therefore the Policy of the Court of France very sillily believ'd that the Persecution of the Huguenots would draw all the Catholicks into her Snares which she had thus baited with her Pretended Zeal But the same Catholicks being more discreet and wary and well acquainted with the Tricks and Finesses of France compar'd the French Zeal to Crocodiles Tears that weep to drill Passengers within their reach and then darting themselves upon their Prey seize and devour it Nay the Pope himself smelt out the Cheat and did all that lay in his Power to oppose it as was apparently seen by the Business of Furstenberg But tho' the Event has shew'd us that France was mistaken in her Calculation yet she still goes on with her Prosecutions of the Protestants tho' less at one time then another in regard that 't is the best way for Princes to go through with Follies begun and for that the King's meaning was to make all Europe believe that he had no other End then to make Proselytes and to propagate the Catholick Religion which is a thing that most prudent and moderate Persons of the same Religion could never perceive by what is past nor discover in any Prospect of Futurity Nor has the King of France procur'd the least Advantage to the Roman Church by his Oppressions within his Kingdom or by his persuading and inveigling the Duke of Savoy to persecute the Vaudois with the same Severity quite contrary to the Sentiments of Innocent XI who openly disapprov'd Violence in Matters of Religion and who could not forbear saying That at the same time that the French Embassadour made Bonfires at Rome and rejoyc'd for the Destruction of the French Huguenots That his Heart bled Tears of Blood foreseeing that all those Forc'd Conversions would one day prove extreamly Prejudicial to the Church and that the King of France did but dispoil himself of the Lovely Robe of Primitive Charity to put on the Old Rags of Paganism dy'd with the Blood of so many Martyrs Moreover these abominable Proceedings of France have only serv'd to render the Catholicks suspected to the Protestants and to beget a Scorn and Hatred of 'em in Places where before they liv'd together in Brotherly Love and good Correspondence But what is more Considerable and for which Rome and all the Catholicks will have just Reason eternally to reproach France and complain of her Monarch Lewis XIV is this That he preferr'd the Advancement of Mahometism before the Support and Preservation of the Catholick Religion in England quite ruin'd by the Dethroning of King James whom he forsook in his Greatest Necessity more-especially seeing that unfortunate Prince had never fallen into such â—n Abyss of Misery had he not follow'd the Pernicious Counsels of his Confederate who incens'd him to persecute his Subjects in England as he had done his own in France and to alter the Religion and Laws of his Realm to serve the Interests and Designs of France But the English more Prudent and Circumspect then the French foreseeing the Tempest that began to gather already over their Heads and of which the Consequences could not but produce a Shipwrack like to that which had swallow'd up the Protestants of France seeing that the Dragoons began already to cross over out of France into England where there was a Father Peters animated with the same preposterous Zeal as Father La Chaise and a Chancellor Jefferies no less wicked and bloody then Tellier or Louvois the English I say beholding the Scaffolds erected and the Fires just ready to be kindl'd withdrew themselves in time from the Yoke that France was preparing for their Necks and by that Resolution for ever dash'd the vain-glorious Hopes of all the English Catholicks In short the King of France has great Reason to repent of Two Things his Persecution of the Protestants of his Kingdom and his last Siege of Philipsburgh For that those two Things were the Original Cause of the War and the Basis of all the Calamities with which France is at present overwhelm'd and which daily augment beyond any Help or Remedy which all the Policy of that Court all the Wiles the Artifices and Knavery of her Ministers and all the Bigotry of her Male and Female Hypocrites can apply to stop their spreading or prevent the same Destiny from befalling the Reign of Lewis the Great as befell Antiochus sirnam'd Epiphanes or The Illustrious there being so great a Uniformity in their Manner of Acting the Beginning and Progress of their Atchievements that we have great Reason to hope that their Exits will be the same FINIS
intended to be propos'd This same Coldness natural to the Switzers makes me believe that that Nation cares not so much for the Friendship of their Confederates as for their Money However it be this must be agreed in their behalf that they are not only faithful to what they promise but stout upon all occasions as we may see by fourteen Battels which they fought with the Emperour Ferderick and three others which they won from Charles the Bold the last Duke of Burgundy and all the Brave Atchievements which they perform'd in Italy as well for as against France under the Reign of Charles the VIII Lewis XII and Francis I. And for that reason it is that since that time the Greatest Potentates of Europe have always sought their Friendship and their Alliance and that the French have caress'd 'em with a great deal of Artifice and Money not so much out of any Kindness which the French have for the Switzers or for the need which they have of their Men in time of Peace but for fear least the Cantons should enter into a Solemn Engagement with the House of Austria For which