Ireland I met my two Kinsmen at the appointed day and place and we embark'd immediately in a Vessel at Samur which carried us in two days to Nants The Duke de Chauness to whom I paid a Visit told me That those Officers who came lately out of Catalonia were gone two Days before to Pimboouf from whence they intended to go forward with the first fair Wind to Brest where Monsieur de Chateau Renault lay ready to set Still with a good Fleet and that we must not neglect a Minutes time if we intended to take the opportunity of this Fleet to be transported into Ireland We follow'd his Advice as much as possibly we could and embark'd the next Morning early in hopes to meet with these Cataloniaâ—â— Officers still at Pimboouf but they had not carry'd there at all but had immediately after their arrival hired another Vessel to carry them forthwith to Brest for fear they should lose the advantage of the Wind which blew very fair for them And the Sequel proved that they had been much in the right for within four and twenty Hours after the Wind chop'd about and continued contrary to us for twelve Days together all which time we were forced to spend in vain and with a great deal of impatience at last the Wind turn'd on our side and you may believe we would not lose a Minute so with a fair Gale we sailed for Brest but were no sooner arrived there but that to our great Surprize we understood that the Fleet commanded by Monsieur de Chateau Renault had set Sail for Ireland the very Night before our arrival there This Fleet had on Board above two Hundred French Officers besides a great quantity of Provision and Ammunition all which was intended to support the War in Ireland The Earl of Tyrconnel who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the King of Great Britain at the time of the great Revolution in England had not sided with his Enemies as most of the English and Scotch had done but behaved himself like a faithful Subject and by his Conduct preserved the Kingdom of Ireland in his Master's Obedience not without hopes this might prove a means for him to recover his other two Kingdoms For this purpose as soon as he got intelligence of what had happened in England he had given Commissions to most of the Catholick Gentlemen of the Country to raise Men for their King's Service and those who were sensible that their Ruine depended on that of their Royal Master shew'd a great deal of Zeal to give him the utmost of their Assistance A great Number of the Inhabitants of that Kingdom who were Protestants foreseeing that the War was likely to be carried on with extraordinary Animosity in that Kingdom and fearing not without reason that the Irish would take this opportunity to take satisfaction from them for a great many Affronts and Damages received from the Protestants whilst they were the strongest Party retired in time into England with their Effects But those who had their Estates in Land were forced to stay behind and promised to be faithful to the King Most of these last lived in the North of Ireland about Londonderry and Iniskilling which were as yet in the Hands of the Protestants but the Earl of Tyrconnel who did put but a slender confidence in their Faith ordered some Catholick Regiments thither to keep a watchful Eye over them But the implacable hatred which has always been most conspicuous in that Kingdom betwixt the Catholicks and the Protestants began soon to break out into great Disorders To remedy which my Lord Montjoy an Irish Protestant Lord whose Estate lay thereabouts did all he could to perswade the Earl of Tyrconnel that he had taken wrong Measures thus to discover to all the World the Diffidence he had of the Protestant Party and that it would be much safer for him to leave the Defence of these two Places to the Protestants alone than to two Parties which would be always thwarting one another being of so contrary a Principle tho at the same time it was certain that he underhand fomented these Divisions among them Nevertheless the Earl of Tyrconnel follow'd his Advice but no sooner had he withdrawn the Catholick Troops from thence but the Protestants thereabouts revolted unanimously against the King of Great Britain The Earl gave immediate notice of it to his Master in France and positively told him in his Letter That his Presence was absolutely necessary in Ireland He sent word also That he shrewdly suspected the Lord Montjoy's Conduct especially since his two Sons were gone over with their Regiment to the Enemy and that his Opinion was it would not be long before he would follow in Person unless he were prevented His Advice was to send for him into France under pretence that the King would consult with him concerning some Matters of great Moment relating to that Kingdom and to secure him there It was also contrived that the Earl of Tyrconnel should give my Lord Montjoy Letters to the King of Great Britain in which he should recommend his Conduct and Zeal for the King's Interest the better to disguise their design against him which notwithstanding all the fair Contents of these Recommendatory Letters was to be put in execution immediately after his Arrival in France The King of England did communicate Tyrconnel's Letter and Advice to our King who was of Opinion that he ought to follow the Earls Counsel and appear in Person in Ireland promising him powerful assistance both of Men and Money besides all other Necessaries for the carrying on of this Enterprize Accordingly my Lord Montjoy being sent for came to St. Germains freighted with sham Letters of Recommendation from the Earl of Tyrconnel to the King of England with whom he had a long Conference and it was observed that the King managed the matter so well on his side that my Lord did not in the least mistrust what was likely to befall him But very few days were pass'd before he was undeceiv'd in the matter for no sooner had his Britanick Majesty had a full account from his own Mouth concerning the true State of the Kingdom of Ireland which was the only thing he wanted to know at that time but he caus'd him to be secur'd and carried to the Bastile where at first he had liberty granted him to walk in the Court but afterwards was confin'd to a Room under Lock and Key because the Prince of Orange King William III. had confin'd Hamilton to a close Prison The King of England took along with him for Ireland Monsieur Rose an experienc'd Officer who was to Command his Army there and our King furnish'd him with several other Officers of Note they being most of all wanted in Ireland It is somewhat strange to relate but nevertheless very true that tho' there were many among the Irish who had serv'd before yet were they generally such Novices in the Art of War that
