The late history of Europe being a narration of all remarkable actions and other various affairs, both civil and military, that have happened in the several kingdoms and republicks : from the Treaty at Nimiguen in anno 1676 to the conclusion of the late peace at Res-Wick in September 1697 : which makes up a history of one and twenty years : accuratly and succinctly abridg'd / by Captain David Kennendy.

CHAP. III. Anno 1678

SECT. I.

[Sect. 1] * 1.1Towards the end of Febreuary, the French King Marches on the head of his Army to Metz, and having drawn the Spainsh Forces that way, of a sudden Crosses the Countrey, and by the fourth of March, sits down before Ghent, and in few days took it, as he did Ypre, before the end of that Moneth, tho the Garrison made a ga••lant resistance: of which Gri∣vances the Allies acquainted King Charles but all they could do could not excite him to any speedy or open Declaration.

* 1.2The French King elated with his Success of late, frames a project of Peace, and Signs it a•• St Germans, the nynth of April 1678. But so ex∣o••itant and unreasonable, as the Allies un••n mo••••¦sly abhorred it (except the Dutch whom he

seemed to cajole in that Article concerning them) and they resolved rather to r••n all hazards,* 1.3 then ac∣cept of any such Conditions.

Articles to ••eace being Conf••rted, and in effect Concluded tho privatly as yet) between the French King and the Dutch,* 1.4 yet he fearing the late Alliance betwixt the King of Great-Brittain and them, might obstruct his agreement with them, he orders Mon∣siur L••••vots to tamper with Mr. Mountague, the ••••••••gush Embassador thon at Parts, and offers by him, a great Sum of Money to King Charles to give his assent to the Articles,* 1.5 he and the Dutch had a∣greed on; the motion is accepted of, and Sir William Temple ordered to Preat with the French Embassa∣dor about it; but that Gentleman had so much Ho∣nour and Honesty, as to declyne the imployment, for which he was under clo••d for some time.

A while after this the Heir Bev••••ning and the Count D'avaux had a private meeting, wherein all matters between the French King and the Dutch were fully Concluded,* 1.6 and D'avaux procures from the King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then Encamped before D••••se) a very smooth insin••ating Letter to the Scates, Containing more favourable so des••••ntions then any proposed formerly:* 1.7 To which they presently return their Letter, full of Compliment, and acquaint him that they ••ill presently send their Extraordinary Em∣bass••dor Van Beverning to wait on his Majesty,* 1.8 to whom they desired him to give Credit; and accor∣dingly ••••ve••••ing goes to the King and Conserts mat∣ters so well, as he obtain'd a Cessation of Arms till the fifthteenth of August following.

* 1.9The French and Dutch having now as good as Concluded a Peace, Spain began to Comply also, and to listen to proposals: But the Emperour, Denmark, and Brandenburg, fell into the highest Exclamations and Reproaches immaginable against the States, de∣clearing

themselves utterly dissatisfied with such pro∣ceedings.

* 1.10But notwithstanding all these Storms on the twen∣ty second of Jun••, The States orders their Embassa∣dors to Sign the Peace with France, before the end of the same Moneth.

Spain concurred with the Dutch, accepting of the offers made to them by the French King of Restoring to them Charleroy, Limburg, Binch, Aeth, Oude∣nard, and Courtray.

SECT. 2.

But here happened an unexpected de∣murr that was like to overturn all.

[Sect. 2] * 1.11On the Agreement made amongst those great Statesmen, they quite forgot to Limite the F••ench to a certain time for delivering th••se Six Towns to Spain: And it was never thought on till the very Day before the Signing of the Peace, when the Marquess de les Balbasses thought on it, and minded the Dutch and Spanish Embassadors of it, they immediately propose it to the French Embas∣sadors, wh••se Answer was, th••t their Master the French King intended not the Surrender of those Six Towns, till the King of Sweden, his Ally, was reposessed of all the Towns taken from him in the late War.* 1.12 The Dutch Embassadors acquaints the States with this, who forbade them on any Terms to Sign the Peace, till that was assertain'd: And ac∣cordingly they denyed Concluding or Signing of the Peace.

* 1.13The Estates immediatly inform King Charles with this, by their Embassador at London, who recented it extreamly, and sends presently Sir William Temple to Holland, with orders to Sign a Treaty with the States, obligeing them to carry on the War, and engageing himself to join with them in it, if France consented not (within a certain time limited) to E∣vacuate the Six Towns: Which Treaty Sir William

carryed on with that Diligence, as within six dayes it was perfected.

