engagement Denmark for improving the advantage he had A. C. 1675, gained. Meffina in Sicily having revolted from Spain, a French fleet under the duke De Vivonne was fent to fupport them in their rebellion. The De Ruyter Dutch ordered De Ruyter to fail with a fquadron to flain in an the affiftance of their allies; a battle enfued, and with the that great officer was flain, to the irreparable lofs French. of his country. France, by the amazing efforts of her minifters, was now become the firft maritime power in Europe: yet, her fuccefs in maritime affairs was in a great measure owing to the inftructions fhe received, and the examples which fhe imitated, in her fucceffive alliances with Holland and England +. the war on All the powers at war having agreed to fend A. C. 1676. plenipotentiaries to Nimeguen, in order to negoti: Progress of ate a treaty of peace under the mediation of the the contiEnglish monarch, he, in July, fent thither lord nent. Berkeley, Sir William Temple, and Sir Leoline Jenkins, in quality of mediating ambaffadors; and there they found the plenipotentiaries of France and the States-general. Sweden was likewise very willing to treat; but the Imperalifts, Spaniards, and elector of Brandenburg, protracted the time, in hope of gaining further advantages that would induce the French monarch to acquiefce in more equitable terms than they could expect from him in his prefent fituation. In the month of April, the French troops had taken Condé by affault; and the fortrefs of Bouchain was reduced in fight of the prince of Orange, who found it impracticable to relieve the place. After thefe petty conquefts, † About this period the duche's of Mazarine having quarrelled with her husband, arrived in England, where fhe had well nigh fupplanted the duchess of Portsmouth in the king's affection. He indulged her with a penfion of four thousand pounds; and A. C. 1676. Lewis returned to Verfailles, leaving the command of his forces to Schomberg, who took Aire, and compelled the prince of Orange to raise the siege of Maeftricht, which he had undertaken. On the upper Rhine, the Imperalifts became mafters of Philipfbourg; and the Swedes were unable to refift the Danes and Brandenburgers in Pomerania. Congress at The campaign being ended, the eyes of all Nimeguen. Europe were turned upon the congrefs at Nimeguen, where, at length, all the plenipoteniaries were affembled. Lewis was defirous of dividing the allies, and concluding a feparate peace with Holland; and Charles the mediator affifted him in that defign. Sir William Temple was ordered. to treat privately with the States and the prince of Orange on this fubject. The States feemed willing to embrace the proposal; but the prince refused to take any step by which he might have incurred the imputation of having betrayed thofe allies who had fo generously interpofed for the preservation of his country. Perhaps this confideration was reinforced by the dictates of ambition and revenge. The Spaniards were extremely averse to peace, on the fuppofition that Charles would foon open his eyes to the intereft of England, and declare against France, rather than fee Lewis in poffeffion of the Low-countries: but Charles, in fome cafes, looked upon his own intereft as a circumstance widely different from that of his people. He confidered the bulk of the nation as a fet of turbulent, unruly, rebellious plebeians, whofe infolence and obftinacy poifoned all his enjoyments: whereas he regarded Lewis as his affectionate kinfman, his warm friend, and generous benefactor. The national animofity against France had been very remarkable during the whole war; but now it was inflamed by the infolence and rapine of the French privateers, who Temple. Burnet. Rapin. Hume. took took the English and Dutch merchant fhips with- A. C. 1677. out diftinction. The king, in his fpeech to the parliament, which met in February, protefted he was ready to grant all the security in his power for the maintainance of the proteftant religion, and the liberties of the people he recommended harmony between the two houses, made them acquainted with his neceffities, and defired a fupply that would enable him to make a confiderable addition to his navy. The commons had no fooner quitted the houfe of lords, than the duke of Buckingham ftanding up, undertook to prove that the parliament was diffolved by the laft prorogation, in confequence of a ftatute made in the reign of Edward III. importing, That a parliament should be held once a year, or oftner, if need be. He faid, that acts of parliament were not like women, the worfe for being old: that although the words, "if need be," were fuppreffed when the act was renewed, the original ftatute had never been repealed; nor