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. XXI. Anno 1696.

SECT. 1,

[Sect. 1] * 1.1This year began with a great deal of Murmuring and Complaint, about reforming the Coin,* 1.2 but that Affair was so prudently managed by the Parliament, as the querulous humour lasted not so long, as the Mal contents desired and endeavour∣ed; For the happy and seasonable discovery of their double hellish ••lot of assasinating the King, and the Invasion of England from France gave all thinking Men, somewhat of greater importance to employ their thoughts on, than the inconveniency attending the rectifying of the Coin.

This wicked project had its first contrivance in the latter end of the year 1694. b••t, by several turns of a favourable Providence to us, was Em∣barrassed, till this time. My Author having fully traced this Affair; with all its circumstances, from first and last, I shall only give you a summary account of what I think most material.

The preparations for the Invasion were carried on in France with that expedition, as when the late King came to Catais on the 18 of February, he found all in a readiness, and immediatly ordered the Troops, the Artillery, and Stores, to be put on board with all possible speed.* 1.3 Which the King having no∣tice of, ordered Admiral Russel to rendevouse the Fleet in the Downs with all haste, in which their was so quick dispatch and celerity used, as in 4. or 5 dayes, the Admiral had a fleet of near Sixty

Men of War in a Line of battle with which he stood over presently for the Coast of Catais and Dunkirk, which laid an absolute Embergo on the French Fleet. Where I leave them; and return to the Assasins who consulting and proposing several ways and means, for accomplishing their Bloody and Villa∣nons design, at last concluded on attacking the King at a Bridge, between ••rent••ord and Turnham-green, by which place His Majesty used often to return from Hunting. And had so fully con••erted and settled the matter, in all points, as they fixed on a day for putting this Hellish Enterprise in Execution, which was to be on the 15 of February, But that Providence which has so miraculously and so often preserved His Royal Person, prevented His going Abroad that day, as he had design'd. This unexpected Cross∣bite did so daunt 2 or 3 of the Villains, as they broke off and abandon'd the design, but the Devil was so predominant in the rest of the Desperadoes, as they persisted still, and on a new meeting and consultation, appointed the 22d, of February, for prepetrating the horrid Fact, at the place formen∣tioned.

* 1.4But several days before this, heaven had blown up their Plot, for on the 14 of February, one Mr. Pendergass, who was invited into the Assasination, but consented not, came to the Earl of Portland (tho an absolute stranger to him) and breifly said, My Lord, I pray perswade the King to stay at home to Morrow, for if he go Abroad, he will be Mur∣dered; One Mr. De la Rue, made the same Disco∣very, a little after, And that Night Pendergrass and he being introduced to the King gave a full re∣lation of the whole Conspiracy, yet all this while made no mention of the Conspirators Names, but the King pressing this home to them, his oblige∣ing carriage and Expressions, and the weighty rea∣sons

he gave for the necessity of that Discovery, pre∣vailed so with them, as they gave him a List of all their Names, whereon he presently issues a Proclamation, for their apprehension, promising 1000 pound for every one of the Offenders, that should be taken and brought to Justice.

The King made a pertinent Speech to the Par∣liament, on this occasion; On which after congra∣tulating His Majesties safety, on the 25 of February, they enter into an Association to defend His Person and to Revenge his Death, and farther, they made an Act, that all persons who bare any Office of Pro∣fite and Trust should (besides Swearing the Oath of Fidelity) sign this Association, otherways to be rendered uncapable of their Employments. And in the mean time several of the Assasin's being ap∣prehended,* 1.5 Robert Charnock (the most wicked and inveterat of them all) Edward King, and Thomas Keys, were Brought to Tryal on the 11 of March, And upon full evidence, being all found guilty of High Treason, were sentenced, and upon the 18 of the said Month, were Executed at Tiburn.

* 1.6The next Five that followed the former three, were Sir John Freind, Sir William Perkins, Cranborne, Rookwood, and Lowick, all convicted, sentenced, and Executed.

The glad Tidings of the Kings safety going to Holland. The Confederate Generals resolved to so∣lemnize the same, with an extraordinary Bonfire, which they did by setting fire to the French Maga∣zine at Gevet, which gave them to more Joy, than it did of Greif to the French.

* 1.7About the time that Admiral Russel lay before Calats and Dunkirk, the Thoulon Fleet, came from the Straits, and got all sa••e to in Bresi, and other French Ports.

Our Fleet had no great success in the attempt of

Bombarding of Calais, though yet there was burn•• and destroyed no less than Seventy five Houses,* 1.8 be∣sides the Church and Convent.

But in the Isle of Rhee, where the Lord Berkley Landed the 14 of July,* 1.9 the French sustained far great∣er Damage, where the Town of St. Martins was almost utterly destroyed; And after this, the Lord Berkley landing in the Isle of Groa, and two other Islands near Bed••sl••, the Soldiers destroyed about 20 Villages; burnt a Thousand three hundred Houses, and brought away a Thosand six hundred head of Cattle. The Fleet took Twenty Barks, and retook one of our West India Ships, and a small Frigat, which the Privateers of St. Malo's had taken; and so ended our Summer Expedition, with considerable Dam∣ages to the French.

