The Prince of Orange, in orucr to compensate for his de feat, laid siege to Charleroi, but he was forced to raise it on the approach of Marshal Luxemburg.
Negotiations for peace still continued, and they were soon brought to a favourable termination. The Parlia ment of England obliged Charles to listen to pacific over tures, as they, as well as the nation, were strongly averse to the union with France, especially for the purpose of war against Holland. The Dutch were weary of the war, from which hitherto they had derived no advantage, which could compensate for their additional taxes. France also need ed peace ; for though victorious in the field, she was ex haysted at home. The King had indeed taken the field early in 1678, and had reduced Ghent, while the army un der Luxemburg had invested Mons, when the Dutch am bassador at Nimeguen, alarmed at the progress of the ene my, signed the treaty of peace with the ministers of France, by which Louis secured the possession of Franche Compte, Cambray, Aire, St Omers, Valenciennes, Tournay, Ypres, Bouchain, Capel, Charlemont, Scc. Maestricht was re stored to the United Provinces. Spain recovered Char leroi, Oudenarde, Aeth, Ghent, and Limburg. The Em peror gave up Fribourg to the French, hut retained Philipsburg. Lorraine was offered again to its Duke, but he chose rather to become a soldier of fortune than ac cept it under the conditions which Louis insisted upon. The Dutch ambassador, in signing this treaty, had not consulted the Emperor or the King of Spain, both of whom subscribed to the conditions with great reluctance. The Prince of Orange was equally averse to it ; and pretending that he did not know that peace was actually signed, he at tacked and gained some advantage over Marshal Luxem burg, who concluded the war was terminated, and conse quently did not expect this attack.
Very soon after the peace, the Emperor, Spain, and the United Provinces, disbanded their armies ; whereas Louis kept up a formidable force. His motive for this was too soon apparent. Several territories which had formerly been dependant on the three bishoprics of Metz, Toul, and Verdun, and on Alsace, had been for a long time in pos session of different German Princes, and Louis wished to unite them to the crown of France. For this purpose he established two chambers, at Metz and Brisac, and these tribunals not only passed a decree for the union which the King wished, but even cited the neighbouring princes, and the King of Spain, to appear before them, and render homage to the King of France, or to submit to the confisca tion of their possessions, The Elector Palatine and the Elector of Treves were deprived of the seignories which they held in this part of Germany. But Louis made a still more daring and unjust attempt the next year, A. D. 1681.
Strasburg, a powerful city, which commanded the Rhine by its bridge, was still free, and Louis had long been ex tremely desirous to annex it to France. Money and threats had been employed in vain,—the magistrates absolutely re fused to give it up. At last, by the advice of Louvois, troops were ordered into Lorraine, Alsace, and Franche Compte, under the pretence of employing them to work on the fortifications in these provinces. They all assembled in the neighbourhood of Strasburg, amounting to 20,000 men, and took possession of the ground between the Rhine and that city, as well as of the redoubt that covered the bridge. Louvois, who was at their head, now demanded that the town should be placed under the protection of France. The magistrates, being intimidated or corrupt ed, and the inhabitants in consternation, the city opened its gates. Its ancient privileges were secured. Vauban was ordered to repair and strengthen its fortifications, and he soon rendered it one of the strongest places in Europe.
Louis conducted himself with equal violence and injus tice towards the Spaniards, pretending that his minister had forgotten to insert the cession of the county of Alost, in the Low Countries, in the treaty of peace, he demanded that it should be given up to him ; and as his demand was not instantly complied with, he besieged Luxemburg. Such proceedings, manifesting a determination not to be bound by any treaty, and violent and oppressive in themselves, alarmed the other powers. The Emperor, King of Sweden, and some other princes, had already endeavoured to rouse the Ger man Empire : and if the Elector of Brandenburg had not at that time supported France, war would have recom menced. A congress, however, was held at Frankfort, for the purpose of inquiring into Louis' proceedings with re gard to the German territories, which he had annexed to France. To this congress, his plenipotentiaries presented a memorial in the French language. Great disputes arose from this circumstance, Latin having heretofore been the universal language of diplomacy. As there were also other disputes on points equally frivolous, the congress was dis solved, and the business put off till the meeting of the diet at Ratisbon. In the mean time, the French monarch had reduced not only Luxemburg, but Courtray and Dixmude. Upon this, the Spaniards declared war ; but they were not supported by any other power. A truce of 20 years was therefore concluded at Ratisbon, by Spain and the Em peror with France, by which Louis agreed to restore Cour tray and Diximule ; and was allowed to retain possession of Luxemburg, Strasburg, the fortress of Kehl, and part of the territories which his arbitrary courts at Metz and Brisac had adjudged to him.