On the 11th of September, early in the Morning, the King and the Prince of Wales set out from Herrenhausen, amidst the Acclamations of the Court and the People, with which the Road was lin'd. They wish'd his Majesty all manner of Happiness, and accompanied him with their good wishes a good distance from Herrenhausen, before they took Leave of his Majesty. The last Farewels were attended with so many Tears, that the King could not help being a
little mov'd; and he assur'd them, That it should not be long before he would make a Tour to Hanover.
The King's Retinue was not very numerous; for he only took with him such Persons as were absolutely necessary for his Service; and of these too, he sent some back, when he went on board the Yatcht that came for him to Holland, to carry him over to England. The Princess of Wales follow'd the King some time after, with the Princesses her Daughters; but Prince Frederic her Son remain'd at Hanover for his Education.
When the King came to London, he found Subjects as much attach'd to his Person, as those he had left at Hanover; and not long after his Arrival he was, according to Custom, crown'd at Westminster. There was so great a Concourse of People at the Ceremony, that it seem'd as if all the Nation had flock'd thither to receive their new Sovereign. I was told there was only one Person, and that was a Woman, who refus'd to own him for King; and that this happen'd upon the very Day of the Coronation, when a Champion, arm'd from Head to Foot, entring into the Banquetting-Hall, and according to Custom challenging any Person whatsoever, who did not acknowledge the Elector of Hanover as lawful King of England, that Lady threw down her Glove, and with a very ill-tim'd Effrontery made Answer aloud, That James the Third was the only lawful Heir of the Crown, and that the Elector of Hanoverwas an Usurper.
Not many days after the King of England's Departure, I set out from Hanover for Aix-la-Chapelle, where I made use of the Baths, as my
Physicians had order'd me, to strengthen my Leg. From Aix I proceeded in the Paris Road to Mastricht[48], which is a strong Place belonging to Dutch Brabant, tho' situate in the middle of the Country of Liege, on which it was for a long time dependent. It was also subject to the Spaniards till 1633, when it was taken by the Dutch, who were acknowledg'd lawful Possessors thereof by the Peace of Munster, and were thereupon at great Expence to fortify it, so that it was reckon'd one of the strongest Places in Europe, when Lewis XIV. took it in 1673, in 13 Days time. The King himself then commanded his Army; and he had with him Monsieur his Brother. Three Years after this, the Allies besieg'd it also, but their Arms being not so successful as those of France, they were forc'd to abandon their Enterprize. At last, by the Peace of Nimeguen it was restor'd to the Dutch, who keep a strong Garrison in it.
Mastricht is very well built, in a flat Country, surrounded with Hills. The Maese runs thro' the City, over which there is a very high Stone Bridge. They say that the late Count d'Auverquerque, who died Velt-Marshal of the Dutch, out of pure Gallantry, to convince a Lady how much he lov'd her, leap'd his Horse off the Bridge into the Maese. This young Lady so much belov'd was Mademoiselle de Feltbruck. As she was passing over the Bridge, Count d'Auverquerque, who rode by the side of her Coach, entertain'd her very much about his
Passion for her; but Miss so little heeded what he said, that she scarce vouchsaf'd to lend him an Ear. At length being fatigu'd with hearing the same String always harp'd upon, she told him, that Lovers were never sparing of their Promises; but when any Testimonials were demanded of their Love, they then discover'd how little it was to be depended on. For instance, Sir, said she, I would venture a good Wager now, that if I were to ask you to leap from this Bridge into the River, you would not do it. The furious Lover made no other Answer to this Defiance, but clapping Spurs to his Horse, leap'd him off of the Bridge into the Maese. The young Lady thought her generous Lover would most certainly be drown'd; but luckily for him he kept his Seat, and his Horse, which was as mettlesome as the best, had Strength enough after such a Leap, to swim with his Rider to an Island, whither a Boat was sent to fetch him. After such a Trial as this, the young Lady might boast, either that she was lov'd to Distraction, or that she had a distracted Lover.
From Mastricht I went to Louvain[49], which is surnamed the Wise, probably by reason of its University, which was founded in 1426, by John IV. Duke of Brabant, and has been in its time one of the most celebrated Universities in Europe; but it has not that Reputation now. And as to the City, 'tis much more famous for its Antiquity, than upon any other account; for they say it was founded by Julius Cæsar. 'Tis indeed, at present, a very large City, but ill built, the only remarkable Edifices that I saw there, are the Collegiate Church dedicated to St. Peter, and the Church of the Jesuits.
Louvain is not a Place of great Trade as yet, but a very fine Causey which is made from thence to Brussels, and another to Tongres, which is to be carried on to Liege, will very much increase its Commerce, especially with the Austrian Netherlands.