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 IX. (Book 9)

Of the Popes Nuncio opposing any New Form of Doctrine design'd to be intro∣duc'd by the General Assembly at Paris, for the easier seduction of the Reformed to comply with the Popish Church, and be United to her.

My Lord,

THIS Court is so taken up with Form∣ing Methods and Projects to bring the Reformed to a Complyance and Con∣formity to the Roman Church, that I do not find they mind any Forrein Affair at pre∣sent: I have seen several Formula's con∣ceiv'd in very easie Terms, for the promo∣ting of the Re-union, as 'tis call'd by them; but, among others, this that follows, I thought very remarkable, and whereby your Lordship may see the Latitude they assume to themselves, for the promoting their In∣terest, tho', no doubt, it is but a Bait to catch some of those harmless Gudgeons; the words were these,

I own and confess the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church, as it was in the time of the A∣postles; and I Renounce and Abjure all those Errors which have crept in ever since.

The Bishop of Meux hath, to

make the way still smoother, in his Pre∣face to the Second Edition of his Expostulati∣on of the Catholick Doctrine, gone so far, as to say,

We do not serve Images, God for∣bid we should do so.

And indeed, there is some likelihood that the Clergy would have stretch'd their Complaisance yet far∣ther this way, had not an unexpected acci∣dent hindred it; for, the Pope's Nuncio being inform'd, that the General Assem∣bly, or rather the Arch-bishop of this Ci∣ty, under the Covert of that Name, and by the Advice of the Jesuits, were about to draw up, and form a Profession of Faith, more adapted for the satisfaction of such of the Reformed, as became New Converts, than that of the Roman Church, he bestirr'd him∣self, and interposed, in his Master, the Pope's Name, and made several Remonstrances to the King, upon the Authority which the French Clergy were about to assume to themselves, of setting up other Forms of Doctrine, then that which the whole Ca∣tholick Apostolick Church had received since the Council of Trent: You cannot imagine, my Lord, how much this little unexpected Traverse from the old Dad disheartn'd the Court; whether it were that it came from a Pope, whom the King did not care for, or that they were afraid it might retard the Work of Conversion, is not certain; but the result was (as I have been first informed, and since seen

somewhat verify'd by the consequence) that the Pope should be comply'd with, and the rather because they were well satis∣fy'd with his inflexible temper; and that as they believ'd, it would be dangerous to sow Division between the Clergy of France and the Pope, at a time when they were labouring to reduce all Frenchmen to the Unity of the Church; it would be more advisable for them, to keep to the usual Profession of Faith: And now, my Lord, the Clergy give out, every where, that they will not qualify any Points, but vaunt, that in reducing the Reformed, they will not put out any one Taper that Adorns the Altars. I shall not detain your Lordship at present with any farther ac∣count of a matter, that suits not with your Gusto, tho' I know you have goodness e∣nough to accept my endeavours, though ne∣ver so contemptible in themselves, and to pardon my weakness, who am,

My Lord,

Your Lordships very obedient servant.

Paris, Sept. 17. 1685.