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 XLIX. (Book 49)

Of Mr. Skelton's Negotiations in France, with the Reasons of his being recoeli'd and committed Prisoner to the Tower of Lon∣don.

My Lord,

I Cannot conceive but they are as much in the dark with you about Mr. Skelton's Imprison∣ment in the Tower upon his arrival in England, as they are concern'd for it here. I have alrea∣dy given your Lordship an account of some of his Negotiations both in Holland and at this Court, and with your Honour's leave shall en∣deavour a little further to unriddle this Mystery of his Imprisonment: When all the Arguments of this Court used by Monsieur Bonrepos to in∣duce the King to admit of some French Troops into his Country, under pretence of assisting him against the Prince of Orange, were obvia∣ted by my Lord S—'s Remonstrances and Assiduities, you cannot conceive the concerned∣ness that appeared here at the grand Disappoint∣ment; Mr. Skelton was almost oppress'd with

Enquirers into the reason of such a Procedure, (not knowing well then from what Quiver the Arrow was taken that shot down the Goliah of all their Hopes of once nestling in England) who examin'd, interrogated him, and almost laid it to his charge, that their Advice was not follow'd: But having at length found it to be otherwise, they resolved to put him upon ano∣ther Expedient, mention'd first by himself, to serve his Master, as they said, tho' nothing is more certain than that it is their own Interest they design'd mainly thereby: For one day, af∣ter Monsieur de Croissy had prest him hard still to sollicite his Master to accept of the Troops and Ships offered him by France, and that Mr. Skelton answer'd, That it was in vain, he having Orders to meddle no further in that mat∣ter, and therefore durst not move in it. He al∣so added, That yet he was of Opinion, that if his most Christian Majesty would order his Am∣bassador to acquaint the States-general what share he took in the Affairs of the King his Master, and to threaten to attack them, in case they un∣dertook any thing against him, he did believe that would quickly put a stop to the intended Invasion, and spoil the Measures the Prince of Orange had concerted thereupon, without giving the En∣glish occasion to complain their King had called in Foreigners into their Country: That this would be an effectual means to keep part of the King's Enemies on this side the Sea, and they might have leisure enough to break off the Cabals which the other formed at home against him. This Dis∣course made Monsieur de Croissy hasten to ac∣quaint the King with it, who liked it so well, that he immediately dispatched away a Courier to Monsieur the Count d'Avaux his Ambassa∣dor

at the Hague, with Orders to declare to the United Provinces, That they could not at∣tack the King of England, who was so intimate a Confederate with him, but that he must be obliged to succour him with all the Assistance he could. The States having paused a little for an Answer to this Memorial, and presently up∣on it being encounter'd with another from the Marquess de Albeville, the English, Ambassador there; they answered the latter, They were long since convinced of the League between the two Kings; That they had armed in Imitation of other Princes, &c. which being interpreted here, that the States were resolved to go on with the Invasion; It raised the Expectations of this Court, that the tender of their Troops would be still, accepted of by the King: But the vigi∣lance and sagacity of my Lord S—disjointed also this Project, and ended in the Recalling and Imprisonment of Mr. Skelton, for moving in an Affair for which he had no Orders. And this also, my Lord, has stopped Verace the Genevese, whom I have formerly mentioned to your Lordship, who is come to Paris, from pro∣ceeding on his Journey for London, as supposing it to no purpose to give such Informations as would not be regarded; and he is now, I hear, about returning back to his own Country. I hope things are well with your Lordship in these times of difficulty; had it been otherwise I do suppose I should have heard it, that I might have stopped my Intelligence; and that all may continue to be well with you, is the unfeigned Desire of,

My Lord,

Your Lordships most obedient Servant.

Paris, Nov. 8. 1688. N. S.