end to his Interrogatories II. As soon as the Pope was recover'd from his indisposition and whilst his Holiness's Humanity took a nap his Nephews with the Princess Donna Maria who very seldom leave him and came to accompany him to the Temple were very glad to lay hold on this oppertunity to consult the Oracle but there arose a great contest between the Father Prince Don Antonio Ottoboni and Cardinal Patron his Son His Eminency insisted that he ought to have the precedency as being a Prince of the Church fearing lest in yielding it he might incur the indignation of the Pope and of all the Cardinals his Collegues insomuch that there could be no means found out to decide this Controversy however Donna Maria the Wife and Mother of the coatending parties thought that she had invented an expedient which should not derogate from the Quality of a Father nor from the Dignity of a Cardinal by imitating the ordinary disposition of her Sex whereupon she proposed that they should speak both together being confident that the Deity would understand every thing that was propounded thô never so confus'dly but this device tended rather to laughter than an accommodation and gave no satisfaction to either party neither indeed was it in any wise agreable to the reverence and respect due to so sacred a place at last they unanimously resolv'd to submit to the Pope's determination who not being willing to overcharge his conscience refer'd the matter to a select congregation of Cardinals that follow'd him and whil'st these Judges of the Quorum were employ'd in hearing and particularly examining the several pretensions of Cardinal Patron who in a very large and eloquent Oration express'd his zeal in defence of the rights of the Church Prince Don Antonio being tyr'd with waiting and soon perceiving that the Judges were favourable to him thought fit to play an Italian trick and taking the adventage of his Son 's long speech stept into the Temple and interrogated the Oracle saying The Holy Father my good Uncle being promoted to the Papal dignity in a ripe age and having found the Nepotism or Pontifical Offspring extinct hath by a very generous effort wrought a miracle at his entring into the Church by reviving it in favour of my Family which in a moment appears laden with wealth and honour invested with Principalities dignities and authority and abounding with great riches but forasmuch as Lay-men were heretofore prohibited by the Law from medling with any Sacred things and the Goods of the Church are appropriated to pious and charitable uses I come to discharge my Conscience and to consult thee to know whether it be lawful for us to enrich ourselves with the treasures of our Holy Mother the Church and freely to partake thereof during the life of our good Uncle especially since so fair an opportunity is offer'd at this Conjuncture THE ORACLE When he that gives can absolve every thing is permitted III. His Eminency Cardinal Patron having finish'd his harangue by which he thought he had well establish'd his rights and privileges departed in a great heat from the Congregation to cause Prince Antonio his Father to appear there but he found that he had supplanted him and was gone before The Cardinal immediately making his protestation went to the Temple and said Our Holy Father the Pope advanc'd me in my youth to the Purple Robes under the name of Cardinal Patron ever since which time I have been endow'd with abundance of wealth and if his Holiness shall continue to live some years longer I shall get up to the top of the pinnacle and shall be in a fair way to become great and rich since the Pope heaps up treasures only to leave us in a happy condition after his death and althô it be done with the goods of the Church nevertheless he is the dispenser of them for in asmuch as he is infallible he cannot err and he that absolves others can also absolve himself first therefore without any scruple and with extended arms I receive all that comes from the Pope's hands who alone can make the rest of my life happy wherefore I 'm come to know whether this bright star shall ever attend upon me THE ORACLE No Man can be called happy before Death IV. The Prince Don Marco Ottoboni who had joined hands with Donna Maria thinking that it was his turn advanc'd but the Princess cried out to him Principe honore a la Signora give place to the Lady Wherupon Don Marco retiring made a very low obeisance to the Lady and let her enter into the Temple to be inform'd of what she most desir'd and having entreated the Priestess to place her in a decent posture she mutter'd certain Litanies with a low voice and then said O thou Deity that fillest this place with thy glory forasmuch as nothing is unknown to thee I 'm come to implore an answer from thy sacred mouth to know how many years the life of our good Uncle the Pope shall continue to the end that we may be able to pursue our advantage and to advance our fortunes by making hay while the Sun shines lest the night of his Death overtake us sooner than we should desire For according to the Proverb Passato la Festa Gabbato il Santo When the Feast is past the Saint is mock't THE ORACLE The Fatal Sisters spin out thy destiny as well as his concerning whom thou enquirest thy life as his depends only on one snip of the Goddess Clotho's Sizzers V. Afterwards the Prince Don Marco Ottoboni succeeded in her place and made his address to the Oracle The promotion of the Pope my Uncle hath been very advantageous to us the lowness of my stature caus'd me to be but little regarded amongst the Ladies but since I am become the Nephew of a Pope they enquire after me and as little as I am his Holiness hath made choice of me to propagate the Family of the Ottoboni but since I 'm not one of the most vigorous I 'm come to consult you to know whether I shall be so happy as to have any issue THE ORACLE Pigliate la Giovanetta bella that is to say Take the young and the fair and thou shalt have friends VI. The Emperor Leopoldus semper Augustus being inform'd that the Temple of the Oracle was open was glad of an opportunity to consult it on occasion of the two Wars in which he is engag'd against his two most potent and most cruel enemies to know the success of which his Imperial Majesty spake thus The Conquests that I have obtain'd over the Infidels and the fame of my Victories have procur'd me a second War and a new enemy for the King of France being jealous of the prosperity of my Arms hath join'd with the Turk and declared War against me without a cause to the end that he might compel me to divide my Forces and to give my first enemy time and means to take respite and with
