all likelihood it could not be against France yet could not fully perswade themselves of the truth till they sensibly felt the Blow They always thought that it tended either to get some Money out of 'em or else to the re-establishment of the Prince of Orange a thing which at that time was in Agitation among themselves so that without ever so much as stirring they quietly expected the whole Force of their Enemies which had like to have utterly over-whelm'd ' em They then found it too true That it is not sufficient for a Prince to think himself safe because he has given no just occasion of a War and that he ought never to repose so profoundly upon the Faith of Treaties as not to have Forces always ready to oppose his Enemy upon any sudden breach of Peace or according to the common Proverb Not to relye so much upon a Neighbour as not to keep a vigilant Eye over him But go and preach these Politicks to People that love their Ease better then their Lives and because they have renounc'd enlarging their Territories think all others of their mind and you may aswell preach to so many Statues In short this Confidence cost 'em dear For the King of England had no sooner fallen upon the Smyrna Fleet but the King of France fill'd all Holland with Terror and Dismay He took Maestricht Graves Nimeghen and pierc'd as far as Utretcht from whence he beheld but one little spot more to Subjugate 1672. In that City he exercis'd all the Prerogatives of a Sovereign Conqueror He chang'd the Magistrates coin'd Money and there receiv'd a stately Embassie from England at what time the Duke of Buckingham and the Lords Arlington and Halifax were sent from the King of England These things tickl'd La Chaise even to Triumph and Exultation insomuch that he could not forbear asking the King with an Air of Joy and Content whither he would take his Counsel another time He had also Emissaries in all the Catholick Courts more-especially with the Emperor and the King of Spain into whose Ears they continually peal'd That the King had no other Aim in this War but the Extirpation of Heresie which he was going to Attack and Combat even in the Trenches and in the very Arms of her most formidable Champions the English and Hollanders that by a visible Favour of God there was a Way found to dis-unite 'em and that they would themselves destroy one another and that the Finger of God and that Celestial Frenzy which constrain'd the Enemies of the People of God to fall upon one another was herein to be observ'd The Emperor who is a good Prince and a zealous Catholick seriously believ'd the Tales which the Jesuits told him and making it a Case of Conscience to oppose such Holy Arms remain'd in a Lethargy that surpriz'd all the World and warm'd himself at the Fire which devour'd his Nighbours House never minding the Danger of his own At length the Elector of Brandenburgh a wise and couragious Prince could no longer be a Spectator in a Quarrel that so nearly concern'd him He was the first that drew his Sword to succour poor Holland then at the last Gasp and so lively laid before the Emperor the terrible Consequences of the King's Victories that he oblig'd him to declare open War and to send a good Army to the Rhine under the Conduct of Montecuculi with Orders to join the Elector of Brandenburg and fight Turenne after he had well tyr'd his Army which would have extreamly weak'nd the King's Forces and reduc'd him to a Necessity of quitting his Conquests to defend his own Country This unexpected Resolution of the Emperor extreamly incumber'd him for La Chaise had always promis'd the contrary nor was it a small Vexation and Disappointment to the King But La Chaise bid him be of good Comfort for that he had an infallible Secret to make him break up the Campaign without fighting a stroak as he did by Counterfeiting a private Order from the Emperor to Montecuculi which forbid him positively to join the Elector whatever Commands he had receiv'd to the contrary unless they imported an Express and particular Revocation of the Order he had sent him And thus the Business was carried on During the time that La Chaise resided at Rome he had for his Companion a certain Italian Fryer whose Name was Francisco Pironni a Graver once and an Ingenious Artist in his Trade but withal the greatest Cheat and Rogue that ever the Earth bore La Chaise had made use of this Fellow upon sundry Occasions wherein he shew'd such Proofs of his Ability and Industry that he thought him able to gain him many Creatures among the Jesuits in Germany whether he sent him only upon that Design Pironni discharg'd his Trust so effectually that by means of his Intriegues La Chaise had settl'd his best Correspondencies at Vienna and it was to himself that they had recourse to counterfeit the Order which I have mention'd They had found a way to put into his Hands some old Pattent where was both his Imperial Majesty's Sign Manual and his Seal affix'd and both the one and the other were counterfeited so exactly well that the Emperor himself would have been deceiv'd So that Montecuculi who had incurr'd his Indignation by his repeated Refusals to join the Electoral Army was absolutely justified by shewing his counterfeit Orders This Villain had grav'd the Seal upon a Steel of the same Bigness and cut the Sign Manual upon a Copper-Plate which being apply'd to the Paper made the Impression so exact that it was impossible to discover the Cheat though it had been known before-hand This being done and the Order written above the Sign Manual a Courier's Habit was procur'd for Pironni and he carry'd it himself to the General and then return'd to his Convent where it was not to be thought that any body would look for him And this was the Reason that the Imperial Arms had so little Success that Year And had not the Prince of Orange been so prudent as young as he was instead of ceasing to besiege Twenty Towns one after another to march directly to Bon which he took and open'd the Pass of Flanders to the Germans whom he put into a condition to make a powerful Diversion we had the greatest Reason to expect that all the Remainder of the Seven Provinces would have fallen into the Hands of the French But this Course which the Prince took broke all their Measures in such a manner that they were forc'd to abandon all except Maestricht and Graves And as it seldom happens that one Misfortune comes alone it so fell out that the Parlament of England beholding this turn of Fortune took courage and presented so many several Addresses to the King that he was forc'd to make a Peace with the Dutch whether he would or no. However he wrote first of all to the King of France to let him know that
THE HISTORY OF Father La Chaise Iesuite and Confessor TO LEWIS XIV Present King of France Discovering The Secret Intreagues by him carried on as well in the Court of England as in all the Courts of Europe to advance the Great Designs of the King his Master Made English from the French Original LONDON Printed by J. Wilde for H. Rhodes at the Star the corner of Bride-lane Fleet-street 1693. THE PREFACE TO THE READER I Will not trouble my self kind Reader to make a Bustle for your Suffrage in favour of my Book It will speak for it self and if the Reasons which it offers are not of sufficient Force 't would be in vain for me to alledge mine Excuse me therefore for producing any more then only this That there is great Reason the World should know what a Saint the King of France has got to teach him the Way to Heaven However I cannot forbear to tell you That you ought in some measure to return me Thanks for the Present that I make you not so much for the value of it as for the danger to which I expose my self for your sake I attack not only the most revengeful Man that ever the Sun shone upon but a whole Society that never pardons any Injury and from whose remorseless Hatred there is no Asylum can secure me For suppose that I had drawn upon me the displeasure of my native Sovereign the King of France and should retire to London under the declar'd Protection of King William which one would think were sufficient to guard me from the Menaces of the most puissant Monarch in Europe yet early or late this cabaâ—ling Society would find a way to sacrifice me to the Resentment of my offended Prince Nor should I be the first who had fallen into their Snares Have they not whirlwinded several out of Amsterdam that at this very Day lie Rotting in the Dungeons of Mount St. Michel Others have been assassinated in the very Court of Hanouer And the same Father La Chaise that illustrious Impostor against whom I write did he not enforce the Geneveses to deliver into his hands an unfortunate Person that had written something against him tho' he had not made out any thing that was very Essential and was extreamly mistaken in some of his Conjectures What would become of me then should he come to discover who I am and who I may be Nothing could save me from his Fury But as good Luck would have it tho' I have had the Opportunity to know him Intus in cute yet I believe he has no reason to be more suspicious of me then another He sees and is seen by so many People of all Sorts and Conditions of which the greatest Number curse his Infidelities and Treacheries experienc'd by them selves that his Suspitions would be lâ—st in the Throng Besides it may be well imagin'd that 't was not from himself that I learnt the following Particulars of his Life He is not a Man to trust every body with his Secrets Yet in regard no man can be Vicious alone and that there must be the passive as well as the active Part in all manner of Luxury 't is no less certain that Father La Chaise must all a-long have had his Intimates and Socios Voluptatum among whom it was impossible for Father La Chaise to choose so well but that there might be now and then a Judas Never ask me then through what Channel these Curosities were convey'd to my Knowledge For 't is a Question to which it becomes me not to give a positive Answer and that upon good grounds All that I can say to it is this That I was none of those who had the fewest Intriegues with the Society for several Years together besides that I had sundry particular Friends who were perfectly acquainted with this Metropolitan Jesuit from the time that he was first admitted into the Order by whose means I had the Opportunity not only to hear several Stories confirm'd by Tradition but also in Private and as it were by Stealth to read his Memoirs themselves Now in regard the following Relation comprehends as well the Incontinencies and Gallantries of his Youth as the ungodly Practices the Treacheries and Villanies of his riper Years and more crafty Age As to the First there 's no body can have any reason to deny but that Tradition might be a very faithful Assistant to me For there is no cause to believe him more a Saint when he was a young Man then now he is the King of France's Confessor The Fox has only chang'd his Skin but not his Conditions And I should take him to be very incredulous that should give Credit to the Frailties of St. Augustin's Youth and yet scruple to believe the Follies of La Chaise's As for the deep Exploits of his riper Years and the venomous Effects of his more mature Meditation there needs no more then the Complaints of Two Popes the Bishop of Pamiers Cardinal Camus and others to convince yee of a great deal in regard that all his Actions of which they complain are no other then what is purely natual and consonant to the Humour the Genius and Morals of that Society of which he is the Head and Directour and for many of the rest the dire Proceedings of his Penitent the French Monarch so much guided by his Counsels are such Evidences to the World of his being the Man I mean that no one can well question the truth of my Relations 'T is true I cannot expect that this poor Book of mine should be approv'd of in all places for how is it possible it should be so for I can neither disguise nor betray my Sentiments I utter things sincerely as I think and this is not the Mode at this time Perhaps it may be read and that is all that I desire However should it ne'er be lookt upon this would be my Consolation that I make no trade of writing and if I have lash'd out a little 't was meerly the Instigation of my Zeal for the Publick which I could not suffer to be so long impos'd upon while the Impostor triumph'd without some kind of Punishment Reader If you stand too nice upon the Punctilioes of a History mine will not please yee I know that to present a History drest up in form 't is requisite the Author should tye himself solely to his subjâ—ct and never lose sight of it by wandring and throwing himself impertinently into Contemporary Affairs I confess ingeniously you will not find that strictness in mine In that respect I have given my self a great Liberty For in regard the Person whose Actions I trace is a kind of an Ubiquitarian here and there and every where I was forc'd to follow him where-ever his Projects lead me and as he chang'd his Scenes to vary mine which caus'd a Division of the Continuum that could not be avoided The French Bookseller to the READER I Would willingly Reader
