A MELIUS INQUIRENDUM Into the BIRTH OF THE Prince of WALES OR An ACCOUNT of several New Depositions And ARGUMENTS Pro and Con and the Final Decision of that Affair BY THE GRAND INQUEST OF EUROPE BEING A Supplement to the DEPOSITIONS Publish'd by AUTHORITY in October last LONDON Printed for J. Wilks in St. James's Street 1689. Consultation of the ORACLE by the Great Men of England and the Potentates of the Earth to know if the Prince of WALES Given of God Diu dateus be Suppositious or Legitimate AS soon as the darkness of the Night was dispersed and the Morning had appeared the Gates of the Temple of the Divinity opened themselves and one might see all the Potentates of the Earth hastening thither Great number of Princes and mighty Mouarchs many Heraclit's and Democrit's the one sad and the other merry for the Birth of this new Messias the Catholick Princes were in dispute with the Protestants the latter did maintain That the Prince of Wales was Suppositious and the first the contrary It was then resolved by one part as well as the other to refer the business to the Oracle and that the Divine Appollo should decide a Question whereon the Happiness of Europe depended The POPE Being the first advanced kneeled to the Earth and having taken in each hand a certain Composition went on foot to the entrance of a little Cavern as soon as he found himself within with a great deal of eagerness and haste he spoke To the ORACLE I desire to know four things before my Death The First is to see Constantinople purged from Execrable Mahometism by my good Son Leopold Emperor of the East and West The Second to see my Eldest Son the King of France to repent himself of all those Affronts that he hath committed during his Reign against the Holy See against the other Kings his Brethren and against his poor people The Third to see my Son Charles the Il. always poor become sufficient powerful to revenge himself of his Brother-in-Law and give to the Throne of Spain a Successor whether Legitimate or Suppositious according to the Example of King James The Fourth to learn if my Son James the Il. he well fixed on his Throne and if the Young Prince of Wales shall be Legitimated by the Parliament As soon as the Holy Father had ended all those Powers that had followed him were impatient to speak of the Queen of England's Lying-in and of the Birth of the Young Prince and altho' the Cardinal of Furstemberg desired it and would by all meant speak of his Election he was ordered to hold his Tongue and it was resolved that the Court of England should firsT be allowed to give reasons whereby she pretends to prove that the Prince of Wales is Legitimate that the Protestane Princes who had Arguments to prove the contrary should be heard next That the Question should be disputed with mildness and moderation and that the Court of France as well as the Court of England as Allies should be desired to occasion no Dispute but leave it fairly to the decession of Justice The KING of E d Attended by Father Petres who followed him step by step approached the Holy Cavern and thus spoke to the DIVINITY I give God thanks for giving me a Son on the 20th day of June 1688. and that he gave a Happy Delivery to the Queen my Wise by the Birth of the Prince of Wales His Majesty had scarce made an end of pronouncing these words but a Protestant Prince interrupted him saying We all give thanks to God because we have discovered that this Young Prince is the Son of the Society of Jesuits and that he never had any Royal Blood in him These Words were no sooner delivered but Father Pâ—tres advanced and having sixed his Triangular Cap upon his head to shew his indignation thus said to the ORACLE The Hereticks do nothing but laugh at the Queens Lying in as if the Prince of Wales were only a supposited Infant for my part who was not a moment absent from the Queen I know better than any person and if I do not tell truth I will call Mrs. Wilks as a Witness It was scâ—rce observable that Petres had spoke so much the Priests of the Temple being imployed in furnishing the soul of Wilks with proper Ideas to make her Recollect To the end that she might discover the Intrigue she made her sTege upon the skin of Sacrifices rubbed with certain Drugs which disturb the Brain and being present at the Holy Cavern spoke thus It is easie to prove that the Queen was really with Child if one considers that she kept her Bed at her Lying-in for 2 or 3 days without getting up and the rather for that she never went abroad while she was big The ORACLE Ordered that she should hold her peace if she had no better proof The Priestess of the Temple conducted the Queen of England as yet weak and indisposed and having given her her hand to lead her into the Sanctuary she thus said to the DIVINITY I prove that I have been with Child of a Young Prince because I had many pains for 5 or 6 Months and I have always heard it reported that Women with Child are always subject to them Mrs. Cellier who was near the Queen had a mind to speak again desired her Majesty to add the sickness she was speaking of that she had several times been sensible of the Infants stirring in her Womb and that these two proofs were convincing The PRINCESS of D k Being called in her turn came near and said to the ORACLE I find it very difficult to believe that the Young Prince of Wales is Legitimate if it be true what is said that he was some hours at St. James's afore the Queen came thither to Lie-in The ORACLE Answered her This Proof is strong have you any Witnesses The PRINCESS Answered him Yes The R. Father SMITH and Father ALIX JESUITS Conspiring together in a design to destroy the proof which the Princess had offered to produce Father SMITH As being the Eldest spoke first to the DIVINITY I maintain that the Queen hath been with Child and that the Prince of Wales is Legitimate by reason the Queen hath resolved at the present to have a Daughter and after that another Daughter and then another Young Prince that if it happens the first should die his Majesty may be provided of a Successor Father ALIX Took his Turn and said For my part I prove that there is nothing suppositious in the Person of the P. of Wales and that he is the Legitimate Son of the King because he was informed that the Child was Baptized on the 15 day of July 1688. it being St. James's day The Priests went out of the Holy Cavern and returned before the Queens Ladies of Honour and having made them drink a Glass of the Water of the River Hircinas they said We maintain that the Queen hath been really with
