THE
French Preliminaries.
A New Ballad to the Old Tune of Packington's Pound.
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ALL you that have Stock, and are Mad for a Peace,
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Come listen a while, and I'll give your Hearts ease;
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And let all True Churchmen Rejoice when they see
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How Low the French creep to the New Min------y.
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A great Poet lately was sent into France
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For a General Treaty to make some Advance;
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In Return of whose Visit, a Knight newly made,
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And a Governing Man of the French South-Sea Trade,
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Came with a full Power, as he says, from the King,
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These Tidings of Gladness for Britain to bring.
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I.
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He declares that the King will do all that is fitting
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To acknowledge Her Majesty Queen of Great-Britain;
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For which if you scruple to take his bare Word,
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Pray think how that Monarch us'd William the Third,
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Whom he own'd, and disown'd, and set up the Pretender,
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And with him still noses our Church's Defender.
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He also protests that the Crown shall descend,
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As at present 'tis settl'd, for that very End.
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II.
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That he will bona fide, and freely consent,
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That whoever is able may take Care to prevent
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The French and the Spaniards being under One Yoke,
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Which is easily done when th' Alliance is broke;
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For he horribly fears lest an Excess of Power
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The Quiet of Europe may chance to devour.
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III.
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He also intends the Allies One and All,
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(For he scorns to except the Great or the Small,)
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If they'll be but contented with what he will give 'em,
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Shall find he's a Man that will never deceive 'em;
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Their Trade shall be Safe, tho' he does not declare
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To Inquisitive Folks in what Manner, or Where.
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IV.
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As the King will maintain the Peace when concluded,
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So for fear that the Dutch should think they are deluded;
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Of them on a sudden he's grown very Tender,
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And Consents for their Good that they may Surrender
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Whate'er has been taken in Flanders this War,
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And he'll then yield them back a very good Barr.
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But as for the Title of States High and Mighty,
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Which some People use on Purpose to fright ye,
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The Republick of Holland does Properer seem,
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For Republicks of late are in mighty Esteem.
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V.
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The King consents likewise, that instead of Spain
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A Barrier shall for the Empire remain.
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VI.
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Tho Dunkirk was Bought by the King pretty Dear,
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And has cost Money since, as may plainly appear,
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His Majesty's willing however to Swear
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He'll raze all the Works at the End of the War,
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If he may but a proper Equivalent have,
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That is, What his Majesty thinks fit to Crave:
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But as England, he's told, is now grown so Poor,
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That for what her King Sold for Some Pence and One Whore,
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An Equivalent cannot be rais'd by that Nation,
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But shall be referr'd to the Negotiation.
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VII.
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Once more by his Faith, an Oath none e'er doubted,
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He swears in this Peace no Prince shall be Outed;
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For he does not expect Charles should be so sullen,
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As at last to exclude Bavaria and Cologne.
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Thus you have heard the vast Offers the Frenchmen have made
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For these Realms, our Allies, and Dear South-Sea Trade.
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And Abel declares they're return'd very glad
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Of the Civil Reception which there they have had.
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So all you that have Stock, and are Mad for a Peace,
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Think of what has been said, and 'twill give your Hearts Ease,
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And let all true Church-men rejoice when they see
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How Low the French creep to the New Min------y.
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