that it lay in my power to let ye know who the Author of this Book is but in truth it does not All that I can tell yee is this That it was sent to me from Paris by the Post seal'd up in a Cover which when I open'd I found among the Sheets a little Note of which I here give you a Copy tho' I believe you will beâ—liâ—â—e the Wiser for it Could I have found any Bookseller in Paris that would have ventur'd to print my Book I would not have put you to the trouble I design'd it for our own France and not for Foreign Countries to which I knew not whether it would be of any great use Nevertheless because it could not be done here I freely give it you desiring no other Reward but that you would convey to me hither One or Two hundred Copies I knew Reader the Subject would please you and therefore printed the Book and gratify'd the Gentleman according to his Directions Now then seeing I was so Generous for your sake I make no question but you will re-imburse me by buying the rest THE HISTORY OF Father La CHAISE Jesuite and Confessor TO LEWIS XIV Discovering The Secret Intrigues by him carry'd on as well in the Court of France as in all the Courts of Europe for the Advancement of the King his Master 's Great Designs IF Hero's and all Great Personages in general after they have finish'd an Illustrious and Glorious Life merit that Magnificent Mausoleum's should be erected to perpetuate their Memories and that the Pens of the Learned should celebrate their Story by deriving to Posterity the Remembrance and Admiration of their Vertues one would think that in Opposition to this Argument we ought to bury in the Shades of eternal Oblivion the Memory of the Impious And doubtless this was the Opinion of those who prohibited under very severe Penalties the very naming the Name of that famous Villain who in One Day destroy'd the most magnificent Temple in the World which had been rearing so many Years And the same Thought might have hinder'd me from publishing this Piece had I not been induc'd by quite contrary Reasons which are of great weight I consider'd That among all the Disorders so rife in the World there is none more offensive then Outward-Shew which confounds Hypocrites with sincere and honest People and which is such that without a long and very diligent Observation 't is impossible oft-times to distinguish the one from the other so that a Man is forc'd to pay the same Honour and Respect to Imposture as to Real Truth 'T is a Mischief so general and so inevitable that I do not believe there is any Person in the World who has not several times been deluded by it But after that when he comes to be better inform'd there cannot be a greater Vexation to a Man then to have been the Cully of a Villain who sports unpunish'd with Heav'n and all Mankind I therefore thought it would be no small piece of good Service done the Publick to make an open Discovery of those that have been lately found out for such And this is the only Motive that induc'd me to set Pen to Paper All the Jesuites in general may be said to be of this number Their wicked Morals and the horrid Crimes which have been the Productions of those Morals are convincing Proofs of what I assert But among all the whole Gang of necessity it must be agreed That Father La Chaise at this day the King's Confessor is one that challenges to be rank'd among the Topping Hypocrites as being a Tartuff in a soveraign degree and one that has found the way to impose for so many Years together upon one of the most quick-sighted and penetrating Princes in the World for to think that he willingly shuts his Eyes in Consideration of the Usefulness of his Counsels and the Services done him by the Society through his means is never to be imagin'd There are a thousand substantial Reasons against it and not to insist upon Reports I shall say no more then that our Monarch is a Prince that loves Vertue and hates Vice where-ever he meets it that is to say with reference to the general Converse of Men and gaining to himself an outward Applause and therefore it is not probable that if he knew it he would tolerate down-right Knavery in his Confessor I do not therefore believe I shall draw the King's Indignation upon me by unmasking this Hypocrite as I am about to do in this History To which purpose I cannot begin better then with giving the Reader an Exact Portraiture of the Person who is to be the Subject of my Discourse By which means I shall prepare him for every thing which afterwards he is to expect so that he will be the less surpriz'd when he shall see so many things that so little correspond with his Character Father La Chaise is Middle-siz'd Slender enough and who now goes somewhat Stooping His Nose Compact but Large and somewhat like a Hawk's Beak His Complexion Fresh and Ruddy the Marks of a Healthy Constitution His Mouth a little too much apt to gape and shew his Teeth which are none of the handsomest though sound enough His Eyes which are the most agreeable part of his Face are Blew and well enchas'd They are usually call'd the Mirrors of the Soul but certainly they are not so in him unless you 'll say That she never shews any more then one Side there which is Flattery and Complacency We must confess he does with his Eyes what he he pleases but usually he will have 'em to be Milde Engaging and full of Friendship Nor is he less skilful to compose his Meen and Garb then his Looks You would swear did you but see his modest Air and his affable Behaviour that he were the best Natur'd the most Down-right Person and most easily wrought upon in the World To Great Personages he is Humble creeps and cringes and nothing drops from his Lips but Protestations of Fidelity Services and a most entire and absolute Devotion And as for Ordinary Persons he hears 'em patiently and courteously to the end and then always gives 'em good Words and amuses 'em with Hopes This is perfectly to be observ'd in the Audiences that he gives upon Tuesdays and Fridays Upon those Days you shall always find above Two hundred People in his Anti-Chamber of all Ranks and Conditions Citizens Learned Men Lawyers and among them a great number of your Diminutive Bands whose Eyes are never off from the Door and who never hear it open but they see two or three Benefices coming out Nevertheless he hears all these People without shewing the least Disturbance and has the knack to please 'em all with sweet Sugar-Plumb Words His Habit very well agrees with his Outward Shew of Humility the Stuff is little different from what the rest of the Society makes use of and he wears his Gown Two Years like
Rome and Alexander VII then Pope lent him a willing Ear and employ'd him in several Negotiations wherein he acquitted himself with good Success And well it was for the Bishop of Bayeux that the Father was so much in the Pope's Favour for otherwise he might have had but an ill time of it This Prelate was one of those whom nothing will serve but to be Petty Soveraigns in Spirituals and who refuse to acknowledge the Holy See but only ad Honores He had already play'd several Pranks of a Petty Lord and Master by permitting People in his Diocess to work on Holy-days only some few excepted by granting Indulgences and giving Dispensations beyond the Limits of his Privileges which had very much incens'd the Pope against him But that which was the Complement of all the rest and contributed to make him a perfect Rebel was an Action that made a great Noise no way to be endur'd by the Pope There was in his Diocess a little Abby belonging to the Benedictines not reform'd call'd the Abby of St. Clement which depended solely upon the Pope and which till then had preserv'd that Privilege to themselves but he not enduring those Dependencies under his Nose pretended to a Right of Visitation of their House and to that purpose went to the Convent The Monks refus'd to admit him However having open'd their Door out of Civility and that they might not provoke him to be their Enemy shew'd him their Grants and their Patents for the Possession of that Immunity of which the Bishop not only took the least notice but taking the Benefit of the Entrance that had been given him made a verbal Report upon the Spot Upon which the Monks finding him to be in Earnest stood upon their Terms and sent away both their Complaints and their Privileges to Rome whereupon the Pope granted 'em a Bull prohibiting the Bishop under pain of Apostolick Censures not to impose any Innovations upon ' em The Fathers so soon as they had receiv'd this Bull caus'd it to be fix'd up upon the Doors of the Cathedral which so provok'd the Bishop that as he went out from High Mass he pull'd it down and tore it in pieces with his own Hands and within a few Days after in despite of the Monks he made his Visitation in the Convent after he had caus'd the Doors to be broke open Such an Act of Violence so incens'd the Holy Father against him that he threaten'd him with nothing less then Excommunication and then it was that Father La Chaise who became the Bishop's Friend while he resided in Paris was employ'd to attone the Pope but it cost him a great deal of trouble to bring it to pass and a small Accident happen'd at the same time which had like to have let flye the Thunder that grumbl'd so terribly For the Monks sent to Rome an Ordinance of that Bishop at the top of which the Bishop styl'd himself Bishop Miseratione Dei without making any mention of the Holy-See The Pope saw it and foaming with Anger Ecco said He Un Ridiculoso Barone con il suo Miseratione di dio voglio bene che Sappia che non e Vescovo che per la mia e che quando vorrò non serà piu niente Look here said he a ridiculous Scoundrel of a Bishop with his Mâ—â—â—â—atione Dei I 'll have him to know 〈◊〉 no Bishop but by my Mercy and when I please I 'll make him nothing at all 'T was well this fiery Pope liv'd at that time for had he liv'd till now he must have been forc'd to have swallow'd many a Miseratione Dei the Bishops at this Day not using any other