same time to Write two Letters more to the Earl of S ....... and my Lord L ...... to give them to understand that I had found the Fortifications of Port Lewis in the same condition as had been represented to them whilst I was in England and that a descent might easily be made thereabouts which questionless would make them masters of that Port and the East-India House near it That I was just ready to go into Poictou where I did not question but to meet with at least as much Encouragement as here of which they should be sure to receive speedy Intelligence as soon as I was able to give them a true Account of the matter Afterwards Monsieur de Vaux and I were again ordered by the Marquess de Louvois to return to Bell-Isle to take a Review there of some new raised Troops which were lately sent thither and to take also another View of the Fortifications there in order to give him a more particular Account of them than we had done before Accordingly after we had done our Business at Port Lewis we Travelled along the Coast about eight French Leagues below the Port from whence it is not above four French Leagues over to that Island we got there a Chalop which carried us first to the Latitude of the two little Islands called the Cardinals These two Islands if they may deserve that name are of a very slender compass about half a League distant from one another they are surrounded on all sides with very high Rocks who may be discovered at a considerable distance at Sea and being of a Purple colour they have given the name of Cardinals to these Islands Two Privateers the one a Dutch-man from Flushing and the other a French-man from St. Maloes had sheltered themselves among these Rocks unknown to one another in hopes of meeting with some Prize or other this being a great Road for Ships and where they may be soon surprized by Privateers who come out upon them unawares from among the Rocks The Flushing Privateer no sooner discry'd our Chalop and supposing by our fine Scarlet Cloaks that there were some Passengers of Quality in it he made the best of his way towards us But whilst he was Chasing his Prize which he looked upon already as good as his own considering the little Resistance we were able to make out starts the St. Malo Privateer from among the Rocks which made him think it high time to look to himself instead of Attacking us They were both near equal in strength and if we could have foreseen which of them would have the better we might have staid where we were to be Spectators of the Engagement but for fear Fortune should declare against our side we resolved to change our Course and to make the best of our way towards the French Coast because we found that the Wind was more favourable to carry us thither than to Bell-Isle Besides Monsieur de Vaux had a Relapse of the same fearful Fit that seized him before in the Inn and to confess the truth I my self was not very fond of running the hazard to fall once more into the Enemies hands In the mean while these two Privateers began to exchange their Broad-sides very briskly but the St. Malo Privateer who was much better Mann'd than the Dutch-man finding that if he could Board him he should fight him with a double Advantage did all what he could to lay close on Board him which he at last effected in spite of all the endeavours of his Enemy to the contrary After they came to a close Engagement the St. Malo Privateer soon got the better of the other and in less than an Hour made himself Master of the Vessel We could see exactly the whole Engagement though we were at a considerable distance which made us once more change our Course and Steer for the Coast of Bell-Isle whither we were bound After we had executed our Orders there we went to Rochel where we were likewise to view the Fortifications we there received new Instructions to discharge the Militia which was in Garrison there which being done accordingly we continued our Journey into Poictou in order to visit the Protestant Gentry of that Province Monsieur de ..... a Gentleman of Quality and of a considerable Estate being one of the number of those who was look'd upon by the English as one of their Party I had his Name among the rest in my Memorandum We went to pay him a Visit but it just happened that his Lady lay dangerously ill almost past all hopes of recovery so that we were disappointed in our expectation of seeing him in Person for he sent us word by one of his Servants that his House was at our Service but that he hoped we would excuse him if at this time when he was quite overwhelm'd with Grief he was not in a condition to keep us company and to entertain us in the same manner as he should have been ready to do at another time This made us take a Resolution not to tarry in the House at such an unseasonable Juncture From thence we went to another Gentleman's House whose name being Monsieur ...... was look'd upon as one of the greatest Zealots in the whole Province for his Religion After we had discoursed with him for sometime we were fully convinced he was so great a Biggot that had it been in his power he would have been one of the most forward in re-establishing his Religion in spite of the King's Edict to the contrary I shew'd him my Commission which I own was beyond what I deserv'd and he looking upon it as a pledge of my Integrity introduced me to several other Gentlemen of the Country that were his Friends and of the same Religion I soon perceived that they were all agreed in the main point of their Opinions but all that I could get out of them was that they were not in a Condition to undertake any thing of moment by themselves but all they could do was to offer their Vows and Prayers for the Success of the Prince of Orange's King William III. Arms. We were fully convinc'd by this that there was no set Party against the Government in that Province as the two French Ministers in England had endeavoured to perswade us though at the same time it was easie to be seen that it was rather for want of power than for want of good will Monsieur de ...... and several others all Gentlemen of very good Quality in that Province spoke altogether to the same purpose as the rest had done of which I gave an exact Account to the Marquess de Louvois who sent me word that after I had visited in the same manner some other Gentlemens Houses thereabouts I might expect his further Instructions at my own Seat because I had desired leave to Divert my self there for some days But as they agreed all in the same Opinion so their Discourse was altogether to the
