THREE LETTERS I. A Letter from a Jesuit at Liege to a Jesuit at Fribourg giving an Account of the Happy Progress of Religion in ENGLAND IT cannot be said what great affection and kindness the K. hath for the Society wishing much health to this whole Colledge by R. P. the Provincial and earnestly recommending himself to our Prayers The Provincial Alexander Regnes being come back for England the K. was graciously pleased to send for him several Earls and Dukes waiting his coming at the hour appointed the Q. being present the King discoursing familiarly with him asked him How many young Students he had and how many Scholasticks to which when the Provincial had answered That of the latter he had Twenty of the former more than Fifty he added That he had need of double or treable that number to perform what he in his mind had designed for the Society and commanded that they should be very well exercised in the gift of Preaching for such only saith he do we want in England You have heard I make no doubt that the K. hath sent Letters to Father Le Chese the French King's Confessor about Wadden-house therein declaring that he would take in good part from him whatsoever he did or was done for the English Fathers of that Society Father Clare Rector of the said House going about those Affairs at London found an easie access to the K. and as easily obtained his desires He was forbid to kneel and kiss the Kings hand as the manner or custom is by the K. himself saying Once indeed your Reverence kissed my hand but had I then known you were a Priest I should rather have kneeled and kissed your Reverences hand After the business was ended in a familiar Discourse the K. declared to this Father That he would either Convert England or dye a Martyr and that he had rather die tomorrow that Conversion wrought than Reign Fifty years without that in happiness and prosperity Lastly he called himself a Son of the Society the Welfare of which he said He as much rejoyced at as his own And it can scarce be said how joyful he shewed himself when it was told him That he was made partaker by the most Reverend Father N. of all the Merits of the Society of which number he would declare one of his Confessors Some report R. P. the Provincial will be the person but whom he designs it not yet known Many do think an Archbishoprick will be bestowed on Father Edmond Petre chiefly beloved very many a Cardinals Cap to whom within this Month or two that whole part of the K. Palace is granted in which the K. when he was Duke of York used to reside where you may see I know not how many Courtiers daily attending to speak with his Eminency for so they are said to call him upon whose councel and also that of several Catholick Peers highly preferred in the Kingdom the K. greatly relyes which way he may promote the Faith without violence Not long since some Catholick Peers did object to the K. that he made too much hast to establish the Faith to whom he answered I growing old must make great steps otherwise if I should dye I shall leave you worse than I found you Then they asking him why therefore was he not more solicitous for the Conversion of his Daughters Heirs of the Kingdom he answered God will take care for an Heir leave my Daughters for me to Convert do you by your example reduce those that are under you and others to the Faith In most Provinces he hath preferred Catholicks and in a short time we shall have the same Justices of the Peace as they are called in them all At Oxford we hope Matters go very well one of our Divines is always Resident therein a Publick Catholick Chappel of the Vice-Chancellor's who hath drawn some Students to the Faith The Bishop of Oxford seems very much to favour the Catholick Cause he proposed in Council Whether it was not expedient that at least one Colledge in Oxford should be allowed Catholicks that they might not be forced to be at so much Charges by going beyond Seas to Study what Answer was given is not yet known The same Bishop inviting two of our Noblemen with others of the Nobility to a Banquet drank the King's Health to an Heretical Baron there wishing a happy Success to all His Affairs and he added That the Faith of Protestant in England seemed to him to be little better than that of Buda was before it was taken and that they were for the most part mere Athiests who defended it Many do embrace the Faith and four of the chiefest Earls have lately professed it publickly The Reverend Father Alexander Regâ—es Nephoy to our Provincial to whom committed the Care of the Chappel of the 〈…〉 of the Most Serene Elector Palatinate is whole days busied in resolving and shewing the Doubts or Questions of Hereticks concerning their Faith of which number you may see two or three continually walking before the Dores of the Chappel disputing about Matters of Faith amongst themselves Prince George we can have nothing certain what Faith he intends to make Profession of We have a good while begun to get footing in England We teach Humanity at Lincoln Norwich and York At Warwick we have a Publick Chappel secured from al Injuries by the King's Souldiers We have also bought some Houses of the City of Wiggorn in the Province of Lancaster The Catholick Cause very much increaseth In some Catholick Churches upon Holydays above 1500 are always numbred present at the Sermon At London likewise things succeed no worse Every Holyday at Preaching People so frequent that many of the Chappels