The Summ of this was, a mutual Engagement of, joining their Forces and all their Powers to oblidge the French King to the performance of thos•• Conditions agreed on betwixt him, and the Spanish and Dutch Embassadors, and that neither Party should m••ke any agreement with the French King without the Consent of the other.* 1.14 The Trea∣ty being Signed, The F••ench use their utmost en∣de••vours to elude it, by drawing the matter into a new Treaty, and pro••os•• several plac••s in Fl••••ders for meeting to that end but the Dutch stiffly op∣pose the mo••i••••n•• and refuse on any Terms, to re∣cede from th••i•• l••te Tr••••••y. Th••se Heats and Al∣tercations cont••n••ed till the very Day pref••xed came, either for Signing the ••••a••••, or Renewing of the War.

On the Morning of that Day, came Monsieur Bor••el from the S••••tes to their Emb••ssadors,* 1.15 who went presently to t••e Fre••c•• Embassadors, when, after a Conference of five Hours, they agree'd on all points, bo••h as to Peace and Commerce, the French cons••nting to the Evacuation of the six Spanish Towns▪ and the Peace to be Sign••d that very Day.

The Embassadors of Denma••k, Brande••burg, and Munster, being acquainted herewith, Expostul••te the matter sharply with the St••tes Embass••dors and that very Day, give in (in their Masters Names) a solemn Protestation against all these proceedings.

All which notwithstanding,* 1.16 the Peace is signed that day, b••••ween Eleven and Twelve at Night; The Eng••ish Mediators refused to sign the same, Al∣ledgei••g their Orders were to Mediate a general P••eace but not to sign to a particular one.

SECT. 3.

[Sect. 3] The most material Articles of the Peace were, That all Acts of Hostility should immediatly

cease; a firm and perpetu••l ••eace, to continue be∣twixt both parties and all their Subjects.* 1.17

That the Heirs of all ••ersons who were dispos••ss••d of their Estates during the late War, should be im∣mediatly restored, and reposest of all that belonged to their Parents.

That each ••arty shall continue seiz••d of all Coun∣treys, Towns, Place▪ &c within and without Europe, as they now hold and possess them. That the Town of Mast••••cht shall be presen••ly delivered to the States, with all Villages and a••purtinencies thereunto belonging; provided the F••e••ch King shall have liberty to carry away all Artillery, Pow∣der, and other Warlike Provisions, as shall be sound there at the time of its Restitution.

That all Prisoners of War on both sides shall be presently rel••ased without any ransom.

That the States shall be guarantees for the Span••sh King, in all Engagements ••e shall enter into by a Treaty to be speedily perfited betwixt him and France. That it War shall happen hereafter be∣twixt the French King and the States, the Subjects on both sides reciding in the Domin••ons of either Party, shall have six Moneths time to cary off their Effects.

That all the Prince of Oranges pretences and Inte∣rests, contained in a separate Treaty shall be as ef∣fec••u••lly confirm'd and made good, as if they had been particularly inserted in this present Treaty. That the King of Great Brittain, and his Subjects, shall be comprehended in this present Treaty, according to the best form that may be.

That the French Kings Allies, as the King of Sweden, The Duke of Holstein, Bishop of Stra••burg, &c. shall be comprehended: And on the States side, the King of Spain. the Protestant Sweetzers, &c. And Lastly, the Treaty to be ratified by both

parties, within six Weeks, after the 10th. of Au∣••ust 1678.

* 1.18The French King Rratified and Signed the Trea∣ty at St. Germans, the 18th. day of August 1678. The French Embassadors, grants and promises to the Prince of Orange, the Restitution of the Princi∣pality of Orange; with all other his Lands and Seig∣niories in France or Flanders, in such maner as he Enjoyed the same, before he was disposest by the War; and Signed the same the tenth of August, 1678. and the French King approved and Sign••d the said seperate Articles at St Germans the eighteenth of August 1678. Many of the Dutch were unsatisfied with Mous•••••• B••ver••ings precipitation in Signing the Peace. But Amsterdam approving of it, the rest of the Provinces came soon to acquiesce in the same. At this time Mons was blocked up by the French Army Gommanded by Luxemburg.

SECT. 4.

