup'd up within the Confines of the Seraglio by the Caimacan's Order and all the Liberty he had left was to repair as often as he pleased to a Kiâ—soh upon the Sea-shoar under the Walls of the Seraglio which terminated also upon the 29th of Oct. for the Army was now near Thereupon the Caimacan Mufti and Caydelesker with some principal Persons of the Law meeting at St. Sophia and having performed their Devotions they sent presently the Chiaux-Pachi to the Seraglio and followed him themselves As soon as they were admitted they required Sultan Solyman who being brought forth was immediately placed upon the Throne He upon so great and unexpected Tidings was not at all ruffled or changed but with great Modesty and Humility laying his Hand upon his Breast bowed down and in a few Words render'd them Thanks after this he was Proclaimed Emperor through all the Parts of the City Yet the discontented Janizaries and others were not appeased but a few Persons of Note more being sacrificed to their Rage and a Sum of Money distributed among them brought Things at length into a tolerable State of Settlement And now its time we should inspect a little into Things on the Part of the Venetians and the Progress of the Arms of that Republick How glorious soever the Imperialists have reckon'd this Campaign to have proved unto them the Venetians have not a whit the less Esteem for what their Troops had done both in Dalâ—atia and the Mirea It s true the Turks were before hand with them in the former by taking the field for 2 of their Basha's early in the Spring laid Siege to Sign hoping to carry it before the other were in a State to give it Relief But the Governour the Marquess de Borri proved so resolute and the Garrison that consisted of about 700 Men so obstinate in the Defence of it that they withstood all the fierce Attacks of the Infidels till the 22th of April in which time General Cornaro had having drawn together near 14000 Men advanced towards the Turks who upon Information of their Resolution and Strength raised the Siege the next Day And this happened so much more to the Advantage of the Venetians in that if the latter had not come up in that Nick of Time the Turks would have been reinforced with 3000 Men that they hourly expected and then such an Additional Force would render the Enterprize very dangerous when as the Turks were already Superiour in Number to the Christians But though this Disadvantage at the first taking of the Field seemed to be ominous to the Turks and did more than a little â—aunt them yet the Basha of Erzegovina thinking to have a Reparation for this Affront resolved to attack the Portress of Opusch a small Place situated upon the River Narenta and actually invested it with near 3000 Men of which General Cornaro had no sooner Intimation but he caused some Troops to march that way and having sent Orders to Chevalier Janco to repair thither immediately with the Morlaques 3 Gallies several Galliots and some other Vessels for the Transportation of the Troops The Basha thereupon was so far from presuming to proceed on with his Attacks that he thought an hasty Retreat the best Expedient for himself and Men. Neither did the Turks come off with this Fright only for the Morlaques plundered and reduced to Ashes the Suburbs of Dumno several Villages of that Country took divers Prisoners and brought away a vast Number of great and small Cattel Hitherto the Venetians were but on the Defensive in this Country but they were resolved not to continue always so and therefore General Cornaro having Joined the Auxiliary Gallies after the necessary Preparations and some Difficulties that had been raised concerning the Supream Commands had been adjusted on the 1 of Sept. came in sight of Castlenovo the Capital City of St. Sabba situate upon the Banks of the Canal of Catarro 3 Miles from its Mouth and just opposite to the Levant Sea But the Wind proving somewhat contrary and the Enemy having made some Retrenchments he found great Difficulty in landing However through the Constancy of the Auxiliary Troops who had Orders given them to land nearer the City than where the first Attempt was all Opposition was over-come after an Onset of 5 Hours continuance wherein the Auxiliaries were seconded by Generl Paulo with 2 Battalions Insomuch that they made themselves not only Masters of the 1st Trenches but also the next Day took the 2d from the Enemy so far as to possess the Hill Vencranda that commands the Place and with 2 small Pieces of Cannon drove them out of all the Houses without the Circuit of the City But this was not done without Loss on both sides while the Bombs in the mean time did great Damage both in the Town and Castle and the Guns were continually firing in order to make a Breach as well as Mines preparing to ruine some works that obstructed the Besiegers Passage Yet what from the Attempts made from without to succour the Place though ineffectually and what with the continual Rains that fell it was the 28th of Sept. before the Mines were sprung which happned to be with good Success and made the General prepare all things for an Assault The Gallies and Galliots began to fire very hard upon the Town while the Dragoons the Troops of Maltha and Abruzzo with the Granadeers at the Head of them attack'd the Breach with great Resolutions but the Besieged being much more numerous than was expected gave them such a vigorous Reception as to repulse and put them into Disorder with the Loss of near 200 Men. However the Officers by their own Example did so well encourage the Troops that notwithstanding all the Resistance the Turks made and a Retirade fortified with Palliâ—adoes and a deep Ditch they made a Lodgment there and fortified themselves Next Day which was the the 29th the Works were pushed on by the Morlaques to the very â—oot of the Rampart against an huge Tower and a 2d Assault was made with all possible Courage though without
upon them which being done also by the Turks posted on the other side of the River this manner of Treatment forced the Fugitives to renew the Charge But alas that served only to augment the Confusion that was already very great in the Ottoman Army For the Christians taking advantage of the disorders flew upon the Enemy from all parts who then betook themselves to their Heels not knowing whither to fly So that only Night protected them from the fury of the Victors But several of them in seeking to save their Lives in the Dark not being able because of that to find the way to the Bridge adventured in hopes to pass the River to escape by swimming but the stream was so rapid that most of them were drowned insomuch that of all the Turkish Cavalry there were but very few that escaped In their Camp the Imperialists found great store of Utensils for Pioneers 30 Pieces of Cannon of an extraordinary bigness of which some were four square a great Number of Carcasses Glass Granadoes Bisquet Barley Rice Meal Oats Tobacco Camels and other things but of all the Plunder the Prince of Baden reserved only for himself the Serasquier's Tent which was very magnificent and which had been sent him by the Grand-visier in regard he had lost his own in the former Battel After the Army had pillaged the Camp they entred Nissa without opposition where they found Provisions enough for the Subsistence of the whole Army for 5 or 6 Weeks and took above 3000 Horses and Mules and what still made this Victory the more considerable was the smallness of the Imperialists loss there being not above 300 killed and not many more wounded whereas the Turks were computed to have been worse for this Battle by 8000 Men. The Prince still to pursue this great advantage dispatcht away the very next day 3000 Horse under the Command of Picolomini to look after the fugitive Turks with orders to advance as far as Sophia and view the Country who returned the 13th of Sept. without having been able to meet with any of the Enemy but reported the Countrey was very good having suffered but little by the War that he had put Garrisons into Pio and Mussa Pafora which the Turks had quitted upon his Approach and that he understood by some Prisoners he had taken that the Infidels were retired to Sophia where they endeavoured to rally their broken Troops This Intelligence moved the Prince to fortifie Nissa and so much the rather because the Country People who came in great Numbers to implore his Protection assured him that the Country was good and â—ertile and if preserved sufficient to furnish an Army with all necessary Provisions and when he had done he made Count Pic lomini Commander of the Place and the adjacent Country depending on it and soon after Couâ—t Tekeley who had some time before possessed himself of Orsâ—wa thought convenient to quit it but he first set the Town on fire and then retired to Silistria Mean while the Prince of Baden not willing to conclude this glorious Campaign with this last Action set forward Oct. 6th with his Army for Widin another important Place with a good Castle upon the Danube and upon the 11th arrived at Breslau where he staid one Day in expectation of the Baggage and from thence sent a Detachment of Germans and Hungarians to view the Country and to get some intelligence of the Enemy These returned next Day with some Prisoners and reported that the two Bassa's were retired near Widin with their Forces and that Tekeley had taken the Road to Sophia Hereupon the Prince re-sumed his March and on the 14th by 10 in the Morning got to the Plains of Widin when the Enemy who knew nothing of the Army's March were strangely surprized to see the Imperial Foragers foraging very near their Camp and their Consternation was so great that before they could recover themselves the Prince his right Wing had passed the great stone Bridges that were built upon the Moras and was drawn up in Battle-array expecting the coming up of the left Wing which passed immediately after Neither did the Enemy endeavour to hinder them which gave the right Wing an opportunity to take up their Posts very near the City and to secure themselves with the Danube The Turks seemed at first very couragious but they were charged with so much bravery by the right Wing where the Prince of Baden was in Person that they were driven to an Intrenchment they had made about the Town upon whom however the Imperial Cavalry advanced receiving the Fire of the Janizaries which killed some Horse-men and made the rest recoil Yet they presently rallied again behind a rising Ground and advanced within 40 Paces of the Enemy's Moats where they stood their Ground till the rest of the right Wing had planted themselves near a Church-yard that was there In the mean time General Veterani who commanded the left Wing ordered 200 Dragoons to alight and attack the Enemâ—'s Intrenchments which they did so well that they entred in a short time the City pell-mell and were soon seconded by the Cavalry and the rest of the Forces killing in the whole of this Action near 2000 Turks with the loss of 400 of their own Men. Those of the Turks that could not save themselves on the Barks that lay upon the Danube or with that part of the Cavalry that fled to Sophia retired to the Castle of Widin where they resolved to hold out a formal Siege which made the Prince send to Semendria for his great Cannon In the mean time he ordered his Men to begin to open the Trenches that all might be ready upon their Arrival for widening a Breach and storming the Place But the besieged upon better Thoughts would not stay for the Cannon and therefore upon the 18th of Oct. they capitulated to march out of the Place with Arms and Baggage and were conducted by Water to Nicopolis with which the Prince of Baden concluded this long and most glorious Campaign distributing his Army into Winter-quarters in Transilvania and Vallachia sore against the Will of the Hospodar who could not help it and then he returned to Vienna But while these things were transacted in the Field the Ottoman Embassadors at Vienna for some part of the time pressed very much the Negotiations of Peace wherein they found the Emperour but little disposed Yet having at length received some dispatches from the Grand-Seignior they themselves grew much more remiss in their instances The reason whereof the Emperour and his Allies could not well penetrate into And therefore to sound them the more it was thought fit the Pretensions of the Allies should have been imparted to them to see whether they had any orders to conclude upon those Conditions which Proposals were 1. That the Kingdom of Hungarry should be restored with all its Dependances and the Principality of Bosnia in such a manner that the
Grand-Seignior should never more claim any right therein 2. That Moldavia Walachia and the Republick of Ragusa which had put themselves under the Emperor's Protection should be comprized in the Treaty of Peace and not to be disturbed by the Turks in any manner whatsoever 3. That all the Tartars should depart the Countries 4. That the Port should pay 6000000 towards the Expences of the War immediately after the Conclusion of the Peace and 2000000 every Year for free Passage to Constantinople 5. That all the Christians that had been taken during the War which were above 1000000 should be set at liberty lastly that Tekeley and all his Adherents should be delivered up to the Emperor The King of Poland demanded the restitution of Caminiec and 4000000 in Silver And for the Venetians they required 1. The restitution of all the Islands that formerly belonged to them and particularly the Island of Negrâ—pont 2. The restitution of the Dukedom of Athens 3. The Exchange of Lepanto for Tragusa 4. The restitution of Dulâ—igno and Mahona 5. A Regulation of the Limits of the conquered Cities and Countries And lastly that the Grand-Seignior should pay to the Republick 400000 Ducats But these Propositions seemed so unreasonable to the Embassadors that they tore their Beards upon it However they delivered a Letter to the Imperial Commissioners which the Grand-Seignior had written to the Emperour Within which it was thought some Offers and Proposals tending to a Peace might be met with But they were surprized to find nothing but Complements and the Imperial Court was so incensed at it that they sent Orders for the Ottoman Embassadors to be gone but while they were preparing for their departure word was sent them that they might stay till the Return of the Couriers from Poland and Venice to know the final Resolutions of those two Republicks At last depart they did but stopped at Commorra and after a long stay there got leave at length to return leaving the Peace that way desperate and the War to be prosecuted with as great fury as ever But how high soever the Demands of the Venetians were in their Proposals of Peace they must have proceeded from another Motive whatever it were than the Operations of this Compagne which proved very unsuccessful to them as the last had done For the Siege of Napoli di Malvasia a City in the Morea which their Forces undertook did not go forward with that Success that was desired their Army being only worn out before it and a great Number of brave Officers lost And therefore being reduced to this bad plight and the Garrison obstinately refusing to hearken to a Surrender tho' the Place was very much ruined by the Bombs they resolved at length to change the Siege into a Blockade To this end they put 2000 Men in Garrison into the two Forts which they had raised on the Land-side and left some Frigates at Sea to endeavour the prevention of any Relief that way Which being effected they drew off the rest of the Army to Napoli di Romania to take up their Winter-Quarters Neither did their Affairs in Dalmatia meet with any better Success than those in the Morea For Seignior Mclino