Discourse with him at that time The next Day after my Lord introduc'd me to the Marshal of Shomburgh who was then General of the English Forces He was a Native of Germany and had formerly been Captain of the Guards to the Prince of Orange's King William III. Father from whence he went into the French Service where he made himself very Famous by his Glorious Actions especially in the last War betwixt the Spaniards and Portuguese There being at that time a strict Alliance betwixt France and that Kingdom they solicited his Majesty for some Succours against the Spaniards after the conclusion of the Pyrencan Treaty The occasion of this War was no less than a Contest about the Crown of Portugal which the King of Spain pretended to belong to him But by the Conduct of the Marshal de Schombergh the Spaniards were at last forc'd to resign their Pretensions to that Crown After so glorious a Period of this War on the Portuguese side Schombergh return'd into France where he Married Madamoiselle de Aucourt of the Province of Picardy for his second Wife The King gave them very considerable Presents notwithstanding they were both Protestants He likewise put him at the Head of his Armies which was look'd upon as a peculiar Favour considering that besides his being a Protestant he was also a Foreigner Thus he commanded the French Army in Catalonia in the Year 1673 and was made Marshal of France after he had by his great Conduct sav'd the King's Army which was by the ill management of Monsieur le Bret upon the point of having fallen a Sacrifice to the Enemy and retook also the Castle of Bellegarde In the next following Year the raising of the Siege of Maestricht which was vigorously attack'd by the Prince of Orange was perform'd under his Conduct and he had at several times since given such undeniable proofs of his Valour and Experience in Military Affairs that he was look'd upon as one of the greatest Generals in Europe But after the Revocation of the Edict of Nants by our King he found himself under an indispensible necessity either to change his Religion or else to leave the Kingdom Our King did all that in him lay to keep him in his Service and the Marshal who had not long before bought himself a very fine Estate near Paris which cost him 100000 Crowns shew'd no great inclination to part with it so soon which made many believe he would at last comply with the King's desires especially when they consider'd that he being a Person of great Natural Parts could not but be convinc'd by this time of the Vanity of those ridiculous Insinuations as many others of the Hereticks had been of late invented by their Ministers to impose upon the Credulity of their Auditors to wit That the Catholicks are Idolaters Nay there were some at that time who pretended that when he Commanded the King's Army in Catalonia he was upon the point of having chang'd his Religion but that his Lady who had a great ascendant over him had disswaded him from it Thus it was suppos'd that the Marshal Schombergh would not have let things come to the last extremity if an unlucky Accident had not happen'd in which as he believ'd his Honour to be concern'd so he chose rather to lose all than to abate the least of his Pretensions in that point You must know that Monsieur du Quesne who Commanded the King's Fleet was a Protestant as well as he and no less Zealous which made him beg of our King to permit him to end his Days in the same Religion he was Educated in and had always profess'd He being a Person who was in extraordinary esteem with his Majesty and who to confess the Truth could not well be spar'd at that time the King granted his Request The Marshall de Schombergh who thought he had deserv'd as well of his Majesty in the Land Service as the other had at Sea begg'd of His Majesty that he would be pleas'd to give him the same Marks of his Favour as he had done to Monsieur du Quesne which the King refusing to do he left France with his Sons who were very brave Gentlemen From thence he went into England to offer his Service to his Britannick Majesty But he being no less zealous for the Catholick Religion than our King he return'd him thanks for his offer After this he went to the Elector of Brandenburgh's Court where he met with a much more favourable Reception For the Elector did not only pay him all imaginable Respect but also heap'd upon him Favours upon Favours The Marshal who had all the reason in the World to be satisfi'd with the kind Reception he met with in the Court of Brandenburgh which soon comforted him for the Denial he had met with in England which he was sensible was chiefly upon the account of his Religion did however not continue long in that Court For the Prince of Orange who had then already laid the foundation of those great Designs which he put afterwards in Execution with such incredible Success did invite him to his Court with an intention to make use of his Service in convenient time and place After his arrival the Dutch strove to outvie the Elector of Brandenburgh himself in paying their Respects to the Marshal For it is to be observ'd that the States of Holland had always shew'd a more than ordinary esteem for his Person and many Years before when the States stood in Alliance with France during the Princes Minority they had made particular Applications to his Majesty to give permission to the said Marshal to Command their Forces as General The Marshal de Schombergh was no sooner arriv'd at the Hague but he waited on the Prince of Orange who endeavour'd to engage him into his Service by great promises of Reward which indeed he has fulfill'd since without the least diminution for he not only Created him Duke and Peer of England immediately after he was Crown'd King of England but also allow'd him a suitable Pension and afterwards gave him an Estate of some Thousand Pounds per Annum It is easie to be imagin'd that the Marshal who was come with no other Intention than to serve the Prince of Orange did without much difficulty accept of these advantageous Offers made to him and assur'd the Prince of the utmost of his Service and Fidelity by which means he was admitted into the very Secrets of that Enterprize in which he bore so considerable a share not long after There were many who look'd upon it and not altogether without reason as a blemish to his great Reputation to bear Arms against his King to whom he stood indebted for his whole Fortune For it was upon his Majesty's Recommendation that the King of Portugal had made him Grandee of that Kingdom and had bestow'd upon him the Earldom of Mertolo besides the many Favours he had receiv'd from his Majesty's own Hands But on the
