After this we must not wonder if this Prince's Affairs have been so well manag'd He could not have pitch'd upon fitter Persons for his Service nor more proper to bring his Designs about which nevertheless he has all along endeavour'd to conceal from his first pretended Rupture with France But before we come to Particulars of his Highness's Conduce in this War towards the most Serene Allies let us look into the Causes of his Grievances which oblig'd him to declare against a Crown he was ty'd to by a kind of Gordian Knot and which France upon Conclusion of the Peace represented by Fire-works as an Emblem to denote to the Allies that their Conjunction was easie to be dissolv'd when the Duke of Savoy was once withdrawn We have already made known the Conditions or rather Inclinations of this Duke's Favourites and we are willing to discharge his Highness and lay the Blame wholly upon those Ministers Therefore let us dive into his most inmost Recesses and have so much Charity for him as to believe his Designs were always just and that he had all the reason in the World to break with France to deliver himself from a Slavery he had so long undergone The Occasion of his Royal Highness's Engaging against this Crown must then be supposed to be too free himself from a Yoke that was intolerable His Neighbours the French reduc'd him to that Condition that he scarce durst rule in his own Palace but depended so absolutely on that Monarch that he was even like a Vassal to his Lord insomuch that upon his least Advances France was presently upon the Catch to pry into his Conduct tho' he never meant 'em the least harm Fatal Law which always imposes the greatest Respect and Submission upon the Weak Nay this Prince's strict Alliance with that Kingdom by his Marriage with Madamoiselle d Orleans did but subject him the more to a Power which exacts Obedience from all This Affinity which he no doubt foresaw to be fatal to him his Court being always crowded with French which were as so many Spies set over him to inform their Master of whatever pass'd in his Councils influenc'd him at last with the severest Discontent and filled him full of secret Alarms and Fears that he might one Day be robb'd of his Dukedom in like manner as the Duke of Lorrain had been We should never have done if we intended to recount the several Insults made him by the French King even from his Minority to this Rupture whereby we may perceive what desperate Hazards Princes run that match into the Royal Family of France If his Royal Highness had thought fit to have listen'd to the Advice of the Emperour and some Princes of Italy his Neighbours and faithful Friends who counsel'd him to marry one of the Princesses of the House of Newbourg no doubt he had play'd his Game better and follow'd his Interest surer When on the contrary he now lies under the greatest Constraint to be turn'd and manag'd at the Pleasure of France and to do whatever that Imperious Crown thinks fit to command The Alliances of the Princes of the House of Austria with France have cost 'em so dear that their greatest Possessions are now in danger of devolving to that Crown and which has been the Occasion of the first Sparks that have kindl'd this War in Europe If therefore his Royal Highness had pleas'd to benefit himself by these Examples as many other Princes have done he would never have consented to this Marriage and thereupon might the better have secur'd his Quiet ascertain'd the Succession of his Dominions to his rightful Heirs might have maintain'd a Neutrality and procur'd a strict Alliance with his Imperial Majesty to whom he has had much greater Obligations than to the French King Moreover what sufficient Reasons had not his Royal Highness to distrust the Councils of France after their Designs to out him of his Throne by filling his Head with Chimerical Thoughts of the Crown of Portugal The French King had manag'd this Intrigue so secretly and his Ministers carried it on with such Dexterity that they had persuaded the King of Portugal to bestow his Daughter in Marriage on this young Prince And his Royal Highness was so far assur'd of the Sincerity of their Intentions that he had freely consented to it they having first insinuated to him that the K. of Portugal being incapable of having more Children his Crown by such means must infallibly descend to him Hereupon it was advis'd necessary for this Duke to go to that Kingdom abandon his own Dominions and reside so far distant in Expectation of Don Pedro's Death that he might be in a more immediate Readiness to ascend his Throne Whilst this politick Crown fed the Court of Turin with these vain Hopes it was intended the French King should seize upon his Dominions of Savoy and unite 'em to his own This Negotiation was so far advanc'd that his Royal Highnesse's Equipage was set