C H A R L E S II. 18 r

stationed to guard the city: And the sluicesbeing opened, the neighbouring country, withoutregard to the damage sustained , was laid underwater. All the province followed the example,and scrupled not , in this extremity , to restoreto the sea those fertile fields, which with greatart and expense had been won from it.

The States were assembled, to consider, whe-ther any means were left to save the remains oftheir lately flourishing, and now distressedCommonwealth. Though they were surroundedwith waters, which barred all access to the enemy,their deliberations were not conducted with thattranquillity, which could alone suggest measures,proper to extricate them from their present diffi-culties. The nobles gave their vote, that,provided their religion, liberty, and sovereigntycould be saved, every thing else should withoutscruple be sacrificed to the conqueror. Eleventowns concurred in the same sentiments. Am-sterdam singly declared against all treaty withinsolent and triumphant enemies : But notwith-standing that opposition, ambassadors were dis-patched to implore the pity of the two combinedmonarchs. It was resolved to sacrifice to Lewis,Maestricht and all the frontier - towns, which laywithout the bounds of the seven provinces,and to pay him a large sum for the chargesof the war.

Lewis deliberated with his ministers Louvoisand Pomporine, concerning the measures whichhe should embrace in the present emergency; and

N 3

IIAP

LXV.

1672.