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 XXVII. Conjectures of the French designs in the year 1693. against the Allies, and of their Incendiaries to burn the Con∣federate Cities. (Book 27)

My Lord,

I am fully satisfyed what a great noise the scarcity of Bread in France makes in England, and the other confederated Countries; the misery indeed from that and other concurring causes is very great; but yet what may seem to some, less intel∣ligent than your Lordship, very little less than a Paradox, is, that the face of the Court is as splendid and gay as ever I have known it in the time of France's highest pro¦sperity,

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and nothing is talked of there, my Lord, but the mighty Armies they have on foot by Land, and their great forwardness to enter upon Action, as well as their their great power on the other Element. I am assured the King will very shortly leave Versailles, in order to be at the head of one of his Armies, but whether he de∣signs for Germany or the Neatherlands, is yet a secret, tho' the Vogue is, that the in∣tended Journey is for the latter, and that provision is making for his Reception at Compeign and Valenciennes; which (I am told) having occasioned a certain Courtier a day or two ago to say, that that road leads directly for Flanders, and the same discourse coming quickly to the King's Ears, he made answer, That a Man might go from Valenciennes to Germany. Your Lordship may make what judgment you please upon the Expression; Ile leave it wholly to you, and shall at present on∣ly further inform you, that as I have for∣merly given you some account of what Fires have been kindled in several Cities of the Empire, Hungary, &c. by the agency of this Court; I have more than a suspi∣tion that the same practise is again set on foot, and that there are very many incen∣diaries entertained by these Ministers, to put the same in Execution in diverse parts of the Confederate Countries; And I do de∣sire your Lordship to believe, that there is no villany they will boggle at, for the

compassing of their accursed ends, as there is none but what I am very forward to discover to your Honour, and proud of an opportunity so to do, who am

My Lord,

Your Lordships, most Humble and Obedient Servant.

Versailles, April. 14. 1693. N. S.