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 XLV. (Book 45)

Of the Slights used to make King James negli∣gent to provide against the Inuasion from Holland.

My Lord,

I Do not find Mr. Skelton's Instances have had any great Effects upon the King towards quickening his Pace to ward off the Blow that seems to be preparing to be given him; And I have something more than a Suspicion, That it is the Desire of this Court, the Kingdom should be invaded, and that the Agents of it have been extraordinary busy to countermine whatever Advices have been given the King for taking a timely Precaution to defend himself, so that there is, my Lord, in this Case a Wheel with∣in

a Wheel, and whatever open Professions of Kindness is shewed him from hence by a timous Premonition of his Danger, there is as great Care seriously to thwart all by contrary Coun∣sels; And among other things, it has been eager∣ly urged to him, That the Prince of Orange continues to carry himself towards him with such a Conduct, as could not leave the least room to entertain any Suspicion of him, and could it be thought that a Prince who had shew∣ed his Devoirs to him, so far as to make his Complements as other Princes had done upon the Birth of his Son, the Prince of Wales, and caused the Name of his new Brother-in-Law to be added to those of the Princes of the Fami∣ly, for whom they prayed in his Chappel, should be unsincere, or have the least Design to molest him or his Kingdoms by Arms, especially since Van Citters, the States Embassador, had particularly assured him, That what Prepara∣tions were made in Holland did not regard En∣gland, but had given him to understand, That France had a great deal more Reason to be al∣armed than he: But after all, whatever were intended by such Preparations, which they were well assure were much greater in Fame than in Reality; his Majesty's Affairs were in so good a Posture that he had no Reason to fear any Enterprizes whatsoever; That he had a Land Army, a Fleet and such good Magazines as were sufficient to render the Efforts of al∣most all the complicated Powers of Europe in∣effectual, tho' such a Conjunction was as little to be expected as that his most Christian Ma∣jesty would abandon him; who, if he saw oc∣casion, as there was now but little likelihood, would no fail to support him with all the Power

of France both by Sea, Land &c. I will not be further Troublesome to your Lordship, but remain,

My Lord,

Your humble Servant.

Paris, Aug. ••8. 1688.