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[Sect. 1] The 1st. of February 1679.The Em∣bassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg make a sharp remonstrance to the Im••erial Embassadors, of the manifest Evil and great Injuries offered to their Masters, by those their proceeding with France and conjured them, by the Majesty of the
Empire; that they would d••sist, and do nothing to the prejudice and dishonour of their Masters;
Not withstanding this remonstrance, The Treaty was so effectually carryed on, by the vigorous en∣deavous of Sir L••onel Jenkins, as the Peace was on all sides conclued.
The next day, being the 4th. of Februarie, the Embassadors of Denmark and Brandenburg enter a Solemn Protestation against that separate Peace. Notwithstanding of this, all the Emb••ssadors signed it the day after, being the 5th of February 1679 And within two dayes after the Peace be∣tween the Emperor and the King of Sweden was agreed and concluded on. I find no particular men∣tion of the Articles between the Emperor and France.
On the 24th. of February, The French Embassa∣dor declared to Sir Lionel Jenkins, that if Denmark and Brandenburg did not give full satisfaction to the King of Sweden, before the last of March, the French King, would be free to demand new Condi∣tions of them, whi••h perhaps would not please them.
Some days are spent in Consultations and De∣bates about this Affair, but to no purpose, but at last, the English Mediator, and the Confederate Embassadors procured a Cessation of Arms, till the 1st, of Mars which time expireing and no agree∣ment made, the French Troops were ready to pass the Rhine, and prosecute the War. But the Embassa∣dor of Brandenburg and General Spaen who command∣ed his Forces on the Rhine, obtaining a Meeting with Monsieur Colbert, and Monsieur ••alvo who command∣ed the French Forces, at Santhen, on the third of May, got the Cessation prorouged to the 19 And on the 16 of May, the Elector of Brandenburg wrote to the French King in such an excellent strain, as I thought it worth my pains to Extract it verbatim.
A LETTER from the Elector of Bran∣denburg to the French King.
May the 16th. 1679.
My Lord,
IT is impossible, But that Your Majesty, accor∣ding to the great Wisdom wherewith God hath endued you does easily ••erceive the Mo∣deration and justice of my pretensions; And it being to that you must offer violence to that Ge∣nerosity and Greatness of Soul which is natural to Your Majesty; In for••eing me to Conditions of Peace, that not only are ••••jurious to me, but Ig∣nominious also. God, who is just, seing the Righ∣teousness of my Cause, hath prospered my Armes with the conquest of all Pomeranta, and Your Maje∣sty makes me give back the greatest part of it, which I put into Your hands, that I might pre∣serve the rest: which is but a small matter, in re∣spect of what I have gained with the loss of my Blood, and with the ruine of my Subjects.
Is it not then just, My Lord, That since Your Majesty oblidges me to part from so great and fair Cities, and so much of my Enemies Countrey, You should like ways oblige the Swedes to leave me the rest: And that your Majesty having so far concern'd Your self for the Party that had no Right to demand any thing, should concern Your self also for him who had Right to keep all, but yet yeelds the greatest part, mei••ly in conside∣ration of your Majesty. I am inf••rmed that your Ministers object to me, the interest of your Glory and Honour, I know that that is a powerful Motive to animate a great soul to Undertakings;
But suffer me to put you in mind, that Justice is the Source and Rule of Glory; And t••at I haveing it on my side, it is far greater and more ••o••d Glory to support a just and moderate pretention, then to favour one that is nothing less. And could your Majesty but hear the discourse of all Europe, and weigh it with the Reasons that interest suggests to you from my enemies. I am Confiden•• you would instantly decide in my favours, and so prevent the judgement of disinterested ••ost••rity Withall, My Lord, I am very sensible that the Match is too unequal betwext your Majesty's Forces and mine, and that I am unable to resist a King, who alone hath caried the burden of a War against the great∣est Powers of Europe, and hath with so much Glory and Successe gone through with it: But can your Majesty find any advantage in the ruine of a Prince, who is so desirous to serve you; and who being preserved, may contr••bute more to your service, then a bare willingness? Your Ma∣jesty will certainly be the first that will regrat my ruine, since you cannot easily find in all the World besides, one who is more really, and with greater Respect, and Zeal then my self. Your Majesties &c.
[Sect. 2] But for all this, the King seemed to be inexorable, And the time of truce being expired, Ma∣reschal de Crequi with the French Forces, drew near to Minden, where General Spaen was posted, design∣ing to make resistance. Crequi with a bodie of Horse Crossing the Was••r at a Foord, he me••t with Ge∣neral Spaen on the Head of three Thousand Horse, and some feild-Peices, whom he attached vigorously, and after a sharp dispute, and the loss of many Men on both sides, at last General Spaen retired into Minden; this was on the twentieth of June, 1679. and the last Action, that put an end to so great and long a War
The Peace between the Kings of France and Swe∣den and the Elector of Brandenburg, were Signed at S•• Germans the ninteenth of June, the very day be∣fore this rencounter, which had it been intimated but two dayes sooner, the lives of many gallant men might have been saved.