Child because she was always troubled with a kind of a Gout which hindred her going and always obliged her to be carried in a Chair The A. B. of C attended by his SUFFRAGANS Came near to the Divinity extreamly pleased to have been acquitted in his Tryal and that innocence had prevailed over Calumny The DIVINITY Made him be informed by one of his Priests that he was exhorted to reveal what he knew or what he had learned concerning the Queens Lying-In that there was no degree of power above the Gods and that he was obliged in Conscience to tell the things as they were and being approached he spoke to the ORACLE Because you conjure me by all that is most Holy in your Temple to discover an Imposture which the Society of Jesuits takes care to conceal from all Europe I shall tell you then in two words That the Prince of Wales is suppositious and that they put us in the Tower at the very time the Queen was in the Straw to the end that the Bps. of the Kingdom might not be present The KING of E d Hearing this Discourse came forward hastily and being angry with the A. B. called him Rebel adding That he knew how to make him obey The ORACLE Answered the King. That he had forgotten that the place where he Blasphemed was Holy and that he ought to be satisfied long since that the Gods esteem bad Kings no more than silly Shepherds that he ought to abate his fierceness and thank the Gods for giving them more good things in this World oftentimes than they deserve The KING Being desirous to answer what the A. B. had objected said It was true that the Bishops were put in the Tower before the Queen lay-In but also that order was given to release them and there was nothing to hinder their Visits besides I am not willing to argue thus with my Subjects I am a King and expect to be obeyed without disputing and when I say that the Prince of Wales is my Legitimate Son this ought to suffice and they ought to believe it The ORACLE Answered to all this That he was not well satisfied with his Majesty's Behaviour and that he ought to have more moderation and to bring good proofs because we came thither to know if the Prince of Wales was legitimate or Supposititious and not to dispute his Royal Prerogative The Priestess had order to advance some MEMBERS of the next PARLIAMENT Who spoke thus to the DIVINITY His Majesty hath sollicited us by his chief Almoner Father Peters to legitimate his Son the Prince of Wales when we shall meet in Parliament and all the people cry in London that it is a Supposititious Child that his Father is a poor Citizen and that his Mothers a poor Woman which the Jesuits have perswaded by money to keep this secret The ORACLE Orders the Priestess to conduct in the Earl of S L D To see what he had to answer to what was proposed S L D having order to enter the holy Cavern desired before that to abjure his Religion and to assist at the Holy Office in the Kings Chappel and to give a proof of a profound respect After which he said The Prince of Wales is so much the more Legitimate and the supposition of which they accuse her Majesty is the rather a Callumny by how much the big Belly of the Queen hath been accompanied with many wonders viz. As the Queen stept an Angel appeared to her several times and said to her Have Courage you shall bring forth a Son and his Name shall be called WALES The Queen awaking started and saw that this Angel was like to him that appeared long since to Mary the Mother of God. The ORACLE Asked him how he knew it to be an Angel S L D Answered that Father Peters had told him so The Lawyer P n one that pleaded for the Bishops Hearing that the Earl of Sunder land would prove the Prince of Wales to be legitimate by the greatest Imposture that ever was could not forbear speaking into the Holy Cavern as loud as if he had pleaded in Westminster-Hall and said openly that it was a shame that such a man as he whom his majesty had Honoured with his charge of Secretary of State should have so mean and low thoughts and so unworthy of a man of Honour he ought to have known that this Angel of whom he was speaking of was one of the Queens Foot-men who had been instructed by the Jesuits to play this part And that the King having surprised him with his Sword wounded him in his Arm. The ORACLE Ordered the Priests to turn out S L D and bring the Lord CHANCELLOR Who spoke to this purpose to the DIVINITY The greatest proof that I can offer to justifie that there is no supposition in the Birth of this Young Prince is the coming of so many Ministers from all the Courts of Europe to Congratulate his Majesty and pay their homage to this Young Prince As to the rest his Majesty was transacted at his Council of Conscience with Father Peters and he forbids to inquire into what passeth there So if there be any supposition it is a secret that very few persons know at Court. And the King hath order'd us to compel the people to believe the Prince of Wales to be legitimate And this is enough and we ought as much as in us lies to adore these great mysteries and by no means pry into them As soon as my Lord Chancellor had spoken the Lawyers L s F n S r T y F b S s Were ordered to answer what my Lord Chancellor had said they all unanimously said That having gained the Cause for the Bishops they would do their endeavour to get that for the people also and to maintain by an authentick Discourse which they would publish concerning a supposititious Birth that the Prince of Wales was supposited but they prayed the Divinity to grant them some time the ORACLE Answered them that it was granted and that in the mean time the Priests should be examined of such as are to appear The Priests had order to introduce the JESUITS of the College of the SAVOY The most ancient of them having taken off his Triangular Cap said That the greatest proof that they had that the Prince of Wales was the lawful Son of the King was that his Majesty had promised on the day of his Coronation that he intended to give a Successor to the Crown and that the King had now performed his Royal Word in giving them this Young Prince who they should always acknowledge as Legitimate since they being Roman Catholicks it was much for the advantage of their Society The ORACLE Answered That these Reasons proved that the King had a Successor but the Question now was to know if this Successor were of the blood Royal. The Priestess had order to cause them to go out and to introduce the NON CONFORMISTS the QUAKERS and PRESBYTERIANS
The Quakers being come in said they had presented many Addresses to his Majesty for to thank him for the Liberty of Conscience he had granted them but that they acknowledged now by experience that he would not keep his word and that he would break his word as often as it tendeth to make him absolute that they think the Prince of Wales is suppositious and that they will give their proofs in Writing The Nonconformists say That his Majesty is full of designs which he hath to advance the Papists in all charges and that his Favours are chiefly reserved for the Jesuits and that at last he will repent for having assisted at the making so many Innovations and as to the Prince of Wales it was easie to suppose it supposititious because it was a Month before the Queen lay in The Presbyterians say in their turn That what hath passed at the Birth of this Young Prince where Father Peters and Cellier only assistants is a convincing proof that there was a manifest supposition and that one only ought to examine the Circumstances of this Birth to make it appear The ORACLE Ordered a Priest to take in Writing all these Depositions and omit nothing The Preists had order to introduce the Forreign Princes and their Embassadors The KING of FRANCE Before the entred the Holy Cavern according to the Example of the Emperor Heraclitus made his Army be purged of the Dragoons for three days who came from the hunting the new Converts and having opened the Holy Evangalist said to the DIVINITY I maintain at the peril of my life that the Young Prince of Wales is Legitimate and if I ought to transport my Armies by my Bombs and my Carcasses I would reduce the World in to