to any other and yet notwithstanding all his Promises and his Fear of God had basely betray'd her and had authoriz'd the King to commit an infamous Adultery and take another Man's Wife from him In short In less then a Quarter of an Hour she inform'd all those that were present of all the secret Transactions that had pass'd between her and him The Jesuits were ready to hang themselves at this unlucky Accident for which there was no Remedy For she was a Fury not to be approach'd but at the Peril of him that came within her reach And if Mareshal de Bellefonds had not arriv'd in the interim and carry'd her away she had most certainly reveal'd a great deal more so much she was beside her self I know not whether Night brought her to her self and caus'd her to see that extreme Folly that she had committed and made her asham'd of what she had done or whether her Despair to see her Love despis'd were the only Motive However it were she betook her self into a Carmelite Nunnery where she has continu'd ever since Her Retirement deliver'd Father La Chaise from an extraordinary Disturbance that extremely tormented him for he made no question but that in her Fury she would have affronted him even in the King's Chamber Montespan could not moderate her Joy that now she had no longer any Rivaless that could dispute with her the Prince's Heart and keep her from being sole Predominant Lausun rid victorious over all his Enemies and Louvois content with his share of her Favour little regarded La Valliere So that she a poor unfortunate Mistress to a King abandon'd and betray'd saw her self constrain'd to fly to a dreary Retirement there to bewail all the rest of her days those transient Pleasures which she had hardly had time to taste together with a Surplusage of Grief not to be lamented or pity'd but by very few 'T is true that Lausun did not over-long enjoy the Pleasure of Rejoycing at her Disgrace For in a little time after he had the ill Luck to be crush'd by a Fall no less desperate then her's Every body knows how he had enthrall'd the Heart of Mademoiselle de Montpensier who demanded him for her Husband and how the King who thought himself engag'd by his Word to let him have whatever Mistress he should make Choice of consented to the Match which had been solemniz'd in the sight of all the World but that the Prince of Condè in Conjunction with several other Princes of the Blood so well represented the Stain which that Marriage would imprint upon the Royal Family that maugre the Importunities of La Chaise and the Interest of the Nobility who sided with Lausun he retracted his Word and forbad 'em to think any more of it But all the Prohibitions in the World were never able to with-hold two Persons of which the one was possess'd with a violent Love the other by an inordinate Ambition and He more-especially since by the Match he became Related to one of the Greatest Monarchs in Europe He therefore Marry'd her Privately without the King's Knowledge flattering himself perhaps That when the Thing was done and that the King came to understand it he would only look a little Gruff upon 'em for two or three Days But he took a quite different Course for though he lov'd 'em both very well yet he would never consent to let the Marriage be made Publick and in regard there was some Reason t◠fear lest the Princess should be with Child he sent the Count to Bastille and thence remov'd him to Pignerol where he remain'd Sixteen Years that is to say t◠there was no longer any Danger of thei◠Interviews at the end of which time Mademoiselle purchas'd her Liberty with the Loss of the Sovereignty of Dombes Louvois was not very sorry for 〈◊〉 Misfortune He was always a Favourite at least and not a little formidable fo◠tho' they were all Three leagu'd together as I said before to exclude all others from the King's Favour and particularly th◠Princes of the Blood nevertheless the◠was no depending upon Lausun But the King who had been lon◠hatching the Design of Universal Monarchy hearken'd very much to the Councils of Father La Chaise with whom Cardinal Mazarine had left excellent Memoirs upon that Subject and who of himself prov'd greatly serviceable toward it by means of the Jesuits People prepar'd for any Undertaking and of whom he had always a hunder'd in his sleeve ready to Obey all manner of Commands The Draught of this Design which he had drawn up look'd with as fair a Prospect as any in the World The King of England was to be lull'd a-sleep whatever it cost which appear'd to be no difficult thing to do provided you fed him with Money Then was the King to fall upon Holland and make himself Master of it Which done the Spanish Low Countries the Bishopricks of Liege Munster and Cologne could not have made any long Resistance Then an Alliance was to be made with the Turk to fall upon the Emperor on both sides and then divide the Spoils Thus you see the Design was laid and if it has not had that good Luck which was expected it has not been for want of Conduct for all the secret Tricks and scandalous Artifiees of Knavish Policy have been made use of to bring it to pass except of latter Years wherein I must confess they committed some Capital Faults which are never to be recover'd Of which I shall speak in due place Now in regard the first step they were to make in this great Enterprize was to make sure of the King of England 1670. the King resolv'd to send thither his Sister-in-Law against the Advice of Father La Chaise who had no Kindness at all for her and who as he said was not good Catholick enough to be entrusted with such a Negotiation However she set forward and arriv'd at Dover where she was met by the King her Brother to whom she made those Proposals with which she was entrusted which were To have an Alliance Offensive and Defensive against all Princes To break the Triple League and To make War upon Holland in particular But whether it were that the King had no Inclination to the Propositions of himself or that the Princess not thinking they would be of any Advantage to him disswaded him from medling she return'd without doing any thing Nor did Father La Chaise fail to lay hold of the Opportunity to render her suspected to the King by putting him in mind that he had told him what would come of it before she went But whether it were that the King bore her any Grudge or any other Person she dy'd at St. Clou within Three or Four Days after her Return God knows how for we could never hear of any thing else but that she was very well in the Morning only after she had supt up a Mess of Broth she cry'd out
I am Poyson'd So dy'd that poor Princess in the Twenty sixth Year of her Age and Fifteen Days over Now though they were not so Successful the first time to involve the King of England wholly in their Interests yet the Design was not given over To which purpose Father La Chaise propos'd to the King to make use of the Jesuits 'T is certain Sir said he that they are the fittest Persons in the World to manage both King Charles and his Brother the Duke of York For not to reck'n upon their being both Catholicks at the bottom of their Hearts in regar'd they have been bred up in our Religion Your Majesty knows that they are deeply oblig'd to the Society Had it not been for the Supplies of Money which they furnish'd 'em withal they had been in danger of making but a small Figure in the World Our Fathers of France alone by themselves allow'd him Twenty thousand Crowns a Year which there is little likelyhood will be ever re-pay'd ' em I speak this added he to let your Majesty know that a Jesuit will be no ominous sight to that Prince I believe it reply'd the King nor am I ignorant of the Kindnesses he has receiv'd from your Society So that there is good Reason to hope that he will do much upon their Sollicitations But with what an Eye d' you think will your Fathers be look'd upon in England Do you believe they will be safe there Never think it and if they should once come to be known there the Character of Agent or Envoy will never protect 'em from the Fury of the People I should rather choose to employ the Dutchess of Portsmouth who has hitherto serv'd me faithfully in several little Affairs that I have entrusted to her Management and I am persuaded she will be no less useful to me in great Ones She is very nimble and dexterous in Business and possesses altogether the very Heart and Soul of the King and frankly to tell you a Mistress has a Hunder'd Opportunities and Tricks to improve Perswasion which the most cunning Ministers can never meet with Sir reply'd La Chaise with a Smile your Majesty may speak knowingly in that particular I have nothing to object against it I am also convinc'd That the Dutchess of Portsmouth is now the only Person that can undertake this Affair with Success There needs no more then to instruct her well in your Majesty's Intentions and 't is only to that purpose that I have propos'd to send some of our People into that Country Very good reply'd the King I consent to it but whom shall we send Your Majesty answer'd La Chaise cannot make choice of a better Man then Father De Carnè He is near of Kin to the Dutchess and well-belov'd by the Duke of York and besides that he is one of the most Politick Head-pieces in our Order The King agreed to it and sent him away Fifteen Days after furnish'd with Three or Four Suits of Modish Apparel by way of Disguise So soon as he arriv'd at London he went to wait upon the Dutchess of Portsmouth who entertain'd him in a very courtly manner for above a Quarter of an Hour not knowing who he was However she bethought her self that she knew 〈◊〉 Face tho' after long tormenting her Brain she could not call to mind where she haâ— seen him or how she came acquainted with him so that at length she was constrain'd to ask his Name I find said the Father that Fortune and Grandeur have made you forget youâ— old Friends else you could never have banish'd poor Father Carnè so utterly from your Thoughts Is it possible cry'd the Dutchess that it should be you dear Cousin embracing him iâ— truth I beg your Pardon But good God what Business brings you hither D' you know the Danger you are in Should you once be discover'd by the Mobile there would be no way to save you Is your Zeal so warm as to embolden yee to come hither in search of Death with so much Gayety and Briskness I knew the time when you were more sparing of your Life The time past is not the present Madam answer'd he 'T is true that in my Youth I lov'd my Pleasures perhaps a little more than became a Person of my Coat but now I am become a Man that only seeks to serve God and his Prince and 't is upon that account only that I come hither 'T is from the King continu'd he that I come He expects from you an Important piece of Service and as I know you will be over-joy'd to have the Opportunity I shall not trouble you with long Remonstrances but only deliver his Letter into your Hands together with another from the Reverend Father La Chaise who has written to yee likewise and I am to give yee notice that you are beholding to him for the best part of the King's Resolutions to make choice of your self to serve him before his Embassador M. de Croissy the Lord Treasurer who is wholly at his Devotion and Twenty others who would have been glad to have given his Majesty Proofs of their Fidelity to him And so saying he presented the Letters to the Dutchess who open'd 'em immediately with a great deal of Earnestness The First of which from the King was as follows Madam Dutchess of Portsmouth THE sincere and true Affection which I bear the King of England my Brother and good Friend which I have endeavour'd to make known to him upon all Occasion having made me passionately desirous a long time since to join with him in a strict and lasting Alliance which uniting both our Empires in the Bond of Peace and Amity mighâ— enable us not only to repell the Assaults of our Enemies but also to repress their Boldness I sent to him Madam Henrietta Stuart our dear Sister of happy Memory to propound a Treaty which could not have been but very Advantageous to him But she found him so pre-possess'd by the Councils of certain Person about him who minding nothing but then voluptuous Pleasures would be at their Wâ—â— end to see him undertake any thing to his Honour that it was impossible to obtain any thing of him Nevertheless in regard I cannot without great Grief of Mind behold him under such a Lethargy so contrary to his Interest especially when the Hollanders out brave him to the highest Degree I thought it fit to write to your self requesting you to represent to him in my name how prejudicial such an excessive Love of his Repose will be to him a last the apparent Aim of the Hollanders being to establish their Commerce upon the Ruin of the Trade of England and to make themselves Masters of the Sea from which they do not think themselves far off since they already refuse to lore Sail to his Men of War and have violated the Laws of Nations in driving his Merchants from their settled Factories and Places of Trade Besides I cannot believe that he has
altogether forgot these zealous Sentiments which I have formerly observ'd in him for the Catholick Religion and the Re-establishment of it in England which would be one of the most Glorious and Christian-like Designs that ever were set on Foot In the first place therefore the Pride of the Hollanders must be humbl'd and they themselves disablâ—d from being in a Condition to embroil their Neighbour Kingdoms I see nothing of Difficulty in it that Republick has more of Pride then Strength So that if the King my Brother will but join with me I make no question of Conquest by God's Assistance I flatter my self that he will do me so much Justice as to believe that 't is not my own Interest which makes me thus Importunate He is concern'd at least as much as I to bring 'em down it being certain that while that Commonwealth subsists 〈◊〉 will never suffer any Alteration in England either as to the Government or in Religion and that the Parliament who are well assur'd of it will take all opportunities to set their Feet upon his Neck so that if he does not betimes prevent the Effects of their Independant and Republican Humour he will fâ— himself reduc'd to be no more then the first Gentleman in his Parliament 'T is with a great deal of Sorrow that 〈◊〉 foretell the King my Brother a Misfortâ— of this Nature However I shall have 〈◊〉 least this Satisfaction within my self thâ— I have neglected nothing to let him know it and hinder it from falling upon him As to what remains in regard his Parliament whose Aims are far remote from wheâ— they ought to be will never consent to a Weâ— that will be so ruinous to it and therefore wilâ— never give him Subsidies to maintain it I offer to supply him with all the Money and Ammunition which he shall stand in need of for the setting out of his Fleet. Besides all this that I have said to you Father Carnè will more fully inform you of our Intentions I make no question but you will make use of all the Credit which your Deserts have acquir'd in the good Thoughts of the King my Brother so that I never stopp'd in my Considerations about the choice which it behov'd me to make of the Person fit for this Negotiation Do me then if it lies in your power this Service which I promise my