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 LXIV. (Book 64)

Of the Duke of York's being Comman∣ded to retire to Bruxells in the Year 1679, and of the Promises made him by the King before his departure.

My LORD,

I Know not how Matters go in England, nor what the Sence of the people is in general concern the Duke's retiring to

Bruxells, but I can assure your Lordship, they seem to be mightily allarmed here at it, tho' they put a good meen upon it. Perhaps your Lordship may know much more of the Secret of this Journey than I can in∣form you, but if what is transmitted hi∣ther by the Agents of our Grand Minister be acceptable, they give us this account: That the Earl of D—was the person who advised the King to remove his Roy∣al Highness from his presence, and that his Reasons for it were, that the Parlia∣ment might have no pretence for to com∣plain of his Majesty, that he had not ta∣ken all the Measures necessary for the Se∣curity of their Religion and Liberty; but they tell us, how true, I leave it to your Lordships profound Judgment to deter∣mine, that the Earl by the foresaid Ad∣vise did not so much consult the King and Kingdoms true Interest, as he did to please the Parliament, with whom he was at odds, because of the Money received to disband the Army, and the French Alli∣ance; finding now by Experience, that that Artifice of his in bringing the Plot upon the stage in order to amuse them, had fail∣ed; They further inform us, that the Duke was mightily surprized at the Message for his departure, and made some difficulty to bring himself to resolve to obey it, but that at length recollecting a better Tem∣per, it gave his fast friends an Oppor∣tunity

to advise him; That though it were at that juncture necessary he should obey the King, yet it was no less prudent that he should, in so doing, take all ne∣cessary Precautions, not to abandon his Fortune to the discretion of his Enemies; that they did not doubt but that the Duke of Monmouth would push hard, to get him∣self declared Legitimate by the ensuing Parliament; That the business of the Ex∣clusion would be renewed, and that there was room enough to fear, least his Retreat might be rather interpreted for the flight of a guilty Person, than for the Obedi∣ence of a submissive Subject; that there∣fore it was expedient he should get the King first to promise him that he would declare, and get it Recorded too in the Courts of Justice, that he had never been Married to the Duke of Monmouth's Mo∣ther; That he would by no means con∣sent to the Exclusion that was now likely to be prest upon him; and lastly, that he should give him express Order in writing to require his Retirement. All which, they say, he has happily accomplished, the truth whereof time must determine, where∣unto I leave it, who am

My LORD,

Your Humble Servant.

Paris, Apr. 6. 1679. N. S.