Addition Now in regard this Bishop was one of Mazarine's Creatures his Eminency wrote to Rinaldo d' Este Protector of the Affairs of France and enjoin'd him to wait upon his Holiness about this Affair And indeed he made a great number of Jaunts to and fro without making any Progress for the Pope who had already thunder'd out a Bull of Excommunication against him would not yield a hair's breadth unless the Bishop came himself in Person to acknowledge his Fault and beg his Mercy Thus the Affair was spun out for above a Twelve-month and in all likelyhood would have lasted a great while longer had not La Chaise found out an Expedient that the Excommunicated Bishop should make an Acknowledgment at Paris before the Nuncio and write to his Holiness a submissive and respectful Letter wherein he was to beg Pardon for his Disobedience and set forth his Repentance in most significant Expressions After which his Holiness should take off the Excommunication which was to be read in the Body of the High-Mass in the Cathedral Church of Bayeux Father La Chaise did a considerable piece of Service also for his own Order which did not a little contribute to advance his Reputation There arriv'd at Rome toward the end of the Pontificate of Innocent X. an ancient Jesuit of a Venerable Presence who wore Long Hair with his Locks flowing over his Shoulders and a Beard down to his Belly This Jesuit took upon him the Title of Embassador from the King of China to his Holiness whom he came to assure of the barbarous Monarch's Respect and Filial Obedience to the Holy See and to desire a new Supply of Missionaries to labour the Conversion of a numerous People who waited for the Succour of his Charity The only Son of that King was also come in Person to kiss his Holiness's Feet and render the Embassie the more Authentick The Pope was over-joy'd beyond Imagination to hear of such a happy Progress of Religion in those far distant Regions and not being able to testifie his Satisfaction to the Prince of China whose Zeal had engag'd him to cross so many vast and dangerous Seas he lodg'd him magnificently and gave Order That both He and the Embassador of the King his Father should be entertain'd at his Expence during their stay in Rome and moreover he pay'd him all the Honours that are usually pay'd to the Sons of Sovereign Princes But the Dominicans who are no Friends to Jesuits and less in the Countries where Missionaries are employ'd then otherwhere utterly destroy'd all this fine Story They wrote to the Pope That understanding the Jesuits had counterfeited an Embassie from the King of China and had also Personated the Son of that Monarch which was a pernicious Imposture They could not forbear to give his Holiness Advice of it for fear he should fall into the Snare that only tended to advance the Jesuits Reputation and to procure him to part with considerable Summs of Money for the Support of the Mission whereas the King of China who was then at War with the Tartars had no thoughts of turning Catholick much â—ess of sending his only Son to the other end of the World to make a fond Submission to his Holiness To this they added heavy Accusations of the Jesuits
therefore it is that the King begins to disgust him and only retains him out of meer Respect but I intend to speak to the King concerning him this Evening and if he believes what I say we shall shift him off to say his Prayers by himself After that Reverend Father you shall have a good share in the next Nomination or else say I can do nothing I would as willingly have you the King's Confessor as my own and therefore relye upon my Word The Father return'd her a thousand Thanks and assur'd her that she should never have any cause to repent of her procuring him that Advantage After which in regard it was late and for that she expected the King he took his leave of her and retir'd with Thoughts full freighted with the Idea's of his future Grandeur He slept not all that Night and perhaps but little the Nights following For he is a Man whom Ambition suffers the least to take his Rest of any Man that I know as one that is always indefatigable in the pursuit of his Ends. There is not any Conjuncture which he does not understand how to make use of to a Wonder Of which his Visit to La Valliere is a palpable Demonstration 'T was a thing that requir'd great Judgment and a quick Resolution for had he absolutely refus'd what she demanded of him and not thrown himself wholly upon her proffer'd Kindness 't is evident she would have prov'd his irreconcileable Enemy and would have utterly excluded him from the King's Conscience and had he accepted the Confessorship as she proffer'd it for her self he had shut the Door against the Preferment he aim'd at there being no likelyhood that the King would have chosen his Mistress's Confessor for his own Therefore he could not act more politickly then to open his heart to her and by that means win her Confidence at least we see that this way succeeded to his Wish La Valliere who would having given any thing to have had the King's Confessor her Friend thought it no Prudence to refuse one that came to offer his Service and from whom she might promise her self all the Advantages she could expect And therefore this Female Favourite left nothing omitted to engage the King to dismiss his old Confessor and in his room to make Choice of the Person whose Worth and Parts she extoll'd to the utmost of her Invention This is a Man said she that will never sit domineering over your Conscience like a Pâ—dagogue and as he has a hunder'd times more Ability then the other so he knows the World better he keeps himself reserv'd within the Bounds of an Exemplary Regularity without troubling himself to Commeâ—â— upon the Actions of other Men. This was just assailing the King upon the weak side who was wont to say That he hated nothing so much as Reprimands Besides all this he had a great Esteem for Father La Chaise and was quite weary of the other so that finding no Reluctancy against the Person recommended he promis'd La Valliere to dismiss his own Confessor upon the first opportunity Nor was it long before he met with one as favourable as he could desire For the Old Man observing that the King one day so soon as he came from the Communion would hardly allow himself time to Dine but posted away immediately to La Valliere was so enrag'd at it that never considering what would follow he waited till the King came to his Chamber which was not till Four a Clock in the Morning The King seeing him at such an unseasonable hour with a surly Countenance ask'd him whom he look'd for The Confessor answer'd That he came to denounce God's Judgments against him just ready to fall upon his Head and reproach'd him with his Manner of Living in the most thund'ring Language imaginable talking of nothing but Impiety Sacrilege Forsaking God and Eternal Torments concluding his Discourse with telling him That he was no longer able to see such Irregularities and therefore if he resolv'd to continue his Debaucheries he desir'd for his part that he might be dismiss'd The King who only waited for such a Harangue as this told him very smoothly but withal very coldly That he gave him leave to retire when he pleas'd and that he would take care to provide himself a Confessor At the same time he bid him Good-night and commanded his Valet de Chambre to draw the Curtains The next Morning betimes because he would not give the good Father time to repent and get the Queen to mediate for him which was the thing he most fear'd the King sent for La Chaise and told him before Monsieur and Madam de Guise That his Confessor had begg'd leave to be dismiss'd which he could not refuse him 1667. because indeed he was fitter for Contemplation then to live in the Tumult and Hurry of a Court and therefore finding no Ecclesiastick so worthy as himself he would become his Penitent and submit the Conduct of his Conscience to his Guidance An Hour after the King mighty jocund that his Game had play'd so well went to La Valliere's Chamber to tell her the News so afraid he was lest any body else should prevent him Oh Par-bleau said he As for the Priest I took him at his Word he did his own business himself and therefore God knows I only took the Ball at the Rebound La Valliere made answer That 't was the best way i' the world provided the Queen did not marr all again and this is that added she which I very much fear How said the King D' yee take me then to be a Man that is lead by the Nose Never deceive thy self my dear Girl 'T was my Pleasure I have done it and I will stand to it Nothing pleases me more then to make those that are jealous of us mad and therefore to vex 'em worse then I have done I intend to keep Holy-day and Confess to Morrow In a word without any Preparation at all he recommenc'd his Devotions the Day following the whole Court admiring the Violence of his Passion and the Excesses to which it transported him In the mean time the New-Confessor triumph'd and every body began to make their Addresses to him only Monsieur the Prince refrain'd who naturally abominated Hypocrites And indeed he told him one Day in the Queen's Chamber that strange things were to be expected from his Confessorship who could prevail with the King to confess two Days together that hardly went to Confession twice in a Year before The Father return'd no answer because that was no place for him to make Retorts in but from that time forward he hated the Prince with such a mortal Hatred that he never ceas'd to work his Ruin and render him odious to the King So soon as he saw himself install'd he made it his Business to secure himself against all unlucky Back-blows which he had just Reason to fear for he wanted no Enemies and to
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
