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 XXXVIII. (Book 38)

A Summary of the French Methods to get the Dauphin made King of the Romans.

My Lord,

PErhaps since all the noise of the Western World, at this time is the Affairs of Hungary, between the Turks and Impe∣rialists, the particulars whereof I need not trouble your Lordship with; it will not be amiss to look a little back, and remark what influence this Court has had upon this War, and what Designs they have long since hatched under the Covert, not only of this, but all the other Broils they have engaged Germany in; I find by Patin's Let∣ters so far back as 1671. that it was a mat∣ter then not questioned, but that there had been Designs concerted to have the Dauphin created King of the Romans, which made me endeavour after a more particular informa∣tion in that Intriegue, which at last I have found to be inserted in this manner, ac∣cording to the distinct Heads that follow.

I. All the Designs which they had con∣certed in the Wars between England and Holland, for the weakning and destroying them, if possible, as I have already given your Lordship a particular Account of, first terminated in that ultimate end, Of advan∣cing the Dauphin as before-mentioned.

II. The former Wars against the Confede∣rates was attempted for the same Ends in a great measure, all their Designs against the Spanish Monarchy having a tendency that way.

III. Their unspeakable Pretensions in the Palatinate, on the behalf of Madam, the present Dutchess of Orleans.

IV. All their open and secret Practices in Hungary, from Arch-Duke Joseph's being made King there; and by making Over∣tures to another King underhand, John Sobi∣eski by name, to oppose the Emperor therein, promising their utmost Interest to get that Crown and Country conferred on him and his Posterity; rightly judging, that if the Arch-Duke were balked in Hungary, it was not likely he should prevail in Germany.

5. They have now for the same end, their Emissaries in Turkey, being partly Jews, and partly Jesuits, who incited the

Turks to begin the War, and to push it on even to the Capital of the Empire; and did at the same time, by other Agents, both in Poland, and at Venice, all they could, that they might hinder those Countries to come into the Confederacy against them, as thinking themselves Cock-sure, that if Vienna had once been taken, the German Princes would have been in such a Con∣sternation, that as the only remedy, they would have called in the French Power to oppose against such a dreadful inun∣dation of Infidels as would thence have followed; and for which they could have done no less than to have declared the Dauphin King of the Romans, and have made the French King Guardian and Pro∣tector in the interim, of the Emperor and Empire, especially having the Ele∣ctors of Cologne, Mentz, and Triers, either inclined for, or over-awed by them, and it being easy in that juncture to have forced the rest: This, my Lord, is the substance of what I have found they have projected upon this Subject from time to time, as the circumstances of Affairs gave way and occasion and no∣thing more certain than that they have had it all along in their view, to advance the Dauphin to that Dignity, which they have hitherto failed in, and I hope ever shall. I did not think to have entred up∣on this subject, which is also somewhat re∣mote

from the Affairs of our own Coun∣try, but that the sight of the foremen∣tioned Author excited my curiosity, and the fondness of the discovery made me also fond to communicate the same to your Lordship, tho' perhaps no very grate∣ful part, which yet I trust your goodness will pardon, in him, who is,

My Lord,

Your very humble, and obedient Servant.

Paris, Jan. 14. 1684. N. S.