self from your Friendship and leave to me the Care of Acknowledgment God have you in his Keeping Madam Dutchess of Portsmouth Fontainbleau November the 18th 1670. La Chaise's Letter ran thus Madam YOU will understand by the King's Letter the Glorious Distinction which he makes between Your Self and so many Persons whose Devotion and Fidelity for him are Inviolable He relies upon you for a Negotiation upon the Success of which depends the Destiny of Europe A Great Princess was entrusted with the same before you and tho' the Pains she took prov'd Unsuccessful His Majesty has better Hopes in Yours He knows Madam how difficult a thing it will be to refrain from yielding to the Persuasions of a Person whose particular Privilege it is to prevail over all Hearts Besides We are easily enclin'd to believe Thâ—â— a Wit so piercing so solid so insinuating 〈◊〉 Yours will easily find a way to accomply what you undertake and so much the rather because upon this occasion His Majesty proposes nothing to the King of England 〈◊〉 what is for his great Advantage However it be Madam the King expect from you the most important Piece of Service that can be done him by a Subject since 〈◊〉 concerns the most dazling and most magnificent Act of conspicuously glittering Honour that a mighty Prince could ever aim at 〈◊〉 mean the universal Monarchy which it iâ— in your power to facilitate him or rathâ—â— which you will assure him if you prosper 〈◊〉 the Affair which he entrusts in your Hands Judge Madam what Blessings and whâ—â— Honours are reserv'd for You. Make iâ— therefore of all the Power which your Beauty and your rare Endowments have given yâ—â— over the Heart of a Monarch that loves aâ—â— doats upon you You can never do it upon 〈◊〉 juster occasion since it concerns the Honour of your Prince the extirpation of Heresie and the exaltation of our Mother the Holy Church I dare be bold to say That whatever Courses you take of what Nature soever they be will be extreamly meritorious before God provided you direct your Intentions right and will infallibly procure yee eternal Bliss You see Madam that all manner of Reasons both spiritual and temporal oblige yee to leave nothing unomitted and I engage to make the King take notice of the Zeal and Affection wherewith you shall be pleas'd to serve him in this Affair Moreover Madam be convinc'd of my most humble Respects and of the real desire I have to give you Proofs of my profound Esteem by all manner of Services Grant me the Favour to accept my unworthy Offers and by that means rid me of the Trouble which it would be to me to think that I am in vain and unprofitably Yours c. Fontainbleau November the 18th 1670. When this Letter came to my Hands could not forbear laughing at the pleasant Method which Father La Chaise preâ—crib'd the Dutchess to gain Paradise 〈◊〉 know no body but would easily purâ—ue it could they confide in the Father's Assurances or could they believe that the Morals of this worthy Casuist were true The Dutchess who has a world of Wit â—ould not choose but be sensible of it but in regard that every body loves 〈◊〉 flatter themselves she took but little notice of it Certain it is that withouâ— making the least semblance of it to Father Carnè who would by no means have relish'd the least Jesting upon this particular she testify'd an extraordinary Satisfaction for the Honour which the King had done her and promis'd him largely whether the thing were feasible or whether it would be to her Honour or no. This Dutchess of Portsmouth was thâ— Daughter of the Marquiss of Kerouel 〈◊〉 of the most considerable Gentlemen 〈◊〉 the Province of Bretaigne whose Anâ—â—stors possess'd a large Estate in Lanâ— But as there are few Families that staâ— for many Ages together this was also 〈◊〉 much sunk in Reputation and Authority But for all that the Marquis had 1500 good Livres a Year when he present his Daughter to serve the Princess Herietta Stuart 'T is true he ow'd as 〈◊〉 as he was worth but he liv'd ne'er a wiâ—â— the less at his Ease for all that it being â— natural to the Bretaigne Gentlemen nâ— to pay what they owe that 't is a commâ— Proverb among the People of the Couâ—trey What a Gentleman of Bretaigne a Pay his Debts But to return to the Dutchess of Portsmouth She was put to wait upon Madame as I said before where the King of England first saw her and lov'd her ever after So that when he came to be restor'd to
his Crown he begg'd her of the King of France and his Sister who could not deny him so small a Favour Presently the King sent a Yatch and a Frigate to Brest to bring her from thence into England Where her Wit and her Beauty and her medling with State-Affairs rais'd her a great number of Enemies some in the Parliament some among the People and others among the Court-Ladies among whom there were few that equall'd her in Beauty But for all this the Love which she had for the King or her own Good Fortune which was the most likely enabl'd her to surmount all these Difficulties with an extraordinary Courage The chief Maxim of her Politicks was to keep in with the Duke of York and side with France and by that means she so well order'd her Business that she held on a Ruling Favourite till the Death of King Charles II and should I say till the Advancement of King WILLIAM I should not tell an Untruth She is moderately Tall well-Shap'd having the Air Gate of a Queen She has the loveliest Mouth and Teeth in the world and her Smiles penetrate to the bottom of the Heart When she has a mind to be Complaisant she is altogether lovely but the mischief is that she will not be Complaisant to All. And this is that which has procur'd her such a world of Envy and Ill-will She has a Wit so piercing that 't is impossible to disguize any thing from her Her prevailing Passion or rather her Idol is Ambition to which she sacrifices her Repose her Pleasures her Honour and all things in the World Now in regard she pants after nothing but Honour and that for several Years she has made a Considerable Figure in the World she has assum'd such an Air of Grandeur and Business which she will never leave off as long as she lives There is no Woman living so Proud as this Woman but the last Revolution in England by which she lost above Fifty thousand Crowns a Year caus'd a great Alteration in her Affairs However she put a good Face upon the Matter in hopes the Times would change again or else that the King of France would give her a Considerable Pension for the Service she did him But that sort of Gratitude is no longer in Fashion the Partridge must be plum'd while you have her in your Hands for if once you let her go 't is in vain to expect she will ever return The Dutchess of Portsmouth is a fair Example of this She defy'd all England to serve her French King and Countrey and for that reason was thrown out of all Since that she has been reduc'd to that necessity as to sell her Coaches Horses Moveables and to turn off three fourth Parts of her Servants no body offering her so much as a Pension of a Thousand Pistoles So that when all her Hopes fail'd her and that there was no likelihood of King James's Return she sent her Son into England where he became a Protestant and marry'd the Lord Bellasis's Widow with whom he had a great Fortune By which means he is upon as sure Grounds as before and I think he has done very well But leaving this Digression the Dutchess of Portsmouth was so over-joy'd that she was become so necessarily Instrumental to the Designs of a Great Monarch that in the Evening she return'd this Answer to the King SIR THE Honour which Your Majesty do's me surpasses far my Hopes and my Ambition I shall have henceforward some good Opinion of my self since my King has not thought me unworthy to do him the utmost of my most humble Services upon an Occasion of so high Importance But I dare be bold to say That Your Majesty did me ample Justice when you thought that my Zeal and my Fâ—delity would be inviolable Though I am remov'd into a Foreign Countrey yet I have not forgot the Advantage I enjoy to be bâ—â—â— your Subject nor that my Mother my Brother and all my Relations are still in your Kingdom And lastly That I am beholding to you for my good Fortune since it was your Majesty your self that gave me to the King by whom I have the Honour to be belov'd Thâ—â— Love Sir however it may Charm me dis never as yet render me so Glorious as now that it has procur'd me the Means to be serviceable to your Majesty and that you wâ—â— find by my extraordinary Diligence in performing your Commands But in regard the King has not hitherto appear'd to me so we inclin'd I beg your Majesty to give me a little Time and to afford me Leisure to take my Opportunities 'T is certain That many good Designs are ruin'd by too much Precipitation that might have been brought to a good Conclusion by Temporising a little And I am apt to think Sir that this is a Design of the same nature Should I open the Business to the King at an unseasonable minute and he should absolutely forbid me never to speak of it more to him should I not fall into a Misfortune to be unprofitable to your Majesty Which would be a Grief past Consolation to me Not but that I believe he will be brought to Reason But your Majesty your self acknowledges That the deceas'd Madam of Glorious Memory fail'd in her Attempt And therefore if you please to give me leave I will proceed gently in this Affair which by the Blessing of God will have a happy Issue at least I will not be sparing of my Endeavours to bring it about I am with a most profound Respect SIR Your Majesty's most humble c. London Decemb. 14. 1670. Afterwards she wrote the following Letter to Father La Chaise Most Reverend Father NEver complain more of the slender Occasions which have made me take the liberty to beg Favours of you That which you have now done me in perswading his Majesty to honour me with his Commands is so great that I shall be oblig'd to you as long as I live And it would be a violent Trouble to me not to be able to discharge the Obligations you have laid upon me did I not know that 't is alway your desire I should be beholding to you upon that account I consent then since it must be so but know Most Reverend Father That if it were in my power to repay you as great Services as that which you have now done me by an extreme Acknowledgment or an earnest Desire to do my Utmost for them from wheâ— I have receiv'd 'em I should owe you nothing There is no need Most Reverend Father of proposing me magnificent Rewards to engage me to do my Duty in the Negotiation wherewith you have entrusted me You will faâ— by the exact Account which I shall give you of all my Proceedings that I shall leave nothing omitted to bring it to a good Issue upon no other Motive then my Obedience to the King and to do him faithful Service But in regard this Affair requires a
great deal of Precaution I think it the best way to proceed slowly and dexterously to lay hold of Time and Opportunity This is the Course that I have resolv'd to take till I receive new Orders London Decemb. 14. 1670. I am c. These Dispatches finish'd she sent away a Courier immediately giving him other Letters for the Pretence of his Journey but sow'd up her Answers with her own Hand within the Lining of his Coat under his Badge In the mean time she sounded every day the King's Inclinations to the Proposal she had made him and not finding him so averse as she thought he would have been she expected with Impatience an Opportunity to speak to him in plain English Nor was it long before she met with one for the King having demanded a Summ of Money of the Parlament which they would not grant him the King complain'd of this Refusal and told the Duke of Buckingham That they us'd him like a Boy whose Parents deny'd to give him Money for fear he should mis-spend it But this was nothing to an Affront which he receiv'd a few Days after There is a Custom at London which has been time out of mind and which tho' abusive and insolent is very much in use among the Vulgar Sort. This is a certain Liberty the People take to abuse all those that go by Water let their Condition or Quality be what it will not excepting the King and Queen themselves who are often forc'd to hear themselves miscall'd and abus'd without being able to help themselves But this is only in Sport and lasts no longer then they are upon the Water for as soon as they land those Injuries cease and every body has that Respect given 'em which belongs to ' em This is a thing so delightful to the English that many times the Court Ladies and Lords will go by Water in an Eveing to provoke the Water-men and Basket-people to call 'em all to naught and so return back again as content as Queens Now it happen'd one Evening that the King went in his Barge with the Dutchess of Portsmouth Presently the Canaille having espy'd her cry'd out A Whore A Whore and ask'd 'em whether they were coming from a Bawdy-house or going to one and whether they were not the Persons that they saw Dressing at such a Surgeons All this the King lik'd well enough But when they came to ask the King how much Money the Parlament had given him to build his Palace and where he intended to erect it whether at London or at Windsor with a thousand other Impertinencies of the same nature he could no longer contain his Passion Par-bleu said he Would any but an unhappy King as I am endure these Insolencies I could find in my heart to put 'em all to the Sword Then the Dutchess put in seasonably and told him That he was not to exert his Anger against those pitiful Scoundrels but against the Parlament that were the Occasion of all this and who visibly went about to keep him under Pupillage She repeated the same thing to him when she came home At what time the King answer'd her That 't was true and that he began to be sensible of it and that he would take another Course He told her farther That he intended to Dissolve the Parlament and Call another that should better understand their Duty Sir said the Dutchess Your Majesty seems not to have rightly consider'd the Greatness of the Evil since you go about to apply such Feeble Remedies All England of which the Parlament makes but one part is animated with the same Spirit that will prevail no less in