end to his Interrogatories II. As soon as the Pope was recover'd from his indisposition and whilst his Holiness's Humanity took a nap his Nephews with the Princess Donna Maria who very seldom leave him and came to accompany him to the Temple were very glad to lay hold on this oppertunity to consult the Oracle but there arose a great contest between the Father Prince Don Antonio Ottoboni and Cardinal Patron his Son His Eminency insisted that he ought to have the precedency as being a Prince of the Church fearing lest in yielding it he might incur the indignation of the Pope and of all the Cardinals his Collegues insomuch that there could be no means found out to decide this Controversy however Donna Maria the Wife and Mother of the coatending parties thought that she had invented an expedient which should not derogate from the Quality of a Father nor from the Dignity of a Cardinal by imitating the ordinary disposition of her Sex whereupon she proposed that they should speak both together being confident that the Deity would understand every thing that was propounded thô never so confus'dly but this device tended rather to laughter than an accommodation and gave no satisfaction to either party neither indeed was it in any wise agreable to the reverence and respect due to so sacred a place at last they unanimously resolv'd to submit to the Pope's determination who not being willing to overcharge his conscience refer'd the matter to a select congregation of Cardinals that follow'd him and whil'st these Judges of the Quorum were employ'd in hearing and particularly examining the several pretensions of Cardinal Patron who in a very large and eloquent Oration express'd his zeal in defence of the rights of the Church Prince Don Antonio being tyr'd with waiting and soon perceiving that the Judges were favourable to him thought fit to play an Italian trick and taking the adventage of his Son 's long speech stept into the Temple and interrogated the Oracle saying The Holy Father my good Uncle being promoted to the Papal dignity in a ripe age and having found the Nepotism or Pontifical Offspring extinct hath by a very generous effort wrought a miracle at his entring into the Church by reviving it in favour of my Family which in a moment appears laden with wealth and honour invested with Principalities dignities and authority and abounding with great riches but forasmuch as Lay-men were heretofore prohibited by the Law from medling with any Sacred things and the Goods of the Church are appropriated to pious and charitable uses I come to discharge my Conscience and to consult thee to know whether it be lawful for us to enrich ourselves with the treasures of our Holy Mother the Church and freely to partake thereof during the life of our good Uncle especially since so fair an opportunity is offer'd at this Conjuncture THE ORACLE When he that gives can absolve every thing is permitted III. His Eminency Cardinal Patron having finish'd his harangue by which he thought he had well establish'd his rights and privileges departed in a great heat from the Congregation to cause Prince Antonio his Father to appear there but he found that he had supplanted him and was gone before The Cardinal immediately making his protestation went to the Temple and said Our Holy Father the Pope advanc'd me in my youth to the Purple Robes under the name of Cardinal Patron ever since which time I have been endow'd with abundance of wealth and if his Holiness shall continue to live some years longer I shall get up to the top of the pinnacle and shall be in a fair way to become great and rich since the Pope heaps up treasures only to leave us in a happy condition after his death and althô it be done with the goods of the Church nevertheless he is the dispenser of them for in asmuch as he is infallible he cannot err and he that absolves others can also absolve himself first therefore without any scruple and with extended arms I receive all that comes from the Pope's hands who alone can make the rest of my life happy wherefore I 'm come to know whether this bright star shall ever attend upon me THE ORACLE No Man can be called happy before Death IV. The Prince Don Marco Ottoboni who had joined hands with Donna Maria thinking that it was his turn advanc'd but the Princess cried out to him Principe honore a la Signora give place to the Lady Wherupon Don Marco retiring made a very low obeisance to the Lady and let her enter into the Temple to be inform'd of what she most desir'd and having entreated the Priestess to place her in a decent posture she mutter'd certain Litanies with a low voice and then said O thou Deity that fillest this place with thy glory forasmuch as nothing is unknown to thee I 'm come to implore an answer from thy sacred mouth to know how many years the life of our good Uncle the Pope shall continue to the end that we may be able to pursue our advantage and to advance our fortunes by making hay while the Sun shines lest the night of his Death overtake us sooner than we should desire For according to the Proverb Passato la Festa Gabbato il Santo When the Feast is past the Saint is mock't THE ORACLE The Fatal Sisters spin out thy destiny as well as his concerning whom thou enquirest thy life as his depends only on one snip of the Goddess Clotho's Sizzers V. Afterwards the Prince Don Marco Ottoboni succeeded in her place and made his address to the Oracle The promotion of the Pope my Uncle hath been very advantageous to us the lowness of my stature caus'd me to be but little