Ashes and chastife and the Rebellious Nation that oppose the Design of King James my Cousin The ORACLE Answered him That no one ought to enter into this Holy Caveru to make French Rhodomantades that the business in hand was to prove he was legitimate or supposititiou Father La CHASE Hearing them speak of a supposititious Child came forward the Preists stopped him pulling him by the arm and told him That he knew very well there was no safety within the Cavern for such as came not with good intentions so that being drawn near he made many Bows killed the Statue of Trophanius and said to the ORACLE I hold the Prince of Wales is legitimate for two strong Reasons The First Because my Master is his Godfather And Secondly Because my Master hath sent him his Spirit to inspire him in the Cradle with the love for our Society and with a hatred to Heresie The ORACLE Answered That this would not signifie any thing and if he had no other reason he might retire as soon as he could The Priests took his Cap and threw it out of the Cavern and having pushed him out gave their hands to the DAVPHIN Who came from Hunting the Wolf and having conducted him into the Cavero made him shut his eyes and asked him the number and the name of the things he came to consult about and after retired into a little Grotto and having taken the water of a Spring that is hid there the Divinity ordered him to speak which he did thus I do not intermeddle in other mens affairs and it little concerns me whether the Prince of Wales be legitimate or not I only complain that my Father doth all for himself but nothing for me The Arch-Duke Joseph is made King of Hungary at 12 years of age and I am but Dauphin at 15. The ORACLE Answered That there was no business concerning the Arch-Duke Joseph the Emperor's Son but of the Prince of Wales Son of King James to know if he were legitimate or nor The Priests introduced Madam La DAPHINE Who appeared with much respect and Veneration having made many Sacrifices to Appollo of Clarot she spake thus to the DIVINITY Praised be God that he hath given me Children even more than I desired I complain of the misfortune of some poor Queens who do whatever is possible to have some and yet can have none but are at length forc'd to supposite them and to make them pass for their own however it be since I am in this Holy place for to say what I think the greatest proofs I can offer are the great publick Rejoycings and the Te Dewn Landamus sung in all Churches of France The ORACLE Seeing that Madam the Dauphine spoke with a great freedom and naturalness ordered the Priestess to accompany her and made her a present of some Reliques The Priestess re-entred immediately followed by the Young QUEEN of P L. Who after having performed the usual Ceremonies spoke in this manner to the DIVINITY The Elector Palatine hath Married me to Don Pedro upon condition that I bring him Legitimate Children and by consequence a lawful Successor and not an Infant supposited The truth is he had a mind to such a fertile House as ours is in comparison of the House of Modena of which the World hath spoken variously But since I am here to speak my thoughts concerning the Prince of Wales I will prove it to be a legitimate Child because it came into the World by the Prayers made to our Lady of Lorette The QUEEN of S N Hearing them speak of Children made haste to come in and prayed the Priestess to introduce her quickly adding that she had somewhat of consequence to say being entred she began thus to the ORACLE All the Queens of Europe have Children except me notwithstanding I am Young and Handsom Why cannot I have one as well as the Queen of England The ORACLE Answered her That he did not concern himself with the getting of Children nor examined the causes of Barrenness or Fertility but only to know if the Child of the Queen of England was legitimate or not The QUEEN of S N Reply'd That she knew nothing but that it was reported legitimate The Priestess conducted the Three Sisters of Father PETERS At the rise of the River and after having made them drink of two sorts of Water viz. that of Lethe which blots out of the Soul all profane thoughts and that of Ninemosine which hath the virtue to make one remember whatever is seen in the Holy Cavern The ORACLE Asked them and said to them That they ought to declare all that they knew concerning the Prince of Wales how he came into the World who was his Father and who his Mother that there had been already taken the Depositions of many Princes and Princestes but that the Oracle was not yet satisfied that there yet remained some obscurity in all that was said that in the mean time they should be shut up in a Grote until they did reveal this Mystery After appeared A Troop of Priests and Prophets of Poets of Interpreters of Prelates and Sacrificers The Pretress came before them and told them then That they were informed that the Epicureans were banished from
that holy place and those that were in the Fields had order to pass no farther The Temple of the Oracle bring near to Parnassus one might see the Muses composing by the sweet harmony of their Instruments and Voices a Quire in which was sung the Triumph of the Prince of Wales After this one might see the Young Prince carried into the Temple by fourscore Jesuits as yet afore Jupiter Hammon was by 80 Priests in a kind of Goudolo of Gold from whence hung knobs of Silver followed by a great number of Monks of all Orders singing with a loud voice holy Hymns to his Glory As soon as the little Prince was within the Temple all the Priests and Priestesses of Apollo incompassed him and having examined and considered the features of his face said aloud contrary to the custom of our modern Gossips That he was not at all like his Father The DIVINITY Ordered That such should be introduced as had not yet appeared The Pretress came before Mr. SKELTON Embassador of his Britannick Majesty to the King of France And being brought to the entry of the Holy Cave thus spoke I prove the Prince of Wales to be Legitimate because the King his Father had wrote to me to spare no charge in making Fire-works and splendid Feastings The Author of the Triumph of Liberty Being come up answered to Mr. Skelton That if his Excellency had no other proof to give he ought to expect to see himself very speedily censured and condemned and that having already proved in his Book That King James the It. had not been lawfully called to the Crown of England but that he had Usurped it since the Laws of the Land have Excluded all Romand Catholick Princes he had resolved to prove to him presently That the Prince of Wales was never of Royal Blood That this is a suppositition believing the Society contrived it to deceive Fools The ORACLE Ordered That they should cause to come in The Author of Parliamentum Pacificum To see what he had to answer thereto The Pretress conducted him to the Cavern and made the Author of the Triumph of Liberty retire some paces back for fear lest a noise should arise between these two different Spirits the Author of Parliamentum Pacificum said thus to the DIVINITY I cannot for bear the admiring the Divine Wisdom for giving a Child to his Majesty in his old years and at a time when we were near seeing a second Queen Elizabeth to Reign and the greatest proof that I have that this young Infant is Legitimate