forth and got as far as Grenoble when the Dutchess Dowager his Mother influenc'd by the chief Lords of the Court who all perceiv'd clearly the Designs of France to deprive this Prince of his Dukedom did all she could to prevent so fatal a Miscarriage Nevertheless all her Endeavours would have signified nothing had not his Subjects with Tears in their Eyes run in Crowds about his Palace earnestly imploring their lawful Sovereign not to leave ' em His Royal Highness at length gave way to their importunate Entreaties and suffer'd himself to be won by their just Prayers Whereupon this Grand Negotiation which had almost drain'd the Coffers of France fell to the Ground on a sudden and was never resum'd after His most Christian Majesty having been thus baffl'd in his Designs upon Savoy dissembl'd his Resentments for some time till at length he acquainted the Court of Turin by one of his Ministers that he was extremely sorry that a Proposal to advance his Royal Highness to the Throne of Portugal should be so vigorously oppos'd But since the Dutchess his Mother and preposterous Love of his Subjects had prevail'd against his Endeavours he was resolv'd for his part to thank Don Pedro by his Ambassador for his kind Compliance with his Request and leave the Duke to do as he thought fit And moreover that if he had but in the least imagin'd that his Negotiation would not have been accepted he would never have troubl'd his Head about it It has always been the Custom of France to enlarge its Dominions more by Policy than Force and which has been partly owing to Money and partly to the Address of its Ministers This has been a Secret unknown to other Courts of Europe or perhaps rather abhorr'd by ' em But whatever it be the French King finding it impossible to prevail so far against his Highness by reason of the Situation of his Country as to get any Entrance into Italy to the end that he might strike in with the
first Disturbances amongst those Princes or at least keep 'em in awe and infuse Jealousie into 'em as he has formerly done to the other Princes of Europe his Neighbours thought best after this Baffle to engage the young Duke by another Artifice and that was to propose to him one of his own Daughters in Marriage His most Christian Majesty's Interest was yet so good at the Court of Turin that the Dutchess Dowager and his Royal Highness's Council preferr'd this Proffer of Madamoiselle d'Orleans to others of the Emperour and some Princes of Italy The Fear of enraging so powerful a Monarch as that of France and who might prove so dangerous a Neighbour who had moreover formerly at the Death of his Royal Highness's Father Charles Emanuel the second consented to be his Guardian soon enclin'd the Council of Turin to accept Madamoiselle d'Orleans before either the Princess of Newburgh or Tuscany This was a Marriage therefore where Policy and Fear had a greater share than Inclination and consequently his Royal Highness could not expect but what he has since so often experienc'd to his cost Nevertheless what has already happen'd is nothing in respect of what in all Probability may hereafter befal him It may be his Destiny has reserv'd a Scourge that shall prove fatal both to him his Successours and the general Repose of Italy besides These are the Presages of such as are well vers'd in the Politicks of these times and without any farther penetrating into Futurity for my own part I dare affirm that one of these things must inevitably happen either that France bound its Ambition on this side of Italy or that she become one Day Mistriss of all Savoy The French King's Pretensions to this Dutchy and the present Posture of Affairs encline him naturally to that end and the only shift his Royal Highness seems to have had left was to have persisted in that just War in Conjunction with the most Serene Allies The potent Princes which compose this League have not been wanting to represent often to him by their Ministers his slippery Proceedings whilst he gave ear to the flattering Promises of the common Enemy His Imperial and Catholick Majesty's Envoys were even tir'd with proffering their important Reasons which were so capable to undeceive him but his Royal Highness rather enclin'd to be seduc'd by the Emissaries of France than preserv'd by the wholsome Advice of the Allies the Difference between which being that the Council and Promises of the Confederates were solid and real when those of France were full of nothing but Venom Deceit and Chimera's But to search deeper into the Court of Turin which is without dispute one of the most subtle and politick in in Europe it is asolutely necessary to trace back their first Differences with the French King After which we intend to follow his Royal Highness Step by Step in his Conduct during this War as well in regard to the French King