regarded amongst the Ladies but since I am become the Nephew of a Pope they enquire after me and as little as I am his Holiness hath made choice of me to propagate the Family of the Ottoboni but since I 'm not one of the most vigorous I 'm come to consult you to know whether I shall be so happy as to have any issue THE ORACLE Pigliate la Giovanetta bella that is to say Take the young and the fair and thou shalt have friends VI. The Emperor Leopoldus semper Augustus being inform'd that the Temple of the Oracle was open was glad of an opportunity to consult it on occasion of the two Wars in which he is engag'd against his two most potent and most cruel enemies to know the success of which his Imperial Majesty spake thus The Conquests that I have obtain'd over the Infidels and the fame of my Victories have procur'd me a second War and a new enemy for the King of France being jealous of the prosperity of my Arms hath join'd with the Turk and declared War against me without a cause to the end that he might compel me to divide my Forces and to give my first enemy time and means to take respite and with
another Combat thô a King ought not to lose his Crown but with his life but I had rather see him running away than in my own possession his little courage is not capable of creating any fear of farther trouble on his behalf and all the treasons that he stirs up in my Kingdom are but as so many vapours coming from France which are soon dispers'd by my presence Several of my Subjects abuse my generosity but some of the Chief being punish'd as an example to the rest shall make it appear that I know how to Reign and that Justice and Mercy are the Basis on which my Throne is erected I am come to consult the Oracle that I may know to what side I ought to turn the force of my Arms. THE ORACLE Towards the Lion of the Gaulish Forest whose spoils shall serve as thy Trophy XVI The Queen of Great Britain having accompanied the King her Royal Consort to the Temple had a mind also to be inform'd of future events and the Priestess having render'd to her Majesty all the honours due to her Sex and Royal Person she spake thus I was born to Reign The enemies of my glory are dispers'd as the streams of water those Owls the wicked Counsellors of my Father have taken their flight at the approach of the King my Husband Heaven hath frustrated their flagitious designs truth hath triumph'd over falshood the counterfeit Heir hath follow'd his suppos'd Father and Mother and Heaven hath secur'd for me the Crown of my Ancestors which a Mother in Law with the assistance of her Owls would have caus'd to pass into another family the King's valour hath preserv'd my People from falling into this misfortune but to make both them and me happy there wants nothing but an heir to support my Crown THE ORACLE Heaven shall provide XVII The King of Spain having been a great while employ'd in solemnizing his second Marriage and in making preparations for the reception of his new Spouse and the Council having made several resolutions and debates relating to determine to what place his Majesty should go their Majesties came both together to the Temple to consult the Oracle and the King spake first as of right he ought and said Heaven hath deliver'd me from one that was a great friend and adherent to the King of France who is the declar'd enemy of the House of Austria Marriages with France are so many gins and snares that are laid for me on that side I have at last open'd my eyes thô somewhat late and therefore I have dispos'd of my Daughters on the side of Germany and I hope that being no longer spy'd even in my very Bed-chamber I shall soon find myself in a capacity to oppose my enemy and to pursue him with the assistance of my Allies Moreover if the deceas'd Queen had not compell'd me to restore to the French the money that was brought from my Indies on their account for prohibited Goods I should have been furnish'd with ready cash to prosecute the War with success my Wife given to me by France perswaded me to do this act against the opinion of my Privy Council but the business is done and there is no remedy Wherefore I come to know whether I shall get the Victory over my enemies now that I am within the armes of a Queen who is oblig'd by her interest to assist me with her wholsome counsels for the advantage of the good Party THE ORACLE Labour if thou canst to get a Successor for thy Countrey and that is the greatest Victory that thou canst gain over thy enemies XVIII The new Queen young and vigorous approaching spake thus with a gallant To so many Kingdomes lately bestow'd on my by Heaven the addition of an Heir seems to be altogether necessary without which my present possessions and enjoyments can be esteem'd but as lame and imperfect since all at last must devolve upon another Family Therefore I am come to this place to know whether Heaven will vouchsafe to grant a Successor to the King my Husband as for my part I shall use all possible means but THE ORACLE answer'd without permitting the Queen to proceed The enterprize is great XIX Lewes XIV King of France and Navarâ—e being employ'd day and night in debating in his Council concerning the most effectual means to withstand so many powerful enemies that had declar'd War against him could not well spare time to go and consult the Oracle However at last he resolved to set forward in his journey but being inform'd that King William intended to be there and understanding that he walks in the mid'st of fire and that he is even Canon-proof he