another Parlament when you have Call'd it then in this But you must go to the Bottom of the Mischief and pull it up by the Root otherwise you do nothing Afterwards she laid it before him That so long as the Parlament found themselves supported by the Hollanders they would be still playing the Masters more and more till they had confin'd his Authority within such narrow Bounds that when he would it should not be in his power to help himself The King who was then in the lucky Minute of Perswasion jump'd with the Dutchess in her Sentiments and told her He was very much afraid it would come to that at length and that he was very sorry he did not heark'n to the Proposals that were made him by the King of France Certain it is answer'd the Dutchess that he is the Prince of the World whose Alliance would be most advantagious for your Majesty He loves you and is much concern'd for your Honour He is Potent and the only Prince in a Condition to bring down and sink the Hollanders into Perdition upon whom you are to look as the only Obstacles of your Majesty's Grandeur The King gave ear to the Dutchess in such a manner as to make her think that he was no way displeas'd with her Discourse So that the Dutchess after a great deal more to the same Tune and still finding he took all patiently told him at length That Father De Carnè who was arriv'd in the Kingdom in the Quality of a Missionary had declar'd to her That the King his Master was extreme sorry that his Majesty would not accept of his Alliance That he foresaw to his great Grief the unavoidable Mischiefs which this Refusal would draw upon him and that the said Father had Orders to engage her to speak of it to his Majesty but that for fear of Displeasing him she had always kept her self upon the Reserve though with a great deal of Reluctancy because she knew the thing to be of great Importance Upon that the King interrupting her ask'd her where the Father was telling her withal That he should be glad to see him The next day she sent for him and the King discours'd with him a long while She also presented him to the Duke of York who made very much of him and promis'd to do his Utmost with the King So that in short the Dutchess of Portsmouth had leave to write to the King That his Majesty was enclin'd to negotiate with him a firm and good Alliance so soon as he should send any Person to that purpose And the Treaty was concluded in the Lodgings belonging to the Dutchess of Portsmouth who had the greatest share in it The Conditions were That the King of France should defray the Expences of the Fleet of which an Accompt should be drawn up and pay down Four millions before-hand That for defraying the other Expences the King of England should begin the War by setting upon the Smyrna Fleet Homeward-bound by which he would be a Gainer several Millions and that at the same time the King of France should enter Holland at the Head of 100000 Men. The Project was put in Execution Point by Point and the Hollanders seeing the King was making great Preparations for the Sea and not doubting but it would be against them for that in
he could not avoid concluding the Peace by reason of the Importunitie of his Subjects I could produce several Copies of the Letters written upon this occasion but because I would not be Prolix this shall suffice from the Dutchess of Portsmouth to Father La Chaise Reverend Father 'T IS but some few Days agoe That the King of England was constrain'd to Sign a Peace full sore against his Will I cannot tell what his Majesty of France may think of it but I cannot forbear telling you That in truth he has no Reason to take it Ill considering how long it was before he came to a final Resolution He stav'd it off to the very last and without doubt had never consented had he not had certain Intelligence that the Prince of Orange finding Holland free and quitted began to listen to the Proposals of the Parlament who as your Reverence knows had invited him into the Kingdom We were perswaded till now That his youthful Years which seem'd not to be ripe for great Enterprizes together with his natural moderation and averseness to Broils and Quarrels would not have permitted him to give ear on that side but since we understand That if he were not fully resolv'd yet his Wavering was enough to continue the King's Jealousies and that the States did no way disapprove his making a Descent which indeed would be the most advantagious Course they could take The News therefore of his Hesitation put the King of England upon coming to an absolute Determination who could not in prudence venture the Invading of his Kingdom by the only Enemy that he had most reason to fear A Revolution like that would have engag'd the King to a Diversion that must have been much to his Prejudice whereas now he may interpose as a Mediator and procure his Majesty an advantagious Peace if he thinks it convenient or if not he may be in a condition to do him all possible Services under-hand and of this your Reverence may assure his Majesty His Britannick Majesty having order'd me to send you word that notwithstanding the forc'd Peace which he has made he will never depart from that Alliance which he has contracted with him nâ— from his Interests which he looks upon as his own He has given a convincing Proof of his Constancy in rejecting the Addresses that were made him to repeal the Act which was made sometime since at your Request in favour of the Nonconformists under which Pretence he also protects the Catholicks and their Meetings He will do it for the future as much as he can of which your Reverence may be confidently assur'd I am c. The King who could not have had a more favourable Mediator then his Britannick Majesty willingly consented to referr his Interests to him and Sir William Temple was sent to the States to propose his Mediation which they presently accepted Spain and the Empire were more Nice and the Prince of Orange who had no kindness for a Treacherous Peace started all the Difficulties that could be thought of which was the Reason that the Thing was procrastinated for some time Afterwards he fought that famous Battel of Seneff against the Prince of Condè whom he had challeng'd to a fair Field for Fifteen Days together while Condè somewhat Inferiour in number kept himself within his Trenches till at length the Prince of Orange seeing it was impossible to follow him Decamp'd Condè who well knew that the ways were very narrow through which he was to pass let him go till he thought his Van-guard and main Body were out of reach and then came out of his Hole fell upon the Rear-guard and utterly defeated it and had he been so much Master of himself to have stopt there the Honour of the Victory had been solely his But he had too long withstood that martial Heat that importun'd him to be doing and as a Torrent stopt for a few Days by some certain Mound becomes more terrible and violent when once it makes way so Condè's Warlike Ardour that had been bounded by his Prudence for Fifteen Days was no sooner at Liberty but bearing now predominant Sway it made him lose the greatest part of the Advantage which he had won before For having pass'd the narrow Lanes and being got into the Plain he found the whole Dutch Army drawn up in good order which receiv'd him so coâ—ragiously that he lost about 15000 Men and was constrain'd to retire in great Danger to have been pursu'd but that Night coming on secur'd him The next Year Turenne was kill'd at a time that he thought he had had Montecuculi so fast that he could not have escap'd him Condè left the Army in Flanders to supply his room leaving the Command of the Army to Luxemburgh who so well order'd his Business that the Prince of Orange could not force him to a Battel only he took Binch and demolish'd it Toward the end of the Year 1676. the Commissioners met at Nimeghen to negotiate the Treaty of Peace Thither came the Plenipotentiaries from the Emperor from the Electors from the Duke of Lorrain from Hanover from Sweden from Danemark from France and Holland and England was Mediatrix which made one of the most noble Assemblies that had been known Nevertheless whole Years were spent in regulating the Preliminaries all which time the War was carry'd on vigorously and always to the King's Advantage For he took Condè Bouchain Valenciennes Cambrai and won the Battel of Cassel which was attended with the Taking of St. Omer This prosperous Success alarm'd the Parlament of England and forc'd 'em to desire his Brittanick Majesty to enter into a War and that with so much Importunity as gave him to understand that he must resolve upon it To that purpose they presented Two Addresses to him laying before him the Necessity of opposing such a Torrent of Victory more especially in Flanders beseeching him to make an offensive League with the Hollanders 1677. These Importunities very much displeas'd the King who fear'd nothing so much as that he should be constrain'd to it But at last the Marriage of the Prince of Orange with his Niece being consummated there was a Necessity for him to make a fair shew the best he could so that after long Conferences with him concerning the Peace he consented to the Addresses of his Parlament and promis'd to declare War against France if she stood too high upon her Terms Thereupon Commissions were given out for the raising of 20000 Men and Soldiers came in so fast that in Six Weeks the Levies were compleat so eager were the English for a War with France In the mean time the Dutchess of Portsmouth gave a punctual Account of all things to Father La Chaise who not knowing what other Remedy to apply told the King That now was the time if ever to set his Exchequer at work 1678. in regard his dazling Louidores had a strange Operation upon the King of England
terrible Slaughter and put the rest to the most dreadful Flight that ever was known This Glorious Victory revivâ—d the Courage of the drooping Empire and every body coming again to themselves consider'd which way to make their best advantage of it So that Heaven continuing the blessing of success upon the Christian Arms they prosper'd to their own Wishes The King having beheld this Great Deliverance alterâ—d his Sentiments but not enduring to let his Neighbours be at rest he teizâ—d the Spaniards about the County of Alost considerable for the Extent and Revenue of it which he claim'd as a Dependance upon his Conquests and upon the King of Spains refusing it he Besiegâ—d Luxenburgh and took it in lieu of an Equivalent All people thought that then the War would have broke out again more furiously then ever But the weakness of the Emperors Forces and the Emperors desire to prosecute his Victorys in Hungary were the reason that all their differences were put an end to and laid a sleep by a General Truce concluded in the Year 1685. While these things thus pass'd on Charles the II. King of England dy'd and left the Crown to his Brother the Duke of York who tho generally ill belov'd by the People and a declarâ—d Roman Catholick was nevertheless proclaim'd without any Opposition So happy a Success and perhaps so little expected spread an Universal joy among all the Jesuits who promis'd themselves no less then the entire reducing that Kingdom under their Dominion in three or four Years at most and they had already devour'd in imagination all the Noble Bishopricks and Considerable Benefices in the Realm nor indeed were their hopes so Chimerical but that they might have reason to have some assurance of it they were absolutely Masters of the new Kings Heart and Soul who was wholly govern'd by them as being to speak properly no more then their Prime Minister of State in his own Kingdom Besides they were protected by France extremely Potent and near at hand to pour in thirty thousand men into England when ever he pleas'd 'T is true this could not have been done without a prejudice to the King whose Authority would have been not a little diminish'd thereby but what carâ—d they provided they had got their ends Now as the whole company in general had great reason to be over joy'd at such a promising Event Father la Chaise in particular had more engaging motives of Exultation and Triumph The deceas'd King Charles had willingly listen'd to his Councils and had done several things in complacence to his advice but at the bottom he was a prudent Prince and one who otherwise loving his Pleasures and his Ease did not always do that which was desir'd of him nor was he of a humour to hazard the whole for nothing like his Brother who not having all the foresight imaginable but perswading himself in imitation of Lewis the Great that there needed no more for him to do but to attempt and Prosper blindly and erroniously deliver'd himself up to Evil Counsels Upon which Foundation la Chaise erected his project to set all Europe in a Conflagration of War the most violent that ere was known and hugg'd himself in his design which he lookt upon then as infallible Some prosperous successes as the defeat of the Duke of Monmouth and his Death renderâ—d K. James so vain that he never thought England able to withstand him So that from that time forward he began hardly to observe any Measures wherefore in a short time the Kingdom was full of Monks of all Orders and particularly Jesuits who were become such favourites at Court that there was nothing to be there obtain'd but by application made to them And upon theirs and Father Peters â—s recommendation it was that Tyrconnel was made Deputy of Ireland where he committed extremities of Cruelty against the Protestants of whom he put a great number to Death This Tyrconnel was an Irish-man by Birth and low in Fortune he came young into England where he serv'd as a kind of Page for above ten Years at the end of which time he met with a Catholick who prefer'd him to the Duke of York in the quality of a better sort of Gentle man This was the Rise of his Fortune But to return to King James He receiv'd a Nuncio from the Pope into London which had not been known for above an Age before this was the Abbot Dada since made a Cardinal Some few days after his arrival he was consecrated Bishop of Amasia in St. James's Chapel by the titular Archbishop of Armagh and two other Bishops and in the