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 XXIV. Of King James's Declaration in the year, 1692. and his Invitations to the Eng∣lish Nobility to come into France, to be present at his Queen's Delivery, &c. (Book 24)

My Lord,

I Have since my last to your Lordship been under so many Visicitudes of For∣tune, and among other Afflictions been visited with so long and severe a fit of Sickness, that I cannot but perswade my self that your Honour has long ere now concluded me either Dead, or turned Ru∣nagade and abandoned your Service; the thoughts of which later hath afflicted me in a very sensible manner, and doth now incite me with considerable hazzard to at∣tempt the undeceiving of you hereby in that particular; and withall, to communi∣cate what I have very lately learnt by the means of a Friend great at St. Germans, of the posture of things in relation to England; I hope you are not without considerable apprehensions of danger from hence, and so have made timous preparations to ward off the blow; and whatever the de∣signs may be on your side, its most cer∣tain that there have been positive resoluti∣ons taken, to make a Descent upon the

English Coast, with a formidable power very speedily, and the late King is resol∣ved to be at the head of the Enterprize. To that end I am assured, all the Irish Troops and other French Forces which will be join∣ed with them, and which will make up a Body of Fifteen Thousand Men, are to hold themselves ready to march upon the first notice towards the Coast of Normandy, where they are to Rendevouz, and where the late King designs to be with them with all the privacy imaginable, and all this under a pretence of Guarding the Coasts, against the insults of the English: There are several Transport Ships already got together for this Expedition, and the French Fleet under Monsieur Tourville is in a great forwardness, and will be very for∣midable, I am fully satisfyed, though I can give your Lordship no particulars; I am told also, there is a Manifesto or Declara∣tion a contriving, and designed to be Pub∣lished when things are ripe for it, import∣ing, the late King's Resolutions to attempt the recovery of his Crown, with what forces of his own Subjects he has with him, in conjunction with as few Auxili∣ary Troops as may be, that the English may take no Umbrage thereat; Shewing the justness of his Cause, the great reason his People have to receive him, that they can∣not be happy till his re-establishment; pro∣mising mighty things for the Nation, in respect to the settlement of Religion, and

grandeur of the English Monarchy, and al∣so a general Amnesty to all those that shall return quickly to their Duty, excepting a few, whose Names I could not yet learn.

I do not question, my Lord, but there has been much discourse in England con∣cerning the late Queen's Pregnancy, I can give no manner of account of it, any o∣therwise, than that the reality of it is not doubted here, and that I am told, it has been projected to direct a Letter to all the English Nobility, to invite them to come into France and be present at the Delivery, (which is thought will be in less than two Months) according to custom, and to al∣ledge they may do it with the greatest safety, in regard the French King will give his Royal Word, they shall return with∣out Let or Molestation, so soon as the said Queen shall be Delivered; But as I do not expect to see your Lordship here on this occasion, so I hope you may be very use∣ful to keep our Countrymen that are on this side here still, and disappoint their de∣signs, which none is more desirous of than

My Lord,

Your Humble Servant.

St. Germains March ••1. 1692. N. S.