mean time what ought I to do for the good of my People and for that of Christendom THE ORACLE Never depart from the interest of those that have assisted to invest thee with the Electoral mantle XI When the Ecclesiastical Electors had finish'd their addresses the Elector of Bavaria who had done honour to the Robe drew near and said Neither the promises of France nor my Alliance with that Crown nor even the life of the Dauphiness my dear Sister were able to draw me off from the interest of the Empire The glory of vanquishing the Infidels hath often caus'd me to hazard my life for the defence of Christendom My zeal for the good cause aswell as my valour hath attracted the envy of the malicious but heaven hath thought fit that I should survive some of them and I hope that Christendom will recover by me what it hath lost by my competitor I will give a reason to Europe no longer to resent the loss of the brave Duke of Lorrain and to France the marks of my just indignation I will make it appear that the Bavarian blood still flows in my veins and I remember the scorn put on my Alliance by their protection of the Cardinal of Furstemberg and affronts that they have offer'd to the Dauphiness ever since I resus'd to enter into the French interosts and to become their King's Son in law THE ORACLE Thy glory may procure a Crown for thy family if it be not prevented XII The Elector of Brandenbourg after having paid his last respects to the memory of the Elector his late Father and having receiv'd the homage of his Subjects came nigh the sacred Den and said I shall endeavour not to diminish the reputation and glory that the Elector my Father hath acquir'd in the World The pipe through which the infectious poison of France pass'd into my Countrey being cut off by the special favour of Heaven I will hearken to no proposition on that side and shall alwaies embrace the common Cause I will purge if it be possible my Court from the French corruption and none of their Emissaries shall be admitted therein I will follow the good counsels of the King of great Britain my Kinsman and Ally And if nature hath prov'd an unkind Step-mother to me in some particulars I will strive to repair that loss by a great and glorious name and by the considerable Forces that I shall alwaies maintain nevertheless my Artillery cannot march but on silver wheels Moreover with the help of certain subsidies allow'd me by the Allies I shall essay to make myself formidable to my enemies but without money the Machine cannot be mov'd THE ORACLE Take heed lest in milking the Cow too much she should at last overturn the pail XIII The Elector of Saxony having receiv'd but little satisfaction in his last Winter-quarters and having deliberated in his Council what measures ought to be taken this Campagne since the Emperor had already acknowledg'd the justice of his complaints and had indemnifi'd him as to part of his pretensions was resolv'd to cause his troops to march for the defense of the common cause and to go and declare his mind in the Temple which he did after this manner As to my particular I have enter'd into no engagement with France but have adher'd to the common Cause of Europe for the maintaining whereof I was only oblig'd to furnish my quota in the Forces of the Empire but at the perswasion of my Allies I have exceeded this obligation nevertheless the French understanding that my expectation was not answer'd that no regard was had to my troops and that I had carried on the War at my own charge made great offers to me only to remain neuter but I would not hearken to any of these Emissaries Therefore the King of France can expect nothing but blows from me provided that my troops be treated after a better manner than formerly otherwise I shall remayn neuter the next Campain and nothing shall be able to excite me nor to cause me to march nor even so much as to perswade me to any thing except THE ORACLE William Rex XIV The Elector Palatin came near and said Ever since my promotion to the Electorate I have been as it were a victime sacrific'd for the safety of the Empire my Countrey and People have been offer'd up to the rage and fury of the French the King of France hath honour'd me so far as to set me in the rank of his greatest enemies and hath give an apparent testimony thereof to the World by the conflagrations that he hath caus'd in the Palatinate but Heaven cannot better avenge me of this cruel enemy than by making the Queen of Spain my Daughter fruitful and by Crowning William III. King of Great Britain with victorious Laurels to the end that after the Conquest of Ireland he may advance to the relief of the oppressed Princes to compel mine enemy to retire within his own just bounds and to restore peace to Europe that is harrass'd with calamities on all sides But alass when shall this happy time come THE ORACLE Thy Children shall enjoy this advantage XV. After the Emperor and the Princes of the Empire William III. King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith c. carrying the second Imperial Crown in Europe came to the Temple to consult the Oracle concerning the important affairs in which he is at present engag'd all Christendom having their eyes fix'd on him as the deliverer of the afflicted the hope of the oppress'd Princes and the Restorer of Europe which would have fallen into perpetual slavery if England had not broken its fetters Being arriv'd at the sacred Den he said The People of Great Britain have sent for me for their deliverance My Valour hath put the Scepter into my hands and Heaven hath Crown'd me after I had deliver'd the Nation from oppression that march'd on with a swift pace and from those calamities that hung over their heads Veni vidi vici I came I saw and I overcame for the Agents whom the King of France employ'd to enslave this Nation and to bring it under the yoak of a despotic and arbitrary Power gave place at my approach I was Anointed King as another David in the room of my Father in Law who chose rather to abandon the Kingdom than to stand and justify the proceedings of his Reign and the birth of his pretended Prince of Wales before a free Parliament Lawfully conven'd without any sinister courses or corruption thus he left to me the Kingdom and the Crown and Heaven having design'd me for great and glorious enterprizes hath not put the Royal Sword into my hands in vain and thus as it were unto another Hercules Ireland becomes one of my labours my Competitor is fled and durst not appear in the Battel before me thinking it more expedient to save himself by flying to his dear Ally than to run the hazard of