Proveditor-General of that Countrey having advanced towards Narenta to make himself Master of la Gabella and some other Posts met the Turkish Horse near the Bridge that leads to that Place The Vanguard composed of Morlaques was charged so vigorously that they were forced to give Ground However Molino stood firm with 600 Horse and his Infantry but finding the Turks were reinforced he was not willing to engage in a Fight the Success whereof was so much the more doubtful by how much his Men had been somewhat discouraged by the Defeat of the Morlaques wherefore he retreated in good Order and with the Loss of no great number of Soldiers The rest of Italy was hitherto pretty quiet save for the Troubles of the poor Vaudois whose Persecution is now at an end and with which doth a Cloud gather that in a little time shall overcast a great part of this Countrey But of this we shall have occasion to speak in the succeeding Years and take notice here that this as it hath been remarkable upon many other Accounts so upon that of the Death of one of the greatest Popes that lived since Gregory the Great 's Days the famous and renowned Odeschalchi by Name and Innocenâ— XI upon his Assumpsion of the Papacy who departed this Life upon the 12th of Aug. between 3 and 4 in the Afternoon He was born at Como in Italy in the State of Milan was made Clerk of the Chamber under the Pontificate of Vrban VIII and of Innocent X. by whom he was made a Cardinal in 1645. after which he was preferred to be Legate of Bologna and Bishop of Novarra and Clement X. dying the 22d of July 1676. he was advanced to the Pontifical Chair the 22d of Sept. following Some have called him the Protestant Pope for what Reason I know not unless it be that when France was exercising her Severities upon her Reformed Subjects they were highly opposed by him at the same time upon another Account and that some said that he in one of his Letters exprest a Dislike not only at the one but the other of their Proceedings at least-wise as to the manner of it But be it as it will he was certainly a very great Man for all the Satyrs that were made upon him in France and it cannot be taken ill by the Publick if with a judicious Person I encounter all their Calumnies with what an Impartial Author wrote of him when he was yet but a Cardinal saying Odeschalchi is most certainly a very great Man and a Person of Worth and Integrity not to be corrupted Exemplary Charitable Disinterested Disingaged from the World without Pride without Vanity without Pomp Zealous with Moderation Austere only to himself His Kindred are Persons of Worth his Brother died at Como some Years since Canonized by the People for his signal Works of Piety and Charity there is nothing to be blamed in his Conduct and of all the Colledge he is the most fit to be Pope for his Honesty and Vertue But whether the vacant See was supplied with a Person worthy to succeed so great a Man may appear hereafter we shall only here note That Peter Ottoboni a Venetian by Birth and Bishop of Porro was on the 6th of Oct. following promoted to the Papal Dignity being aged 80 Years within a few Months year 1690 The Affairs abroad being terminated as we have above related for the Year 1689. we shall enter upon this with the Affairs of Britain The Parliament of England happily ended their most important Affairs towards the beginning of it and in regard they had found the Aim and Drift of the preceding Reigns to have been absolutely to annihilate the Authority of Parliaments and that King James in particular had gone a great
Scotland the whole Party would not seem thereby to be discouraged especially those in England who thought it a very opportune Season while the King was absent to attempt something considerable to the Advantage of their Cause And therefore having timely concerted Matters with their Friends on the other side of the Water it was so agreed That while part of the French Fleet should bear up into the Thames to favour and assist the Designs of those that were in London who were very numerous by the flocking of a great many of the Conspirators from all Parts of the Country thither they were to have made an Insurrection in several Places at once Certain Persons were to have taken upon them the Administration of Affairs till the Return of King James who was to leave the Command of his Army to his Generals and hasten with all Speed into England The other part of the French Fleet having joyned their Gallies was to have landed 8000 Men at Torbay with Arms for a greater Number after which the Gallies and Men of War were to Sail into the Irish Sea to hinder the Return of King William and his Forces Their Party in Scotland was to have revolted at the same time in several Parts of that Kingdom But however the Matter was in reality the whole Contrivance seems to have been founded upon a Presumption if not Assurance of the English Fleet being first beaten by the French of which whether they had any foresight otherwise than from the inequality of the Strength which was considerably at this time to the Advantage of France I am not able to unriddle Yet the Conspiracy by the timous Discovery of it proved a vain Contrivance tho' the Grounds upon which the Formation thereof seemed to depend proved but too successful For all the French Fleet having entred the Channel as before concerted they veered some time upon the English Coast as expecting the Effect of the Conspiracy which was to have broken out the 18th of June of which the Queen had no sooner notice but she sent the Earl of Torrington who was Admiral Orders to fight the Enemy what-ever befel him as knowing they could have no good Design by coming so near us But how dishonourable soever this Action seemed to be to the English Nation yet there was one Circumstance that attended it that was somewhat favourable For the People generally were possess'd with an Opinion of the English Seamens Courage and Bravery above those of the French and many with so high a Conceit of the Admiral that Commanded them that it was some days before they could be brought to be perswaded of the Truth of what had happened And their Concern about it even then was much alleviated by the good News we had of his Majesty's Success in Ireland at the Battle at the Boyne which was fought the day after and of which by and by But we must first return where we left off in Ireland and that was to the Army going from Dundalk into their Winter Quarters and take a short View of the State of things there till the King's Arrival Dundalk Camp was not the only the Place that proved fatal to our Army in Ireland for they died in great numbers both Officers and Souldiers after they got into Quarters and among the former Colonel Langston departed this Life of a Fever at Lisburn and my Lord Hewet and the Lord Roscommon of the same Distemper at Chester So that about the beginning of the new Year several Regiments were broke into others and the Officers continued at half Pay till Provision could be made for them in other Regiments whilst others went over into England for Recruits However Sickness by degrees abating about the beginning of Febr. they found both Men and Horses such as survived in pretty good Heart when the General being informed that the Enemy were drawing down some Forces towards Dundalk and that they had laid in great Store of Corn Hay and other Provisions with a Design from thence to disturb our Frontier Garrisons sent a considerable Body of Horse and Foot that way himself following them on the 11th towards Drummore in order to wait the Enemies Motion But the Irish designs at this time lay another way For while the Duke was upon this Expedition there was Notice given Colonel Woolsâ—ey that they had a Design to fall upon Belturbet which he had taken from them a little before and that to that end a considerable number of them were advanced to Cavan and more to follow who thereupon marched diligently from Belturbet with 700 Foot and 300 Horse and Dragoons in the Evening towards them as thinking to surprize them next Morning ealry they being not above 8 Miles off But he met with so many Difficulties in his March that instead of being before day light at the Place he designed it was not only half an hour after break of day before he came in sight of it but also the Enemy had got notice of his coming So that instead of surprizing them he might well have been surprized himself For the first thing he saw was a Body of the Enemy drawn up in good Order and might consist of about 4000 Men but there being no retreating now either with Honour or Safety the Colonel was resolved to stand stoutly to it and therefore having first told his Men the Advantages of being brave and the inevitable Ruin of the whole Party if they proved otherwise and thereupon finding them very compliant to his Desire he sent a Party of Iniskilling Dragoons towards the Enemy who were presently charged by a great Body of their Horse and beat back past the Front of their own Foot who were so enraged at them that some of Major General Kirk's Men and Colonel Wharton's fired upon them and killed 7 or 8 of the number but some of the Enemies Horse pursued them so far that many of them were killed by our Foot as they endeavoured to get off By this time the Body of the Party was advanced near the Irish who were posted upon the top of a rising Ground not far from the Town and who as our Men advanced up the Hill fired a whole Volley upon them and then set up an Huzza but scarce killed a Man their Shot flying over them Our Men however went on till they came within Pistol-shot and then fired which so galled the Irish that they immediately retired towards the Town and entred into a Fort they had there and from whence they sallied and made a very fierce Attack upon the English who had too speedily fallen to Plunder But Woolsley having 250 Foot and about 80 Horse for a Reserve the Enemy were beat off again their Horse flying quite beyond the Town and the Foot retiring to the Fort again The Soldiers got good store of Shoes and other things in the Place but their Ammunition was blown up and their Provisions destroy'd for the Colonel was forced to set the Town on
made a sudden halt faced about and retreated up the Hill again to a little Village called Dunmore about half a Mile from the Pass Our Men marching in good order came up with them at this Village when the Irish faced abont and charged with so much briskness that our Horse was forced to give ground tho' the King was with them Hereupon the King rid to the Iniskillingers and asked what they would do for him and advanced before them Their Officer telling his Men who it was and what Honour was done them At the Head of these Men the King received the Enemies Fire and then wheeling to the left that his own Men might have liberty to advance and fire they erroneously retired after him above a 100 Yards which made the King move to the Left to put himself at the Head of some Dutch Troops that were advancing while in the mean time the Iniskillingers growing sensible of their Mistake went on again to the Charge and did good Service Some of Duke Sâ—homberg's Horse were here also and behaved themselves well taking one or two of the Enemies Standards while another Party commanded by Lieutenant General Cinkle now the Renowned Earl of Athlone charge in a Lane to the Left but the Irish proved too many for them there and so they were obliged to retreat This being observed by a Party of Sir Albert Cunningham's Dragoons and another of Colonel Levison's the Officers ordered the Men to alight and line an Hedge as also an old House that flanked the Lane from whence they poured in their Shot upon the Enemy Lieutenant General Ginkle continued in the Rear of his Men being heartily vexed at their retreating and was in some Danger by our own Dragoons For the Enemy being close upon him they could not well distinguish However the Dragoons did a piece of excellent Service in this Place by stopping the Enemy who came up very boldly and our Horse having the Opportunity of Rallying here as they did to the Right the Enemy after near half an hours sharp Dispute were bear back again from this place and a great many of them killed On the other side Lieutenant General Hambleton finding that his Foot did not answer his Expectation he put himself at the Head of the Horse which being defeated by ours he was wounded on the Head and taken Prisoner When he was brought to the King he was pleased to ask him Whether the Irish would fight any more Yes said he an 't â—please â—your Majesty upon my Honour I believe they will for they have a good Body of Horse still When he named his Honour the King looked a little aside at him and repeated once or twice Your Honour intimating That what he assumed upon his Honour was not to be believed since he had forfeited that before by siding with the Earl of Tyrconnell And this was all the Rebuke he gave him for his breach of Trust Now you are to understand that while all this happened on this side our Men on the Right were making the best of their way over the Hedges and Bogs towards Duleek and as they advanced the Enemy drew off till they had heard what had happened at the Pass and then they mended their pace yet they could not make so much haste but that several of them were killed especially among the Foot upon whom a Party of our Horse broke in but they presently scattered among the Corn and Hedges till they got beyond a great Ditch which our Horse could not pass But tho' when they got over the Pass they drew up and fired their great Guns upon our Men who did the like on their side as being not able easily to come at them with their small Shot yet their Confusion was so great that they left a great many Arms with a Quantity of Ammunition in the Village of Duleek and indeed all the Country over Yet our Men were so â—illy as to blow up the Powder where-ever they found it and few or none of the Enemy escaped that fell into their Hands for they shot them like Hares among the Corn and in the Hedges as they found them on their March Of all the Irish Commanders none seemed to have been more active and vigilant and done better Service that day than Lieutenant General Hambleton whom at last we took Prisoner as above-noted But the Irish Foot were the first that ran while the Count de Lauzun's Horse and some Swiss which he had with him and which were the best Men in the late King's Army no way derogated from the good Opinion which was generally conceived of their Valour but stood to it till they saw themselves abandoned by the other and then retreated in very good order But the Irish made so much haste that tho' our Foot pursued them above 4 Miles beyond the place of Battel yet they could not overtake them no more than some of the Horse who continued the Pursuit till Night and then returned to the place where the Foot made an Halt and where they remained at their Arms all Night The Enemies whole Loss in this Battel was generally computed at 1500 Men and of them some considerable Persons as the Lord Dungan the Lord Carling ford and Sir Neal O Neal c. But one thing was observable that day that most of their Horsemen who charged so desperately were drunk with Brandy each Man having that Morning received half a Pint to his Share But it 's like the Foot had not so large a Proportion or at least did not deserve it so well And on our side fell near 400 which in it self was inconsiderable and not worth speaking had not the Renowned Duke Schomberg been of the Number a Person whom his very Enemies called a brave Man and a great General He was certainly a Person of the best Education in the World and knew Men and Things beyond most of his Time appearing courteous and civil to all and yet had something always that looked so great in him that commanded Respect from Men of all Stations and Qualities As to his Person he was of a middle Stature Fair-complexion'd a very sound hardy Man of his Age and sat an Horse incomparably well and as he loved always to be neat in his Cloaths so was he ever pleasant in his Conversation and tho' he was 82 Years old when he died yet when he came to be embowelled his Heart Entrails and Brain were as sound and fresh as if he had been an Youth of 20 so that it is probable he might have lived many Years longer if Divine Providence had not otherwise ordered it And as Monsieur â—allimot had followed that Great Man in all his Fortunes while alive so he did in his Death for he died of his Wounds soon after him As for the King himself he received no manner of hurt through God's Providence in the Action tho' he was in all the height of it only a Cannon-ball carried away a piece of