SECT. 2.

[Sect. 2] In Catalonia.* 1.10 The Duke de Vandosm having passed the Te••, and understanding that the Spanish Cavalry were advanced from their Lines, to observe him,* 1.11 attacked them, The Spaniards stood stoutly to it at first, but finding great numbers of the French infantry coming up to second their Horse, they retired in good order to their Trenches, the French pursued them to their Camp, but being ill treated by the Spanish Artillery they retired with considerable loss. The Spaniards lost Three hundred and they alledged that the French lost more.

The French on the Rhine being stronger at first then the Prince of Baden,* 1.12 offered him Batle,* 1.13 which he durst not accept; but being joined by the Hessian Troops, a while after, he passed the Rhine and ad∣vanced to Newstadt, where the French lay strongly Encamped, whom the Prince could not draw out to Battle, but he had the Honour of Cannonading them for several dayes, not only in Newstadt, but in their very Trenches,

So after he had got some Booty, and diverse

Hostages for Contribution, he repassed the River on the 8th. of October, and then marched in to Win∣ter Quarters,

The Duke Savoy having secretly Concerted all matters betwixt him and the French King yet used all possible Artifices to conceas it a long time.* 1.14 Mare∣schal Catinat had inded a strong Army in Piedmont,* 1.15 much Superior to the Confederats, and might cer∣tainly have distressed and damnified the Duke of Sn∣voy very much, but having secr••et Instructions from his Master, carried much more favourably towards the Duke than he used formerly to do, in so far as the Grand-Prior of France taking notice of his re∣misnes, Accused him to the French King by his Let∣ter, which the King receiving, smiled all the while he was reading it, and wrot to the Grand-Prior not to take notice of Catinats Actions, for what he was doing was by orders from him. However, on the 12. of July a Truce is concluded on for a Month▪ and be∣fore that ended, followed the final conclusion of a Peace on Terms advantageous enough to Savoy (had he not forfited his Honour otherwise by aban∣doning his Allies so unworthily, and contrary to his solem engagements) For the French made restituti∣on to him of all the new Conquests they had made,* 1.16 as also of Pigner••l; gave him 4 Millions of Livers to∣wards the reparation of his damages he had sustain'd during the War; engaged to assist him (when he had occasion] with eight thousand Foot. and four thousand Horse, and that at the French Kings charge and as a further tie,* 1.17 his Daughter to be Married to the Duke of Burgundy, without a portion.

The Duke of Savoy, by his Letters, excuses him∣self to the Emperour, to the King of Spain and to the Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg, but not a line to the King of Great-Britain which the King resented as much, as he did his unjustifiable actions in the main.

And in September following the Dukes Envoy Marques de G••ven makes a large Harange to the late King, wherein he highly Complements him, and professes a great deal of kindnes: But withal makes a foul discovery of his own unsolid and wa∣vering Humor. And withal, on the 15. of Sep∣tember, he puts himself on the Head of the French and his hwn Troops (being now joyned) to drive his Friends and Allies out of Italy, if they did not accept of a Neutrality:

A strange metamor∣phosis to see the same Man, in one Campaign Head 2 adverse Armies, and take upon him to com∣mand both, the like where of can hardly be par∣alleld in any History;

However the Envoy's of all the partys concerned,* 1.18 meeting and taking this knot∣tie and intricat Affaire into consideration; after long Debate, the Neutrality is agreed to, and Signed the 7 of October.

Presently after this, there followed a mighty dis∣course of a general Peice between the French King and the rest of the Confederats, being much occasi∣oned by Monsieur Dickvelts traversing so often be∣tween the Hague and the Camp. But of this more hereafter.

[Sect. 3] The Grand-Signior in person,* 1.19 came early this year to Belgrade, on the Head of a powerful Army: And the Elector of Saxony joyned the Imperial Army in the beginning of June, whom he sound to be little inferior to the Turkish Army, and to the end he might draw them to a Battle, he made a feint of Be∣seiging Tames-ware, this took effect as he wished, for being certainly informed that the Sultan with his whole Army was approaching him, he leaves Tames-ware and marches to meat him. On the 21. of August very early, they found the Turkish Cavalry to appear in great numbers on which the Elector and Gener∣al Caprara, caused the Army to march in order of

Battle. The Turks attacked them with great fury but they were repulsed and beaten back to their in∣fantry,* 1.20 and night coming on, they stood all to their Arms till next morning, that day and the 2, follow∣ing days, there was no engagment, only the Cannon∣ading one anothers Camps: but on the 25. the Ot∣toman Army forsook their Trenches, and came fair∣ly out and offered Battle; which presently began very hot on both sides. The Body of the Imperial Army advancing in 2 Columns, the Turks detaches against them twelve thousand Scuderbeeg••••'s on Hors∣back,

being a sort of people who usually run upon the hottest of the fire, and Fight like mad∣men, in hopes of great rewards which the Sultan is wont to give them after the Battle it over;

these Men after they had forced the Calthropt of the Im∣perialists, broak into the first line, 2. Batalions be∣in constrain'd to give way to their furie; but they were soon repulsed by the Imperial Horse, and so the line was closed again.

