A MEMORIAL Delivered to the States General, BY THE Marquess of CASTELL MONCAYO, Envoy Extraordinary of Spain, at the HAGUE, May 9th. 1684.

THE Marquess of Castell Moncayo, Envoy Extraordinary of Spain, doubts not but that your Lordships Deputies (which were present at the Conference held this Day by the Ministers of the High Allies) have made a sincere and true Report of that which was there debated: nevertheless, he hath thought fit to put in Writing that which was there represented by Discourse; viz. That the said Envoy Extraordinary of Spain was extreamly troubled and perplext, by reason he knew not whether or no he ought to concur in the same Sentiments with the Ministers of the High Allies, or with those of this State; without due Reflection on his Majesties Pleasure and Re­solutions. The Spanish Affairs being transacted without regard to the Interest of Spain, or that which respects its Mo­narchy; without Concern for its Honour, or that which is due to the King thereof; Proposals of a Peace or a Truce, and the partaging of the Spanish Netherlands being made in such a manner, as if they belonged to the States-General, and not to his Catholick Majesty. But having also considered that there were present at the aforesaid Conferences, besides your Lordships Deputies, the Ministers of many other Princes and States, who seem cordially to embrace the Interests of his Catholick Majesty, and who have the same Esteem for the King his Master's Friendship, as the King his Master has for theirs: the said subscribed Envoy Extraordinary therefore is fully resolved to understand the Opinion and Senti­ments of the said Ministers, though perhaps he may meet with a Mortification in desiring the same thing from your Lordships Deputies; which Mortification will be the more intollerable to the said subscribed Envoy, by reason of the Lecture your Lordships Deputies have made of the French Ambassadors last Memorial: in which the Ministers of the High Allies have taken notice that he says, Knowing that this State is more inclined to accept of a Truce than a Peace; which if your Lordships think consists more with your Interest, His Most Christian Majesty gives your Lordships the Choice, to conclude either a Peace or Truce, according to the Conditions specified in his Ambassadors Memorial, the 29th. of April. As if it belonged to this State, and not to Spain, whom France makes War upon; or as if this State had received a full and ample Power from Spain to treat of an Accommodation with France. The said Envoy Extraor­dinary of Spain desires to know, That if France gives to your Lordships the Choice of a Peace or a Truce, whither your Lordships be Masters of Luxemburg, and of all the other Places and Towns which France demands, and pretends to re­tain, or if they belong not to the King his Master, or if by this Choice France may think that your Lordships will induce his Catholick Majesty to agree to the unjust and impracticable Conditions of France. The said subscribed Envoy Extraordinary hath several times declared, and now doth declare unto your Lordships, That if your Lordships shall continue to promote such a Design, it will be wholly in vain, and of no Effect, and the Reasons which he hath already alledged, which concern this State, and the Allies of his Most Catholick Majesty, as may appear by their Mini­ster disapproving the late Measures your Lordships have taken. If then the Perswasions of your Lordships will be wholly ineffectual to cause his Catholick Majesty to consent to the Proposals of France, as the said Envoy Extraordinary hath already declared, and now doth declare unto your Lordships, How can your Lordships then undertake to dispose of that which is not your own, the so doing belonging to him to whom it appertains, and who hath declared he will never agree to such Conditions. If France think that your Lordships may constrain his Catholick Majesty to comply with Terms wholly inconsistent with his Interest, which if it be done directly, it will leave this glorious Example to Po­sterity. That those Arms which were first rais'd for the Defence of the Spanish Netherlands, were afterwards instru­mental in its Oppression; and if indirectly by withdrawing your Troops, then this State will be the first that will feel the Effects of such a Resolution. And the said Envoy most instantly prays your Lordship to consider, that his Ca­tholick Majesty is their Friend, their Allie, and their Confederate, but not their Pupil; And, That if your Lordships continue to treat your Allies as they do, perhaps they wo'nt have one left, when they stand in need of many. His Majesty could not worse resent the Measures your Lordships have taken, than by your granting France all that he pretends to; for undoubtedly, if such a Grant should take place, this State would be utterly lost without the future Hope of a Recovery. However, his Catholick Majesty taking to Heart the Liberty and Welfare of this State, is content to hazard the rest of his Dominions, (he having lost the best part thereof) and by his Constancy and Pati­ence, will do what in him lies to hinder this State from sinking, which turbulent Spirits endeavour to compass. The Ministers of the High Allies have sufficiently exposed to your Lordships, of what Importance Luxemburg is to this State, and to the Empire, and what Consequences may follow to both if it be lost, with the Disposition and Readiness that there is to succour it: therefore, since that we are morally assured of its making a vigorous Defence, as Vienna has done, and that those Troops which besiege it are not equal in Number to those which besieged Vienna, and those which may raise the Siege are not at such a Distance as those which relieved Vienna; I'm sure the Cause is as just, and we have the same God to confide in. In the Name of God then, let us not delay to succour a Place whose Conservation imports Christendom as much as Vienna.

LONDON, Printed for Richard Morris, at the Sign of St. Paul in Holborn. 1684.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.