they found an old Fort built by their Ancestors which they were very proud of and from thence they fired 3 or 4 Field-pieces upon the Irish that lay intrenched between them and the Town As soon as the Army was posted the King ordered a Trumpet to be sent with a Summons to the Town where as was understood since a great many of the Garrison were for Capitulating But Monsieur Boisâ—leau the Governours the Duke of Berwick and Colonel Sarsfiâ—â—d opposed it with a great deal of heat saying There were great Divisions and Insurrections in England that the Dauphin was landed there with 50000 Men and that the Prince of Orange would quickly be obliged to withdraw his Forces thither Hereupon Monsieur Boiselau sent the Trumpeter back with a Letter directed to Sir Robert Southwelâ— Secretary of State for he would not as 't is supposed send directly to the King because of avoiding to give him the Title of Majesty importing That he was surprized at the Summons and that he thought the best way to gain the Prince of Orange ' s good Opinion was by a vigorous Defence of the Town which his Master had entrusted him withal And so the Cannon plaid on from both sides and next Morning early which was Aug. 13th the King sent 8 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and 3 Regiments of Foot over the River which they passed though it was very rapid and dangerous and some of them encamped beyond the Ford the rest was ordered thus The King's Camp was on the Right in the 2d Line next him the Horse-guards and blew Duâ—ch then some English and Duâ—ch Regiments then the French and Danes and behind all the Horse tho' after some time they encamped rather conveniently than regularly Neither were the Irish idle but they fell to build Forts between the Besiegers and the Irish Town one to the Sâ—â—gate and the other towards the 〈◊〉 which proved serviceable to them But not so much a disadvantage to us as the surprizing of the Train that was upon the Road to join the Army It was reported a French-man and one of the Gunners ran away the Day before from the Army and got into Limerick and gave the Enemy an account where the English Train lay as also of those Guns and other things that were coming up where the King's Tent stood and divers other things that might be material for them to know and therefore they plaid very briskly upon the Train as also towards the King's Tent which he was prevailed with at last to remove but this was not all For though on Munday one Manus O Brian a substantial Country Gentleman came to the Camp and gave notice that Sarsfield with a Body of Horse had passed the River in the Night and designed something extraordinary yet he was so far from being taken notice of at first that most People looked upon what he said as a Dream and though a great Officer called him aside as though he designed to have some more particular information yet his main business was to interrogate him concerning a Prey of Cattle in such a Place which the Gentleman complained of afterward saying He was sorry to see General Officers mind Cattle more than the King's Honour But after he had met with some acquaintance he was brought to the King who to prevent the worst gave orders that 500 Horse-should be made ready and march to meet the Guns But where-ever the fault lay it was certainly 1 or 2 in the Morning before the Party marched which they did very softly till after they saw a great light in the Air and heard a strange rumbling Noise which some conjectured to be the Train blown up as it really was For our Train having on Munday marched beyond Cullen to a little old ruinous Castle called Ballenedy not 7 Miles from the Camp Sarsfield lurked all that day in the Mountains and having notice where and how our Men lay he had those that guided him through By-ways to the very spot where he fell in among them before they were aware and cut several of them to pieces with a great many of the Waggoners and some Country People that were carrying Provisions to the Camp The Officer commanding in chief when he saw how it was commanded to sound to Horse but those that endeavoured to fetch them up were killed as they went out or else saw it was too late to return The Officers and others made what resistance they could but they were every Man at length obliged to shift for themselves so that there were in all about 60 Persons killed but it did not end here For the Irish got up what Horses they could meet withall belonging either to the Troops or Train some broke the Boats and others drew all the Carriages and Waggons with the Bread Ammunition and as many of the Guns as they could get in so short a time into one heap they filled the Guns with Powder and put their Mouths into the Ground that they might thereby certainly split What they could pick up in an hurry they took away with them and then laid a Train to the rest which being fired at their going off blew up all with an astonishing Noise but for all that 2 of the Guns received no damage The Irish took no Prisoners on this occasion only a Lieutenant of Colonel Earl's being sick in a House hard-by was stript and brought to Sarsfield who used him very civilly and told him if he had not succeeded in that Enterprize he would have gone for France The party of Horse that was sent from the Camp came up after the business was over in sight of the Enemy's Rear But wheeling towards the left to endeavour to intercept the Enemy's Passage over the Shannon they unhappily went another way The News of this Adventure was very unwelcome in the Camp and even the very private Men shewed their concern at it However the Siege went on and the Trenches were opened the 17th and a Battery raised below the Fort to the Right of the Trenches which dismounted some of the Enemy's Cannon and the day following his Majesty himself was in great danger For while the Enemy fired very thick he rid softly up towards Cromwell's Port and as his Horse was directly entring the Gap he was staid by a Gentleman who came to speak to him when in the veâ—â— moment there struck a 24 Pounder in the very Place which would have struck the King and his Horse too to pieces if his usual good Angel had not defended him It struck the Dust all about him however though he took little notice of it but alighting came and laid himself down on the Fort among all the Dust It will be an endless thing to trace every particular of the Attacks and Defences and therefore I shall only observe that on Wednesday the 27th of Aug. after a Breach had been made nigh St. John's Gate over the black Battery of about 12 Yards in length and
Forces of his Catholick Majesty and his Royal Highness shall be joyned together both submitting to Military Discipline without committing any Disorders And both Allies shall give Orders to their Victuallers to repair to the Army and sell their Provisions at a moderate Price 15. And because the present Alliance is only defensive 't is declared That when the Army of France shall begin to commit Hostility either in the Territories of Milan or those of his Royal Highness it shall be then changed into an Offensive Alliance And in case that Pignerol and Casal shall be taken from the French the first shall be remitted into the Hands of his Royal Highness the other shall belong to his Catholick Majesty by Right of Conquest yet so as no way to prejudice the Right and Possession which his Royal Highness has taken of Monferrat by Vertue of the Treaty of Chierasco And in case there shall be any thing won from the Enemy in any Place where his Royal Highness has any particular Right it shall be parted in Halves by reason of the great Damages which his Royal Highness suffers from the Enemies Army that lies in his Countrey having put off the March which they had designed to make an Invasion into Milan to which the Territories of his Highness serves as a Bulwark being nevertheless burthen'd by an unexpressible Charge of the French Army And in regard the Count of Fuensalida takes Charge of his Catholick Majesties Army which is kept in Pay for the Delivery and Defence of Milan he is also obliged to assign Winter-Quarters in the Territories of Milan to the Troops of his Royal Highness and to put them into such a Condition that they may be fit for Service the next Campaign The Manner and Form being concerted between his Royal Highness and his Eminence in Person or between their Ministers as also the Number of well-disciplined Men his Excellency having all the while Power to agree for Money for the Winter-Quarters except Forage The Ratification on both sides to be made by the Count of Fuensalida in two Months and by the Count of Brandisso in six Weeks Concluded at Milan June 3d. 1690. Sign'd the Count of Fuensalida Count Charles Emanuel de Brandisso I shall not now enter upon the particular Consequences of these Alliances as having some things nearer home first to observe And here I cannot but note That as the Enemies of France increased so she seemed equally or rather more to increase in Power being very formidable this Year by Sea of which we have already instanced the Particulars and no whitinferior by Land as will manifestly appear in the Course of this Discourse and of which the Confederates especially on Flanders and the Lower Rhine-side seemed to be sensible And therefore they concerted their matters thus That the Army of the States should oppose in Flanders that of France commanded by the Duke of Luxemburg while the Elector of Brandenburg should upon the Banks of the Moselle withstand the Forces commanded by the Marquess de Boufflers But the French according to their usual forwardness having taken the Field betimes the States Troops were constrain'd to draw out of their Garrisons to attend the Enemy before those of Brandenburg were come to the Posts assigned them which gave Boufflers an opportunity to encamp between the Sambre and the Meuse from whence he could joyn the Duke of Luxemburg whenever there was occasion for it The Dutch Generals under these Circumstances were obliged to encamp at the Pieton the most advantageous Post of all Flanders and there to stay till the Brandenburg-Army took the Field and thereby cause the Enemy to divide their Forces But while they lay at Pieton they understood that the Duke of Luxemberg drew near the Sambre with a Design to cross that River between Namur and Charleroy in order to waste the Spanish Countries and put them under Contribution Which News so allarm'd the Spaniards that tho' they could do little of themselves yet they pressed the Dutch extreamly to oppose the French Intentions wherein they the more easily prevailed since Prince Waldeck was of himself disposed to it out of the Consideration he had of what Importance it was to keep the French beyond the Sambre and therefore he decamped from the Pieton June 3d N. S. and detatch'd the Count of Berlo the same day with a Detachment of 1500 Horse to observe whether the Enemy endeavour'd to pass the Sambre or no who was followed by the Count of Flodorp with 4 or 5 Regiments of Cavalry to assist him or make good his Retreat the Count of Webennum being also posted on this side a narrow Lane which was to be passed thro' before they could come at the Enemy Berlo being advanced as far as the Village of Fleuri found that a good part of the French Army had already passed the Sambre and posted themselves against the Village which they kept to their Backs of all which Prince Waldeck who was posted between Mellin and Fleuri was instantly informed Now the Enemy having notice of Berlo's Approach marched directly towards him while the Duke of Luxemberg presently dispatch'd away several Troops privately thro' By-ways to fall upon him in the Rear which made Berlo send for more Succours and chiefly of Foot but instead of sending him more Force they gave him Orders to retreat Yet he receiving not those Orders till he was almost environed on every side he was obliged to put himself in a Condition to defend a narrow Lane which he had possess'd before by his Dragoons The Enemy charged him very vigorously and there he lost his life as did also Major Castleman and some other Officers The Count of Flodorp was also advanced too far to retreat without fighting and the Cavalry indeed stood stoutly to it but being oppress'd with Numbers they were forced to retreat to Monsieur Webbenum who commanded the 3d Detachment and was posted on the other side of an Hedge Some Squadrons of the Enemy that pursued Flodorp ventured thro' the Hedge after him but they were so vigorously repulsed that they were constrained to make more haste back again When this was done all this Body of Horse joyned the Army which was drawn up in Battel-aray not far off And thus ended the Work of that Day The whole Army stood in order of Battle all that Night and the next Morning they understood by a Deserter that the Duke of Luxemburg was resolved to fight But 2 Spies that made it their Trade to be double ones reported presently after that Luxemburgh was repassing the Sambre And in this uncertainty Prince Waldeck continued till 8 in the Morning when the French were drawn up in Battle-aray that there was a necessity of engaging The States Army consisted of about 25000 Men in regard the Spanish Forces and others who should have reinforced them were not yet come up so that the Prince could not make above 2 Lines that extended from Fleuri to St. Arnaud The