reason France is careful to stipulate in all the Treaties which she renews with the Cantons that they shall not send above such a number of Men to any other Foreign Princes and those only for the Guards of their Bodies The Embassadour of France has made choice of Soleurre for the Place of his Abode because the Inhabitants of that Canton are all zealous Roman Catholicks who pin their Faith with great Submission upon the Sincerity of their Curate and the Embassadour resides here to shew the Particular Honour which his Master has for the Roman Catholick Cantons above the Evangelick and that the Monks and Priests may have free Access to him who bear a great Sway among the Catholicks Moreover the little Summs of Money which the Embassadour scatters among the Chief of 'em procure him Creatures that still will be inclin'd to the Interests of France and readily stoop to the Lure And by this means it was that the French got leave to build the Fortress of Huninghen which as long as it stands will be a Hook in the Noses of the Inhabitants of Bale to lead 'em which way the Policy of France shall judge most convenient for her purposes Nor is it long since the Governour of that Fortress made an Essay whether the Cannon of that Place would reach as far as the City that he might take his Measures accordingly For whatsoever Protestations of Friendship France at present makes to the Cantons Lewis the XIV had rather be their Soveraign then their Confederate that Monarch has a long time cast a Covetous Eye upon Bale and Geneva and had e're this been Master of 'em had not other Considerations kept him within Bounds and were he once Master of those Barricado's of Switzerland the rest would soon be expos'd to the Misfortune of lying fit for his Convenience He is a Fox but he has Lyon's Claws and he makes use of his Head to deceive the Catholick Cantons under the Specious Pretence of Propagating Catholicity but he reserves his Paws for the Protestant Cantons There is no question but that among the Switzers among whom there are some who have travell'd and seen the World there are to be found several Persons sufficiently quick-sighted Politick and such as understand how Things are carry'd 'T is not long since a Difference happen'd in the Canton of Glaris which France first kindl'd and â—â—mented to the utmost of her Power buâ— Innocent the XI quickly stifl'd it by his Wisdom and Piety I am convinc'd that those Persons are deeply sensible of the Affronts which France puts upon 'em from time to time and with what Scorn she treats their Embassadours the last of which were forc'd to return without being able to procure Audience of the King after sedulous Applications to Colbert Croisy Secretary of State for the Foreign Affairs But the more prudent sort of Switzers you 'll say would fain have the Lyon chain'd and his Claws par'd before they fall upon him To which I Answer That the Switzers may contribute very much toward the Chaining of the Lyon as furious as he seems to be and yet not openly declare themselves neither by demanding the dismantling of Huninghen and for want of so doing by recalling their Men out of France which compose the greatest part of the French Infantry and are the only Combatants well seconded by the Cavalry upon which the French depend for all their Success The King of France is now Convinc'd of the Value of the Switzers and so has been ever since Louvois's Ministry Formerly they were not well belov'd at Court nay they were contemn'd but since the Alteration of the Face of Affairs they are at present consider'd for the Benefit which France receives from 'em like Twins that are ty'd together and must dye together I must confess that the Establishment of the Swiss Regiments is worth some Money to that Nation and discharges the Country of abundance of idle lazy People but I 'll maintain it that the French Service is the Plague and Destruction of vast numbers of Young Men of Good Protestant Families that ruine themselves by the Debaucheries of Wine and Women which always terminates in a Revolt against their Religion and their Country Which would never happen if they serv'd the Protestant Princes The Court of France knows well that she cannot fasten an Officer of Quality to her Interests with a stronger Tye so as to make him absolutely forget his own Country then by the Change of his Religion And therefore she Labours underhand by means of the Women and Monks and those Snares take Effect with the greatest part that are attack'd by those Vermin as was seen by the Example of the Two Stoupa's Not to reckon the more Inferiour Sort all the Swiss Officers and Soldiers as well those that serve in France as those that are sent to the Mines in Sweden I look upon 'em equally lost both to their Families and their Country for they never return again unless they make their Escapes by some sort of Stratagem but it may be said that the Pleasure and Voluptuousness of France is so great that they are pleas'd with their Misfortune There they are bred and there they dye to make room for other New Commers who are Tempted thither like Young Pigeons with the smell of Roasted Dogs France has had no place from whence to supply her self during this War but the Swiss Cantons Some Seamen she may get indeed from the North but for Land-Soldiers of necessity it behoves her to caress and embrace the Helvetian Body without whose Assistance the French would never be able to bring such Numerous Armies into the Field And the Switzers are the Only Persons upon which the King of France may depend so long as he keeps his Word with 'em and that he pays 'em what he contracts for