is the ill opinion his Majesty hath of all the Hereticks The ORACLE Answered him That he had not in the least satisfied the Question which the Author of the Triumph had proposed viz. That his Majesty had Usurped the Crown of England he ought to prove the contrary afore he came to the suppositition The Earl of AVAUX Ambassador of FRANCE Took his time and the Pretress having received some Louis which he presented her with he was immediately introduced and brought the affair into a few words The ORACLE Asked him then How that he pretended to prove the Prince of Wales to be Legitimate his Excellency said The greatest proof he had was a Magnificent Treat the Monsieur Albeville gave in the Prince Maurice his Pallace to all the Ministers of Forreign Courts where we were near 300 persons that he invited After Mr. D'Avaux Mr. St. DISDIER Advanced and as he knew the History to the bottom and is knowing in all things he said to the DIVINITY That it was not difficult to prove that the Queen of England had really been with Child if one consider that the Queen Mother lay-in with Louis the XIV after she had been barren twenty two years which is the reason they call the King Given of God and at this day the Prince of Wales hath the same Name because he certainly came into the World by the gift of Heaven Mr. MOREAV Envoy Extraordinary from POLAND Entred without Ceremony and dispatched his business with a laughing air the relish of a glass of certain delicate Wine he drank at the Pallace of Prince Maurice made him not want matter or words in speaking to the DIVINITY For my part I shall prove the Prince of Wales is not supposititiou because Mr. Albeville rose from the Table several times to fill us out to drink of a most excellent wine and he did it with so graceful a mein that I have reason to say he hath not forgot his first imployment a Buler or Footman Mr. ALBEVILLE's Steward Slipped into the Cavern without taking notice of the Pretress and spoke thus to the DIVINITY I am about to abjure my Religion to oblige my Master the Ambassador The PRETRESS Bid him hold his Tongue for here was nothing to do about Religion but only to know how the Prince of Wales was Born. The STEWARD Answered That he had resolved to tell all that he knew but that he was only concerned in performing the Commission he had from the Embassador the day of the Fire-works which was to search out some English or other unknown persons to borrow for them white Perriwigs a Gentiel Dress fine Linen Cravats and Cuffs of French Point and to procure them Footmen to follow as if they had been my Lords or other of considerable Quality that I had order to seat them at the Table to make a figure and fill seven or eight places because that some of the States had no mind to come The PRETRESS Perceiving that this Discourse displeased Monsieur Albeville who was present who was concerned to do things honourably on such occasions besides that what the Steward said did more make known what was done on the day of rejoycing for the young Prince than to prove that he was of the Blood Royal made him retire As soon as the Steward had done the Pretress introduced Monsieur D' Albeville The DIVINITY Told him That all the World was surprised to see what passed at this day and that it was a thing that all people spoke of that one would make a supposited Child for a legitimate Monsieur ALBEVILLE Cryed out in the Discourse calling Heaven and Earth to Witness saying That it was a pure scandal that he had caus'd from the day that he had notice of the Birth of the Young Prince to make Fire works which had surprised the 7 Provinces with their Beauty and Magnificence where was to be seen the Young Prince upon a Globe in the midst of a Triumphal Arch where these Words were written which contain the year of his Birth aVgVsta eX IaCobo Magno proLes DIV VIVat M. DC LXXXVIII Which is That the Son of Great JAMES Live long Upon this Triumphal Arch you might see St. George who represented the King trampling under his feet the Dragon of Rebellion and abolishing the Test and Penal Laws There one might see the good Conscience of the Jesuits represented by the Woman that was near the
Dragon firm and unmoved notwithstanding the rigours of the Penal Laws There was to be seen two Guardian Angels near the person of the Prince to deliver him from the Ambuscades of the Quakers Conformists and Nonconformists from the Presbyterians the Arminian Bishops the Calvinists Lutherans Anabaptists and other Seets There the Dragon was to be seen devoured by its own proper Flames while the Crown and all other Figures were intire which was a Prognostick That his Majesty should bring about his great designs After this ought the Hereticks to maintain that the Young Prince is not legitimate And that all this hath been done for a supposited Child The Secretary of Monsieur D' Albeville Came forwards with all speed and softly put his Excellency in mind to add something of a number of incomparable flying Squibs Fire-pots Rackets Wheels c. which filled the air full of Stars and Serpents which proved that the Prince was legitimate because they produced the effect that was designed The ORACLE Ordered the Jesuits to enter together with the Pricits that framed these Fire-works He that composed the Inscription came first saying Non si commencia bene se non dal Cielo I have my self Composed Veritas Justitia fulcimentum Throni Patris erunt mei As Virtue and Justice are the support of my Father's Throne so also shall they be of mine I have moreover composed this fine device Religio libertas amplexatae sunt Liberty and Religion are united Adding That this was convincing and that he had not composed this for an Insant supposited The Almoner of the Embassador of France Came in his turn and said That he himself had Composed a short Prayer which begun Ad Deum Optimum Maximum pro Rege Principe Gente Britanica Procuto brevis To the Great God for the King Prince and Brittish Nation a short Prayer After this one ought not to question that the Prince of Wales was not legitimate A Jesuit of the S sh Ambassador Pressed hard and being come in said That he had distributed a General Alms that Morning and given to the poor several Shillings and a Pint of Wine to every one to drink the Health of the Young Prince that all this might serve to prove and disabuse the vulgar incredulity All the Domesticks of Monsieur Albeville Came in their turn and said That they had laboured more than 15 days to put things in order and prepare a most sumptuous Feast Adding That there could not remain any doubt of the Young Princes legitimacy since the Ambassador had been at so great expence All the Musicians came also and said That they had sung that day a very fine Te Deum with excellent Musick and an incomparable Symphony composed by Monsieur Hacquart and that this alone was fully convincing The Players on the Violins came also and said that they were carried in a Boat during the time of the Feast and that they had played the Follies of Spain the Descent of Mars and many other fine pieces proper to the occasion for to divert the Embassadors who were in the Pallace of Prince Maurice and that all this could not be done for a supposited Child Those that had discharged the Cannon which came from England on purpose for this day came and said It was not reasonable to suppose