Principality he passed the Iron-gate without any Opposition and advanced the 12th of Sept. as far as Weâ—sot where he staid two days till the Baggage came up which could not follow so fast by reason of the Mountains and narrow Lanes through which they were to pass the 24th he set forward for Hatzech and encamped the 25th at Nelans and Beras near the River Stretta The day following he marched through the Plain of Hunniad to that of Maros not far from Szalvaras where they met with a small Party of Tekeley's Men who were scouting abroad to inform themselves of the March of the Imperial Army of which some they killed and took others Prisoners and having rested the 2 next days they continued their March towards Alba Julia or Weissemburgh But what-ever methods Tekeley might take to get Intelligence the Prince of Baden managed his Business with so much Prudence Celerity and Secrecy that Tekeley found himself invironed by the Imperial Army before he was well aware of it So that he could go neither forward nor to the left nor right without venturing a Battle which because he did not find it convenient to do he laid hold on the only Course that remained for him to take and so safely retreated to Moldavia But he was in so much haste that he left part of his Baggage behind him and had between 2 and 300 of his Rear-guard cut off So that the Prince cleared all Transilvania in a trice Then having taken all the Care imaginable to secure the Passes from Moldavia and Wallachia and those which were next the Danube to the end they might be free from the Fears of any new Invasion He separted the Army on the 1st of Nov. leaving a good Body in the Province it self under the Command of General Veterani who had the Duke of Hanover and the Baron de Pace under him and with the rest march'd himself towards Clausemburg and from thence soon after posted to Vienna where he was much expected and received abundance of Honour for his great Services where we shall now leave him and take a step into Poland tho' we had in a manner as good stay at home For there passed there in the whole Course of this year very little of any Consideration The Tartars and Turks both made home-Attempts to draw the King to disunite from the Confederacy and to that end both of them sent their respective Envoys to him who tho' they made a meen of being desirous of a general Peace yet all their Solicitation tended to induce the King to make up a particular one for himself which yet at last did not succeed contrary to their own and most Mens Expectations But while the Tartarian Envoy was carrying on his Negotiation as aforesaid in order to a Peace their Forces committed a thousand Disorders upon the Frontiers harassing and burning all before them and carrying into Captivity all that had not the foresight to make their Escape and entring further into Pocutia and Volhinia with their usual Ravages also This so nettled the Polish Forces who had the first Intelligence thereof that they mustered in great haste together out of their Winter-Quarters where they lay tho' in truth their business that time of the year which was now Summer had been to be in the Field pursued and over-took the Enemy and charged them so vigorously that they were forced to repass the Borysthenes where when they had got they rallied again upon a rising Ground and from whence perceiving the Poles marching in disorder without any care of Discipline they immediately repassed the same River and attacking the Christians before they could rally themselves they cut 17 Companies in pieces and this gave them another opportunity of making a second Inroad into the Country and that farther than they had done before and you may be sure with no less Ravage This rouzed up the Polish Courage once more wherefore there was a Muster ordered to be made of the Polish Army which was found to amount to 5000 Horse 2400 Dragoons and 12000 Foot After this about the 1st of Sept. they passed over the Neister above Weynits with their Artillery and march'd directly towards Moldavia the most Eastern Part of the ancient Dacia confining upon Poland where the King making himself Master of Sockow the Metropolis of that Province seated on the South-side of the River Sereth he furnished it with a Garrison of 800 Men under the Command of General Harstal and all manner of necessary Provisions for 6 Months purchased with the Money which the Pope had sent him When they had so done they march'd homewards without any further Attempt this Campaign where we will leave them and see whether the Venetians have not been more active than they this Season against the common Enemy of Christianity Towards the beginning of the year the Doge arrived at Venice where he entred in great Triumph resigned up his General 's Truncheon and was received by the People with the loudest Acclamations of Joy and Wishes for his Prosperity as the Defender of their Country which yet received some Damp from the ill News brought in that Conjuncture from the Levant of the Turks having put fresh Relief into Napoli di Malvasia which we told you they had block'd up last year as fearing now the Blockade would prove as unsuccessful as the Siege then had done But the Republick not being discouraged herewith not only ordered the Blockade to be reinforced but prepared all things in a readiness to begin the Campaign betimes and so much the rather because of the Assistance of 300000 Livres the Pope their Country-man gave them at this time for the Expences of War and that they believed they should meet but with little Opposition on that side since the Turks would be forced to imploy the main of their Forces in Hungary and only be upon the defensive in the Morea In pursuance of this Resolution and Preparations the Sieur Cornaro now Captain-General of the Venetian Forces caused the lower Town of Napoli di Malvasia to be attack'd where he met with very stout Resistance tho' the Garrison were now reduced to about 300 Men who killed at least 200 of the Christians upon this Occasion before they could carry the Place which yet raised their Hopes mightily that it would contribute to the speedy surrendring of the Body of the Town especially when they found by an intercepted Letter of the Commander that he had not Provision for above 15 days and in effect so it came to pass For notwithstanding all the Efforts the Turks made to relieve it it was actually delivered to General Cornaro on the 12th of Aug. and with it the entire Conquest of the Morea compleated by the Republick for whose use were found in it 73 Pieces of Cannon and above 130 Christian-Slaves hereby recovered their Liberty This matter tho' slowly yet being thus happily terminated the General thought fit to imploy the remainder of the fair
in perswading the Citizens to be quiet all would not do but capitulate he must and in pursuance of the Agreement the Garrison march'd out on the 10th of Apr. and left the French in an intire Possession of that important Fortress and the Confederates to look about and consider where this would terminate But at present we shall leave them and tell you that King William hereupon re-passing the Seas gave all the necessary Orders imaginable for having all things ready for the intire Reduction of Ireland which was left to the Management of Lieutenant General Ginkle while His Majesty himself was to return again into Flanders to head the Confederate Armies and try the Issue of the Campaign whether it would be carried on and ended on that side as it began but of this more by and by we being resolved at present to prosecute the Irish Wars even to the final Event of them After both Armies in that Country had gone into their Winter-Quarters as we have already related in the preceding Year they remained on either side pretty quiet for 〈◊〉 time but tho' several Designs were brewing by each Party against the other there hapned nothing of any great moment between them and the most considerable Mischief done to the English was by the wicked Rapperies of the Country and the Native Irish not in Arms both which the other were first or last sufficiently quit with yet there was not such forwardness in either to take the Field but that the Month of June came first when the initiating Work of the English proved to be the Siege of Baltymore which was surrendred on the 9th of the said Month and from whence after some days stay there the Army march'd towards Athlone and on the 19th very early in the Morning the Van-guard marched from Ballyburn and beat the Enemy from several out-Ditches within the Walls of the English Town of Athlone on this side the Shannon and lodged themselves in the said Ditches On the next day a Battery was raised and a Council of War held wherein it was resolved to storm the English Town that the Irish pretended to defend which was done accordingly for tho' the Irish made considerable Resistance yet the English went on and kept firing till they got to the Breach that was made which a French Lieutenant first mounted throwing in his Granado and firing his Piece and ordering his Men to do the same and with great Bravery incouraged his Party tho' he lost his Life in the Action and so the Town was taken and abundance of the Enemy both killed and drowned in endeavouring to Escape Then Batteries were planted against the Irish Town which by the 22d in the Morning were finished and the Cannon and Mortars began to play very briskly on the N. E. side of the Castle where it was weakest and continued to do so next day when the Tin-boats came up and that a Prisoner who was taken gave an account that 64 Men were in a Mill upon the Bridge which being fired by the English Granadoes and those within not being able to quench it nor get thence they were all burnt to death except the Prisoner and one more who leaped into the Water the 24th was spent in raising more Batteries one below and another above the Bridge while a 3d was erected without the Town-wall by the River-side opposite to a Bastion the Irish had made on the other side of the River And at the same time they were contriving Methods to pass the River but all this while the Irish were not idle in raising Batteries and making other necessary Preparations for their Defence which did but heighten the Courage of the English who by the 26th fired from 7 Batteries upon the Enemies Works and did great Execution and the Design they once had of passing the Shannon at a Ford towards Lanesborough being frustrate the General resolved to try what he could in forcing a way through Athlone and therefore laboured hard to gain the Bridge but found this to be very difficult Work However on the 27th in the Evening the English burnt the Breast-work the Irish had made on the other side of the broken Arch with throwing in their Granadoes which being made of Wood presently set them on fire and the next Morning which was the 28th the English had laid their Beams over and partly planked them which a Party of the Enemy attempting to ruine were every Man slain But all this did not discourage another Party of 10 Men to set about the same Work which they bravely effected by throwing down the Planks and Beams maugre all the firing and Skill of the English but they all also perished except 2 which made the General resolve to carry on the Work by a close Gallery on the Bridge and designed to pass the Shannon next day but they met with such Opposition and especially by having their Gallery burnt by the Irish that the further Prosecution of the Attack was deferred for that day which was the 29th But on the 30th a Council of War being held it was stifly debated whether it were more adviseable to make another Attempt or to draw off And though there appeared very great Reasons for the latter yet the Duke of Wirtemburg the Major-Generals Mackay Talmash Ruvigny and Teautau urged That no brave Action could be attempted without Hazzard That the Attempt was probable and profered themselves to be the first that should attempt to force the Enemies Works in their own Persons particularly Talmash which they happily performed accordingly For the Detatchment drawn out the day before was ordered still to be in a readiness And the General gave command they should be all brought down by 6 the usual time of relieving the Guards that the Enemy might not suspect the Design which indeed they did not by the Information given the General by 2 Officers that Morning that deserted from the Enemy So that all things being now ready the Conjuncture favourable and the Signal given Captain Sandys and two Lieutenants lead the first Party of 60 Granadiers all in Armour and 20 a-brest seconded by another good Body with an amazing Resolution and took the Ford that was a little to the left of the Bridge against a Bastion of the Enemies the Stream thereof being very rapid and deep At which time also the English great and small Shot began to play from their Batteries and Works upon those of the Irish on the other side who fired as thick as possibly they could upon our Men passing the River that yet gallantly forced their-way through the Fire and Smoak and having gained the other Bank the rest laid Planks over the broken part of the Bridge while others were laying the Bridge of Boats whereby the English passed over so fast that in less than half an Hour they were Masters of the Town and of all the Trenches besides one beyond the Town For the Irish being amazed at the suddenness of the
had to Ships there or else that those they had would quickly be swallowed up by the French Fleet which they hourly expected But tho' the Siege was carried on with great Vigour and that in the interiâ— the Irish quitted several small places daily in the Country and Brigadier Levison routed several of their Parties in the County of Kerry and that the Cannon and Bombs did very great Execution upon their Camp and within the Town yet on the 17th of Sept. it was hotly disputed in a Council of War whether they should go on with the Siege or march over the River to destroy all the Enemies Forage in the County of Clare and then make a Blockade and it was so far carried for the latter that an Engineer was ordered to go with a Guard towards Kilmalock and fortifie that Place But before he got out of the Camp he was countermanded and a great many Palisado's brought to Mackay's Fort as if the Army intended to Winter there On the 19th it was resolved to pass the River with a Party either to prosecute the Siege or at least to burn the Forage And that same day a Battery was raised between Ireton's Fort and the old Church to flank the Irish in case of a Sally from St. John's Gate and Four Mortars were brought from the great Battery to Mackay's Fort that place being judged the fittest for bombarding since the whole Town lay in a Line from thence and Orders were given in case of an Allarm from the Irish Troops without that every Regiment should stand to the Posts assign'd them for that end But the Irish declined to hazzard any thing On the 20th most of the heavy Cannon that were not drawn off were now sent on Ship-board and I remember very well upon the News of this in England most intelligent Persons were of Opinion the Town would not be taken this Year tho' the News of Sligo's being surrendred to the Earl of Granard came confirmed at the same time But the General was indefatigable in his business For on the 22d he march'd with most of the Horse and Dragoous over the Bridge of Boats they had laid into the County of Clare leaving Mackay and Talmash to command on this side And all that Morning the Enemy continually fired upon them from several Batteries but without any great Harm In the Afternoon a Party of Colonel Matthews Dragoons was attack'd by a stronger Party of the Enemy till being sustained by a greater Force between whom continued some small firings till about 4 a Clock when the Foot came up which made the Irish retire till they were got under their Cannon Then all the English Granadiers sustained by 4 Regiments of Foot were commanded to advance and attack the Works that covered Thumond-Bridge being one Fort to the Right above a Musket-shot from the Bridge and another to the Left somewhat nearer besides several other natural Fortifications wherein the Enemy had posted a Detachment of about 200 Men between whom and the English there was a hot Dispute at first and their Cannon playing from the King's Castle and 2 or 3 more Batteries as also their small Shot from the Walls made the Attack seem very hazardous and the English were ordered not to approach so nigh the Town as they did However the Irish being now pressed upon by the Granadiers they quitted their first Posts and then were reinforced by another Detachment from the Town But all this could not do their business For the English Granadiers were so forward and despised all Danger to that degree that they put the whole Body to flight and pursued them so close that a French Major who commanded at Thumond-Gate fearing the English would enter the Town with the other ordered the Draw-bridge to be plucked up and left the whole Party to the Mercy of the English who shewed them little for all of them were either killed or taken except about 120 who got into the Town before the Bridge was drawn up There were also many of them drowned Hereupon the English lodged themselves within 10 yards of the Bridge notwithstanding an high Tower that stood near the end of the Bridge next to them and the