THE New Politicks OF THE COURT OF FRANCE Under the Reign of LEWIS XIV WHEREIN Are to be seen all his Intreagues and his present Manner of Acting in respect of all the Potentates of Europe to satisfie his Ambition and Grandeur Made English from the Original Printed at Cologne 1694. LONDON Printed for Henry Rhodes at the Star the corner of Bride-lane in Fleet-street And John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry 1695. THE Secret Intrigues OF THE COURT of FRANCE THat which we call the Policy of a State very nearly resembles the Oeconomy of a Private Family the Ministers and Treasury-Officers of the One are like the Steward and Caterer in the Other And therefore it was that an Ancient Author made no difficulty to say That a Politick Court supported the State in like manner as Oeconomy kept up the Grandeur and good Discipline of a single House And as there are two sorts of Oeconomy the one Honest and Praise-worthy the other Mechanick and Sordid which a Lunatick Person makes use of to pile up Riches any manner of way thereby rendring himself odious to all Men of worth 't is very near the same thing with Policy which may be also distinguish'd into two Classes the one Lawful the other Illegitimate Which latter having only usurp'd the Name of Policy as Usurpation has done conceals it self under the Appellation of Conquest On the other side True Policy is not only beneficial but commendable and permitted by the Laws of God and Man She is the Daughter of Prudence and the Prince that makes use of her Profitably and Sincerely wins to himself by that means the Admiration of Foreigners as well as the Love and Respect of his own Subjects and frequently merits the Epithetes and Sirnames of Great â—aâ—â—â—â—ise Oâ—â—he other â—â—de False Policy is meerly â—lyâ—â— cunning wilâ—ly Craft or in a word downright Knavery and Cheat always covetous of other Mens Goods leaving no Stone unturn'd to aggrandize it self at any rate whatever come what will come of it and tacking according to the Proverb The Foxes to the Lyons Skin And these two different sorts of Politicks are as two Opposite Mirrours that openly display the Inside of Princes and shew their vertuous or wicked Inclinations Nor can I forbear divulging to the World that the Court of France ever since the Death of Hen. IV. has very much studied the Practice of this same false Policy on purpose to endeavour the Aggrandizing of her self by Cheat and Usurpation And it may be said to have had extraordinary Success in this last Reign of Lewis XIV under a false Idea of Conquest having thereby augmented his Revenues to above two Thirds and his Dominions above a Third Part as might be easily prov'd were it not visible to all his Neighbours or if his Neighbours were not sensible of it by woful Experience And I do farther averr that it was almost impossible for France to aggrandize her self and every way to enlarge her Dominions as now we see her Limits extended or for her Monarch to raise himself to the present Pinacle of Grandeur had she not made a smart use of Violence Usurpation Breach of Faith To which I may moreover add the Hypocrisie and Deceit which the King of France has us'd in these latter times of Religion on purpose to trample under foot and appropriate to himself the Estates of his Subjects and the Treacherous Leagues he has made with Foreign Princes the more easily to deceive 'em and lay hold upon favourable Opportunities to invade their Territories when least they dream'd of any such thing but lay reposing under the Security of a Peace and all this to make himself Master of their Dominions when it was not in the Power of their Allies to assist ' em Formerly indeed the Romans who were Pagans made use of the same Maxims and the same Stratagems to grow great upon their Neighbours and to make themselves universal Masters of the World And now Lewis XIV believes he cannot fail of obtaining the same Success in his vast Expectations by treading the same laudable and worthy Steps We have seen that since the Church-Men for most part greedy Heapers of Wealth have intruded into the Ministry of the Court of France they have instill'd into the Government Sentiments like their own that is to say Sentiments of Usurpation and Covetousness and a Liberty to do whatever they please and as it is usually seen that a Master endeavours to bring up his Disciples in his own Sentiments and to be of his humour so the Cardinals of Richlieu and Mazarine inspir'd into Lewis XIII and Lewis XIV eager Desires to make themselves Great by Usurpation infusing into 'em by all the ways imaginable that a Prince was always cry'd up in his Undertakings let 'em be good or bad provided that they prosper'd in their Enterprizes because the People adore and like the Sun-flower turn toward the Glitter of Prosperity That it was neither necessary nor beneficial for a King to be good sincere or merciful only that 't was sufficient to appear so in regard it was frequently dangerous to be so indeed and for that it became a King above all things to be always his own Master by acting quite the contrary when his Affairs requir'd it whether it were to make himself Great or for his own Honour seeing that Men judge rather by the Eyes then by the Hands every body having the Liberty to behold and consider the Actions of Kings but not to handle 'em that is to examine and dive into 'em those are Mysteries conceal'd like the Oracles of the Pagans in times of Old Lewis the XIV is so strongly perswaded that the People are only taken with Appearances and gaudy Shew that