Mr. Coleman's two letters to Monsieur L'Chaise, the French king's confessor with Monsieur L'Chaise's answer to Mr. Coleman, which the House of Commons desired might be printed : together with the D. of Y's letter to the said Monsieur L'Chaise, which sheweth what Mr. Coleman wrote to him, was by his special command and appointment.

THE SECOND LETTER OF M^r. Coleman's To the French Kings Confessor, MONSIEUR L' CHAISE.

I Sent your Reverence a tedious Letter on our 29th. of September, to inform you of the progress of our Affaires for these two or three last years. I have now again the op∣portunity of a very sure hand to conveigh this by, I have sent you a Cypher, because our Parliament now drawing on, I may possibly have occasion to send, you something which You may be vvilling enough to knovv, and may be necessary for us that you should, when I may want the conveniency of a Mes∣senger. When any thing occurs of more concern than other, which may not be fit to be trusted to a Cypher alone, I will, to make such a thing more secure, write in Lemon, between the Lines of a Letter which shall have nothing in it visible, but what I care not who sees, but dried by a warm fire shall discover what is written, so that if the Letter comes to your hands, and upon drying it any thing appears more than did before, you may be sure no body has seen it by the way.

I will not trouble you with that way of writing but up∣on special occasions, and then I will give you a hint to direct you to look for it, by concluding my visible Letter with something of Fire or Burning, by which mark you may please to know that there is something underneath, and how my Letter is to be used to find it out.

We have here a mighty work upon our hands, no less than The Conversion of three Kingdoms, and by that perhaps the sub∣duing a pestilent Heresy, vvhich has domineer'd over part of this Northern World a long time. There was never such hopes of Success since the Death of our Q. MARY, as now in our dayes, when God has given us a PRINCE who is become (may I say by Miracle) Zealous of being the Author and Instrument of so glorious a Work: But the op∣position we are sure to meet with, is also like to be great: So that it imports us to get all the Aid and Assistance, For the Harvest is great and the Labourers are fevv.

That which we rely upon most, next to God Almighties Providence, and the Fervor of my Master the Duke, is the mighty mind of his Christian Majesty, whose generous Soul inclines him to great undertakings, which being mannaged by your Reverences examplary Piety and Prudence, will cer∣tainly make him look upon this, as most suitable to himself, and best becoming his power and thoughts; so that I hope you will pardon me, if I be troublesom too upon this occa∣sion, from whom we expect the greatest help we can hope for.

I confess I think his Christian Majesties temporal interest is so much attracted to that of his R. H. which can never be considerable but upon the advancement of the Catholick Religion, that his Ministers cannot give him better Advice even in a politick sence abstracted from the Considerations of the next world, then that of our dear Lord, To seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Rightcousness thereof, that all other things may be added.

Yet I know his most Christian Majesty has more power∣full motives suggested to him by his own Devotion, and your Reverences Zeal for Gods Glory, to engage himself to afford us the best help he can in our present Circumstances: but we are a little unhappy in this, That we cannot press his Majesties present Minister here, upon these latter Argu∣ments, which are most strong, but only upon the first, Mon∣sieur Ravigny's sence and ours differing very much upon these, though we agree perfectly upon the rest; And indeed though he be a very able man, as to his Majesties service, in things where Religion is not concern'd, yet I do believe it were much more happy, considering the Post he is in, that his temper vvere of such a sort that vve might deall clearly vvith him throughout and not be forced to stop short in a discourse of consequence, and leave the most material part out, because vve knovv it vvill shake his particular opinion, and so perhaps meet vvith dislike, and opposition though never so necessary to the main concern.

I am afraid we shall find too much reason for this Com∣plaint this next Sessions of Parliament, for had we one here for his Christian Majesty who had taken the whole business to heart, and who would have represented the state of our case truly as it is, to his Master, I do not doubt but his Chri∣stian Majstey would have engaged himself farther in the af∣fair then at present I fear he has done, and by his appro∣bation have given such counsells (as have been offered his R. H. by those fevv Catholicks vvho have accesse to him and are bent to serve him, and advance the Catholick Religion, vvith all their might) more credit with his R. H. Then I fear they have found; And have assisted him also with his purse as far as 100000. Crovvns or some such summe (vvhich to him is very inconsiderable but vvould have been to them of greater use then can be imagined) tovvards gaining o∣thers to help him, or at least not to oppose him, if vve had been so happy as to have had his most Christian Majesty

vvith us to this degree, I vvould have ansvvered vvith my life for such success this Sessions, as vvould have put the interest of the Catholic. Religion in his R. H. And his most Christian Majesty out of all danger for the time to come.

But vvanting those hopes of recommending those neces∣sary, councells vvhich have been given his Royall Highness in such a manner as to make him think them vvorthy of his accepting, and fit to govern himself by, and of those advan∣tages, vvhich a little money vvell managed vvould certainly have gained us, I am affraid vve shall not be much better at the end of this Session then vve are novv: I pray God vve do not loose ground. By my next, vvhich shall be ere long, I shall be able to tell your Reverence more perticularly vvhat vve are like to expect: In the mean time I most hum∣bly beg your holy prayers for all our undertakings, and that you vvill please to honour me so far as to esteem me, vvhich I am, entirely and vvithout any reserve

Sir, Most Reverend Father,

Your Reverences most humble and most obedient Servant.