was not willing to meet him wherefore he sent Madame de Maintenon before as a Scout in the habit of a Friar with a purse full of Louys d'Ors to observe the avenues and to enquire of the Priestess Pythonissa what might happen This faithful messinger being return'd and having made a report to the King that the danger which he fear'd was past his Majesty had much ado to take up a resolution for fear of some treachery or ambuscade Nevertheless to prevent all disasters and for a greater precaution he commanded all his Dragoons to serve as an Avant-guard giving them orders to surround the Temple and a strict charge to keep a strong guard at the Gate during the time that he remain'd within lest he should be taken away for a Saint He took also along with him the most able Fathers among the Jesuits that he might be preserv'd by the merit of their holy Prayers and for his Life-guard the Ban and Arriere-Ban of the City of Paris which the Marshal de la Feuillade undertook to command swearing by the Statue of the mighty Monarch erected in the Place des Victoires that for his Masters greater security he would put all Strangers that he should meet on the road to the edge of the Sword and would carry fire and destruction wheresoever he pass'd for fear of an Ambush Thus his most Christian Majesty being accompanied with so valiant a Champion enter'd into the Temple but he was not able to forbear casting an eye on all sides for fear of a surprize at last his spake very devoutly after this manner I thought that after I had extirpated all the Hugenots of my Kingdom the Catholic Princes according to the example of my Ally the King of England would have joyn'd with me and assisted in subduing the Hollanders and after them all the Heretical Potentates that I might be able to establish the Catholick Doctrine throughout all my Conquests but very far from that the whole World Catholicks and Hugonots have combin'd together against me and by a strange revolution have suffer'd my only Ally to be driven from his Countrey by the Prince of Orange Wherefore I have been constrain'd contrary to the Catholick Faith to enter into leagues for my own defence with the Grand Signior and the Corsairs of
more ease to recover what he hath lost and that in weakening me he might make use of this Conjuncture to satisfye the ambition which he hath alwaies had to seize on my Empire and to cause the Imperial Crown to pass into his family But by the means of these violent proceedings he hath cooperated in the Election of my Son to be King of the Romans who was thereupon constituted my Successor and I am sofar from being oppress'd as this new enemy hop'd that I find myself in a condition vigorously to oppose the assaults of these two Potentates and the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits give me reason to hope that if I continue the War against the Infidels I shall be able to set up the Cross in the City of Constantinople but on the other hand all my Allies represent to me the devastations and calamities that the French have caus'd in Germany and that to conquer certain barren Lands in Bulgaria several fair Provinces on the Rhine are ruin'd What measures then are most expedient to be taken by me in such an exigence being urg'd on one side by the the desire of destroying the Infidels and incited on the other by the cruelties and outragious combustions of the French THE ORACLE Peace in the East and suffer not thy self to be seduc'd VII The King of the Romans having accompanied the Emperor to the Temple his Imperial Majesty advis'd him to consult the Oracle who said I have been contrary to the expectation of the enemies of the Emperor my Father elected King of the Romans and appointed Successor of the Empire in a time of trouble and in the midst of War and all the means that France hath us'd to avoid this blow in favour of the Dauphin could not hinder my Election from being made without any opposition all the promises and efforts of my Competitor have prov'd vain and ineffectual and the just reputation and good Reign of the Emperor my Lord and Father hath prevail'd over all the intrigues and artifices of the French Emissaries This is such a happiness that I could not expect so soon for which I 'm come to render thanks to Heaven as the principal cause and to be inform'd of the second THE ORACLE The Revolution of England but especially become Caesar and not a Jesuit VIII All the Electoral Princes having accompanied the Emperor and the King of the Romans the Elector of Mentz advanc'd near the sacred Den and spake to this effect I have been tormented and my Territories have been taken as a prey relying to much on the illusory promises that were made to me on behalf of the King of France moreover as an addition to my misfortunes I found out the cheat only with the loss of my Country and receiv'd not a penny of all the money that was promis'd to me and if the Emperor at length had not had more consideration for me than I had at the beginning fidelity to him or regard to the welfare of the Empire thô my Quality of Elector and Prince of the Empire obliged me thereto I should have utterly perish'd I stood on the brink of a dangerous precipice where my head began to turn but thanks to his Imperial Majesty who hath extended his gracious hand to me and hath as it were snacht me out of the abyss of destructions wherein the Emissaries of France had almost plung'd me contrary to my own peculiar Interest But forasmuch as in adversity and perils we are most apt to reflect on our former errors