that the empire, together with England and the UnitedProvinces, might be engaged to join in the war, and being unable to defend themfelves, delivered all into the hands of France. And upon that, both the Spanish Netherlands, and the duchy of Milan, received French garrifons; the French fleet came to Cadiz; a fquadron was alfo fent to the WeftIndies; fo that the whole Spanish empire fell now, without a ftroke of the fword, into the French power. All this was the more formidable, because the duke of Burgundy had then no children; and, by this means, the king of Spain was in time likely to fucceed to the crown of France. And thus the world faw the appearance of a new univerfal monarchy, like to arife out of this conjunction. The king of Spain wrote to all the courts of Europe, Great apgiving notice of his acceffion to that crown; only he forgot of the danprehenfions England. And it was publickly given out, that he had pro- ger Europe mifed the pretended prince of Wales, that, in due time, he was now in. would take care of his interefts. The king and the States- Ibid, general were much alarmed, when they beheld the French poffeffed of the Spanish Netherlands. A great part of the Dutch army lay fcattered up and down in thofe garrisons, more particularly in Luxemburg, Namur, and Mons; and these were now made prifoners of war. Neither offices nor foldiers could own the king of Spain, for their mafters had not yet done it. At this time, the French preffed the States. very hard to declare themselves. A great party in the States were for owning him, at leaft in form, till they could get their troops again into their own hands, according to capitulation. Nor were they then in a condition to refift the impreffion, that might have been made upon them from the garrifons in the Spanish Guelder, who could have attacked them before they were able to make head. The States therefore Cole. came to a refolution of owning the king of Spain, and ac- P. 318. cordingly wrote a letter that fame day to the French king for that purpose. This being done, their battalions were sent Burnet, back, but they were ill ufed, contrary to capitulation, and p. 257the foldiers were tempted to defert their fervice; yet very few could be prevailed on to do it. There was at this time a black appearance of a new and difmal fcene. France was now in poffeffion of a great empire, for a fmall part of which they had been in wars (broke off indeed in intervals) for above two hundred years; while England, who ought to have protected and defended the reft, was, by wretched factions and violent animofities, running into a feeble and disjointed ftate, The king indeed, upon the news 1700. Will. III. news of the French king's refolution to accept the will, and recede from the treaty, was full of indignation to find himself fo much abused, but he appeared quite the contrary. Infomuch, that his cold and referved manner, upon fo high a provocation, made fome conclude, that he was in fecret engagements with France; and that he was refolved to own the new king of Spain, and not to engage in a new war (c). This (c) The reader may fee the progrefs of affairs in this remarkable period, in the following extract from Mr. Cole's Memoirs. The earl of Manchefter to Mr. secretary Vernon. Count Zinzendorf had an audience of the king foon after the ceremony of declaring the duke of Anjou king of Spain. That was appointed before he knew of this: It was to acquaint the king, That the queen of the Romans was brought to bed of a prince. He made all the hafte he could to Paris, to let me know, that the duke of Anjou was declared. I fear, the em peror may thank himself; for it is probable, that he might have prevented it. He tells me, that he has news, by a courier, that the emperor's troops are marching for Italy; but I do not always rely upon his news: We fhall foon hear, if it be fo. I do affure you, there is great joy at St. Germains. The late king goes, this day, to wait on the duke of Anjou. I was, laft night, at Monfieur's, who is at Paris, where I found lord Melfort; who gave himself other airs than he used to do. I am just now told, That an offer is made to the elector of Bavaria, to continue in the go vernment of the Netherlands, during his life; and that this new king of Spain will confirm it to him. The earl of Manchester to Mr. secretary Vernon. Paris, Novem. 20, 1700. ther courier arrived to the SpaSince my laft, there is anowill; for, before, they had only nish ambassador, with the entire an abstract. There is alfo a codicil, which was added to the will and relates only to the queen's dowry, which was but three now, it is four. She has the hundred thousand ducats, and, choice of Naples, Milan, Sicily, or Flanders; where fhe is to go on the 21st of October ; vern with a council; which the There are fome letters which new king has power to appoint. fay, That count de Harrach, the emperor's minifter, has made a proteftation against the will, both as to the matter and manner; where he alledges, that the king's hand was guided. The earl of Manchester to Mr. fecretary Vernon. Paris, Novem. 27, 1700. My being at Fontainebleau. was the reafon of my being fo foon informed of the intentions of This feemed fo different from his own inclinations, and from Will. III. all the former parts of his life, that it made many conclude, 1700. of the court. They could not well do otherwife than tell me ; for, when we had the news of the king of Spain's death, I preffed monfieur de Torcy to tell me what measures they would keep, in relation to the treaty. He answered me, from time to time, in a doubtful manner, which gave me reasons to fufpect what was doing: So, at laft, he had orders to acquaint me with it. Besides, he faid, it was proper, that the king fhould know it, otherwise, than by the public news. I have received your excellency's letter, of the 24th inftant, N. S. and have laid it before his majefty; but the king has not given me any thing, in command, at prefent, to write to you. Their refolutions are taken; therefore his majesty may be allowed to confider a little, what may be the confequence of fo fudden a change in that court; as likewife to expect, what are the fentiments of other princes and ftates, who are equally concerned in the prefervation of the peace of Europe, and the preventing the balance of power from being broken, by the uniting too many dominions under any one prince; which was the juft foundation of the late treaty. But, how does it yet appear, that the fe that curity of Europe is better provided for, by a prince of France being made king of Spain? Or, what care is taken to fatisfy the world therein? The earl of Manchester to Mr. fecretary Vernon. Paris, Decemb. 