Popes as Kings Pope Leo X. and Francis I. made an Agreement together That the Nomination to Benefices and the disposal of the Revenues during their Vacancy should belong to the Crown and that all Lapses Anticipations and the Right of Admitting Resignations should be in the Power of the Pope so that to speak the naked Truth they shar'd between 'em the Spoils of the poor Church of God This in short is the Original and Extent of this Prerogative which went no farther then the Lands and Provinces that were under the French Dominion at the time of the Agreement For since that time several have fall'n to the Crown that were not subject to it no more then are certain Congregations as that of St. Maur St. Francis St. Dominic c. The General Council of Lion also has made a Decision upon this Point and being desirous to prevent Abuses that might follow forbad the Introducing the Regale into such Churches where it was not in use And the Liberties of those Churches have been since acknowledg'd and confirm'd by several Ordinances Decrees and Declarations of Philip the Fair Philip de Valeis Lewis XII Henry IV. and Lewis XIII which are preserv'd in the Chamber of Accompts in Paris However in regard it is one of the most beautiful Flowers of the Crown Cardinal Richlieu who was the First who laid the Foundation of that Grandeur to which it is now arriv'd comprehended among the rest of his Projects the Extending it over all the Monarchy In short in the Year 1637. he began to set a-foot by the King's Counsel the general Contest about the Regale at what time there was a Decree of the 6th of October Ordaining all Bishops and Archbishops that pretended to be exempt from the Right of the Regale to send to the Registry of the Council the Titles upon which they claim'd their Privilege and which granted a surceasing of Processes su'd out or to be su'd forth upon that Occasion The Syndics of the Provinces of Languedoc Guienne Provence and Dauphinate presently obey'd the Order Protesting Nevertheless That by that Proceeding they did not go about to prejudice the Liberties of those Provinces which were not oblig'd to produce any Evidences provided they were not the Evidences of Privileges or Immunities granted by their Kings but of Liberties and Franchises more ancient then the Monarchy it self in Possession of which their Ancestors came under the French Dominion only that what they did was to shew their ready Obedience and Respect to his Majesty This Affair tho' it was not altogether neglected yet lay in a manner dormant till the Year 1673. that Father La Chaise the Author of all the Misfortunes of Christendom put it into the King's Head to move this Stone under which there lay a most venemous Serpent But in regard this Matchiavilist understands that the most certain way to please Princes is to procure 'em temporal Advantages he never minds at what rate they are to be purchas'd Besides he was afraid least the War wherein he had engag'd his Majesty should Miscarry and therefore sought which way to render himself necessary to the King upon some other Score thereby to prevent the Disgrace that threaten'd him At this time it was then that the King finish'd the general Claim by a Decree in Fbruary Importing That the King declar'd the Right of the Regale to be Inalienable and without the compass of Prescription and to belong universally to him in all the Bishopricks and Archbishopricks of his Kingdom Territories and Countries under his Obedience those only excepted which are exempt by Titre Onereux that is to say by being lyable to particular Duties and charges of Fines Annuities c. In pursuance of which His Majesty Ordains That the Bishops and Archbishops shall be bound in Two Months from the Day that they take their Oaths of Fidelity to take out Letters Pattents of Discharge and to Register 'em in the Chamber of Accompts of Paris and that they who have taken their Oaths of Fidelity before and have not obtain'd their Letters Pattents of Discharge shall be bound to take 'em out and Register 'em within Two Months in the said Chamber of Accompts after which and for defect of yielding Obedience within that time their Benefices subject to the Right of the Regale and dependant upon Royal Collations shall be declar'd void and subject to a new Grant by virtue of the Regale And by another Declaration in the same Month of February the King in order to the Execution of the preceding Decree Authorises a Roll containing a Regulation of the Fees which shall be pay'd into the Chamber of Accompts by the Archbishops and Bishops of the Provinces of Languedoc Dauphinate Guienne and Province for the Registring the Letters of Discharge which they shall be bound to take forth This Declaration which was procur'd by the pernicious Counsells of the Confessor was the Apple of Discord which divided all the Clergy of France and the Pandora's Box out of which have flown all the Mischiefs that have over-whelm'd in a manner all Europe for near these Twenty Years A Work truly worthy the Author of it and which he looks upon without question with the same Eye as Nero formerly beheld the Flame which he himself had kindl'd to consume the City of Rome The greatest part of the Court-Prelates and Bishops People devoted to Ambition and their Pleasures obey'd without Murmuring and having obtain'd their Pattents of Release which they were order'd to take out caus'd 'em to be Register'd with their Oaths of Fidelity But others and among the rest the Bishops of Cahors Aleth and Pamiers greatly signaliz'd themselves in refusing to submit considering that their Submission would be a tacit Consent to the King's Pretensions or rather of his Ministers who were altogether unjust Thereupon the Court sent to every one of those Bishops certain Ecclesiasticks preferr'd by virtue of the Regale to some Benefices in their Cathedrals which were possess'd by others in Canonical Possession for several Years by lawful Titles and upon the refusal of the Chapters to admit 'em order'd 'em to be install'd by force These manifest Intrusions oblig'd those worthy Prelates the Latter of which Two was 70 Years of Age and had been Bishops the one 38 the other 34 Years during which time they had render'd themselves venerable for their Exemplary Piety and a Residence in their Diocesses so assiduous that they were never seen to appear at Court these Intrusions I say enforc'd those Prelates to issue forth Ordinances against the newly preserr'd and after that to write several reitterated Letters to the King Cardinal Bonsi and the Archbishop of Paris They also wrote to the Assembly of the Clergy which met in 1675. but there was no Favour to be shewn 'em and the Clergy rejected their Complaints not vouchsafing so much as to take Cognizance of the Affair Nor was it possible they should expect any other in regard the Archbishop of Paris whose
time that the King put forth his Declarations for the Regale That M. Boucherat Counsellor of State had given his Advice in Council That the Churches should be left free in the Possession of their Immunities and Privileges without any farther Disturbance Arnault gave Intelligence of this to the Pope who could not forbear to insert this Circumstance in a Brief which he wrote some Years after to the King The King was much surpriz'd at it and endeavour'd to sift out through what Channel this Secret was convey'd But Father La Chaise soon unfolded the Riddle assuring him that it was his Secretary Pompone's Discovery who was confin'd to his own House and Arnault his Uncle was order'd to quit St. James's Street where he liv'd with a Prohibition to have any Assemblies in his Hoâ—â— Upon which misdoubting the Consequence of such a harsh beginning and fearing to be put into the Bastille he retir'd into Holland for good and all where he compos'd his Apology for the Politicks of the Clergy which the very well done and to the King's Advantage was however condemn'd and a poor Prieâ—â— committed to the Bastille at the prosecution of La Chaise for endeavouring to publish some few Copies in France And the Reason that oblig'd him to it was not only because the Book justify'd the Proceedings of the Antiregalists and particularly of the Bishops of Aleth and Pamiers but because M. Arnault was the Author of it This is 〈◊〉 Quality peculiar to Father La Chaise that he would condemn any Book i' th' World tho' written never so much to the Advantage of Him and his Party if he had an Antipathy against the Author And this was visibly to be seen at the same time For the famous Minister M. de la Rocque compos'd an excellent Treatise of the Right of the Regale and which is one of the most strenuous Pieces that have been seen upon that Subject nevertheless the Confessor forbid him to publish it that it might not be said of him That he made use of a Heretick Pen to support the King's Prerogatives against the Church and perhaps iâ— that he did not do so much amiss The same could not be said of M. Chastaiâ— who was a good Catholick He had compos'd a very excellent Piece entitl'd The true Erplication of the Concordat Wherein he made out a very specious Right of Nomination to several Benefices The King had also appointed Commissioners to examine it but what avail'd all this to a Person whom La Chaise hated He was forbid to print his Book and that was all the Reward he had for his Pains to have labour'd a long time to no purpose and perhaps against his Conscience Nor were they the Churches only endow'd with Benefices which La Chaise resolv'd to Subjugate under the Yoak of the Regale but the Monasteries of the Urbanist Monks of the Order of St. Francis who ever since their Institution had been Priories Elective only from Three Years to Three Years The whole Congregation of St. Maur among the Benedictines under-went the same Fate The Abbot of Clugni who had been Canonically elected was expell'd and the Monks enforc'd to receive the Cardinal of Bouillon who took possession of it By virtue of the same Prerogative the Abbies of Chezal-Benoist which had been united to that Congregation by the Authority of the Holy See and the Grants of several Kings had every one a secular Abbot impos'd upon 'em as had also a