Algier and compell'd to engage at the Ottoman Port to send the Dauphin with a great Army to the frontiers of Germany to harass the Emperor and to give his Highness my Collegue an opportunity by dividing the Forces of the Empire to respite and to gather his Forces together to invade Leopold lest the whole burden of the War should fall on my shoulders I flatter'd myself with the expectation of great succours from Rome after the general extirpation that I had caused of the Hugonots in my Kingdom and the submissions that I had made to the Holy See since the exaltation of this present Pope who was pleas'd more over to promise that by his Pastoral authority he would procure a reconciliation with the Catholick Princes on the account of some small restitution to the end that I might be in a capacity to oppose the Hugenot Potentates to which effect I had bent my chiefest forces nevertheless with an intent to restore all afterwards to the Catholicks which I would have readily granted to them for the accommodation of my affairs But the Venetian Policy is an impenetrable mystery to my Ministers of State they bawl'd aloud at Rome that the Prince of Orange is an Usurper and a more dangerous and formidable Heretick than Calvin himself who advanc'd his Conquests only with the tongue and the pen whereas this Prince makes use of his Sword and that a remedy ought to be provided in time but all my zeal for the Catholick Religion hath hitherto produc'd no effect and it is alledg'd to me that it is not a War maintain'd for the cause of Religion but for that of Ambition In the mean time thou know'st Oh Deity that presidest in this Place that I labour to reestablish the King of England on his Throne and that I have almost exhausted my treasury to preserve Ireland for him but instead of a recompense it hath been objected to me that it is my own interest that obligeth me to act and the Catholicks are so far from assisting me with Croisades that they sing Te Deum when the Hugenots are victorious this causeth me often to deliberate whether I ought to recall the later into my Kingdom to enrage my Catholic enemies but the mischief is they will give no credit to my word nor I to their The Union of the Allies is more closely knit together than the Gordian Knot and requires another Alexander to untie it but it is a Clock that always goes and never strikes it is a Lute on which some strings are always jarring or out of tune I have devis'd an Expedient to defend my self and not to fear them for I find them to be better Travellers than Soldiers I hope that if they always March as they have begun they will soon be ready to return into their Winter-quarters and then I shall have no longer any cause of Fear on the side of Germany My Cousin of Luxemburgh who is as subtil as a Fox hath promis'd to deceive the Prince of Waldeck once more I have drain'd my Subjects and Churches of all their Money because I knew it is the sinews of War and with this familiar Spirit all things may be effected with the help thereof I penetrate every where even into the most secret Counsels and it is my only Refuge my Life-guard and the best Ally that I have at this time It often performs the function of a General by gaining the Victory for me as well as that of an Orator amongst the Ladies and by its Vertue I subdue many Obstinate Enemies But alas it is my sad misfortune that this familiar Spirit could never tame the Prince of Orange who is the Enemy that I most dread above all others and I am very much afraid lest he should have a powerful party in my Kingdom as he hath had in England moreover I have been assur'd that he is Cannon-proof and that he fears no danger what course then shall I take to defend my self against him THE ORACLE Restore unto God and Men that which belongs to them otherwise thou shalt drink the Juice of ORANGE XX. MADAM de Maintonon who had accompanied the King into the Temple afterwards entreated the Priestess to conduct her to a convenient place and to set her in a decent posture that she might interrogate the Oracle which being accordingly done she said By the favour and assistance of the Reverend Father La Chaise I have quieted my Conscience and secur'd my Honour against all Obloquy and Slander never any poor Lady in France ascended to that high degree of Glory to which I have arriv'd only by my Intrigues I have refus'd the chief Honours of the Court but I have exercis'd in a manner all the functions of a Queen I had a respect for Madam the late Dauphiness because she preceeded me at Court but when another shall come I do not intend to give her the same Honour or Deference since I am at present the first in right Shall it be said that I who have attain'd to so great Intimacy and Familiarity with the King and his Female Counsellors should give place to an upstart this I confess would be a very great vexation to me therefore I come hither to consult thee on this occasion THE ORACLE Women and Fruits have their Flowers and Seasons XXI WHEN the King was gone out of the Temple the Dauphin succeeded in his place and said I fear lest being as yet Dauphin I should become greater than my Father which is a thing without a president in France but Woe to him that is to be the first Example Madam the late Dauphiness often reproach'd me by reason of the little share that I had in managing the Affairs of the Kingdom to whom it chiefly belong'd and because very often the pleasure of a Minister of State hath prevail'd over mine indeed it is their Conduit through which I have frequently receiv'd favours from the King who hath too much Ambition to suffer me to Rule during his Life and after the example of Charles the Fifth to put the Royal Authority into my hands Tho' the People have much inclination to me ever since the Troubles in which they are involv'd the Catholicks are desirous of me and the Hugenots wait for me with great Devotion notwithstanding that the Dauphiness as many others were to make her self to be regarded was accessary in tormenting them but they are perswaded that I was not engag'd in causing the Vexations that were offer'd to them and that the good Precepts of the Duke of Montausier my Governour were prevalent in me neither indeed could I ever approve of all the violent proceedings that have been promoted with respect to them because I well fore-saw that they would be attended by mischievous Consequences and would partly kindle all those Combustions that we see at this Day inflam'd in the Kingdom which cannot but produce most dangerous effects The King 's Evil Council hath rais'd up this vast number of Enemies