E. of S ... to clear my self of all suspicion but he having told me nothing but what I found very true I had no further occasion to make use of this or any other precaution I saw him several times more before I left England and he having received Intelligence that the Marquiss de Louvois begun to be very urgent to have me Exchanged being impatient to have an account of the State of Affairs in England from my own mouth he came to see me one Evening and carried me to a certain place where Colonel Grimes lay Absconded After he had enlarged much upon the Colonels Loyalty he at last desired me to let him go over with me into France under the protection of my pass which was for me and four of my Attendance which I might easily do I having only three Servants viz. one Valet du Chamber and two Footmen The Colonel when he thought he might safely appear before me came out and desired the same thing of me which I promised them to do But the Colonel meeting with an intimate Friend of his who had likewise obtained a Pass for one single Person and having not the opportunity to make present use of it for himself had desired him to give it to him imagining that by this means he might go over with more security than if he went in my Company His reason was that I being a Stranger both I and my Servants would in all likelihood be more narrowly examined whereas he being a Native his Pass would carry him off without much Difficulty But it happened quite contrary to his Expectation tho' he had disguis'd himself 't is true when he came to Dover he was so fool hardy as to appear in the publick-streets so that he was discovered and put in prison The Colonel having as I told you changed his Resolution I did almost believe that the before-mentioned person of Quality had likewise altered his Mind for tho' as often as I saw him he always told me he would be sure to bring me the Letters nevertheless he did not come with them so that if I had not known the Officer who had told me who he was to be a Man of Honour I might easily have suspected his Integrity but as I knew this Officer to be a very honest Gentleman who would scorn to tell me an untruth I thought I had all the reason in the World to rely upon his Word without any further precaution of which you may be convinced by the follow Relation He had formerly been a Captain of Foot in the French Service but had been forc'd to fly that Kingdom by reason of a Duel he had fought with another Officer and to look for Refuge in England where he had obtained a Commission under his Britannick Majesty But this King being after the Arrival of the Prince of Orange forc'd to leave the Kingdom and the Earl of Feversham having after this misfortune Disbanded all his Forces he was at present out of Employment and reduced to that Extremity that he scarce knew how to subsist any longer There were several other French Officers at the same time in England who having been forced to leave France upon several accounts and durst not return thither were in the same Condition except those that were Protestants who altogether took Service under the Prince of Orange K. William III. and were well received by him But the Catholicks besides that they could not expect so much favour at his hands as the others were unwilling to serve a Prince whom they must expect to fight for against their natural Sovereign This Officer of whom I spoke before was altogether of this Opinion and had always made it his business to encourage the rest who were about forty two in number to persist in this generous Resolution at least till such time they might have an opportunity to try whether they could not be employ'd in their own Country again He used to tell them that the greatest part of Europe being upon the point of declaring against theâ— King they ought not to despair but that his Majesty might perhaps be pleased to pardon what was paâ—s'd to deserve which they could do nothing better than to give him this proof of their Fidelity They 〈…〉 to his advice sold their Horses and Equipages which they spent in hopes of hearing some good News from France whither they had writ privately to their Friends and Relations But these either had not received their Letters or else did not know how to make their Applications at Court to obtain their Pardon so that they received no Answer Being reduced to this extremity this Officer was sent to me in the name of all the rest and after he had represented to me the present ill posture of their Affairs he told me that being inform'd that I was very suddenly to return into France they desired me to speak in their behalf to the Marquiss de Louvois and that if in some time after they had no favourable Answer necessity which had no Law would enforce them to look out for another Master who would provide for them I highly commended their Resolution in general and his in particular I told him that to convince him of my readiness to serve them I would not only give them bare Promises but also something more solid and effectual that since I saw that their case was so urgent as to admit of no delay I would assist them with what Money I could possibly spare and that I was heartily sorry I was not at present in a capacity to do more and therefore they must take my good Will for the Dead That I would give to each of them fifty Livers which I hoped might serve them so long till I could obtain a favourable Answer for them from Court I desired them what ever they did to keep their own Council for fear if it should take vent they might else rob themselves of the benefit of their expected Pardon by their own Indiscretion it was absolutely necessary for me to give them this Precaution for if it had been known in the least at the English Court what I had done for them I should in all probability have lost the advantage of doing Service to our King for the future whom I was resolved to oblige as well after my return into France as I had done whilst I was in England This made me once resolve to give the whole Sum I intended to bestow upon them to this Officer for him to distribute it among the rest by which means I thought to avoid the inconveniency of being known and taken notice of by so many but considering his present Circumstances I began to be afraid that such a Sum might tempt him to something he would not easily be guilty of upon another Account I appointed them all a Meeting where I gave to every one his Share I had not so much Money by me as was requisite when I made this Promise but a