cannot contain them Two of ours Darmes and Berfall do constantly say Mass before the King and Queen Father Edmund Newil before the Queen Dowager Father Alexander Regnes in the Chappel of the Ambassador aforesaid others in other places Many Houses are bought for the Colledge in the Savoy as they call it nigh Somerset-house London the Palace of the Queen Dowager to the value of about eighteen thousand Florins in making of which after the Form of a Colledge they labour very hard that the Schools may be opened before Easter In Ireland shortly there will be a Catholick Parliament seeing no other can satisfie the King's Will to Establish the Catholick Cause there In the month of February for certain the King hath desiged to call a Parliament at London 1. That by a Universal Decree the Catholick Peers may be admited into the Upper House 2. That the Oath or Test may be annulled 3. Which is the best or top of all That all Penal Laws made against Catholicks may be Abrogated which that he may more surely obtain he desires every one to take notice that he hath certainly determined to dismiss any from all profitable Imployments under him who do not strenuously endeavour the obtaining those things also that he will Dissolve the
on the Subject of the Visits which our Fathers must give to the Chief Lords Members of the next Parliament those Reverend Fathers who are to perform that duty must be middle aged with a lively Countenance and fit to perswade I also advised you in some of my other Letters how the Bishop of Oxford ought to behave himself by Writing incessantly and to insinuate into the people the putting down the Test and at the same time calm the storm which the Letter of Pensionary Fagâ—â— has raised And his Majesty must continue to make vigorous Prohibitions to all Booksellers in London not to print any Answers as well to put a stop to the Insolency of Heretick Authors as also to hinder the people from Reading them In short you intimate to me That his Majesty will-follow our Advice It 's the quickest way and I cannot find a better or fitter to dispossess his Subjects from such Impressions as they have received His Majesty must also by the same Declaration profess in Conscience that if complyed with he will not only keep his Word to maintain and protect the Church of England but will also confirm his Promises by such Laws as the Protestants shall be contented with This is the true Politick way for by his granting all they cannot but Consent to something His most Christian Majesty has with great success experienced this Maxim and though he had not to struggle with Penal Laws and Tests yet he found it convenient to make large Promises by many Declarations for since we must dissemble you must endeavour all you can to perswade the King it is the only method to effect his Designs I did also in my last give you a hint of its importance as well as the ways you must take to insinuate your selves dextrously with the King to gain his good will I know not whether you have observed what passed in England some years since I will recite it because Examples instruct much One of our Assisting Fathers of that Kingdom which was Father Parsons having written a Book against the Succession of the King of Scots to the Realm of England Father Creighton who was also of our Society and upheld by many of our Party defended the Cause of that King in a Book Intituled The Reasons of the King of Scots against the Book of Father Parsons and though they seem'd divided yet they understood one another very well this being practiced by order of our General to the end that if the House of Scotland were Excluded they might shew him who had the Government the Book of Father Parsons and on the other hand if the King hapned to be restored to the Throne they might obtain his good will by shewing him the Works of Father Creighton So that which way soever the Medal turn'd it still prov'd to the advantage of our Society Not to digress from our subject I must desire you to read the English Book of Father Parsons Intituled The Reform of England where after his blaming of Cardinal Pole and made some observations of Faults in the Council of Trent he finally concludes That suppose England should return as we hope to the Catholick Faith in this Reign he would reduce it to the State of the Primitive Church and to that end all the Ecclesiastical Revenue ought to be used in common and the Management thereof committed to the care of Seven Wise Men drawn out of our Society to be disposed of by them as they should think fit Moreover he would have all the Religious Orders forbidden on Religious Penalties not to return into the Three Kingdoms without leave of those Seaven Wise Men to the end it might be granted only to such as live on Alms. These Reflections seem to me very Judicious and very suitable to the present State of England The same Father Parsons adds That when England is reduced to the True Faith the Pope must not expect at least for Five years to reap any benefit of the Ecclesiastical Revenue but must leave the whole in the hands of those Seven Wise Men who will manage the same to the Benefit and Advancement of the Church The Court goes this day for Maâ—li to take the Divertisements which are there prepared I hope to accompany the King and will entertain him about all business and accordingly as he likes what you hint to me in your Letter I shall give you notice I have acquainted him with his Britannic