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 XLI. (Book 41)

Containing the Practices of the French Agents, for the amusement of Foreign Catholicks, while they carry'd on their Designs against England.

My Lord,

IT would be very strange to think, that the Ministers of this Court, who have had a hand almost in every thing relating to our Nation, should not be concerned in the affair of the Popish Plot; but it is so far otherwise, that they have been the chief managers and starters of many things which have since come to light; Nay, I am bold to say, That the very actions and in∣tentions of almost all the Instruments of the English Nation, and even of some of the French themselves, were very wide, tho' villanous enough, from those of the Machiavillian Off-spring which set them on work. My Lord, you have heard of Father St. Germain, and perhaps of Father Columbiere too, who succeeded him in En∣gland; these were the Persons, who toge∣ther with their other assisting Emissaries, disposed of Things and Parties in our Na∣tion to favour their Designs in reference

to the said Conspiracy, and whose Instru∣ctions from Father La Chaise, were to take upon them to inform and press upon the Creatures of the Pope, and Ministers and Creatures of other Princes of the Roman Communion, but of a different Interest from their Master's the French King; That for their parts, they were only actuated by a Zeal for the propagation of the Catholick Religion, and the re-union in time of so famous a Monarchy to the Church by gentle and peaceable ways and means, and chiefly for the Conversion of our two Princes so nearly Related to their King in Blood, and for whom he had so much Esteem and Affection; and that their Ma∣ster being their nearest Neighbour, and seated most conveniently to assist them on occasion, would with his Purse promote all he could the quiet Conversion of all sorts of People, that could be drawn in by the Godly Eloquence of their Missionaries, or by the more powerful language of Pensions with some, and was heartily willing to supply our Princes with what was needful, or might be so, to maintain themselves a∣gainst any Attempts that might be made against them, upon the jealousie or discove∣ry of any such design, and succour them by a sufficient Military Force too, in case they were likely to be reduced to Extremi∣ty by an open Rebellion of their stubborn

and discontented Subjects on that account; without once pretending to so idle and im∣practicable a design, as some of them whom they spoke to were tutored to call it, as by that means to go about to make the Crown of England seudatory to that of France, or to strengthen himself with the additional power of England, with intent to encroach afterwards upon the Rites and Prerogatives of the Holy See, or give Umbrage to other Temporal Enemies of that Communion, or to draw any other advantage to the French from the Alliance of the English Princes, than to be able in the quality of Most Chri∣stian King, and first Son of the Church, to promote the growth of the Holy Catholick Religion in their Realms and Dominions, and make use of their Mediation and Friend∣ship, to ballance in some measure the pre∣sent force of so formidable a Confederacy, as was lately formed against him. That it was a thing ridiculous to think, or once as much as imagin, that whilst he was in actual War with so many considerable Pow∣ers at that time, he could be so simple as to attempt England by force; or if he were out of War with them, that he could as much as offer at so considerable an Enter∣prize upon any pretence whatsoever, with∣out allarming them, or expecting to be opposed Vigorously by them, as well as by the other Protestent Powers of Europe;

or that he could be thought to be so rash as to venture on such a difficult Expediti∣on, whilst he foresaw so powerful an Op∣position.

But that indeed upon the happy conclu∣sion of a general and lasting Peace among the Catholick Princes, he would most wil∣lingly and readily join and concur in any holy League with them, and contribute his full proportion of Forces with theirs, to so glorious and laudable a Work, as would be the restoration of the Kings of England to their pristine Power and Majesty, and the Holy See to its former just Au∣thority and Jurisdiction in these famous Islands; which for so many former Ages had made so considerable and profitable a Province of the Roman Church; and therefore they were to desire and press them, not to let any particular In∣terests which they had against their Ma∣ster in worldly and secular Concerns, pre∣vail with them to go about to mis-inter∣pret or any ways obstruct their Conver∣sion of Souls, which could be of no man∣ner of prejudice to them in those other respects; but rather readily to concur with their Endeavours in so pious and charitable a Work, wherein they ought wholly to lay aside all distinction of Na∣tions or Interests, and Cooperate as Mem∣bers

of one Body, and Subjects of one universal Prince Christ Jesus, and his Vice-gerent-General the Pope. With which Arguments and sly Suggestions, they were to wheedle all Foreigners to at least a careless security and unconcernedness about the Affairs of England, whilst they play'd their pranks to destroy both our Religi∣on and Government, and make us an Ap∣pennage of the Gallican Church and Crown; which I pray God, I may never live to see, nor my Country feel; and shall ever do so whilst I am, as I am resolved always to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's Most Humble, and Most Devoted Servant.

Paris Mar. 11. 1682.