Thousand others too tedious here to be inserted All these Intrusions were enforc'd where Residence was absolutely necessary for Example upon Nunneries and all this by Force of Arms and the Ministry of a 100 Dragoons who after they had broke open the Gates of the Nunneries committed a 1000 Disorders and many times most horrid Violences and Sacrileges These Exorbitances at length reach'd the Holy Father's Ears by the Complaints of the Monks and Nuns at the same time that the Bishops of Pamiers and Aleth made the same Lamentations And it griev'd him beyond Expression to see That a most Christian King pre-possess'd by an impious Varlet of the Society of Jesus as he stiles himself should yet the Church with Persecutions so cruel and till then unheard of under the Reign of a Catholick Prince He wrote therefore to the King several Briefs and laid before him with an Affection altogether cordial and paternal the Injustice wherein he had unwarily engag'd himself by the Counsells of his Ministers and particularly of Father La Chaise who had giv'n him an Idea of Things contrary to Reason and Equity Beseeching him for God's sake to surcease a Proceeding so unbecoming those great Actions which had otherwise extoll'd his Fame and no longer to permit the Sighs and Groans of so many pious People consecrated to God to ascend to Heaven and implore Assistance against the Violences and Profanations which they suffer'd under his Authority He also wrote to the Cardinals Bonzi and D'Estrees to the Arch-bishop of Paris and Father La Chaise which wrought no other Effect but only that it procur'd the sending of D'Estrees to Rome Who to perswade his Holiness to swallow patiently this bitter Cup set forward in August 1680. The Clergy who were then assembl'd had receiv'd a large Brief from his Holiness upon the same Subject to which all the answer they gave was this that they wrote a Letter to the King wherein they told him that the Pope took upon him to concern himself in a business which they could by no means approve in regard that instead of submitting to the common good of the Church he only gave people an opportunity to cabal together to encrease Confusion and Schism and to encourage and embolden seditious spirits the consequences of which would be very pernitious The next year the Assembly had several debates upon the Regale The Archbishops of Reimes Ambrun and Albe the Bishops of Rochelle Autun and Tâ—oye being Commissioners it was pronounc'd that the Regale was a Right annex'd to the Crown not to be alicnated without the compass of prescription and against which no opposition could be made directly or indirectly without palpable injustice The poor Bishop of Pamiers well understanding the unworthiness of these Prelates who had sold themselves to Court Favour and had so perfidiously betray'd the Rights of the Church entrusted in their Hands and finding himself alone poor feeble dispossess'd and no way able to support 'em was seiz'd with such a lively sorrow that he soon follow'd his Brother the Bishop of Aleth who dy'd some months before During his sickness he wrote three Letters one to the Pope desiring his Prayers and his Protection of the Church which most assuredly after his death would be subjected to the Regale another to the King to ascertain him that he had never taken the liberty to oppose his Ordinances and Decrees but to satisfie the duty of his Function and the Character he wore which oblig'd him indispensibly to defend the interests
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
God During these Transactions the Elector of Cologne dy'd leaving three fair Episcopal Principalities vacant and several pretenders to ' em The Cardinal of Furstenburgh was one of the first that appear'd upon the Stage He was already Coadjutor in the chiefest of these Principalities but he had not been confirm'd by the Pope and so all things were to begin again And indeed 't was he who lost the most by the quarrels between France and Rome For the Pope who perfectly well knew which way that Prelate was devoted never minded the doing any thing for him at such a time as that So that the Cardinal who was not ignorant of his condition wrote several times to Father la Chaise and endeavour'd to make him sensible that the Affair of the Franchises could not be of that importance to the K. as a concern which indeed was the concern of all the Lower Rhine and of something more then that and therefore that it would be convenient to release it to the Pope at least for some time till the King might be more at leisure to reassume his Challenges The same things were likewise several times represented to the King by Prince Ferdinand of Furstenburgh and certain it is that the King had given way if la Chaise who mortally hated the Pope out of a desire of revenge had not diverted him telling him that he might if he pleas'd himself procure the Election of Cardinal Furstenburgh without having recourse to such a burdensome expedient That there needed no more for that purpose tâ—en to let the Chapters understand his pleasure or to make the business more sure he might order some of his Forces to advance that way which the King did under pretence of securing to the Capitulars the Freedom of their suffrages but in reallity to deprive 'em of it and force 'em to comply with his good Will and Pleasure His Ambassador d' Avaux declar'd at the same time to the Sates of Holland that his Master understood that the Three Chapters were to be left to their free choice and that no Prince was to meddle in their Affairs and therefore he threaten'd that if any Prince should pretend to busie himself in what concern'd him not he would be ready to side with the Chapters that were interrupted and injur'd in their Rights But nothing was so pleasant as the compliment which his Envoy made to those of Liege He told 'em that the King his Master out of that Affection and Friendship he had for 'em had sent ten thousand men to quarter near their City at a vast charge to support 'em in their freedom of Election which however he hop'd would be in favour of Prince William Cardinal of Furstenburgh otherwise that he could not forbear to put 'em in mind that the half of their City depended upon the County of Chini which belong'd to him These menaces how terrible soever they were how ever wrought little other effect then to make the Chapter encline not to Cardinal Furstenburgh for they lookt upon him as an Enemy of their Country but in favour of Cardinal de Bouillon whom they offer'd the King several times to Elect. But Father la Chaise put a spoke in his Wheel He was Bouillon's Enemy and therefore without ceasing laid before the King that if once that Cardinal should arrive to that degree of Soveraignty he would infallibly call to mind all the acts of Injustice that as he pretends have been done his Family and his late Imprisonment in the Bastille He supported all this with the secret causes of that Prelates disgrace which made a deep impression in the Kings mind and put him in fear in earnest that if he should once come to be Prince of Liege he would presently side with his Enemies However it were we know not but we have since found that la Chaise was no Conjurer in regard we have seen by what that Cardinal did at Rome how faithful and Affectionate he was to the King I have formerly said that Father la Chaise did a great deal of Mischief but no body any good which to speak generally is very true but as there is no general Rule without Exceptions there may be found an Exception in this as well as in others and the Count of Marce Nephew to Madam Maintenon affords us one He sought in Marriage the Daughter of M. de Boisfrane Superintendant of Monsieur's House but turn'd out of his Place by reason of his Rapines and Extortions Father la Chaise was very much his Friend and therefore Madam Maintenon desir'd him to assist her toward the concluding of that Match which otherwise they durst not propose in regard the young Lady had refus'd the Duke of Roquelaure when the Duke his Father was at the highest of his Gandeur However she had a great Portion to the value of eight hundred thousand Livres which was a Sum sufficient to tempt a more considerable Nobleman then the Count of Marce. He therefore lookt upon the Lady as one that might be the making of him and thought he could never make the Confessor amends for the great pains he had taken to bring about the Match tho he did nothing but what he was bound in gratitude to do For Madam Maintenon had done him greater services then that and he stood in need of her assistance every day But we cannot say the same in reference to the Marquiss of Richlieu a person of as little Reputation as ever any at Court ill shap'd and very slender witted yet marri'd about two years before to one of the Loveliest and the Richest Heiresses of the Kingdom Mademoiselle de Mazarin Daughter of the Duke of Mazarin who married one of the Cardinals Neeces upon condition that he should assume the name and Arms for as for this man he was the Son of Marshall de Meilleraye Governor of Brittany Every body knows how he livâ—d with his Wife by the report of several Stories and therefore we shall say no more but only this that by that Marriage he had two Children a Son who is called the Duke of Meillaraye and a Daughter the Lady we are now speaking of In regard she was very much like her Mother both in the Features of her Face as in her Humour and that the usual Proverb in the Duke of Mazrins Mouth was That good Doggs hunt by Kind he was very much afraid that she would likewise no less resemble her in her Life and Behaviour To prevent this he resolv'd to keep her so short and to bestow such a vertuous Education upon her in her Infancy as might vanquish the proneness of his Daughter to evil To this purpose he always kept her in Nunneries in the custody of Good and Religious Governesses who discours'd to her of nothing but God and his Saints and for recreation read to her nothing but the Lives of St. Reine or St. Catherin of Siena who had deserv'd so much by her Devotion as to be marri'd to Christ himself