Majesties Design of Building a Citadel near Whitehall Monsieur Vauban our Engineer was present after some Discourse on the Importance of the Subject his Majesty told Monsieur Vauban that he thought it convenient he should make a Model of the Design and that he should on purpose go over into England to see the Ground I have done all I could to suspend the Designs of our Great Monarch who is always angry against the Holy Father both Parties are stubborn the Kings natural Inclination is to have all yield to him and the Popes Resolution is unalterable All our Fathers most humbly salute your Reverence Father Roine Ville acts wonderfully about Nismes amongst the New Converts who still meet notwithstanding the Danger they expose themselves to I daily expect News from the Frontiers of the Empire which I shall impart to your Reverence and am with the greatest Respect Paris March 7. 1688. Yours c.
Parliament with which Decree some Hereticks being affrighted came to a certain Peer to consult him what was Best to be done to whom he said the Kings pleasure is sufficiently made known to us what he hath once said he will most certainly do if you love your selves you must submit your selves to the Kings Will. There are great preparations for War at London and a Squadron of many Ships of War are to be fitted out against a time appointed what they are designed for is not certain The Hollanders greatly fear they are against them and the therefore begin to prepare themselves Time will discover more Liege 2. Feb. 1688. II. A Letter from the Reverend Father Petre Jesuit Almoner to the King of England written to the Reverend Father la Chefe Confessour to the Most Christian King touching the present Affairs of ENGLAND Translated from the French Most Reverend Father IF I have fail'd for the last few days to observe your Order it was not from want of Affection but Health that occasion'd the neglect and for which I shall endeavour to make amends by the length of this I shall begin where my former left off and shall tell you That since the appearing of a Letter in this Town written by the Prince's Minister of Holland which declares the Intentions of the Prince and Princess of Orange relating to the Repealing of the Test or to speak more properly their Aversion to it This Letter has produc'd very ill effects among the Hereticks whom at the return of some of our Fathers from those parts we had perswaded that the Prince would comply with every thing relating to the Test that the King should propose to the next Parliament in case he should call one to which I do not find his Majesty much inclin'd But the coming of this Letter of which I have inclos'd a Copy has serv'd for nothing but to incourage the Obstinate in their aversion to that matter The Queen as well as myself were of opinion against the sending of any such Letter to the Hague upon that subject but rather that some person able to discourse and perswade should have been sent thither for all such Letters when they are not grateful produce bad effects That which is spoken face to face is not so easily divulg'd nor any thing discover'd to the People but what we have a mind the Vulgar should know And I believe your Reverence will concur with me in this opinion This Letter has extreamly provok'd the King who is of a temper not to bear a refusal and who has not been us'd to have his will contradicted and I verily believe this very affront has hastned his resolution of re-calling the English Regiments in Holland I shew'd his Majesty that part of your Letter that relates to the opinion of his Most Christian Mejesty upon this subject which his Majesty well approves of We are interested to know the success of this affair and what answer the States will give The King changes as many Heretic Officers as he can to put Catholics in their places but the misfortune is that here we want Catholic Officers to supply them and therefore if you know any such of our Nation in France you would do the King a pleasure to perswade them to come over and they shall be certain of employments either in the old Troops or the new that are speedily to be rais'd for which by this my Letter I pass my word Our Fathers are continually employ'd to convert the Officers but their obstinacy is so great that for one that turns there are five that had rather quit their Commands And there being so many Malecontents whose party is already but too great the King has need of all his prudence and temper to manage this great affair and bring it to that perfection we hope to see it in ere long All that I can assure you is That here shall be no neglect in the Queen who labours night and day with unexpressible diligence for the propagation of the Faith and with the zeal of a holy Princess The Queen Dowager is not so earnest and fear makes her resolve to retire into Portugal to pass the remainder of her days in Devotion she has already ask'd the King leave who has not only granted it but also promised that she shall have her Pension punctually paid and that during her life her Servants that she leaves behind her shall have the same Wages as if they were in waiting She stays but for a proper season to imbark for Lisbon and to live there free from all stories As to the Queen's being with Child that great concern gaes as well as we could wish notwithstanding all the satyrical Discourses of the Heretics who content themselves to vent their poyson in Libels which by night they disperse