Irish finding now all Communication cut off between them and their Horse and despairing of the French Succours began to think of giving up the Town whereof the English in general had no great Hopes who however push'd on the Siege next day being the 23d of Sept. with much â—ury and notwithstanding it proved very rainy yet the Guns and Mortars ceased not to play upon the Town nor the Enemy to fire more furiously than they had done for some time before But towards Night the Rain began to cease and both Storms ended together For about 6 the Enemy beat a Parley on both sides the Town and next day in the Morning Lieutenant-General Sarsfield and Major-General Waughup came out to the General and desired a Cessation of Arms might be continued for 3 Days till they could send to their Horse who then were encamped towards Clare in order to their being included in the general Capitulation which they then proposed which was agreed to and thereupon the Prisoners in the Town were released On the 29th Sarsfield and Waughup dined with the General and then it was agreed Hostages should be exchanged in order to a further Treaty which was done accordingly And next day the Irish sent out their Proposals but in such extravagant Terms that the General was so far from granting them that he returned Answer That tho' he was a Stranger to the Laws of England yet he understood that those things they insisted upon were so far contradictory to them and so dishonourable to himself that he could not grant any such thing And thereupon ordered a new Battery immediately to be raised but upon the Request of the Irish he sent them in 12 Articles which proved to be the Sum of the Capitulation for Sarsfield and others came on the 29th to the General and after long Debate agreed upon Articles not only for the Surrender of Limerick but all other Forts and Castles in the Kingdom then in possession of the Irish So that they were signed Oct. 3d by both Parties They consisted of two parts Civil and Military the first being signed by the Lords Justices and General but the latter on our Part only by the General and both here follow I. THE Roman-Catholicks of this Kingdom shall enjoy such Privileges in the Exercise of their Religion as are consistent with the Laws of Ireland or as they did enjoy in the Reign of King Charles the II And their Majesties as soon as their Affairs will permit them to Summon a Parliament in this Kingdom will endeavour to procure the said Roman-Catholicks such farther Security in that Particular as may preserve them from any Disturbance upon the Account of their said Religion II. ALL the Inhabitants or Residents of Limerick or any other Garrison now in Possession of the
as the French did not a little Triumph they had warded this Blow the King was resolved they should not always have occasion to do so and therefore finding the Enemy very intent to watch his Motion in a new seat of War he laid hold of the Advantage and in pursuance of it the Prince Serclas de Tilly passed the Meuse at Thilen with all the Horse and Dragoons of the Diocess of Liege being followed by a party of Brandenburg Horse and some Battalions of Foot and the same day invested Huy where the next day arrived 16 Regiments of Foot with the Duke of Holstein Ploen who was appointed to Command the Siege The Place was no sooner invested on both sides the Meuse but the Town surrendred to the Confederates and by the 19th of Sept. the Batteries were raised against the Castle and the Artillery that consisted of 60 Pieces of Cannon and 30 Mortars came up when the French made a Sally upon Major-General Cohorn's Quarters in hopes to have taken 3 Field-pieces but they were repulsed with loss and so the Works went on briskly till the 21st at Night when the Besieged opened their Trenches These they carried on with great Vigour till that on the 24th in the Morning the Brandenburg under-Officer of the Regiment of Anhault mounted the Counter-scarp of Fort Piccard at the head of 15 Soldiers only and that with so much Courage and Bravery that they killed the few French that were there threw a Tunful of Granadoes into the Water and took away a Barrel of Powder and some Arms which he brought into the Camp And all this in the sight of the Duke of Holstein Ploen and other Generals who were so satisfied with his Bravery that the Brandenburg General immediately wrote to the Elector to desire him to bestow a Captain's Place upon the young Officer The Besiegers the same day continued firing upon the Castle and two Forts both which last were taken by 700 Brandenburghers by dint of Sword who in the heat of their Fury put 150 French to Death but gave Quarter to 70 others that were mostly wounded and all this with the loss only of 20 Men So that being flush'd with Success they pushed on the Siege of the Castle with wonderful Vigour wherein they had made a considerable Breach and had all things ready for an Assault by the 27th when the Governour beat a Parly and the Articles were soon agreed on whereby the Garrison was to be convoy'd into Namur which was done accordingly and the French thereby totally expelled out of the Diocess of Liege Dinant at that time being accounted a part of France Thus ended the Campaign in Flanders not very pleasing to the French tho' perhaps all Circumstances considered with less disadvantage than themselves expected however they made amends for it to purpose in Spain as has been already hinted and of which we shall now briefly run over the Particulars The French Army under the Command of the Mareschal de Noailles being about 30000 strong and consequently much superiour to the Spaniards and very early in the Field to boot arrived on the 26th of May on the Banks of the River Ter in Catalonia which notwithstanding they found the Spaniards intrenched on the other side they resolved to pass and having to that end sounded all the Fords that same Evening they forced their way through after about half an Hours Dispute and constrained the Spanish Foot to quit their Retrenchments without any great Resistance But the Cavalry shewed a more than ordinary Valour and great Conduct in their Retreat which they performed in the best manner they could to cover their Foot yet this could not prevent the loss of their Baggage though what with the Defence the Horse made and the Narrowness of the Ways the French made no far pursuit However this point of passing the Ter was enough gained for them to besiege Palamos a Town by the Sea-side about 22 Leagues from Barcelona to the S. E. which was invested on the 30th of May and by the 2d of June at Night the Trenches were opened and the Works carried on a good way though not without Disturbance both from the small Shot and Cannon of the Besieged which killed a great many Men and next Day they made a Sally at first with good Success but they were at length repulsed and ply'd close with Mortars and Cannon both by Sea and Land so that by the 7th in the Morning all things were in a readiness to attack the Covert-way This the Granadeers did with great Fury and were so far from losing time to make Lodgments that they pushed forward and finding a way to enter at two Breaches where only one could pass in Front they entred the City plunder'd it and put all they met to the Sword and of those that were saved all were made Prisoners of War Only part of the Officers that were most wounded were sent to Gironne upon their Paroles Not only said Monsieur Noailles in his Letter because they seemed to desire it but because he considered the Terror that would strike among the Soldiery and People And what he said was true enough for the Spaniards quickly withdrew their Garrison out of St. Felix Quinola and the Castle of St. Elme and though they pretended to make a stout Resistance at Gironne a well-fortify'd City that Noaâ—lles had actually laid Siege to by the 19th of June Yet they could scarce hold it for 10 Days for they surrender'd the Place on the 29th of the same Month and that upon very ignominious Terms too For the Garrison was to march out without Cannon and the Cavalny except 10 in a Troop to march away on Foot with the Infantry without their Horses and all the Ammunition and Provision to be left behind in the City This being effected successfully the next thing was to attack Ostralick a little City upon the Road to Barcelona which they quickly mastered without any great Resistance and thereby enlarg'd the French Territories 20 Miles in extent But the Army because of the violent Heats beginning now to be sickly they went into Quarters of Refreshment upon the Banks of the River Terdera which is a very plentiful Country and full of Fruit-trees and where they continued in a manner as unmolested from the Spaniards as if they had been in the middle of France But it was not so with the Spaniards on the part of the French for after they had refreshed themselves they bethought of taking in Castle Folet a Town a little to the W. of Gironne which they took having first routed a Body of Country Militia that came to relieve it and made the Garrison Prisoners of War But tho' the Spaniards thought to profit themselves of this Opportunity by re-taking Ostralick which they actually besieged with 4000 Foot and 1500 Horse and had reduced it to that Condition that the Governour was up on Articles of Surrender and Hostages were given on both sides yet
so fatal was the Slowness of this People to themselves in insisting that the Miquelets should be Prisoners of War that the Governour in the mean time having notice that Noailles was marching to his Relief redemanded his Hostages and refused to stand to the Articles so that the Siege was immediately raised But by this time the Confederate Fleet and such an one as those Seas never saw before was arrived in the Streights under the Command of Admiral Russel as much to the heartning of the Spaniards who seemed before to have given all for lost in Catalonia as it was a Mortification to the French who did not expect any such thing and now saw their Error in sending their Grand Fleet into those Seas where they must be couped up in the Harbor of Thoulon and be forced to leave all their Coasts both on the Ocean as well as the Mediterranean side unguarded and subject to every Insult of the Enemies And tho' Monsieur Tourville once adventured out to Sea with a design to slip by the English Admiral yet he quickly found the other had so sharp an Eye upon him that he was forced to return to his Port again and rest contented to lie in Souce there for the rest of the Winter from whom at present we shall take our Leave and post into Germany Here we find the Prince of Baden at the Head of the Imperialists and Monsieur de Lorge commanding the French Army which towards the beginning of June passed the Rhine and adventured in Order of Battle towards the Prince incamped near Hailbron who believing they would fight went on to meet them But they considered better of it and retreated towards Wiselock passed the Neckar burnt the Town of Lawdenburg and ruined the Flat Country which so incensed the Prince of Baden that though he were not yet reinforced by the Saxons yet he advanced to Wiselock a Post near which there happened a sharp Rencounter between a Detachment of French and Germans wherein the former lost near 300 Men and the latter near half the number but withal gained the Post which Monsieur de Lorge was so far from liking that he repassed the Rhine 3 Days after viz. Von the 28th of June After this we had nothing from both Armies for a time but that they had posted themselves the best they could in order to observe one another till at length the Prince of Baden impatient of Action resolved in his turn to cross the Rhine and to that end ordered the Marquess of Badeâ— Dourlack to pass the said River at Schwartzbach and Daxland with 23800 Horse and Foot who was followed next Day by the Prince himself which de Lorge no sooner heard of but he marched towards Landau But the Prince advanced and possessed himself of divers small Places and all the Passes as far as Croon-Weissemburg and mighty Expectations there were that the Germans now would either force the French to a Battle or manage their Affairs so as to secure Winter-Quarters on that side the Rhine or at least compleat the Ruin of the Country but neither succeeded For the first News that almost came was their repassing the Rhine again which was said was chiefly occasioned by the great Rains that fell which very much endangered the breaking down the Bridges the Prince had laid over that River However they made a safe Retreat brought away with them 14000 Head of Cattle destroyed a vast quantity of Forage in the Country and some Magazines of the French which put an end to the Summer's Work on that side There is little to be said of the Affairs of Savoy this Year for though the Duke absolutely rejected the Proposals made unto him by France after the Battle of Marsaglia yet he did or would do little or nothing now in the Field where the French were not so considerable as since they have been For besides what the Vaudois did in the Valley of Pragelas in burning some Villages of the French and taking some Mules laden with Provisions and the routing some Irish Detachments sent against them in the Valley of St. Martin which gave them an Opportunity to make a Ravage into Dauphine as far as Brianson we have nothing to say of the main Army For though it was expected on all Hands they would have besieged Casal and the Success of the Enterprize not much doubted of yet all that was done was the taking the Fort St. George and thereby further straitning that Place of which Siege you shall hear more next Year Neither were there any great matters done in Hungary for though the Turks were considerably superiour to the Imperialists in number who were this Year as the last commanded by General Caprara yet all that ever the Grand Visier could do could not force their Camp near Carlowitz nor destroy their Fleet so that the Grand Visier upon the â—st and 2d of Octob. drew off his Camp having sent away his Artillery and Baggage before and left only some few Carriages Hutts and other things of little Value behind them But because the Reasons of the Turks Retreat give the best Account of the Principal Passages that happened during their Attempt upon the Imperialists they are these that follow 1st Because a Detachment of Hussars from the Garrison of Titul being out upon a Party towards the Danube near Salankemen intercepted 20 great Boats laden with Meal and other Provisions together with a Frigat that convoyed them and constrained several other Barks to row back to Belgrade as fast as they could They killed above 100 Men in the Ren counter and forced 100 more into the River where they were either drowned or taken Prisoners of which Number was an Aga together with seven Colours So that the Ottoman Army had been seven Days in great Want 2dly For that it having rained for three Days and five Nights the Turks Approaches were very much endamaged and the Janisaries so discouraged by standing up to the middle of the Leg in Water and for want of Victuals that they refused to work any more 3dly Because the Grand Visier having by his continual Importunities obliged the Cham of Tartary to send a numerous Detachment of his Horse to the other side of the Danuâ— that Detachment had been vigorously repulsed by the Imperialists under Major-General Bassompierre So that the Tartars were constrained to flee part on this side the Danube and the rest on the other side of the Theysse with the Loss of Sultan Galga's Son and 500 more killed besides those that were drowned in the two Rivers and they who perished in the adjoining Marishes So that of 7000 Men of which that Detachment consisted but very few returned to the Camp they that escaped to the other side of the Theysse under the Command of Sultan Galga and had taken the Road to Temeswaer not exceeding the Number of 2000. 4thly Because that upon this ill Success the Cham had fallen out with the Grand Visier upbraiding him with
