67,6 A. D. 1689. 



' in England, foliciting a treaty of neutrality and good correfpondence 

 ' in America.' [Anno 1686.] 



III) ' His proceedings, moreover, againfl our fubjedls in Europe are 

 ' fo notorious, that we need not enlarge thereon: fuch as, countenancing 



* the feizure of our fhips by his privateers ; prohibiting a great part of 

 ' our produ6l and manufadures ; and impofnig exorbitant cuftoms upon 

 ' the reft : thefe are fufficient evidences of his defign to deftroy the 

 ' trade and navigation, upon which the wealth and fafety of this nation 



* very much depend. 



IV) ' His difputing the right of the flag, inherent in the crown of 



* England. 



V) ' His unchriflian profecution of many of our Englifh proteflant 

 ' fubjeds in France for matters of religion, contrary to the law of na- 

 ' tions and exprefs treaties ; forcing them to abjure their religion by 

 ' unufual cruelties; imprifoning fome of the maflers and feamenof our 

 ' merchant fliips, and condemning others to the galleys, on pretence of 

 *■ having onboard, either fome of his own miferable proteflant fubjeds 

 ' or their effeds. 



VI) * And, laftly, his endeavouring, for fome years paft, by infinua- 



* tions, and promifes of affiftance, to overthrow the government of Eng- 

 ' land ; and now, by open and violent methods, to invade Ireland, in 

 ' fupport of our fubjeds in rebellion againfl us.' 



This prohibition of commerce with France produced the good con- 

 fequences of inducing the people of England to improve their old, and 

 to invent fundry new, manufadures, &c. which they formerly took from 

 France ; not a little to the detriment of that kingdom in the end. 



In the declaration of Holland, amongft many other allegations againft 

 Louis, they affirm, i ft, that he had endeavoured, by all manner of ways, 

 to ruin their navigation and commerce, as well in Europe as elfewhere, 

 by feizing their fliips and cargoes. 2dly, By violently forcing even 

 their fliips of war to be fearched, at a time of profound peace. 3dly, 

 By his new tolls and impofitions, hindering their fubjeds from felling 

 their manufidures and filb in his country, fo as it was become impof- 

 fible to continue their trade to France, where their complaints were 

 rejeded with fcorn. 4thly, Having begun a horrible perfecution of his 

 own proteftant fubjeds, he had therein involved the fubjeds of the ftates- 

 genera], though only living in France, on account of commerce ; part- 

 ing wives from their hufbands, and children from their parents, &c. 



The declaration of Spain, of the 3d of May this year, was in confe- 

 quence of France's prior declaration of war againft that crown, on the 

 15th of the preceding month, though deftitute of all juftice ; as alfo of 

 his invading and ravaging the empii-e, and bringing the Turks to in- 

 vade and ravage Hungary. 



And that of the emperor and empire was much to the fame effed. 