he affects no more then only to appear outwardly honest sincere and Religious when in reality and at the bottom of his Soul there is nothing of all this in him as has been seen by all the World ever since his first coming to the Crown Seeing there is no better way to judge of the Inward Heart then by the Constancy of a Mans outward Actions then which there can be nothing more plain if we consider the Opressions the Exactions the Cruelties committed during the whole Course of his Reign as also his Usurpations upon his Neighbours Nor can the more Moderate of his Subjects alledge any thing fairer in his Excuse then only this that his Design is to aggrandize himself and that this is the surest Means to render himself formidable as well to his Friends as to his Enemies both at home and abroad Therefore to become Great according to Lewis the Fourteenth's Method there was a Necessity for him to fail of his Word and Faith so soon as he found the Keeping of either prejudicial to Him to break his Alliances concluded and solemnly sworn with his Neighbours and nearest Relations so soon as an Opportunity presented it self to invade their Territories It may be said that this
Sacrifice every thing to his own Interest Honour Word Alliances Edicts Promises Oaths when all these Vertues were opposite to his Aggrandizement That it behov'd a Prince that would be great to accommodate himself to the Necessity of Affairs that it was sufficient for a Prince to be Vertuous when he could not dispence with being otherwise that it was good and commendable to know what was just and honest but not always expedient to practise it That there were some Vices which no way hinder'd a Prince from Governing well that Solomon was subject to Women yet look'd upon to be the Greatest and Wisest of all Kings for that there is always a Distinction to be made between the Domestick and Publick Life of a Prince his Royal and his Private Vertues Cardinal Mazarine having thus found out the Genius of his Disciple 't was an easie thing for him to imprint in his Mind these New Lectures of Policy which afterwards serv'd for a Basis and Foundation to the Reign of Lewis XIV who togetâ—â—â— with the Queen-Mother out of pure Gratitude deliver'd into the Cardinal's hands the Keys of all the Favours and Honours of his Kingdom upheld him in despite of all the Princes of the Blood and notwithstanding all the earnest Importunities of the Parliament and People underwent all the Dangers of a Civil War for some Years and not being able to live without the Cardinal's Presence the King sent for him twice out of Banishment and receiv'd him with those Honours that were no way due to him even to the going several Leagues to meet him and to express his excessive Joy for his Return by mutual Embraces I shall not here enlarge upon the Authority and Power which that Italian Cardinal had in France 't is sufficient to say That the King during his Minority had all the Deference and Respect for that Prelate which a Son could have for a Father and that it was the Cardinal who only reign'd in France In lieu of which he promis'd the King and Queen That he would make him the Greatest Monarch in Europe In order whereunto he was to do Two things The First was To heap up Treasure and augment his Revenues The Second was To lay aside all Scruples of Conscience when the main Concern was the Aggrandizing his Kingdoms The first Tryal of Skill which the Cardinal made in the behalf of France waâ— during his Nunciature when the Peace was concluded at Chiâ—iascâ— where the crafty wilely Miâ—ister deceiv'd the Pope his Master the Princes of Italâ— and the King of Spain in favour of the French Court and so well Cully'd the Duke of Sâ—â—â—â— that he wrested out of his Hands that Imporâ—â—â—â— Place of Pigneâ—ol to deliver it into the Hands 〈◊〉 which was an Acquisition that all the King's Money and Power could not obtain before though he had had an aking Tooth for it a long time And this same Cheat and cunning piece of Knavery it was though the Court of France paid for it in good Ready-Money that purchas'd him the Good-Will of all the Court of France and the Friendship of Cardinal Richlieu which Mazarine still improv'd and kept tite by Presents which he sent him out of Italy from time to time and so well he understood to inveigle all the rest that he was call'd into France in the Year 1639. where a little time after his arrival the Death of Father Joseph the Capuchin became the Life of Maâ—arine This Capuchin was he who serv'd Cardinal Richlieu in all his Intrigues both within and without the Kingdom and who was sent into England during the Reign of Charles I. to sow Division and raise a Civil War which cost that Nation Rivers of Blood So that the Capuchin had good reason to say at his return out of England That he had set Fire to those Sparkles which would kindle such a Flame as would not easily be extinguish'd in Acknowledgment of which the Court of France promis'd to get him a Cardinal's Cap to cover his Bald Pace But he was not so happy as to see himself clad in Purple Deaâ—â—â— seizing him in the Habit of a Saint of a Franciscan After which the Court of France bent all her Sollicitations in favour of Maâ—arine To which Cardinal Richlieu was the more willing to give his Consent as being glad to see himself succeeded in the Ministry by a Person of no less Rank then he was who though he were inferiour to him in Birth yet was his Equal in Dignity Both Princes of the Church yet not without some secret Jealousies between ' em But the King and Queen favour'd him in Consideration of the