resolved to Execute their Bloody Project on Saturday the 22d of February The Forenoon of that Day was spent in a tedious expectation of News that the King was gone Abroad when one of their Orderly Men which they lodged at Kensington to give them Notice when the King went out tells them that the Guards were all come back in a Foam and that there was a muttering among the People that a Damnable Plot was Discovered and this unexpected News dispersed all the Conspirators and drove them to shift for themselves by a speedy Flight Nor were their apprehensions of a Discovery groundless for the Plot and the Progress that was made in it from time to time had been Discovered by Richard Fisher to the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland a considerable time before any other Person Discovered it and as things ripen'd for Action his Lordship was a cquainted with the Particulars On the 10th of February he acquainted that Noble Lord how far it was advanced and promised to wait upon his Lordship with a further Account in a few Days accordingly he did On February the 13th he gave his Lordship a full Account of the Design it self and the Time Place and Manner of its Execution but refusing to give to his Lordship the Names of the Conspirators made his Discovery suspected till the Addition of other Witnesses gave an unquestionable Authority to the Truth of it Mr. Pendergrass who was wholly ignorant of this Barbarous Design till he was sent for to London and there acquainted with it being struck with Horror and Astonishment at the first Proposal of it even then took a Resolution to preserve His Majesty's Life and Discover the Conspiracy Accordingly on February 14th he waited on the Earl of Portland at his Lordship's Lodgings at White-Hall and being admitted to Privacy with his Lordship though wholly a Stranger without further Address accosts his Lordship with this surprizing Request Pray My Lord perswade the King to stay at home to Morrow for if he goes abroad to Hunt he will be Murdered to this he subjoined a Relation of the whole Plot as it had been Communicated unto him by the Confederated Assassines which he said he would have told the King himself but that he durst not go to Kensington for fear of the two Orderly Men which were kept as Spies there to give Intelligence of what occurred in that Court He was introduced that Night to the King though very late and there in his whole Deportment shew'd himself to be a Man of Honour neither was Mr. de la Rue short of Mr. Pendergras in making a discovery of the intended Assassination though his Friend Brigadeer Lewson who he designed should acquaint the King with it being then out of Town makes his Information appear somewhat latter then the former For as he is a Man of too much Honour to be engaged in a Murder so his concern to discover it was from the beginning though he did not declare it till his Discovery might be serviceable to His Majesty and then as soon as he had opportunity to impart the Secret he did it and Brigadier Lewson much about the same time acquainted the King that Mr. de la Rue informed him of a Design carrying on to Assassinate His Majesty and had given him a particular Account by what methods it was design'd to be accomplished and proposed a way if the King thought 〈◊〉 how all the Conspirators might be taken in Arms when they thought to attempt it But that which seems strange in all these Discoverers though they punctually agreed and in the Circumstances yet they all peremptorily refused to name the Conspirators which might have been of fatal consequence if the Earl of Portland had not found out the happy expedient to prevent it by perswading His Majesty to give himself the trouble to examine Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. de la Rue in his Closet His Majesty being overcome by the Reasons alledged by that Noble Peer condescended to his Request and examined them both seperately At Mr. Pendergrass's Examination was present the Earl of Portland and the Lord Cuts and Mr. de la Rue's Examination was heard by the same Noble Earl and Brigadier Lewson After the Examination His Majesty shewed himself extreamly well satisfied in the Truth of their Discoveries and in a very obliging manner expressed his Resentments to of their great Care and Zeal they shewed for the preservation of his Life and the safety of the Kingdom and at last gave them such unanswerable Reasons why as Men of Honour and lovers of their Country they should compleat their Duty and Kindness in discovering the Names of the Conspirators that quite subdued their former Obstinacies and prevailed upon them to make a full and true Discovery of the Assassins under the promise of not being made use of as Evidences But Mr. Pendergrass hearing that Mr. Porter who engaged him in it had Discovered and Accused him he thought himself Discharged from any Obligation of Honour in concealing it and therefore afterwards as an Evidence for the King freely told all he knew at Charnock's Tryal Pag. 40. The King having now a perfect knowledge of the Conspiracy and the Names of the Conspirators His Majesty Issues out his Royal Proclamation requiring all his Loving Subjects to Apprehend the Conspirators promising 1000 l. reward for every Offender that should be taken and brought to Justice And here give me leave to take notice of the extream Fury Madness and Bigottry of Mr. Charnock who meeting with Mr. Bertram accidentally at Lincolns-Inn Back-gate told him That Warrants were out against them as he heard and they had as good if he would come to his Lodging go up to Kensington and do the Work at once and take off the Spark and then they should be all at quiet and have the King peaceably here What a strange infatuation this ingenious Man was under is a wonder to all that knew him Immediately after the Proclamation was out Mr. George Harris one of the Persons that was sent out of France to obey the Orders of Sir George Barclay and was actually engaged in the Assassination resigned himself to the Right Honourable Sir William Trumbal one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State and generously convinced him of the reality of the Assassination and invasion Plots though he was not able to declare the particular Circumstance◠that attended them His Majesty being now fully convinced on all hands both of the Conspiracy and intended Invasion used no delay in sending for a sufficient number of Troops over as he gave all necessary Orders to Arm the Fleet Admiral Russel being immediately ordered down to Chatham for that purpose and the Rendesvous appointed in the Downs where all the Men of War we had in the Sea-ports were ordered to come and join the Admiral that with such Dispatch and admirable Celerity and that in 4 or 5 days time the Admiral had a Fleet of near 60 Men of War in
in so bad a State But the former as has been related utterly failing and a visible Prospect of our weathering the Point as to our Mony there was now no Room for nor Occasion of Delay But of these Proceedings in relation to a general Peace we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter as we shall of the particular one that was at hand when we have first dispatched our English Affairs Tho' our Armies could do little for the aforesaid Reasons by Land this Campaign our Fleet was not altogether idle by Sea I confess the Bombarding of Calais which happen'd before the Spring of the Year was spent and as soon as we could get our Bomb-vessels ready had not that Success that might have been desired However the Damage was not so inconsiderable as the French Gazeteer would have made it some Letters at that time from France owning that there were 75 Houses burnt and spoiled besides the Church and Convent and some part of the Cazern However the Fleet had much better Success in their Attempt upon the Isle of 〈◊〉 where it arrived on the 14th of July under the Command of the Lord Berkeley when the Men of War came to an Anchor while the Galliots advanced within three quarters of a Mile of St. Martin's in the said Island and at Nine a Clock at Night they began to bombard it which set the Town on fire in five several places three of which the French made a shift to quench but the other two continued to burn with great Violence From Three next Morning till the same Hour in the Afternoon they forbore Bombing at which time the Tide serving they began their Work again which continued till Four next Morning whereby the Town was set on fire in several places and the greatest part of it consumed or destroyed as was also a Ship in the Road besides a Feluca laden with Salt and Brandy which they took at their coming away The French were in a manner surprized in this Attempt so that what with that and the dexterous Working of our Bombardeers there was greater Executice done upon this Town than any other we had attempted since the Burning of Diepe Tho' they could not succeed so well upon Olonne which was next attempted through a Mistake of the Situation of the Place yet there was considerable Damage done there also But while these things were doing by the Bomb-Galliots and light Frigats my Lord Berkeky landed in the Isle of Groa near Port Louis and in two others near Bell Isle where the Soldiers destroyed about 20 Villages burnt 1300 Houses and brought away a Booty of 1600 Head of Cattle Besides this the Fleet took 20 Barks and a Vessel from New-found-land and re-took one of our West-India Ships together with a small Frigat which the Privateers of St. Malo's had taken And so ended our Summer's Expedition which tho' perhaps somewhat exaggerated on our part yet certainly the Damage must be very great and all the Flourishes in the World could not make it appear to be otherwise Having spent some Time in this manner to give an Account of the Proceedings of our Fleet against those Ports of France which look towards Spain we shall see first what has been done there before we enter upon other Occurrences of the Year The Armies were pretty early in the Field on that side where the Spaniards were still content to be on the Defensive and perhaps would have been fully satisfied to have lain unmolested in their Camp near Ostalrick But the French were not willing it should be so and therefore the Duke de Vendosme having passed the Ter and understanding that the Spanish Cavalry who had been encamped within their Lines were advanced to observe him he resolved to attack them first which was done on the first Day of June The Spaniards finding none but Horse appear against them in the Beginning they stoutly stood their Ground and forced some of the French Squadrons to recoil But when they saw their Numbers increase and a good Party of the Infantry come up to support them the Spaniards thought it their best way to retire within their Lines which they did in very good Order making a Retreating Fight till they got under the Reach of their own Cannon where the French greedy of Pursuit were but illy entertained by the Artillery and forced to retire with considerable Loss But tho' the Spaniards own to have lost near 300 Men in all yet they will have the Loss of the French to have been greater which the other would by no means agree to tho' they did not seem very well satisfied with the Action it self I know of nothing else of moment that happen'd this way during the rest of the Campaign and therefore we will cross the Country and observe that on the side of the Rhine there was nothing memorable that came to pass The French in the Beginning of the Spring bragged of their passing that River and forcing the Prince of Baden to intrench himself in his Camp to whom they offered Battle which he durst not accept But now towards the latter end of the Year the Prince in his Turn passes the Rhine near Mentz and being joined by the Hessian Troops he advanced to Newstadt where the French lay so strongly encamped that there was no forcing their Intrenchments However he had the Honour for several Days to Cannonade them not only in Newstadt but in the very Trenches themselves It was also so contrived that General Thungen should have crossed the Rhine not far from Philipsburgh in order to have attacked the French in the Rear But they being aware of it sent the Marquiss d' Vxelles to oppose that Design So that the Germans failing herein as also in making an Incursion into Lorrain with Palsi's Hussars after they had got some Booty and divers Hostages for Contribution they repassed that River on the 8th of October and then marched into their Winter-Quarters But the main Business of this Summer seemed to be managed on the side of Italy not so much in the Prosecution of the War as in making up a separate Peace between Savoy and France the Duke it seems being resolved as he came last into the War to be the first that would get out of it without any Regard had to his Stipulations with the Confederates whereof we have already given an Account I do take it for granted that the French Army on that side under the Command of the Mareschal de Catinat was more formidable than usual and that they were much superiour in Number to the Confederates at the beginning of the Campaign But that there was some Understanding between the Duke of Savoy and the Court of France before this seems to be very by Catinat's Proceedings who notwithstanding his Strength and advancing near Turin unopposed gave the Duke Time enough to fortifie his Camp and re-inforce his Army before the said City and to draw a Line from the Doero to