with whom we are now to contend and who are resolv'd not to hearken to any Peace till France be abased but it is my misfortune that in this abasement I shall find my own The King will not give Ear to my Counsel and perhaps when he shall have a mind to take my Advice it may then be too late He always thinks that he hath strength enough to break thro' the multitude of his Enemies and to make way for a favourable Peace but this account is very different from that of the Confederates who advance on all sides to enter into France Peradventure if I were Master and should make propositions to them they would hearken to me but the King will never consent to this till the last extremity Therefore I come hither to know to which Party I ought to adhere in case the Enemies should invade the Kingdom THE ORACLE The Success of the Campain of the Year 1691 shall shew it to thee XXII THE Duke of Orleans tir'd with doing nothing and vex'd to see himself rejected and despis'd went to consult the Oracle saying I have always very well discharg'd my Trust whensoever the King hath thought fit to require my Service witness the Battel and Taking of St. Omer and altho' his Majesty hath been pleas'd to express the satisfaction he receiv'd from the Glory that I had there obtain'd nevertheless I remain without Employment and the King neither talks nor takes no more notice of me than if there were no such Person in the World Whence does this proceed THE ORACLE The King would not have his Actions Eclips'd by thine neither doth he desire any other Glory but that which he acquires himself XXIII THE King of Sweden having declar'd that he is very willing to assist his Allies but withal to keep a Neutrality with France that he might thereby promote the Commerce of his Subjects whilst the most part of other Nations were engag'd in a tedious War went to consult the Oracle saying The King of France offers great advantages to hinder me from affording any Supplies to the Confederates and to induce me to stand Neuter He hath propounded an Expedient to stop the Vessels that I am oblig'd to send to the Hollanders by vertue of a Treaty made with the States General and if I have a mind to enter into Pomerania he will not only pay all arrears and summ's of money due to me but will also restore the Dutchy of Deux ponts and defray the charge of the War moreover he promiseth that the King of Denmark shall make no attempt upon my Countrey but shall likewise remayn neuter on my account and that we shall both enter into a Treaty of Commerce with France and make a league together to oppose all that shall endeavour to incommode or disturb us therein Whereas on the one side I am allur'd by the advantage of Traffic on the other the treachery and ill usage that I have receiv'd from France deters me all these fair propositions being only the product of that necessity with which he finds himself urg'd what then shall I do THE ORACLE Relye not on a reconcil'd enemy XXIV The King of Denmark being sollicited on the one side by the fair offers of France and detain'd on the other by the interest of Prince George who stands in need of King William's assistance to establish the Crown in the Family and knowing not what to determine to preserve both came to consult the Oracle on this occasion saying The present offers of the King of France are fair and good but they are not to be compar'd with the advantages that will hereafter accrue to my Countrey by a strict union with England for if the Princess of Denmark should ascend the Throne there would be a great and indissoluble band of unity between England and my Dominions besides that the assurances which the King of Great Britain now reigning hath given me at present of his amity and the sincerity that I have always found in the word of this Prince have oblig'd me to send Forces to assist him in finishing the Conquest of Ireland my own interest also exciteth me to afford him this supply against King James since the later design'd to exclude the Princesses his Daughters and their off-spring from the Crown to transfer it to a stranger whose extraction is unknown but I would willingly assist the King of England without leaving the King of France who considering his present circumstances will not be offended as he would have been heretofore at the aid that I have sent into Ireland since he is now as Meek as he was haughty in times past THE ORACLE Beware of the French disease for that of England had its original in France XXV The King of Poland being sufficiently disgusted at France when he had caus'd the Sieur Granville to depart out of his Dominions and having declar'd to the Queen that after the marriage of the Royal Prince his Son with the Princess of Nieubourg he would no longer hearken to the Ministers of France thô they were able even to bestow on him the same faculty as Midas had heretofore of turning every thing he should touch into Gold came in this resolution to consult the Oracle saying The French baits have caus'd me to lose the high reputation that I had acquir'd before Vienna I confess my weakness hitherto in placing my Summum bonum in a little yellow clay which I have kept more carefully than holy Relicks and I have often look'd on the effigies of the Louys d'Ors as a Tutelary God and the object of my happiness However I now begin to understand that these material goods are but froth in comparison of the worth of real glory which alone can set my Son on the Throne I know that the taking of Caminiec can at present contribute more thereto than all the treasure of France but on this occasion my Allies have at least this consolation that I have taken more from the French than from the Turks and that to exhaust is to weaken That War can be but of little moment where the danger and the honour are not great therefore for the future after the example of Hannibal I shall turn to the side of glory as soon as the marriage of the Royal Prince with the Princess of Nieubourg shall be accomplish'd and to that end I have stopt my ears against all the Syrens of France since I observe that their King will have enough to do to preserve his Crown for his own Son and that the Emperor alone can establish mine on the head of my heir I am come hither to receive your wholsom Counsel THE ORACLE Endeavour thy self by thy own valour to secure the Crown for thy posterity XXVI The King of Portugal after his Alliance with the House of Nieubourg thought himself also oblig'd to imbrace the interest of the Empire and the common cause of his Allies but the French who are alwais pregnant of politic contrivances