The Articles (besides the Ceasing of all Acts of Hostility; Act of Oblivion, and such other Articles that come in course, on all such occasions) were, that the Treaties of Munster and Osnaburg are to re∣main in full force. Brandenburg to restore to Sweden all he had taken in Pomerin dureing the War, par∣ticularly Ste•••• and Stralsond. The Lands on the other side of the River of Oder to remain to the Ele∣ctor; but he oblidged, not to Build any Forts on the said River, so far as the Territories of Sweden reach∣es. That the Elector may carry away what Cannon or Amunition he brought into those places, but to leave what he found there. That till agreement be made between France and Denmark. the Elector is not to Assist the latter.
The French King is oblidged to procure the King of Swedens Ratification o•• the Peace within three Moneths, and as long as it is wanting, the Elector is not oblidged to restore the Places above-mentioned.
In a separate Article, the French King oblidges to pay or cause to be Fayed to the Elector of Branden∣burg three Hundred Thousand Crowns, to defray the Charges he was at in the late War.
Brandenburg being now agreed with France and Sweden, Writes to his late Allies the States of Hol∣land, minding them of the good Services he had done them, Representing withall the vast expen∣ces he had been at by Assisting them, and the low Condition his Subjects were reduced to thereby: And lastly craveing from them, some sutable Repa∣ration of all his damnag••s and losses he had sustained, in Supporting and Assisting them.
The States Answer was in effect little more then a••n••eer Complement: They did indeed own his great Freindship of Assisting them in that Danger∣ous War; yet insisted in inly on the Considerable Actions and Vigorous Resistance made at their own Cost; Promised the Continuance of their Faithful Freindship to the Elector, and ••rayed the same from him to them; but not one word of any Compensation for his losses Sustained: Only a while after, they payed him some Arrears of Subsidies due to him upon the account of his As∣sistance in the War. with which he was for∣ced to rest Contented.
[Sect. 3] The King of Spaines Joyning the Dutch so early, at the very beginning of the late War. was so Seasonable and Acceptable, as the States voluntar∣ly promised to deliver the City of Mastricht to him, so soon as they recovered it from the Frenck, in whose hands it was at that time. Now the War being over, the King of Spain claimes of the States, the performance of their promise. The States ac∣knowledge their promise, and that they lay under many Obligations to the Crowne of Spain, for the great kindness and Assistance they had given in the late War. But withal minded the King of Spain of a vast Sum, due by him to the Prince of Orange, as also of a great Arrear due to them for a Squadron of Men of War, Rigged out by them for the Ser∣vice of Sicilly.
And that when his Catholick Majesty had payed off these debts to the Prince of Orange, and them, they should be ready to performe their promise of putting Mastricht in his hands, but did not think themselves oblidged to do it so••mer: And tho the Spainish Embassador, Don En anuel de L••ra, promi∣sed in his Masters Name, that all these debts they claimed should be payed oft with all Conven••e••t
Speed, yet the States Continued resolut n••t to part with Mas••••••cht, till this promise were effectually p••rformed.
[Sect. 4] There remained only now the King of Denmarks Affairs to be adjusted and settled, which was soon after agreed on, between the Damsh Em∣bassador Monsieur de Mayerkron, and Monsieur Pom∣pone, Impowered by the French King to that pur∣pose, so a Peace is concluded between the Kings of France, Sweden and Denmark, at St. Germans the 2d. of September. 1679.
The main Articles (besides these common in all such cases) were, That the Article of Rosebield, Copenhagen, and Westphalia shall be confirmed: Den∣mark to restore to the Swedes, Lanascroon, Holsen∣burg, Monctrand, and Wismar, with the Isles of Ru••en and Gothland, and all their Dependencies. Sweden to restore all they had taken from Denmark in the late War. The King of Denmark to take away all the Cannon he brought into the Swedis•• Ga∣risons, but none that he found there when he took the Places, and if he had taken away since, any belonging to the King of Sweden, he was to restore half of them: All persons (on both sides) to be re∣stored to all the Rights and Priviledges they enjoyed before the War. All Princes who desire it, may be comprehended in the Treaty: And Lastly, The Frenc King promises, that the King of Sweden shall ratify the Treaty within three Mone••••s, and that he himself will ratify is within six Weeks.
And this ended thus long and bloody War in Eu∣rope, But with much diss••isfaction to almost all the Allies; Especidly Denmark and B••ande••burg, but many wayes advantagious to France, and withal not very Hono••••rable to England, whose Mediation con∣ti••ed even to the last; and yet had not the happi∣ness of Signing any one of the Treanes.