Business of Pignerol and his declar'd Devotion for the Interests of France so that he was advanc'd to the Purple toward the End of the Year 1641. Immediately after his Promotion he went to take Possession of the Principality of Sedan which the two Cardinals had wrested from the House of Bouillon by Violence forasmuch as that Principality border'd too near upon France and also durst make Head against it but at a time when France was not so powerful as now it is 'T is true that the Duke of Bouillon Frederick Maurice who was then Sovereign of the Place had very much contributed to the loss of it by changing his Religion upon his marrying the Countess of Berghe For being at that time Governor of Maestricht and in the Service of the States of the United Provinces whose Protection warranted his Territories from all Assaults of France yet finding himself no longer acceptable to the Prince of Orange his near Kinsman nor to the States themselves he desir'd leave to lay down his Commission and retire to Sedan there to lead a private and quiet Life and wholly to employ himself within his Principality to the Propagation of the Roman Religion which he had embrac'd in which Employment he made some Progress during some Years After which he met with Business much more considerable by reason of the Refuge which he gave to the Count of Soissons one of the Princes of the Blood and who was retir'd in discontent from the Court of France by reason of some Quarrel with Cardinal Richlieu and this Count was follow'd by the Duke of Guise Now the Duke of Bouillon thought to have avoided all Occasion of Trouble by giving notice to the Court of France of the Retreat of those two Princes but the Cardinal a subtle and crafty Politician seeing he could not hinder it persuaded the King to approve what he had done till an Opportunity of Revenge presented it self as it appear'd not long after by the King 's taking the Field in order to besiege the City of Sedan Nor had the Duke at that time any other way to preserve himself but by clapping up a League in all haste with the Emperor and Spain by which they were to assist him against France with Seven thousand Men and Two hundred thousand Crowns in Ready-Money But the Emperor only perform'd his
to have preserv'd to our Kings more singular Marks of that Sovereignty of which they formerly despoil'd themselves to enrich the Holy See Our Holy Father has also look'd upon as a dangerous and suspected Doctrine the Declaration which the Assembly of the Clergy made in the Year 1682. of their Opinions concerning Ecclesiastical Power at such a Conjuncture too when some of his Predecessours would rather have been banish'd to the Extremities of the Earth then have suffer'd so many New Converts He refus'd his Bulls to several Ecclesiasticks nominated by the King to supply the vacant Churches in his Kingdom The partial Behaviour of our Holy Father in reference to the Archbishoprick of Cologne his Resolute Refusal to acknowledge or give Audience to the King's Ambassadour at that Conjuncture but thundering out Anathema's against him and Interdicting him from St. Lewis's Church in Rome will perpetuate an Example almost Incredible to Posterity of the King's Zeal for Religion and his desire to preserve the Peace of Christendom and of the Pope's proceedings so contrary to the Obligations of the Place which he supplies Wherefore seeing His Holiness stops his Ears to all the King 's most just Complaints we are constrain'd at length to defend our selves and to maintain the Dignity of the Crown and the Repose of the King's Subjects by the Rules of Justice at a time that his Majesty does the same with so much glory by the Puissance of his Armes Thereupon the King 's said Advocate-General having first obtain'd the King's permission declares That he is Appellant in the King's behalf and in behalf of all his Subjects to a Universal Council which His Holiness shall be pleas'd to call in due and Canonical Form c. Protesting in the mean time in the Name and by the Express Command of the King that 't is his Intention to remain inviolably devoted to the Holy See as the true Center of the Church's Unity c. And so soon as our Holy Father being better inform'd shall shew the Equity the Sentiments and Partiality of a Judge and common Father his Majesty will pay to his Person the same Filial Respect as he did before and from which nothing but the ill Conduct of his Holiness causes him to abstain After the Court of France had put these unheard-of Affronts upon the Holy See and thus debas'd the Authority of the Sovereign Pontiff instead of making use of those means which the Catholick Church and Councils have put into his Hands to bring back Princes and People to their Christian Duty the Pope out of a peculiar Fund of Charity and Piety contented himself with making appear to all the World the Justice of his Proceedings and the Injustice of the French Court declaring all along that he was perswaded that the Truth of Affairs had never been truly represented to the King of France only that the Artifices and Passions of those who are no Lovers of Peace had infus'd into him an Idea altogether different Otherwise that it was never to be believ'd that the King would have harbour'd in his Mind those Injurious Sentiments contain'd in Cardinal d'Estree's Letter his Holiness having never fail'd to shew himself a true Father to all Catholicks but more particularly to France who upon several Occasions had receiv'd various Testimonies of his Indulgence and Esteem but instead of being repay'd with Grateful Acknowledgment his Holiness had