as to the most Serene Allies At the beginning of the Year 1690 the French King having resolv'd to carry the War into Italy the Duke of Fuensalida Governour of Milan with all the diligence imaginable began to raise Troops fill up Magazines and repair his Fortifications to the end that he might be in a Condition to oppose the Progresses of the French who were then marching towards Italy But at the same time what most perplex'd this Governour was the Conduct of the Court of Turin which was a Riddle so obscure that even the most refin'd Politicians were not able to solve it This gave him more Disturbance than all the Preparations of France For on one hand he suspected the D. of Savoy to have underhand made a tripple Alliance with the French King and D. of Modena to joyn their Forces together and fall upon the Milaneze and on the other he observed this Prince so very wavering that he knew not what to think of him For at the same time that he promis'd the French King to stand Neuter he engaged his Word to the Emperour and King of Spain that he would declare on their side The different Dispositions of his Royal Highness at this Juncture and his studi'd Conduct of Affairs might very well augment the Jealousies and Suspicions of the French King who began to fear that this Prince might at length play him an Italian Trick The French therefore who are generally very wary made it their chief Business to observe his Actions closely and having discover'd something that seem'd to bode 'em no good his Most Christian Majesty immediately sent him word That he was not at all satisfi'd with his Neutrality but further requir'd the Citadels of Verceil and Turin for Security of his Promise This haughty Message from the French King did not at all discompose the Duke he was resolv'd upon an even Temper the better to carry on his Designs Therefore he contented himself for the present with only desiring the French King to allow him some Time for an Answer This pacifi'd the angry Monarch for a while hoping thereby to obtain from him an exact Neutrality which was all that he desir'd to the end that the French might the more easily enter Italy and facilitate the Conquest of Milan During this the Emissaries of France at his Royal Highness's Court discover'd another Proceeding which extreamly augmented their Jealousies and that was That the Duke was about to forsake their Interest and engage in that of the Emperour All the World knows his Royal Highness pretends a Right to the Kingdom of Cyprus since Lewis the Third Duke or Savoy married Charlotte Widow of John King of Portugal Daughter of John Son of James Paleologus Emperour of the East who gave for Portion to his said Daughter Charlotte the Kingdom of Cyprus in such manner that this Lewis Duke of Savoy was Crown'd King of Cyprus in presence of John de Lusignan King of Cyprus his Father-in-Law From thence the Dukes of Savoy have the Title of Royal Highness and bear an Arch'd Crown which the Kings of France or other Princes of Europe have never disputed always giving 'em proportionable Respect the Emperour only excepted who wou'd never yet allow them that Regal Character His Royal Highness considering there was now a favourable Opportunity for him since the Emperour thought fit to engage him by his Ministers to break with France made use of the Occasion to offer a Million of Florins to his Imperial Majesty provided he would acknowledge him King of Cyprus and allow him the same Honours which the King of France and other Princes had always done His Royal Highness further propos'd to his Imperial Majesty That he would buy the Fiefs which he had got in Savoy and the Republick of Genoa which properly belong'd to the Emperour for both which he proffer'd vast Sums of Money not doubting in the least but such Proposals wou'd be hearken'd to at a time especially when the Emperour had so great Occasion for Money to support
War the Officers went away very well satisfied believing they would be punished according to the Enormity of their Crimes But would you think it instead of doing so exemplary a Piece of Justice they quite contrary assisted 'em in their Escape Of all which to comply with the Reader 's Curiosity we will give the several Particulars Mareschal Catinat every Market-day sent a Piemonteze disguis'd like a Peasant into the Protestants Winter-Quarters where this Traytor was wont to debauch by Money or fair Promises about twenty five or thirty at a time and send 'em by Night with a Guide to Pignerol Herewith the Officers of these Regiments being at length inform'd by means of some Deserters who had been taken resolv'd to pretend to be lifted themselves that they might the better discover the Villain who took upon him to list For this Purpose they put on their common Soldiers Clothes and by means of one of those Deserters who