[Sect. 5] Now let us return home, And enquire what has been doing in England all this while. In the preceeding year, about the 29 of September 1678. Do∣ctor Oates made a Discovery of a Popish Plot ag••inst the Life of the King, the Protestant Religion, and for the Subversion of the Government, on which Sir George Wakeman the Queens Physician, Coleman Secre∣tary to the Dutchess of York and several Jesuites and Preists, were apprehended and committed; As were, not long after, the Earl of Powis, Viscount Staf∣ford, Lord Arundel of Warder, Lord Petre, and Lord B••asis, these last five, were all committed Prisoners in the Tower of London.
Sir Ed∣mundbury Godfrey, a Justice of peace, who was appointed to Examine the Prisoners first com∣mitted, was Murdered on the 12 of October, which confirmed all Men in beliefe of the Conspiracy, and on the 1st, of November the Parliament (Nemine Contradicente) did declare themselves fully persward∣ed of the same. Soon after, Godfreys Murther came to be discovered by one Bedlow, prompted thereto by his Conscience, on whose evidence (and one Prance's) Green, Berty, and Hul were Convicted and Executed.
Examinations, And farther Inquiries relating to the Plot, going on for two or three Moneths, in all which time the King continued se••mingly doubtful and incredulous of the same, and finding the Parlia∣ment more Zealous and forward in prosecuting that Affair, then he approved of, on the 24th. of January, Dissolves them, after they had sat seventeen Years and above eight Moneths: And called ano∣ther to sit the 6th of March following.
On the 28th. of February, He requires the Duke of York (by a Letter) to withdraw from England, which he obeys, and retires with his Family, first to the Hague, and then to Brussels,
Take notice, We have stept back to bring up the the English Plot, and other Affairs of Brittain be∣gun in 1678, and join them now to the year 1679.
The King finding his new Parliament slow in advancing Money for disbanding the Army, and withall, beginning to nible at a Bill for Excluding the Duke of York, first he prorogues them from the twenty seventh of May to the fourteenth of August; and in the mean time, July the twelth, he dissolves them. So as this Parli¦ament proved as short lived, as the former was long. And another Parliament is called to sit the seventeenth of October following.
[Sect. 6] At this time troubles began to arise in Scotland, for on the first of June, a great party of the Presbeterions to the Number of fifteen Hunder'd Rendevouz'd, under the Com∣mand of Robert Hamilton, at Lowden-hill and Marching to Glasgow from thence Issued a De∣claration, giving their reasons for taking up of Armes: But this business has been so often and so fully published, and so universally known, as I think a repetition, or a particular Relation of the progress and event, altogether unne∣cessary, farther then to tell you, that the King sent the Duke of Monmouth speedily down to Scotland, who so managed the matter, that on the twenty second of June, Encountering this ill governed multitude at Bothuel-bridge, he de∣feated them totally, near eight Hundered being killed, and a greater Number taken. And so an end was put to this undertaking.
Tho the main designe was to render the Duke of Monmouth Odious to the Presbiterians, by sending him on this expedition, yet it proved quite other∣wayes, for the whole Protestant party were now so affrayed of a Popish Successor, that they cast their eyes on Monmouth so favourably, as they lookt on him as the only Person, after the Kings death, to stave
off the Succession of his Brother whom they so much dreaded; so this project failing, the next was to de∣clare him ••llegit••••te, which on the third of March following the King did very solemnly, giving it in writing with his own hand, it these words.
Given un∣der the Kings hand.
For the avoyding of any dispute which may happen in time to come Concerning the Succession of the Croun, I do hereby declare in the presence of Almighty GOD, that I never gave nor made any Contract of Marriage, no•• was Married to any Woman in whatsoever but to my present wife Queen Katha••••••e, now living.
CHARLES REX
Whitehall, March the third 1679.
P••ace be¦tween the Emperor and France February 5th. 1679. and Peace ••••h ••we∣den the 7th
Cessation of Armies ••ill the 1st. of May, and after to the 19th
Elector of Bran••en∣bu••ghs ••et∣te•• to the French King.
A skirmish near Min∣den, be∣tween Mr. Crequi and G••nerall Spaen.
Articles between France Sweden, and the E∣lector of Br••nden∣bu••g.
Branden∣burgs letter to the States.
The States answer,
King of Spain, claimes Mastrichs from the States.
Which they refuse and their reasons.
Peace a∣gr••••d be∣tw••••n the Kings of France Sweden and Den mark Sep∣tember 2d. 1679.
The Ar∣ticles.
Popish-Plot in En∣gland ••••p∣tember 29. 1678.
Sir Ed∣mundbury Godfrey Murdered.
The long Parlia∣ment dis∣solved and and ano∣ther called to sit the 6th. of March.
Duke of York leaves England.
Parliament dislolved and one called to sit the ••7 of October 1679,
Covenan∣ters up in Armes in Scotland.
Defeated by the Duke of Monmouth June 22. 1679.
Duke of Monmouth declared a Ba••••a••d.