and miscarriages I 'm come to make a solemn protestation in this Temple that I will never depart from the true interest of the Empire and that I am resolv'd for the future either to overcome or to perish together with it THE ORACLE Offend no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee IX The Elector of Triers approach'd and said I have fought the good fight for the Empire and have remained faithful to the Emperor neither promises nor threats have been able to move me nor to separate me from the Empire which is my true interest I confess my Tertitories have suffer'd but I take comfort in this that it was for a good cause and that I have persever'd in all the parts of my duty and fidelity and I patiently expect the deliverance of my Country by the hand of my Allies and the consolation of my People that groan under the oppression of the Usurper THE ORACLE Deliverance attends the just and Heaven it self shall make a breach in the Royal mount where thou art detain'd X. The Elector of Colen not having obtain'd an oppertunity to consult the Oracle since the death of his Uncle was ravish'd with joy at this it being the first that happen'd since his election to the Electorate and said The Negociation of my friends hath prevail'd over the pretensions of the Coadjutor that was chosen by the Chapter and all the machinations of France are frustrated Since my election all the great designs of Lewis XIV begin to fail and the Crown of the King of the Romans hath prov'd only imaginary to the Dauphin his Son My election hath serv'd as a bridle to restrain his ambition Colen hath limited his conquests Rhinberg Keiserwert and Bonne have been such hard morsels that the Cardinal of Furstemberg could not digest them notwithstanding his taking a dose of Spiritus Gall. he was oblig'd to disgorge them at the first emetic potion given him by the Allies not being any longer able to bear the Quality of Arch-Bishop of Colen however for his consolation I consent that he may please himself with that title during the War Lastly my election hath been an eclipse of this French Sun that was about to set the whole World in a flame but thanks be to my good Allies the States General of the United Provinces and to the care of his Highness the Prince of Orange now King of Great Britain to whom my election hath serv'd as the first step to ascend the Throne Thus am I now become the peaceable possessor of my Uncle's Arch-Bishopric who was indeed blinded by France to deprive the thereof on the simple promise of the Cardinal to give me the Coadjutorship But this was least in the thoughts of Lewsi XIV his interest obliging him to keep this Electorate in the hands of his Creatures therefore it hath been preserv'd by Divine Providence that extracts sweet out of bitter and I may justly affirm that the treachery of France hath open'd to me a passage into the Electorate The People of my Jurisdiction passionately desire my presence by reason of the Calamities in which many of them are now involv'd but I comfort them rather at a distance since during my minority I leave the Revenues to satisfye the debts of my Countrey However I hope that the War being ended the Pope will grant me a dispensation to exercise the Spiritual function and then I shall go and take possession of both at once In the
forseeing that this marriage especially at this present juncture of affairs might alienate that Kingdom from their interests to amuse the Portuguese Court propounded another between their Infanta and the Dauphin and that the issue of that Bed should succeed to the Crown of Portugal on condition nevertheless that the King of Portugal should declare War against Spain and that France should bear a part of the charge wherefore his Portuguese Majesty in this perplexity went to consult the Oracle and spake thus The Ministers of France continually represent to me how much both my Predecessor and my self have been oblig'd to them on the account of the Pyrenean peace insinuating that the Grandeur of Spain might hereafter produce my abasement but they would furnish me with means in this conjuncture whereby to deliver my self from all pretensions that that Court might make to my Countrey for the future Now since I have an oppertunity to serve France with my Commerce to remain neuter and to procure the Traffic of the other Princes engaged in War why should I not improve it to the enriching of my Subjects by furnishing the French with all manner of ammunitions that they shall want in this present War THE ORACLE Thou dost not yet know the force of Spiritus Gall. XXVII The Grand Signior after so many losses notwithstanding his affiance in Mehemet Rasoul and after the return of his Dervishes from Mecca not knowing any longer to which Saint of the Alcoran to make his addresses determin'd to go and consult the Oracle and to try if he could there find any hopes of deliverance Being arriv'd at the Sacred cave he spake after this manner I have offer'd to the Emperor of the Christians my enemy all that my Law allows me to give notwithstanding the perswasions of France without being able to obtain any thing I have lost my best Janizaries in battel and my Dervishes are weary with crying throughout all the Mosques my Treasures are exhausted and my People raise commotions in divers Places demanding Peace The Women with Child miscarry at the approach of the uncircumcised and I durst not venture to return to Constantinople with out a peace The Cham of Tartary indeed hath promis'd to come to my assistance and the great Sultan