certain Merchant whose Name was Launai who formerly knew me very well being a Factor for a Merchant of Loudun whose Name was Moret was very ready to supply me with it After I had given them the Money I desired each of them to make a memorandum what reason had made him leave France in what Quality he had serv'd there and since in England under His Britannick Majesty All these memorandums I desired 'em to leave with the before mention'd Officer who came frequently to see me and was to deliver 'em to me before my departure The Officer took effectual Care to get me all these memorandums but finding that the Pr. ... was not so forward as I had expected to dispatch me into France I sent one of my Servants thither to carry and deliver them to the Marquess de Louvois with several other Letters I took the opportunity of the Pass of a French Gentleman of my Acquaintance who took him along with him as his Servant I sent word to the Minister That I had not receiv'd as yet any Orders to go into Poictou but that I believed it would not be long before I should receive my last Dispatches and that therefore if he would send me his Commands I would be ready to receive them at Calais My Servant was so successful in his Journey that he passed unmolested and delivered my Letters to the Marquis de Louvois in which among other things I gave him an Account of what I had done for these French Officers with an Intention to be Serviceable to his Majesty and I was so fortunate that not one of all the Letters I gave him miscarried and Fortune continued to smile upon me for some time longer for at last I receiv'd Orders from the Earl of S .... to begin my Journey He made me at the same time a Present of two hundred Guineas from the Pr .... and told me that this was not intended as a Present but only to defray the Charges of my Journey for the present because all my Money had been taken from me at the time when I was taken at Sea About two Days before my Departure a certain French Protestant whose Name was Christian and who was sent as a Spy into England by the Marquiss de Louvois came to desire me to take a Niece of his along with me into France He told me that since I had but three Servants and my Pass expressed four she might pass very well for one for provided I had no more than my number no notice would be taken whether they were Men or Women I was not very fond to accept of what he proposed to me being afraid that this young Woman might prove more troublesome to me than all the rest and that consequently I might repent of it at leisure when it was too late I was not ignorant that most of our Refugees in England were an odd sort of People and that it was the safest way to have little or nothing to do with them Christian began to perceive where the Shooe pinched and guessing at the reason of it shewed me a Letter written by the Marquiss de Louvois's own Hand asking me whether I knew it I had no sooner cast my Eye upon it but I told him Since he had shew'd me so fair a Pledge I would not only take care of his Niece but of any thing else he should desire me that might be for his Service He desir'd me to take a Supper with him the next Night which I did and after we had drunk a merry Cup I observ'd him ogling his Niece which made me shrewdly suspect there was more Familiarity betwixt them than there is commonly betwixt an Uncle and a Niece He was so vain as to talk likewise to me concerning what Business he was employ'd in by the Marquess de Louvois which was also a shrewd guess to me that he was not extraordinarily Qualified for such an Employment and that it could not be long before he would be betray'd as in effect it happened not long after for he was taken up and Committed to Prison by the Prince of Orange's King William's Orders THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LIB VI. HAving thus far settled my Business in England and every thing being got ready for my Journey into France I left London and took the Niece of Christian along with me Before my Departure it was agreed upon betwixt the Earl of S .... and me that I was to receive further Instructions from the Pr .... by his means that I was to send him word from time to time of what News of moment there was in France and he was to do the like to me from England It was so agreed betwixt us how to direct our Letters so as that they might pass securely without the least Suspicion The Earl of L .... who was all along of our Cabal was also privy to this and the Earl of S .... ordered me to direct all my Letters I was to send to him to a certain Gentleman of my Lord L ... Acquaintance and Recommendation I left also my Commission with him not for fear of any danger on my side but because I could appear the more close and prudent in my whole Conduct I told them that it was my constant Opinion People could not be too careful in matters of this nature because if a Man had taken his Measures well and the same were thwarted or spoiled by some siâ—ister Accident that could not be foreseen by Humane Prudence he had however this Comfort that is was by Mischance and not through his own Neglect That I considered if perhaps I should be narrowly searched either at Dover or else at my first coming into France it must turn to our great Prejudice if any thing should be found about me which might give the Enemy an infight into what we designed and ought to keep concealed is that it would be much the safer way to send my Papers after me by the Master of the Packet-Boat who might deliver them into my own Hands if I were still at Dover and if I were not I would take care to send word from Calais where they should direct my Letters as safely as to my self I got very well to Calais nothing of moment happening to me in this Journey I was no sooner got out of the Packet-Boat but those that kept Guard near the Port took my Name and the Sign of the Iâ—â— where I was to Lodge in writing My design was to go further to pay a visit to Monsieur de Laubanie then Commander in chief at Calais but whilst I was Dressing my self he sent one of his Servants to me who brought me a Letter from the Marquiss de Louvois directed to me which had been inclosed to the said Monsieur de Laubanie with express Orders to deliver it to me immediately after my Arrival there This was an Answer to the several Letters I had sent him out of England He told