so much noise made for nothing Those that had pierced several Tuns of Wine came also and said That the Street was overflowed by six Fountains of excellent Wine part Claret and part White-wine of France and Spain and one ought to believe that this was made for an Illegitimate Child An Unknown POET Desired the Pretress to permit him to enter into the holy Cavern to repeat some Verses which he had composed for the Glory of the Young Prince on the day of his Triumph he being come in said Some Protestant LORDS Sliding in in the Crowd desired the Divinity to give them Audience one of them said That this Young Prince had let fall his Sceptre while he was upon the Globe and that this was an ill presage Another said That they had given the Hydra but 6 Heads because it was said they would not represent by it the 7 Provinces Another said That St. George was devoured by the Monster instead of the Monster being devoured by St. George and that all this proves manifestly that the Child was supposited The ORACLE Ordered the Pretress to introduce Monsieur the PRINCE Madam la Princess d' O Messieurs Le ESTATS To see what they had to answer to so many Witnesses who had maintained the Kings side The Pretress went out of the Holy Cavern and was humbly desired that she would dispense with them for a great many reasons which was granted them The Pretress had order to call Dr. B t. Who being entred said to the DIVINITY Who desired her That she would dispense with him from speaking of the Affairs of England for fear of saying too much The DIVINITY Ordered him to tell his thoughts of the Queens lying-in and of the Birth of the Prince of Wales Dr. B t Answered That supposing the Prince of Wales was legitimate and that the Queen was truly his Mother as they would maintain It is to be presumed that it was extreamly the interest of the King at a time when his people did with difficulty obey him to contrive that the Queens lying-in should be made according to the forms by calling thither all the Peers of the Realm as was always practised in the Court of England because it is known that the people are naturally very difficult to perswade they scarce believing the things they see Author of the Book whose Title is The Mischiefs that threaten the Protestants of England Seeing that every one endeavoured to speak desired the Pretress to permit him to recite a History of Puffendorfe which proves marvelous well that it is easie to supposit a Young Prince since we have in Histories many Examples of it The ORACLE Ordered him to recite the said History Poffendorfe a Celebrated Historian speaking of the Kings of Spain saith After John the II. his Son Henry the IV. the disgrace and infamy of that Crown succeeded to the Kingdom of Casteile for since he was esteemed impotent to remove that conceit from the people he made one Berrand Curva lye with the Queen and for a recompence of that service he made him Earl of Desina this Adultery produced a Daughter named Jane which Henry proclaimed Successor to the Crown This action is the more likely to be true because this Queen had sometime after a Bastard by another But in fine to discover this cheat and to exclude Jane from succeding They united together and carried things so high that they exposed upon a Theatre the Figure of Henry dressed in all his Royal Ornaments and after having made a Process against him and brought an Accusation against him they stripped him of all his Cloaths and threw him from top to
bottom After they proclaimed Alphonsus King Brother of Henry But this Farce caused terrible Shocks and furious Agitations in the Kingdom which came to bloody Battels at last Alphonsus died during these Troubles in the year 1468. The DIVINITY Ordered the three Sisters of Father Peters to be brought out of the Grote they were shut in The Pretress conducted them into the Holy Cavern being veiled The ORACLE Told That it was no longer time now to dissemble that wanting nothing but their Depositions they ought seriously to reflect and to speak to him the plain truth that all the World did with impatience expect the revealing this Mystery She that stayed in London said That she had seen one Peters her Brother go often into three diffirent Houses where there liv'd big-belly'd Women viz. a Baker's House a Sword Cutlers and a Millers that she had followed him step by step several times and she had observed that he stopped oftnest at the Miller 's and that she had observed that this Woman had been brought to Bed without any body knowing what became of the Child APOLLO Seeing that the Question had been long enough debated made all the Powers be informed that he was about to pronounce the Divine Oracle After the Divine Cavern was shut of a sudden and the Pretress had ordered That they ought to wash themselves in the River Hercinas after which to make a Sacrifice to Trophonius and all the Family to Apollo to Jupiter to Saturn to Ceres Europa Nurse to Trophonius and not to eat during the three days of the Sacrificing but of the Flesh Sacrificed and then appeared the last time the DIVINITY Accompanied with her Pretress and there was heard throughout the Cavern many Voices saying The Child Supposited the Monk reigning The Commissioners of the High-Court of JUSTICE Established by the Parliament to try Charles Stuart came in a body from the other World causing a Sword of Justice and the Mace to be carried before them The President BRADSHAW Being placed in a Chair of Crimson Velvet thus spoke to the DIVINITY We have made an Unjust Process against C. Stuart when shall we form a Just one against James II. his Son The ORACLE When the Patiance of the good English shall be weary of suffering a false Prince of Wales to be put upon them CROMWELL one of the Members of the High-Court Advanced for a moment out of the Crowd and said Jesu my God! What is it they say of James the II. all all the World cries out and complains against him ORACLE Answers him That King James the II. is a good Jesuit and pretends to die a Martyr of that Society DUKE of MONMOVTH Before he presented himself to the Divinity the Pretrâ—ss made him kiss the Statue of Apollo of Claros and made him at the same time drink a Glasâ— of Water called Lethe to make him forget his shameful death and said I made too much haste to Death and I have lost by it O would to God I were now living What afair occasion should I have to secure the Libarties of the English Nation The ORACLE It is long since you have been predestinated by the Society to go reign in another World. The Q. D r to the ORACLE Since the death of the King my Husband I have had no satisfaction at Court where nothing rules out Jesuitism And as the Society is full of fury and rage when it atracks Heresie I have resolved to go into Portugal to avoid the Storm that is rising They have so moved the people that one is obliged to suffer the Supposititiousness of the Prince of Wales The ORACLE The Lightnings have flashed and the Thunder grumbled if you love peace and repose stay not until the Bolts fall The EMPEROR The same Pretresses that yet afore conducted Alexander and Vâ—spasian into the Sanctuary of Hammon came to introduce the Emperor Leopold and having made him a present of a Crown of Lawrels conducted him into the Holy Cavern and said to the DIVINITY I have already filled the Universe with the News of my Victories