had been taken they were conducted to the counterfeit Peasant's Quarters who receiving 'em with a great deal of Joy immediately gave them Money and told 'em the Names of the Regiments and Captains that waited for 'em at Pignerol The Day of their Departure being come the Peasant promis'd to go along with 'em when they being between twenty and thirty in all as well Officers as Soldiers began to set forward But their Piemonteze Captain was soon surpriz'd by a Present of Irons being brought him to carry him before the Governour who promis'd the severest Justice on so villanous a Design Some time after fix Officers of the fame Regiments went and polled themselves in the Night-time in a Place where they knew the Deserters must needs pass with design to discover more of these Villans who were sent to seduce their Men to the Enemy For this purpose they got up into sevâ—â—al Trees that they might keep themselves the better from being discovered Whilst they lay thus conceal'd there came a Peasant from the Town whom they presently seiz'd and diving into his Pockets found a Letter from the Governour in whose Hands they had left the first Traytor This Letter was an Answer to one of the Duke of Savoy's whereby he gave his Highness to understand that according to his Commands he would continue Matters so that the Piemonteze Prisoner should escape without having any harm done him The Peasant upon demand who gave him that Letter answer'd it was the Governour himself which sufficiently laid open the secret Intellegences the Court of Turin had with the Enemy in order to ruine the Protestant Regiments The Original of this Letter is still to be seen in my Lord Galloway's Hands as a Monument of the Treachery and Baseness of the Generals and other Officers of his Royal Highness His Royal Highness saw all this with his own Eyes nothing escap'd his Knowledge Nevertheless every thing was pass'd by in profound Silence and neglect The poor Officers only of these Regiments might murmur and complain as long as they pleas'd to see themselves in a fair way to be ruin'd by these repeated Desertions To this Remark we may farther add the Design his Royal Highness had to sell these Regiments by an usurp'd Authority to the Venetians to go and serve in the Morea which they must undoubtedly have yielded to had not they so vigorously oppos'd those Proposals affirming they belong'd only to his Britannick Majesty in whose Power it was alone to dispose of 'em in that Nature These Matters being thus transacled in the Sight of all Europe shall his Royal Highness's flattering Ministers for the future dare to boast their Master's Sincerity without a just Reproach But let us proceed to the other Treacheries In the sixth Place comes the Conduct of his Royal Highness towards several French Refugees who being oblig'd to pass thro' this Prince's Army instead of receiving them civilly as he ought to have done on the contrary he caus'd 'em all to be arrested and moreover order'd them to be bound Hand and Foot and sent to Mareschal Cannat as Deserters from his Army and this altho' several Letters were writ him from France that they had never been in any Service but were the Sons of several rich Merchants whom their Fathers thought fit to send out of that Kingdom I believe there was never the like Cruelty thought on and which sufficiently demonstrates how little his Royal Highness seem'd to value the King of England who had all along declar'd himself their Protector whilst his Earnestness to comply with France was thereby unquestionably made appear Of this Action I my self was an Eye-witness as well as all the Officers of the Auxiliary Forces In the seventh Place the Court of Turin every Year receiv'd the French Fashions by rich Presents from the King of France and Monsieur to the Duke of Savoy and his Dutchess insomuch that there was a continual Concourse of Courriers between France and Turin which shew'd the strict Union between the two Crowns in spight of all the Well-meaning pretended to the Allies In the eighth Place his Royal Highness s Conduct in besieging Guillestre and Ambroa in Dauphinè before he had made himself Master of Brianzon where the French had their chief Magazines as well as neglecting several other Polls to favour his Retreat and cut off that of Monsieur Catinat visibly prove his Royal Highness had all along Intelligence with the French and that they two play'd their Game by Confederacy which those Officers in the Army who had least Experience could easily discover The deceas'd Mareschal Schomberg of happy Memory was therewithal more than ordinarily affected He observ'd all their Proceedings but they were altogether out of his Power to redress The Italian Junto governed all and provided his Royal Highness did but amuse the Confederacy with his imaginary Conquests and Irruptions