at home whom I told that I had been acquainted with his Son in England where we had been both Prisoners at the same time which made him ask me whether my Name was not Fontenai I having told him it was so and that I was the same person he meant he ask'd me how long it was since my arrival there and whether I had been to see any body at Court I answered him That I did not come to Versailles till last Night and had not seen any body yet that indeed I had been that morning to wait on the Marquess de Louvois but no body being admitted to see him then I intended to wait on him again after Dinner He then told me That since I had not seen him yet it would be best for me not to do it now till I had paid my respects to the King who said he has given me Express Orders so soon as I should know of your coming either by my Son or otherwise to conduct you to Monsieur de la Vienne one of the Four Grooms of his Majesty's Bed-Chamber whom he has commanded to present you to him at the very Minute he sees you Accordingly he presented me to Monsieur de la Vienne who Conducted me into the King's Closet there to expect his return from Mass It was not long before the King return'd who being told by Monsieur de la Vienne that I was in his Closet he entred alone The first thing he ask'd me was what News I brought from England and whether I had any thing more to add to what I had Writ before to the Marquess de Louvois After I had given His Majesty an exact account of every thing that had happened to me in England since my last Letter to the Marquess de Louvois I told him likewise that I had brought a Letter from thence Directed to him and another to the Queen of England For you must know That the Person of Quality I spoke of before who came to see me Incognito at my Lodgings in London and whom I believed to have altered his Resolution of sending his Letters with me because I had heard no more of him before my departure out of London had only made use of this Precaution for his greater security sake For I was no sooner come to Gravesend but he sent these Letters and several others to some of his Friends in the English Court at St. Germain by a trusty Friend of his enclosed in a Letter directed to my self in which he recommended them to my most particular care Our King ask'd me from whom these Letters were and what I had done with them I told him that the Letters came from my Lord ...... and that I had left them in my Portmanteau with an intention to deliver them to the Marquiss de Louvois not knowing that I was to have the Honour to see His Majesty in person After I had given the King a Circumstantial relation of all matters of moment which happened during my stay in England he ordered me to give a full relation of it likewise to the Marquess de Louvois who was to Signify to me his further pleasureâ— I went the same day after Dinner to wait on the Marquess de Louvois again who espying me among the rest in his Anti-Chamber as he was going from Dinner into his Closet came to Whisper me in the Ear that he was not at leisure at present but that I should come again at Night about 8 a Clock when he would be very glad to talk with me Thus I went my ways and returning at the appointed hour he told me that I must come again the next morning at six a Clock Accordingly I came and being admitted into his Closet I stay'd with him there for above an hour for after I had given him a full account of the whole matter he made me Write two Letters in his presence one to the E. of S ..... the other to my Lord L ...... I sent them Word of my safe arrival in Paris and that I expected only the last Orders from the Pr .... to put our design in Execution I gave likewise those Letters which my L ...... had sent after me to Gravesend to this Minister who kept only that directed to his Majesty and return'd the rest to me telling me that I ought to deliver those Letters of my L .... to the Queen of England and to those other Gentlemen they were directed to He gave me at the same time a strict caution not to mention the least thing of my Transactions in England either to that Princess or any body else Just as I was going to take my leave I told him that I had brought over with me from England a Niece of Monsieur Christian who pretended to have business of the utmost consequence to Communicate to him that she having desired me to ask him leave to wait on him I should be glad to know what Answer he was pleased to give I took also this Opportunity to speak with him concerning My Lord L .... 's Business I told him that the said Lord had desired me to intercede with him concerning some Papers and other things belonging to him which as he pretended were taken from him notwithstanding he had a Pass from his Majesty for their safe Conduct that he had given me a Memorial containing the whole State of the Case and his Reasons and that if he thought fit to order Restitution to be made of them in consideration that thereby a more firm Correspondence might be settled betwixt him and me which would much redound to his Majesty's Service I would leave this Memorial with him He answered me as to these two points That after my return from the English Court at St. Germains I should introduce Christian's Niece to him and that then also I should deliver him the said Memorial To speak the whole truth of the matter My Lord L .... s pretensions were not so well founded as he flatterred himself and if it had not been for such a favourable Juncture as this they would scarce have pass'd for sufficient for him to have obtain'd his Request He had been Ambassador at the Imperial Court at Vienna and the Emperor had dignified him with the Title of an Earl which made him go by the same Title in England where else the eldest Son of an Earl cannot pretend to it till after his Father's Death He had afterwards been sent Ambassador into Spain and as he was returning home from thence had taken his way through France being provided with his Majesty's Pass both for himself and his Equipage which last he caused to be Embark'd in a Vessel bound to Plimouth where it safely arriv'd not long after But Plimouth being near fourscore French Leagues distant from London he had order'd the same Equipage which he brought from Spain to be imbark'd again on board another Vessel for the cheaper and more convenient Transportation to London which being met at Sea
