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 LVII. (Book 57)

Arguments used to the Duke of York, against Marrying his Daughter to the Prince of Orange.

My LORD,

I Confess, I do not well remember when it was that I gave your Lordship an Ac∣count of the Duke's being first drawn into a close Correspondence with France; and I am as much to seek how and when the following Arguments were urged upon him, no further than the Circumstance of the Subject does discover: But Time may unravel all. However, this, I find, was urged first on him:

That it would be of equal Danger to His Royal Highness, if not more, to give his Daughter to the Prince of Orange, than to

let her be in the French Disposal; and that his Brother, the King, would be involved in equal Trouble on that Account, as on the other: For that if she were given to the Prince of Orange, without first enga∣ging him in the Interests of France, that thereby he would have a double Claim to the Crown; that of Course the King, his Brother, must be drawn into a War with France; and that by so doing, both the Royal Brethren would lose for ever the French King's Friendship and Support in case of Extremity, which they would infallibly be reduced to by such a War, or by but making a Shew of it; For if it went on, whether there were Cause, or no, there would be Jealousies of the Duke's Corre∣sponding with France; yea, and of the King too: And that, after all, such a Match would be interpreted but for a piece of Policy, only to hide from the People their Correspondence with France; and would never cure their Jealousies, nor take off the Fears they had of a Popish Succession by his new Dutchess; but add Strength and Courage to them to oppose Remedies against it. That thereupon, when they had the King once in a War, they would not give him any Money to carry it on, unless they saw the laying of it out, and had, in a manner, the Administration of the War in their own Hands; in which His Highness would be but a Cypher, and

would never be trusted. That then, not content with that, it was not to be doubt∣ed, but that the Exclusion of himself, and of his Heirs by the Second Bed, unless educated in the Protestant Religion, would likewise be hotly urged in the next place, in favour of a Protestant Prince so doubly Allied to the Crown of England, a profes∣sed Enemy of France, and a Native of Hol∣land, the Country, next their own, so much adored by them. That such an Alliance would strengthen that Faction, that was already but too strong. That such an Ex∣clusion being press'd, the King must either grant it, or deny it; if he granted it, as it was to be feared he might, then was His Highness, and the Heirs of his Religion, lost without Recovery; and then it would be out of the French King's Power, as well as Inclination, to assist him, after having been so disobliged, against the Power of England and Holland united; neither could he pro∣pose that Advantage to himself, be it as it will: That if the King should resist the said Importunity about Exclusion, that then he would expose himself to the Distractions of a Civil War, which might end both in the Ruin of the Royal Family, and the Mo∣narchy it self; for that the Republicans would not fail to lift up their Crests again in those Troubles: And that besides the In∣terest of the Prince of Orange, the Duke of Monmouth, being already very popular,

might be tempted by so fair an Opportu∣nity, to put in for a Pretender to the Suc∣cession; and that it was not impossible that the King, if he saw him favoured by the People, might be tempted too to prefer the Interest of a Son, before that of a Brother; and a Brother too, for whom he must be necessitated to undergo so much Vexation and Trouble, and run so great a Risque to defend. That in the mean while, England being in a War with France, that King, in∣stead of helping him, must be obliged, in his own Defence, to foment those Trou∣bles, and abet his Enemies. That perhaps he might think some of these Fears but imaginary; but that His Highness might assure himself, they had better Intelligence than he in that Case, and were very well satisfied that all the said Parties were ready disposed, and had concerted all their De∣signs against him; and that they were a∣betted by Men of the greatest power and Interest in the three Kingdoms; and then, of what Power and Influence such plausible and popular Pretensions would be among the People, when promoted and advanced by such Men, His Royal Highness could not be ignorant of.

That therefore, all summed up, and du∣ly compared, the Dangers attending the Espousing his Daughter to the Prince of Orange were as great, if not considerably greater, than those that would be incurred

by giving her up to the Disposal of the French King; for more could not be feared from that, than what had been mention'd: Therefore they conjured him, as he ten∣der'd his own Good and Safety, or that of his Posterity, or of his Brother, or, lastly, of the hopeful Beginnings of the Catholick Religion in these Kingdoms, that he should be persuaded, and also persuade his Bro∣ther, to take the Council of France, both in the Disposal of the Princess, and other things relating thereto; for that the Danger of ad∣hering to the French King was no greater than that on the other side, but that the As∣sistance on his side would be great and powerful, as well as Cordial; whereas it never could be in the other Party's Power, much less in their Interest or Inclination, to afford him any Succour in his Troubles, but rather to add Oil to the Flame: And above all, never to be so rash, as to suffer himself to be tempted to consent to a War against France, for that the Factions would then have their Ends of him, as having a full Opportunity put into their hands thereby to compleat his Ruin without Controul. These were the Arguments used to His Royal Highness, against the March with the Prince of Orange: And with which I shall at present conclude, who am,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's Most Humble Servant.

Paris, Aug. 4. 1679. N. S.