Afternoon coming to pay his Respects to their Majesties they fell upon their Knees before him to receive his Benediction Hitherto the Nuncio had only appear'd incognito which not satisfying the King who pretended to do nothing in Hugger Mugger he resolv'd that he should make his publick Entry and chose Windsor for the Place To this purpose he orderd the Duke of Somerset first Gentleman of his Chamber to go the next day to waite upon the Prelate at his Lodgings and conduct him to his Audience The Duke would fain have shifted off the Employment by telling the King that it was absolutely contrary to all the Acts of Parliament that had been made upon that Subject but then the King casting an Angry look upon him Do said he as you are commanded I ask not your Advice Nevertheless the Duke continu'd his Excuses declaring to the King that there were several others who would obey his Orders with less Reluctancy and therefore besought his Majesty to lay his Commands upon them rather then upon him Very Good reply'd the King I shall do it but it shall cost you your Employment of First Gentleman and so turning to the Duke of Grafton who was then in the Chamber Duke of Grafton said he go to morrow and fetch Monsieur the Nuncio in my own Coaches of State and be you henceforward first Gentleman instead of the Duke of Somerset Nor did the Kings Wrath against the Duke of Somerset end there he took from him his Regiment of Dragoons and cast him quite out of his Favour The next day the Nuncio made his Entrance in the view of all the People in a Violet Habit his Rochet and * Habit of a Purple Colour resembling a Captains Gorget worn by a Pontifical Bishop above his Rochet and reaching down to the bending of his Arms. Camail All this was done at the instigation of Father Peters who was something more in England then la Chaise was in France And this latter seeing to his great satisfaction King James's weak side is reference to Peters resolv'd to make him serviceable to advance his own Grandeur That ambitious Jesuit la Chaise had been a long time aspiring to a Cardinals Cap but in regard that since the Pontificate of Innocent XI the Holy See had never had a more implacable Enemy then himself he justly question'd whether the Pope
would grant that favour to the K. of France tho he should demand it unless some other should level the way before-hand and that upon his Holiness's having granted the same Honour to some other of his Character he might claim a Priviledge to pretend to it Not that he hop'd to attain his Ends while the Reigning Pope liv'd who had no kindness at all for him but after his Death Therefore he put it into the King of Englands Head to demand the Purple for his own Confessor and at the same time to make him a Bishop giving him to understand that it would be the easiest thing in the world to obtain it and that the Pope would be glad of the opportunity to oblige him But it fell out quite otherwise for when the Earl of Castlemain was about to have propounded it to the Pope he impos'd silence upon him with a Benediction which in the Vatican is a Language that all men understand And as for the Dispensations which he demanded for the Archbishoprick of York to which Peters was promoted the Pope return'd for answer that the Jesuits having by their institutions renounc'd all manner of Ecclesiastical Dignities they could not so much as think of those things without a Crime in regard it is a very hainous Crime for a Religious person to violate the Constitutions of his Order 'T was in vain for the Ambassador to tell him a Story that the Rules of their Order did not bind em so indissolubly but that they might have a Dispensation when the good of the Church requir'd it that his Predecessors had made no scruple to advance several Jesuits to the Episcopacy and some to the Purple besides that these Institutions had now no more the same force then formerly as consisting only in the free will of the Pope in regard that Paul and Julius the Third had permitted by express Bulls that the form of 'em might be alter'd in one or more Cases according to the nature of the business But the Pope remain'd in exorable for all these plausible reasons and Castlemain was forc'd to desist his sollicitations The greatest vexation for the miscarriage of this Affair was la Chaises who had blink'd a long time upon the Archbishoprick of Lyon as a Benefice to which he had a kind of claim to suply the defect of the Red Cap. For as to what concern'd Father Peters the King found a way to comfort him for the loss of what he never had by appointing him his Grand Almoner and by making his Kinsman the Lord Peters Lord Lieutenant of Essex Father la Chaise no longer questioning that there was any favour to be expected from the Holy See laid aside all reservedness and hearkning only to his Revenge spurr'd on the King to all those extremities that afterwards brake forth The Bull which the Pope in a little time after thunderâ—d out to abolish the priviledges of Embassadors Quarters importing Excommunication ipso facto against all those that should go about to uphold 'em directly or indirectly served him for a good occasion And tho the King of Spain and the Queen of Sweden submitted voluntarily to it yet the Confessor gave the King to understand that it was a diminution of his Honour to follow their example and that the Franchises being a Prerogative belonging to his Crown establish'd in Rome not by a bare Connivance of the Popes as they might perhaps in respect of other Princes but by Custom and special Priviledge of which he had been in Possession ever since Charlemain and lately acknowledg'd by the Treaty of Pisa he was not to give an Inch of Ground upon that point 'T is no difficult thing to perswade Princes to those things which they deem for their advantage more especially when they have the Power in their own hands The King was convinc'd the very first time that the Father spoke nothing but reason and finding him so well skill'd in a matter that he had study'd he gave him order to draw up Instructions himself for the Marquis of Lavardin whom he had made choice of for his Ambassador in the room of the Duke d' Estrees and to discourse him particularly upon the Subject that he might not be ignorant of the least Circumstance So that it was the Confessors spirit that animated and enliven'd the Marquis and by which he acted altogether after that The Pope who was faithfully advertis'd by Cardinal Ranunci his Nuncio at Paris of all these Proceedings and to whom the King himself had refus'd Audience because he would have deliver'd him the Bull revocatory offer'd Cardinal d' Etree that if he would submit to the Bull which he had set forth which was a very just one and which he could not revoke without extreme detriment to the Church that the Sbirri or Officers of Justice should forbear making any Assaults upon the Quarters and that nothing should be done to the prejudice of the Kings interest The Cardinal who found himself at a loss in this Negotiation approv'd the Expedient and advis'd the K. to it in a Letter which being imparted to Father la Chaise he oppos'd it and said that the Bull being an abuse there was a necessity of Appealing and referring the matter to the Parliament Which the Pope understanding wrote to him very smartly complaining that since he was become his Confessor instead of perswading the King to sentiments of Piety and Goodness he had always incens'd him against the Holy See as in the business of the Regale and now upon this occasion where the most just Rights of the Church were concern'd which he incited his Majesty to violate and which would be attended with very evil Consequences which would all light heavy upon him and for which he must answer before God The Resolutions of the Holy Father to uphold his Pious design put a stop for some Months to Lavardins departure But at length he setforward in November 87. and made his publick Entry in despite of the Pope who would not acknowledge him for an Embassador It was also debated in Council whether they should shut the Gates of Rome against him But the Plurality of voices not being for carrying things to that extremity the Pope thought it sufficient to forbid the Cardinals and all the Princes and Lords to send their Coaches to meet him he also forbid the discharging of any Great Guns and all other publick marks of rejoycing But for all these Inhibitions there were above a hundred Foreigners Coaches besides those of the several Ambassadors The Cardinals d' Estree and Maldachiâ— went also in Person to meet Lavardin three Miles from Rome and went into the same Coach with him They accompanyed him likewise to the Vatican where the Ambassador having demanded Audience it was refus'd him after which he went to the Palace of the Farnesi He was attended by three hundred French Gentlemen who staid in Rome as long as he did not reckoning in a considerable number of the Officers of the
design pleas'd the King and Father la haise was order'd to write a Letter to Conâ—â—ance congratulating his Conversion and withall to send him a Prayer Book â—ichly bound Good God! how was Constance over joyâ—d when he saw himself prevented and sought to by a Great King He answer'd the Kings kindness with all the marks of Protection that he was able to afford the French and besides that he wrote to his Majesty to â—ffer him his most humble Service proâ—esting withall that he should be always â—ady to undertake any thing in order â—hereunto He did the same to M. la Chaise with whom he engaâ—d himself â—â—om that time forward to hold a most â—â—timate Correspondence and to shew â—im that he intended to be as good as â—is word he insinuated the Jesuits into â—â—e Kings favour by means of the Maâ—â—ematicks which won him to that degree that he suffer'd 'em to Convert his Subjects in his very Court and more then that he bid 'em not be out of hopes of Converting himself And upon these hopes it was that Father Couplet a Dutchman born was sent into France with two men who styl'd themselves Mandarins to hear what was become of their Ambassadors tho the King of Siam never dreamt of any such thing This was so concerted to tempt his Majesty to send an Embassy thither which no body could take an oceasion to comment upon or tax him from thence for having beg'd the Friendship and Alliance of the Indian Prince Father Couplet had long and frequent Conferences with la Chaise concerning this Enterprize and shew'd him the great advantages that would redound to the Society which could hope no less then to engross the greatest part of the Immense Wealth which lies in the Pagods of those Countries And as for his Majesty not to speak of the great Honour it would be to him to have procur'd the Conversion of a Kingdom so far distant he had all the probabilities imaginable to make himself Master of it in time if the King of Siam could be once perswaded to admit French Forces into his Country upon pretence of defending him against the Hollanders after they had once perswaded him that they were his mortal Enemies who only sought an occasion to poure themselves into his Country and compleat the Conquest of it the business of Bantam very much assisting 'em to make him give credit to their Story The Father added that this design would be so much the more easie to the King in regard the Indians being nothing near so well train'd in War as the Europians they could not make any formidable resistance unless they were first instructed and exerciz'd by the French who were perfectly skill'd in military Discipline But in regard the King was a Prince extremely Generous and who made renown the only mark of all his great designs it might be readily believâ—d that he would not be sparing of Commanders and Officers This said Father Couplet is the Posture of Affairs which seem to me to be in such a very good condition as not to be neglected For in short altho there be no great likelihood of subduing this Empire so soon yet the King will have always one great advantage by this means viz. to be a perpetual Thorn in the Hollanders sides and so settle a good Trade for his own Subiects However certain it is that if the King undertakes this business he will prove more successful then I dare promise to my self M. Constance may be safely rely'd upon for he is a man who is already at our beck and a few more Caâ—esses and Marks of Distinction from he King will bring him entirely to his Devotion â—â—ther la Chaise being thus convinc'd himself easily overrul'd the King who appointed the Chevalier de Chaumont for â—is Ambassador and gave him six Jesuits learned in the Mathematicks to accompany him Father la Chaise wrote also to Father Verbiest at Pâ—quin to recommend 'em to him and that Letter was made publick however there is no credit to be given to it for it was a counterfeit Peice to hide from the Eyes of the World their old Practises and designs In the mean time the Hollanders who suspected the worst engag'd Sultan Agni King of Bantam to refuse the French Ambassador all manner of Audience Relief or Harbour in his Ports and to send him Orders to depart his Roads so that he was constrain'd to continue his Voyage for Siam where he was well receiv'd and when he went away he left the foremention'd Chevalier de Fourbin whom the King desir'd to have for his Lord High Admiral and in the Presence of the Ambassador gave him a Magnificent Scimitar which is the Present which he makes to all his Generals At the same time he sent Ambassadors to our Monarch who were receiv'd with extraordinary Magnificence and who were carriâ—d over all the Conquer'd Countries to imprint in 'em a high Idea of France They concluded a Treaty of Alliance with his Majesty and carry'd away with 'em a great number of Officers and Souldiers of the Kings Guards for the King their Master who had but a very ill time of it For the then King of Siam coming to dye and his Successor not enduring to be a King only in shadow while the French who were Masters of all his most considerable places were the real and substantial Kings caus'd his Subjects to fall upon 'em pell mell and put em all to the Sword especially the Jesuits 'T is true some few of the French escap'd and fled to the Hollanders who were so generous as to Protect 'em tho but a little before they had been with their Men of War to attack Paramaribo with a design to have made themselves Masters of Surinam from whence however they were repulsâ—d and forc'd to retire with loss Thus unfortunately ended the business of Siam which had been carriâ—d on by the Jesuits and undertaken by the Counsel and Advice of la Chaise which cost the King above three Millions and the Lives of above two thousand Men. Now then let us return to Europe again The King of England being resolv'd to abolish the Test and Penal Laws set forth a Declaration for Liberty of Consâ—ience and order'd the Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops to cause the said Declaration to be read in all Churches of their Diocesses at the end of Divine Service but the Bishops refusing to give obedience to the Kings Commands several of 'em who alleadgâ—d that it was contrary to the Laws of the Land and their own Consciences were sent to the Tower and orders given to proceed against 'em according to Law The King therefore finding he could not compass his ends this way took another course which was to send Commissioners all over England in order to perswade the people and Magistrates to admit of this new Imposition But they returning and declaring to the King the little inclination which they found in the People to so great a
