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 XXXIV. (Book 34)

The French Politicks to embroyl England.

My Lord,

THE French Emissaries having gain'd severat Points, and particularly that mentioned in my last, they have lately turn'd their Batteries another way: They have been most of this while endeavouring to compass their Ends, by putting the King, and those who have most in∣fluence over him, upon desperate courses, where∣of the most material I have, as Occasion has served, noted to your Lordship. It will hard∣ly be believed, that they would offer to pro∣pose any Maxims to the Legal Party in England, that are really for their advantage; Did not their Instructions make it appear to be so, tho they have proposed far different Ends therein? I do not question but your Lordship has obser∣ved the Uneasiness of the Nation under the pre∣sent Proceedings of the King and Court-party; but tho they have just cause of suspicion, I must assure your Lordship the same has been and may still be aggravated by the Agents of this Court, who teach them to infuse into the People, That the Protestant Religion is in great danger; That the reduction of the Roman-Catholicks to the Bounds establish'd by the Law of the Land is highly necessary, and without the latter be effe∣cted, it will be impossible for the former long to subsist; That it was visible the Privileges of

Parliament were inf••inged more than in any time of their Ancestors: That Arbitrary Power was already acted, and without timely preven∣tion would get such rooting, that all the power of England could not dethrone it; That there was not scarce one made a Nobleman since the Kings accession to the Throne in the Three Kingdoms, but such as were P••p••sts; and, That all Honours and Offices of Profit, either in Court or Camp, were shared amongst such, whilst the Protestants lay neglected as useless persons, and such as were deem'd to have no Share nor Lot in the Government; That the person of the King, it's true, was sacred, but at the same time it was not only justifiable, but an incumbent Duty upon them, as Englishmen, as they would answer it to God and their Coun∣try, timously to think of the Danger, and to ap∣ply the Remedy; for without the removal of such Ministers as then managed the State, it would be in vain to expect their Grievances could be redressed, and their Religion and Li∣berties secured; and if they find themselves har∣ken'd to, and their Propositions approved, they have further Instructions to hint an Association for one Expedient, &c. God Almighty knows what will become of poor England amidst so many Designs upon her Religion and Liberty, both by foreign and domestick Enemies, who continually prey upon her Vitals. I can but pray for her, as I do and always shall for your Lordship, who am,

My Lord,

Your most devoted Servant.

Paris Dec. 13. 1687.