The acts and negotiations, together with the particular articles at large of the general peace, concluded at Ryswick, by the most illustrious confederates with the French king to which is premised, the negotiations and articles of the peace, concluded at Turin, between the same prince and the Duke of Savoy / translated from the original publish'd at the Hague.

PREFACE.

THE Title of this Book informs the Reader, That it contains the Acts and Negotiations of the General Peace concluded at Ryswick, and likewise of the particular Peace concluded at Turin, faithfully Translated from the Origi∣nal publish'd at the Hague: The Editors of it in English thought they had good Reason to put it into that Language, because Our Nation hath, in this long and bloody War, contributed such mighty Weights to∣wards the reducing the Kingdoms and States of Europe to the happy Ballance they at pre∣sent enjoy.

The Efforts of the English Nation, in Concurrence with the Illustrious Confede∣rates, have, in Nine Years time, broke those Chains, which cost the Expence of above 30 Years in their Contrivance, and by which the Liberty of Europe was so strangely and artificially entangled and encompass'd, that even well-meaning Men thought it more ad∣visable patiently to submit to the insuperable

Evil, than by vain Attempts to hasten or exasperate the Misery; Let the Lyon sleep, say they, and let us by our Gentleness and Flatteries engage him so to do; Time may lessen or wear out that Rage, which, should we provoke, we are not able to resist. Thus while evil Men che∣rish'd, and unthinking and mistaken Men submitted, the mighty Mischief grew and prosper'd: Like some irresistible Fleet it commanded and aw'd even those distant Countries, that had not yet seen or felt its Power. Roman it was in the Wisdom and Conduct of its Arms, but of how far different a Spirit from that Heroick Common-wealth? who with Hardships to themselves conquer'd and subdu'd Nations, with the same tender Designs we chastise our Children, only to make 'em better and more happy than they were before.

In this disconsolate Posture was Europe, not expecting Safety, the Delay of its Ruin seem'd to proceed but from the Pleasure or Frolick of the Conqueror; when Crown'd Heads and States were bid to hope for that Li∣berty, which they before only durst secretly desire. This great Design is laid by a Prince, whose Descent seem'd to entitle him to be∣come a Deliverer: His Ancestors, of the same Name, rescu'd his Country from Pow∣ers not indeed so well founded and numerous, but still as destructive, as these the distant Nephew was to engage with; Providence

foresaw the Protection of Seven Provinces would not be Work enough for so capacious a Soul: Hero's, through each degree, collect and gather their Ancestors Perfections, to which they add their own, therefore This Prince is to be ally'd to the English Crown, that this Tie might engage him to extend his Care to these Islands, which by the supine Negligence and superstitious Bigottry of Governors had been put into equal, if not more eminent Danger, than the rest of the Neighbouring World. Impotence was their Excuse, we had Power, but the Force and Edge of it was turn'd upon our Selves. A Neighbour∣ing Flood, that with miserable great Desola∣tion had over-run part of Europe, was with additional Force too near approaching to us: What Precaution did we use to prevent it? Our Workmen were digging down the Banks that should oppose and keep it out, and seem'd to invite the Ruin. Here this Great Prince interposes; he opens the Eyes of most, and holds the Hands of those unfortunate Men that still continu'd blind or engag'd, and kindly hinder'd 'em from doing Things, that tended to the Destruction of both Them∣selves and their Country. Then in 1688. the mighty Scene opens, in 1689. the War begins. Power or Heaven for some time seem'd to favour the Mighty Monarch, doubt∣less it was to try the Opposer's Constancy and let them know, That no Disasters or

Disappointments should discourage Engage∣ments, founded upon the Principles of Justice and Common Safety. Then for Four or Five Years the Bloody Game seem'd doubt∣ful, and the making of a Stand look'd like a Presage of Victory: For when Powers that assume to themselves the Titles of insuperable Strength and immortal Glory, meet with Dif∣ficulties, and are check'd in their ambitious Progress; this casts Disparagement upon their high Pretences, and makes suffering Man∣kind hope they are not so great as they would willingly look to be: Like Men that affect the Character of being Rich, Couragious or Religious, yet are not really so, this assumed Shape may for some time command Awe and Respect, but when at last, by the Effects, the Disguise appears, the Hypocrites become more contemptible and ridiculous. I shall not say, That the Events of the Two or Three last Years of the War make it appear probable, this was the Case of the Enemies of our Monarch and Country, for they had Substance, Conduct and Courage; though I must take it to be as plain, that their Power and these Qualifications were by no means equal to the Union form'd against 'em, and manag'd by the same Incomparable Head and Hand that first gave it Birth. For when Sa∣voy left the Confederacy in 1696. one would have thought so considerable a Weight taken out of our Scale, would have given the Con∣trary

a mighty Advantage; and the costly and even mean Flatteries and Cares that were employ'd to detach that Prince, and the Triumphs us'd on that Success, should confirm the Opinion: But what Effect had it? None to the Advantage of our Adversa∣ries. Some casual Deficiencies at Home de∣feated the Designs abroad, otherwise our Enemies might in this last Interval have felt more Evils, then, I hope, we shall ever now have occasion to wish to 'em. For the Great King condescends that the House of his Maje∣sty shall become the Place of Treaty for Peace, and there settles to the Empire and Spain, Barriers so firm and strong, that their Ene∣mies cannot by Force, in Ten Years, recover what was by Agreement restor'd to 'em here, except gross Negligence, Treachery or Dis∣cord open their Gates, which are Evils the Possessors only can provide against. For, in the present Circumstances of Europe, all any single State should reasonable wish, is, to be in a Condition to prevent Surprize from a Neighbourhood, and to have a Power suf∣ficient to defend it self for some time; and then doubtless those Potentates whose Interest it is, that the Aggressor should not, by the Ruin of another, grow too powerful, will come to the Assistance of the Oppressed: For the late celebrated League does demonstrate, That the Gross of Mankind seldom vary from their Interest, when they know it and

are at Liberty to act as they have a Mind to; and this makes it probable France would never have submitted to Terms so disadvantagious to her Power, if she suddenly intended the like Exercises of it, that have been practis'd some Years before: Therefore the Reader may reasonably hope the Duration of this Peace will add to the Glory of it; he will admire the Contriver of that wonderful Ma∣chine, that made and forc'd a way for it; he will wish the Hero a long Enjoyment of it, and this is for every English Man's own Interest; for it may be this Peace carries something in it resembling the Nature of Creation, its continuance may in some mea∣sure depend upon the Being of its Maker.