in the Street or fix upon the Walls There was one lately found upon a Pillar of a Church that imported That such a day Thanks should be given to GOD for the Queen 's being great with a Cushion If one of these Pasquil-makers could be discover'd he would but have in Ill time on 't and should be made to take his last farewel at Tyburn You will agree with me most Reverend Father that we have done a great thing by introducing Mrs. Celier to the Queen this woman is totally devoted to our Society and zealous for the Catholic Religion I will send you an account of the progress of this Affair and will use the Cypher you sent me which I think admirable I can send you nothing certain of the Prince and Princess of Denmark he is a Prince with whom I cannot discourse about Religion Luther was never more earnest than this Prince It is for this reason that the King who does not love to be denied never yet press'd him in that matter his Majesty thinking it necessary that the Fathers shold first prepare things before he undertake to speak to him But this Prince as all of his Nation has naturally an aversion to our Society and this antipathy does much obstruct the progress of our Affairs and it would be unreasonable to complain hereof to the King at present to trouble him though he has an intire confidence in us and looks upon our Fathers as the Apostles of this Land As for Ireland that Country is already all Catholic yea all the Militia are so The Vice-Roy merits great praise we may give him this honour That he is a Son worthy our Society and I hope will participate of the Merits of it He informs me he has just writ to your Reverence of those matters how things go there Some Catholic Regiments from those parts will speedily be sent for over for the King's Guards his Majestly being resolv'd to trust them rather than others and may do it better in case of any popular Commotion against which we ought to secure ourselves the best we can His Majestly does us the honour to visit our Colledge often and is most pleas'd
when we present him some new Convert-scholars whom he incourages with his gracious promises I have not expression sufficient to let you know with what Devotion his Majesty communicated the last Holy-days and a Heretic cannot better make his court to him than by turning to the Catholic Faith He desires that all the Religions of what Order soever they be make open profession as he does not only of the Catholic Religion but also of their Order not at all approving that Priests or Religious should conceal themselves out of fear and he has told them That he would have them wear the Habit of a Religious and that he will take care to defend them from affronts And the People are already accustomed to it and we begin to celebrate Funerals with the same Ceremony as in France but it is almost a Miracle to see that no body speaks one word against it no not so much as the Ministers in their Pulpits in so good order has the King managed these matters Many English Heretics resort often to our Sermons and I have often recommended to our Fathers to preach now in the beginning as little as they can of the Controversie because that provokes but to represent to them the Beauty and Antiquity of the Catholic Religion that they may be convinc'd that all that has been said and preach'd to them and their own Reflections concerning it have been all scandal For I find as the Apostle says they must be nourish'd with Milk not being able to bear strong Meat Many have desir'd me to give them some of our Prayers and even the holy Mass in English which I mean to do to satisfie the meanest sort of which the greatest part do not understand Latine but not to take away from the new Converts their Testaments which is a matter of moment and that we may not disgust them at the beginning we must permit them to have them for a time till they part with them of themselves I have need of C. H.'s counsel upon this point and not in this only but also in a great many other matters that daily press me for you may easily believe that I have often more business than I can well dispatch and we must work with so much circumspection and precaution that I have often need of your Paternity's wise counsel But the Lord and the good Virgin do strengthen me as there is occasion The Bishop of Oxon has not yet declar'd himself openly the great obstacle is his Wife whom he cannot rid himself of His design being to continue Bishop and only change Communion as it not doubted but the King will permit and our holy Father confirm though I do not see how he can be farther useful to us in the Religion in which he is because he is suspected and of no esteem among the Heretics of the English Church nor do I see that the example of his Conversion is like to draw many others after him because he declar'd himself so suddenly If he had believ'd my counsel which was to temporize for some longer time he would have done better but it is his temper or rather zeal that hurried him on There are two other Prelates that will do no less than he but they hold off alike to see how they may be serviceable to the propagation and produce more fruits while they continue undiscover'd That which does us most harm with the Lords and great men is the apprehension of a Heretic Successour For as a Lord told me lately assure me of a Catholic Successour and I will assure you I and my Family will be so too To this happy purpose the Queen 's happy delivery will