A continuation of the secret history of White-hall from the abdication of the late K. James in 1688 to the year 1696 writ at the request of a noble lord ... : the whole consisting of secret memoirs ... : published from the original papers : together with The tragical history of the Stuarts ... / by D. Jones ...

LETTER XIV. An exact Account of the number and strength of the French Fleet in 1690, with some intimations of a Conspira∣cy formed against the Government at the same time. (Book 14)

My Lord,

I Cannot but express my great Sorrow to find that many things that relate to the English Affairs, and which should be managed in the Cabinet, and only known by the Execution of them, are so com∣mon in most Mens Mouths on this side; There must be false Friends some where, and who knows but they are the very Men who would possess the Government, that the Enemy is not so formidable, as is given out: But I cannot believe your Lordship to be among the number of those incredu∣lous ones, tho' I am confident you'l find it an hard task to convince those who should concern themselves, of their imminent danger: This Court seems long since fully to be satisfyed of the King's intention to go for Ireland, and that much of his time and thoughts have been taken up for the work that lies before him there, and therefore they are more busy here than ever in pro∣jecting

methods, and carrying on designs to allarm England in his absence. I hear∣tily wish your Out-works may be firm and strong, they are likely to be attacked by a formidable power from without, and I do not question but there are attempts formed within to second the same, it be∣ing in a manner a common Discourse here: And this I can firmly assure your Lord∣ship of, that several English Men who were some time ago about the Court, and this City are all of a sudden disappeared, but have since rendevouz'd at Brest with a full design to Embark on Board the Fleet, which, whatever Men may flatter themselves in Eng∣land with, is very formidable and very near ready to put out to Sea having its full com∣plement of Mariners with an additional number of Landmen, which are not sent there without some considerable design in view. I am confident some men in England would laugh me to scorn should I tell them, that the French Fleet is composed of Fourscore and two great Men of War, Forty Frigats, Thirty Fireships, and Fifteen Gallies; but your Lordship, I hope, will have a better Opinion of my Sincerity, than to think I would any ways impose upon you.

That this formidable Fleet is designed for the English Coast is not doubted, but as to any particular management, all that e∣ver I could learn is, that an attempt will perhaps be made during the King's being in Ireland to raise a Mutiny, and that in

the Interim, King James is to leave the command of his Army to Lauzun and Tir∣connell, and to hasten with all speed into England, to favour which part of the French Fleet is to block up the River of Thames, another part in conjunction with the Gallies are to land the Men on board, somewhere in the West, and such spare Arms as they have with them, which is thought to be a great Number, and when this is done, they are to set sail for the Irish Coast to hinder King William and his Forces from returning; Now, my Lord, I confess I do not think all these things pra∣cticable, but there must be something more than ordinary in the Wind, and you cannot be too cautious. There are various other discourses that pass up and down continually concerning this grand Expedi∣tion, which I shall not trouble your Lord∣ship with, as being meer conjectures, and therefore I conclude only with subscribing my self, as I am unfeignedly, and so shall remain

My Lord,

Your Lordships most Humble Faithful and Obedient Servant.

Paris, June 2d. 1690. N. S.