Morea save the bringing over of the famous Basha Liberachi to the Interest of the Republick He was a Native of Maina formerly Leuctra where Epinanondas Conquered the Lacedemonians and was said to have been Descended of the Ancient Kings of Sparta He had been long detained in Prison at Constantinople but was afterwards Released by the Sultan who was in hopes that he would have Recovered the Morea from the Venetians and for that reason he Honoured him with several Titles and Dignities Married him to the Widow of the Hospodar of Moldavia and gave him a large extent of Country And certain it is that he had not a little contributed to stop the Progress of the Venetian Arms. However now he was brought over and Conducted to Corinth where the Venetian General received him according to his Merits and presented him with a Cross set with Diamonds But for Dalmatia the Republick thought to have extended their Dominions that way by the Reducing of Dulcigno which was invested by their Forces on the 12th of August but tho' General Delphino carried the Works on with great Application and Routed 5000 Turks that came to Relieve it the Consequences of which was his Taking the Town yet the Castle made a Vigorous Defence which gave the Basha of Scutari opportunity to Attempt the Relief of it a second time and to that purpose fell upon both the Wings of the Venetians with much Fury but being Repulsed with no less Vigour the Morlakes pursued them with great Slaughter and the loss of 12 Colours But notwithstanding this double Rout of the Turks and after all the Efforts of the Venetians to Reduce the Castle they were forced to give over the Enterprize and to content themselves to lay the Country waste round about it many Miles and to destroy above 60000 Olive Trees that brought in a great Revenue to the Enemy Yet they valued themselves very much upon their Fleet 's Beating that of the Turks under Mezzomorto tho according to the Relation themselves have given of it it does not seem to have been proportionably considerable the Fight was briefly thus General Molino setting Sail from the Gulph of Eugenia upon the last of July with the Gallies and Galleasses and having sent away the Men of War to Andros with Orders to make as if they intended to Land and by that means to try whether they could draw the Turkish Fleet to an Engagement received intelligence that Mezzomorto the Turkish Admiral had appeared near Castella Resto not far from Negropont with 36 Men of War two Fire ships and 46 Galliots and long Barks Whereupon the Venetian General upon the 9th of August quitted the Gulph of Eugenia with the Gallies and Galleasses in order to joyn the Men of War and then to meet the Enemy But this Conjunction thro the Badness of the Weather could not be till the 21st at what time the General calling a Council of War it was resolved to fall upon the Enemy and to this purpose to Tow their Men of War with their Gallies because of the Calm But because the Turks caused the Men of War to be Towed in like manner by their Galliots and Long Barks towards the Golden Cape it was 19 of the Clock according to the Italian way of reckoning before the Vanguard of the Venetian Fleet consisting of 8 Men of War could come up with them However tho' they had the Advantage of keeping their Fleet close upon a Line whereas the Body of the Venetian Fleet could not get up because of the Calm Molino engaged the Left Wing of the Turkish Fleet whilst the 8 above-mentioned Vessels and Galleasses fell upon the Right with extraordinary Vigour and Bravery The Fight continued till it was very dark when the Turkish Line was broke and their Fleet began to bear away with all the Sail they could make and got next day into the Port of Scio where they staid two days longer to Refit Three of their Ships being so battered that they were forced to take out their Guns and Three of their Galliots and a Sultana lost in the Fight with 600 Men killed besides several wounded But the Venetians lost never a Vessel and but a very few Men. From thence General Molino sailed back to Andros thence to Fina or Tenos in the Gulph of Evenay but they got safe into Rhodes and Molino had no more to do than to return to Napoli di Romania It cannot be expected there should have been any great Feats done more especially this Year by the Polish Arms since the whole Kingdom wanted an Head to govern it the same being Elective by the Death of its brave King John Sobieski the Third of that Name who departed this Life on the 17th Day of June of an Apoplectick Fit being above 70 Years of Age. His Decease as it usually happens in such Cases was attended with much Confusion which frequently falls out in Elective Kingdoms because of the Competitors making Parties and other Humours that break forth thereupon But of this we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter and therefore leaving at present the Cardinal Primate to take upon him the Administration of the Government we will pass into Moscovy of which Empire we have hitherto had little to say But now you will hear of something to the purpose For whereas we heard nothing all along before but the Marching of their Armies into the Field without any memorable Undertaking it was otherwise this Campaign For the Czar Peter Alexowitz in whom the whole Administration of that Government was now lodged marched in Person at the Head of a most numerous Army and laid Siege to Asoph a Place of great Importance and considerable Strength upon the River Tanais which he carried on with great Vigour and which Place the Tartars who knew the Consequences of it were very desirous to relieve Of this the Muscovites were aware and therefore they ordered nine Gallies and some other Vessels by way of Prevention to lie before the Mouth of the Tanais But the Water being too shallow for the Gallies to stir the Czar no sooner understood that the Turkish Vessels were in sight but he immediately put 2000 Men on board the light Barks who presently met the Turkish Convoy and fell upon them with so much Courage and Resolution that of three Vessels one was sunk and the other two betook themselves to Flight Ten large Saiquies which were about to make their Escape in the same manner were cast upon the Sands by contrary Winds and after a faint Resistance were master'd by the Muscovites the Turks endeavouring to save themselves some by Swimming and others in their Shallops To this Success of the Muscovites if you add the Booty it makes the thing yet the more considerable for they found in the Saiques all the Provisions designed for Asoph Clothes for the whole Garrison a vast Quantity of Powder and a great Number of Pikes and Swords together with a considerable
ancient Custom XXVII That all Gentlemen shall have the Freedom of the Salt Mines XXVIII The ancient Privileges of the Palatinates shall remain inviolable XXX All the Privileges which belong to the Universities of Cracow and other Cities as well Ecclesiastick as Secular as also all the Articles which were promis'd upon Oath at the Coronations of the Kings Henry Stephen Sigismond Vladistaus John Casimir and others shall be renew'd at this Election which if it be not done or any thing endeavour'd to the contrary of these Articles then the Inhabitants of Poland and Lithuania to be free and disingag'd from their Obedience This being over the new King advanced towards Poland and upon the Frontiers was harangued by the Embassy sent to him by the Republick or at least a Party of it And having himself Swore to the Pacta Conventa and given sufficient Testimony of his being reconciled to the Romish Church he deliver'd himself to the Nobility that attended him in the following manner MY Dear and Good Friends You have chosen Me to be Your King You are come to offer Me the Crown and You have brought Me hither I am come and have quitted my Territories and my Country for Love of You. 'T is not with a Design to be a Burthen to You but to bring abundance along with Me my Wealth my Forces and all that belongs to Me to augment as much as in Me lies the Glory and Honour of Your Nation by fighting against the Enemies of the Kingdom more-especially those of Christendom Be assur'd that my Heart shall be always constant and sincere towards my Faithful Subjects and that my Sword shall only be employ'd in the Defence of Your Liberty and the Authority with which You have invested Me. From Piccari the King continued his March towards Cracow And tho' all Circumstances consider'd he had by far the Advantage over his Adversary yet there were still innumerable Difficulties not only to struggle with in Poland but Saxony it self was also to be taken care of wherefore least the sudden Change of his Religion should occasion any Innovations there he caused the following Declaration to be affixed upon the Gates of Dresden FRederick Augustus by the Grace of God King of Poland c. Elector of Saxony c. We notifie and make known That having long since by Divine Inspiration resolv'd to return to the Bosom of the Roman Church wherein our Ancestors liv'd and whereas for that purpose without any Allurement of Interest or Profit but only having God before our Eyes we have embrac'd the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion and that in the mean while it has pleased his Divine Majesty to advance our Person to the Throne of Poland for which reason we find our selves oblig'd by Affairs of so great Importance to absent our selves for some time from our Dear Country the Electorate of Saxony and seeing that for these Reasons and because of our Change the States of our said Country and our Dear Subjects may believe that we have a Design to abolish their ancient Priviledges we have thought fit to declare That we have not any the least Thought to over-charge 'em in any manner whatsoever contrary to their aforesaid ancient Priviledges but rather graciously to maintain our said States and Subjects in all their Liberties assuring 'em that as we promis'd 'em when we enter'd into Possession of our Estates and were settl'd in the Government and now that we have embrac'd the Roman Religion that we will maintain and protect our Dear States and Subjects in their Ausburg Confession in their ancient Possession of Liberty of Conscience of Churches of Religious Worship of Religious Exercise of Universities of Schools and of all other Priviledges which they now enjoy that in pursuance of this we will not constrain any Person to embrace our present Catholick Religion but will leave every Body free in his own Conscience as we assure 'em upon our Royal and Electoral Word assuring our selves in the mean time that our Dear States and Subjects will continue their just Affection Love Esteem and Fidelity which they have hitherto testify'd to our Person as their Lawful Elector and Sovereign and that they will live in Peace in Repose and in Union during our Absence for a while so that the Blessing of God and all manner of Happiness may more and more increase to which purpose we will assist our People with all our Power and at all times give 'em Demonstrations of our Royal and Electoral Affection And to the end that our present Assurance and Promise may be known to all our States and Subjects of our Electorate and other Countries we ordain that being Printed it be affix'd in all Places of our Electorate and Country and that Copies of it be every where distributed and dispers'd And for the greater Confirmation of what is above written we have Sign'd this present Act and Promise with our Hand and Seal'd it with our Seal At Lobsow August 6. 1697. â— AVGVSTVS K. of Poland and E. of Saxony The Prince of Conti in the mean time being buoy'd up by the Primate and his Party September the 6th left France and on the 25th arrived before Danzick but while that City refused his Men the liberty of Landing and adher'd firmly to the Interest of the Elector this last was solemnly crowned King at Cracow September 15. This undoubtedly must be a great Mortification to the Prince of Conti However not to be totally discouraged and in assurance that the Lithuanian Army would not submit to the new crown'd King with an Intention farther still to embroil Matters he wrote the following Letter and his Party were very sedulous to disperse Copies of it FRancis Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conti and by the Grace of God and the Affection of the Polish Nation Elect King of Poland and the Dutchy of Lithuania made no haste to come sooner in order to testifie his Acknowledgment that he might not do any Prejudice to the Customs of the Kingdom For the same Reason it is that he still remains on Board his Ship and that he has brought no Men along with him He does not apprehend that the Coronation of the Elector of Saxony can any way Prejudice his Right according to the Maxim That whatever is originally invalid can never be of any force in the Consequences that attend it Hence it comes to pass besides the Irregularities of His Electoral Highness's Coronation that there is an indispensible Necessity according to the Pacta Conventa that the Electress should embrace the Roman Catholick Religion before the Elector can be crown'd He puts all his Confidence in the Poles having a Design to avoid Effusion of Blood But in case of Necessity he Promises as many Forces as shall be necessary and continues still dispos'd to spend his Estate and to expose his own Person for the Polish Religion and Liberty But tho' this Stratagem had not the desired Effect the new King did not defer the
the Army of the Crown 5. That he shall employ his own Soldiers in the Siege of Caminiec and for the Recovery of Podolia which shall afterwards be re-united and incorporated in the Crown 6. That then he shall send back his Soldiers into Saxony and repair the Damages done by his Saxon Soldiers 7. That he shall revoke the Concessions of Crown-Lands and take 'em away from those on whom he has bestow'd 'em and that the Revenues thereof shall be employ'd toward the Subsistance of his Houshold 8. That he shall revoke and disannul all the Protestations which he made against the Primate and the Heads of the Rocosche 9. That he shall confer no Employments Benefices c. but upon Polanders who shall profess the Roman Catholick Religion and that the Members of the Rocosche shall be preferr'd before others in the Distribution of publick Employments 10. That the River Pisca shall be made Navigable at the King's Expences 11. That after the Expedition to Caminiec is ended a General Dyet of Pacification shall be call'd and that in the mean time his Majesty shall by his Circulatory Letters give notice of the Treaty of Agreement to all the Palatinates of the Kingdom 12. That the Tribunals shall remain suspended till the King be again confirm'd in the Possession of the Crown This being over the Cardinal went in great State to wait upon the King who received him in the Marble Chamber and according to Custom advanced some few Paces to receive him and to whom his Eminency made the following Speech in French SIR IF I have the Misfortune to present my self among the last to pay my most humble Respects to Your Majesty I have the Satisfaction to bring You the Fruits of a long Expectation the Hearts of Your Subjects and the Repose of Your Kingdom It was not for a Person of my Character to appear without these two Guides which in regard they are to be the chief Ornaments of Your Reign I place 'em at the Feet of Your Throne wishing that whatever eterniz'd the Renown of the Great Augustus may be accomplish'd in Your Majesty's Sacred Person to whom I have consecrated my Devotion and my solid and inviolable Adherence But tho' this Agreement we find thus to be at length happily accomplish'd in Poland yet things in Lithuania continu'd all this while in utmost confusion the Party of the Great General Sapieha and that of Oginski's the Great Standard Bearer with whom sided the major part of the Nobility seeming to remain Irreconcilable and the demands of the latter were so exorbitant as if they seemed to be made on purpose to prevent an Accommodation However dire Necessity having no Law and the King being eager to go into the Field he signed the Articles proposed by them wherein among other Things the inseparable Union and Coaequation of the Rights and Priviledges of the Grand-Dutchy of Lithuania with the Crown of Poland were agreed on and both sides bound by Oath to the observance of this Coaequation That the Imployments of the Great General Mareschal and Treasurer should still remain but with no other Priviledges than those allowed to the same Officers of Poland that the Army should not exceed 9000 Men That as for the Treasurers paying the Army no longer unless it were in the Presence of the Palatines that Point should be referred to the Approbation of the General Diet That Injuries and Damages sustained on either side should be forgotten and any new Differences that might arise should be left to the Arbitration of the next Diet But so unhappily it fell out that while they were labouring to bring this Accommodation to bear a Bloody Fight happened between Oginski's Forces and those of the Great General commanded by his Son wherein the former was defeated lost four Field-pieces and his Baggage had part of his Men Killed part Drowned in the Mimnell while the rest fled one and another way the Great Ensign himself making an hard shift to Escape into Ducall Prussia But neither this nor the daily Brangles and Skirmishes that happened between the Poles and Saxons could hinder his Majesty to prepare for the Field in order to which he arrived Aug. 15th at Leopold from whence the Czar and Princes of Muscovy who were got thither before went to meet him as far as Rava where they staid together for some Days and after all the Demonstrations of a Reciprocal Satisfaction accompanied with rich Presents on both sides they parted The Czar began his Travels last Year first into Brandenburg and thence into Holland to see his Brittanick Majesty for whose heroick Vertues he had always profest a very high Esteem From Holland he went for England and having staid here most part of the Winter went over for the Court of Vienna from whence he designed to go for Italy where there were great Preparations made and particularly at Venice for his Reception but the unhappy News of a Conspiracy having been formed against him in his own Country made him post thither where he quickly brought things into good Order and his Armies this Year had some Brushes with the Crim Tartars to the disadvantage of the latter Whatever the matter was 't was observed he had a perfect aversion to the French and notwithstanding as was said a very kind Invitation from that Monarch nothing would induce him to go thither which perhaps was no small Mortification to that Court The Czar was observed to be wonderfully inquisitive especially in Maritime Affairs and very Ingenious and nothing but the Ignorance of the Customs and Barbarousness of his Country could make any think him otherwise But to leave him and return to his Polish Majesty at Leopold he held divers Councils of War about the Operations of the Campaign concerning which the Generals were of very divided Opinions the formal Siege of Caminiec was the thing which the King aimed at But while neither that the Bombarding of it nor any thing else could be fully resolved on the Tartars gave him a sharp Check for the Polish Army being upon their march to joyn that of the Crown upon the Road of Caminiec Commanded by the Duke of Wirtemburg the Tartars being informed of the smallness of their Number in comparison of theirs on the 8th of Sept. met them under the Command of Sultan Suos Gerey near Podaiza which upon the 9th obliged the Poles to put themselves in order of Battle by break of Day About Noon the Tartars attack'd their Vanguard then fell upon the Right and Left Wings of the Poles both sides Fighting obstinately for a time at length the Poles gave Ground and thereby gave the Enemy an Opportunity to penetrate as far as the Generals Tent but there they were so vigorously received that the Polanders had time to rally and repel the Enemy who were forced to retreat The Fight lasted 8 Hours and was Bloody on both sides The Tartars at first defeated two Companies of Wallachians under Prince