be of very great moment Our zealous Catholics do already lay two to one that it will be a Prince GOD does nothing by halves and every day Masses are said upon this very occasion I have gain'd a very great point in perswading the King to place our Fathers in Magdalen-Celledge in Oxon who will be able to tutor the young Scholars in the Roman Catholic Religion I rely much on Father Thomas Fairfax to whom I have given necessary Instructions how to govern himself with the Heretic People and to take care in the beginning that he speak not to them any thing that may terrifie And as I tell you a Religious has need here of great prudence at this time that the King may hear of no Complaints that may displease him and therefore we dare not at present do all we shall be able and bound to do hereafter for fear of too much haring the Mobile I like well that Father Hales goes to stay sometime at the Hague Incognito on pretence of solliciting for a Place which is not soon to be got there and I have given him a Letter to some of that Court Father Smith that is there now by reason of his great Age nor being able to do all he ought and wishes to do and is also too well known there And I shall often impart to you what I shall learn from those Quarters from whence I shall weekly receive something of moment so long as the two Courts are in so bad Intelligence together as at present they are For my part to speak freely on this Topick to your Reverend Fatherhood I am of opinion we should rather endeavour to Moderate than Aggravate the Difference between them tho' I know I do not in this matter altogether concur with the Sence of the French Ambassadour who considers only his Master's Interest But we are necessitated to take other Measures and such as perhaps may not always agree with the Interest of France in this matter And I think aggravating of this Breach at present to be also prejudicial to the Catholick Religion itself The great design we have so long aimed at is applying to the King of France to take from the Hereticks all hopes of a Head or any other Protection than what they must expect from their own King whereby they finding themselves expes'd to his Pleasure will the more readily subscribe to his Will But this misunderstanding between us will occasion an opportunity to the Heretics to set up the Prince of Orange for their Chief And let me assure you not to deceive yourselves The Religious of England as well as the Presbyterians themselves regard the Prince of Orange as their Moses and his Party is already so powerful in both these Kingdoms that it will appear terrible to any thinking person should things come to extremity as may never happen if matters are not push'd on too far but managed with Moderation And I desire therefore with great deference to your better Judgment that this matter might be hinted to his Most Christian Majesty as opportunity shall serve and am sensible it must be done with very great caution I can tell you nothing at present concerning the certainty of calling a Parliament it requires so many things to be consider'd of and measures to be taken that his
Majesty ought to be well assur'd of the success before he Convenes them together I am not of opinion with many other Catholics who say That by calling them the King hazards nothing for if they will not answer his ends he need only Prorogue them as is usually done But it is my opinion and the sence of many others That his Majesty hazards much for if it should unfortunately happen that they should in their Assembly refuse to comply with his Majesty's desires it may be long enough ere he compass his ends by way of a Parliament and perhaps never and then there rests no expedient or other means but by Violence to execute the Orders of his secret Council which must be suppos'd by his Army who upon a pretence of Incamping may be called together with the less jealousie or suspicion So you may see most Reverend Father that we do not want work in these Quarters and I must be supported by your Prayers which I beg of you and from all those of our Society His Majesty is so desirous that things may be done in order and upon a sure fund so as to be the more lasting that he makes great application to the Shires and Corporations to get such persons chosen for the Parliament as may be favourable to his ends of which he may be sure before they come to debate And the King will make them promise so firmly and exact such Instruments from them in writing that they shall not be able to go back unless they will thereby draw upon themselves his Majesty's utmost displeasure and make them feel the weight of his resentment And I have here inclos'd some effects of his Majesty's endeavours in this matter which is an Address which the Mayor Sheriffs and Burgesses of Newcastle in the County of Stafford have presented to the King see the Gazette where this Corporation as well as Glocaster and Teuxbury and others in their Addresses promise to choose such Members as shall comply with his Majesty's desires If all Towns were in as perfect Obedience as these we should certainly have a Parliament call'd which the Catholics and Non-conformists expect with great impatience But since this cannot be said of many of them the King 's Secret Council think good to wait for the Queen's delivery that they may see a Successour who may have need of the whole Protection of the Most Christian King to support him and maintain his Rights And by the