The political mischiefs of popery, or, Arguments demonstrating I. that the romish religion ruines all those countries where 'tis establish'd II. that it occasions the loss of above 200 millions of livres ... to France in particular, III. that if popery were abolished in France, that kingdom would become incomparably more rich and populous ..., IV. that it is impossible that France should ever be re-established whilst popery is their national religion / by a person of quality.

THE Translator's Letter TO THE Book-Seller.

SIR,

THE following Book being now Tra•…•…slated, must take its Fa•…•…e in the World. The Worthy Author hath performed his part to Admiration, and as it became a Grandson of the Gre•…•…t du Plesfis Mornay, though under a much greater Disadvan∣tage than he: Th•…•… Grandfather when he wrote his Books, which have eterniz'd his Fame, was one of the chief of the Protestants of France, (then a flourishing and formi∣dable •…•…ody,) and abounded in all things necessary for his Undertaking; but the Grandson, on the contrary, hath had much ado to escape with his Life, and is cast upon our Island as part of the valuable Wreck of that once renown'd Protestant Church: Yet in that forlorn Condition, with little encouragement from Men, and as little help of Books, he hath given us many proofs of his Zeal and Abilities to serve the Protestant Interest. His Book Entituled, The Desolation of France demonstrated, &c. met with deserv•…•…d Applaufe; and if the dignity of the Subject, depth of Thought, and strength of Argument, have any influence upon Mankind, there's no Reason to think that this he now offers to the Publick, can meet with less.

As for the Translation, which is my own part, you know I have performed it du•…•…ing a hurry of other business; so that if it be passable English it is as much as you can expect.

The Author will bear me witness, that I have kept to his Sense, and indeed, as there is something uncommon in his Thought, there is the same in his manner of Ex∣pression, which is more adap•…•…ed to inform the Judgment, than to please the Fancy, and therefore to have attemp∣ted to set off or rather to disguise by flourishes of Stile, what the Author designed should be intelligible to every one, would have been an injury to the pattern he hath set me.

I have nothing to add, but that as in the last Century God raised up many great Men •…•…o discover the False Do∣ctrines of the R•…•…mish Church, which made such People as had any due regard to their Salvation, to come out of her. Who knows •…•…ut that he same Providence, by raising up others to dis•…•…over the P•…•…li ical Mischiefs of that Religion to Kingdoms and States, m•…•…y thereby stir up the Kings and Princes of th•…•… Earth to hate the Whore, and burn her flesh with fire. That this m•…•…y be one of the effects of this Book (the best, if n•…•…t the only Trea•…•…ise that ever was writ upon the Subject) and that it ma•…•… A•…•…swer your Ex∣pect•…•…tion, and Procure the Author that Re•…•…pect and Esteem, which he deserves •…•…rom all good Men, is the unfeigned wish and hearty desire of

Your humble Servant, G. Ridpath.