of their Reys that belong to Sea affairs to consult the Oracle who said The French have Bombarded our City but it hath cost them dear they are come to demand a Peace and have appli'd a Golden plaister to our Wound and if we may believe them we have no better friend than their King shall we give them credit THE ORACLE There is no great difference between one Corsair and another XLIV The Czars of Moscovy having enter'd upon no considerable Action against the Turks since their Declaration of War notwithstanding all the Assurances given by their Ambassadors whom they sent into all the Courts of Europe came both together to consult the Oracle saying We have declar'd War against the Turks and altho' we have demanded Supplies of all the Christian Princes yet none comes to our Assistance insomuch that we are oblig'd to maintain this great War at our own Charges if this continues we shall be compell'd to make a Peace THE ORACLE Ye shall do no great good nor no great harm XLV The Reverend Society of the Jesuits deputed Father La Chaise and another English Father lately come from England to go and consult the Oracle in the Habit of Cavaliers lest they should meet with any of King William's Troops on the Road where they were no sooner arriv'd but they very confidently enter'd into the Temple and said Our Society is esteem'd as the Pillar of the Catholick Church for without it it would have fallen in several places and by our intercession we obtain'd a Catholick Successor in England nevertheless the Sins of Men have caus'd Heresie to prevail for a time but we are not discourag'd our Party always subsists there and another Revolution may put us in possession of what we have lost The City of Geneva was very near falling into our hands and we had already reckon'd it in the number of our Conquests It hath indeed escap'd out of the King's Power but a fair opportunity pretermitted is not irrecoverable We have had better success with the Emperor and have hitherto hinder'd him from making a Peace with the Turks The Martyrdoms that our Society hath suffer'd in England and China caus'd us justly to hope that we should have been regarded by the Holy See but it seems all our Pains and Zeal for the propagation of the Faith cannot as yet merit the esteem of the Venetians which hath in all times been of very bad consequence to us with respect to the Hereticks but if we can hope for no great matter on that side we may expect much from the Most Christian King who promiseth to himself a happy Issue of this War thro' the intercession of the grand Saint Ignatius and the Prayers of the whole Society We have entirely devoted our selves to France the King of Spain being a Saint that at present can do us neither good nor harm We had reason to hope for much from the King and Queen of England if Fortune had not been unkind to them but the whole Society labours for their Restauration Wilt thou therefore Re-establish them and us by their means THE ORACLE It is impossible to rise again after so great a fall XLVI The Right Reverend the Clergy of France being assembled together intended to depute the Arch-Bishop of Paris to go and consult the Oracle but when he was enjoin'd to speak the Truth he desir'd to be excus'd by reason that the King had promis'd him the first nomination to a Cardinal's Cap and therefore being under such Circumstances he durst not disoblige his Majesty whereupon they soon appointed the Bishop of Grenoble in his room to discharge that Office who being arrived at the Sacred Den spake to this effect I am come hither on the behalf of the most considerable Assembly in Europe I mean the Clergy of France and of the Gallicane Church to pour out our just Complaints into your Bosom The King in taking away our Revenues draws the most pure Blood out of our Veins by continual Taxes and Gratuities beyond our Ability and by a prodigious Usurpation this Monarch hath lately taken from us all the Ornaments of Gold and Silver belonging to the Sanctuary without the consent of our Holy Father the Pope under pretence of a War to be prosecuted against the Hereticks and of the Re-union of the Hugenots of his Kingdom with the Church insisting moreover that he hath been oblig'd to disburse vast Sums of Money in maintaining the Royal Mission that hath brought in great Revenues to the Church But that which most affects the Conscience of our Prelates is that they must believe every thing that the King requires them and accommodate their Faith according to the Affairs that intervene between the Court of France and that of Rome It would be great matter of Joy if by your wholsome Counsels this Venerable Assembly might be deliver'd from all these Vexations that we may peaceable enjoy our Benefices and not be compell'd to believe any thing but what are commanded by our Holy Mother the Church THE ORACLE Your Kings pretend that Religion may be adapted to their Ambition XLVII The Catholicks of England in their Exile went to consult the Oracle to know their Destiny saying We thought that as soon as our Zealous Monarch had ascended his Brother's Throne the time of our Restauration was at hand and that after a tedious Captivity we should have re-enter'd upon the possession of all our Rights and Prerogatives The Reverend Fathers the Jesuits gave us great hopes thereof but by a strange Revolution we find our selves further off than we were hitherto and by hoisting our Top-gallant too high we have overset our Vessel at the first Blast of Wind the Tempest soon dispers'd us on all sides like scatter'd Sheep at the Mercy of Foreigners without any prospect of returning at least of a New Revolution which we are forc'd to wait for without so rouch as being able to foresee the least Remedy for our Calamities Alass When shall we meet with a more favourable time THE ORACLE Patience is a great Vertue XLVIII The Marshal de la Feuillade having for a long time passionately wished for an opportunity freely to disclose his Mind went to the Temple and said I had foretold long ago that the Prince of Orange would at length create us much trouble but no credit was given to my Word and for speaking the Truth I was very near being disgrac'd by the King instead of serveing Him with my wholesome Advice He would no longer hearken to me because I knew not how to flatter and I was constrain'd to hold my Tongue but now that this Prince is become King of England and hath Power in His Hand He begins to Sing a very different Tune than he did before and if ever He should pass over into France we shall see Fine-work and the Post will find good Employment My Predictions were always true that with too much squeezing the Orange it would at last become bitter but I was not heard and when they shall be willing to give Ear perhaps then it will be too late Fear hath already seiz'd the Court and they have sent me to repair the old Forts in Dauphine lest the Prince marching at the head of the Vaudois should recover his Castle The King hath charg'd me to take great care thereof but I am very desirous to declare my Opinion to him THE ORACLE Thy Master hates the Truth FINIS