Grace of GOD we hope that that Prince treading in his Father's steps may prove a worthy Son of our Society like his Father who thinks it no dishonour to be so call'd As to other things most Reverend Father our Fathers with me as well as generally all the Catholics with what grief do we hear of the Dis-union that arises between his Holiness and the Most Christian King How does my head in imitation of the Prophet's become a Spring of Tears to lament night and day the Schism that I foresee coming into the Church Is it possible that our holy Society should not stand in the Breach and prevent the mischiefs that this Difference may occasion in the Church And that no body can reconcile Levi and Judah the Priesthood and the Scepter the Father and the Son the eldest Son of the Church with the Vicar of Christ upon Earth And what a Desolation and what Advantage to the Hereties must this occasion They begin already to bid us Convert the Children of the Family before we begin to Convert Strangers And I must with grief confess they have but too much reason for what they say and if there does not come some present assistance from Above I foresee this Affair will occasion great prejudices in the North Nor have we any hope that his British Majesty will interpose herein openly he receiving so little satisfaction from his Holiness in some demands made by his Ambassadour at Rome which morally speaking ought not to have been denied so great a King who first made this step which his Predecessours for a long time were not willing to undertake in sending his Ambassadour of Obedience to Rome And yet for all this our holy Father had nor any particular consideration of this Submission and Filial Obedience so that I dare not mention this matter but by way of discourse daily expecting that of himself he will be pleas'd to make some Proposal therein I doubt not Reverend Father of your constant endeavour to accommodate this matter thereby to take away from the Heretics especially the Hugonots of France this occasion to laugh and deride us and we should think the change much for the worse if instead of the French King 's going to Geneva he should march to Rome What may not all this come to especially since the Marquess de Lavardin has been so passionate in his discourse to the Cardinal Chancellour as to call him Impertinent and so far to forget his Duty and Reverence toward our holy Father the Pope himself as to say he Doted as the Heretics do confidently discourse in these parts I have caused some Masses of Holy Ghost to be said That GOD would please to Inspire the discontented Parties with a Spirit of Peace and Concord You did acquaint me some time since That Madam Mainteron did take upon her the Title of Daughter of the Society by vertue whereof you may command her by vertue of Obedience to use her Credit and Eloquence with the King to incline him to an Accommodation in this matter In the mean time I hear that at Rome many eminent persons endeavour the same with his Holiness who says He cannot nor ought not to recede from what he has done otherwise it were in effect to submit to the Articles made in France by the Clergy in 1682 and consequently of too great moment to recant and therefore Submission ought to come from the Son and not from the Father I recommend myself Reverend Father to your Prayers and Blessing desiring you would continue to assist me with your Salutal Counsels and rest for ever St. James's Feb. 9th Yours c. III. The Answer of the Reverend Father la Chese Confessour to the Most Christian King to a Letter of the Reverend Father Petre Jesuit and Great Almoner to the King of England upon the Method or Rule he must observe with His Majesty for the Conversion of His Protestant Subjects Most Reverend Father WHen I compare the Method of the French Court which declares against all Heresies with the Policy of other Princes who had the same Design in former Ages I find so great a difference that all that passes now a days in the King's Council is an impenetrable Mistery and the eyes of all Europe are opened to see what happens but cannot discover the Cause When Francis the First and Henry the Second his Son undertook to Ruine the Reformation they had to struggle with a Party which was but begining and weak and destitute of Help and consequently
easier to be overcome In the time of Francis the Second and Charles the Ninth a Family was seen advanc'd to the Throne by the Ruine of the Protestants who were for the House of Bourbon In this last Reign many Massacres hapned and several Millions of Hereticks have been Sacrificed but it answer'd otherways and his Majesty has show'd by the peace and mild ways he uses that he abhors shedding of Blood from which you must perswade his Britannic Majesty who naturally is inclined to Roughness and a kind of Boldness which will make him hazard all if he does not Politickly manage it as I hinted in my last when I mentioned my Lord Chancellor Most Reverend Father to satisfie the desire I have to shew you by my Letters the Choice you ought to make of such Persons fit to stir up I will in few words since you desire it inform you of the Genius of the People of our Court of their Inclinations and which of them we make use of that by a Parallel which you will make between them and your English Lords you may learn to know them Therefore I shall begin with the Chief I mean our Great Monarch It is certain that he is naturally good and loves not to do