Change and that they did not believe that any of the Justices of the Peace would consent to it the King enter'd into a design of laying aside all the Magistrates in the Kingdom that refus'd to yield him Obedience in this particlar As bold a Project as ever was but in my opinion not to be compar'd with the rashness of the means which he went about to make use of to bring it to pass He knew he could not do this unless he had a good Army on Foot ready and in a condition to second his commands and in which he might confide This was a Gordian Knot but he thought to have cut it easily by forcing all the Officers to change their Religion especially those of the Fleet which he thought would be of more use to him Thereupon he began to send his Monks and Priests on board the Men of War with orders to say Mass which they went roundly about to have done but the Seamen all in an uproar presently seiz'd upon their persons and would have thrown 'em over board had not their Officers interpos'd their authority to save those miserable Creatures who were sent packing out of the danger The King of England judging advantagiously of the defference and respect of the Officers upon this occasion resolvâ—d to make the best of it To that purpose he went aboard the Admiral and orderâ—d all the Officers to bring their Commissions thither After which he declar'd to 'em all that it was his pleasure that they should quit their old Heresie and embrace the Roman Catholick Religion To which the Officers made this resolute answer that they were ready to obey him in all those things that were just and resonable but that they would never betray their Consciences The King would fain have perswaded 'em that what he requir'd of 'em was neither contrary to Justice nor Religion and that he had no other aim then to procure the salvation of their Souls But finding he could not bring his design about he declar'd to 'em that he would give 'em no longer than twenty four hours to consider of it after which he would take away the Commissions of all such as would not obey his orders and so away he went However finding 'em as resolute as before after the time expir'd he told em 't was an Affair of two great importance to be resolv'd in so short a time and therefore he granted a longer respit I must confess I cannot comprehend what King James thought of himself to undertake an Affair of this nature in so short a time and with so much huffing Haughtiness How in six Months to stuff his Capital City with Monks and Fryars to take away the Colleges of Oxford from the Protestants to settle the Catholicks in their Churches Give Liberty of Conscience abolish the Test and Penal Laws which the English look upon as the Touchstone of their Religion Imprison their Bishops for whom they have so high a Reverence Threaten the Magistrates to turn 'em out of their Places and lastly to order all the Naval Officers to change their Religion in 24 hours upon pain of loosing their Commissions and himself to go aboard the Men of War in the midst of 'em to give his commands in Person at a time when he was hatching to impose a suspected Prince upon em is that which Posterity will hardly believe He must needs be a great Enemy to his Repose and his Grandeur who labourâ—d after this manner to ruin both Who ever drove the Chariot of Arbitrary Power thus Jehu-like The Most Christian King who perhaps has done as much as any other before him durst never carry it so high But King James thought himself to be a Hercules a Mars who was able of himself to subdue a whole Nation Now if he had continu'd to make good this character of Authority and Undauntedness we should have said that all this had proceeded from a Courage truly Heroick but he flaggâ—d when adversity befell him and all that can be thought or said the most in honour of him is this that all that while he was seeking for a Crown of Martyrdom While these things were thus transacted in England they were preparing for War in France For the Pope had granted a Bull to dispence with Prince Clement of Barvaria's Age and in regard he was the most formidable Competitor with Cardinal Furstenburgh 't was greatly to be fear'd that he would be preferâ—d in the Chapter of Cologne more especially because the Pope oppos'd the latter Thus the Business of the Franchises that signify'd nothing in the Main was at length very prejudicial to the King for he drave it on with that Passion that he forgot the Cardinals Interests which were more substantially his own And tho the Cardinal had often enough implor'd his aid and frequently written to la Chaise about it he never thought it worth his time to hearken to him till the Pope had granted Prince Clement a Dispensation But then the King reflecting severely what a considerable advantage the advancement of the Cardinal would be to him began to think of it in good Earnest and to that purpose wrote a submissive Letter to the Pope which he order'd the Cardinal d' Estree to deliver to him He also made very advantageous offers to Ranonci the Popes Nuncio upon condition that his Holiness would give his confirmation to Cardinal Furstenburgh and take no notice of Prince Clement But the Pope who could not rely upon the King considering the affrontive usage which he had receiv'd at his hands remain'd inexorable and had the satisfaction to see himself sought to with as much respect as before he had been treated with disdain and contempt In short whithin a few days after he gave out a Bull of Eligibility for the young Prince not having vouchsaf'd so much as to see or to hear the Agents for Cardinal Furstenburgd He also forbid his Envoy to stile himself from that time forward Agent for the Elector of Cologne Who finding that he could not be admitted to Audience caus'd Placarts to be set up in all the Corners of the Streets containing an Appeal to a future Council in the name of his Master against the Abusive Proceedings of the Pope But the Cardinal knew that if he stay'd for justice to be done him by the future Council he might wait long enough for that which would come too late At the same time news was brought to Rome of the election of the Baron d Elderen to the Bishoprick Principality of Liege of the Baron of Plettenburgh to that of Munster who both sent to the Pope to desire their confirmations which were forthwith granted 'em accordingly All this ill success vext the King of France to the Soul who then too late to his cost acknowledg'd the irrepable errors which he had committed The first in spending so much time to support with that heate as he had done the Right of the Franchises and loosing the opportunity
of having an Elector at his Devotion The second in obstinately insisting to have Furstenburgh made Bishop of Liege and refusing the Election of the Cardinal Bouillon to which the Chapter had so many times endeavourâ—d to gain his consent So that he could not forbear manifesting his displeasure against la Chaise by whose advice he had been guided more then by any other mans In so much that he told him in very harsh language that never any business that was manag'd by a Jesuit came to good And that it would be better for em to mind their Paedagoging in their Schools then to meddle with State Affairs After which he was above a month before he would so much as speak to him again so that the Father thought himself lost forever He came to Madam Maintenon all in an Alarum importunately beseeching her to speak to the King in his behalf who went about to make him answerable for the ill success of his Affiairs And yet Madam said he you can bear me witness that there is no man more purely zealous for his Majesty then my self and that for these twenty years I have labour'd day and night in his Service without taking any rest You know it Madam you have seen with your eyes the greatest part of what I have done Nevertheless as the reward of all my labours the King forsakes me quite forlorn and treats me as if I had betrayâ—d him and his Kingdom and all this because the business of Cardinal Furstenburgh wherein God knows I took a world of pains has not succeeded to his wish Tell me reply'd Madam Maintenon whatâ—s the reason you have thus engag'd him in a War the consequences of which are enough to be fear'd could you be ignorant that the advancement of Cardinal Furstenburgh to the Bishoprick of the Deceas'd Elector of Cologne might have secur'd us against the League of Auspurg which is now pouring down upon Us like a flight of Vultures For in short when once the Hollanders Arm it is a signal to all the rest Oh! Madam reply'd the Father they were well beaten in the preceding War tho England did not take our side what may we not then assure our selves now England and we are joyn'd together The King of England reply'd Madam de Maintenon has need of his Forces at home and believe me he is in no condition to succour his Neighbours Let it be never so little reply'd the Father it will be always something After all the King is in a condition to prevent his Enemies by a strong Invasion of the Rhine and by renewing his Alliance with the Turks will find 'em work enough But suppose nothing of all this were true or probable must I bear the blame of a misfortune which in good Policy could not be prevented I do not say so replyâ—d Madam Maintenon interupting him but that his Majesty ought to have regard to the integrity of your intentions and the services which you have done him and should restore you to his favour I promise you to do my utmost and I make no question but easily to bring it to pass for the King is a person of too much reason not to consider the Fatality of the Thing Never then torment your self so much but assure your self this storm will soon blow over You are not accustom'd to Disgraces No indeed Madam answerâ—d the Father and I must confess 't is a very hard case to see my self thus ill treated by a Prince to whose Interestâ—d have without the least scruple of Conscience sacrific'd the Church the Holy See my own Order and my self to â—oâ—t and so saying the Tears dropt froâ— his Eyes as big as Pearls such was his Greif and Anguish of mind But Madam de Mâ—iâ—â—â—â—â— spoke to the King in his behalf and within a few days he was admitted and his Oracular Counsel as much consulted as ever The K. sent to Rome the Sieur de Chauh to deliver a Letter to his Holiness touching the differences that were between 'em but the Pope refus'd to receive it so that Cardinal d' Estree was constrainâ—d to Print it In the mean while the King seizâ—d Avignon and threaten'd to enter Italy He also forbid Cardinal Ranonci to stir out of Paris and told him he should have the same usage as his Ambassador met with And in regard the King was afraid least the Pope should come to excommunicate him together with all the rest of his Subjects to prevent that blow he appeal'd to a future Council in reference to all whatever the Pope might do against him and confirm'd his Appeal by a Decree of Parlament In the mean time great Preparations were made for the War on every side The Hollanders more especially set forth a potent Fleet which gave great jealousie to the Kings of France and England who were both perswaded that these preparations concern'd Them Their Ambassadors therefore presented Memoirs to the States to represent their just suspitions upon their setting forth such a Fleet and at a season when others began to lay up their Ships and therefore they desir'd their High and Mightinesses to let 'em know to what end all these preparations tended The French Ambassador added that he made no question but that their Fleet was design'd against England but if it were his Master declarâ—d that the strict Alliance and Obligations that were between that Prince and Him would not permit him to suffer such an Innovation without succouring him with all his Forces of which he was willing to give 'em notice before it came to open War to the end they might not plead ignrance He told 'em more over that the King was resolvâ—d to uphold the Cardinal of Furstenburgh and the Chapter of Cologne in the full and free enjoyment of their Rights and Priviledges against all that should give 'em any disturbance And in regard he was inform'd of new motions and new Cabals to their prejudice he was no less desirous to let 'em understand his Sentiments in that particular This was the Declaration of the French Ambassador by which it may be seen that the King was not absolutely ignorant of the Hollanders design at least that his suspitions were conformable to the truth Nevertheless through a Fatality which I apprehend so much the less because it is not usual for that Prince to be guilty of such failings he heard the Thunder grumble and saw the Arm just lifted up to strike without taking any just measures to ward off the Blow and upon this occasion where there was no need of any more then following the Light of common Sence to guard himself from the danger that threaten'd him it seem'd as if he had been well pleasâ—d to have it fall upon him In short if instead of sending the Dauphin with an Army to the Rhine had he march'd directly to Mastricht or had enterâ—d Holland by the way of Bon of which the Cardinal of Furstenburgh was then Master as he did in the year 72 or