1, 1700. about my going to Verfailles, I was very much in doubt till I received yours of the inftant, which determined me. I had a very good excufe, be caufe all, that go there now, have put their coaches in mourning, and mine are not yet done. They do already fay at court, that, till I had orders to compliment the duke of Anjou, I do well not to appear there. I did find by the Dutch ambassador, who went yesterday for an anfwer to a memorial he had given in by order of the States, that monfieur de Torcy did intimate to him as much, as from himfelf. The Duke of Anjou is to fet out on Saturday next. I cannot tell but it may be deferred; and, if fo, I fhall be under fome difficulties. Monfieur de Tallard was with me. He talks of going, but he has as yet no orders. I am ftill of opinion, that you will not fee him very foon, uniefs the king our matter does fignify his confent to what has paffed here. The prince of Vaudemont has proclaimed the duke of Anjou, and has writ to the Spanish ambaffador here to affure the new Will. III. that he found himself in an ill ftate of health, the swelling of 1700. his legs being much increased, and that this might have fuch effects new king of his fidelity, and he hopes he shall receive his orders before he goes for Spain, which he will punctually obferve. The Savoy ambaffador has received orders to compliment him on his acceffion to the crown, which he did yesterday. The emperor's envoy has no orders as yet; and they do here not seem to value what the emperor can do. I am neverthelefs told for certain, that a marriage will be proposed to the emperor for one of the archducheffes, according to the defire of the late king of Spain, by his will. If that is not accepted, then they will marry him to a daughter of the duke of Savoy, who is about thirteen years old. They begin to fay here, that, as for Holland, if they are dif fatisfied, the king of Spain ought to bring them to obedienee, as formerly belonging to that monarchy. And, if we difpute, the little gentleman at St. Germain's is to be made ufe of. I wish that may not be the confequence at laft, though we should act otherwife. The earl of Manchefter to Mr. Stanhope. Paris, Dec. 3, 1700. The duke of Anjou sets out to-morrow for Spain. We hear as yet of no propofals to make the Dutch fecure; and I believe there is no thought of it, fince they seem to fay, that this will depend on Spain, and not on them, Monfieur de Bedmar has been here, and was at Marly. I am told, that the French king affured him, that, if there was occafion for his affistance in Flanders, he would fend what troops they defired. I cannot think, that the elector of Bavaria will keep the government long, notwithstanding what he has done, neither will the Dutch troops be permitted to stay there. Whatever propofals will be made to the States, they will come from the French ambassador at the Hague, and I hope you will let me know what steps he makes.--I fear that the affairs of Europe are in a very ill condition, and that in a few years France will be mafter of us all. There goes a report about Paris, that I have asked an audience of the king, which he denied me, because I did not acknowledge the duke of Anjou. You will do well to let every body know, that there is no fuch thing, and that I have no orders of that nature. What I had to fay was much the fame with what the Dutch ambaffador faid, and I only acquainted monfieur de Torcy with it, and did not give it in writing. effects on his mind, as to make him less warm and active, Will. III. lefs difpofed to involve himself in new troubles; and that he 1700. might prudently as is poffible at this jun&ture, fince all perfons eyes are upon me; which I conceive is right, whatever the king's refolution may be at last. But it is impoffible to prevent idle difcourfes here. I fuppofe you will hear, that I had afked an audience of the king, and was refused, by reason I had not complimented the new king of Spain. There was no ground for this; you know very well, that I had no occafion of doing it, having received no orders of that nature: Yet I am of opinion, that this might poffibly have happened, if I had, and that there will be foon a declaration, that those minifters, whose masters do not own the duke of Anjou, will not be received here. Their way has always been to carry things high. Not that I think, that they are in a condition of doing it, were other princes united. Yefterday I received the inclosed from monfieur Schonenberg to the king. What he acquaints me with is not worth taking notice of; but I am told from other hands, that there are a great many Spaniards diffatisfied, and who do not approve of the conduct of the regents. The queen does not come to the council; perhaps this is only, that the houfe of Auftria may have a better opinion of her. The count de Harrach has entered a proteftation; as has alfo the pope's nuncio, in relation to Naples; and, his pretence is, that the king, dying without children, it reverts to the pope, as his fief. Both thefe protefts I have fent you, with the French king's letter, in anfwer to those of the Spanish regents. The ftyle is worth obferving. I am told, that orders are given for a fleet to be fet out. It is not yet known of what number of hips it is to confift. Some of the forces, that were towards Bayonne, have orders to march this way. The earl of Manchester to Mr. secretary Vernon. Paris, Dec. 8, 1700. I can now affure you, that monfieur de Tallard takes his leave of the king to-morrow, and will be foon in England. I did perceive by monfieur de Torcy, that he has a letter to the king; fo that a little time will fhew what we are to expect. I did not enter into difcourfe on that fubject, nor on the late proceedings of theirs; and it is to no purpofe. The lefs I fay the better, unless I do it by order. What affurance Europe will have of its fecurity, I cannot tell, unless what they fay here will be thought fufficient, viz. that the French king will end his days in peace, and that his ambition is now fatisfied. Here is arrived a courier from Madrid. The letters fay, that they had proclaimed the duke of Anjou; and that there were fhewn great expreffions of joy in all parts. They have alfo the fame account from Naples. We fhall |