Evil unless desir'd to do it This being so I may say he never would have undertaken the Conversion of his Subjects without the Clergy of France and without our Societies Correspondence abroad He is a Prince enlightned who very well observes that what we put him upon is contrary to his Interest and that nothing is more opposite to his Great Designs and his Glory he aiming to be the Terror of all Europe The vast number of Malecontents he has caused in his Kingdom forces him in time of Peace to keep three times more Forces than his Ancestors did in the greatest Domestick and Foreign Wars which cannot be done without a prodigious Expence The Peoples Feats also begin to lessen as to his Aspiring to an Universal Monarchy and they may assure themselves he has left those thoughts nothing being more opposite to his Designs than the Method we enjoyn him His Candor Bounty and Toleration to the Hereticks would undoubtedly have open'd the doors of the Low Countries Palatinate and all other States on the Rhine and even of Switzerland whereas things are at present so alter'd that we see the Hollanders free from any fear of danger the Switzers and City of Geneva resolv'd to lose the last drop of their Blood in their defence besides some diversion we may expect from the Empire in case we cannot hinder a Peace with the Turks which ought to hasten his Britannick Majesty while he can be assured of Succors from the most Christian King Sir his Majesties Brother is always the same I mean takes no notice of what passes at Court It has sometimes happen'd that Kings Brothers have acted so as to be noted in the State but this we may be assur'd will never do any thing to stain the glory of his Submission and Obedience and is willing to lend a helping hand for the Destruction of the Hereticks which appears by the instances he makes to his Majesty who now has promised him to cause his Troops to enter into the Palatinate the next Month. The Dauphin is passionately given up to Hunting and little regards the Conversion of Souls and it does not seem easie to make him penetrate into business of Moment and therefore we do not care to consult him which way and how the Hereticks ought to be Treated He openly laughs at us and sights all the Designs of which the King his Father makes great account The Dauphiness is extreamly witty and is without doubt uneasie to shew it in other matters besides Complements of Conversation She has given me a Letter for the Queen of England wherein after her expression of the part she bears on the news of her Majesties being with Child she gives her several advices about the Conversion of her Subjects Most Reverend Father She is undoubtedly born a great enemy to the Protestants and has promoted all she could with his Majesty in all that has been done to hasten their Ruine especially having been bred in a Court of our Society and of a House whose hatred against the Protestant Religion is Hereditary because she has been raised up by the Ruine of the German Protestant Princes especially that of the Palatinate But the King having caused her to come to make Heirs to the Crown she answers expectation to the utmost Monsieur Louvois is a man who very much observes his duty which he performs to admiration and to whom we must acknowledge France owes part of the glory it has hitherto gained both in regard of its Conquests as also the Conversion of Hereticks to which latter I may say he has contributed as much as the King he has already shewed himself Fierce Wrathful and Hardhearted in his Actions towards them though he is not naturally inclin'd to Cruelty nor to harrass the people His Brother the Archbishop of Rheims has ways which do not much differ from those of his Soul and all the difference I find between them is That the Archbishop loves his own glory as much as Monsieur de Louvois loves that of his Majesty He is his own Idol and give him but Incense and you may obtain any thing Honour is welcome to him let it come which way it will The least thing provokes this Prelate and he will not yield any thing deregotary to his Paternity He will seem Learned he will seem a great Theologian and will seem to be a good Bishop and to have a great care of his Diocess and would heretofore seem a great Preacher I have hinted in my last the Reasons why I cannot altogether like him which are needless to repeat The Archbishop of Paris is always the same I mean a gallant man whose present Conversation is charming and loves his pleasures but cannot bear any thing that grieves or gives trouble though he is always a great enemy of the Jansenists which he lately intimated to Cardinal Camus He is always with me in the Council of Conscience and agrees very well with our Society laying mostly to heart the Conversion of the Protestants of the three Kingdoms He also makes very good Observations and designs to give some Advice to your Reverence which I shall convey to you I do sometimes impart to him what you write to me My Lord Kingston has embrac'd our good Party I was present when he Abjur'd in the Church of St. Denys I will give you the Circumstances some other time You promised to send me the Names of all Heretick Officers who are in his Majesties Troops that much imports me and you shall not want good Catholick Officers to fill up their Places I have drawn a List of them who are to pass into England and his most Christian Majesty approves thereof Pray observe what I hinted to you in my last