during the Course of the War to support to the utmost of their Abilities the common Interests That if the rest of the Allies had done the like Things might have had a better Issue That they were sorry they were forced thro' the Necessity of their Affairs to conclude the Peace upon the Terms they did but that when they saw the Spanish Netherlands ready to be lost themselves exhausted their Inhabitants ruin'd for want of Trade and no longer able to bear the Burden of the War they had been necessitated to accept of the Conditions offered by France as Spain likewise had done That since the Peace they had laboured all they could to obtain a Neutrality for his Countries of Cleve and Mark but to no purpose France having still refused it And in Conclusion desired he would continue his Friendship with them which they should always cultivate on their part as became sincere and true Allies This is all the Satisfaction that Noble Elector could have for all the Damages he had sustained Things were now in another Posture with the States being menaced with no apparent Danger from any Quarter However they did afterward make him some little sort of Compensation by paying some Arrears of Subsidies due to him upon the Account of his Assistance in the War with which he was forced to sit down and content himself to be quiet But it was not the Elector of Brandenburg alone that thought himself aggrieved by the Proceedings of the States and so wanted Reparation for the Spaniards also put in a great Claim and that was the Restitution of Maestricht up to them You are to understand that when the Spaniards who were one of the first came in to the States Assistance against France in this War it was stipulated between these Two Powers among other Things That Maestricht should be delivered to the Spaniards whenever the Dutch should be in a Condition to do so for it was then in the French Hands in Consideration of so timely a Relief from them against so formidable an Enemy But for all this the Dutch taking no notice of that Article after they had made their Peace with France the Spaniards now at length were pleased to mind them of it by several Memorials delivered in by their Embassador M. de Lyra Yet the Dutch knowing well whom they had to deal with in some time made no Difficulty to answer That they did very readily acknowledge the Assistance they had received from his Catholick Majesty in the Beginning of the War during the Course of which the States were not wanting to support the common Interests to the utmost of their Power That they were willing to own that by the Alliance made between the Crown of Spain and them in the Year 1673 they ought to deliver Maestricht to his Majesty but that the same Treaty likewise obliged him to the Observance of the Peace of Munster and all the Stipulations made in consequence thereof and that accordingly his Majesty lay under an Engagement to make good the Agreement concerning the Prince of Orange and to satisfie the Debt which with the Interest amounted to near 8000000 of Livres due to his Highness by Virtue thereof That the States had during the War caused a Squadron of Men of War to be fitted out for the Service of Sicily and that great Arrears were still remaining due to the Admiralties upon that Account and that therefore they prayed his Majesty to give them and the Prince Satisfaction in these Points and then they would be ready on their side to comply with the Obligation of their Treaty and to restore Maestricht The Spanish Minister not satisfied herewith shewed himself much surprized that after the Sollicitation of near 10 Months and so many Memorials put in by him he should receive an Answer so little suitable to the great Assistances even preceding the Treaty of 1673 given the States by the Crown of Spain in the Beginning of the late War That the Offer of Maestricht was then made voluntary by the States as an Acknowledgement of the same which they ought therefore the rather to make good For that which concerned the Prince of Orange the Debt had never been denied and great Sums had been paid upon that Account and that the Millions which the Crown of Spain had expended during the late War in Subsidies and Maintenance of Foreign Troops would more than have satisfied his Highness's Pretensions That the Crown of Spain did readily acknowledge the great Obligations they the States had to his Highness for the eminent Services he had rendred them on so many Occasions That in Satisfaction of his Debt the Crown of Spain had assign'd him an 100000 Crowns at each Return of the Galeons and 50000 Crowns of Annual Rents in the Low-Countries That as to what was owing to the Admiralties all Care should be taken to satisfie the same That Maestricht would be of very great Advantage to the Crown of Spain but none to the States being so far from their Frontiers And concluded all with telling them He knew not how the King his Master would resent this their Proceeding or what he might resolve upon in return thereof concerning the Dutch Effects For that he was ignorant whether his Majesty would act therein according to his Royal Goodness or according to the Justice and Right of the Thing The Minister indeed Don Emanuel de Lyra might resent the Proceedings of the States tho' to his own Damage as he did in refusing their usual Present to Embassadors but the Court of Spain proved of another Temper knowing well the crasie Constitution of their State at that time and that they were not in a Condition to procure Satisfaction for the supposed Injury However the States endeavoured the Year following to make them some Reparation by mediating between France and Spain a Remission of the former's Pretensions to the Title of Duke of Burgundy which the latter always possest till this Treaty of Nimeguen And which notwithstanding the great Deference the French King seemed to have to the Interposition of the States the Catholick King under the specious Pretences of being desirous to take away all Occasion that might be made use of to disturb the Peace and from the particular Regard he had to the Instances of the States who sollicited both Parties in that behalf totally remitted to the French King who from thence forward inserted among the rest of his Titles that of Duke of Burgundy There remained now no Negotiation undecided but that of Denmark and Sweden towards the compleating of which Conferences had been daily set on foot at Lounden in Schonen But the Negotiation which M. de Mayerkron had begun at the French Court gave the greatest Hopes that the Peace would e're long be concluded on that side also and the French to hasten it sent a considerable Detachment of Cavalry under the Command of the Marquess of Joyeuse through the Territories of the Elector of
Brandenburg into the Countries of Oldenburg and Delmenhurst which put all the Country under Contribution and wrought such an Effect upon the Danish Envoy at Paris that the Treaty was fully concluded between France Sweden and Denmark on the 2d of Sept. at St. Germains M. Pompone having full Power from the French King to that Purpose The Treaties of Roscheld Copenhagen and Westphalia were the Ground-work of this Peace with Denmark as will better appear by this Abstract I. THAT there be a firm Peace between the said Kings and all Things during the War to the Offence of either forgotten II. That all Alliances made by either of the Three Kings to the Prejudice of the other shall cease and be abolished and they shall not make any which may be so for the future III. That Hostilities do cease within a Fortnight reckoning from the Day of the Signing except in Norway where 3 Weeks shall be allowed because of the Distance IV. That the Treaties of Roscheld Copenhagen and Westphalia shall be confirmed with all the Instruments to them appertaining V. The King of Denmark promises to restore whatever he hath taken from the Swedes during the War viz. Landscroon Helsenburg Monstrand and Wismaâ— with the Isles of Rugen and Gothlaend and all their Dependances VI. In like manner the King of Sweden promises to restore what he has taken from Denmark during the War VII That Commissioners shall be appointed by the Two Northern Crowns who shall meet within 6 Months a Minister from the most Christian King being present and shall endeavour to compose all Differences arisen on occasion of Priviledges and Immunities which the Swedes pretend to in the Sound and the Baltick provided that the said Priviledges and Immunities do remain in full Force and Vigour the Abuses only to be corrected VIII The Places to be restored to Sweden shall be delivered up in the same Condition as they are at present viz. Helsenburg Landscoon and all other Places possessed by the King of Denmark in Schonen Pleiâ—ing and Holland together with Carelstadt and the Fort on the River Swinge within 2 Weeks Wismar and the Isle of Rugen within 3 Marstrond and the Isle of Gothland within 4 Weeks to be reckoned from the Day of the Exchange IX The King of Denmark may take out of the Places to be restored what Cannon he caused to be brought into them since they were in his Possession but the Cannon that were in the Places when taken and still remain there to be restored with the Places But if the King of Denmark hath formerly taken out of those Places the Cannon that belonged to the Swedes he shall restore the one half thereof X. All Goods and Estates confiscated during the War shall be restored XI All Persons shall be restored to the Rights and Priviledges they enjoyed before the War XII The Country of Rixengen belonging to the Count Ethlefelt Chancellor of Denmark confiscated during the War shall be restored to him XIII All Prisoners to be set at Liberty XIV All such Princes as desire it shall be comprehended in this Treaty XV. The most Christian King promises that the King of Sweden shall ratifie this Treaty within 3 Months XVI The most Christian King promises to ratifie the same within 6 Weeks But of all other Points conceded by the Dane in this Treaty none seemed so hard as this last relating to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp who for being an Ally in this War to the Swede Denmark had stripped of all his Dominions but is now forced to re-instate him in as ample Form as could be and he pretend to unless it were the Damage which his Territories had sustained during the War by the vast Sums of Money which the King of Denmark had raised therein as being one of the best Countries in all the North. And thus ended this long and bloody War in Europe but with as much Dissatisfaction to almost all the Allies as it was advantageous to France who was left in a Condition by it to do what she would as we shall have occasion to note hereafter It was very hard upon all the Allies harder yet to the Elector of Brandenburg but to none more than the King of Denmark who had no manner of Compensation for all the Conquests he had made in the Course of it and I think was no less dishonourable to England every way whose Mediation though continued even to the last yet through some evil Aspect or other had not the Happiness of Signing any one of the Treaties And as for the Duke of Lorrain as he had nothing in Possession so he lost nothing but his Expectation which in the Sequel appeared to be ill grounded tho' upon the direct and frequent Engagements both of the Confederates and Mediator And so that noble tho' unfortunate Prince was wholly left out of the Treaty and without any visible Hopes of ever recovering the Dominion of his Ancestors And here we shall at present leave it and return to see what has been doing all this while in England About the 29th of Sept. the preceding Year which was 1678 Dr. Oats seconded after by Tongue and Kirby made a Discovery of an horrid Plot carried on by Jesuits and others of the Roman Communion against the Life and Person of the King Protestant Religion and Established Government and for a further Confirmation of his Testimony Oats referred himself to Coleman's Papers who was Secretary to the then Dutchess of York But though the Court could not but enquire into the Truth of this yet they made such slow Paces in it that Coleman had time enough to convey away all the Papers of the 2 last Years with his Book of Entries of them However those Letters that were found amazed the major part of the Council and thereupon several Persons were examined and committed viz. Sir George Wakeman the Queen's Physician Coleman Langborn of the Inner-Temple Tho. Whitebread Provincial of the Jesuits in England James Corker and Thomas Pickering all Jesuits Priests and Monks with divers others And not long after William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis were sent Prisoners upon the same Account to the Tower of London But tho' these and other Circumstances made the Matter pretty clear yet the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey a Justice of the Peace before whom some of the Depositions had been taken and who appear'd zealous against all Male Practices against the King and Government soon after viz. on the 12th of Oct. rendred the Conspiracy in the Sight of most Men to be past all doubt And therefore the Parliament who met upon the 21 st of Oct. after having appointed a Secret Committee to enquire into the Bottom of the Plot did upon the 1st of Nov. following come to this Resolution Nemine Contradicente That upon the Evidence that hath already appeared to this House this House is of Opinion that there