THE
French
KINGS
DECLARATION
OF
WAR
Against
The
SPANIARD
.
By
The
KING
.
THe
Sincere
desire
the
King
has
had
to
maintain
the
Truce
concluded
in
the
Year
1684.
put
His
Majesty
upon
winking
at
the
Conduct
of
the
Spanish
Ministers
in
the
Gourts
of
all
the
Princes
of
Europe
,
where
their
only
design
has
been
to
excite
them
to
take
up
Arms
against
France
,
and
the
share
they
had
in
the
Negotiation
of
the
League
of
Ausbourge
was
not
unknown
to
His
Majesty
.
His
Majesty
has
likewise
been
informed
of
the
interest
the
Governors
of
the
Spanish
Netherlands
had
in
the
Prince
of
Orange's
Enterprize
against
England
;
but
not
believing
that
his
behaviour
in
that
respect
had
been
prescribed
him
by
the
King
his
Master
,
who
by
so
many
reasons
,
of
Religion
,
Consanguinity
,
and
the
general
safety
of
all
Kings
,
found
himself
obliged
to
oppose
such
an
Usurpation
.
His
Majesty
hoped
to
be
able
to
bring
the
most
Catholick
King
to
joyn
with
Him
in
the
reestablishment
of
the
Lawful
King
of
England
,
and
for
the
preservation
of
the
Catholick
Religion
against
the
Union
of
the
Protestant
Princes
,
or
at
least
to
keep
an
exact
neutrality
in
ease
the
posture
of
the
Spanish
Affairs
did
not
permit
the
Catholick
King
to
undertake
the
like
Engagements
.
(
His
Majesty
has
to
this
purpose
ordered
several
different
proposals
to
be
made
to
him
since
November
last
,
the
which
were
well
received
whilst
the
success
of
the
Prince
of
Orange's
Enterprize
appeared
doubtful
.
But
these
favourable
dispositions
vanished
,
as
soon
as
they
knew
at
Madrid
of
the
King
of
England's
departure
out
of
His
Kingdom
,
and
since
,
they
discoursed
of
nothing
but
of
War
against
France
.
His
Majesty
at
the
same
time
understood
that
the
Spanish
Ambassador
in
England
saw
the
Prince
of
Orange
daily
,
and
pressed
that
the
English
should
declare
War
against
France
;
that
the
Governor
of
the
Spanish
Netherlands
raised
Troops
with
all
diligence
,
that
he
promised
the
States
General
to
joyn
them
to
theirs
in
the
beginning
of
the
Campaign
,
and
sollicited
them
as
well
as
the
Prince
of
Orange
to
march
Troops
into
Flanders
,
to
put
them
in
a
condition
of
making
War
upon
France
.
All
these
advices
having
made
the
King
judge
,
that
in
prudence
he
ought
to
know
what
to
depend
upon
,
He
gave
order
to
the
Count
de
Rebenack
His
Ambassador
at
Madrid
,
to
demand
a
positive
Answer
from
the
Most
Catholick
King
's
Ministers
,
offering
Him
the
continuance
of
Truce
,
Provided
he
wou'd
oblige
himself
to
an
exact
Neutralitie
not
to
Succor
directly
or
indirectly
the
Enemies
of
His
Majesty
.
But
evil
Councels
having
prevailed
,
His
Majesty
was
informed
that
the
Resolution
was
taken
to
favour
,
the
Usurper
of
England
,
and
to
joyn
with
the
Protestant
Princes
.
His
Majesty
was
also
informed
much
about
the
same
time
that
the
Prince
of
Orange
his
Agents
had
received
considerable
Sums
at
Cadis
and
Madrid
;
That
the
Holland
and
Brandenbourgh
Troops
,
were
Entred
the
Principle
places
of
the
Spaniards
in
Flanders
,
and
that
the
Catholick
King
his
Governour
of
the
Low
Countries
caused
the
States
General
to
be
solicited
to
advance
their
Army
to
the
Walls
of
Bruxels
,
all
these
advices
joyned
to
the
answer
that
compte
de
Rabenack
had
received
at
Madrid
,
not
leaving
his
Majesty
any
Room
to
doubt
but
that
the
intention
of
the
Catholick
King
was
to
joyn
his
Enemies
:
His
Majesty
believed
he
ought
to
loose
no
time
to
prevent
his
evil
designes
and
resolved
to
Declare
Warr
against
him
,
as
well
by
Sea
as
Land
,
as
his
Majesty
doth
by
these
presents
.
And
to
this
effect
,
His
Majesty
doth
order
and
injoyn
all
his
Subjects
,
Vassels
and
Servants
to
Attaque
and
fall
upon
the
Spaniards
,
and
most
expressly
forbids
them
to
hold
hereafter
any
Communication
,
Commerce
,
or
Intelligence
with
them
upon
pain
of
death
,
and
to
this
end
his
Majesty
from
henceforth
hath
revoked
and
doth
revoke
all
Permits
,
Pasports
,
Safeguards
and
safe
Conducts
which
might
have
been
granted
by
his
Majesty
or
by
his
Lieutenants
Generals
,
and
other
his
officers
contrary
to
these
presents
,
and
hath
Declared
,
and
doth
Declare
them
Null
and
of
none
effect
and
Force
,
and
forbideth
any
whatsoever
to
have
any
regard
for
them
.
And
his
Majesty
doth
Command
and
ordain
the
Admiral
,
the
Marishals
of
France
,
Governours
and
Lieutenants
Generals
,
for
his
Majesty
in
his
Provinces
and
Army's
,
Marishals
of
Gamps
,
Collonels
,
Masters
of
Camps
,
Captains
,
Chiefs
and
Leaders
of
his
Troops
,
as
well
Horse
as
Foot
,
French
and
Strangers
,
and
all
other
his
officers
,
whom
it
may
concern
;
that
the
contents
of
these
presents
they
cause
to
be
executed
within
the
extent
of
each
of
them
,
his
power
and
jurisdiction
;
for
such
is
his
Majesties
will
.
And
his
Majesty
willeth
and
expecteth
that
these
presents
should
be
published
,
and
affixed
in
all
his
Towns
,
as
well
Maritine
as
others
,
and
in
all
his
Harbours
,
Ports
,
and
all
other
places
of
his
Kingdom
,
and
Countries
under
his
obedience
,
where
need
shall
be
,
so
that
no
body
may
pretend
Ignorance
.
Given
at
Versaill's
the
15th
of
April
1689.