into France he had leisure enough to receive Money on both sides In the ninth Place upon his Royal Highness's entering Dauphinè whereas he ought to have taken care that Count Schomberg who commanded a separate Army which daily encreased by the Protestants which joyn'd him from all Provinces of France might not want Provisions he not only suffer'd 'em to want Provisions but also necessary Amunition for fear that Body mighty become more powerful than that which his Highness commanded and which consequently might have proceeded farther than his private Intelligence with France would give leave which oblig'd him to go no farther than Gap his bare entring Dauphinè being sufficient to blind the Allies and drain their Purses Hereupon the Protestants under Count Schomberg's Conduct not being able to subsist were forc'd to disperse which was the true Reason of the small Progress of the Confederates Arms in Dauphinè There was also another Passage which manifestly proves the Duke of Savoy's Intelligence with France which was that his Royal Highness apprehending the Confederate Forces might grow too potent and overrun France which was not at all conducing to his purpose suddenly feign'd a
Prince and his Ministers But the French King little cares how much he gives so he may compass his Ends and gratifie his Ambition That Monarch express'd his Thoughts very plainly about that Matter For being one day at dinner when News was brought him that the Treaty was at last concluded with the Duke of Savoy he said before all the Company That the Peace of Italy had cost him dear but he was sure a general Peace would make him amends for all the Sums he had disburs'd These Words need neither Explanation nor Comment therefore let 's return to our Subject When the Duke of Savoy declar'd for the Allies against France he hop'd to reap by it an Advantage no less considerable than all the rest since it nearly concerns his Honour and private Interest For since the Death of his Predecessor Charles Emanuel II. he had liv'd an obscure retir'd Life that little became a Sovereign Prince who takes Place among Crown'd Heads altho' his Revenues be in no manner answerable to that high Dignity Therefore it was now high time for him to make himself talk'd of in the World to illustrate his Reign by some great Action and eternize his Memory by some surprizing Event His Temper and Inclinations did naturally lead him to it For to give every one his Due he is a Man of Courage and wants nothing that can make a great Warrior All these Reasons prompted him to take upon him that Part which we have seen him act ever since the beginning of the War By this means he design'd to make his Friendship and Alliance courted by all the Princes in Europe and become as it were the Umpire and Arbitrator of the General Peace Another thing which the Duke of Savoy aim'd at was to lay such great Obligations upon France at a Juncture when she was expos'd to a World of Enemies that had conspir'd her Ruin as would engage the French King not to treat him as a Pety Prince as he did before and to have more Regard and Esteem for him for the future As for the French King besides the Advantages he design'd to draw from his Royal Highness's Secret Alliance which was to bring the Confederates to a General Peace he has still had another Artifice in prospect which neither the Duke nor his Council ever thought of and which will prove fatal to his Dominions and Liberty For by engaging him to side with the Allies and betray them afterwards he draws upon him their irreconcilable Hatred And the Confederates have all the Reason in the World to treat him for the future as an ambidextrous Shuffler and refuse him their Assistance when France after a Peace is concluded shall go to strip him of his Dominions as she did the Duke of Lorrain and several other Princes who had done her almost the like Services It is not the first time that the Dukes of Savoy have lost their Dominions as appears by the Quarrels which Charles Emanuel Grandfather to his Royal Highness had with King Henry III. and Henry IV. of France Henry III. being in War against a powerful League Charles Emanuel did much the same as Victor Amedeus his Successor has done in our Days Me entertain'd great Hopes of enlarging his Fortune if he should improve that Opportunity to declare himself against France and accordingly in the Year 1588 he joyn'd his Arms to those of the Enemies of Henry III. and having formed a powerful Party of which he made himself Chief he entred Provence surpriz'd the Cities of Marseilles and Arles and was so puff'd up with these Successes that he coin'd a Medal to eternize his Memory where he was represented under the Emblem of a Centaurus trampling upon a Crown with this Motto OPPORTUNE Seasonably meaning that he could not have a more seasonable Opportunity