Lady of her condition was not to be so rudely dealt with and that assuredly the least mischief that could befall her House would be this that she would dishonour the Convent by some Foppish Trick or other to prevent which the best way would be to marry her privately and send her to her Mother till the Duke could be brought to hear reason which he would undertake himself to do After which he propos'd the Marquiss of Richlieu which the Abbes at first did not think a suitable match nevertheless she submitted to his Reasons What do you find a miss in the Marquiss said he is he not descended from a Wedlock equal to that of the Duke of Mazarin It may be he is not so rich but good Cousin be pleas'd to consider that the Riches of this World are but Vanities â—nd when the eternal salvation of a â—oul is the thing in question as it is â—ow the case of Mademoiselle de Mazarin we are not in the least to insist upon Wealth Thus the business was concluded between the Father and the Abbes and the Bishop of St. Malo's was in the Plot. For that Bishop who has actually a Wife and Children living many times busies himself with other matters besides saying his Breviary and was one of the Principal Actors in that Comedy Thereâ—pon the Marquiss of Richlieâ— was presenâ—ed to the fair Lady and the marriage discours'd of at the same time 'T is true likewise at first his Meeâ— and his want of Wit did somewhat disrelish her but at length she rather chose to accept him than to live all her days in a Cloyster Presently she was marriâ—d in the Convent it self and the Prelate before mention'd perform'd the Ceremony Which done they procur'd a Man's Habit for the new Marchioness and in that dress she went into her Husbands Coach They drove directly to Cours la Rheme where they found one of the Bishops travalling Coacheâ— ready which carry'd 'em to St Deâ— where they took laid Horses rode Poâ— to Callies and thence got over intâ— England But some scrupulous persons that would have an Author give 'em an account of every thing he sees will ask me perhaps how Father la Chaise came to intrigue himself so far in this Affair I can say nothing as to that unless it were perchance out of his Affection for Madam de Mazarin who was his Patron and his Benefactors Neice It might be also that the fifty thousand Livres which the Marquis of Richlieu charg'd upon the Banker Grusle for his Brother M. la Chaise might contribute something toward the matter For he knew not well other wise how to raise the money which he was to pay for Captain of the Guards of the Gate which he had purchas'd of the Marquiss of St. Vaâ—ier for four hundred thousand Livers which was a cheap penny worth considering it had been sold for five hunder'd However 't was too much for a Begger as he was to raise and if beside the fifty thousand Livres the Confessor had not made a shift to sell some Benefices in hugger mugger he had never had as now he has the Keys of the Louvre in his Custody But let us leave these trifles and proceed to Affairs of greater consequence About this time Monsieur Sebret Envoy Extraordinary to Siam return'd home and with him came Father Tachart a Jesuit Ambassador from the New Convert to his Holiness and his Most Christian Majesty He was accompani'd by eight Mandarins who attended him as his Gentlemen This Father brought to the King the Ratification of the Treaty of Alliance made with the King of Siam by virtue of which that Prince surrender'd into his hands several Places of great Importance The Chevalier Fourbin return'd also in the same Vessel whose too great favour had render'd him odious to M. Constance who was afraid of being thrown out of the Saddle by him and therefore could no longer suffer him in Place So that Fourbin was forc'd to give way to the strongest and be gone But this giving way did not satisfie the others Ambitious and Revengeful spirit He wrote therefore to Father la Chaise upon this Subject complaining highly of Fourbin calling him Braggadochio and Boutefeu who setting a high value upon himself yet having a very small Fortune was more like to spoyle then accomodate Affairs However fearing he should not be believ'd upon his word and that his Majesty should resent the ill usage of the Chevalier he engag'd Father de Fontenay Superiour of the House of Siam to write in the same stile wherein he serv'd Constance so well that the poor Chevalier tho Nepew to the Bishop of Beauvais was glad of a Fregate of twelve Guns after he had been Admiral of the Siam Seas More then this they seizâ—d all his Baggage in Britagn under pretence of goods that were lyable to pay Custom nor could he get 'em again without a great deal of trouble after they had been search'd and detain'd above six month But 't was no wonder they were so kind to the Sieur Constance in regard he was the Man to whom the King was beholding for all the Power which he has in Siam This Man was a Grecian by Birth born at Cephalonia an Island belonging to the Venetians of very mean extraction tho Father Trachart will have him to be the Son of the Governour wherein he is much deceivâ—d for I have been at Cephalonia my self and know his Family His name is Constance Queralcky and not Phancon as the same Father asserts or if he assum'd that name it was only the better to conceal himself Now in regard he was reduc'd so low as to beg Alms his Mother got him to be a Ship-Boy in an English Vessel where he was instructed in the Protestant Religion Afterwards he came to be a common Seaman and as such a one went to the East Indies where it was no difficult thing for a young fellow that had wit to get money with which he traded for himself and in process of time was Consul for the English By that means he became known at Court and particularly at that of the Baccalon or Prime Minister of Siam who at the end of his Consulship took him for his Secretary In that Employment he won the very heart of the Boccalon and he the Affection of the King by his Secretaries management so that offering to undertake an Ambassy at half the expence which the Moors requir'd he was sent and upon his return the Boccalon being dead he was preferr'd in his Room At that time it was that the Jesuits perceiving how useful he might be to 'em ceas'd not to haunt him till they had over rul'd him to quit the Protestant Religion which he abjur'd before Father Thomas and Father Maldonnar who immediately wrote to la Chaise joyntly with Father Verbiest and then propos'd to him the Project of settling the French in that Kingdom and by consequence the ruin of the Dutch Trade in that Country This
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
absolutely forbids me to speak no more of it He also took a world of Pains to make him grant his Bulls and was the first that had one So many favours granted for his sake by his Holiness deservedly requir'd that he should do something a fresh for the Holy See To that purpose he perswaded the King to satisfie the Pope upon the Affairs of the Franchises and to surrender his pretentions freely of which Tydings he was the Messenger himself from the Duke of Chaulnes At which his Holiness was so overjoy'd that he promis'd the Cardinal at the same instant powerfully to succour King James with Money and in short seem'd to be altogether enclin'd to take part with France Cardinal Furstenbergh also making the best of his Opportunity demanded a Review of the Affairs of Cologne and in a word the Pope order'd an Assembly of Lawyers to meet at Sieur di Ervaux's the Auditor of the Rota's House but not with that success as was desir'd For the Bulls granted to Prince Clement of Bavaria by Innocent XI were confirm'd Which the Cardinal took so hainously that fearing withal lest the Austrians should put some scurvy trick upon him in a place where he thought himself not very secure he decamp'd by the Advice of La Chaise who sent him a Letter to return to Paris and accept of the Abby of St. Germans de Prez which the King bestow'd upon him at his arrival But the Capitulars of Cologne that were of his Party would not desist for all this they took a journey to Rome to supplicate the Pope to restore 'em to their Canonships and Benefices The Pope lent 'em a favourable Ear and us'd his Endeavours very strenuously with the Emperour and Elector of Cologne to that effect But all to no purpose for they wrote so effectually to the Cardinal de Medicis Protector of the Affairs of Germany beseeching his Holiness not to trouble 'em any more about that Affair that he was forc'd to give it over Nevertheless in April following he took off all the Interdictions and Excommunications that had been thunder'd out against those outed Priests and admitted all their Appeals in reference to every thing that had been acted against them to their prejudice These things astonish'd many People and much more the Nomination of the Archbishop of Paris to the dignity of Cardinal to which the Pope gave his Consent For till then that Prelate was thought a person forever excluded from that preferment and Pasquin had said a long time before That the Archbishop of Paris had sufficiently prosecuted the Holy See but he would never blush for it The Archbishop of Reims had not the same advantage and tho he had been nothing near so obstinate in opposing the Pope nevertheless he had the vexatious misfortune to see his rival and hated Competitour preferr'd before him Besides all this the Pope was not contented with the Right of the Franchises which was conceded to him he vehemently insisted for satisfaction in reference to the Assembly in 82. and the Proceedings that ensu'd upon it On the other side the King who was unwilling to give him a Repulse in hopes to gain the Bulls for his Bishops and some other Favours more made a shew of acquiescing willingly and summon'd an Assembly of the Clergy but this was only to amuse the Old Gentleman Nay he enter'd into a more