had got ready his own Fleet as the Hollanders advanc'd in their Marisine Preparations is it not true that the Hollanders being obligâ—d to look after their own defence would never have permitted the sending away their Army by Sea For t is in vain to object that the King of Sweden had lent 'em Men and that the Elector of Brandenburgh had a considerable force ready to march Fifteen or Twenty thousand Men would never have been sufficient to stop the Army of France the sole approach of which would have utterly disappointed the great and brave design which they had upon England and which was so fortunately accomplish'd But instead of this the King allurd by the certain hopes of taking two or three Places not able to make any resistance snapt at that Bait and sent away the Dauphin with a mighty Preparation to conquer a pitiful Nook of Land while on the other side the Prince of Orange call'd in by the English and assisted by the Hollanders made sure of three powerful Kingdoms the preservation of which was of such vast importance to his Majesty and King James his Confederate In the name of God was ever such a sottish clumsie mistake committed or was the like ever seen or heard of since Kings first reign'd and wagâ—d War one upon another For my my part I must in this acknowledge the effects of an unknown and superiour Providence By what I have said 't is apparent that the end of that year was fatal to two Kings nevertheless when the Dauphin return'd to Court he was overwhelm'd with Congratulations All men cry'd out Victory Victory the Soveraign Courts The Magistracy of the City harangu'd him the Poets squeezâ—d their Braines for Panegyricks and the King himself spoke his Elogy several times in publick before all the World and he mist but little of having a Tryumph design'd him For my own part who was an eye-witness of all this and knew what it behov'd me to think of it I sighâ—d in private to behold the weakness of men that oftimes Laugh and Feast and Daunce when they have much more cause to Weep I could not think they had so much reason to be merry for winning three Towns the on side and loosing three Kingdoms on the other But the French are of this Humour they look upon all things through prospective Glasses and those things that are to their disadvantage they behold with that end which lessens the Objects but those things that please 'em they view through the other end that magnifies whatever they see and brings it close to the sight However it were the Prince of Orange embark'd his men and set Sail. 'T is true he was a little delay'd by a Tempest that did him some damage but that being soon repaird he set sail again and fortunately continu'd his voyage The news of it arriv'd in France and according to custom the general report was that the greatest part 〈◊〉 the Ships were cast away and tha the Prince of Orange was drown'd and this rumour was supported by the following Staâ—â—a of Nostredamus which then made a great noise En mil six cent Octante huit Albion sera deliveree D'une Emprise mal digeree Qui ne produira aucun fruit Et par un Accident estrange Poissons se nourriro'nt d' Orange In thousand one six hunder'd eighty Eight Endangerâ—d Albion shall deliverâ—d be From a Contrivance layâ—d but sillilee The fruit of which shall blasted be by Fate And through an accident by Heav'n decreed The hungry Fishes shall on an Orange feed This was shewn me by an Advocate in a most Triumphant manner who told me that I was no longer to complain of the Fortune of France for whose prosperity all the Elements fought I knew not what answer to give him for I had never studyâ—d Nostredamus but the next day I went to visit my old Friend Cousinet a Counseller in the Parliament of Bretagne a person of Learning and good Sence to whom I shewâ—d my Prophesie In answer to which my worthy friend said he I have read the Centuries of this Astrologer several times from one end to the other and I assure you this Stanza is not there 't is a piece made at random and with that he told me a Story how that in the time of Mazarin's troubles he being engagâ—d in the contrary Party and the Cardinal doing all he could to ruin him he made a Stanza which he inserted among the rest and had 'em reprinted on purpose He repeated it to me but I have forgot all but the last Line which I remember concluded thus Les Rouges Rouges le Rouge assommeront The Red Red the Red shall knock oth Head By the Red Red he meant the Parliament and by the Red the Cardinal Nevertheless it prov'd as false as that of the Prince of Orange After which I suspected all the Centuries that were produc'd upon the present Affairs So soon as the Prince was ready to set Sail he put forth a Declaration wherein he declar'd that being several times earnestly solicited by a great many Lords both Spiritual and Temporal and by many Gentlemen of the English Nation to deliver 'em from a Despotick Power under which they were ready to be subjected to the destruction of their Priviledges and the Laws of the Realm and at the same time to free the Church of England from the Persecution which it suffer'd mov'd therefore with the misfortunes and the seveâ—â— Captivity which both Religion and the State were likely to fall under he could not refuse 'em the Succour which they desir'd That his intentions were not to invâ—â—â— the Crown as his Enemies gave out 〈◊〉 to make any alteration in the Legitimâ—â—â— order of the Succession but on the other side that he came to facilitate and procure the Meeting of a Free Parliament wherin every Member might speak his own Sentiments without Constraint and all together labour the restoration of the Laws and Libertie of the Kingdom to their Primitive vigor and the nesetling Religion in a flourishing condition as it was before the Kings unjust Attempts which tended only to the entire Destruction of it That the King of Englands Designs were sufficiently visiâ—â—â— by his strict Alliance with the Most Christian King and the intimate Vnion the was between 'em tho the King of France had long profest himself the declar'd Enemy of the Kingdom England the United Provinces and particularly of the Protestant Religion which he persecuted even to Rage and Frenzie That it was clear that King James was govern'd wholly by his Counsels that his Politicks were regulated by his and that he aim'd at the same ends And therefore seeing it was the interest of the People of England not to endure any longer such terrible Innovations he hop'd they would receive him as a Friend who only came to succour and protect 'em and concur with 'em in restoring Peace to the Church and Repose and Freedom to every Private Person This Manifesto
no sooner appoar'd in England but he undid in one day all that he had done before He restor'd the Bishops to their Diocesses vacated his High-Commission Court shut up the College of Jesuits and all the Chapels where Mass was publickly said restor'd the expell'd Fellows in Oxford and Cambridge and surrender'd back to the City their Charter and their Franchises Which done he put himself at the Head of his Army where he stay'd not long his heart failing him and tho he had promis'd the King of France that he would either beat the Prince of Orange or dye upon the Spot yet he forsook his Men and retir'd to London where he said and did many things so unworthy a great and Couragious Prince such as till then he was thought to be as surpasses imagination and when he was alone wept and lamented himself like a man in a kind of desperation At last for an accumulation to all the rest he poorly betook himself to flight and retir'd into France and so verifi'd the Proverb He that quits his Country loses it As for the Prince of Orange 't is evident that he never ambition'd the Crown and I believe that his intentions were really the same as he declar'd in his Manifesto For first it is certain he is a Prince the most stedfast to his Religion of any Prince in the World and that Religion was the Primum Mobile that caus'd him first to act Besides 't is notoriously known that in the War of 72 he constantly refus'd the offers that were made him both by France and England to make him Soveraign of the Low Countries and that in his answer to those that made the proposal he us'd these noble expressions that will remain a Glorious Testimony to future Ages of his Moderation and Justice God forbid said he that I should ever think of raising my Fortune and my Grandeur upon the ruin of my dear Country The same thing also appearâ—d at Vâ—recht in the year 75 at what time the Province of Guelders being quite broken and overlay'd by the excessive expences they had been at and not knowing which way to raise new supplyes willingly offer'd to obey him as her Soveraign But the Generous Prince who saw that what the People did was out of pure necessity returnâ—d 'em thanks and told 'em withall that he would be always their Friend but never their Master These are stroaks that will appear lovely in the History of this Prince nor do I well remember where we may meet the like In the mean time King James the Queen his Wife and the suppos'd Prince of Wales arriv'd in France where there reception was as great as if they had come the raigning King and Queen upon a Visit The King gave 'em the Castle of St. Germains magnificently furnish'd and order'd 'em to be serv'd by the Officers of his Household He assign'd 'em also a hunder'd thousand Crowns a Month for their expences and apâ—ointed the Guards of his own Body to attend 'em besides that his Court was no less throngâ—d than that of Veâ—â—â—illes In short he was almost as much K. at St. Germains as he had been at White-Hall and had it lasted I should have thought him very happy in his misfortunes But I know not how the Courtiers who saw there was nothing to be got there slunk away by degrees the Exchequer was not so flush as it was before so that the Castle became at length such a forlorn Desert that the King and Queen have been often constrain'd for want of Company to play by themselves at Chess for three or four hours together to pass away their tiâ—e Nor did the misfortunes of this Prince render the Pope a jot the more tractable He denyâ—d his Ambassador twice the Cardinals Cap which he requested for Father Peters and thought he did him a great favour in promising to afford him a place of shelter The little indulgence which his Holiness had for King James proceeded from his intimate Union with the King of France for the Quarrel between the two Courts began to fester every day more and more and it was come to that that the King fearing least his Holiness should take up some sinister resolutions against Lavardin had causâ—d Cardinal Ranonci to be seiz'd in the Convent of St. Lazarus caus'd him to be guarded in sight by the Sieur de St. Olon Gentleman of the Chamber in Ordinary who was put upon him under pretence of keeping him Company and he stay'd with him till the Kings Ambassador was got safe out of the Territories of the Church He left Rome in April after he had given notice of his departure to his Holiness by Cardinal d' Estree who declar'd to him that since his Holiness had constrain'd his Majesty to recall his Ambassador he could no longer hope for any accommodation or of entring into any farther Negotiation his Majesty having revoak'd all the Power which he had given him till that time However he departed with the same Pomp that he enter'd being accompany'd by the Cardinal d' Dâ—stree and Maldachini and attended by above five hunder'd Gentlemen Some few days after the Marquiss of Cogolludo the Spanish Embassador made his publick Entry never standing upon his priviledge of Franchises The next Month there happend great contentions and scufflings among the Jesuits at Rome For Father Goswin Nichel their tenth General being dead hot canvasings ensu'd about election of his Successor The French who had never had a General of their Nation stood all for Father la Chaise and alledgâ—d in favour of him not only his great merit his long experience in Affairs and his credit with the King but the important services he had done the Church both against the Calvinists and the Jansenists and by the infinite number of Conversions which he had procur'd as well in France as in England and even as far as Siam Others objected that what ever he had done upon those occasions was not out of any kindness for Religion but meerly out of self love or else because his own or the Princes interest to which he was entirely devoted enclin'd him to it All which was visible by his having so violently supported and by his still supporting the interest of the Regale and by his connivence or to say more truly by the share which he had in the the injurious and rash proceedings of France against the Holy See which if nothing else was sufficient to exclude him forever from the Dignity of General These contests lasted above two years during which time both Parties did all they could to strengthen their own interests La Chaise us'd all his utmost endeavours to engage the Prelates that adher'd to France For tho he did not look upon this Preferment as the bounds of his ambitious desires he consider'd however that it was always one step to the Purple and that tho he should miss of a Cardinalship the Dignity of General being for Life it would be no bad Post