been expos'd to most heinous Injuries and Affronts not only offer'd to his Person but the Holy See by extending the Regale to above half the the Churches in France that are no way subject to it but by the Second General Council of Lion by prescription of almost 400 Years by the Testimonies and Evidences of Edicts of several Kings Decrees of Parliament and Registers of the Chamber of Accounts as also by the Opinion of the most celebrated French Lawyers ought to be exempted from it The Pope loudly complain'd of the Violence done to the Convents of the Carognes and Urbanistes and that only for applying themselves to the Holy See in Opposition to an Invasion of their Privileges and the Canonical Rules of their Orders which imports That Abbots and Superiours ought to be Elective and continue for three Years together In contempt of which the King had introduc'd Abbots of his own Nomination Besides the Rending away of Five Abbies without the consent of the Apostolick See to erect a Commandery and applying to Other uses the Revenues possess'd by several Monks and Nuns according to the Will of the Donours But that which was more enormous was the King's Prohibiting the Bishops to have any Recourse to the Pope according to their Duty and the Custom of all Times to ask his Counsel in matter of Religion as also in reference to what concern'd Prince Clement of Bavaria tho' in granting him the Eligibility for three Churches that were Legally possess'd by the deceas'd Electour of Cologne all Christendom saw that the Pope had no other Aim then the Publick Good For besides the high Value which it behov'd him to have for that Illustrious House the Merits of the Electour his Brother who had so gloriously defended Christendom against the Invasion of the Turks his Holiness had done nothing in that particular but only imitated the Liberality of his Predecessours who conferr'd the like and greater Favours also upon Persons much Inferiour in Birth Age and Merit then Prince Clement and that too at the Request of the Kings of France And for the Bull granted to Prince Clement the Pope could not be accus'd of any Injustice for so doing since that Affair was exactly and seriously examin'd in a Consistorial Congregation at Rome Besides that the King of France had neither any Reason nor Right to intermeddle in that Affair since it was a Business that only related to a German Archbishoprick and an Electour of the Empire which no way concern'd France either directly or indirectly but the Pope only in respect of Apostolick Confirmation and the Emperour as to the Investiture of the Pincipality in admitting him into the Electoral College to which belongs the Right of Electing a new Emperour and which has a very great Sway in managing the Affairs of the whole Empire So that the Pretence for War which France lays hold on from the Proceedings at Cologne is to be imputed to the King's Passion and his own Interest After what past in the Assembly of some Part of the Clergy at Paris where among other things the King caus'd the Regale to be adjudg'd his Right notwithstanding the Appeal of the Bishops of Alets and Pamise to the Pope and the Propositions so injurious to the Apostolick See supported by Royal Edicts enjoyning every Body to receive and publickly profess and teach 'em in such a manner as was never yet practis'd His Holiness had great Reason to refuse his Bulls to the Ecclesiasticks nominated by the King to supply the vacant Bishopricks because they were present at the said Assembly of
Court of France to change her Batteries and to employ all her Politicks which way to dethrone the reigning King whether by the Sword by Fire or by Poyson 't was indifferent to her provided she attain'd her Ends and for the Truth of this we have sufficient Proofs the Testimony of Grandvall at his Death and the authentick Depositions of Demont who is still living to the Shame and Confusion of France the Remembrance of which will be a lasting Stain to her Honour a Fact which her succeeding Princes will deny as a Reproach to their Posterity and for which Histories only furnish us with the Exrmple of Darius King of Persia who not being able to vanquish his Enemy Alexander in Battel treacherously labour'd to have won the Grecian Soldiers either to kill or betray their Prince And for that it was that the Macedonian Victor upbraided Darius's Embassadors when they came to sue for Peace and to return him Thanks for the Civilities he had shew'd to his Mother his Wife and his two Daughters to which Embassadour the Macedonian Monarch thus began his Answer Tell your Master that Thanks are superfluous among Soldiers that make War one upon another and therefore if I were Civil and Courteous towards his Relations 't was only to satisfie my self and not out of any Affection that I bear to him for 't is not my Humour to insult over the Miserable I never attack Prisoners nor Women I only assail those that I meet with Weapons in their Hands and who are in a Condition to defend themselves So that if he sincerely desir'd Peace I should consider what I had to do but seeing that he still continues by Letters and Money to sollicit my Soldiers to betray me and my Friends to Kill me I am resev'd to pursue him to the uttermost of my Power no longer as an Enemy but as a Poysoner and a Ruffian c. 