of France to pay him and that he will send the young Sultan his Son to the River Rhine to compel the Christians to depart out of my Dominions but especially he that will never make Peace till all my Territories that I have lost in Hungary be restor'd to me provided that I maintain the War as long as he But my Forces are broken the enemy stands at my gates and I am continually terrified with great alarms being doubtful whether I ought to give credit to this Sultant that bears the name of Christian He hath often abus'd me and the necessity of my affairs hath hitherto forc'd me to hearken to him He proffers to swear by my Alcoran that he will keep his word but since all his promises have had no effect what resolution shall I take and on whom shall I relye THE ORACLE On thy own Forces XXVIII The Deputies of the States General of the United Provinces being come to consult the Oracle said It was necessary for the security of our State to set the Prince of Orange on the Throne of Great Britain to secure us from the threats of France and the assurance that the count d' Avaux gave us of a strict alliance between the two Kings hath open'd our eyes to the end that we might take away from the King of France the means of being able to hurt us We have by our own aid disengag'd ourselves from a very great incumbrance and perplexity and by placing the Prince on the Throne we have well provided for our safety for the future by that indissoluble Union that will alwaies be maintain'd between the two States but since all things in this sublunary World are subject to variety of changes and revolutions what course must we take to preserve that high reputation which we have acquir'd to our selves in Europe THE ORACLE Be alwaies Masters of your own Forces XXIX The most Serene Doge of Venice being ready to return laden with the Laurels and Trophies of his Victories was extremely glad of an oppertunity to consult the Oracle and said The most Serene Republic having been hitherto the terror of the Infidels hath compell'd her haughty enemy to sue for a Peace but the advantage of have a Pope descended from her own loins obliges her to continue the War and not to separate from her Allies thô Poland stands as an idle Spectator therefore it is time to think of a Peace and so much the rather by reason that a great fire is kindl'd in the neighbourhood of this Republic that is capable of inflaming all Italy if it be not soon prevented What is most requisite to be done on this occasion THE ORACLE Make Peace and return from the farthest to succour the nearest XXX The Duke of Savoy having for some time amus'd the King of France who only sought to seize on his Countrey and having thoroughly penetrated into the subtil intreagues as well as the danger in which he was involv'd by confiding in the French remembred the example of the Duke of Lorrain and resolv'd to take new measures contrary to the interest of France and such as were only able to secure his preservation for the better pursuing of which he thought fit to consult the Oracle and coming to the Temple spake thus It was generally believ'd that I was so strictly united to Franc◠that I durst not separate my self nor undertake any thing without the consent of their King but the event hath shewn the contrary and that I knew my own true interest as well as the King's intentions but if I have dissembl'd for some time it was only that I might seek myown advantage and to engage my Allies neither the tears of the Royal Dutchess nor the fair promises of the Duke of Orleans could prevail with me to alter my resolution nor never shall the bowl is cast and cannot return again for if I had receiv'd the French troops into the Citadel of Turin I should have had nothing else to do but to go and keep my Country-house in France with the Prince of Utopia but not being willing for the future to depend on any but God and my Sword I have made it appear to the whole World that I 'm Master within my own Dominions by the return of my Subjects of Piedmont into their Valleys and without delay I have embrac'd the common cause of the Emperor and his Allies who will not abandon me nor invade my Territories And if the Cantons of Switzerland would do the same and shake off the yoak of France we should find employment for their Monarch on the side of Dauphine I am come hither to know what success will attend me THE ORACLE Pignerol shall open its Gates
spent it in treating my dear Niece who by her fond caresses caus'd me to imitate the Crow in the Fable and that which torments me most of all is that the matter is irrecoverable since the Holy See hath again ratified all that was done in this affair and that my Competitor is younger than I Thus my fortune is limitted within the narrow bounds of the Abbey of Saint Germain However the King gives me hopes of obtaining an Arch-Bishopric in his Kingdom to sweeten the remorse that I might have for betraying my own lawful Soveraign but I cannot relye upon it The fear of some foul and unexpected chastisement caus'd me to withdraw from Rome incognito to take shelter under the Culverins of the great Lewes but in regard that the unfortunate are never welcome at the French Court I can make but a sorry figure and it will be yet so much the worse if the Emperor and his Allies should gain any considerable advantages over France for then I might serve as a Victime to a Peace not knowing whither to flye since all Europe only desires my ruin Thus on whatsoever side I turn I can see nothing but crosses and tribulation ready to