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By what I have said formerly of Swizzerland, it may appear of what importance it may be to the Emperor and Empire to make that Republick sensible of their true interest, and treat with them for a League and Union of Forces in defence of the Com∣mon
Liberty; and (to bring this about) to employ in the Negotia∣tion, Persons not only capable and faithful, but acceptable to those they are to treat with: Yet as if the Emperor's Council made it their business to do in this as o∣ther particulars, only what may gain them the favour, or the Gold of His most Christian Majesty. 'Tis fit to know the Person the Emperor's Council employs in all those important Negotiati∣ons they have with that Re∣publick. It is no other than the Abbot S. Gall's Major Domo, a∣bove mentioned, called Monsieur Fidelle, (Mr. Faithful,) but by the same figure of speech our Divines call the Prince of Dark∣ness an Angel of Light: For this Fellow is notoriously known and confest to be the falsest of Men. Yet being a Person of a very ready wit, a lively fancy, and
naturally active in what he un∣dertakes, sometimes he openly acts on the part of France, and publickly solicits Suffrages in this Republick in favour of that Crown; sometimes he turns his Coat, and is on the sudden all for the House of Austria: This man from a petty Pedler of Italy, is become excessive Rich, which I mention as a circumstance whereby it may be the better known what a Man he is, how fit to negotiate the Interests of his Imperial Majesty, and to be the Confident and Councellor of the Ministers of State; His Council sends into these parts: And to make appear their Wis∣dom or Collution in this parti∣cular, I must acquaint your Highness with a matter general∣ly known throughout the Swisse Cantons.
That this man is owner of a Moity of two Swisse Companies, now actually in the Service of the French, under the command of his Son in Law: (An Ordina∣ry Traffick among the Swisses) That his most Christian Majesty hath within these three years be∣stowed on him a Rich Canonry, in the higher Alsatia, or Brisgow, which one of his Sons is invested in: That 'tis this faithful Mini∣ster of the Imperial Court, hath since the beginning of the last War, bought all the Horses his Christian Majesty had need of for his Armies, and caused them to be transported from the Port of Wasserbourgh in Germany (where his Master hath a Bayliff, and no small Power) to the Port of Rochas, in Swizzerland, which is a place whereof his Master is Soveraign Prince: That this man being the principal incendi∣ary
and Fomenter of all the trou∣bles and broils hapned in Swisser∣land, these last twenty years; is so generally hated by all good people of that Nation, that to procure the miscarriages of any affair of the Dyets of Baden, there is no surer means than to make the Assembly suspect this man hath a hand, or is any way con∣cerned in it. This appeared clearly in the affair of the County of Burgundy, for Count Cazatti, the Spanish Embassadour, having very unadvisedly resolved to make use of this mans Counsel and Con∣duct in a matter of that impor∣tance, that mighty affair was utter∣ly ruin'd by that very means: Not∣withstanding all, this man is the Confident and privy Councellour of all the Ministers his Imperial Majesty sends to that Nation; and their first business, when arrived there, is to visit him, to consult him
and communicate to him all their instructions: This about three years since, occasion'd a pleasant passage at the Dyet of Baden: An Envoy of his Imperial Majesty, (whom I purposely forbear to name) according to the Custom of his Predecessors in that Employ, and the Orders establisht, went presently after his arrival to con∣sult this Oracle; going afterward to Baden, the Envoy was strange∣ly surprized to find that Gravelle the French Embassadour had al∣ready Communicated to the As∣sembly all the private Instructi∣ons the Envoy had received from the Council at Vienna: Thus that Envoy's Nogotiations came to nothing, and so will all o∣thers his Imperial Majesty shall permit to be managed by the false and Corrupt Conduct of a Man so base, and altogether unworthy the honour of that Employment.