more ease to recover what he hath lost and that in weakening me he might make use of this Conjuncture to satisfye the ambition which he hath alwaies had to seize on my Empire and to cause the Imperial Crown to pass into his family But by the means of these violent proceedings he hath cooperated in the Election of my Son to be King of the Romans who was thereupon constituted my Successor and I am sofar from being oppress'd as this new enemy hop'd that I find myself in a condition vigorously to oppose the assaults of these two Potentates and the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits give me reason to hope that if I continue the War against the Infidels I shall be able to set up the Cross in the City of Constantinople but on the other hand all my Allies represent to me the devastations and calamities that the French have caus'd in Germany and that to conquer certain barren Lands in Bulgaria several fair Provinces on the Rhine are ruin'd What measures then are most expedient to be taken by me in such an exigence being urg'd on one side by the the desire of destroying the Infidels and incited on the other by the cruelties and outragious combustions of the French THE ORACLE Peace in the East and suffer not thy self to be seduc'd VII The King of the Romans having accompanied the Emperor to the Temple his Imperial Majesty advis'd him to consult the Oracle who said I have been contrary to the expectation of the enemies of the Emperor my Father elected King of the Romans and appointed Successor of the Empire in a time of trouble and in the midst of War and all the means that France hath us'd to avoid this blow in favour of the Dauphin could not hinder my Election from being made without any opposition all the promises and efforts of my Competitor have prov'd vain and ineffectual and the just reputation and good Reign of the Emperor my Lord and Father hath prevail'd over all the intrigues and artifices of the French Emissaries This is such a happiness that I could not expect so soon for which I 'm come to render thanks to Heaven as the principal cause and to be inform'd of the second THE ORACLE The Revolution of England but especially become Caesar and not a Jesuit VIII All the Electoral Princes having accompanied the Emperor and the King of the Romans the Elector of Mentz advanc'd near the sacred Den and spake to this effect I have been tormented and my Territories have been taken as a prey relying to much on the illusory promises that were made to me on behalf of the King of France moreover as an addition to my misfortunes I found out the cheat only with the loss of my Country and receiv'd not a penny of all the money that was promis'd to me and if the Emperor at length had not had more consideration for me than I had at the beginning fidelity to him or regard to the welfare of the Empire thô my Quality of Elector and Prince of the Empire obliged me thereto I should have utterly perish'd I stood on the brink of a dangerous precipice where my head began to turn but thanks to his Imperial Majesty who hath extended his gracious hand to me and hath as it were snacht me out of the abyss of destructions wherein the Emissaries of France had almost plung'd me contrary to my own peculiar Interest But forasmuch as in adversity and perils we are most apt to reflect on our former errors and miscarriages I 'm come to make a solemn protestation in this Temple that I will never depart from the true interest of the Empire and that I am resolv'd for the future either to overcome or to perish together with it THE ORACLE Offend no more lest a worse thing happen unto thee IX The Elector of Triers approach'd and said I have fought the good fight for the Empire and have remained faithful to the Emperor neither promises nor threats have been able to move me nor to separate me from the Empire which is my true interest I confess my Tertitories have suffer'd but I take comfort in this that it was for a good cause and that I have persever'd in all the parts of my duty and fidelity and I patiently expect the deliverance of my Country by the hand of my Allies and the consolation of my People that groan under the oppression of the Usurper THE ORACLE Deliverance attends the just and Heaven it self shall make a breach in the Royal mount where thou art detain'd X. The Elector of Colen not having obtain'd an oppertunity to consult the Oracle since the death of his Uncle was ravish'd with joy at this it being the first that happen'd since his election to the Electorate and said The Negociation of my friends hath prevail'd over the pretensions of the Coadjutor that was chosen by the Chapter and all the machinations of France are frustrated Since my election all the great designs of Lewis XIV begin to fail and the Crown of the King of the Romans hath prov'd only imaginary to the Dauphin his Son My election hath serv'd as a bridle to restrain his ambition Colen hath limited his conquests Rhinberg Keiserwert and Bonne have been such hard morsels that the Cardinal of Furstemberg could not digest them notwithstanding his taking a dose of Spiritus Gall. he was oblig'd to disgorge them at the first emetic potion given him by the Allies not being any longer able to bear the Quality of Arch-Bishop of Colen however for his consolation I consent that he may please himself with that title during the War Lastly my election hath been an eclipse of this French Sun that was about to set the whole World in a flame but thanks be to my good Allies the States General of the United Provinces and to the care of his Highness the Prince of Orange now King of Great Britain to whom my election hath serv'd as the first step to ascend the Throne Thus am I now become the peaceable possessor of my Uncle's Arch-Bishopric who was indeed blinded by France to deprive the thereof on the simple promise of the Cardinal to give me the Coadjutorship But this was least in the thoughts of Lewsi XIV his interest obliging him to keep this Electorate in the hands of his Creatures therefore it hath been preserv'd by Divine Providence that extracts sweet out of bitter and I may justly affirm that the treachery of France hath open'd to me a passage into the Electorate The People of my Jurisdiction passionately desire my presence by reason of the Calamities in which many of them are now involv'd but I comfort them rather at a distance since during my minority I leave the Revenues to satisfye the debts of my Countrey However I hope that the War being ended the Pope will grant me a dispensation to exercise the Spiritual function and then I shall go and take possession of both at once In the