attend me I am come therefore to know my destiny THE ORACLE It will follow the fortune of thy new Master XXXVII The King of Siam being disengag'd from the French and the Jesuits went to consult the Oracle and said my Predecessor was much addicted to the French that were brought to Siam by the Jesuits who having made themselves in a manner necessary by the profession of the Mathematics and Astrology with the study whereof they had amus'd him soon insinuated themselves into his favour and by that means got possession of the most principal Places in his Dominions with a prospect of becoming at length Masters of the whole Kingdom designing to set one of their own Creatures on the Throne and to seize on our Golden Gods that attract all their admiration neither would they have preach'd there Religion here but to that end however having perceiv'd their subtilty with the advice of my chief Mandarins I got rid of them as also of their principal abetters and adherents After the King's Death I took possession of the Kingdom lest it should fall together with our Gods into the hands of the French I am not ignorant that their King will make pretensions against me but I fear him not as long as I can maintain an Alliance and good correspondence with the Hollanders my neighbours at least if they do not come to demand the presents that they gave to my Predecessor and to Constantius his chief Minister of State who was the instrument of all their designs and the wheel that set the engine of the Jesuits on motion but the first that shall presume to enter into my Kingdom I will deliver as a prey to the wild Beasts for I can no longer suffer such vermin in my Dominions THE ORACLE Be alwaies Master XXXVIII The Republic of Geneva being deliver'd from those terrible alarms that the King of France continually caus'd in their neighbourhood on the occasion of the marching of that vast number of the enemies against whom he is now engag'd and of the great War in which he is involv'd sent two Syndics to consult the Oracle in the name of the whole City who spake after this manner Our condition being alter'd and the tempestuous Storm having pass'd over our Heads he that so lately threatn'd us begins now to caress us thus we breath in a clear and wholsom air and we may certainly affirm that King William is a great Physitian and that his most efficacious remedies operate at a very great distance but for asmuch as in all distempers relapses are very dangerous by what means shall we preserve the good health that we now enjoy THE ORACLE By the vertue of Spiritus Angliae XXXIX The City of Hambourgh being oblig'd to publish the Emperor's Avocatoria was not a little disgusted and in this perplexity sent two Licenciats to consult the Oracle who spake in the name of their Principals saying We hoped that all our neighbours being engag'd in War we might have monopoliz'd the greatest part of their Traffic by the means of a neutrality but since jealousy often creates violence insomuch that we have found an embrago laid on all our Vessels in England with the Emperor's consent we have been compell'd to submit to the Avocatoria and to cause the French Resident to depart from our Tertitories but the King may clearly see that we have been constrain'd thereto to avoid the ruin of our inhabitants for the King of England who knows not how to dally persists in obligng us to observe the Avocatoria Thus we are perplex'd being depriv'd of our Commerce with France and not knowing what party to adhere unto in this Conjuncture THE ORACLE Follow the strongest XL. The Princes of the House of Lunembourg spake thus to the Oracle We have had no regard to all the offers of France and they could not hinder us from cleving to the interest of the common Cause of Europe and from furnishing our Allies with Troops notwithstanding the vast summes of money offer'd to us by the most Christian King to prevent it but we have no mind to be harrass'd we would act as we think fit and be Masters of our own Forces we would willingly assist our Allies and especially the King of England for whose valour we have a particular esteem as our Friend and true Ally and we are ready to concur in any thing to the utmost of our Power that may tend to his satisfaction THE ORACLE Glory and Victory flye before him and Heaven is his Protector XLI The Marquess de Gastanaga Governor of the Spanish Neitherlands after the Battel of Fleury fearing lest the enemies might invade Flanders went immediately to consult the Oracle and said May the Heavens protect us in this Conjuncture for if the Hollanders should retreat my Master's Countrey is lost and if the French should enter therein they would spare neither Virgin nor Saint nor the most Sacred Relicks I have caus'd several Masses to be celebrated and have made several vows for the prosperity of the King's Aâ—ms but I hope that when the King of Great Britain shall come he will defend us from all disasters with the aid of our good Lady of Hal. THE ORACLE Help thy self and the Gods shall assist thee XLII The Prince of Waldeck after the same Battel of Fleury was also very glad of an oppertunity to consult the Oracle on this occasion saying I have been unfortunate in the last Battel althô at the same time the French have no reason to boast I did what I could nevertheless I know that I am not respected by the People Men give Battel but the event comes from Heaven whence then proceeds my misfortune THE ORACLE Consult thy strength and thy age and be a friend to Spies XLIII The Kingdom of Algers sent two