The secret history of White-Hall, from the restoration of Charles II down to the abdication of the late K. James writ at the request of a noble lord, and conveyed to him in letters, by ̲̲̲late secretary-interpreter to the Marquess of Louvois, who by that means had the perusal of all the private minutes between England and France for many years : the whole consisting of secret memoirs, which have hitherto lain conceal'd, as not being discoverable by any other hand / publish'd from the original papers, by D. Jones, gent.

LETTER XXXI. (Book 31)

Of the French Projects to put King James upon desperate Measures in Ireland; and their Ends therein.

My Lord,

YOur Lordship may remember how I have formerly given you the state of the Ir••sh Soldiers in the Service of France, during the late King's Reign, and what Encouragement they have had here from time to time, above any of the rest of the Brittish Nations, and the large Promises that were now and then made, That they should be reinstated in their ancient Possessions in their native Country. But this King hath no sooner ascended the English Throne, but that they have as readily return'd into England and Ireland, as they were willing before, even contrary to their Allegiance, to re∣main in the French Service; the Reason where∣of your Lordship must needs know, they having

already devoured with their Eyes the most va∣luable Preferments in England and Ireland (in the later whereof they have got a Lieutenant of their own stamp) and more than all the Lands which they have been debarr'd from by the Act of Settlement; having (as I can assure your Lordship) a previous Promise from this Court, That the King will use all imaginable endeavours to get his Brother of England to con∣sent to abolish it; and which has put the Irish so hotly upon renewing their Importunities to the King against the said Act, that he hath in a man∣ner agreed to those measures that are pursuant thereunto; in which motions the Irish were order'd to be effectually seconded by the Emissa∣ries of this Court, who at the same time have encourag'd the Irish privately with a Promise; That if after all, the King would not give his full Consent, or durst not do them Right, their Master was resolv'd to do it; provided they would chuse him for their Protector, which they might lawfully do, being at best but a con∣quer'd Nation, against their Conquerors, for the recovery not only of their Native Rights in that Land, but likewise of those afresh con∣firm'd to them by the Treaty, (whether preten∣ded or real, I will not determine upon that Head) with the late K. Charles II, of which the French King was Guarrantee, and therefore justly might and ought to be call'd in as a Vin∣dicator. And this, my Lord, is confess'd here, That they had form'd so strong a Party among the Irish, that if the King had not in some mea∣sure comply'd, or does not for the future, but fail'd their Hopes by keeping it, as the Interest of his Kingdom, one should think, naturally leads him, to that side of the Ballance against

France, and maintaining the Act of Settlement, they had bid fair, as I have heard it more than whisper'd here, for a general Revolt of the Irish Natives in their favour, whom they had provi∣ded to succour on a sudden, without declaring War, or the least Intimation beforehand of their Designs, to the King. But now having prevail'd with him to make such Advances as he has begun against the said famous Act, which they have looked upon, as it were the Band of Peace, not only to Ireland, but even to the Three Nations, and perhaps they are right enough in their Judgment; they believe they have hereby put him on a Point that will quick∣ly bring him into Distress enough to need them; and, consequently, to the necessity of taking his future measures from them, expecting hencefor∣ward a more implicite Complyance than ever. Thus, my Lord, have they laid their Founda∣tion, the Success and Event, Time must deter∣mine: but from such undermining Politicians, Good Lord, deliver England, &c. for the Dan∣gers which threaten both its Religion and Civil Liberty are very great, tho', I hope, not inevi∣table. Pardon the freedom in these Particulars of him who is, and ever shall remain, ready to please your Lordship to the utmost of my power, and cannot but subscribe himself,

My Lord,

Your Honour's most humble and most obedient Servant.

Paris, Mar. 26. 1687.