by twelve great Men of War commanded by the Duke d'Estree who had fitted 'em out at Toulon In the mean time to favor the Descent and hinder any Succor that could come from Holland Monsieur Tourville had Orders to cruise in the Channel with a Fleet of above a hunder'd Sail and all this was ready in less then two months time So that upon the 29th of April K. James who was arriv'd at la Hogue began to embark his Men after he had carefully visited all the Ships of Burden and three days after they were ready to set Sail only they stay'd for d'Estree's Squadron and a favourable Wind. But he being surpriz'd by violent Storms that threw two of his great Men of War upon the Coasts of Africa and very much shatter'd others could not possibly observe his time Some Weeks before K. James had publishâ—d a Manifesto which he call'd A Declaration of the King of Great Britain to all his faithful Subjects .. The substance of which imported an Exhortation to the English to join with him against the Prince of Orange as he there call'd him promising to maintain their Liberties and Priviledges and the Religion of the Church of England And telling 'em withal that there would never be any Peace in Europe till his Restoration for that then he should by his mediation and good Offices with the most Christian King be able to procure it He also wrote a Letter to the Officers and Seamen aboard the Fleet promising 'em the full payment of their Arrears and to continue 'em in their employment Together with another to the English Lords inviting 'em to Paris to be present at the Queen his Wife's Labour for the removing all the Suspitions and destroying all the false reports which his Enemies had rais'd touching the Birth of his Son whom he call'd Prince of Wales However this Letter wrought upon very few and in all probability they that went lost their labour too for the Queen was brought to Bed so suddenly that the Dutchess of Orleance who was order'd by the King to be at her Delivery could not come time enough tho she drove with all speed from St. Clou so soon as she had notice of it which put some jealousies into that Princesse's Head Thus all King James's Hopes were blasted in the bud and at a time when they promised so fair For his Fleet was in the best condition in the world his men lusty and bonny he wanted nothing of Necessary Ammunition even to the Spade and Mattock But notwithstanding all this overwhelm'd with despair he was forc'd to stay at la Hogâ—e not being able to set sail by reason of contrary Winds that continuâ—d a long time attended with Storms and Tempests so furious as wrack'd a good part of his Vessels upon the Coasts Which gave the Queen of England time so discover the Conspiracy who immediately with an extraordinary prudence gave out all necessary Orders for preventing the ill Consequences of it as well by imprisoning the chief Conspirators here as by disarming all suspected Persons Moreover she set forth two Proclamations the one for calling the Parliament together the other commanding all Catholicks to depart the Cities of London and Westminster and not to come within ten Mâ—les of either She also sent considerable Forces toward the Coasts where the Descent was most to be fear'd and reinforc'd the Garrisons in the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey So that in a little time the Kingdom was quite out of all danger The Jesuits were astonish'd when the News arriv'd in France They had taken their measures so exactly that they thought it impossible they could ever miscarry yet saw the terrible disappointment of all their lewd Contrivances to the eternal shame and ignominy of the Complotters But in regard the ignominy more nearly concern'd the two Kings then the Society their vexation was much the greater They had weary'd their men expended vast sums lost several Vessels and after all were enforc'd â—o land their men again and to mind their own defence against a powerful Navy which the English and Dutch had set to Sea Thereupon the men were disimbark'd and King James remain'd at Cherburg loaden with his own Misfortunes so far from being abated that they were more ponderously augmented by the loss sustain'd in the Engagement between Admiral Russell and Tourvile the success of which was such as all the world knows And then it was that K. James began to be lookt upon there with an evil Eve every Body beholding him as the Principal cause of the misfortunes of Christendom and throwing upon him and his fatal Star the ill success of the War against the English More then this all people of worth that had before lamented him in his Misfortune could no longer retain the same kind sentiments for him since he had so wickedly enbarqu'd himself in such an Infamous Conspiracy Nevertheless instead of acknowledging the Foulness of it he engag'd himself soon after in another as bad if not worse then the former with Barbesieux and Madam de Maintenon as may be seen at large in the Tryal of Grandvalt who undertook to assinate King William in Flanders and in those Reflections that came out afterwards upon that Horrid Conspiracy 'T is a sad thing that in France where there is so good a Government there should be such Monsters to be found They are not so common in our Countrys and least of all among the Huguenots Quite the contrary they are the declar'd Enemies of such Assassinations so far from laying hold upon the base Assistances of Subornaâ—ion and Parricide that they have always rejected 'em with scorn and horror when they have been offer'd That which happen'd upon this occasion at Rotterdam in Holland is very remarkable There arriv'd in that City out of France a certain Benedictin Monk with a design as he said to turn Protestant The first man to whom he addrest himself was M. Jurieux a Minister well known to all the world to whom he made known a desire of embracing his Religion Jurieux who presently suspected him to be some fickle-headed Fellow that had quitted his Order only to withdraw himself from the Austerities to which it obliges him in hopes to get some Pension from the States as it frequently happens made him answer That he could not be too much commended but that it behov'd him to be careful of doing any thing unadviseably in a Business wherein he could not deceive God without miserably deceiving himself The Monk reply'd That it was not a thing which he had but lately consider'd of That God be thanked he had knowledge and discretion enough to distinguish Truth from Falshood And that at last after he made Religion his Study for many Years he was convinc'd that the Roman Catholick Religion signifi'd nothing but the Reformed was the only Prosession of Faith wherein a man could be sav'd And to shew that he spoke not without Book he presently alledg'd to him several
solid Arguments In this Posture things continu'd for some days till Monsieur Jurieux desirous to sound the bottom of his heart touch'd him in the most sensible part and ask'd him what course of Life he intended to live when he had made a publick Cenfession of his Faith For in short said the Minister to him there is nothing more commonly done in this Country by People of your Coat and the State is so burthen'd with the vast number of Refugees that they have much a do to relieve 'em so that you must advise with your self how to provide for an honest Livelihood either by the labour of your hands or by some other way The Monk reply'd That that Consideration never needed to trouble him for he came not to be a Burthen to the Church for that he had wherewithal to maintain himself Which very much startl'd Monsieur Jurieux who could not apprehend how a Monk that quitted his Convent to change his Religion could have wherewithal to subsist with out begging and began to suspect him for a Spy Which the other perceiving confess'd ingeniously to undeceive him That before he fled the Convent he had found out a way to rob the Community of a considerable Sum of Money and to bring it along with him My Father said he gave 'em a great deal of Money when I took the Habit upon me against my Will and I thought I might with a safe Conscience make my self Master of what was my own This free Confession surpriz'd M. Jurieux much mâ—re who after that had never any good opinion of him But he had far worse sentiments of him some few days after when the Minister put it a little too close upon him It behoves me Sir said he to tell you all nor could I think to whom better to make my addresses then your self I have a design to deliver the Church of God from the greatest Tyrant that ever was upon the Earth Jurieux astonish'd ask'd him what deliverance and what Tyrant he meant The King of France reply'd the Monk whom I will kill with my own hands provided I may have that incouragement in this Country which I expect M. Jurieux trembl'd at the Proposal and repuls'd him with indignation asking him where he learnt that the Protestant Religion ever authoriz'd Assassinates telling him with all it was the Doctrine of the Schools from whence he came but that the Reformed had always abhor'd as Traytors and Villains those that taught or practis'd it and so saying thrust him out a Dores He was no sooner gone but in came a friend of M. Jurieux's who perceiving him in some disorder ask'd him the reason of so much unwonted disturbance in his Countenance He thereupon told him in short the story as it lay Upon which his friend put him in mind of the error he had committed in not stopping the Fellow admonishing him that it was a matter of great consequence So that M. Jurieux upon second thoughts acquainted the Sheriffs with it who committed the wretch to Prison the same Evening After that the States wrote to the King of France and gave him information of the tragical design which the infamous Ruffian had projected assuring him with all that tho they were at Wars with his Majesty yet they were so far from approving any thing so wicked and Treacherous that they were ready to inflict the utmost severity of Justice upon the proposer To which purpose they thought it their duty to detain the Traytor till they knew his Majesties farther pleasure This was altogether Generous Great and Noble and merits Immortality among men of worth and Virtue but the Advice was not receiv'd as it ought to have been So fâ—r from that that M. de Montauzier to whom the Letter was directed return'd an answer as harsh and surly as it ought to have been obliging For he sent 'em word That the King so little minded Parricides and those that disclos'd 'em that he knew very well that if they could have attempted any thing against his Person they would have done it long ago but that thanks be to God he had a good Guard that secur'd him from that danger I am at my wits end when I consider that such an Answer should come from a King so Great and Generous and for whom I have so much love and respect Should it have been sent from the King of the Wild Arabs or the Kan of the Tartars I should not have wondr'd but from a Most Christian King It vexes me to the Soul This is doing Virtue little â—ustice and ancient Pagan Princes as much Heathens as they were had more of Honour in ' em I have stay'd somewhat long upon this Point to shew that England and Holland quite disgrace and shame France which at all times has produc'd these Monsters and Courtiers that sollicit and encourage 'em as we have lately seen in the business of Granval That which is the greatest wonder as to that Conspiracy is that the Jesuits appear not to have any hand in it That the Criminal who charg'd several considerable Persons in his Interrogatories says not one word against them which makes many People believe that they were no way concern'd in it But I that know the humour and the morals of those Fathers know what I have reason to think There is a French Proverb that says a Workman is known by his Workmanship and it can never be better appli'd then to this occasion That piece of Villany came infallibly out of their Shop And indeed to whom can it be better attributed then to people who have render'd themselves famous by several attempts of the same Nature and have compos'd whole Books to justifie the Legality of Assassinating Heretick Kings Add to this M. de Maintenon is la Chaises intimate and she good Woman would hardly have consented to such a peice of Treachery without the Fathers privity and advice Beside the furious desire that he and his Society have to reinthrone a Prince who only lost himself by adhearing so much to their Counseâ—s The Jesuit la Chaise adove all is the most capable of such a design and I shall never forget an interlocutary discourse between him and the Duke of Coaslin with which I will conclude my Book 'T was a little after the Duke of Savoy had declar'd against the French The Duke was remonstrating to him how much the Confederates were superiour in Number the losses sustain'd in Ireland and the little likelihood of long maintaining the War with such an inequality of Forces For in short said he Reverend Father the King makes his last Efforts at the beginning of the War he has laid Tax upon Tax Impost upon Impost he has created an infinite number of Offices never heard of before The Communities and Corporations as well Ecclesiastick as Secular have contributed several times beyond their strength in short they have pillag'd the Altars and dispoil'd 'em of all their Ornaments Tell me seriously Father do you believe that France is an inexhaustible Mine of Money No without doubt the bottom will disclose it self sooner then you think for and then it will come to pass that the King being no longer able to pay his men nor to defray the prodigious expence he is forc'd to be at as well by Sea as by Land we may expect to see the Germans come and press the Vintages of our Campagne Grapes while the English on the other side invading our Coasts despoil and ransack all our lovely Provinces that for so many years have not known what War means We are not come to that yet reply'd the Father interrupting him and before that come to pass there are a great many Engins that will be set at work I believe it reply'd the Duke but our mischiefs it may be will befall us before they have done working in that case Father What secret will you find out to expel 'em from our Territories What secret answer'd the Father in a heat you are too hasty hold a little there is still a remedy for all things good Monsieur le Duke and let one word suffice for all that if the King of Spain were dead 't would be no difficult thing to divide this formidable Vnion which you stand so much in dread of I leave it to the judgment of oothers what he meant by this For for my part I tremble to unfold my conjecture Nevertheless I was willing to repeat his own words to shew that there is nothing which we ought not to be afraid of from that abominable Society which God Almighty seems to tolerate to be the Scourge of his Church FINIS