particular Negotiation and receiv'd a Project of an Accommodation which was brought him in his Holinesses Name by the Abbot of Polignac and appoinâ—ed Father La Chaise the Archbishop's of Paris and Reims and the Bishops of Orleans and Meaux to examin it who rejected it alleadging that it tended to dishonour and blast the Bishops and Prelates that had been present in that Assembly to which they could not consent and that there were other ways anow to satisfie his Holiness in that particular This was as much as to say that they meant not to come to any Accommodation for what Expedient could they ever think of unless it were a Recantation T was not to be imagin'd that the Holy See would ever be satisfi'd with less and that 's a Thing which I am apt to believe the King will never endure so long as he lives And it is apparent that the Pope understood him in that sence seeing that finding himself surpriz'd by Death before he could bring this Affair to a conclusion he thunder'd out upon his very death-bed a Bull that cancells disannuls and condemns as bold and Erroneous the Decisions of that Assembly about the Regale and the four Propositions maintain'd against the Authority of the Holy See This was a Thunderclap to the King which he never expected Father la Chaise therefore who had no more kindness for this Pope then for his Predecessour was plain with the K. in these words I have foretold it more then once that Your Majesty was not to expect any good from this Knave of a Pope I knew him at Rome when he was no more then a bare Priest and one that bedaggl'd his Cassock with trotting from morning till night to the Houses of the Prelates of Rome into whose favour he insinuated himself by carrying 'em the News of the Town He was a kind of familiar Spie who was no sooner gone out of one House but he went to another to tell what he had seen and heard I never knew a Person of such a double heart or of such a Treacherous Soul The Father still continuing his discourse endeavour'd after that to render the Cardinal suspected to the King by putting it into his Head that he had not done him so great a piece of service as he imagin'd by raising that Man to the Holy See and talking of the extraordinary honour which he had paid to the Prince of Turrenne and of the 10000 Crowns he had given him he sought to infuse into him that the Pope and the Cardinal understood one another But that Hook did not take with the King nor was he known to look upon the Cardinal with a less favourable Eye for la Chaises Story At the same time the Father lost a good Friend with whom there had been always 〈◊〉 â—nd Understanding I mean M. Louvois who dy'd so suddainly that he had no time to settle his private Affairs Some people suspected him to have been poyson'd nevertheless when he was open'd there was not the least symptom of any such thing True it is that it was an End which he very much dreaded in his Life-time whether it were out of a natural Weakness or that having made use of that means perhaps to send some body else into the other World he was afraid of being paid in his own Coyn I will not determin However it were this is certain that he omitted no precaution against Poyson and because he knew that Lacqueys were the most formidable Instruments for administring those deadly preparations it was his rule to oblige his own by all manner of Favours while
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
I may be so happy to be admitted of the Number Never doubt it reply'd the Father you have a smooth insinuating flattering Wit and a little Knavish withall nor do you want a quick and fiery Imagination which however destroys not the Solidity of your Judgment These are the People that we want and with such Talents as these you can never fail of Success Believe me then be one of Us and you will find your self no loser by the Bargain Nevertheless I would not have you take up this Resolution before you understand us rightly and therefore come and see me every day and I will discover to yee the most Hidden Maxims of our Secret Doctrine After this he carry'd him into the Library and gave him Escobar Diana Matchivel c. Here said he are Books worth Gold read 'em and pick what you can out of 'em to morrow you shall give me an Account of what you have observ'd and we will discourse together After this they took their Leaves and La Chaise went home The next day he return'd to the Convent at what time Father de Vaux no sooner saw him but he ask'd him whether he had read any Thing Yes said La Chaise I began with Matchiavel because he treats of Politicks which is a Study that I relish very well 't is a very good Book and I assure yee I read on with a great deal of Pleasure Oh said Father de Vaux interrupting him he is a most wonderfull Man and one whose Decisions we admit in Matter of Probability with as much satisfaction as those of Escobar himself Truly said La Chaise to speak in general they are very excellent but there are some that are also very bold as for Example he asserts That one or more Persons tho' People of Worth and Probity tho' they have done the State important Services may be sacrific'd when the Publick Good is concern'd and that upon such an occasion Prince ought not to scruple the violating of his Word and Promise nor the most sacred Treaties This is a little too Ranâ— How cry'd the Father what do you find there contrary to Reason and right Equity is not the Publick Welfare infinitely to be preferr'd before the Consideration of any Private Person and would it be just that for the Preservation of some few Persons who at most have done no more then their Duty a Hunderd others no less worthy should perish Thus yoâ— see the Absurdity of this Proposition and it is the same in respect of the Faith of Treaties which as you pretend should be inviolably preserv'd for you must consider my Dear that a Prince is to have no other Prospect in his Eye then the Wellfare of his Kingdom that is to be the Center of all his Actions and 〈◊〉 Politicks from which he is not to stir 〈◊〉 Inch for the sake of his Conscience Anâ— as it is only for the Good of his Kingdom that he makes Treaties they are to be look'd upon no otherwise then as the Means to attain that End But so soon as through the Revolution of things here below and the Conjuncture of Times those Means become Obstacles 't is evident That from that very time those Treaties are dissolv'd because they no longer concurr to the End for which they were made I know this very well reply'd La Chaise but after all of necessity this Doctrine trails after it very evil Consequences and gives a very fair and large Liberty to Princes to break all manner of Allyances the most solemnly sworn and to invade their Neighbours when they think themselves the most secure No question of it reply'd the Father and it is one of the most Noble Prerogatives of Sovereigns Certainly a Prince would be a very miserable Creature if he were so ty'd to his Word that he could never unloose himself from it Every time you argue upon this Subject never wag from the Principle which is the only Foundation upon which you are to build viz. A Prince is to have no other Prospect in his Eye then the Good and Glory of his Kingdom So then he may do any thing to procure it provided he be a Catholick and if he has a sufficient Strength to Conquer all the World we give him free Liberty to do it 'T is true that in so doing he will Dethrone several Kings and Princes that for several Ages enjoy'd the Inheritance of the Sovereignty he will strike Dread and Terrour where-ever hâ— marches he will shed Rivers of Blood and he will reduce infinite numbers oâ— Widows and Orphans to Despair Buâ— all these Calamities are but slight and in considerable in Comparison of the Gooâ— that will accrue thereby For first of all the Victor will ascertain Peace to all the Earth which without Contradiction in this Mortal Life is the greatest of a Blessings in regard that no body will bâ— in a Condition to raise Combustion oâ— withstand the Conqueror he will maâ—â— wise and just Laws which will contribuâ—â—on the one side to Universal Feliciâ— and Tranquillity he will procure with out any Obstruction the Advancemeâ—â— of the Catholick Faith and the Churcâ— of God he will take care thâ— Arts Sciences and Trade shall flourish among his Subjects And lastly we shall see another Golden Age upon Earth If this be the only way to bring it back reply'd La Chaise interrupting him we are not very like to see it again That 's my fear too reply'd the Father however I speak this at present only by way of Supposition to make yee sensible and to shew yee as with a Fescue That when the Mischief is less then the Good which is propos'd there never ought any scruple to be made of committing the Lesser Mischief to attain the Greater Good This is our grand Maxim and the Foundation of the Secret Doctrine which we receiv'd from the Divine Escobar our Master and of which we shall give him a good Account Did you never observe that Noble and Magnificent Sentence which is set up in Capital Letters in most of our Churches and Colleges AD MAJOREM GLORIAM DEI Few People understand the mysterious Sence of those words they are put up for an Eternal Admonition to the Faithful to have only that same GLORY â—â—â—ore their Eyes to procure it at any â—ate and to that end boldly to sacrifice Parents Friends Duty Honour nay and Prince himself too if there be a necessity Every thing is to be thought Just and Reasonable at the Moment that you propose it to your self Let Heaven and Earth and all the Creatures therein perish provided that God be Glorify'd thereby This is the Spirit of our Society wherewith Garnet Orcoln and so many other Great Men of our Order were inspir'd when they out-dar'd both Fires and Wheels to assassinate those Heretick Princes that oppress'd the Church of God Reverend Father reply'd La Chaise methinks you run a little too far in thâ— Transports of your Zeal but to speaâ— sincerely this Doctrine is
