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 XVII. Of close designs hatched in France, of Monsieur de Tourville, and the ru∣mour of his being disgraced for his Conduct, and of the reports concerning the Dauphins's marrying again. (Book 17)

My Lord,

NEver were frequenter Consults held than at this time here, both as to the Sea and Land Affairs, and the King's time is so taken up continually with the one or the other of them, that he has of late neg∣lected his ordinary Recreations and Diver∣tisements; I am confident there is a grand design formed against England, and I have

had no obscure intimation of it, though I cannot possibly penetrate into any one distinct particular, I heartily wish there may be as much precaution used on your side to ward off the blow. But while mat∣ters are thus secretly agitated in the Cabi∣net, the noise of Monsieur Tourville's dis∣grace is with great industry bandied about both in City and Country, and nothing omitted to let the Confederates also come to the knowledge of it, which perhaps may carry as great a Mystery in the Womb of it as the rest; Some attribute it to one thing, some to another, many stick not to say it arises from his holding some sort of Correspondence with the Enemy, others that some latent Maligner of his advance∣ment has done him some ill Office at Court: I heartily wish for the Confederates sake, France had occasion to shift her Admirals often; But believe me, my Lord, these are meer illusions and amusements, and the French King knows his interest better than to lay aside at such a juncture as this, the most understanding Sea-Officer he has in his King∣dom, and you will find he will command a more formidable Fleet next Summer than ever yet he has done. Its whispered also, as if the Swede had been won to the French Interest, and that besides the divertion he will give to the Confederates in Pomerania, he will send a squadron of ships to join those of this Crown early in the Year, which the Confederates ought to be as se∣dulous

to prevent, as they are to watch the motions of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, to whom its commonly reported, there have been proposals made of a match to be made between the Dauphin and the Princess of Tus∣cany, in hopes by means of that Allyance to oblige him, as being the most potent Prince of Italy, to declare for the Crown of France, or at least to perswade the Duke of Savoy to an accommodation. But yet, my Lord, if my intelligence fail not, they have much more reason to fear such a match struck up with the Infanta of Portu∣gal, as giving a fair prospect to far greater future advantages, then any solid present ones that might reasonably be expected from that other Allyance with the grand Duke; more especially since the Dauphine will have in her right, not only a particu∣lar pretention to the Crown of the King her Father, but also a very plausible one to the Kingdom of Spain, and so an advan∣tage may be made of both at the same time; I wish the Spaniards were as jealous of this match as they are of their Wifes, then there may be some hopes of frustra∣ting the same. Your Lordship knows how far the knowledge of these things may be useful to the present Constitution, and so I refer them entirely to your considerati∣on and management, who am

My Lord,

Your most Humble and entirely devoted Serv.

Versailles Nov. 7. 1690. N. S.

POSTSCRIPT.

This Letter I have been forced to keep by me for some days for want, &c. but it gives me the opportunity to acquaint you, that there is advice that the Infanta of Portugal is dead, which quite puts an end to the Negotiation above mentioned, and may ease the Confederates of their cares to obviate it; but the malignity of this Court will not suffer some of them, and particularly the House of Austria to go un∣traduced, when 'tis already given out a∣loud that the life of that Princess was cut short, to secure the Crown to the Succes∣sors devoted to the House of Austria, I am

My Lord,

Your Humble Servant.