another Combat thô a King ought not to lose his Crown but with his life but I had rather see him running away than in my own possession his little courage is not capable of creating any fear of farther trouble on his behalf and all the treasons that he stirs up in my Kingdom are but as so many vapours coming from France which are soon dispers'd by my presence Several of my Subjects abuse my generosity but some of the Chief being punish'd as an example to the rest shall make it appear that I know how to Reign and that Justice and Mercy are the Basis on which my Throne is erected I am come to consult the Oracle that I may know to what side I ought to turn the force of my Arms. THE ORACLE Towards the Lion of the Gaulish Forest whose spoils shall serve as thy Trophy XVI The Queen of Great Britain having accompanied the King her Royal Consort to the Temple had a mind also to be inform'd of future events and the Priestess having render'd to her Majesty all the honours due to her Sex and Royal Person she spake thus I was born to Reign The enemies of my glory are dispers'd as the streams of water those Owls the wicked Counsellors of my Father have taken their flight at the approach of the King my Husband Heaven hath frustrated their flagitious designs truth hath triumph'd over falshood the counterfeit Heir hath follow'd his suppos'd Father and Mother and Heaven hath secur'd for me the Crown of my Ancestors which a Mother in Law with the assistance of her Owls would have caus'd to pass into another family the King's valour hath preserv'd my People from falling into this misfortune but to make both them and me happy there wants nothing but an heir to support my Crown THE ORACLE Heaven shall provide XVII The King of Spain having been a great while employ'd in solemnizing his second Marriage and in making preparations for the reception of his new Spouse and the Council having made several resolutions and debates relating to determine to what place his Majesty should go their Majesties came both together to the Temple to consult the Oracle and the King spake first as of right he ought and said Heaven hath deliver'd me from one that was a great friend and adherent to the King of France who is the declar'd enemy of the House of Austria Marriages with France are so many gins and snares that are laid for me on that side I have at last open'd my eyes thô somewhat late and therefore I have dispos'd of my Daughters on the side of Germany and I hope that being no longer spy'd even in my very Bed-chamber I shall soon find myself in a capacity to oppose my enemy and to pursue him with the assistance of my Allies Moreover if the deceas'd Queen had not compell'd me to restore to the French the money that was brought from my Indies on their account for prohibited Goods I should have been furnish'd with ready cash to prosecute the War with success my Wife given to me by France perswaded me to do this act against the opinion of my Privy Council but the business is done and there is no remedy Wherefore I come to know whether I shall get the Victory over my enemies now that I am within the armes of a Queen who is oblig'd by her interest to assist me with her wholsome counsels for the advantage of the good Party THE ORACLE Labour if thou canst to get a Successor for thy Countrey and that is the greatest Victory that thou canst gain over thy enemies XVIII The new Queen young and vigorous approaching spake thus with a gallant To so many Kingdomes lately bestow'd on my by Heaven the addition of an Heir seems to be altogether necessary without which my present possessions and enjoyments can be esteem'd but as lame and imperfect since all at last must devolve upon another Family Therefore I am come to this place to know whether Heaven will vouchsafe to grant a Successor to the King my Husband as for my part I shall use all possible means but THE ORACLE answer'd without permitting the Queen to proceed The enterprize is great XIX Lewes XIV King of France and Navarâ—e being employ'd day and night in debating in his Council concerning the most effectual means to withstand so many powerful enemies that had declar'd War against him could not well spare time to go and consult the Oracle However at last he resolved to set forward in his journey but being inform'd that King William intended to be there and understanding that he walks in the mid'st of fire and that he is even Canon-proof he was not willing to meet him wherefore he sent Madame de Maintenon before as a Scout in the habit of a Friar with a purse full of Louys d'Ors to observe the avenues and to enquire of the Priestess Pythonissa what might happen This faithful messinger being return'd and having made a report to the King that the danger which he fear'd was past his Majesty had much ado to take up a resolution for fear of some treachery or ambuscade Nevertheless to prevent all disasters and for a greater precaution he commanded all his Dragoons to serve as an Avant-guard giving them orders to surround the Temple and a strict charge to keep a strong guard at the Gate during the time that he remain'd within lest he should be taken away for a Saint He took also along with him the most able Fathers among the Jesuits that he might be preserv'd by the merit of their holy Prayers and for his Life-guard the Ban and Arriere-Ban of the City of Paris which the Marshal de la Feuillade undertook to command swearing by the Statue of the mighty Monarch erected in the Place des Victoires that for his Masters greater security he would put all Strangers that he should meet on the road to the edge of the Sword and would carry fire and destruction wheresoever he pass'd for fear of an Ambush Thus his most Christian Majesty being accompanied with so valiant a Champion enter'd into the Temple but he was not able to forbear casting an eye on all sides for fear of a surprize at last his spake very devoutly after this manner I thought that after I had extirpated all the Hugenots of my Kingdom the Catholic Princes according to the example of my Ally the King of England would have joyn'd with me and assisted in subduing the Hollanders and after them all the Heretical Potentates that I might be able to establish the Catholick Doctrine throughout all my Conquests but very far from that the whole World Catholicks and Hugonots have combin'd together against me and by a strange revolution have suffer'd my only Ally to be driven from his Countrey by the Prince of Orange Wherefore I have been constrain'd contrary to the Catholick Faith to enter into leagues for my own defence with the Grand Signior and the Corsairs of