'T is not to be deny'd but that when any man designs to murther his Enemy 't is because he dreads him with a more then Ordinary Fear and to deprive his more valiant Adversary by such a Cowardly and detestable Action of the Honour of vanquishing him in Battel But such Assassins never come to good End for Darius perish'd miserably being murder'd by his own Subjects and at the same time â—ost both his Life his Diadem and all the Wealth of â—â—â—sia But to return to our Subject During the Reign of King James France sent into England whole Legions of Monks and Jesuits under pretence of Propagating the Faith and to screw themselves into the most considerable Families of the Realm under pretence of Religion as also to assist this Unfortunate Prince to observe his Footsteps and dive into his secret Thoughts to the end he might not be able to avoid the Chains which the Court of France had prepar'd for him But now the Emissaries of France have alter'd their Language and whereas at that time they preach'd nothing to the English but Peace and Obedience there now they breath nothing but Fire and Flame Sedition and Murder where e're they come fomenting Rebellion in all parts of the Kingdom and ready once more to fire the City of London if they believ'd the Conflagration would contribute any thing to their wicked Designs The whole Policy and Craft of France is at a great Loss at this Conjuncture to find that all her Machinations against the Life of the King of England at present prosperously Reigning are still disappointed Nor is it less a bitter Choak-Pear to Lewis XIV the Proudest Monarch upon Earth to see himself at last constrain'd to acknowledge his Brittanick Majesty the Lawful Monarch of the Three Kingdoms and sue to him for Peace and all this after he had Vaunted before all the World that he would never lay down his Arms â—â—ll he had restor'd King James to his Throne not without a prophane and Daring Application of the words of God the Father to the Son Sit thou at my Right hand till I make thy Enemies thy Foot-stool Now after such a Bounce a man would think it should be a trouble to the Court of France to find her self constrain'd to dismiss this poor unfortunate Prince But there will be no such Thing For when Persons that have been profitable to the Court of France become once unserviceable she never scruples to send 'em packing in cold Blood 'T is true that she observes some Measures and lets yee know her Mind at first by Hints and indirect Whispers but if you do not understand her Mute Language and Dumb Signs she fails not to inform your Stupidity with plain and down-right Expressions it being a Maxim of the French Court never to love the Unfortunate But you 'l say what Benefit can accrue to Lewis XIV by keeping King James in France 't is not for the Benefit of his Counsel for he could never give or take any himself nor is it out of any heat of Concupiscence for the Queen of England for he has much handsomer and Prettier in his Seraglio of St. Cyr where Madam de Maintenon out of her Pious Care for several Years together has kept in good decorum a numerous Bevie of young handsome Ladies who are as it were so many Victims which she offers to the Divinity of Lewis the Great and though that Monarch had not that Reserve for his little Pleasures the Court is full of Coquetts and the Mothers are such Ninny-hammers as to carry their Daughters thither to try whether or no their good Fortune will advance 'em to the Embraces of that Great Monarch and all this in hopes to raise the drooping condition of their Family Insomuch that I have known some Parents condescend to that point of Panderism as to Lesson their Daughters and instruct 'em what they were to say and do in case the King should happen to take notice of ' em So that most assuredly it would not be to Queen Jemmykin that the Sultan of France would throw his Handkerchief unless it were with that Limitation that Alexander observ'd who refus'd to exercise at the Olympick Games unless he might have Kings for his Competitors And thus Lewis XIV grown more Great perhaps then formerly would have the World believe that he 'll no longer be a Gamester in the Sports of Love unless he may have Queens for the Objects of his Passion However the King grows old and therefore let us be so favourable to him as to believe that if the Court of France did entertain King James and all his Train at St. Germains 't was not for any Affection the French Monarch bare him but because the English Fugitive who generally feeds upon Chimera's fancy'd Himself and endeavour'd to perswade the Court of France that he had a Great Party in England not only all the Roman Catholicks but all the Fanaticks in the Kingdom That the Quaker Penn who indeed is no other then a Jesuit in Masquerade assur'd him of the Absolute Devotion of
and Spain Which is the Reason that the King of France has always endeavour'd to procure their Amity or at least to have the one or the other on his side And this has been his Care all along during this War which began in 1672. at what time Sweden declar'd openly for France Tho' he repented of it afterwards whether it were by reason of his Ill Success and the Advantage of the Electour of Brandenburgh during that War or the Infidelity of the Court of France so far from observing her Word that she never pay'd the Money which she promis'd to that Crown but on the other side depriv'd the Northern Prince of his Dutchy of Deux Ponts Which ill Usage lost the French all their Credit in the Court of Sweden where they were afterwards look'd upon as Cheats insomuch that the Good Correspondence formerly between those two Nations turn'd into Hatred and Scorn After this Change in regard the Policy of France found it Convenient to have one of these two Northern Princes tack'd to her Interests she cast her Affection upon Danemark and so well ply'd the Ministers