extended the Frontiers of my Empire even to Belgrade Planted Christianity in all the Mosques of Mahomet Delivered the Electors of my Empire from the Ottoman fury snatched off the Crescent and planted the Standard of the Roman Eagle on all the Towers of Hungary made Rome to Triumph and the Cross of Jesus Christ in the midst of the terrors of War my Generals being tired with so many labours sollicit me to make peace What ought I to do The ORACLE Leopold Leopold if thou wilt believe me hearken no more to Loyola make Peace with the Crescent Turks and War against the Sun. France Arch-Duke JOSEPH King of Hungary Having heard of the Surrender of that Important place of Alba Regalis came on and said to the DIVINITY The Emperor my Father hath gained on one side and lost on the other France hath promised not to break the Truce and notwithstanding he every day advanceth on the Rhine on the other side the Jesuits promise him the Universal Monarchy if he continues the War. I beg you to discover the mystery ORACLE The Jesuits are Traytors to the Empire banish them the Court. The EMPRESS After she had ended her short Devotions at St. Stevens where Te Deum was sung for the Prosperity of the Imperial Arms she came and said to the ORACLE The House of Aushia hath triumphed over its greatest Enemies and if the Emperor my Husband would believe me we should spill no more Ottoman blood The ORACLE When the Emperor shall have shed as much French as he hath of the Ottoman Blood he shall secure his Conquests and have no more to fear The GRAND SEIGNIOR Emperour of the Turks Seeing afar off the Prophetick Temple he approached the Holy Cavern the entrance of which was covered with Leaves of Lawrel which bespake the Success of the Christian Arms and making several Sighs said to the DIVINITY La illa alha Mahomet rasoul alha The Great God and our great Prophet Mahomet my Brother Sultan is Dethroned to raise me upon his Throne and in despite of the Rage of my Janisaries and of his Party I have extinguished the Fire that burned in the heart of my Empire Being unskilful in the Art of War I propose a Peace to the Christian Emperor and I yield him all his Conquests adding thereto even Belgrade fearing that my Bassaw should betray me and that the Uncircumcised Army do not advance to Constantinople I have ordered my Treasury to be carried into Asia Day and Night my Priests go to the Holy Temple of Sophia where the Alcoran is kept and I send my Dervices to Meccha and Medina to Pray our Great Prophet to have pity on the true Musselmen and to desire the State of Venice to make Peace The ORACLE Notredame Cent. 3. Quat II. The KING of S n CHARLES the Second Afore the descended into the Divine Cavern he was ordered to spend a certain number
of Days in a little Chappel which is named Good Fortune or Good Genius after which being Introduced he said to the ORACLE All other Princes reap Lawrels in the Art of War and extend the Frontiers of their Kingdoms they become the Terror of their Subjects and do a Thousand Famous Exploits to Eternalize their Names for my part I am always the same and instead of becoming great I diminish I Sow in Ungrateful and Barren Earth which produceth nothing but Brambles The Queen my Wife gives me no Heir notwithstanding the pains I take to get her with Child Oh! how happy is King J. the Second my Cousin to have a Son Oh! that the Queen my Wife had been heard by the Lady of Loretto I desire you to tell me what can make my Wife to have Children ORACLE You must have at hand a good Father such as Father Peters KING of P d Having received Orders from the Pretress to make a confession of all the Secrets of his Life approached and said to the DIVINITY I repent to have made so much noise of my Victories gotten over the Infidels and to have called the Emperor and the Princes of the Empire ungrateful I repent me of having Amused the Czar of Muscovy my Allies in promising them a great many things I have not performed I repent my self also for having had more concern for Love of France then for Poland I repent my self for having suffered the Emperour to take Hungary since I might have partaken with him of the Plunder of the common Enemy I repent my not taking Caminieck the last Compagn when its Doors were opened to me if France had not whispered in my Ear stay stay I only Ask the Crown of Poland for my Son. The ORACLE The King of France is a Fox and if you follow his Councels you will Live in the Hatred of your People and your Son shall never be King. The GRAND VISIER After having saluted the Oracle of Tyophonius and drank a Glass of the Water of Hircinas descended into the Holy Cavern and said La illa alha Mahomet rasoul alha The new Sultan my Master would honour me with the Charge of Grand Visier I beseech you inform me what shall be my Fate The ORACLE Take care of your self for the Neck of a Grand Visier draws to it the Bowstring as naturally as Amber doth a Straw The KING of D k to the ORACLE I am the Spie of the Northern Crowns and when any thing remarkable happens amongst my Neighbours I inform the King of France of it and the King of England they promise me so long as we continue Friends we shall keep the Ballance equal between the Emperor and the other Princes of Europe I Answer that I am content so far but I doubt France will always play the same play The ORACLE The King of France is often guilty of Deceits take care of your self The ELECTOR of S y Making his Prayers passed by Holland and after having saluted the Prince of Orange entred into the Temple and said to the DIVINITY I love the French Wine but not the French but I like better the Rhenish Wine and I am of opinion that I ought to drink no other although the King of France Cries Day and Night in my Ears my Lewisses and my good Champagn Wine I beseech you tell me what side I shall take The ORACLE The Emperor's side and that of Holland After all Ceremonies were ended and the Lot was going to be cast with much Respect and Veneration The Cardinal of FURSTENBERG Being entred in the Holy Cavern in haste overturned the Lots and Urns. The Pretress being disturbed ordered him to speak and he said to the ORACLE Was there ever a Pope seen so wilfull and stubborn as ours now is To have a Red Cap I have endeavoured above Five Years without interruption and do so at this Day to become Elector and what way have I not tried And I am not nearer it now than I was the first Year if the King my Patron would have believed me he should have abandoned the affair of the Franchises at the beginning without making so much noise about it since the advantage of being Master of the Rhine and by that to intercept the Communication of the Empire with Flanders and so in few Years promise himself the Conquest of Holland It had been better to have made an Exchange of a Bull with his Right of the Franchises which is only without endeavouring to vex the Holy Father in his Old Age. The ORACLE For to have a Bull and to make the Holy Father agree with his Eldest Son it is necessary that Marshal D'Estree quit the Barbarous Algeirs to come and Bombard the Holy See at Rome Dr. MOLINOS the Cardinal PETRUCCI the Cardinal CICERO DON LIVIO DUCK DE CICERI Nephew of the Pope and other Quietists Doctor Molinos slepping forwards said to the ORACLE Praised be God the Holy Father hath made us accounted Hereticks and he is