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
that Assembly and loudly teach 'em in your Schools as the Decrees of an Oecumenic Council Among you the Holy Father is no longer the Vicar of Jesus Christ assisted by his particular Graces and enlighten'd with Divine Illuminations but a man of the vulgar sort subject to all manner of Errors and Failings to whose decisions there is no credit to be given What new Doctrine is this and how is it possible that a Jesuit should be the Author of it Have you forgot the Thesis's maintain'd in the College of Clermont in the Month of Decem. 1661 which upheld that the Pope had the same Infallibility in Fact and Right as Christ himself and therefore it was a matter of Divine Faith to believe that Jansenius's five Propositions were rightly condemn'd Since that time you have strangely chang'd your note but I know the reason Lewis is become Potent and you expect only from him vast Wealth high Dignities and Honours Now speak your Conscience Father and tell me do you fear God or no and that same specious Title which you bear of being a companion of Jesus does it not sometimes put you in mind of the duty which you owe him If you have forgot it Father tremble and dread his judgments that will fall upon your head These are the Apostolick exhortations and Admonitions which his Holiness was willing to give you make use of 'em Father and do not enforce him to a necessary of acting severely with you I am c. Rome August 25. 1632. Monsieur Arnault also wrote him the following Letter upon the same Subject Reverend Father I Began to hope something favourably of you after my having so long sufferâ— your Persecutions since you begin to retract so publickly some things which you have acted against me Formerly I was a Heretick 〈◊〉 for nothing but Fire and Fagot not because I justifiâ—d the five condemn'd Propositions but because that having read Jansenius from one end to the other I could not find any such things there Which was the same thing said you as to deny the Papal Infallibility directly in fact and consequently a Heresie equal to that of Calvin This is that which you maintain'd in your Thesis's and which you order'd to be decided against me in the Sorbonne but now thanks be to the Regale I am pronounc'd to be Orthodox by a solemn decree of all the assembl'd Clergy which it cost you as little trouble to obtain as the censure of the Sorbonne I flatter my self most Reverend Father that after this restoring of me to my former abilities which you your self have sollicited for me you will no longer be my Enemy nor of M. de Pompone my Nephew who both of us suffer in cruel Exilement all the effects of your unjust Malice You may put an end to 'em when you please Most Reverend Father and you will find me always ready to stile my self and be c. Father la Chaise however was not so taken up with the Affairs of the Regale but that he had a hand in several other concerns More especially that of the Huguenots he made his business and ever since his being Confessor he has bent all his endeavours to destroy 'em without mercy However in this respect I cannot believe that he was truly mov'd by the Kings interests for it is visible that he impoverish'd the Kingdom furnish'd his Enemies with Soldiers fomented an intestine War and lastly rais'd an obstruction not to be surmounted to impede the great design of the King upon the liberty of Europe I should therefore be rather inclin'd to think that the Huguenots being without question the most formidable Enemies the Jesuits have they would fain at any rate be rid of these troublesome Overseers who pry so narrowly into 'em and never let 'em be at rest either as to their Morals or their other Irregularities However it be this is most certain that those most unfortunate people are to look upon him as the Author of all their miseries It was he who together with the Archbishop of Paris the Marquis of Louvois and others of the same Gang set forth those terrible Declarations that appearâ—d from the year 1679 to 1685 and which were the Preliminaries to their total ruin for all this ended in that fatal blow which they so much fear'd that is to say the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes which was annull'd the 18th of October 1685. 'T is true that la Chaise two years before had found a much shorter way to exterminate 'em and to which by an Enchantment not to be imagin'd he had obtain'd the King's consent from whom he had extorted an express Order for the Massacre of all those of that Religion and thus the thing was to have been put in execution There was an Order for the marching of four or five Regiments and dispersing 'em into those places where the Huguenots liv'd under pretence of keeping them within the bounds of their duty After which Orders for the Massacre were to be sent to all the Bishops who were to have caus'd the Soldiers to have been drawn together upon a certain day appointed which was to have been the same over all parts of France and after they had made a Speech to 'em to encourage 'em against Hereticks they were to have signifi'd the Kings pleasure to 'em and at the same time to have deliver'd the King's Letters seal'd with his Signet into their hands But Monsieur the Prince who was a man of Honour and besides had a greater love for the Soldiers then to suffer 'em to embrue their hands in so detestable an Action prevented the execution of that Enterprise I have already set forth how la Chaise had always oppos'd him ever since his being made Confessor and of the League that M. de Louvois and the Father had enter'd into to remove him from the publick management of Affairs They had left nothing unattempted during the Life of the Prince and they beheld with an extraordinary jealousie the Honour which he had acquir'd in the year 1668 by the Conquest of Franche-Contè which he subdu'd in less than two Months During the War of 1672 he had signaliz'd himself at the Battle of Seneff and the next he perform'd as much as could be expected from so great a Captain The King also judg'd no body so fit to supply the Roome of Mareschal Turenne who was slain in Germany All this extremely perplex'd the Confessor who was afraid of nothing so much as that the Prince should be again admitted into Favour From which he had always found the knack to debar him till then Therefore to prevent it he redoubl'd his Efforts and prepossess'd the King in such a manner that after that Campain he never was any more entrusted with any Command He laid before the King without Intermission that the Prince being extremely Ambitious it concern'd his Majesty not to put such opportunities into his hands for the aquisition of Glory nor to permit him by that
means to become more considerable in the Kingdom than he was already that it behov'd him to remember the trouble he had put him to during his Minority when his designs made such a noise that the Queen Mother was constrain'd to seize his Person and with what Animosity from his Enlargment in 1651 to 1659 he had made War against his Majesty who was forc'd by Treaty to receive him tho without advancing him to those high Places and Dignities which he had before that if at that time he thought it good Policy to keep him in a midling Condition to prevent him from attempting any thing to his prejudice the same reasons obliged his Majesty to look more narrowly after him That the Prince's Vexation and Discontents were visible and that maugre all the care which he took to conceal it he could not forbear to display his dissatisfactions upon several occasions by comparing his present condition with what he had been formerly So that his Majesty had all the reason in the world to be assur'd that his Great Heart and his Ambition importun'd him without ceasing to extraordinary Attempts and that all things being well consider'd he was the only Prince in a condition to oppose if not to stop the Career of his Majesties Glorious Designs that he ought to consider seriously the incumbrances he would meet with if the Prince should go about to Head the Huguenots of his Kingdom and at the same time make an Alliance with Holland that would not only be able to stop his Progress but also to introduce the Enemy into the Heart of his Kingdom and then the least mischief that could befall him would be to make an ignominious Peace and restore the Huguenots their Antient Privileges All these Reasons being urg'd by la Chaise and seconded by Louvois made the King resolve to confer no more Employments upon the Prince who on the other side perceiving the suspitions which the Court had of him and how he was lookt upon with an evil Eye retir'd to his Palace of Chantilli where he was in hopes to live and dye quietly without pretending any more to publick business But it was ordain'd that his Generosity and his great Heart should always be the cause of his misfortune For about the end of the year 1683 being inform'd by M. Montauzier of a Cruel Order which la Chaise had obtain'd of the King and which he was preparing to put in excution he could not endure such Barbarities without declaring his Mind Thereupon he went to the Court and throwing himself at the Kings Fleet laid before him how great a stain such a foul Action would be to his Honour that he himself had several times oblig'd himself by promise never to make use of Violent Courses and sanguinary Ways but tho he had never engag'd his Royal Word yet that the Interest of his Honour and his Fame were sufficient to divert him from so black an Eterprize and so misbecoming a most Christian King as that was that there were other ways for his Majesty to reduce the Protestants that they were already in so low a condition that they were not able to make Head against him and if the worst came to the worst he might banish 'em out of his Kingdom These Remonstrances of the Prince wrought so effectually upon the King that he revok'd his Order and la Chaise was disappointed But his Animosity upon this redoubling he made use