of that Court with her Louidores that now she governs 'em as she Pleases and makes 'em daunce to the French Ayres I must acknowledge that the King of France pays the Violins but still Lewis XIV has the Pleasure to see the Danes dance and foot it to his advantage The Siege of Ratzâ—nburgh cost France Three hunder'd Thousand Crowns which were pay'd at Hamborough upon throwing the First Bomb into that Fortress For the Policy of the Court of France would needs venture that Summ at a time when she had little reason to have spar'd it in hopes that this Siege would have made a notable Diversion and that all the Princes of the House of Luneburg would have recall'd all their Forces from the Low-Countries and the Rhine to defend that Place But here the French were cully'd by the Danes For the Difference was made up between both Parties France not being able to prevent the Reconciliation which seem'd to her to have been Impossible But this is not the First Attempt of the Court of France that has come to nothing So that it cannot be said that she takes her measures so truly as never to be mistaken as her Emissaries give out with high applause For to hear them Chatter a man would swear that the Resolves of the Cabinet of their Great Monarch were the Decrees of Heaven that never err which France does often and more frequently then she would her self In the Present Conjuncture France ready to sink under the Burthen of a Long Chargeable War makes use of Danish Flags and Vessels to get Corn and Naval Stores for her Men of War In short at present she embraces the Danes whom she contemn'd before as her only Patrons and Deliverers to whom she can have Recourse and she would sain have the King of Danemark declare War against the United Provinces The Minister of France residing at Coppenhaghen is continually beating his Brains day and night to furnish the Danish Ministers with Pretences to begin a Rupture he promises Ships and Money to assist 'em and that tho' it should be their Misfortune to come by the worst yet upon the making of the Peace he would never forsake 'em no more then he did the Swede when the Peace of Nimeghen was concluded The Louidores of France are most alluring Baits at the Court of Coppenhaghen but their Interest so undeniably requires 'em to hold a good Correspondence with the Hollanders rather then with any other Nation that only that Consideration out-ballances all the Golden Persuasions of the French Embassadour Bonrepos who having quitted his Religion to please his Master labours by all the Artifices of Fallacy and Deceit to become serviceable to him in acknowledgment of the Honour done him in sending him upon an Embassy for which he thought him a more fit Person then any Body else by reason of his Employment in the Sea Affairs under the Marquis of Segnalai But that which most embarrases France and Danemark both together is this that Swedeland which is the far more potent Kingdom of the two being engag'd in a strict Alliance with the Emperor and the United Provinces and having also Pretensions to Danemark will not be wanting to cross the Enterprizes of the Danish King who all things being consider'd can ne'er hope for any great Assistance from the French in the Present Conjuncture Moreover such is the Jealousie between those two Nations upon the score of Trade that the Danes are always afraid least the Swedes should be too hard for 'em and agree with the Hollanders to furnish 'em with all the Wood and other Naval Stores which otherwise they fetch from Danemark and which would be a loss to 'em that France would never be able to repair If the King of France cannot oblige Danemark to break with the United Provinces he is bound at least to procure as much Succour as he can from the North and to make use of Danish Colours to pass freely without molestation with promise to reimburse all the Losses which the Danes shall sustain by their Protection in regard the Danish Ministers readily foresee that so great a Number of Passports which they give for Money to all Vessels and all sorts of Nations that desire 'em must at length open the Eyes of the Confederates and force 'em to put a stop to a Trade that only serves to carry Counterband Goods into France contrary to Justice and Reason and to the prejudice of the Treaties Bonrepos does all he can to continue this Game and he keeps by him whole Reams of Blank Passports to fill 'em up in favour of those who desire 'em and to encourge 'em to sail for France he gives 'em to some and promises 'em to others and bequeaths himself a hunder'd Times a day to the Devil to assure 'em of the Honesty and Sincerity of his Master In short that Embassadour takes a world of Pains so that if he succeed in his Negotiation the King his Master may well bestow upon him the Collar of the Order of St. Lewis in recompence of his Toil and Labour and in exchange for his Religion The Count d' Avaux a Cunning and Crafty Minister at present the French Embassadour at Sweden is so well known in the World that we should do him wrong to write his Panegyrick He acted his part so well during his Embassy at the Hague that his Master sent him to King Jamâ—â— to assist him with his Counsel during the Heroick Expedition of that Prince in Ireland His Instructions are not altogether the same with those of Bonrepos's at Coppenhaghen because those two Courts are not both of one Opinion and for that the Promises of France have not that Reputation at Stockholm as at Coppenhaghen And therefore while Bonrepos presses the Danes to a Rupture d' Avaux only sollicits the Court of Sweden to stand Neuter and