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 IV. (Book 4)

Of the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Argyle's Invasions and Over∣throws, and of the Prince of Orange's offering to serve against the former, but his offer was Malitiously Interpre∣ted, and so Rejected.

My Lord,

THE Reason of my long silence to your Lordship, I hope, will not be interpreted by you, as any forgetfulness, much less neglect of your Honours Com∣mands and Expectation; I am too sensible of the many Obligations that have been heap'd upon me from time to time, to be guilty of so Notorious a Crime; but the want of somewhat that was Solid and Grateful to your Lordship, has been one genuine. Cause that obstructed my Corres∣pondence, to which I may add what your self knows very well, the private Orders given in England to open all Letters, whe∣ther Domestick or Foreign; and since I had for so long a time continu'd to write to your Lordship, and that undiscover'd, I was not willing for want of a little pru∣dent

caution, and suspension in such a jun∣cture, either to expose your Lordship to any hazard, or thereby for ever to exclude my self from any farther Correspondence with you, whom I so much Love and Honour; But now, my Lord, understanding that the Storm is over in England, by the defeat and death of the Duke, as we have had some days ago an Account from Scotland of the like misfortune to have attended the Earl of Argyle. I have adventured to Salute you with these Lines, and to tell my thoughts freely upon the matter. I must confess, I never had any great opinion of either of the Expeditions, because concert∣ed by Men who had very different ends in what they did; the Duke and some others for Monarchy, but the greatest part Re∣publicans; and therefore I do not wonder the whole hath miscarried, especially when I can assure your Lordship, both the one and the other were (tho' very privately) Abetted by French Agents, to undertake such an Expedition: such a procedure may well be wondred at, I confess, since there was apparently so little advantage like to arise to the French Court therefrom; but besides their loving to fish always in Troubled Waters, they have somewhat in them that is very like the Devil, who loves to do Mischief, tho' with no benefit to him∣self. But whatever the World may think hereof, those who are fled, that escaped

from either Kingdom, after the Defeat, are as kindly received here, as those who for∣merly fled from the Popish Conspiracy; but yet they are daily sifted and examin'd by the Spies that continually haunt them. I would gladly know? might I have the ho∣nour, your Lordship's Sentiments of both Descents, and the Miscarriage of them: to be plain with you, I own I have very diffe∣rent apprehensions of them, now they are over, than I had at first; and the rather, because the Prince of Orange so much re∣sented it; tho' most Maliciously interpre∣ted by the King, and his Popish Council, whetted on by Gallican Agents. When the Prince had the first News of the Duke's Landing in England, he acquainted Mr. Skel∣ton the King's Ambassador, that the Duke of Monmouth, though he were a Person but of indifferent Parts, yet he had a Warlike Genius, and had more Experience and Skill in the Art of War, then most of them em∣ploy'd against him; That for his part, if the King his Father-in-Law pleased, he would assist him, not onely upon that occa∣sion, with his Troops, but with his Per∣son also; and to that end was sending Mr. Bentinck over to England, to know the King's pleasure. But Skelton malevolent enough of himself, and farther influenc'd with Ma∣lice against the Prince by French Incendia∣ries, took care to inform the King before Bentinck came, that such Assistance as was

proposed by the Prince, was very dange∣rous, and much to the same purpose; so that upon Mr. Bentinck's Motion, the King answered, That their Common Interest re∣quired, that the Prince should stay in Hol∣land; and gave such further expressions of his Mind upon that occasion, that plainly discover'd, that such a Zeal in the Prince was esteem'd unseasonable, and not free from Suspition. With which, and a grate∣ful acknowledgment of all your Lordship's Favours to me, and my Family, upon all oc∣casions, I shall now conclude, and for ever remain,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's Most humble Servant.

Paris, August 24. 1685. N. S.