one himself if it is true that he is a Quierest as it is reported the Inquisition having examined him were about shutting him up in the Minerva if the Cardinal D'Estre who betrayed me as Judas did our Saviour had not prevailed with him that he ought to dissemble which saved him I beseech you to inform me How long this Intrigue shall last The ORACLE In our Age the Power of the holy See is a Tyranny which Sacrifices all to its Interests Madam of MONTESPAN After much Ceremony she whispered the God in the Ear and asked him what she would at last she stopped her Ears with her Hands and went out coming in again and said to the ORACLE I have endured a great many difficulties since my Affairs went backwards at Court the Good Man loves me no more and the Old Hag Maintenon hath done me the good office she hath so buzzed the Ears of the King with the Merit of Mounsieur Scarron that it hath made him have a mind to turn Poet. For my part not knowing to what Saint to pay my Vows after having lost the Great Louis I am resolved to imitate La Valliere The ORACLE To learn to string Pater Nosters is a poor Life for Montespan Madam of MAINTENON Took the way of the Temple accompanied by Father La Chese who entertained her with the new Converts of France and the hopes he had to see England in the same State by the Care the Society took to provide a Successor to the Crown Maintenon being come near said to the DIVINITY That Father La Chese had informed her that his Penitent by many repeated Confessions that he always had a Passion for the Fair Sex that neither Age nor the Severities of Pennance could ever reclaim him we have a mind to Marry together to the end that we may lead a good Life and that there be no more discourse in the Royal Family of a Divorce I beseech you tell me if I being 60 Years Old may yet be
able to bring forth a Brother to the Dauphin His Majesty saith he will keep only to me The ORACLE The Fathers of Loyola have excellent Secrets you being a Daughter of the Society I would have Father Peters inform you how the Prince of W. came into the World. The Mareschal of ESTRES Vice-Admiral of France To the ORACLE I have two great Designs to Execute the first obligeth me to destroy Algiers and totally to burn that Barbarous People out of their Nests and on the Ashes of this Rebellious Place I ought to Erect a Statue to His Majesty like to that which the Duke of Tuillade hath put up in the place of Victory to the end that the Name of Great Louis may become the Terror of all Africa as it is of all Europe and that the Report of his great Victories may be conveyed by the Waters of the Mediterranean to the Ocean and by the Ocean to the Four Extremities of the World. And in the second place I have Orders to go as soon as I can to the Coast of England to make that Rebellious Nation tremble at the Will of King James and to oblige the House of Lords and Commons to Revoke the Tests and Penal Laws The ORACLE These Barbarians are turbulent and resolved to fight well And the English expect only a contrary Wind to prove to King J. and to Peters his Almoner that the Prince of W. is Supposited The SWISSES to the ORACLE The King of France our Uncle is at length tired with ingaging us to the Germans in Wars And we have managed the Affair so well that he hath left poor Geneva in Peace He is contented to see if we are afraid but seeing the Swisses have always a good Stomach and Drink well his Counsel of Conscience have not judged it proper to Bleed them so that he is retired from us without bidding us farewel We beseech you to inform us if he will ever return again The ORACLE The King your Uncle often makes such Braggings GENEVA to the ORACLE The King of France hath at last granted us a Truce for some Months because his Affairs press him a little too hard on the Rhine his Pretensions on the Palatmate his Franchises at Rome the Stubborness of the Holy Father the Election of Furstenberg have so imployed him during the Spring that he hath desired us by his Resident to excuse him if he defers the Business to a fitter Opportunity Besides That the new Converts cut him out so much Work that he knows not which way to turn him In the mean time Father La Chese makes him believe that before he dies he shall enter with his Coach and Horses into the greatest Church of Geneva adding That he ought to keep fair and expect until his Brother King J. hath equipped his Fleet. The ORACLE Watch and pray for you know not the Hour when the Thief will come The ALGERINES to the ORACLE The King of France is a terrible Champion after having purged the Hereticks out of his Kingdom he imagines to purge the Sea of Pyrates and to make the Coasts of Barbary a Desert This is a great Design and worthy of a great Monarch but the Algerines have already passed so many times through the Fire of their Bombs and Carcasses that they are become half Devils that Hell-Fire cannot burn them If our Houses were built so as his Versai'les is it had been long since reduced to Ashes and the Pallace of M'ezemorto had been nothing but a Tomb but they are built of a certain Cement which the Fire cannot hurt and the Three thousand Bombs which the Marthal of Estres discharged against us have done no more harm than Bullets shot into the Air. Barbarian against Barbarian he that is the most barbarous shall conquer All the French that are in our Power shall be put in the Mouth of a Cannon we have shot them the Consul already expecting to send them their King if ever he fall into our Hands The ORACLE You ought to keep him Prisoner All the ELECTORS of the EMPIRE We are incompassed with the Claws of the Eagle and the Paws of the Fox The great Leopold on the side ingrosses Villages Provinces and Kingdoms The great Louis on the other side ravages amongst us sometimes as a Lion and sometimes as a Fox making his Bombs thunder amongst us making a thousand fair Promises to one to oblige him to sell his best places to them for their Liberty to others for to truck exchange or engage their Soveraignty The great Leopold seeing all these Contrivances adviseth us under hand to have a care of such delusive Promises The great Louis on his side whispers us by his Spies Take care of your selves Leopold becomes too powerful for you you will shortly become Slaves of the House of Austria We beseech thee tell us which is our true Interest The ORACLE Your true Interest is to joyn with the Emperor and the Empire and to be of Opinion always That the Fox will do his Endeavour to catch the Eagle and her Eagless The Arch-bishop of PARIS to the ORACLE I have hitherto done all the Good and all the Ill I could unto the Hugonots in order to get a Cardinals Cap and I have only a Mitre The Bishop of Camus that is reputed a Heretick and is really so in his Heart as well as the Cardinal of Furstenberg who is a very Libertine given up to his Pleasures and hath got a Cap with ease And I who daily sing Vespers and assist at the holy Offices with the Piety and Zeal of greatest Prelate is it possible that I should have nothing to cover my Ears in my old Age The ORACLE It is true indeed you are a great Mimmick but the holy Father doth not reward Grimaces All the CANNONS of the Chapter of COLLOIGNE Came in a Body and after having drank a Glass of the Water of the River Hircinas and made a Sacrifice to the God Trophonius they entered into the holy Cavern and said to the ORACLE The Cardinal of Furstenberg is not worthy to wear the Electoral Bonnet since the holy Father is not willing he should If we had the Power neither should the Prince of Bavaria for we have received nothing from him as to Furstenburg we very much fear The ORACLE For fear lest they strangle you for the sure Charge is great Qualitas bona Quantitas mala aiunt medici The Physitians say the Quality is good but the Quantity is ill All the Monks of FRANCE Were carried by the Pretress into the Chappel of good Genius and being first laid on the Earth they entred the holy Cavern after which the DIVINITY Ordered them to sing some Exaudions in Musick with a loud Voice Omnes Sancti in Câ—elis Exaudions Orate pro nobis All the Holy in Heaven hear us and pray for us when the Quire began to repeat the Ora pro nobis the Pretress Ordered the most Ancient and VENERABLEST to speak and they