could the king set it aside without violating Magna Charta. He was feconded by the earls of Salisbury, Shaftfbury, and the lord Wharton. Their arguments produced violent debates; but, as they tended towards an abolition of all that had been tranfacted in this parliament, as well as to fedition and anarchy; thofe four noblemen were committed to the Tower. Buckingham, Salisbury, and Wharton, after having The duke of been confined fome months, made their fubmif- Buckingfions to the king, who ordered them to be re-earls of Salifleafed. Lord Shaftfbury moved, in the king's bury and bench, that he might be discharged: but the court refufed to take cognizance of the matter. He re- Wharton, mained a whole year prifoner, and then made that fent to the fubmiffion by which he might have obtained his liberty, when the other three lords were difcharged. The houfe of commons now voted the ham, the Shaftsbury, with lord Tower, fum A. C. 1677. fum of five hundred and eighty thousand pounds to his majefty, to defray the expence of building thirty fhips of war: then they prefented an addrefs, defiring his majefty would take effectual measures for the prefervation of the Spanish Netherlands. As the king's anfwer was general, they petitioned him again upon the fame fubject; adding, that in cafe of a war with France, they would fupport him with all their power. He gave them to underftand, that the best method for confulting the fafety of the kingdom would be to enable him to put it in a proper poíture of defence. They accordingly dispatched the money bills, which received the royal affent; and then the parliament was adjourned. The vigour of the commons had been quickened by the fuccefs of the French in Flanders. In March Lewis took Valenciennes: then dividing his army, he fent his brother the duke of Orleans to befiege St. Omer, while he himself invefted Cambray. The prince of Orange marched to the relief of St. Omer, and was defeated by the duke of Orleans and Luxembourg at Montcaffel, from whence he retired to Ypres. Both towns fell into the hands of the enemy; and all the Spanish Netherlands were left expofed. The commons Mutual dif- had exhorted Charles to contract fuch alliances as tween the would be fufficient to check the ambition of the French monarch; and he had demanded a fupply of fix hundred thousand pounds. When they met in May, they expected. he would impart to them the connections he had made during the adjournment. He had taken no fuch meafure; but fent a meffage to the house by fecretary Coventry, defiring they would dispatch the money-bills, as he intended in a little time to put an end to the feffion. Though they were well enough difpofed to grant the money, they infifted upon having fome cer truft be king and parliament. tainty of its being applied to the proper purposes; A. C. 1677. and Charles refused to engage in any alliances, until he fhould be in poffeffion of the fupply. He expreffed an apprehenfion that they intended to involve him in a war with France; and then leave him in the midft of his difficulties, unless he should purchase their affiftance by fome conceffions to the prejudice of the crown. Perhaps their mutual diftruft was not altogether without foundation. In a fpeech to them at Whitehall, he affured them, upon the word of a king, that they should have no caufe to repent the confidence they might repose in him, with refpect to the fteps neceffary for the fafety of the kingdom. He at the fame time declared he would not hazard their fafety and his own, until he should find himself in a condition to defend his people and attack their enemies; and he told them it would be their own fault if proper provifion fhould not be made for their defence. The com hort him to the Dutch against the France, The oppofition in the lower house was now be come too powerful for the court-party, which con- mons exfifted chiefly of needy cavaliers, and men of defpe- conclude an rate fortunes, who received penfions from the go- alliance with vernment, and devoted themselves to the most arbitrary measures of the crown. This infamous power of practice of corruption was introduced by Clifford : but the intereft of the miniftry had been weakened by the difgrace of Buckingham, and the defection of Shaftsbury. Many members were irritated into oppofition, by disappointments in their expectations from the court; and others by the pernicious conduct of the administration. After very warm debates upon the king's fpeech, the country-party prevailed, and an addrefs was prefented to the king, importing, That it was not the custom of parliament to grant money for the fupport of alliances, before the nature of them was known. They intreated him to conclude a league offenfive N° 73. and |