[Sect. 4] On the seventeenth of August the Prince of Orange Decamped from Soign••s with his own and the Confederat Forces,* 1.19 and marched to St Dennis where the Right wing of the Enemy was posted; which about Twelve a clock, he began to Cannon••de, at which very hour the Duke of Mon∣m••uth arrived in the Camp. About three afternoon:* 1.20 Count Waldeck began the Attact, the Prince being present; the other side of the Enemy was Attact by the Spanish Forces, Commanded by the Duke De Villa Harmosa, assisted by the Princes Guards, and the English and Scot•• Commanded by the Noble Earl of Ossery, who behaved with much bravery in that Action, which Continued from three till nine at night,* 1.21 with a great slaughter of the French. In so much as the Duke of Luxemburgh was forced to reteire in the night, leaving his dead and wounded men, his Tents, Baggadge and all behind him. Next morning the Prince intended to prosecute the Vic∣tory,

but was stopt by the advice of Signing the Peace, brought to him then.

A Brave French Officer declared, that be esteemed this, the only Heroick-action that had been done, in the whole progress of the War, this added much to the Princes Honour.* 1.22 The Prince present••y gave notice to Luxem borg that the Peace was Signed, who desi••ed an interview with the ••••rmo••, which he granted, and all things past betwixt them with great Civil••ies on both sides, the French ••rouding about the young Prince, admireing him for his Courage and Conduct in the late Action, which made a great noise in the World.

After this, the Dutch Embass••dors applye them∣selves with great zeal to ••••nishing of the Treaty be¦tween France and Spain wherein the English Medi∣ators refused to joyn o•• be Concerned; The nor∣therne Confedera's were mightily ••hafed at the Dutch proceedings, and tho the Peace they had Concluded with France could not be repealed, yet, they indea∣voured what in them lay to prevent the agreement between France and Spain.

* 1.23No sooner King Charles hears of the Signing of the Peace, then he ••ends over Mr. Hide about the middle of August, with orders to the English Am∣bassador, to go and acquaint the States with his dis∣satisfaction at their rash proceedings in that matter, with several reasons for his being so; especially that they had not secured the Evacuation of the Towns to be restored to Spain, which he found the French seemed to recede from, by some now propositions to the Spainaird. And ordered him to solicite the States not to ratifie the agreement their Ambassa∣dor had made, promising,* 1.24 that on three dayes after notice thereof, he would declare Actual War a∣gainst France. The Prince of Orange being acquaint∣ed with this by Mr. Hide, he was astonished, and

lifting up his hands two or three times, he sayes to Sir William Tempel.

was ever any thing so H••••, and so Cold as this Court of yours will the King who is so often at sea ever learn a word, that I shall never forget, since my last passage. when in agreat storme, the Captain was crying out to the Man at he Helm, all night, STEDDY, STEDDY, STEDDY. If this dispatch had co••e twenty dayes agoe it would have chaing••d the face of all things in Chri∣stendome, and the War might have been caried ••n till France had yeelded to the Treaty of the Pyrenees, and left the World in quiet the rest of our lives, but its my opinion as it comes now, it will have no effect.

And the event proved answerable to his Judgement, However, that motion of King Char••es did so Influ∣ence several of the Dut••b States,* 1.25 as they began to censure severely Mr. Bevernings Conduct, and to charge him with Exceeding his Commission, in several points; to salve which, the French King orders his Embassa∣dor at Nim••guen, to Satisfie the ••ace••, in these se∣veral clauses, wherein they seemed to except against Bevernings Conduct,* 1.26 and farther, to remit all ob∣structions in the ••reaty betwixt him and Spain, to the sole determination of the States themselves; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is so softened them as they proceed presently to the Ratification, ordering it to lye in their Embassadors hands, till the Treaty between France and Spain was Concluded, which was done, and the Peace Signed at the Dutch Embassadors house,* 1.27 the seventeenth of September 1678. Wherein the English Mediators would not Concurre; And so the disigns of the English Court were once more cluded, and Mr. Hi••e return'd discontented to England, ••e Infecta:

The Material Articles of this agreement were first,* 1.28 such as are ordinary in all such cases, an uni∣versal Cessation of all Acts of Hostility, on both sides. A lasting Peace to continue between the two

Kings, their Heirs, and Suc••essors, and all their Subjects. All prison••rs on both sides to be reloassed without any ransome. An Act of obliuion to pass for all Damnages, losses or Injuries of any sort, that have happened in the War, to this present day.

The French King to ••ender up to Spain, the Towns of Charle ro••, ••inche, A••th, Oudenard,* 1.29 and C••••tray, with all their appurtenances, as Spain po∣sessed them before the War in Anno 1667. Excepting the Verge of Menam, and the Town of Conac, which are to remain to the French King.