said to the ORACLE At this time we are the most Powerful part of the Government under the Protection of a great King we live in Peace Ease fatted with the Blood of the People we fear neither War nor Peace and heaping up Riches we become so powerful that we give Laws to the Princes of the Earth and it is by us that Kings Reign we have secret ways to insinuate our selves and every one of us endeavours to play his part We make Rich and Poor when we please we affect to be counted Men of Estates and to be Wicked when we have a mind and under the Cheating Mask of Vertue and Vice we seduce the People Hypocrisie is the highest degree of Perfection and the Wisest most Pious and Honestest amongst us is a great Hypocrite we have not made Virtue consist in a severe exercise of good Thoughts as the Ancient Philosophers did who not having the true way of injoying this World have lived in the middle between Good and Evil without coming to Extreams in short we have so well Sung for Six or Seven Months that the Queen of England hath at length had a Son. The DIVINITY Supposited Count TECKELY Came out of this Den imitating the Savage-Beasts who suffer themselves to be seen when the Hunters and Dogs are retired out of the Field The PRETRESS Surprised to see him yet alive made many Acclamations of Joy Crying Helas Helas and immediately presented him with a Glass of the Water of the River Hercinas for and made him sit a Moment to rest himself after which he was conducted into the Holy Cave and spake thus to the DIVINITY You see here the most Wretched and Unfortunate Prince that ever was notwithstanding I am still living by the Powerful Arm of the great God who hath always preserved me from the Hatred of the Emperor my capital Enemy against the King of France who hath betrayed me against the Cursed Race of the Jesuits who have tried a Thousand ways to Sacrisice me to their Rage Against the Grand Seigâ—ior who cares for me no more than I am serviceable to him and in fine against a Thousand and a Thousand Enemies who are contriving my Death You see me a Fugitive and Robbed of a Crown which the Arch-Duke Joseph wears for the Love of me Yet notwithstanding I have not lost my Courage and such as you see me I give a great deal of trouble to my Enemies The ORACLE As long as thou livest thou shalt be between the two Rocks always in danger the Fathers of Loyola have surrounded thee like so many hungry Wolves seeking to devour thee Mounsieur le Cardinal de CAMUS Being conducted to the Holy Cavern one of the Pretress gave him her hand to help him to go down lest he should fall being come near he made a Narration of his History in an Eloquent manner and said to the ORACLE You see here a Fisherman like other Men pardon I beseech you the term which seems to be contrary to the custom since I have all reason imaginable to praise my self if I have any regard to that Great and August Dignity the Purple hath raised me to God be praised I take a Glory to be Humble as much as my proper Nature will permit me You have been informed without doubt that it is my Zeal and that I endeavour to acquit my self of the Duty to which the Charge of Pastor engageth me by the pains I take to gather together the poor Sheep strayed about the Holy Mother-Church You know that I blame extreamly the ways of Rigor and Tyranny which is exercised and that on the Consciences of Persons whose greatest Guilt is that they pray to God in the purity of their Heart That I have Preached and still do so that this harsh way is wholly opposite to the Christian Religion That I endeavour to prove it by all the Fathers of the Church who never had any other way than by Sweetness and Humanity In short I have said it allow'd in the Chair and shall eternally say it of the Reverend Fathers of the Society who Vomit out every Day their Gall and Rage against me I leave them to their Opinions and I have acted at present with so much Boldness that the Holy Father begins to approve of my Conduct and his Majesty on the other side Orders that I be taken for a Model and Example In short you may see what I do and what I have done hitherto But one thing goes extreamly to my heart and if I did dare to tell you it is that I am of the Opinion of those poor People whom they Persecute so much As to what remains to be said it is delicate and I beseech you that it may be permitted that I may be suspected such but that the truth be never known ORACLE Jansenist take care of your self The Duke of BAVARIA The Prestress having conducted him into the Cavern made him drink a Glass of the Water of the River Hercinas and bid him shut his Eyes and speak to the DIVINITY Since my Marriage with the Daughter of the Empire I have always got Victories and gathered Lawrels and the Ottoman War hath been my Apprentiship I have abandoned the Interest of France in quitting a considerable Pension which she gave me because it blotted my Glory I have Married my Sister to the Dauphin of France he hath cost me nothing and what I have lost on one side I have gained on the other I have failed in being Governour of the Spanish Low Countries by a Grant which the King of Spain would have made me but it gave a Jealousie to France and this Affair is put off to another time I have refused the Alliance of a Bastard that was offered me because it did not consist with my Honour besides it would have made me a Slave to a Crown that doth nothing but for Interest At this time they Court me more than ever the Emperor my Father in Law promiseth me that there shall be no more Jealousie between me and Lorrain and that I shall have the sole Command of all his Arms. The King of France promiseth me that I shall share with him in Spain in Flanders in Mallaine in Perne and Mexico and in all the Goods of his Brother in Law after his Death what side ought I to take The ORACLE The Empires side in preferring thy own Glory to that of the Emperor and all the Electors to the Castles in Spain and to the Deceitful Promises of France The PRETRESS Seeing coming the PARTISANS of FRANCE Came before them by the Chappel of Good Fortune before they entred into the Holy Cavern The PRETRESS Ordered The most antient to sit in the Chair of Mnemosine and to make a long Discourse having shut his Eyes and opened his Mouth he spoke thus to the DIVINITY We are a Race Cursed by God Bloody to the poor People Disturbers of the Publick Quiet and Preservers of the Royal Authority without us the