to humble France He paid dear for this Bravado for in the Year 1600 Henry IV. having pacify'd the Troubles and Commotions that distracted France and had given Occasion to Charles Emanuel to form great Designs against that Crown resolv'd to be reveng'd of him and having bent the Stress of the War towards Italy made himself Master of the greatest Part of Savoy and Piedmont And to be even with the Duke he coin'd a Medal where he was seen in the Figure of Hercules beating down with his Club the proud Centaurus with this Latin Motto OPPORTUNIUS that is More Seasonably and Successfully After the Conquest of Savoy and Piedmont Henry IV. at the Entreaty of Pope Clement VIII was at last prevail'd upon to be reconcil'd with the distress'd Duke tho' it was the Opinion of all the Politicians of those Times that Henry IV. ought to have kept Savoy and Piedmont both to chastize the inconsiderate Rashness of that Prince and have a free and open Way to enter Italy whenever he pleas'd This is the Advice that Cardinal d'Ossat one of the greatest Statesmen in those Days gave Henry IV. But upon this Occasion that Monarch shew'd more Generosity than Policy and restor'd Charles Emanuel to all his Dominions One might now very well ask Victor Amedeus II. who broke with France in a Conjuncture of time much like that when Charles Emanuel declar'd himself against Henry III. that is when all Europe arm'd against her and attack'd her on the four Corners of the Kingdom One might I say ask that Prince who is now at last reconcil'd with the French King through the Mediation of the Pope and the other Princes of Italy what Security France gives him to put his Dominions out of Danger Will not the French King after a general Peace is concluded have the fairest Opportunity in the World to strip him of them Shall he want Pretences for that Purpose And is not the Duke of Savoy's Conduct at the first Breaking out of the War of Italy a sufficient one since he alone has carried the Fire-brand of War into France by the Irruption into Dauphine All these Proceedings will furnish new Matter of Discord and Division which in time will kindle a greater Fire and revive the old Pretensions of the French King to the Dukedom of Savoy Principality of Piedmont and County of Nice Savoy was annex'd to the Crown of France about twelve hundred Years ago This happen'd in the Reign of King Clovis who got it by way of Conquest from Gundebald King of Burgundy because this Prince had embrac'd the Party of Alaric King of the Goths who wag'd War against France Clovis incens'd against Gundebald turn'd him out of his Dominions and reduc'd him to live on a small Pension the rest of his Life This unfortunate Prince being dead his Dominions fell for ever to the Crown of France by the Decease of Clotildis Sister to Gundebald and Wife to Clovis to whom they belong'd by Legal Right after her Brother's Death So that this Princess dying without Issue they were appropriated to the Crown of France although Savoy had several times been given by way of Appenage to the second and
third Sons till the Emperour Charles the Bald presented Bozon Count of Arles with the ancient Kingdom of Burgundy to which he joyn'd Savoy to be holden for ever by by Fealty and Homage from the Emperour of Germany The Kingom of Arles was of no long Duration and had but four or five Kings the last of which named Rodolphus being dead without Issue Humbert of Morienne who then was Governour of Savoy was vested with it by the Emperour Conradus the Salick He was succeeded by Amedeus his Son from whom is deriv'd the present Family of Savoy which is the more illustrious and ancient because Humbert was descended from the Dukes of Saxony However the Crown of France maintains now-a-days that the vesting of those Dominions had no legal Foundation First because the Empire ought to return hereditarily to the House of France after the Decease of Charles the Burley the last Emperour of the Carlovingian Race upon whom Conradus the Salick had usurp'd it Besides this France produces another Title to Savoy which is that it was annex'd to it a long time before the Erection of the Empire and therefore ought now to be accounted a part of its Demesnes To all these Claims to Savoy France adds still a new one which is deriv'd from Louise of Savoy Mother to Francis I. King of France and Daughter to Philip VII Duke of Savoy who at his Marriage with Margaret of Bourbon had stipulated that their Children should succeed one another in the Dutchy and all its Dependencies Philip had two Children by Margaret viz. Philibert and Louise Philibert being dead Louise his Sister claim'd the Succession but because there was still two Male-Children by a second Marriage viz. Charles and the Duke of Nemours who by the Prerogative of their Sex set up their Title to the Dutchy Louise was postpon'd