by a French Privateer was taken and carried into Dunkirk My Lord nevertheless claim'd the said Goods by virtue of the same Pass but all his Addresses made to the Marquiss de Segnelay upon this account had proved fruitless hitherto that which was the worst at present was that it being some time ago when the said Prize was taken and was sold since there was but little probability for him to recover what he had lost But the Marquiss de Louvois who judged not without good reason that this Obligation done to my Lord by my Intercession would serve to promote the King's Service interposed his Authority and sent strict Orders to the Admiralty of Dunkirk to take effectual care that all those things belonging to my Lord's Equipage or otherwise as were disposed of might be brought forth He Wrote also to Monsieur de Laubanie at Calais to assist them in the recovery of these things and dispatch'd Monsieur de Courchamp himself thither to see his Orders put in Execution By this means my Lord had the Satisfaction to recover most of his Equipage there being but very little missing but what was most pleasing to him was That all his Papers were restored to him without the least Diminution among which was the Emperors Patent by which he had Invested him with the Dignity of an Earl Whilst these things were Transacting at Dunkirk I took a turn to the English Court at St. Germain where I delivered to the Queen of Great Britain that Letter directed to her from my Lord ..... as I did likewise the other Letters belonging to several Gentlemen of that Court I found this Princess extreamly afflicted at the News she had lately received from Scotland of the Death of my Lord Dundee He was the only Person of Quality in that Kingdom who to testifie his Loyalty to King James had taken up Arms for him and had made his party good against the Enemy as long as he lived giving many excellent Proofs of his Bravery and there were not a few who were of Opinion that if he had been timely supply'd with Men and Money with Ammunition and Provision as Ireland was he would have acted with better Success there and might perhaps have carried the terror of his Arms to the very Borders of England it being certain that with these few Men he had under his Command who had no other Strong-hold but the Mountains he frequently entred the Plains and sometimes gave the Alarm to the City of Edinburgh it self but being slain in one of these Engagements his loss was Bewailed by the whole Court of St. Germain who looked upon him as one of the most Faithful Subjects of their Royal Master The first thing I did after my return from St. Germains was to introduce Monsieur Christian's Niece to the Marquiss de Louvois according to the Orders he had given me the last time I saw him He discoursed her in private and as far as I could find by the Sequel of the Matter he laid no great stress upon what they told him concerning the Clerk of the Earl of S ..... For he asked me immediately after what Opinion I had of this Christian telling me at the same time that he was not at all satisfied with his Management I answered him very frankly That I had but a very indifferent Opinion of his capacity as well as himself because I found him very defective in point of Prudence and Conduct the necessary requisites in a Person who undertakes such a Task as he had done that besides this there was nothing extraordinary or taking in his whole Person and that a Man need not Talk with him above once or twice to find out his blind sight But though the Marquiss de Louvois made no great Reflections upon what Advice had been given him concerning the Clerk he shewed much more eagerness to unfold the Riddle in respect of Prancourt For which purpose he took the Letter she gave him which he unsealed neatly and after he had Perused it and closed it up again so as not to be perceived by any Body sent it forward to the place whither it was directed not questioning but that this Discovery might stand him in good stead for his Majesty's Service as indeed it happened soon after For his Kinsman unto whom the Letter was directed sent a full answer to the same which being to go by the way of Paris to England and to be addressed to a Hostess called la Perle who lived at an Inn in the Suburbs of St. Germain in the Butchers-street at the Sign of the City of Hamburgh this Minister ordered the Post-master of Paris that as soon as such a Letter should come to his Hands to deliver it to no Body but himself By this contrivance he made himself master of the whole Secret carried on betwixt the Uncle and the Nephew which was to raise a Regiment of Swiss for the Prince of Orange King William III's Service The same Letter was afterwards Sealed up again and dispatched to Prancourt in England together with a Bill of Exchange which he had no sooner received but he came to Paris and not having the least mistrust of his being discovered but rather expecting an augmentation of his Sallary for some late Services went to wait on the Marquiss de Louvois But as he was going from that Minister he was to his no small surprize taken up by one of the Grand Provost's Attendance who put him into a Coach and carried him to the Bastile He has continued there a Prisoner ever since and I believe he will not get easily out unless it should be by the conclusion of a Peace if he lives till that time The Marquess de Louvois ordered fifty Pistols to be given to Christian's Niece a slender Recompence for so considerable a piece of Service considering especially that he knew no otherwise but that she had undertaken this Journey at