The Fight was very feirce, and pushed on with various success on both sides, somtimes the one, and by and by the other party having the advantage, and continued so till the evening, at which time, Caprara's and some other fresh Re••gments making a furious onset, the Turks were driven back to their Trench∣es, and behind their Barricadoes.* 1.21 But night coming on, the Elector thought not fit to attack them in their Trenches, but kept his Army on the Field of Battle in their Armes all night, and early next day offered the Grand-Signior Battle again, which he declined. And so ended this Battle, which was fought with more resolution and bravery than any in this age, and seemed to be like a drawn Battle,* 1.22 the loss on both sides differing little, for the Imperi∣alists computs the Enemies loss, to be four thousand and their own three thousand, so granting some

smal deduction, for partiality, the difference will not be great.* 1.23 The only person of note lost by the Imperialists, was the brave General Heidersheim.

In Croatia, Count Barthiant, Governour there, took the strong ••astle of Vranogratz and the Fort of Tinderaw, which proved good Barriers against the Incursions of the Turks, which often formerly they had made that way.

SECT. 4.

[Sect. 4] Of the Venetiens,* 1.24 there is not much to relate this year, of any great remark. Only, the Basha Laberach•• (borne in the old famous Leuctra, and said to be descended of the ancient Kings of Sparta) abandond'd the Turks and came over to the Venetian interest.* 1.25 In Dalmatia, General Delfino laied Seige in August to Duleigno, routed five thou∣sand Turks who came to releive it, and at last took the Town, but the Castle (being very strong) held out still, and the Bash•• of Scutart attempting th•• releif of it, was ••puls••d with a great slaughter, y•••• for all this the Castle stood out so resolutely, as Del∣fino was forced to leave it and the Town also, and ravaging all the Countrey about, marched safe of••

* 1.26And general Molino engaged Mezzomorto the Turkish Admiral, and his Fleet near Castello-rofl•• fought him a whole day and at last forced him to bear away, with all the Sail he could make, to the port of Seto, having severals of his Ships sore shat∣tred, and six hundred of his Men killed.

* 1.272. On June 17 died John Sobiesks King o•• Poland, being above 70. years old.

3. We have heard little of the Moscovites actions hitherto; But this Campaign, the Czar Peter Al••∣xowitz, marched in person, on the Head of a vas•• Army, and lays Seige to Asoph, a place of great strength and Importance, on the mouth of the Rive•• Tanats and [having defeated at Sea some Turkis•• Vesells coming to supplie the Town with provisions

he carried on the Seige so vigorously,* 1.28 that the Gari∣••on [almost starved] were forced to surrender on Articles, the 28 of July.* 1.29 And next day they march∣••d out being three thousand Turks, besides Tartars. ••n the Town they found 90 peice of Cannon a great deal of Ammunition, but very little other pro∣visions, which hastened the surrendry of the place.

On the Kings return to Englan•• [which this year, was somewhat sooner then ordinar] He gave the Parliament an account of the Negotiation set on foot towards a General Peace, telling them withal that the proper and safe way to Treat, was with Sword in hand, which he desired them seriously to consider, and make preparations accordingly.

* 1.30This year on the 7 of May dyed Mary Anne of Austria, Queen Mother of Spain.

Notes

• * 1.1

  England
• * 1.2

  A••d••••••b••e Pi••t dis∣covered.
• * 1.3

  The French In∣vasion fid∣strat••••
• * 1.4

  The Plot discovered
• * 1.5

  Three of the Con∣spirators Executed
• * 1.6

  Five Con∣spirators tryed and Executed
• * 1.7

  Thoulon: Fleet ar∣rives as Bresls
• * 1.8

  Calais Bombard∣ed
• * 1.9

  Some French Towns Bombard∣ed by the Lord Ber∣kley
• * 1.10

  Sovoy
• * 1.11

  A Conflict in Catalo∣nia
• * 1.12

  Rhine
• * 1.13

  Prince of Baden Can••n••ds the French Camp at Newstadt
• * 1.14

  Savoy.
• * 1.15

  Duke of Savoy a∣grees with the French King.
• * 1.16

  Tearms of agreement
• * 1.17

  Excuses himself to the King of Spain &c, But not to the King of great Britain.
• * 1.18

  Neutrality in Italy signed.
• * 1.19

  Hungary.
• * 1.20

  A feirce Battle near Tames-ware.
• * 1.21

  The Turks retire.
• * 1.22

  A drawn Battle.
• * 1.23

  General Heidershe∣im killed in this Bat∣tle,
• * 1.24

  Venice
• * 1.25

  Delfino ac∣tive in Dal∣matia: he takes Dul∣eigno.
• * 1.26

  General Molino beats the Turks at Sea.
• * 1.27

  King of Poland dies.
• * 1.28

  An. 1321.
• * 1.29

  Asoph taken by the Czar of Mosco••••a.
• * 1.30

  Death of the Queen Mother of Spain.