and Charles made himself Master of Savoy with the Consent of the States of the Country After all these several intestine Quarrels Savoy was again disturbed by the War Francis I. made in Italy This Prince having entred that Dutchy with a formidable Army reduc'd it to his Obedience in a very little time The Conquest of the Principality of Piedmont and County of Nice soon follow'd that of Savoy all which cost Francis I. but one Campagn By this means Charles was entirely dispossess'd of his Dominions and had not one Foot of Ground left him Francis I. and Henry II. his Successor were Masters of them for about twenty four Years that is till the Peace of Chateau in Cambresis was concluded in 1559 whereby King Henry yielded to Spain above 400 Towns and 198 Garison'd Fortresses among which were compris'd all those of Savoy and Piedmont except Turin Viniers Villeneuve Ast Chevas and Pignerol which Charles IX and Henry III. at last restored to the Duke However as it is most certain that the French King never stints his Pretensions nor regards the Treaties made by his Predecessors he will be sure to revive in due time the Title he has to Savoy which is like to be as soon as a general Peace is concluded So that the present Duke of Savoy may be said to be like those that are born to be unhappy For he never moves a Step to favour the Designs of France but he draws towards the Brink of a Precipice Several Reasons engage the French King to set up anew his Title to Savoy as soon as a general Peace is concluded First or all the new Right he gets by the Marriage of the young Dutchess of Savoy the Duke's eldest Daughter with the Duke of Burgundy because in case the Issue Male fail that Princess becomes presumptive Heir of all the Dominions of Victor Amedeus II. her Father And 't is certain the Court of France did much depend upon that although its Ministers have endeavour'd to give another Turn to the Eagerness the French King has shew'd in courting the Duke 'T is a Truth acknowledg'd by all Politicians that the chief way the French King has us'd to enlarge his Dominions has always been by Marriages since he seldom or never concluded a Treaty of Peace but he had a Prince or a Princess of the Blood to bestow upon his Enemies in order to make them subservient to his Designs But as soon as the Deferences and Respects usually paid to new-married People are over France always speaks to another Tune and will have her own at any rate So that the Duke of Savoy may take his Measures accordingly And I will be a false Prophet if the Match he has lately concluded with the Duke of Burgundy do not prove fatal to his Liberty and the Tranquillity of his Dominions The second Reason that will induce the French King to pick a Quarrel with the Duke of Savoy is that he never forgives Injuries that are offer'd him and if he seems now to court and flatter him 't is only to draw him the better to the Trap he lays for him 'T is certain the French King will never pardon his declaring himself against him and taking up Arms to favour the Designs of his Enemies And the first Business of this Monarch's Revenge will be to enslave him All the Submissions his Royal Highness will then use such as to go to France in Person as did the Doge of Genoa some Years ago to express his Sorrow for embracing the Confederacy all these respectful Steps I say will serve but to encrease the Contempt France has for a Prince that can do her no Hurt The third Motive that will engage France not to have any regard for the Duke of Savoy after the Conclusion of a general Peace is the great Passion she ever had to have no other Boundaries than the Alps on the Side of Italy Therefore we ought to look upon the Restitution of the important Place and Fortress of Pignerol as a fallacious Chimera and a Decoy of the French King 's to bring the Duke of Savoy to a Negotiation of Peace well knowing that this Prince being once disarm'd and depriv'd of all the Supplies of the Confederates it will bean easie matter to make him submit to what Terms he pleases So that his Highness's Safety did entirely depend upon the Support of the Confederate Princes Having briefly related the several Claims of the French King to Savoy and the several Motives which will infallibly induce him to revive them as soon as he is rid of all his Enemies we shall now speak to the Wrong his Royal Highness has done the Allies after they have been so kind to him as to share with him the Honour of bringing to reasonable Terms a Monarch who from the beginning of his Reign has meditated the Slavery of all Europe But what makes the Duke of Savoy's Conduct the more inexcusable is that by undoing himself he had a mind to involve all the Confederates in the same Ruin and blast as it were in one Moment ail the Fruits that were to be gathered from nine Campaigns which