As also, The French King promises to deliver and surrender to the King of Spain, the City and Dutchie of Lamburg, the Countrey of On••••em••use, the City of Gh••nt, the Fort of Roddenhus, the Coun∣ty of Waes. the Town of Leuve in B••abaut, the place of St. Ghil••n (the Fortifications whereof are to be rased) the Town of Pucurda in Catalo∣ma, with all the Countreys, Villages. Castles, Forts, Lands, and all other Appurtenances belonging to any of the foresaid places, without demolishing or weakening any of the Garisons, Castles, or Forts forementioned. &c.

The King of Spain is to Surrender to the French King, The County of Burgundy, the Towns of Be∣zancon, Valenciennes, Bouchain, Conde, Cambray, A••re, St Omers, Ip••e••, Warwick, Warneton, Pop••••ng••en, Batleul, Cassal, Bavay, and Maubeuge, with all their Territories and Appurtenances

Both Kings are allowed to carry away all Arti∣liry, and other Warlike Provisions, out of the fore∣mentioned Ga••isons and Fortresses, now in their possession before they Surrender them.

Both Kings mutually promise to restore to each other, all Towns, laces Forts, and Castles, which have been taken from one anot••er in their Forreign Plan∣tations, and throughout the whole World. The

rest of the Articles relating most to commerce, and for the mutual good of the Subjects,* 1.30 and adjusting all matters concerning the Cler••y and Ecclesiastick State, being very pr••lix, and not so material. I have passed t••em over.

SECT. 5.

[Sect. 5] Tho the Embassadors on both sides, had brought this grand Affair so great a length; Yet there arising so many Obstructions and Difficulties in carrying on the Treaty between the Emperor and France tw••erein the Dutch Embassadórs were very Active the King of Spain having an Eye still on the Emperors Concer••s, and being very desirous to have them adjusted and settled, delayed the ra∣tifying of the Peace till the midle of December, ex∣pecting the Event of that Negotiati••n between the Emperor and France,* 1.31 This so enraged the French, as they ma••c••a greater Ravage and Have••k in Flan∣ders, than they had done in any so long time dur••ing the War,* 1.32 and on this consideration the King of Spain was for••ed to Sign and ratify the Peace the fifteenth of D••cember: De••mark, and Brandenburg finding the Emperors Embassadors taking the same measures with Spain and Holland, in carrying on a separate Peace, are extremly vexed, However the Elector in person Ships over his Forces to the Isle of Rugen,* 1.33 of which he makes himself Master in a days time, and two dayes after takes Stralsond. The Duke of Lorrain, seing all go to wrak, accepts of what Con∣ditions the French King was pleased to give him, and agrees, quitting Nancy to France

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ghent and Ypre ••aken by the French.
• * 1.2

  the French Kings pro∣ject of Peace.
• * 1.3

  rejected by the Allies.
• * 1.4

  money of∣fered to King Char∣les by the French King
• * 1.5

  Sir William Temple ap∣plauded.
• * 1.6

  the French King writs to the Dutch
• * 1.7

  their an∣swer.
• * 1.8

  A cessation till the 15. of August.
• * 1.9

  Emperour Denmark. and Bran∣denburg, 〈7 letters〉〈7 letters〉ded.
• * 1.10

  The Dutch order the Signing of the Peace.
• * 1.11

  The Peace obstructed and the Reason
• * 1.12

  Who, An∣swer.
• * 1.13

  King Cha∣rles joins with the Dutch.
• * 1.14

  France en∣deavour•• to Elude the Treaty
• * 1.15

  All Parties a••••••e once again.
• * 1.16

  The Peace sig••••d Au∣gust ••oth. 1678,
• * 1.17

  The Ma∣terial Ar∣ticles be∣tween France and Hol∣land.
• * 1.18

  Ratifyed by the French King.
• * 1.19

  Mons blocked up by the French.
• * 1.20

  Battale of Mons, or St Dennis.
• * 1.21

  Luxem∣burgh, de∣feated, and the Seige raised, by the Prince of Orange.
• * 1.22

  An in••er∣view be∣tween them.
• * 1.23

  King Char∣es sends Mr Hide, wit orders to the Em∣bassadors.
• * 1.24

  The ••rince of Orange his speach to Sir. Wil∣liam Tem∣ple on that Embassy.
• * 1.25

  Beverning sensured, by the States.
• * 1.26

  Excused by the French King.
• * 1.27

  Peace be∣tween France and Sp••in Sign∣ed Soptem-17. 1678.
• * 1.28

  The Art∣icles.
• * 1.29

  Articles of Peace be∣tween France and Spain.
• * 1.30

  An. 1679.
• * 1.31

  Flanders ravaged by the French
• * 1.32

  King of Spain ra∣tifyes the Peace. De∣cember 15. 1678.
• * 1.33

  Duke Lorrain a grees with France 1679.