spent it in treating my dear Niece who by her fond caresses caus'd me to imitate the Crow in the Fable and that which torments me most of all is that the matter is irrecoverable since the Holy See hath again ratified all that was done in this affair and that my Competitor is younger than I Thus my fortune is limitted within the narrow bounds of the Abbey of Saint Germain However the King gives me hopes of obtaining an Arch-Bishopric in his Kingdom to sweeten the remorse that I might have for betraying my own lawful Soveraign but I cannot relye upon it The fear of some foul and unexpected chastisement caus'd me to withdraw from Rome incognito to take shelter under the Culverins of the great Lewes but in regard that the unfortunate are never welcome at the French Court I can make but a sorry figure and it will be yet so much the worse if the Emperor and his Allies should gain any considerable advantages over France for then I might serve as a Victime to a Peace not knowing whither to flye since all Europe only desires my ruin Thus on whatsoever side I turn I can see nothing but crosses and tribulation ready to attend me I am come therefore to know my destiny THE ORACLE It will follow the fortune of thy new Master XXXVII The King of Siam being disengag'd from the French and the Jesuits went to consult the Oracle and said my Predecessor was much addicted to the French that were brought to Siam by the Jesuits who having made themselves in a manner necessary by the profession of the Mathematics and Astrology with the study whereof they had amus'd him soon insinuated themselves into his favour and by that means got possession of the most principal Places in his Dominions with a prospect of becoming at length Masters of the whole Kingdom designing to set one of their own Creatures on the Throne and to seize on our Golden Gods that attract all their admiration neither would they have preach'd there Religion here but to that end however having perceiv'd their subtilty with the advice of my chief Mandarins I got rid of them as also of their principal abetters and adherents After the King's Death I took possession of the Kingdom lest it should fall together with our Gods into the hands of the French I am not ignorant that their King will make pretensions against me but I fear him not as long as I can maintain an Alliance and good correspondence with the Hollanders my neighbours at least if they do not come to demand the presents that they gave to my Predecessor and to Constantius his chief Minister of State who was the instrument of all their designs and the wheel that set the engine of the Jesuits on motion but the first that shall presume to enter into my Kingdom I will deliver as a prey to the wild Beasts for I can no longer suffer such vermin in my Dominions THE ORACLE Be alwaies Master XXXVIII The Republic of Geneva being deliver'd from those terrible alarms that the King of France continually caus'd in their neighbourhood on the occasion of the marching of that vast number of the enemies against whom he is now engag'd and of the great War in which he is involv'd sent two Syndics to consult the Oracle in the name of the whole City who spake after this manner Our condition being alter'd and the tempestuous Storm having pass'd over our Heads he that so lately threatn'd us begins now to caress us thus we breath in a clear and wholsom air and we may certainly affirm that King William is a great Physitian and that his most efficacious remedies operate at a very great distance but for asmuch as in all distempers relapses are very dangerous by what means shall we preserve the good health that we now enjoy THE ORACLE By the vertue of Spiritus Angliae XXXIX The City of Hambourgh being oblig'd to publish the Emperor's Avocatoria was not a little disgusted and in this perplexity sent two Licenciats to consult the Oracle who spake in the name of their Principals saying We hoped that all our neighbours being engag'd in War we might have monopoliz'd the greatest part of their Traffic by the means of a neutrality but since jealousy often creates violence insomuch that we have found an embrago laid on all our Vessels in England with the Emperor's consent we have been compell'd to submit to the Avocatoria and to cause the French Resident to depart from our Tertitories but the King may clearly see that we have been constrain'd thereto to avoid the ruin of our inhabitants for the King of England who knows not how to dally persists in obligng us to observe the Avocatoria Thus we are perplex'd being depriv'd of our Commerce with France and not knowing what party to adhere unto in this Conjuncture THE ORACLE Follow the strongest XL. The Princes of the House of Lunembourg spake thus to the Oracle We have had no regard to all the offers of France and they could not hinder us from cleving to the interest of the common Cause of Europe and from furnishing our Allies with Troops notwithstanding the vast summes of money offer'd to us by the most Christian King to prevent it but we have no mind to be harrass'd we would act as we think fit and be Masters of our own Forces we would willingly assist our Allies and especially the King of England for whose valour we have a particular esteem as our Friend and true Ally and we are ready to concur in any thing to the utmost of our Power that may tend to his satisfaction THE ORACLE Glory and Victory flye before him and Heaven is his Protector XLI The Marquess de Gastanaga Governor of the Spanish Neitherlands after the Battel of Fleury fearing lest the enemies might invade Flanders went immediately to consult the Oracle and said May the Heavens protect us in this Conjuncture for if the Hollanders should retreat my Master's Countrey is lost and if the French should enter therein they would spare neither Virgin nor Saint nor the most Sacred Relicks I have caus'd several Masses to be celebrated and have made several vows for the prosperity of the King's Aâ—ms but I hope that when the King of Great Britain shall come he will defend us from all disasters with the aid of our good Lady of Hal. THE ORACLE Help thy self and the Gods shall assist thee XLII The Prince of Waldeck after the same Battel of Fleury was also very glad of an oppertunity to consult the Oracle on this occasion saying I have been unfortunate in the last Battel althô at the same time the French have no reason to boast I did what I could nevertheless I know that I am not respected by the People Men give Battel but the event comes from Heaven whence then proceeds my misfortune THE ORACLE Consult thy strength and thy age and be a friend to Spies XLIII The Kingdom of Algers sent two