her own cost and charge though indeed I defray'd all the Expences For my part I was not so well rewarded as she for though this Minister could not be ignorant that I had been strip'd of all what I had by me when I was taken at Sea he made me not the least Retaliation imagining perhaps as I suppose that the two hundred Guineas I had from the Earl of S .... were a sufficient Recompence for what I had lost All that I could obtain was to have the Money repaid me which I had given to the above-mentioned French Officers before I left England the Banker who had lent me that Money upon my Word having drawn a Bill of Exchange upon me since to the full value of it nay I was forc'd to put him twice in mind of it and to tell him under what necessity I was of answering the said Bill of Exchange Thus I had as little reason to be satisfied with them as Christians Niece and she and I for the better conveniency's sake Lodg'd together in the same House for which I ought
de Louvois dictates certain Letters to Monsieur de la Fontaine to be sent into England p. 250 265. resolves to sacrifice him to the Interest of the State p. 278 M. MAyence besieged and taken by the Duke of Lorain p. 151 Malet a Protestant Councellor a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 313 317 320 The Duke of Mazarin a devout Person p. 240. he gives a Dowry to Monsieur de la Fontaine's Daughter p. 362 Maux Sub-dean of Liege p. 147. My Lord Melfort p. 157 The Countess of Meru in disguise p. 340 Minister a Protestant Minister defends Londonderry p. 186 Some Ministers of Poictou propose â— rising in that Province p. 188 Monmont a French Officer of note killed p. 185 My Lord Montjoy committed to the Bastile p. 155 The Countess of Montperoux p. 336 337 Insolence of a Musqueteer p. 57. is condemned to death and pardoned p. 58 The Bishop of Munster quits the French Party p. 76 N. A Nephew of the Marquess de Castanaga thrown into the Dungeon p. 361 Niccoburgh a Captain of a Dutch Man of War p. 167 Norway full of Bears and Sorcerers p. 9 O. FRench Protestant Officers enter into the service of the Prince of Orange p. 202 The Roman Catholick Officers refuse that service Ibid. they are not able to get into Ireland p. 249. are ordered to return into France p. 250. they come to Paris p. 267. The Prince of Orange makes a Descent upon England p. 149. puts a Guard upon King James Ibid. his prodigious Success p. 150. made King of England p. 171. The Count de Ossane in Love with the Princess of Courland p. 55. he fights with and is wounded by Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 56. he leaves that Court Ibid. P. THE Elector Palatine quits the French Party p. 76 Don Pantaleon de la fights with Colonel Gerard. p. 13. escapes out of Prison by the assistance of Madam Mohun p. 14. is delivered up into Custody p. 15. is Beheaded Ibid. Picard a Captain of a French Frigat is taken after a brave resistance p. 168 Port Lowis p. 243. The East-India-House near it p. 243 Prancourt a Swiss and a French Spy in England deceives the French Court p. 220. is Imprisoned in the Bastile p. 221 The Prince of Wales taken for a Supposititious Child even before his Birth p. 150 Some Prisoners delivered by force p. 45. Prisoners made at the Battle of Fleurus are conducted to Vincennes p. 313 The Protestants retire out of Ireland into England p. 154 Pusignon a French Officer of note killed in Ireland p. 185 Q. MOnsieur de Quesne commands the French Fleeâ— p. 178 the King grants him the free exercise of his Religion Ibid. R. RAS a Physician and pretended Magician a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 314 Rasfeld the Brandenburgh General besieges Locknits p. 79. obtains a Victory Ibid. Recollects their Church restored to them at Altenoe p. 81 Riperda marries Mrs. Caravas p. 63 Rochelle its Fortifications p. 252 Rose an old Servant of Monsieur de la Fontaine's Father p. 121 Rose Commander in chief of the French Troops in Ireland p. 155 184 185 S. SAlisbury animosity of the Mobb against the French p. 176 La Salle Governor of the Cittadel of Liege p. 149 The Marshal de Schombergh General of the English Forces p. 177. formerly General in Portugal p. 177 made Count de Mertola p. 180. General of the French Army in Catalonia p. 177. is made Marshal of France Ibid raises the Siege of Maestricht Ibid. he leaves France on the account of his Religion p. 178. retires to the Court of Brandenburgh p. 179. from thence to Holland ibid. is made Duke and Peer of England p. 180 The Shout of Zwoll takes up a Priest whilst he was saying Mass in a private place p. 87. is threatned by the French Soldiers in Garrison there ibid. the rising of the Mob about his House p. 88 he is deposed p. 89 Mock-Sieges in the Thuelleries p. 4 Soldiers Ravish a young Wench and set Fire to the House p. 161 Sewell an English-man a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 290 makes his Escape p. 291 Stetin block'd up p. 83. is besieged p. 84 is forced to surrender p. 85 T. THE Earl of Tyrconnel p. 153 154 The Earl of Torrington Admiral of England p 168 he chooses rather to quit his Places at Court than to change his Religion ibid The Count de Tourville Vice-Admiral of France enters Brest p 171 Treaty betwixt France and Cromwel p. 12 A Treatise of the Bastile promised to be publish'd p. 361 The Marshal de Turenne p. 74. he pursues the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 75. a great General p. 77 V. ONE English Vessel fights and takes two French Frigats at once p. 173 A Valet du Chambre of Monsieur de la Fontaine plays several Pranks in the Bastile p. 315. he betrays his Master p. 347. gets out of the Bastile p. 349 he pretends that his Master is mad p. 355 Monsieur de Vaux joint Surveyer with Monsieur de la Fontaine p 228 Monsieur de la Vienne first Groom of the King's Bed-Chamber p 215 216 The Marquess de Ville Governor of Brussels p. 97 Villeroy a Lorrain Officer Imprisoned in the Bastile p. 293. he fancies himself to be tormented by a Spirit p 316 317 318 Monsieur Voile Controler of the Mint sent to the Bastile p. 286. he is released by means of a good Sum of Money p. 289 W. MOnsieur de Webbenum one of the States General p 64 Wrangel the Sweedish General takes several Places from the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 78. he loses a Battle p. 79. his death ibid. Z. ZWoll Mutiny of the Roman Catholicks of that City p. 87 88