of this occasion to let the King understand that the reason why the Prince of Conde oppos'd with so much heat the destruction of the Huguenots was only because it would utterly ruin those designs which he was meditating to put into their Heads and the Cunning Priest made use of several kindnesses which afterwards the Prince desir'd in favour of the Huguenots to render him odious to the King and cast him absolutely but of his Favour wherein he succeeded but too well it being certain that after that the King could hardly endure to see him 1686. At length this Great Prince dy'd the 16th of December 1686 at Fontain Bleau whither he went to see his Grandaughter the Dutchess of Bourbon who lay sick of the Small Pox and many People were of Opinion that the Jesuits did not a little contribute to hasten his Death He wrote a very Pathetick Letter to the King wherein he exprest his sorrow for having born Arms against his Majesty protesting withal that since his return he had never had any other than Sentiments of Respect and Affection for his Person and Fidelity to his Service whatever suspitions had been infus'd into him to the contrary as in regard he had been in part the cause of the Prince of Conti's misfortune he begg'd his pardon with an extraordinary submission in that Letter assuring the King that the Prince was as good and faithful a Subject as his Majesty could wish or desire adding withal that Father la Chaisè knew well what he said to be truth if he would vouchsafe to testifie the Truth Cardinal Camus also had incurr'd the Confessors displeasure much upon the same account and for the same Reason as the Prince He wrote to the King a Letter wherein he lai'd it before him that it was neither for his Honour nor did it become his Justice to use violent means that for his part he could not approve of 'em and therefore besought his Majesty not to take it amiss if within his own Diocess he qualifi'd and soften'd such boistrous proceedings as much as lay in his Power At which the King being provok'd wrote a threatning Letter to the Intendant of the Diocess against the Cardinal with orders to shew it him There upon the Cardinal wrote to the Intendant that Famous Letter wherein he proves that Rigorous and Bloody means are not to be made use of to reduce People to the Religion they have forsaken and that there is no other way to deal with the Conscience but by perswasion Our Jesuit therefore who is a sworn Enemy to all those who concur not blindly with his designs incens'd the King against him withal his might and obtain'd a Warrant also to send him to the Bastile which was revok'd soon after at the intercession of the Duke of Montauzier However afterwards this worthy Prelate was haunted with a thousand vexations tho the only person that we have in France that lives a life so exemplary and so like a true Bishop He was formerly a Courtier and one that had very far engag'd himself in vanity and a luxurious Life but at length retiring from the world leading a very Vertuous and Pious Life the King made him Bishop of Grenoble For which when he went to return thanks to his Majesty he took his leave of him for all his Life after where upon the King demanding the Reason why he bid him so long a farwell he answer'd that residence was of Divine Right and that he thought himself oblig'd to reside in his Diocess as he had
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
if he would continue still a Neuter 1690. to put into his hands for the assurance of his Word the Citadel of Turin Verue and Verceil To which the Duke had no mind to consent because he knew it would have visibly subjected him under the power of a Master who has not the Reputation of being very tractable Constrain'd therefore to resolve one thing or other he chose the best course I mean the least evil of the two For in that Conjuncture he had no choice to make that was positively good And in the short time of his entring into the War he had experimentally found by the loss of Savoy how unfortunate a weak Prince is whose Territories serve as a Barrier between two potent Monarchs Till then all things succeeded the best that could be for the King He had been victorious at Sea against the Hollanders who were reduc'd to such an unhappy Condition that hardly a Ship had escap'd had not the Night favor'd their Retreat 'T is true that tho' in that Engagement the French Pleet had all the Advantage the Dutch won all the Honour For I believe 't was never known that Two and twenty Men of War should fight so long and so furiously against a Fleet of above Fourscore Sail while the English Fleet under the Lord Torrington lookt on all the while and did nothing In Flanders the Duke of Luxemburgh had defeated Prince Waldeck at which time the Confederates lost above 5000 Men not counting in the Prisoners of which there were a great Number But in the Conclusion what use did the French make of these Victories Did they take one Town in Flanders Did they make any Attempt upon England Nothing of all this only the Chevalier Tourville burnt two or three Fishermens Cottages and then as proud as an Ass of a new Packsaddle return'd for Brest to be Complimented for it King William taught 'em another Lesson He knew better how to make His Advantage of His Victory over K. James or rather over Tyrcennel and Lauzun For as for K. James he had packt up his Baggage so soon as he saw the Combat grow warm He 's not so improvident to thrust himself into an Army in the heat of a Fight 't is a little too much for common Nature to endure However it were King William having pass'd the Boyne in despite of His Enemies and which was worse having put 'em to the Rout made Himself Master of Drogheda Dundalk Dublin Waterford c. And had not foul weather come on too fast had taken Limerick their last Retreat But the Conquest of that City was reserv'd till the next Year for the Earl of Athlone who took it Octob. 3. 1691. and granted the Governor Mr. Boesselot very honourable Conditions This last Misfortune threw K. James into utmost Consternation so that he knew not what measures to take He often bewail'd himself to Father la Chaise whom he could not chuse but look upon as one of the principal Artificers of his Misfortune tho' he would not seem to take notice of it What shall I do and what will become of me said he to him one day transported with grief unfortunate Prince as I am Chac'd from my Kingdoms hated by my Subjects abandon'd by all the World and pity'd by No Body Oh! how dear has my Easiness cost me added he casting a wistful Look upon the Father wherein there was much to be read It has cost me my Crown my Honour and the Repose of my Life The compassionate Father who shar'd in his grief as much as his Nature would give him leave promis'd him to set all the most hidden Springs of the Jesuitical Engine at work and that the whole Society should burn their Books or restore him to his Throne Only said he 't is your Majesties business to be willing to be serv'd do but concur never so little with us and you shall see a sudden Turn of your Affairs We have more then one String to our Bow And if hitherto the Lyon's Skin has not been sufficient to cover us we must sowe the Fox's Skin to it And indeed he kept so effectually to his word that if Providence that watches over things below had not disappointed the pernicious designs of his Cabal we had seen another Revolution at least as strange as the former The Jesuits therefore were order'd to take the Field and furnish'd with good Letters of Exchange away they hurry'd into England where joining with those that still lay lurking in that Kingdom and who intreagu'd them with the principal Jacobites they hatch'd that terrible Conspiracy wherein 't was said so many Lords and Persons of all Conditions were deeply concern'd and which tended only to introduce the French into England and into London and so restore K. James to his Throne which had that been all perhaps it had been excusable in such as thought they ow'd their Allegiance to no other Soveraign but they had suborn'd a Company of Hell-born Ruffians who were to have assassinated King WILLIAM while others at the same time were to have seiz'd the Person of the QVEEN to whom perhaps they would have given no better Quarter When this Conspiracy was brought to perfection and that the Jesuits were assur'd of their People Father la Chaise gave advice to K James and told him That now it was his time to act I wouâ—d be willing to believe that the King at first had an utter Abhorrency of so black an Enterprize and that he had as great an Aversion as could be to engage himself in it and it is to me the greatest Astonishment imaginable that he should be capable of closing with it Nevertheless 't is too true that he did consent at last and that he persuaded the King of France to consent also notwithstanding his declar'd abomination of Parricides But perhaps they might conceal that Circumstance from him tho' it renderâ—d the Success most probable for 't was afterwards known that they had much ado to over-rule him to grant K. James that new Succor which he demanded He told 'em There was nothing more uncertain then the Success of their Design and that he had Employment enough for his Men to guard his own Dominions But F. la Chaise and Lausun giving him to understand that it was the surest way to stop King WILLIAM and hinder the Descent with which he threaten'd France he submitted to their Importunities and after that there was nothing discours'd of in France but of the great Fleet that was setting out for K. James True it is it was considerable enough to have giv'n King WILLIAM some trouble and to have let the Confederates have known that France was not in so low a condition as many People believ'd she was Four hunder'd Transport Ships were taken up for the embarking of 20000 Men as well Horse as Foot together with all sorts of warlike Ammunition as Powder Bullets Cannon Mortars Bombs Pickaxes Ladders c. This Fleet was to have been guarded